Four Elements Quiz
Earth
With calm, steady weight, you firm up the ground underfoot and hold your shape.
Earth is the element Aristotle described as cold and dry. It was thought to be the heaviest of the four, sinking toward the center of everything. The other elements rest on top of it, and earth supports the whole from the very bottom.
Dry things were thought of as those that keep their own outline and don't change shape even when put in a container. You tend to stay at a calm temperature and hold firmly to your usual ways and views. Even when a sudden current pushes you, you don't move right away; you check your footing before you go forward.
Because earth doesn't move, it becomes the footing for everything else. On the other hand, when earth has been packed hard, it takes a while for new shoots to break through. You, too, may need a little time when it's a matter of mixing something new into your usual way of doing things.
Strengths
- You can keep up your usual way of doing things, at the same steady pace, for a long time
- Even when everyone around you is in a rush, you can calmly secure the ground underfoot
- Once you've decided something, you don't easily give it up
Where you may stumble
- When plans suddenly change, it takes time to switch gears
- You're slow to put into words what's good about the usual way
- You pass on new tools or methods before you've tried them
Sounds familiar, Earth?
- When you find something you like, you buy a spare before the first one runs out
- New clothes you've bought sit in the shopping bag for a while
- Even when you hear about a shortcut, you keep taking the route you know
Where you shine
When everything around you is shaking and in a rush. When you keep a calm, steady footing, people have somewhere to come back to, and regrouping gets easier.
Tips for “Earth”
- Once a week, choose a different route or a different shop from usual
- When plans change, start by writing down the parts that stay the same
- Tell someone one thing you like about your usual way of doing things
Matches
See every match in the Four Elements Quiz compatibility chart →
Fire — Fire burns hot and gets things moving. Earth on its own just stays hard, but fired in a kiln it becomes pottery or brick. With Fire's heat, Earth's steadiness takes shape.
Water — Water keeps a calm temperature too. When Water soaks into dry Earth, shoots start to grow. Neither of you is in a hurry, so you can stay together at the same pace for a long time.
Air — Air wants to change direction the moment an idea strikes. When Earth says, “Let's do it the usual way,” Air feels it's hit a wall, while Earth is left puzzled that what was decided yesterday has already changed.
Which one are you? 12 everyday situations, about 2 minutes.
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