Meaning of the element of water

In astrology, there are three water signs: Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. Aside from similarities in their personality, each water sign has its own energy, partly due to their placement in the groups divided by their qualities.

These qualities are called Cardinal, Fixed and Mutable, which comprise the signs associated with the seasons. Thus, within the water signs, Cancer is a cardinal sign, Scorpio is a fixed sign and Pisces is a mutable sign. In short, the quality of your sign affects the way you absorb, process and deal with the factors of the external environment.

Other characteristics, aspects and symbolism of the water signs will be discussed throughout this article. Check it out!

Characteristics of the element of water

Water is certainly one of the most important elements in the universe, because we all need it to live. In other words, without this element, the existence of any form of life is impossible.

Water is also considered a purifying or cleansing element as well as an emotional element, unlike earth which is considered stable.

Learn more about this and other features below.

Emotions

Water signs experience the world through their vast sea of emotions. Guided by their instincts, these three signs often feel things quite intensely.

On the one hand, their emotional aspect can provide them with a lot of insight and wisdom based on their experiences. It also allows them to have incredible empathy, which helps them form strong bonds with others.

However, at times they can become so overwhelmed by their emotions that it seems like a tsunami hitting all at once. So emotions for water signs can either help them to relate, or leave them overwhelmed and lacking the clarity to make rational decisions.

Feelings

The water element in the signs provides a seemingly endless supply of free-flowing feelings, making Cancerians, Scorpios and Pisceans known for their deeply sensitive, sentimental and intuitive natures.

In this way, people of the water signs are extremely deep people, just like the ocean. That is, they can always surprise us with something we could never imagine in their personality.

Therefore, feelings on the surface are undoubtedly one of the main characteristics of the water signs.

Intuition

All three water signs are notoriously perceptive and have keen instincts when it comes to analysing people and situations. They are therefore guided by their feelings and perceptions, and more often than not their first impressions of something tend to be right.

Also, they can get an idea whether someone's intentions are good or not just by observing their body language and general behavior.

Like a river that fills every gap in its path, water signs cover every detail and often pick up things that others miss.

Fantasy

Sometimes water sign people can seem withdrawn and shy, but the truth is that they are probably immersed in a whirlwind of thoughts.

In other words, they can be mentally millions of miles away, and often, get lost in the world of fantasies. Also, Cancerians, Pisceans and Scorpios are prone to analyze absolutely everything.

However, overthinking and fantasizing about things can make life more complicated for them than necessary. Even for these people, the bad habit of making up problems and obstacles in their mind is another negative aspect that is quite difficult to deal with.

Yin Nature

Regarding polarities, where we use the Taoist symbol of yin-yang we have on one side Yang - masculine energy, active, projective and turned outward; and on the other side Yin - feminine energy, passive, receptive, turned inward.

Although water is a very Yin element, it can exist in a Yang state. When water expresses masculine Yang energy, its color is black and is symbolized by a wave. However, when this element expresses feminine Yin energy, its color is gray and is symbolized by a stream.

In this sense, the qualities of water signs are creativity, sensitivity, reflection, persuasion, effectiveness and desire. Moreover, these Yin signs value family and social connections and possess the gift of attraction.

Positive trends of the element of water

Water signs are attuned to good energies and positive vibrations. Thus, people ruled by the element of water bring together a blend of emotional availability, loyalty, and selflessness that is a constant reminder of why we love the holders of these signs so much.

They are still the kind of person who puts others first in any situation, and this is just one of the countless qualities of Cancerians, Pisceans and Scorpios.

Check out other positive trends for signs of this element below.

Creativity

Water signs feel everything excessively and most of the time they take this emotion and transform it into some kind of art. For this reason, creativity is one of the great characteristics of these signs.

Moreover, it is through artistic expressions that some are able to free themselves from their own personal dramas, when they are not able to express them in any other way.

As writers, musicians and actors, they help themselves and others to understand the human experience. But this also happens in everyday life, since the water signs resignify the most banal things, giving them a creative touch.

Empathy

The empathic nature of water signs is quite noticeable. They are emotionally intelligent and aware of other people's feelings and also have a very tender heart. Therefore, they are the most supportive types of friends.

On the other hand, water signs are also very self-protective and use empathy to their advantage because they are emotionally sensitive.

Patience

Patience is also another explicit virtue of the water signs. This quality leads them to understand the other person's need in order to help them in whatever they need.

Water signs can easily use patience without losing their sense of boundaries. Therefore, they are more understanding, even at the mercy of life's emotional ups and downs.

Along with other characteristics that balance and complement each other, patience is the key to stable and lasting bonds, to the point of being a crucial virtue for people ruled by the element of water.

Negative tendencies of the element of water

People born under the element of Water have the ability to attract the attention or interest of other people without much effort on their part.

However, they have some negative aspects as they tend to get hurt easily, be temperamental and highly suspicious.

People born in this group also tend to be hypersensitive, resulting in emotional instability, over-romanticism, and other not-so-good characteristics, which you'll see below.

