#Modality

[redtail-coins]

New gender term for me: Infracis

[Image ID: A 7 striped flag with thin dividing stripes in between each stripe. The stripes are uneven sizes, symmetrically getting smaller as they go toward the middle. Colors, in descending order, are: salmon pink; black divider stripe; dark dusty violet; gray divider stripe; very dark gray; white divider stripe; gradient from red to purple to blue to green; white divider stripe; very dark gray; gray divider stripe; dark dusty indigo; black divider stripe; blue. End ID.]

Infracis is a identity for cisness that is queer in its cisness. It subverts traditional ideas of what 'cis' means, and/or it is being cis in such a way that identifying as cis, or as your AGAB/ASAB, is more abnormal or unexpected than identifying as trans would be.

Some reasons that someone would identify as infracis:

1. They are intersex and identify with intergender, and/or with "intersex" as their gender identity, and thus consider themselves cisgender. Because this is not the traditional image of an aptobinary, perisex cis person, they would be infracis

2. They are multigender and consider themselves at least partially cis, but since cisness usually refers to aptobinary cis people, they are infracis

3. They are nonbinary and don't want to transition, so they feel they relate more to cisness, but because they are nonbinary it is expected that they would identify with trans, and not cis, so they would be infracis

4. They identify with an identity that is close to their AGAB or aligned with it, but isn't exactly it (like an AMAB xenoboy).

5. They are transgender and cissexual, cisgender and transsexual, or any other cis-trans combo that makes their cisness queer, so they're infracis

6. They're gender non-conforming and their cisness is constantly called into question because of the way they subvert it.

Or any other queer experience with gender and sex that makes one feel like they're cis in a nonconformant way, or subverting cisness. I'm multigender (aporagender + girl), isocis, and a label collector. I've joked that I'm "the least cisgender cis person" and I feel like my cisness is both subversive to traditional cisness because of my queer gender identity, and queer in its cisness because most people would assume I'm under the trans umbrella or just fully iso, because how genderqueer I am doesn't usually fit the idea of what a cis person is.

Etymology: Infra- meaning "below" "beneath" or "under" and cis from "cisgender," meaning "identifying with one's assigned gender at birth." The prefix "Infra-" was chosen for a few reasons. First, because of the subversion aspect of infracis. Second, because in the color spectrum, infra-red is a shade of red that's just outside of the visible light spectrum, so it both explains the way infracis transcends and goes beyond traditional cisness, as well as paying homage to the relative invisibility of infracis people's inherently queer cisness.

Tagging @cisqueer-archive because you'll like this one and @genderstarbucks because you wanted to see what I would make

[1313ablackcat1313]

Astrology and Modality

Modality: Cardinal: - Pros: creative, natural leader, trendsetter - Cons: bossy, impatient, abuse of power Fixed: - Pros: persistent, someone to lean on, a listener - Cons: stubborn, unemotional, can be a little cold or mean Mutable: - Pros: adaptable, smart, goes with the flow - Cons: overly emotional, unreliable, impulsive

Aries: March 21st - April 19th Ruling Planet: Mars Description: "I am." Modality: Cardinal Element: Fire

Taurus: April 20th - May 20th Ruling Planet: Venus Description: "I have." Modality: Fixed Element: Earth

Gemini: May 21st - June 20th Ruling Planet: Mercury Description: "I think." Modality: Mutable Element: Air

Cancer: June 21st - July 22nd Ruling Planet: The Moon Description: "I feel." Modality: Cardinal Element: Water

Leo: July 23rd - August 22nd Ruling Planet: The Sun Description: "I create." Modality: Fixed Element: Fire

Virgo: August 23rd - September 22nd Ruling Planet: Mercury Description: "I examine." Modality: Mutable Element: Earth

Libra: September 23rd - October 22nd Ruling Planet: Venus Description: "I relate." Modality: Cardinal Element: Air

Scorpio: October 23rd - November 21st Ruling Planet: Pluto/Mars Description: "I desire." Modality: Fixed Element: Water

Sagittarius: November 22nd - December 21st Ruling Planet: Jupiter Description: "I understand." Modality: Mutable Element: Fire

Capricorn: December 22nd - January 19th Ruling Planet: Saturn Description: "I use." Modality: Cardinal Element: Earth

Aquarius: January 20th - February 18th Ruling Planet: Uranus Description: "I know." Modality: Fixed Element: Air

Pisces: February 19th - March 20th Ruling Planet: Neptune Description: "I believe." Modality: Mutable Element: Water

[your-bigender-big-brother]

Don't limit yourself to any binaries - male/female, AFAB/AMAB, cis/trans, man/woman, etc. are all very limiting and hardly encompass the entirety of the human experience. You don't have to force yourself to fit into any of these systems.

- Your Bigender Big Brother 💙💚

[littlemoonastrology]

All About: CANCER ♋︎ - The Zodiac Signs

This post will cover all the basic information needed to understand Cancer, the fourth Zodiac Sign!

Take a look at my other posts to see more information on: Aries, Taurus and Gemini!

Lights... Camera... Action... Because Leo is coming next, keep a look out!

If you feel like this post has helped you feel free to Follow, Reblog or Repost (as long as I'm credited! I'm relatively new to Tumblr so I'm still learning about how all this works)!

~

Cancer ♋︎

Date (Only applies to Sun Signs): June 21 - July 22

Symbol: ♋︎ - The Crab

Associated House: Fourth

Associated Degrees: 4°, 16°, 28°

Associated Energy: Feminine

Planetary Ruler(s): ☾ Moon (Modern and Traditional)

Element: Water

Modality: Cardinal

Keywords: Observant, Protective, Strategic, Expressive, Caring, Nurturing

If you ever need a friend who has always got your back, a Cancer is the right one for the job! Natives of Cancer placements are naturally quite protective, caring and observant people, wanting to nurture the things they care about. When you first meet a Cancer, it may be a somewhat awkward or comforting energy as they tend to be shy when first meeting people, but once they open up and show you who they are that is when you know a Cancer trusts you. On the other end of the spectrum, a Cancer may be friendly to everyone and displays their nature a lot more. This placement, whilst they may enjoy self-improvement and be blunt when giving advice, what they really need is someone who understands them, validates their emotions and cares about the friendship/relationship just as much as them.

