Each of the astrological zodiac signs belongs to one of four classical elements in astrology: fire, earth, air or water. Astrological elements are only one tiny part of the complex jigsaw which makes up an astrology chart but understanding how the elements work and how they relate to one another helps with a basic understanding of the principles of astrology.
Which Zodiac Signs are Water Signs?
The three water signs are Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces.
What Does the Water Element Mean in Astrology?
Astrologically, the water element represents sensitivity, intuition, compassion, emotions and passivity.
Generally speaking, water people are kind, compassionate and strongly governed by their feelings and their emotions rather than by logic or reason. They have an ethereal quality about them and are in touch with their mystical, spiritual side. Gentle and loving, water signs are imaginative and sensitive, easily hurt and sometimes overwhelmed by life. All of the water signs are also somewhat changeable, switching moods easily, reflecting how water fills any container it is given.
The water element in astrology is seen as being passive and receptive, and it’s true that water sign people can have strong empathy, picking up on feelings and emotions around them and in the atmosphere, sometimes to a degree which makes it hard for them to cope with negativity. This means that they can find it difficult to escape from depression, or to find a logical way through a difficult period. They need stability and a safe refuge when the sea gets rough and stormy.
To understand elements in astrology, it’s always helpful to refer back to nature. Water, as you know, brings life to the land and without it nothing can survive. The water element moves our emotions to the heights of ecstasy and the depths of despair, often scarily quickly. However, water can also drown us, and a downpour of emotions can sometimes ruin the most pleasant of days.
What are the Differences Between the Three Water Signs?
If there are three water signs, you might be wondering what’s different about each one. After all, if they’re all based on water and its sensitivity and fluidity, aren’t they the basically the same?
No. As well as element grouping, we also group astrological signs by another set of criteria: their quality or mode. The three modes are cardinal, mutable and fixed, and in each group of elemental signs, there will be one of each mode. Because each water sign has a different mode, the element of water manifests slightly differently in each one.
Cancer is a cardinal water sign.
Scorpio is a fixed water sign.
Pisces is a mutable water sign.
How does this work in practice? Let’s see:
Cancer is a cardinal water sign, so this sign channels the water element through taking positive action. Although sensitive and sometimes moody, Cancer is fundamentally a practical, canny sign. Here is the water element using emotions to govern and direct change. Think of water as a heavy rain shower, perhaps causing some disruption but quickly clearing. Cancer as a zodiac sign has strong leadership potential, precisely because of this knack for working with emotions rather than against them. This water sign is known as a worrier and for being very protective of self and loved ones; in some ways, Cancer uses the water element as a barrier and these individuals can be difficult to get to know properly.
Scorpio on the other hand is a fixed water sign. Here the water element is a tempest at sea, a seething cauldron of bubbling water with waves which can engulf the unwary. Scorpio emotions are ever present and simply cannot be ignored; the fixed quality of this sign ensures that the water element dominates thoughts, actions and moods. Know for emotional outbursts, jealousy and passion, Scorpio is a zodiac sign which has hidden depths. If you can get below the storm waves, there are many shipwrecks waiting to be explored, some of which have secret treasure and some of which have secret traps.
Pisces, the last of the water signs, is a mutable water sign. Here, the water element is a mysterious lake – bright, sunny and full of happy families one day, shrouded in fog, creepy and eerie the next. The mutable quality means that Pisces is the most adaptable and easily led of all the water signs, which can be a mixed blessing. This water sign’s ability to embrace the spirituality of water is one of its greatest strengths, but Pisces can be very gullible and easily used by others. When you gaze into the lake which forms Pisces’ water element, the reflection you see is what you want to see. Pisces can be all things to all people, but maintaining their own true identity is not always easy.
How to Balance Water Energy in Your Birth Chart
If your Sun sign isn’t Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces, you might think that the water element doesn’t really apply to you – not so! It’s very likely that water is in your birth chart somewhere, probably due to at least one of the other planets being in a water sign.
In any case, it’s important for your wellbeing that all four elements are balanced in your astrological makeup. Depending on your birth chart, you may have just the right amount of water, or you may have too much, or too little.
If you don’t have enough water in your natal chart, you may feel disconnected from your emotions, aloof, unimaginative or cut off from your spiritual self.
What about too much water? Well, that could make you feel drained by other people’s emotions, overwhelmed by worry or zapped by psychic forces.
A simple way to estimate your water element balance is to look at a chart showing which signs belong to which elements. Cross off the elements of your Sun sign, your Ascendant sign, your Moon sign and your ruling planet. If none of those are water you may be lacking in water, although ideally, we’d look your whole birth chart to check.
If you think you may be lacking in water, here are some simple ideas to bring the ethereal sensitivity and intuition of water into your life:
· Swim
· Watch the ocean or sit by a pond or lake
· Sit in the rain and let it run down your face
· Visit a waterfall
· Take a long bath
· Splash in puddles
· Water the garden
· Mix different colors of water together
· Drink pure spring water
· Watch fish in an aquarium
· Play with waterbombs
· Wear blue, silver or aqua colors
If on the other hand you think you have too much water, you can try to balance that out by introducing activities associated with fire, which is an element that can counter water:
· Sit by a warm fire and get toasty
· Soak up the radiance of a bonfire
· Sunbathe (safely) or dig your toes into warm sand
· Wear red, orange of yellow clothing
· Make patterns with a sparkler
· Brainstorm a creative project and bring something exciting to life
When the water element is properly balanced in your chart, you’ll experience astrological water through a strengthening intuition and a deeper connection with humanity. The water element reminds us of our connection to the universal consciousness, so it’s vital to get this element into proper balance, especially if you’re striving for spiritual growth.
The Air Signs: Gemini, Libra and Aquarius
The Earth Signs: Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn
The Fire Signs: Aries, Leo and Sagittarius