Melancholy

No doubt being ruled by the element of water means that you can have ripples in your emotional state. In some cases, these signs absorb emotion so deeply that it turns into melancholy.

In addition, the modern world also labels the melancholy traits of water sign people, and often reminds them of what they are trying to repress - their feelings, sensitivities, longings, fears and so on.

So you have to try to balance internal feelings and external opinions so that everything doesn't turn into dark territory of imaginary mistakes being fed and becoming nightmares, totally out of control.

Excessive romanticism

Another strongly highlighted characteristic of the water signs is idealism and excess of romanticism. Among the three signs, Cancerians are the most romantic and love to see the world with rose-colored glasses.

On the other hand, Piscians and Scorpios are also attached to the people they care about and are compassionate to those around them. This means that when feelings are positive and loving, water sign people know how to express them in a pure and clear way.

They express their feelings of love directly and are willing to commit to this without much difficulty. When it comes to love relationships, they are extremely warm and feel free to express the depth of their passion.

Emotional instability

Despite being completely emotional, water signs don't have total control over their emotions and don't adapt well to change. For some of them, being emotional means hiding their feelings from the world. Others completely vent their feelings with words and behavior.

In addition, they each have their own reasons that explain their emotional variations: whether it's fear of getting hurt, showing their vulnerabilities, or being selfish and immature.

However, despite this emotional instability, the feelings of Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces people are of a pure and true nature.

Water signs

Water is a formless element on its own, which is why those with this sign are so quickly shaped by their feelings, emotions, and relationships with others.

So, just like water, Cancerians, Pisceans and Scorpios live a life of oscillations until they find their way to calmness. They are people who need people, but they also need their space for reflection.

In this sense, each of these signs has specific characteristics, which will be addressed below.

Cancer

Ruled by the Moon, Cancer is one of the most intuitive and sensitive signs of the zodiac. Its instincts are so acute that they can be frightening.

As a cardinal sign, Cancerians are capable of taking decisive actions and manifesting their dreams with the same intensity. They are known as the providers of the zodiac as they take care of their loved ones without imposing restrictions.

Sharp in their perception, though tender and fragile in their self-protection, Cancerians are considered both the most creative sign of the zodiac and the most insecure.

And finally, like a crab, they take special care of their shell, meaning they are known to be reserved when it comes to sharing their feelings so as not to be hurt.

Scorpio

Scorpio is the only fixed water sign of the zodiac. Because of their passionate nature, they are often mistaken for a fire sign.

Ruled by Pluto, planet of the underworld, sex, death and rebirth, Scorpios express tremendous energy, will and determination, no doubt, but show only what is on the surface.

Emotions for this sign are controlled on the outside, but extreme on the inside. They can be intuitive, stubborn, loyal, and sometimes, obsessive. Still, this sign is capable of absolutely anything, and can use their tremendous power in both affectionate and venomous ways.

Fish

As a changeable sign, Pisces has a special talent for flexibility. But while they easily adapt to their environment, they tend to struggle to find solid footing.

Pisces, like Cancer, is an extremely emotional and sensitive zodiac sign. As a result, Pisceans are known for their compassion, empathy, understanding and loving nature. On the other hand, they also tend to be insecure, spiteful and possessive.

Jupiter and Neptune rule Pisces; Jupiter is the planet of abundance and luck, while Neptune is associated with imagination and dreams. These planets influence the dreamy and emotional nature of Pisces.

Water element combinations

In the same way that zodiac signs influence our personalities, emotions, and how we project ourselves to the world, they are a great tool for finding someone compatible.

And while each of the water signs has its own best correspondences, there are some aspects that affect the compatibility of all water signs with other signs belonging to other elements.

Understand more about these combinations in the following topics.

Water and air

Like the wind, air signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) are all about change and action. However, they are hard to get attached to because they are always on the move.

These two elements are usually a great source of inspiration for the other, with water signs helping water sign partners better express their deep emotions, while water signs help air sign partners find a pathway for their creativity.

Water also inspires air to create a stronger personal foundation for their relationships. Conversely, air natives help water to express their feelings in words and can be a motivating force for balancing and managing harmful emotions.

Water and land

Earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn) are the most grounded and stable of the zodiac They are practical, grounded, and are the kind of person you can rely on in times of need.

In this way water signs can soften the earth and take you into the deeper emotional layers of intimacy. This generates a full feeling for a satisfying physical relationship in romance.

Furthermore, earth signs can help water in the practical challenges of life and encourage them to bring their gifts into the real world through some tangible and palpable effort.

Can knowing about the element of water help us understand our own energies?

The energies of the water element are attuned to the emotional world, sensitivity, subjectivity, bonds and connections, and the subtleties of life.

For this reason, knowing and understanding the element of water is fundamental to understanding not only our own emotions, but also our own energies. Understanding how we shape ourselves to the environment and how we absorb the energies around us.

So, the aim of this guide about the water signs is to help you go beyond the stereotype and lead you to consider the qualities of these signs from a new perspective, which will lead you to self-knowledge and personal growth.