My friend Amy recently suggested I write a tribute to all the elements. I did a post on Fire signs last year, and I want to do one on Earth now. For Amy who is a Taurean and for the many of the Earth sign folk whose lives have interweaved with mine and many of who own a piece of my heart.
When I think of Earth signs, many pictures flash before my eyes… Of my Virgo friend and ex-boss with her pure profile, tidy hair, head bent studiously over a document: bringing order to chaos. Does nursing fall under the aegis of Virgo? I’m sure it does. Do you remember the neat person with a deft touch and a minimum of fuss who stitched you up when you were a kid and fell off your bike? Did you look into their eyes? Virgo eyes are clear, bright, sane. A haven of rationality in this world that is often painfully irrational. The little girl fussing over a motherless kitten; the young boy who rescues a hurt bird and then tends quietly to injured creature’s needs. There is nothing loud about Virgo, nothing exuberant, nothing over-the-top. It’s a sign associated with seemingly dull things like “service.” The quiet people who tally our numbers, bandage our cuts, edit and proofs our text. It may not be obvious at first glance, but what they’re doing is infusing our lives with beauty with their dedication to bringing order to the myriads details that form the sum of human lives. Their actions are like lyrical poetry, but a poem that has form and substance; a poem that makes the world a place where you can have peace, where thing work well, where systems function and numbers add up. A world you can rely on.
I have a special place in my heart for Taurus. Maybe it is because when I was a girl, I was in love with a boy who had his Venus in Taurus. You can’t say that Taureans are chatty. Which is a pity because there is no lovelier sound on the planet that a Taurus voice. It shivers down your body straight into your heart. How can you not fall in love? My mother-in-law has her sun in the sign of the Bull. A retired physician, she tends to her garden and kitchen as carefully as she tended her patients all her working life. I fell in love with her, too. It was one evening when we were driving home and she was talking about the wild life in the area where they live. I saw through the mask of the crusty and dignified lady and what I saw was the heart of a girl who adores animals. Taurus can get to like that. Under all that earthy practicality, which their families are lucky to have, is a deep responsiveness to beauty, to nature and to good perfumes :)
One of my brothers has his sun in Capricorn. He was a serious child, worked hard and grew up to ace every exam he ever took. He wasn’t given to indulging in crazy pranks or emotional outbursts. In fact, despite being younger than me, he was the one who would lecture me and my youngest fiery Sagittarius brother and tell us, “Behave!” True to the sign’s promise, he’s matured into an adult that has a dry sense of humor that will make you roar with laughter. And when I need wise counsel, it is my trusty goat I go to. Some people are the bulwarks of our lives. They exist and because of that our psychological world is a safe place. Capricorn love does not manifest in exuberant displays of feelings or flamboyant actions. But that’s the thing about Capricorn love. It manifests. It’s the hard-working father with a saving account for his children’s college tuition. It’s the young man with his feet firmly on the ground, who may not hand you a bunch of poems, but he will offer you a love you can hold on to. It’s the diligent woman with a quiet smile and conservative air who works hard to support her family financially. No, you won’t find the mergoats boasting of all that they offer to everyone they are responsible for. They don’t have to, their actions speak louder than words.
There is a song I have always loved. It could have been written for Virgos, Taureans and Capricorns. It goes like this:
Earth angel
Earth angel
Will you be mine
You can listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H4heyqcdJ8
I mean, wow!
Your post almost brought tears to my eyes. Didn’t know you understood earth signs so much. Do all fire signs have this instinctive understanding of earth signs? I suspect so.
I have sensed that every sign has a deep fascination with the sign after it. Probably because that is the next sign for them on their path of evolution…
This post really is a tribute. Thanks so much!
Beautiful Neeti! And as a Taurean I am honoured :-)
With Sun, Mercury, Venus, Chiron & the MC in Cap, and a Taurus Moon & Rising Sign, I am prejudiced about earth signs… yes I think we are wonderful… and a pain in the ass to all the light-hearted…
Hi Neeti!