Contrary to popular belief of Cancer placements being lazy, they can be extremely hardworking, strategic and put their all into something if they care about it enough. Although this can end up in burn-out if they don't monitor the amount of effort being put in, then the rewards being received.

However, as strong a Cancer may come across - when threatened by something which they view as having lots of control over them they may hide away and become extremely passive, looking for ways to escape. This could be something like a parent, responsibility or an environment where there is a lot of change taking place (examples!). At first they may bottle things up, but if it brews long enough then comes resentment, bitterness, saltiness and it needs to be let out. This can cause a Cancer to act out in anger or upset, maybe become somewhat self-absorbed in the way they view things because it just feels like "no one gets it". Sometimes instead of acting out, they may become passive aggressive instead and continue harbouring resentment. Unless this placement learns healthy communication and has a mode to express themselves, it is possible for these negative emotions to become a cycle.

When a Cancer placement finally feels supported, validated, understood and like they are being nurtured they form an attachment and become a lot more confident, wanting to share themselves with the world. In some cases, this may breed some kind of codependency or over-reliance and this placement may forget to nurture their other responsibilities and interests.

~

Notes/Keywords/Phrases

Zodiac Sign

Each of the Zodiac Signs are a constellation. The Zodiac Sign shows how a Planet/Asteroid/Fixed Point/House is being represented and expressed. Once a Planet/Asteroid/Fixed Point/House falls into a Zodiac Sign, it adopts the energy of it.

For example: if Mercury falls into the constellation Sagittarius, Mercury adopts Sagittarian traits. If the 6th House falls into the constellation Aquarius, the 6th House adopts Aquarian traits.

Associated House

The Houses in Astrology are dependent on the time and location of birth in a Natal Chart and there are 12 different ones. Each of these 12 Houses are then assigned to a Zodiac Sign and 1 or 2 Planetary Rulers. The Houses in Astrology show you what area of life the energy of the Zodiac and Planets/Asteroids/Fixed Points is appointed to and helps provide depth into the chart.

For example: Capricorn's Associated House is the 10th House.

Associated Degrees

When a Planet/Asteroid/Fixed Point/House falls into a Zodiac Sign constellation, it will be appointed a Degree. This Degree shows how far along the Planet/Asteroid/Fixed Point/House is in a Zodiac Sign. Each Degree is also associated with a Zodiac Sign, meaning when this Degree comes up it can nuance the way the Zodiac Sign of a Planet/Asteroid/Fixed Point/House is being represented.

For example: Mars is 6° in the Zodiac Cancer, 6° represents Virgo - therefore the Cancer Mars also takes on Virgo traits. The 2nd House is 23° in the Zodiac Scorpio, 23° represents Aquarius - therefore the 2nd House in Scorpio takes on Aquarian traits.

Planetary Ruler(s)

This phrase refers to the Planet(s) that rule a Zodiac Sign. When a Planet falls into the Zodiac Sign it has rulership over, the energy of both the Planet and the Zodiac Sign is amplified.

For example: Pisces' Planetary Ruler is Neptune.

Modern / Traditional

These words are associated with two kinds of Astrology: Modern Astrology and Traditional Astrology. Traditional Astrology refers to Astrology that was practiced before the 19th century, whilst Modern Astrology refers to Astrology that is practiced now. Some people choose to practice Traditional Astrology, some people choose to practice Modern Astrology, whilst some others might practice both types or combine them together.

Element

Each Zodiac Sign/Planet/House/Degree is associated with an Element and this covers certain traits which are unique to the Zodiac Sign/Planet/House/Degree they correspond to.

These Elements are: Fire, Air, Water and Earth.

Modality

Much like an Element, each Zodiac Sign/Planet/House/Degree is associated with a Modality. The Modality describes what the focus of a placement is and how the energy is expressed.

There are 3 different Modalities: Cardinal, Mutable and Fixed.

[terrybanbery2001]

this is a true sinewave meme

[endlessandrea]

Jordy Rosenberg on writing Confessions of a Fox / different approaches to sexuality

"I also felt stuck in terms of what I felt was a polarity in queer studies or approaches to sexuality at the time I was writing [Confessions], which really started in 2010. As far as I understood it, there were two main contradictory orientations in approaches to sexuality: one was seeing sexuality as a form of deviance, but ontologically so; and then sexuality as a modality of state power. To put it another way: sexuality as a site of discipline and control, or sexuality as a kind of germ seed of chance and contingency. To me this was the result of divergent opinion in the field as to what sexuality as an object of study is. This is a reduction on my part, but for the sake of brevity, I’ll say that we could bookmark this split around a Foucauldian trajectory which sees sexuality as a vector as power, and a new materialist orientation towards sexuality, especially transsexuality, as something that involves a hopeful embrace of trans as a kind of ur-vitalism.

This is something a colleague and friend of mine Kadji Amin and I were talking about a lot at the time I was writing. Kadji describes transness as sometimes being embraced in trans studies as a primary vitality underlying all of being and life – a kind of ahistorical, pre-ontological force. There’s this tendency to want to exempt transness from history, or at least from the balefulness, or the more unsavoury aspects, of history. Kadji points out there’s a real tension there between wanting to see transness as prior to power, and then the Foucauldian understanding of vitality and vitalism as produced by biopower. And so I was having a hard time finding out how to do queer studies within that framework, and I couldn’t figure out a way to academically intervene. 

