Temperament has been studied throughout history and the Ancient Astrologers/Astronomers (the two cosmic subjects were originally studied as one!) first defined the different attitudes and approaches to life, of people born with a fire, earth, air or water ‘temperament’, by attributing qualities and character traits associated with archetypal human energies to the stories associated with particular constellations.
For example, those born in one of the so-called water signs of Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces, were said to be ruled by ‘feminine’ or yin-receptive energy, to be sensitive in approach and emotional in reactions. This gave a general temperamental tendency for water signs to be ruled by their feelings and emotions, to look towards the past for reference points and be strongly influenced by memories – more so than other temperaments. Water signs tend to define life through feelings rather than logic, so they generally have a more subjective and personal than objective/impersonal outlook.
The Greeks used the basis of the four elements to develop the study of ’Humours’, a sophisticated system that was the basis for a form of psychological study and medicine. The Melancholic (Earth), Choleric ( Fire), Sanguine (air) and Phlegmatic (water) temperaments were named after the dominant mood of a person, which in turn defined physical and mental tendencies.
Carl Jung further refined this system in the 20th century with his definition of the psychological types: intuitive (fire) sensing (earth) thinking (air) and feeling (water).
Finally, Isabel Myers Briggs and Katherine Briggs devised the Myers-Briggs typology testing system widely used throughout the business world as a fascinating and efficient way of ‘speed-reading’ different personal preferences in order to bring harmony, cooperation and sense of self-value to workplace team –members.
If you have an interest in temperament or personality, there are many books on the subject, but for the purposes of this website, a basic understanding is all that’s required to help you understand some of your baby’s preferences and how he or she may have innately different needs than older or younger siblings.
As light-hearted as this subject matter may appear on the surface, it is worth some serious consideration so that your child can be totally supported in his or her development. Sensitive or artistic temperaments in particular can be drowned out when there are more spirited or extrovert children who are better at demanding attention!
A child of any temperament, when different to other family members, may feel excluded or ‘different’ without quite knowing how or why, so a little knowledge of the subject can go a long way to understanding and supporting why and how individual preferences occur.
Fire, Earth, Air or Water..... what's your baby like and what nurtures him or her the most? Click below to find out...
Firebaby Temperament
Earthbaby Temperament
Airybaby Temperament
Waterbaby Temperament
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