Lovely post, but you’re starting to scare me–I’m writing a post on earth signs for the next issue of the mag! That happened last time with the fertility post. Our molecules must be connected in some particular way that makes you think a thought, then I think a thought–eerie!
What am I thinking now?
If you said, ‘Coffee,’ you are correct, and I should give up now and just ‘think-tate’ articles through you!!!
xo
jd
I’m making tea as we speak, JD. xxx
You know, theoretically, I’m not supposed to “like” Virgos (if you go by Sun Sign. But you’ve absolutely nailed the things I adore about them.
Thank you for writing this!
What a lovely tribute to the earth signs. This very earthy girl (5 planets and Ascendant in earth) is happy to read it. :)
Oh, Neeti… How I miss you! You brought order to the chaos yourself. Will mail you seprately soon to catch up.
-U
Very tender words about earth signs who we often use to see like rough and too much serious. It shows how we can write about every astrological theme from different point of view.
I just came across your site, and I am enjoying it very much.
I’ve studied astrology for about 40 years, and it as a holistic psychological-spiritual system in my astrological counseling practice.
The following poem is from my A Collection of Wordstreams (Prose Poems and Vignettes), which I just published on Amazon Kindle. Metaphysical and astrological symbolism run through most of my writings.
My workbook, Astrology for the Absolute Beginner, focusing on the astrological symbolism and the cyclical flow of energy, was published about 14 years ago.
Elemental Being
A Water Moment
Sparkling drops of rain
fall onto the still surface
of the blue pond,
each drop creating vibrant ripples,
circles of wholeness
and new beginnings,
spiraling and encompassing,
spreading out to each of us
from newly created centers
to become reflective mandalas
to inspire our souls.
I imagine these drops of rain
keeping their ethereal shapes,
reflecting transcendent purposes,
not dissolving as they pierce
the receptive surface;
keeping their multi-faceted essences,
as they drift into the water’s depths
to become compassionate visions
and hopeful dreams
in individual minds everywhere
who are reflecting, meditating or sleeping;
fluid visions bringing all of us together
in these spiritual waters of the world.
A Fire Moment
I’ve made this fire in wilderness,
to keep me warm and aware,
and I see the sparks
float up into the dark night sky,
to join the mystical bright stars
in constellations of the gods and goddesses,
but then quickly disappear into my psyche,
where they burst into flames
inspiring my own internal urges
for expression, creativity, understanding;
fueling my personal power to enable me
to make real all that I envision,
to become all that I am capable of being,
not for myself alone,
but for my love, my children,
and whomever I can reach
with these flames of higher desires,
whomever I can inspire
to initiate their own powerful actions
with the burning force
of their purposeful and loving energies.
An Earth Moment
I kneel onto the ground
scoop up and hold
parts of the living earth in my hand,
and let fall these gracious particles
back into the garden where grows
white flowers and red fruit,
green herbs and vegetables,
playful bushes
and wise protective trees.
I am in reverence of the earth
that gives form to my ideas,
structure to my dreams,
sensuality to my desires,
nurturance to my body,
and gives body
to my mind, emotions and spirit.
An Air Moment
Our first breath
with the cry of birth
the joy of potential
defines who we are
and who we are meant to become.
As I inhale and exhale
the breath of life,
an exquisite rhythm
takes over my soul:
the beginnings of possibilities
with each new breath I take;
the joys of life’s unfolding processes
fresh breezes flowing through my blood,
uniting ideas, love, creativity, actions;
the culminations and endings
in the letting go of each breath,
releasing and preparing
for the next new breath
to be caressed and transformed
rhythmically,
in a magical dance that invigorates
my mind, body, energy and spirit.
Mark Mann
Thank you for your kinds words, Mr. Mann and thank you for sharing the poem!
Lovely article (Taurus Sun speaking here)!! :-)
Thank you for that!
Thank you, as you can see, I am a big fan of the earth signs :)
Neeti, it’s inappropriate to place it here but I miss your blogposts :)
Wow! Thank you so much, its nice to hear and as i Taurean i am greatful for your insite. I feel so intune with your perception and feel it suits me to a tee! Its wonderful to feel so touched. :-D
You’re very welcome, dear Taurean :)