In a way, I did want to do some of the Foucauldian work of not exempting transness from the balefulness of history, and so [in Confessions] I was trying to attach transness to questions of the birth of biopolitics and of the modern Western medical tradition – and that takes place at the level of plot in the book. But I also wanted to leave a place for a utopian urge that, with some exceptions, hasn’t really had an easy time in queer studies, and that has to do with a utopian Marxist tradition which has historically seen sexuality as naming a node within the field of reproduction and the affective, psychic and embodied life of the subject, or sexuality as naming the intersection of the field of collective action with that of state power and the juridical. So for me the Marxist trajectory – not that this has always been well-articulated within Marxism; it’s taken a lot of queer and feminist scholars to bring this out – can see sexuality as potentially marking a site of active contestation with the state and with capital and reproductive accumulative logic. I wanted to neither go the vitalist tradition nor a strictly Foucauldian tradition, but to write a text that would open a place for thinking through some of the dynamics of sexuality as a mode of conflict and contestation."

[omegaphilosophia]

The Philosophy of Modality

The philosophy of modality is a branch of metaphysics that deals with the concepts of possibility and necessity. It explores the nature of different modes of truth, such as what is possible, what is necessary, and what might have been. These discussions are crucial for understanding a wide range of philosophical issues, from the nature of reality to the structure of language and logic.

Key Concepts in the Philosophy of Modality

Possible Worlds:

Concept: Possible worlds are a way to conceptualize different ways the world might have been. They provide a framework for discussing possibility and necessity.

Argument: Philosopher David Lewis famously argued for the existence of a plurality of possible worlds, where each possible world is as real as the actual world we live in. Other philosophers, like Saul Kripke, use possible worlds as a heuristic device rather than claiming their literal existence.

Modal Logic:

Concept: Modal logic is a formal system that extends classical logic to include operators that express modality (necessity and possibility).

Argument: In modal logic, □ represents necessity ("necessarily") and ◇ represents possibility ("possibly"). For example, □P means "P is necessarily true," and ◇P means "P is possibly true."

Necessity and Contingency:

Concept: Necessity refers to what must be the case, while contingency refers to what could be the case but is not necessarily so.

Argument: Philosophers distinguish between different types of necessity, such as logical necessity (true in all possible worlds) and metaphysical necessity (true in all worlds that share certain fundamental structures).

Essence and Accidents:

Concept: Essential properties are those that an entity must have to be what it is, while accidental properties are those that an entity can have but does not need to have.

Argument: Aristotle first distinguished between essence and accidents, and contemporary modal metaphysics continues to explore this distinction in the context of possible worlds and modal properties.

De Re and De Dicto Modality:

Concept: De re (about the thing) modality pertains to the properties of things themselves, while de dicto (about the saying) modality pertains to statements or propositions.

Argument: For example, "It is possible that the tallest building is in New York" (de dicto) vs. "The tallest building might have been in New York" (de re). The former is a statement about the possibility of a proposition, while the latter is about the possibility of a property of an object.

Theoretical Perspectives on Modality

Realism vs. Anti-Realism about Possible Worlds:

Realism: David Lewis’s modal realism posits that all possible worlds are as real as the actual world.

Anti-Realism: Saul Kripke and others argue that possible worlds are useful fictions or conceptual tools rather than concrete realities.

Actualism vs. Possibilism:

Actualism: The view that only the actual world and its contents exist, and possible worlds are just abstractions.

Possibilism: The view that possible entities (those that could have existed but do not actually exist) are as real as actual entities.

Essentialism vs. Anti-Essentialism:

Essentialism: The belief that entities have essential properties that define their identities.

Anti-Essentialism: The rejection of essential properties, arguing that what we consider essential is often context-dependent or constructed.

Epistemic Modality:

Concept: Epistemic modality concerns what is possible or necessary given what is known.

Argument: It deals with statements about knowledge and belief, such as "It might rain tomorrow" (epistemically possible) vs. "It must be raining now because I hear thunder" (epistemically necessary).

The philosophy of modality addresses some of the most fundamental questions about the nature of reality, possibility, and necessity. By exploring different possible worlds, the nature of essential properties, and the formal structures of modal logic, philosophers seek to understand the complex ways in which different modes of truth interact and shape our understanding of the world.

[everythingaboutbiotech]

Modal verbs

Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs that express notions like possibility, permission, obligation, etc.

Follow @everythingaboutbiotech for informative and useful stuff.

[beyond-mogai-pride-flags]

Cisgender Bisexual Pride Flag

Cisgender or cismodal: a gender modality that describes someone experiencing the gender they were assigned at birth.

Bi-: identity that encompasses experiencing attraction between two genders and all genders, with or without gender preferences.

Since I made cisdian and cisbian flags, I felt the need of this one today. This is inclusive of AGAB nonconforming (ANC) people, and multimodal people (those with multiple gender modalities).

See also: cisqueer.

[ouroboros-sys]

Finally time for more conlanging; this time, the moods.

[redtail-coins]

[ID: A 5-Striped flag. Colors in descending order are: hot pink; blue; black; blue; hot pink. End ID.]

Transn't alt flag because I don't like the others, they're either not aesthetically pleasing or don't feel like they capture the feeling of transn't.

This flag is for anyone who doesn't identify as trans, and especially identifies specifically as Not Trans. Inclusive of nonbinary and genderqueer people who don't identify as trans, as well as anyone who doesn't identify as trans despite being expected to. Can refer to transgendern't or transsexual'nt,

Color choices:

Black in the middle as the inverse of white

Blue and pink switched to demonstrate it's the opposite of trans by making it the opposite of the trans flag

Dark and saturated colors to contrast trans flag's pastels

Lower saturation version for people who have sensitivities:

[ID: The same flag but with less saturated colors. End ID]

[anaxerneas]

Could Peirce be a “seventeenth century sea captain” in some possible worlds and still intelligibly remain Peirce in such possible worlds?

