Rebecca Brents - Squared Off

We're delighted to feature the articles of Rebecca Brents, an excellent astrologer and editor of EnchantedSpirit, one of the largest circulation metaphysical ezines on the internet. Meet Rebecca at EnchantedSpirit and get acquainted with a fantastic online ezine resource for all areas of spirituality and metaphysics. Rebecca Brents writes on a wide variety of spiritual and occult subjects, including astrology, tarot, metaphysics and self-improvement.

When You and Someone Else Approach Life
at Cross-Purposes ... You're "Squared Off"

Differences can be delightful. Meeting someone who sees life differently than we do can be educational, liberating, and fun. It can also be perplexing and infuriating. Just as people will ask an astrologer right away ... "What is my sign like and who do I get along with?" their next question is usually "Who do I not get along with?"

Again, all those questions imply there's a list of "right answers" somewhere, a collection of information you can rely on ... but life is just not that simple.

In Earth, Wind, and Fire ... and Water, I wrote about the signs that are in what Astrology calls the Elements, the Triplicities ('cause there's three signs in each group). The Fire signs, the Earth signs, the Air signs, and the Water signs all tend to have characteristics that support one another, appreciate one another, extend and enhance one another. The three signs in each group come at life from a discernibly common perspective.

But obviously personality clashes exist everywhere, and the question "Who do I not get along with?" does find some broad possible answers in Astrology -- in what are called the Qualities or Quadruplicities ('cause now there's four signs in each of these groups.) The Quadruplicities group signs together according to tactical and strategic preferences in handling life, and in that, all members of a group will again have something in common.

But a group of Qualities contains one member from every Element: A Fire Sign, an Earth Sign, an Air Sign, and a Water sign -- all of whom use certain behaviors to cope with life, and each of whom holds different abstract values from those of the other three. And there is where the trouble begins.

What's important to a particular sign, where its strengths lie, and what it will defend as crucial to its concept of itself and its life clashes with those of its companions -- and tends to bring out the worst qualities of its fellows in response to the stress and disagreements they stumble on in trying to deal with one another.

It's inherently harder for a sign in a Quadruplicity to relate to and understand its companions, because the orientation of each toward what's significant and valuable is automatically at odds. Thus the potential for conflict among these signs is significant, and the ability to find acceptable common ground is simply harder.

There are three groups of Qualities: Cardinal Signs, Fixed Signs, and Mutable Signs. Briefly, Cardinal Signs tend to be executive, action-oriented types; Fixed Signs tend to be steady and stubborn souls; and Mutable Signs tend to be flexible and compromising folks. So, let's take a look at each group in greater depth.

The Cardinal Signs are Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn. These personalities tend to be very direct and to the point in their presentation. They are energetic, personally ambitious, impulsive and impatient. They believe in fast, objective action in support of their individual values ... and matters of deference and leadership can be real issues with these folks.

Cardinal Signs deal with life and its crises by solving problems, taking action, making choices, rendering decisions, devising a plan of action -- and then going on to something else. There's a simplicity in this approach, actually. And, as I said, the action in the life of a Cardinal Sign can be fast paced and sometimes furious -- decidedly so for Aries, the Cardinal Fire sign, less so for the others, but the theme is present, nevertheless.

Cardinal Signs have perhaps the best temperament for dealing with emergencies and resolving an immediate dilemma. There is an instinctive, proactive quality to their reactions -- even if that reaction is to shoot first and argue afterwards, it does get the situation changed into something else ... for better or worse. Cardinal Signs do things.

Cardinal Signs are assertive, forceful, even belligerent and pushy in defense of their values. They are energetic, opportunistic, and decisive. They can also be fairly creative in the action they take, even when that action is blatantly territorial or self-promoting. They initiate new enterprises, organize the resources they need to create what they want, and push to insure that these things survive.

Aries -- Cardinal Fire, is emphatically pioneering and self-interested, uncomplicated in its assertion that it wants what it wants now ... and usually that is something very connected to the promotion of its immediate self-interests and personal advancement. Aries is very "Me First" in its life approach. It is assertive on a personal level.

Cancer -- Cardinal Water, is emphatically sensitive, intuitive, and moody, uncomplicated in its assertion that feelings, home, and one's private life and family connections are important. It also has a strong respect for history and tradition. It is very concerned with protection, security matters, and nurturing. Cancer is very "Home, Children, and Family First" in its life approach. It is assertive on an emotional level.

