Workplace Stress: Are You Out of Your Element?

The best way to explain how the different astrological elements (Fire, Earth, Air, Water) operate is to imagine a school playground at recess. Two kids get into a physical fight. Four teachers come running to the scene; here’s how they respond to the situation. The teacher born under Fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) may never admit it, but they’re kind of excited by the fight. They will want to observe the “technique” of each kid and gauge the mood of the “spectators.” They might even imagine placing a bet on the outcome. But then, they will also be the first to wade in and break it up, regardless of personal risk. The kids might be somewhat intimidated by the teacher's energetic approach, but that won't necessarily calm everybody down. The teacher born under Earth (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) will be very disapproving. Fighting is against the rules – it’s right there in the school handbook! Those kids are in BIG trouble. Once the fight is over, Earth will drag both of the participants to the principal’s office, lecturing and scolding all the way. Those kids won't feel like fighting anymore, once they start thinking about detention or parent-teacher conferences. The teacher born under Air (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) will be the first to ask "What started this?" They will be interested in the words - the ideas and opinions that gave rise to the physical clash. If one student is appreciably larger than the other, that student will have the best chance of asserting "The little guy started it - I was defending myself!" because the Air teacher cherishes objective fact and justice. The kids will probably continue arguing and chattering all the way to the principal's office, until an Earth sign commands them to be quiet. The teacher born under Water (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) will be drawn to the emotion of the situation, and will quite likely empathize. The big kid’s “self-defense” argument won’t make much of an impression on this teacher, who sees only the smaller child’s bruises and tears. This is the teacher who will say “This is going to break your mother’s heart!” By the time the kids get to the Principal's office, they'll probably both be in tears, and soon the Principal will be, too. So as you can see from this vignette, the four elements operate from different motives - Action (fire); order (earth); intellect (air) and emotion (water). This perspective follows Sun and Ascendant sign natives throughout life. You’re not on the playground anymore (even though you might be tempted to invite your boss to pound sand...), but if you know which element predominates at your workplace, it can be helpful in understanding how the players interact, and where you might (or might not) fit in. If the influencers at your job are mostly Fire signs, you may find that it’s a relatively fun place to work. At least, it will never be boring. Just don’t expect to get much rest there. People will follow the lead of Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius by talking loudly and not bothering to respect boundaries. “We’ve got a business to run here!” you’ll hear people say. “Get things done” is the guiding motto. “A bad decision is better than no decision” is another. “Ready-fire-aim” will often be demonstrated in this workplace. Patient introverts will keep their heads down and do the best they can; they may resort to sneaky, passive-aggressive actions, since they are convinced that no one will ever notice. If you work for a company with a conservative dress code and an employee handbook that dates back to the 1980s, chances are the CEO or founder is a Taurus, Virgo or Capricorn. Wealth is greatly respected here, and so is tradition. There’s a clear top-down hierarchy. Always observe the formalities and don’t expect much of a reception if you suddenly get a brilliant idea in the middle of the night that you know will revolutionize your industry. “Revolution” is a 4-letter word when Earth is in charge. Do plenty of kissing up, play by the rules, and always bring money into the conversation. That is, after all, what you’re working for. If you prefer a breath of fresh “air” every now and then, you’ll be thankful to discover that your boss and several upper-management figures are Geminis, Librans or Aquarians. They’ve been there, done that, and are eager to move forward. Be sure you know who's in charge of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at this company, because you'll be hearing from them a lot. They are more interested in what you think than how you dress. They know that appearances tell only part of the story, and are perfectly comfortable in discovering the hidden genius that lurks within you. But don’t ever get complacent. Don’t rely on the fact that you’ve worked there since you graduated from high school. The managers born under Air will sooner or later ask you when you plan to go back and get your college degree. They’ll gladly promote you and won’t feel threatened by your ideas. But you may feel vulnerable to age discrimination, especially if the “age” has more to do with your attitude than the calendar. Never be fooled if your Water-sign boss says “It’s just business, nothing personal.” For Water signs, everything is personal. If you feel undercurrents of drama swirling around on a regular basis, that’s a company with a heavy Water influence. Secrets, gossip, conspiracies and paranoia are never far from the surface. If loyalty is your thing, Cancer and Scorpio are signs that strongly endorse it. But both of them often feel “betrayed,” so if they tell you they can’t stand the manager on the 3rd floor, don’t dare share with them that the manager said something nice to you. You’ll be on the Enemies List before you can blink. Pisces can be very difficult to decipher -- they truly are full of sympathy, and very easily swayed by your emotional appeals -- but in turn, the next person to speak to them can push them in the other direction. Things won’t be calm or rational if you’re an air sign. New, unexpected ideas may take root, which will delight you if you’re a Fire sign, but soon enough, you’ll realize that the emotional climate that gave rise to the ideas has built in plenty of pitfalls, which will just lead to a new round of drama and hand-wringing. Take some time to figure out the predominant astrological elements in your workplace. Learning how to adjust to it, or figuring out your Plan B, can save you years of stress and frustration. And be watchful anytime there’s a major change of personnel. The entire company might undergo a profound philosophical "personality" shift. Be ready for it.