It is precisely here, argues Goodwin, that Hartshorne’s ontology of temporal process can be employed, providing Kripke with intelligible criteria for making trans-world identifications. The problem of trans-world identity seems perplexing and insolvable when assuming, to use Quine’s phrase, “Aristotelian essentialism,” in which essential properties belong to substances that make no inherent reference to temporality.

By contrast, Hartshorne’s process or event ontology positions the search for an intelligible criterion for trans-world identity in the much wider matrix of successive and causally efficacious temporal units of becoming. This is one reason why Hartshorne prefers to speak of “possible world-states” rather than “possible worlds”. Temporal inheritance becomes the essential factor in determining identity, and thus more readily settles the above questions: Peirce might well exist as, say, a professional painter in some possible world-state, since he might have been one in the history of this actual world; that is, since there may have been a juncture in Peirce’s development in which he was not particularly taken with questions of speculative philosophy, but was exposed to an environment of intense interest in artistic expression. Yet, surely he could not be, in any possible world-state, a seventeenth century sea captain, since this would bear nothing in common with his succession of temporal events.

To conclude the issue cautiously, perhaps we should say that, even if Hartshorne’s event-ontological criterion of temporal inheritance does not fully resolve the issue of trans-world identity, it seems to simplify it profoundly. More pointedly, this criterion directly answers Quine’s charge of the unintelligibility of solutions based on Aristotelian essentialism that appeal to temporally de-contextualized substances.

"Charles Hartshorne: Theistic and Anti-Theistic Arguments", article by Donald Wayne Viney and George W. Shields on the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy

[dizzydjc]

From riot to red carpet — how Stravinsky’s chaos shaped the soundtracks we love. 🎬🎻 #FilmMusic #Stravinsky #StudioDJC

[littlemoonastrology]

All About: The ZODIAC SIGNS!

Seeing as you've clicked on this post you're probably pretty new to Astrology right? You've opened up your Natal Chart and realised you have no starting point on what to read first - it is just a bunch of symbols on a page... Well, this post exists to help you and will provide information on the 12 Zodiac Signs.

If you're not new to Astrology, maybe this post can act as a little refresher or provide a new perspective to help you on your Astrology Journey.

If you feel like this post has helped you feel free to Follow, Like, Reblog or Repost (as long as I'm credited)!

Anyways, here are the 12 Zodiac Signs!

~

If you'd like to jump to a certain Zodiac Sign you can use these links to jump to the separate posts!

Aries , Taurus , Gemini , Cancer , Leo , Virgo , Libra , Scorpio , Sagittarius , Capricorn , Aquarius , Pisces

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Would you like a Reading? Head over to my Ko-Fi Shop! Natal Chart Readings, Big 3 Readings and Synastry Chart Readings are currently available. <3

~

Aries ♈︎

Date (Only applies to Sun Signs): March 21 - April 19

Symbol: ♈︎ - The Ram

Associated House: First

Associated Degrees: 1°, 13°, 25°

Associated Energy: Masculine

Planetary Ruler(s): ♂ Mars (Modern and Traditional)

Element: Fire

Modality: Cardinal

Keywords: Headstrong, Entrepreneurial, Ambitious, Motivated, Spontaneous, Impulsive

Natives of this Zodiac Sign are naturally quite entrepreneurial, competitive, determined, ambitious and passionate... Once they want something they want it and will stop at nothing until they achieve their goal (this is heightened if Mars is in Aries!). Aries is the fighter that never stops fighting, seeking out excitement and holds certain ideals tight to their chest. They can be reliable friends, protective ones too! In terms of how an Aries placement carries itself, it can be quite intense to certain people and they have the vibe of someone incredibly strong. They may also have an affinity for sports, science, or product design - as long as they can keep their body and mind engaged.

Surprisingly to some, Aries aren't solely focused on themselves and may have a very strong humanitarian streak. Not only that, but they may have unique/controversial viewpoints on certain topics (such as science, fashion, etc - they are the groundbreakers!) or have a creative/philosophical streak.

When Aries feels lucky or like things are going well, gaining rewards for their hard work they will want to engage in those as much as possible which can sometimes result in overindulgence (For example, working hard at a job and they received a bonus - they might spend it very quickly whilst they are caught up in the excitement) or display a cocky attitude which may get on people's nerves.

If an Aries placement becomes insecure - maybe they lost something important to them, it may result in passivity, loss of passion, loss of determination and may become extremely lazy or stuck in a basic routine(like their fire has burnt out). It can take a long time for an Aries to get back on track, but once they do there is no stopping them, especially if they have learnt to keep a "steady burn".

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Taurus ♉︎

Date (Only applies to Sun Signs): April 20 - May 20

Symbol: ♉︎ - The Bull

Associated House: Second

Associated Degrees: 2°, 14°, 26°

Associated Energy: Feminine

Planetary Ruler(s): ♀ Venus (Modern and Traditional)

Element: Earth

Modality: Fixed

Keywords: Stable, Goal-Setters, Stubborn, Calm, Aesthetician, Trustworthy

Taurus, the Zodiac that holds the foundation of everything together - these placements are: stable, grounded, opinionated and are amazing at keeping to a long-term goal. This placement is someone whom also holds themselves quite strongly but has a much calmer demeanor compared to Aries and may be a lot more stubborn too whether they realise it or not. After all, a Taurus placement naturally knows what they want, how to achieve their goals and will never stray from those they are loyal to. As friends, Taurus placements are incredibly loyal and great advice givers (especially in topics regarding relationships, finance and maybe even real estate). That being said, Taurus placements may also be really good in management positions!