Libra -- Cardinal Air, is emphatically interested in relationships, other people, different ideas and perspectives, uncomplicated in its assertion that teamwork, diplomacy, compromise, cooperation, and partnerships including marriage are important. It also is involved with matters of justice, culture, collaboration, considering available options, and honoring diversity. Libra is very "Togetherness First" in its life approach. It is assertive on an intellectual level.

Capricorn -- Cardinal Earth, is emphatically interested in building empires, establishing businesses, achieving professional recognition, and making career advances which earn it honor, prestige, and fame. It is uncomplicated in its assertion that legacies, reputation, continuity, government, structure, permanence, community standing, status, and security for succeeding generations are important. Capricorn is very "Business and Practical Achievement First" in its life approach. It is assertive on pragmatic, realistic, constructive, and financial levels.

The Cardinal Signs are where the battle lines are most clearly drawn. It's easy to see how self-interest, family interests, marital interests, and career interests can collide. Just as the demands of these areas can be a problem in an individual life, these signs, with their different personal values, can have deep divisions between themselves in the greater context of Life with a capital "L."

True all these interests are important and deserve respect. In fact, each sign has a vital role to play in the grand creative process of humanity itself. Aries initiates projects; Cancer provides a home base to nurture and support them; Libra provides teamwork and partnership to advance their progress; Capricorn solidifies and offers them out into the greater community. Obviously this is a workable model, but just as obviously turf wars can break out fairly often.

The components here are the pioneer, the parent, the partner, and the professional.

The Fixed Signs are Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius. These personalities tend to be noticeably stubborn, set in their ways, firm in their opinions, and resistant to change. They display stability, perseverance, resourcefulness, and resolve. They are the planners, the administrators, the refiners, and the theoreticians.

Whereas Cardinal Signs deal with life and its ever-changing situations and emergencies by responding directly to the crisis or working to change something in the arrangement, Fixed Signs rely on their stamina and ability to simply endure whatever is happening until it either goes away or evolves into something else.

Fixed Signs are hard to push off course. They have conceived a vision, developed a plan ... and they are determined to see it through in its original form. In this they often succeed. Fixed Signs are a bit more bound by rules and principles, habits and patterns, more likely to apply methods they know have worked in the past to handle conditions in the present.

Fixed Sign personalities are often reservoirs of determination and power, and represent sustaining energy rather than assertive energy. They have an inner tenacity and ruggedness that's built to last. The action they take is geared toward "the long haul." They are constant and reliable, but they can also be inflexible and habit-bound in ways that hamper them.

Taurus -- Fixed Earth, deals with the application and management of physical resources, material possessions, and money. It is very concerned with acquiring and possessing the substances necessary for physical survival. Taurus believes in "Practical Power." It is sustaining on a physical and financial level.

Leo -- Fixed Fire, deals with leadership through personal charisma and self-expression. It is highly creative and self-promoting in its claims to positions of respect and administration. It can very dramatically and forcefully support its own sense of purpose. Leo believes in "Personality Power." It is sustaining on a guiding, managerial, and executive level -- often relying on its individual charm and appeal to succeed.

Scorpio -- Fixed Water, deals with recycling, regenerating, and refining. It works by tearing down and rebuilding what has become obsolete, outmoded, and ineffective, using the raw materials of what exists, adding the contributions and assets of others to reconstruct a vastly improved structure or situation in place of what it discovered and judged wanting. Scorpio believes in "Emotional Power" -- the force of a deep and unquenchable desire to create and evolve. It is sustaining on a level that deals with destruction and replacement, death and rebirth, and the willful application of this eternal process to human circumstances and designs.

Aquarius -- Fixed Air, deals with originality, insight, and the development of structures and ideas to respond to human needs on a global scale and for generations yet to come. It is concerned with the application of ideals, humanitarian concepts, social evolution, and the improvement of life for "everyone." Aquarius believes in "Altruistic Intellectual Power." It is sustaining on a mental and conceptual level.

Fixed Signs tend to be process rather than event oriented. Again, each has a clear contribution to make to the human condition and the advancement we are all seeking. Again, too, it's easy to see how personal possessions and personal money, personal leadership and authority, personal improvement and the personal commandeering of joint resources, and personal ideals and goals for the future could run afoul of each other in individuals heavily invested in one life view or another.

