Traditional Astrology: Modalities (Quaternities)
The zodiac signs are informed by multiple components: polarity, modality, and element. Unfortunately, most pop astrology overemphasizes the “feel” or “vibe” of the signs instead of prioritizing their foundational elements. This approach all too easily circulates cliches and misunderstandings while encouraging the use of astrology as a subjective mirror to validate unprocessed projections. At its core, astrology reflects the relationship between man and the observable seasons, and the use of modalities symbolizes the annual transitions beautifully.
Modalities tend to be oversimplified in modern or pop astrology: cardinal signs want to lead and initiate, fixed signs want to maintain the status quo, and mutable signs like to adapt and do a bit of leading and maintaining. Although these points are indeed true, these diluted definitions leave out much of the crucial nuance and insight that initially bolstered astrology’s robust foundation.
As modalities ultimately reflect the turning of the seasons, their characteristics define their response to time and change. The 3 modalities are Cardinal (referred to as tropical or turning in ancient Greek), Fixed (solid), and Mutable (double-bodied). The modalities can also be referred to quaternities, as each modality contains four signs (quarternities corresponding to four).
Cardinal Signs: The 4 Equinoxes and Solstices
Cardinal signs are stationed at the equinoxes or solstices, when the sun enters a new season. The sun crosses the celestial equator during the Vernal (Spring) and Autumnal equinoxes, which means that the sun has aligned with the Earth’s projected equator. During equinoxes, the sun rises exactly in the East and sets exactly in the West, resulting in a daytime and nighttime that are equal in length. Oppositely, solstices occur when the Sun is at its furthest point from the celestial equator. When the Sun is at its north-most extreme, the Summer solstice occurs and the daytime is the longest in the entire year. When the Sun is at its south-most extreme, the Winter solstice occurs and the nighttime is the longest in the entire year.
These extremes coincide with the mark of each new season, ushering in change and initiating new themes. The cardinal modality reflects the idea of a turning point. From its extreme alignment, there seems to be a push for the dispersal of energy. The cardinal modality does not respond to the current situation but rather imposes its own direction.
The cardinal modality is expressed by Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn.
Fixed Modality: Mid-Season
Fixed signs are stationed in the midst of each season and embody a sense of consistency and stability. The behavior of the fixed modality reflects the well-established themes of the season. Leo, a fixed sign, spans the height of summer and Aquarius spans the depth of Winter.
The fixed strategy revolves around maintenance of the status quo with little change. Structure, routine, and regularity are hallmarks of this modality. As the fixed modality corresponds with the most intense or concentrated portion of each season, it can also manifest through accumulation.
The fixed modality is expressed by Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius.
Mutable Modality: Before the Change
Mutable signs correspond to the transitions between seasons. Otherwise known as the double-bodied modality, the mutable strategy ebbs between cardinal changeability and fixed stability. The mutable signs are blessed with adaptability that allows them to seek change while preserving past conditions; what results are smooth or varied transitions. Just as the end of one season hints at the next, like with the cooler days toward the end of summer or the melting frost before the official arrival of spring, the mutable modality acts as a buffer between dramatic changes. They tend to disperse energy as they hinder the momentum created by the previous modalities to allow for new direction.
The mutable modality is double-bodied, which allows it to hold multiplicities. In other words, it can exist in contradiction.
The mutable modality is expressed by Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces.
Modality and Polarity
As the zodiac signs are defined by their polarity, modality, and element, we can garner insight by observing these components in isolation and in combination. Let’s focus on the signs in terms of their modality and polarity.
As explored in my polarity post, the signs are either masculine or feminine in nature. The masculine signs initiate and behave in a more active and assertive way whilst the feminine signs receive and behave in a more passive and reflective way. Again, this is all relative and should be considered on a purely energetic level.
The last layer that informs the signs are their elements, which I will discuss in a separate post. The elements are tied into polarity as all water and earth elements are feminine and all fire and air elements are masculine. Water and earth accumulate and hold form whilst fire and air disperse and change form. These behaviors shape the way modality can be expressed.
Cardinal Modality and Masculine Polarity
The cardinal signs are Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn. Aries and Libra are of the masculine polarity, and from this we can expect them to create and instill changes and novelty in an active and extroverted way. We can expect them to generate changes by projecting their energy onto an outside object and changing its form.
Cardinal Modality and Feminine Polarity
On the other hand, Cancer and Capricorn are both feminine in polarity. These signs can hold space for the creation or generation of new actions and ideas. We can expect Cancer and Capricorn promote change by embodying and nurturing new forms and ideas.
Fixed Modality and Feminine Polarity
The fixed signs of feminine polarity include Taurus and Scorpio. We can expect these signs to maintain or preserve by holding space. These signs consistently collect and accumulate in order to intensify or concentrate the season’s themes.
Fixed Modality and Masculine Polarity
The fixed signs of masculine polarity include Leo and Aquarius. We can expect these signs to maintain or preserve by maintaining a consistent projection of outward action. These signs intensity the season’s qualities by interacting in a stable way.
Mutable Modality and Masculine Polarity
The mutable signs of masculine polarity include Gemini and Sagittarius. We can expect these signs to disperse energy and encourage variation by both maintaining old momentum while initiating new trajectories.
Mutable Modality and Feminine Polarity
The mutable signs of feminine polarity include Virgo and Pisces. We can expect these signs to disperse energy and encourage variation by holding space for past accumulation while also giving form to novelty.
Though fun to contemplate, these combinations created by modality and polarity alone are relatively vague as they lack the elemental component. In the next post, we’ll go over the elements and complete all 3 layers of the signs in order to better understand their behavior.