Whilst Taurus placements like to give off a calm persona - they don't share their emotions easily and may be pretty avoidant or shy in certain situation. Often this sign has gone through a lot and had some kind of injustice towards them which is deeply unsettling for them and do not deal well with anger. When they feel threatened or they have been disturbed, they may withdraw without much explanation and leave you to figure out what happened... Maybe they become passive and have trouble taking advice.

On the other side of the spectrum, when under stress or unsettled a Taurus placement may "explode" and display a quick-fuse which may come from nowhere but this is usually due some deep-rooted, long-term kind of disturbance they have been trying to suppress. It may be like they "see red".

Once a Taurus feels stable, like they can trust and is receiving constant support (whether that be by money, parents, relationship etc) they will want to enjoy this time as much as possible. However, whilst getting caught up in the aesthetics, beautiful things and enjoyment they may start to lose pieces of themselves and lose sight of the long-term and their own morals, becoming pretty lazy which can result in losses. It's important for a Taurus placement to maintain a healthy balance between enjoying the beautiful things in life but also keeping a sense of realism and moral.

~

Gemini ♊︎

Date (Only applies to Sun Signs): May 21 - June 20

Symbol: ♊︎ - The Twins

Associated House: Third

Associated Degrees: 3°, 15°, 27°

Associated Energy: Masculine

Planetary Ruler(s): ☿ Mercury (Modern and Traditional)

Element: Air

Modality: Mutable

Keywords: Charismatic, Intelligent, Curious, Independent, Communicative, Multipassionate

Playful, fun, communicative and charismatic are all words that can be used to describe those with Gemini placements! This sign may be an intellectual and enjoys exploring different hobbies, interests, opinions for their own enjoyment (although there may be one or two things they have a natural affinity for), they're the multipassionates! This sign is insanely curious and always ready to learn more, although they may not do well in a structured environment and prefer to do things in their own way - going with the flow. A Gemini friend will appreciate those with a sharp mind and don't take things too seriously, will hear out their opinion and have interesting debates! If you have similar hobbies with a Gemini friend then the bond will only strengthen further as they are not the person to bond over small talk. These placements need mental stimulation and look for that in most if not all aspects of their life.

To some extent, a Gemini placement may have a knack for "smooth talking" and may beat around the bush in order to get a response or avoid aggression. Whilst Gemini does love speaking about different hobbies, controversial topics and the such they still deeply care about people's opinions of them whether they show it or not and do their best to stay out of drama (however this may not stop them from gossiping every now and then). A Gemini placement usually never has any kind of bad intent and if needed, they will care for their friends and can be pretty wise. (Some natives of this placement however may not care about other's opinions at all and are very stable in themselves, not really caring about getting in drama - they might actually find it fun).

When insecure, feeling stuck or stagnant a Gemini placement may become completely fixed on a goal or end up overindulging in something in unhealthy ways - maybe they have a tendency to become controlling or fall into some kind of addiction as a way of escapism. They may unintentionally start to depend on other people and can come across as clingy - maybe to some extent depending on people for their own self-worth which may hint towards abandonment issues. In some cases, a Gemini may resort to manipulation and deception in order to get what they want.

A Gemini placement is at their peak when they are enjoying life, exploring their hobbies, talking to people but also when they are able to go by some kind of structure in order for them to stay committed... This sign's biggest lesson is to not stay in a stagnant energy, but also on the other side not become someone destructive (whether that's towards themselves or other aspects of their life).

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Cancer ♋︎

Date (Only applies to Sun Signs): June 21 - July 22

Symbol: ♋︎ - The Crab

Associated House: Fourth

Associated Degrees: 4°, 16°, 28°

Associated Energy: Feminine

Planetary Ruler(s): ☾ Moon (Modern and Traditional)

Element: Water

Modality: Cardinal

Keywords: Observant, Protective, Strategic, Expressive, Caring, Nurturing

If you ever need a friend who has always got your back, a Cancer is the right one for the job! Natives of Cancer placements are naturally quite protective, caring and observant people, wanting to nurture the things they care about. When you first meet a Cancer, it may be a somewhat awkward or comforting energy as they tend to be shy when first meeting people, but once they open up and show you who they are that is when you know a Cancer trusts you. On the other end of the spectrum, a Cancer may be friendly to everyone and displays their nature a lot more. This placement, whilst they may enjoy self-improvement and be blunt when giving advice, what they really need is someone who understands them, validates their emotions and cares about the friendship/relationship just as much as them.

Contrary to popular belief of Cancer placements being lazy, they can be extremely hardworking, strategic and put their all into something if they care about it enough. Although this can end up in burn-out if they don't monitor the amount of effort being put in, then the rewards being received.

However, as strong a Cancer may come across - when threatened by something which they view as having lots of control over them they may hide away and become extremely passive, looking for ways to escape. This could be something like a parent, responsibility or an environment where there is a lot of change taking place (examples!). At first they may bottle things up, but if it brews long enough then comes resentment, bitterness, saltiness and it needs to be let out. This can cause a Cancer to act out in anger or upset, maybe become somewhat self-absorbed in the way they view things because it just feels like "no one gets it". Sometimes instead of acting out, they may become passive aggressive instead and continue harbouring resentment. Unless this placement learns healthy communication and has a mode to express themselves, it is possible for these negative emotions to become a cycle.

When a Cancer placement finally feels supported, validated, understood and like they are being nurtured they form an attachment and become a lot more confident, wanting to share themselves with the world. In some cases, this may breed some kind of codependency or over-reliance and this placement may forget to nurture their other responsibilities and interests.

