Fixed signs are taurus, scorpio, leo and aquarius. Mutable signs are gemini, sagittarius, virgo and pisces. Lastly, the twelve signs are alternately positive and negative, beginning with the first sign, aries, which is positive. These are known as the polarities. The pattern of elements and qualities in the astrological signs is constant every third sign has the same element.
Every fourth sign has the same quality.
So, each of the twelve signs represents a different combination of element and quality. The Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto are the astrological planets. The planets provide the power, the energy and the principles while the signs are the areas, circumstances and conditions through which they operate. Planets are colored by the signs they are in, as well as by that sign's ruler and co-ruler. When a planet is in the sign that it rules, it is said to be in dignity, and when it is in the opposite sign, it is in its detriment.