Again, this model can work to support the various interests of its constituents: Taurus acquires the financing and material resources to sustain a situation; Leo manages, directs, and governs the use and development of these; Scorpio coordinates contributions from various sources to fashion a creation far grander than could be accomplished by individuals working separately -- and reaps dividends on this mutual investment of energy; and Aquarius distributes these results "for the good of humanity overall."
Again, this is a rather idyllic view of the human condition -- and one which often fails miserably in practice. Consider how it feels when your money is taken by your leaders and distributed to the support of joint efforts and other people through taxes and "social investments" -- like government programs, because of our ideals and "humanitarian vision" that the ultimate good of the many outweighs the specific good of the few.

The components here are the private owner, the public leader, the investor, and the humanitarian.

The Mutable Signs are Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces. These personalities all deal directly with the application of ideas and information, the development of new modes of living and being, and the adaptation of established patterns and methods into more useful and workable forms of expression. These people are known for being flexible, tolerant, easygoing, adaptable, versatile, and visionary.

Mutable Signs handle life's emergencies and crises by adapting, compromising, coordinating, cooperating, and "going with the flow" whenever possible. Lacking the overall pushiness of the Cardinal Signs and the willfulness of the Fixed Signs, the Mutable Signs mostly "just want to get along."

Lacking a strong sense of overall focus, the Mutable Signs can get lost in the details of their concerns and specialties. They can be scattered and "drifty," lack persistence and strength of will. They can also be overly suggestible, overly-entangled in other people's issues and their personal relationships, lacking adequate stability, and unwilling or unable to assert their own individuality as much as might be fitting.

The diversity of their lives can certainly lead to an overall richness of experience and make it an asset to blend in as well as they do with their circumstances and surroundings. Positively, they are the most resourceful of the signs. Negatively, they can succumb to worry, nervousness, stress, and neurosis much more quickly than Cardinal Signs who put their energy into action or Fixed Signs who put their energy into endurance.

Gemini -- Mutable Air, deals in the collection of information from a variety of sources. It is emphatically interested in diversity, breadth as opposed to depth, and in sharing knowledge back and forth with others. Gemini believes in "Knowledge for its own sake." It is adaptable and flexible on an intellectual level.

Virgo -- Mutable Earth, is interested in analysis, discrimination, the critical evaluation of its knowledge, and in putting information and ideas to some useful application. It wants to perfect its learned skills and help life run more efficiently. It is often involved in the routine, mundane chores of everyday life. Virgo believes in "Doing work and giving service to help everyone be the best they can be." It is adaptable and flexible on a practical level.

Sagittarius -- Mutable Fire, is interested in philosophy, ethics, laws, the organization of advanced and academic knowledge, and the preservation of social knowledge with applications for "the larger picture of life." It is often involved in "preaching and teaching, " writing and publishing, and in learning the subjects where it claims authority in considerable depth. Sagittarius believes in "Expressing its rules for living with the example its life sets for others." It is adaptable and flexible on a social level -- often drawing in ideas from different strata and cultures to incorporate into its overall wisdom and beliefs.

Pisces -- Mutable Water, is interested in spiritual truths, mystical wisdom and knowledge, the processes of its own creative unconscious, and in healing suffering and pain. It is often involved in matters of faith, the processing of knowledge reached through dreams and intuition, the understanding of deep spiritual concepts, the rendering of feeling through artistic expressions, and with self-sacrifice and transcendence. Pisces believes in "Facing the unknown with faith and acceptance." It is adaptable and flexible on an emotional level -- and often needs to process its experiences and commune with its inner world in conditions of isolation and seclusion.

Again, we have a model whose members support the work of one another in sequence. Gemini gathers conscious knowledge, Virgo analyzes and applies it in practical work situations, Sagittarius expands and consolidates philosophic viewpoints and systems of information into structured, academic subjects for social use, and Pisces brings forth wisdom from the realm of the Collective Unconscious and makes it available for Gemini to gather up on a conscious level.

Each specializes in a particular way of handling knowledge -- and each can get lost in its own prejudices. Collectively, the Mutable Signs are dealing with energy that can be comprehended, communicated, and collected as information; energy that can be skillfully applied to perform practical work; energy that can be used to describe the world, support civilization, and discover meaning in life; and energy that can be artistically expressed, used to heal pain and suffering, and applied to matters of faith and intuition.

It moves knowledge through an increasingly sophisticated set of applications to transform it from simple information into genuine wisdom -- Can I understand this concept? Can I put this knowledge to work for me and those I serve? Can I use this result to find meaning and distill principles to govern my life? Can I then find a way to relate more fully to my spiritual essence and align myself more completely to the Divine Source?

It is the progression from student, to artisan, to teacher, to mystic.

All together, these are the twelve occupations of our human world.