The Modalities: Cardinal Signs

In the previous post, we began to establish the relationship between the signs and the seasons of the year, which are the Modalities. Each sign can be associated with the beginning, the peak, or the end of a season—respectively, the Cardinal, Fixed, or Mutable signs. But what does this classification mean in Astrology?

The Modalities represent the rhythm of each sign, the movement that energy makes: whether it has the energy to initiate, to maintain, or to deal with a transition and finalize a cycle. Each Modality brings together one sign from each Element. For example, the Cardinal Modality includes Aries (Fire sign), Cancer (Water sign), Libra (Air sign), and Capricorn (Earth sign). At the same time, each Element will have one sign of each Modality. For example, the Fire Element will have a Cardinal Fire sign (Aries), a Fixed Fire sign (Leo), and finally a Mutable Fire sign (Sagittarius).

Today, we're going to talk about the Cardinal Signs, which represent the beginning of the seasons.

They are: Aries (Fire Element); Cancer (Water Element); Libra (Air Element); and Capricorn (Earth Element).

The main characteristic of this modality is impulse!

It's the capacity to initiate new cycles, to start new activities, and to kick things off. So, an image that strongly comes to mind when I talk about this energy is the image of a sprouting seed. That force to break the shell, to leave inertia, passivity, and cross the earth until it reaches the surface. We can also connect with the idea of birth, the power of emergence, of appearing—that first impulse of life.

Thus, the primary quality of Cardinal energy is impulsivity!

But you might be asking: "Aries and impulsivity, okay! But Cancer? Libra? Impulsive? How so?"

Well, depending on the Element to which the sign belongs—be it Fire, Water, Air, or Earth—we are driven by different motivations such as: creating, protecting, connecting, or achieving.

Let's talk a little about the impulsivity of each one:

Aries is the Cardinal Fire sign

Its impulse is for action—to act according to its own will. It's the impulse to exist and self-assert in the world.

Cancer is the Cardinal Water sign

Its impulse is affective—the impulse to care, almost like a mother who drops everything and focuses first on meeting her child's needs. Or also caring for a project or a home.

Libra is the Cardinal Air sign

Cardinal Energy in the Natal Chart

Cardinal Energy in the Natal Chart

When we look at the energetic configuration of our Natal Chart, we can have a modality that is balanced, in excess, or in lack.

When we have an excess of Cardinal energy, we possess a great strength to initiate. It feels like that little "bug" of novelty is always biting you, hehe. The challenge is to balance this strong interest in what is new with daily life, so that the latter doesn't lose its appeal. Because when things "lose their appeal," we end up losing focus and getting dispersed from our objective. So, it's very important for those with many Cardinal signs in their chart to maintain focus on their goals so as not to scatter their energy and fail to complete what they set out to do.

And, for those who feel they have a scarcity of this Modality, they may find it challenging to start something, to take the first step, and end up waiting for "something to happen." In these cases, it's always important to ask the question: "When was the last time you did something for the very first time?" Perhaps asking yourself this question can begin to mobilize something internally and awaken the desire to move in a different direction.

The impulse to take a first step is fundamental for our lives, even if there is discomfort or insecurity at first. And usually there is! Security will only come throughout the journey. Taking the first step is the way to activate the Cardinal Modality in our lives.

Did you enjoy learning more about this Modality? Do you feel you have an excess, a balance, or a scarcity of it?

Let me know in the comments!

I'd love to read your thoughts and share more with you.

A hug, and see you next time!

Kim Bins