The elements, fire, earth, air and water play an important part in determined a person's character. The elements, planets and aspects work together to form your complete character. At the time of your birth all the 12 signs are divided into the 12 houses of the horoscope where they represent the four elements and act as the foundation for the personality. When you study a person's horoscope you have to consider the horoscope as a whole and by counting the number of planets plus the Sun and the Moon you can establish how the person's energy will flow.

People with a balanced amount of planets in each of the elements are more in harmony with themselves than those with an imbalanced amount like six planets in a fire sign and one planet in an earth sign and three planets in air signs and no water. They will have more of a fiery personality.

To know which element your planets are in could be the key to understand yourself better. Educate yourself and find out how interesting you really are. There are three signs in each of the four elements.

The three fire signs are Aries, Leo and Sagittarius. When the Sun is in one of these fire signs the individual is enthusiastic and has a love of freedom. These people show confidence, however they are also very sensitive and because of this they sometimes overreact to a situation. The fire signs have a desire for freedom and like to do things their way. Aries like to start things. Leo likes to express themselves as an individual in a creative way. Sagittarius has an independent nature and value their freedom.

The three earth signs are Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. They are generally practical people and usually show dependability, reliability and stability. They will put form to other people's dreams and ideas and are dedicated workers who follow through on a project where other people would have given up long ago. Taurus is usually very security conscious. Virgo represents service and health. Capricorn expresses themselves through ambitions and the willingness to work for a goal.

The three air signs are Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius. These signs are associated with thoughts, adaptability and the gift with meeting other people with ease. They are the communicators, quick witted and intelligent. They are interested in exploring the mind and show deep interest in learning. Gemini makes good teachers and is very versatile. Libra has an artistic mind, they are very sociable and they generally learn through relationships. Aquarius is the humanitarian people with a strong original and inventive streak in their nature.

The three water signs are Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. These signs correspond to emotions and are extremely sensitive to other people's feelings. They can tune into the subconscious of others and instinctively understand the other person. Cancer's emotions are mainly directed toward the home. In Scorpio the emotions are directed toward the partner and the desire to probe into life itself. In Pisces the emotions are directed toward all the people, particularly those in distress.