~

Leo ♌︎

Date (Only applies to Sun Signs): July 23 - August 22

Symbol: ♌︎ - The Lion

Associated House: Fifth

Associated Degrees: 5°, 17°, 29°

Associated Energy: Masculine

Planetary Ruler(s): ☉ Sun (Modern and Traditional)

Element: Fire

Modality: Fixed

Keywords: Bold, Playful, Generous, Ambitious, Creative, Warm

Leo, the Zodiac Sign that is generous, fun-loving and naturally very expressive - this placement has a strong creative streak and good sense of self-worth! This sign is also often very attractive and have a certain charm to them which just draws people and opportunities to them and they're proud of it! Leo placements are very warm and extremely protective of those they admire (or those that admire them)! Not only that, but Leo placements are also very ambitious and committed to causes they are passionate about, able to stick to a long-term goal and not get demotivated. Due to Leo's natural talents, they may be very good in positions where they are the centre of attention and deal well with public speaking!

The only few times a Leo may get demotivated would be when they start feeling insecure about themselves and the way they express themselves - loneliness and boring routines can really get a Leo down, especially if they feel like they are being forced to do something. They need excitement, passion and fun in their lives after all!

When they get down or upset, they may have a tendency to come across as whiny and withdraw from everyone around them, feeling like they have nothing exciting in their lives. From what I've observed, Leo placements may even experience some kind of depressive episode. On the other end, this placement may have a huge tendency to overthink and obsess over little details, maybe over their appearance or their behaviour. This can really sabotage a Leo's sense of self-worth and in some other cases... this sign can lose all warmth and be cold to those who wish to talk to them, perhaps become self-absorbed or even controlling.

When a Leo is enjoying life's pleasures, confident, it's possible they could become obsessive or fixated over a hobby, person or something else in their life that helps them express themself. Sometimes so fixated that it consumes parts of their life and they feel anxious or defensive when their worldview or interest is critiqued. It's important for Leo to practice open-mindedness and try to avoid black and white thinking in order to really be at peace with themselves and increase their sense of self worth.

~

Virgo ♍︎

Date (Only applies to Sun Signs): August 23 - September 22

Symbol: ��︎ - The Maiden

Associated House: Sixth

Associated Degrees: 6°, 18°

Associated Energy: Feminine

Planetary Ruler(s): ☿ Mercury (Modern and Traditional)

Element: Earth

Modality: Mutable

Keywords: Strategic, Ethical, Intelligent, Selfless, Analytical, Honest

This placement can make someone very strategic, intellectual. analytical and ethical! Whilst Virgo placements have a reputation for being very conservative, organised or traditional, you'd be surprised by how unconventional and creative they can really be. This sign makes for someone very realistic and grounded, taking into consideration every little nuance in order to understand a situation and make a decision. When they dedicate their time to something they can become highly skilled before moving onto the next thing, sort of like a Jack of All Trades. However, whilst a Virgo might be skilled in practical things - they may have some issues socially and find they can be quite awkward in certain settings (unless they have developed this skill, they can become extremely charismatic!) and shy. These signs are deeply emotional, amazing at giving practical advice and great during a debate! A Virgo also loves to serve those that they are closest to, and will do their best to make sure their close friends are happy and healthy.

However, getting close to a Virgo is quite difficult and takes a lot for them to trust you - in some aspect they may be quite anxious and read into what you say... Or if you have bad intent they will easily snuff you out and make sure you won't get close to them. Maybe in some aspect of their life they had been taken advantage of at some point, been in a controlling environment or something else which resulted in them using their intellect to solve problems or develop trust issues.

When a Virgo feels incapable or worried, they might get defensive and completely refuse to open up at all - focusing on their hobbies as a way to distract themselves and feel less anxious. On the other hand, they may give in too easily and sort of become a "people pleaser" or try to be the peacemaker in a situation, only to sort of feel like they've been left the short end of the stick. They may start to overthink... a lot. In some cases when a Virgo closes up or feels tense they may even resort to methods of control over their environment (such as keeping objects neat as it allows their brain to focus on something else) or become quite snappy.

When Virgo feels safe and capable they can really develop anything, but the issue is they may not see something through long enough to fully reap the rewards, maybe become somewhat careless in what they do. When it gets to this point, it is important for someone with this placement to maintain some sort of discipline, stick to what they care about and remain grounded.

~

Libra ♎︎

Date (Only applies to Sun Signs): September 23 - October 22

Symbol: ♎︎ - The Scales

Associated House: Seventh

Associated Degrees: 7°, 19°

Associated Energy: Masculine

Planetary Ruler(s): ♀ Venus (Modern and Traditional)

Element: Air

Modality: Cardinal

Keywords: Fair, Confident, Open-Minded, Grateful, Analytical, Aesthetitian

Libra! This placement brings a natural affinity for justice and fairness, they're the ones that set the expectations! This placement makes someone a great peacemaker (and debater!), easily able to tap into the needs of others and see all sides of a situation. Someone with this placement may come across as quite polite too or friendly, maybe even a good aesthetic eye which shows with the way they dress, their makeup or something else. Libra placements have a reputation for being quite slow or "dumb", but remember Libra is an Air sign - they also need some kind of mental stimulation and can be highly analytical individuals, able to judge situations very accurately! As friends, Libra signs are the ones which will make sure you don't settle for less than you deserve!

Whilst Libra placements are quite open-minded, in situations they are passionate about they may have a tendency to take sides and be quick to judge things as good or bad (depending on the situation) which can lead to them getting involved in drama they really shouldn't be getting involved with. In this kind of situation it can cause some sort of consequence, blockage or argument and results in a loss which isn't the kind of life a Libra needs - they need to be able to be a part of something and use their brain. This can also happen if they start to lose appreciation for little things and lose the bigger picture.

When a Libra's life feels stagnant, like they're being blocked or don't have anything to dedicate their brain to they may start to overthink a lot or develop some kind of anxiety... maybe even worrying about the way they come across in certain situations or picking situations apart to figure out what is going wrong. In fact a Libra placement might get so preoccupied with this that they start to lose certain aspects of who they are, feeling lost in life and like they don't have much of a purpose. They might start to come across as very withdrawn or perhaps erratic, aggressive (or passive on the other end of the spectrum) and have trouble opening up (or just completely overshare).

