The Qualities of Friendship and Astrology

“Just friends,” best friends, acquaintances, friends with benefits, work friends, family friends, friends for life, BFFs and even “frienemies” (those friends you love to hate and hate to love); just about everyone has one or all of these types of friends. Some know you better than others. What makes them special? Is any one of them more special than the other? Are all you friends similar, or do you have a cosmic cocktail of friends? Only your Sign Quality can tell for sure.

The Qualities: Cardinal, Fixed, Mutable

In western astrology, the Qualities (Cardinal, Fixed, and Mutable) are made up of three groups of four signs. Although the personalities of these signs may be quite different on the surface, such as Aries and Cancer, they share a deeper connection; they are both Cardinal signs.

Cardinal Signs: Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn, are always ready to spring into action, to make changes at the flip of a switch.

Fixed Signs: Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius, seem to hold steady under pressure, resisting change and they can be very resolute in their opinion.

Mutable Signs: Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces, mutate to and are more adaptable to change, when it is warranted.

Elements vs. Qualities

The Elements (fire, water, air and earth) can be remarkably eye-opening in how great or not so great a romantic prospect can be, but people born with similar Qualities tend to gravitate you toward people who make the best friends and workmates, because they approach situations in a similar way.

Interestingly, each Element (fire, water, etc.) is made up of four groups of three. Each of those three signs has a different Quality. For instance, the three water signs are Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces: Cancer is a Cardinal sign, Scorpio is a Fixed sign, and Pisces is a Mutable sign.

Elements are core qualities that bond a couple in a romantic situation. For instance, you like romantic evenings at home or you need the lights and noise of a big crowd and loud music. You love parties and family functions, or you’d rather stay home with your honey alone. If their Qualities differ, it may provide a spark that ignites hotness and desirable feelings. Sometimes opposites do attract.

Qualities describe actionable approaches to situations, such as reacting to some last minute crisis at work. Will your group hem and haw and then do it anyway or will they just jump in and adapt as necessary? Friendships seem to form more easily based on Qualities. People are more comfortable with a group that marches to the same beat, something a romantic relationship may find boring.

You can, of course, choose your friends and lovers without knowing their Sun sign, but wouldn’t it be curious to see just how many of your current friends share the same Quality as you?