Earth signs help you plant the deep roots needed for long-term growth. All about the Earth element.
Three zodiac signs make up the Earth element:
Taurus
The Taurus star sign is ruled by the persistent and determined Bull. When it comes to their energy, the typical Taurus person has two speeds. They’re either relaxed and contented (picture them luxuriating in a verdant pasture) or hyped-up and ready to charge. (Toro, toro!)
The Taurus zodiac sign has a built-in energy conservation program. Taurus people will patiently assess whether something is worth the investment of time and resources. Then if the green light flashes, it’s all systems go! Until then, slow and steady wins the Taurus race.
Read All About The Taurus Sign
Virgo
Virgo is the sign of service, and you’re always there when help is needed. The typical Virgo person is a generous listener who gives great advice. You love to analyze everything! In fact, you can drive yourself crazy with this Virgo trait, because you never stop thinking.
The Virgo star sign is a perfectionist who sees every flaw. At times (admit it) you’re a little too critical…
Capricorn
Ambitious Capricorn people were born with their eyes on the prize. Once a Capricorn person has set sights on something, they begin to climb slowly and steadily toward that goal.
The Capricorn star sign will skip the good stuff today if it means getting the reward tomorrow. That’s why Capricorn has more trophies and loyal friends than any other. You stay strong through the hard times.
The typical Capricorn can become so focused on reaching the finish line, though, that they fail to pay attention to the journey, looking neither to the right nor the left. Capricorns believe that if they just keep pushing ahead, eventually they’ll get what they want.
Read All About The Capricorn Sign
What type of person is an Earth sign?
If you want to get solid on any aspect of your life, the Earth signs—Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn—help you plant the deep roots needed for long-term growth. These thoughtful, pragmatic signs inspire action that’s based in core values. When you’re on familiar ground, you can relax and think through important life decisions.
At times this terrain can feel heavy, leaving you “stuck in the mud.” At other moments, such terra firma creates an optimal launch pad for achieving liftoff.
What are the four elements in astrology?
The four elements in astrology are fire, earth, air and water.
Fire signs: Aries, Leo and Sagittarius
Like fire itself, fire signs tend to be passionate, dynamic, and temperamental. Fire can keep you warm, or it can do great destruction. While fire burns out quickly without fuel to keep it going, it can also regenerate its power from the ashes. A single spark can set off a forest fire. As a result, fire signs need to be nurtured and managed carefully.
Earth Signs: Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn
Earth energy is very physical, tangible, and sensual. Along with water signs, earth signs exude a receptive, yin energy. They can get cast as uptight or slow, but that’s not necessarily true. They simply like to have a solid foundation and are the steadiest and most grounded bunch of signs.
Air Signs: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
Air signs are mental, cerebral, and communicative, a different manifestation of the yang energy. These signs may come off as “airheads” because they’re a bit “out there,” but they always keep things interesting. Because these signs are so communicative, they need stimulating conversation, to feel a mental connection or shared sense of humor.
Water Signs: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
Intuitive, emotional and ultra-sensitive, water signs can be as mysterious as the ocean itself. Like water, they can be refreshing, or they can drown you in their depths. These signs often have intense dreams and borderline-psychic intuition. Security is important to them—after all, water needs a container, or it dries up and disappears.
Read more about the four elements
How do Earth element signs get along with the other zodiac elements?
See below for element combinations. Read more about Earth Signs in Love here.
Earth + Fire
The Good: Adventurous Fire signs inspire sensible Earth signs to be more creative. Whether they’re hosting a holiday feast or renovating the kitchen, they make great partners-in-crime. Fire signs craft the big idea and Earth signs figure out the “how.” Earth signs are a grounding force for fire, gathering family around the hearth and making sure the traditions (that Fire signs forget about) are upheld.
The Bad: Traditional Earth signs like routines and care about social status. This can make fidgety, renegade Fire signs feel controlled and contained. Simultaneously, Fire signs can lose sight of things like budgets, schedules, and propriety, leaving Earth feeling destabilized and without the cushion they need to relax under their roof.
Earth + Earth
The Good: There’s hardly a more stable combination than two Earth signs. This family friendly duo may be the upholders of tradition, carrying forth their customs and heritage and passing it through their lineage. Practical and responsible, they’re the rocks everyone leans on. But they also know how to enjoy the finer things in life from five-star restaurants to luxury vacations.
The Bad: Stable or stuck in a rut? Earth sign pairings might become so grounded that they forget that change can be good. As natural providers, their resources can become drained by all the (perfectly capable) people they feel a little too inclined to help out. If their ideas around tradition and structure don’t align, power struggles erupt—even over minor issues like how to correctly fold towels or whether to use natural cleaners or bleach.
Earth + Air
The Good: This mysterious mashup is not quite an attraction of opposites, but more a combination of people who are so fundamentally different that they find each other fascinating. Measured, disciplined Earth signs need their routines and get thrown off by too much change. Air signs are constantly updating and upgrading, from the people they call BFFs to their technology. But their influence on each other can be positive. Witty Air signs snap earth out of their “stick in the mud” ruts while Earth can get Air to stop and smell the roses—and maybe plant a garden of them in the yard.
The Bad: Stubborn Earth signs won’t back down from an argument, which creates endless drama when Air signs decide to play devil’s advocate. What starts as a “philosophical debate” over dessert can devolve into an ideological battle that wage on for years. Earth signs are traditional and like to keep certain things “pure” (AKA the way they’ve always been.) Air signs are modernizers, bucking against anything old fashioned, including disrupting family customs in ways earth may find disrespectful.
Earth + Water
The Good: These security-minded signs feel right at home together, creating a cozy, traditional enclave that may become the hub of their extended family and friend circles. Managerial Earth signs make sure that all the appliances are working and the bills paid on time. Water signs create the mood with creative decor, nourishing meals, family bonding time and a playlist for every special occasion!
The Bad: Why even bother leaving home when life is this nurturing under your roof? The downside of this cozy combination is that it can become way too insular. This can lead to stagnation and boredom for both Water and Earth signs, who would be wise to develop at least a few autonomous interests and friendships so their dependable vibe doesn’t turn codependent.
When is the Sun in an Earth sign every year?
Taurus Season: April 20 – May 19
Themes: stability, security, elegance, sensuality
Virgo Season: August 23 – September 22
Themes: health, helpfulness, order, organization
Capricorn Season: December 22 – January 19
Themes: ambition, structure, goals, prestige
How to embrace Earth element energy
During the Earth sign seasons—when the Sun is in Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn—we all have access to the grounded wisdom this element brings. You can “wake up” the Earth element during each solar cycle with these guided meditations that we created with musician and astrologer Brooke Dabalos.
Photo by Drazen_ from Getty Images Signature