When Libra feels like they have choice and freedom, they may have trouble picking between multiple situations, maybe because they're overthinking but sometimes it's because they feel TOO comfortable, like they can do anything. For this reason it's important for someone with this placement to weigh situations logically - but also pay attention to what they want for themselves as well. A Pros and Cons list may work or something similar!

~

Scorpio ♏︎

Date (Only applies to Sun Signs): October 23 - November 21

Symbol: ♏︎ - The Scorpion

Associated House: Eighth

Associated Degrees: 8°, 20°

Associated Energy: Feminine

Planetary Ruler(s): ♇ Pluto (Modern) and ♂ Mars (Traditional)

Element: Water

Modality: Fixed

Keywords: Introspective, Compassionate, Strong-Willed, Perceptive, Ambitious, Brooding

Moralistic, perceptive and strong-willed are all fantastic words to describe those with Scorpio placements! People with this sign in their chart are often very ambitious and keep to a long-term goal which matters deeply to them, usually something which is relevant to their life and personal experiences. Whilst this placement isn't necessarily secretive, they will not give out information willingly which they believe will be used against them and are capable to place very strong boundaries with people (sometimes it seems like it comes out of the blue!). This is because Scorpio thinks deeply about their decisions and opinions, so if they feel like cutting you off (or maybe on the positive side, they want to take something to the next level!) it is something they have thought about for a while. Scorpios are deeply introspective and compassionate, having overcome a lot of obstacles in life. This makes them excellent providers of advice, and a good ear if you need one. Sometimes Scorpio placements have a tendency to be quite shy, preferring to keep all their vulnerabilities hidden and may even take that to an extreme level by not sharing anything with anyone (which can come across as secretive). Maybe in this state it comes to a point where they engage in hobbies as a way to help maintain some kind of control in their life or find some sense of relatability. Sometimes, they may even become fixated on positions of power or material items, losing aspects of their morality. When it comes to this point a Scorpio might end up becoming cold or pessimistic, maybe even cruel and vengeful (although this is in an extreme case). On the other end of the spectrum, a Scorpio might find themselves caught up in drama they don't necessarily want to be a part of but still stay because they want to provide some kind of service or opinion... when really it would be more beneficial for them to just leave it alone. This can fuel some kind of people-pleaser behaviour, struggling to express their opinions or boundaries in order to help other people. It is at this point a Scorpio should prioritise self-care because as compassionate and moralistic as they can be, behaviour like this can really destroy their sense of self-worth.

When Scorpio feels safe and like they can pursue their ambitions they are unstoppable - however it means that they may come across as intense whether that be by the way they communicate, their behaviour or something else (which may make a Scorpio feel insecure if they are aware they come across this way). It's important for Scorpio to take this into consideration, but keep pursuing their goals no matter what comes up as. Ultimately, if you want to do something and you're a Scorpio, go for it! Don't let others opinions get you down.

~

Sagittarius ♐︎

Date (Only applies to Sun Signs): November 22 - December 21

Symbol: ♐︎ - The Archer

Associated House: Ninth

Associated Degrees: 9°, 21°

Associated Energy: Masculine

Planetary Ruler(s): ♃ Jupiter (Modern and Traditional)

Element: Fire

Modality: Mutable

Keywords: Individualistic, Resilient, Passionate, Wise, Unpredictable, Funny

If you have a Sagittarius placement you are very opportunistic, passionate, wise and always ready to move on to the next project! Naturally curious, Sagittarius can explore many different topics at once and are very patient with themselves when learning something new. Whilst someone with this placement may have many different kinds of passions, ideals and interests it almost always falls under a niche/theme (even if it takes a while to find). This means it can become really easy for a Sagittarius to promote themselves if they wanted to start their own business or become well known (especially because they are also great at networking)! A lot of times, this placement can come across as quite chaotic, funny and blunt - a Sagittarius friend will always be there to cheer you up and make you laugh (but they WILL be blunt and give you harsh honesty)!

As silly a Sagittarius placement may come across to other people, these placements can also be insanely hardworking and intelligent if they put their mind to it! Surprisingly too, you might find a Sagittarius can be drawn to the Academics (like literature, law, psychology and science). However, in some cases this may be an aspect of a Sagittarius placement trying to cope with stress or some kind of anxiety (especially if the person is an overachiever). In some kind of extreme case, a Sagittarius placement may try to cope using different means and may have an addictive personality, causing them to lose passion for life and their ideals and go through a cycle of self-sabotage.

When a Sagittarius placement feels like they are being controlled or stuck, they may tend to brood on the problem and become quite pessimistic, feeling like they have no way out and ask loads of people for guidance (or even incessantly research their issue to find an answer). On the other end of the spectrum, someone with this placement might completely close off from people and their emotional space, focusing on a warped "realistic" perception of the world. At this point, they may become a bit of a loner. It's important for a Sagittarius at this point to not give up on trying to receive the freedom (financially, emotionally, physically) they want to accomplish so they can fully enjoy the rewards at the end. A Sagittarius will always find the way!

Sagittarius placements as also deeply empathetic, but this doesn't mean they will tell you you are in the right when you are in the wrong no matter the explanation. This can make this sign come across as somewhat careless or apathetic to people when it is not the case at all - they're saying it because they want you to improve and genuinely help out. It's important for someone with this placement to not be too relentless or harsh with their words in order to properly connect and help.

