Earth, our home planet, is a world unlike any other. It’s the 3rd planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life. According to radiometric dating and other sources of evidence, Earth formed over 4.5 billion years ago. Earth’s gravity interacts with other objects in space, especially the Sun and the Moon, it’s only natural satellite.
At the planet’s heart lies the inner core, a solid sphere of iron and nickel that’s 759 miles wide and as hot as 9,800 degrees Fahrenheit. The inner core is surrounded by the outer core, a 1,400-mile-thick band of iron and nickel fluids. Beyond the outer core lies the mantle, a 1,800-mile-thick layer of viscous molten rock on which Earth’s outermost layer, the crust, rests. On land, the continental crust is an average of 19 miles thick, but the oceanic crust that forms the seafloor is thinner—about three miles thick—and denser.
Earth’s crust and upper mantle are divided into massive plates that grind against each other in slow motion. Three of these tectonic plates happen to meet in Guatemala. Therefore, the country lies in a major fault zone known as the Motagua and Chixoy-Polochic fault complex, which cuts across Guatemala and forms the tectonic boundary between the Caribbean plate and the North American plate. In addition, along Guatemala’s western coast line, the Cocos plate pushes against the Caribbean plate, forming a subduction zone known as the Middle America Trench located approximately 30 miles off Guatemala’s Pacific coast. This subduction zone led to the formation of the Central America Volcanic Arc, and is an important source of offshore earthquakes. As these plates collide, tear apart, or slide past each other, they give rise to very active geology. Earthquakes rumble as these plates snag and slip past each other. Many volcanoes form as seafloor crust smashes into and slides beneath continental crust. When plates of continental crust collide, mountain ranges such as the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes are also pushed toward the skies.
From an element lens, Earth can be associated with the qualities of patience, thoughtfulness, practicality, hard work and stability. The earth element is also nurturing and seeks to draw all things together with itself, in order to bring harmony, rootedness and stability. Other attributes of the earth element include ambition, stubbornness, responsibility and long-term planning.
Earth is low and heavy. It stays in one place, continuously caught in gravity’s domain. This element doesn’t tend to get into power struggles and is compliant, humble and willing to cooperate. Earth zodiac signs are Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn. The concept of the zodiac originated in Babylon in the 2nd millennium BCE, and was later influenced by Hellenistic (Ancient Greek), Roman, and Egyptian culture. This resulted in a mix of traditions, where the 12 zodiac symbols were associated with the 12 Houses – different fields of experience associated with the various planets – and the four classical elements (Earth, Air, Water and Fire).
Those graced by an Earth sign in their horoscope are usually practical, grounded and dependable. These folks don’t take big risks; rather, they much prefer a sure thing. Much like the elements are considered the building blocks in nature, Earth signs are the builders of the zodiac. To these signs, creation is a tangible proposition. Whether it’s building jobs or a home, or creating comfortable rooms within that home through the acquisition of possessions, Earth signers are all about what is solid around us. Those influenced by this element feel best once they have accumulated a good number of worldly possessions. The risk inherent in this, however, is that these individuals may become greedy and far too materialistic.
The element of Earth also confers a sense of duty, responsibility and reliability to those in its sphere. These are the people you can count on to be there when you need them. Those influenced by Earth also tend toward caution and conservatism, in both desire and approach. That said, they are sensualists, certainly in that they appreciate a good meal and fine wine better than anyone else.
The logical mind of an Earth signer is always appreciated. In keeping with this measured approach, these folks also display considerable recuperative powers. On the flip side of things, however, those supported by Earth may be so caught up in their objectives that they might overlook the feelings of others. It is a big picture, after all, but these folks may be more concerned with the finish line than the journey they are taking.
VOS® decided to give The Earth Collection it’s name because Earth is the planet we have the best opportunity to understand in detail.