~

Capricorn ♑︎

Date (Only applies to Sun Signs): December 22 - January 19

Symbol: ♑︎ - The Sea Goat

Associated House: Tenth

Associated Degrees: 10°, 22°

Associated Energy: Feminine

Planetary Ruler(s): ♄ Saturn (Modern and Traditional)

Element: Earth

Modality: Cardinal

Keywords: Visionary, Ambitious, Skilled, Self-Motivated, Competitive, Reliable

This Zodiac Sign is determined, visionary and make great decisions which only allow for more progress in life - not just practically but emotionally too. Capricorn is reliable and steady, a great friend to go to when you need an honest opinion. Whilst this placement may tend to come across as biased sometimes or judgemental it's because they tend to hold high standards for themselves and the people around them. However, this doesn't mean they do this to bring others down, they do this to help aid others and give them some kind of direction in life. A Capricorn already intuitively knows who they are and their goals, often thriving in competitive subjects and can become highly skilled in multiple different topics (although this doesn't mean they are organised at all). They may like to keep their environment clean as well as their mindset, easily being able to say goodbye to toxic situations.

In fact, someone with a Capricorn placement may come across as lazy when this isn't the case. As hardworking as this sign can be, they may also procrastinate a lot and have trouble starting projects if they are not in the right mindset which can end up becoming some form of baggage. It's important for this placement to come out of their comfort zone (especially when they don't feel like it) and motivate themselves to get things done they don't want to (rather than staying in bed scrolling through social media all day. I see you.).

However, sometimes tasks may become too overwhelming for Capricorn - maybe even their emotions can become too much for them or they become really anxious over something. This can cause someone with this placement to act out of character - maybe acting out in anger or coming off as erratic (although this is only usually once triggered if they have been sitting and seething for a long time). In some cases maybe they look for ways to escape, whether that be through material things, people, ideas or work. If this problem keeps getting bigger, Capricorn may even become somewhat idealistic - relying on fantasies, emotions and possibly digital media to help them get through life which may result in them pushing others away and forming somewhat delusional or fantastical beliefs. It's at this point, Capricorn needs some kind of structure to help them come back to reality. Philosophy may help with this (or further certain unhealthy beliefs).

When Capricorn feels capable, skilled, respected and validated in an aspect of their life they may have a tendency to engage in it an unhealthy amount. This can lead them to avoiding other parts of their life (such as getting engrossed with work and forgetting to maintain friendships) or maybe put a lot of effort into an unhealthy relationship. It's important for someone of this placement to stay grounded, stable and work on projects/relationships which are healthy for them. Much like Cancer, pay attention to the amount of effort you're putting in and the rewards you receive.

~

Aquarius ♒︎

Date (Only applies to Sun Signs): January 20 - February 18

Symbol: ♒︎ - The Water Bearer

Associated House: Eleventh

Associated Degrees: 11°, 23°

Associated Energy: Masculine

Planetary Ruler(s): ♅ Uranus (Modern) and ♄ Saturn (Traditional)

Element: Air

Modality: Fixed

Keywords: Unique, Progressive, Innovative, Adaptable, Spontaneous, Humanitarian

Aquarius placements - clever, progressive and always look deeply into situations to get a better understanding. This sign not only has the capability to stick to a plan/ideal, but also to adapt along the way and change it if needed. These placements are highly adaptable and use this to their advantage - to get what they want or follow a plan they deem is logically the best (or suits their ideals more). Not only that, but Aquarius placements also tend to be very humanitarian or have a strong sense of morals meaning they are great friends to go to if you need help getting out of a messy situation which is keeping you from developing. To some extent, these signs may also be interested in topics such as: sociology, digital media or science as it allows them to keep their creative brain engaged! Aquarius placements are also generous if they think someone deserves it, often sharing their knowledge on many different topics and sparking debates. These placements may also seem like they have a strong friend group too!

To some people, someone with this placement might come across like a conspiracy theorist (or someone who looks into things TOO deeply). Whilst this can be the case if an Aquarius has lost some kind of sense of reality or become too fixated on an idea - most of the time it's because Aquarius has spent a while learning about a topic and developing their understanding. This may mean depending on the audience an Aquarius is sharing their knowledge with - their opinion will either be endorsed or not taken into account at all (even if they are logically correct!).

If an Aquarius feels like their life is too stagnant, uninteresting or lonely they may try to live vicariously through their own ideals, friend groups, a cause they are passionate about or maybe even their own work. Maybe they also have a tendency to be "chronically online", not having much of a social life outside of the internet which can further the stagnancy of an Aquarius' life. When under stress, they may become extremely cold and blunt - maybe even become somewhat selfish and use their ability to get what they want in unhealthy ways (although this is in a few cases).

When Aquarius feels like they are succeeding in life and utilising their brain, they may seem to develop a bit of an ego or arrogance and focus on enjoying what they receive. Whilst there is nothing wrong with enjoying what you've worked for it's just as important to keep an open mind and be open to learning so you aren't at risk for losing what you've worked towards.

~

Pisces ♓︎

Date (Only applies to Sun Signs): February 19 - March 20

Symbol: ♓︎ - The Fish

Associated House: Twelfth

Associated Degrees: 12°, 24°

Associated Energy: Feminine

Planetary Ruler(s): ♆ Neptune (Modern) and ♃ Jupiter (Traditional)

Element: Water

Modality: Mutable

Keywords: Creative, Healing, Visionary, Balanced, Moralistic, Brave

Pisces friends are almost always ready to help out a friend and may have a very healing energy associated with them. They're very creative, moralistic and willing to share their opinions over a variety of subjects. This placement may also be incredibly balanced - able to navigate emotional situations with great efficiency and highly prioritise their sense of peace and stability. Pisces may be drawn to artistic, humanitarian, intellectual or healing projects in order to further develop themselves. Often, this sign has very strong ideals and can be a great advocate to those in need as well as themselves. Some people view Pisces placements as cowardly and lazy, but in all honesty they have got to be some of the most brave and selfless people - committed to developing themselves, networking and providing a sense of safety and healing for themselves and others.

However, this may not be the most easy for Pisces placements. As healing as they can be, they may also have tendencies to be instigators of drama or run away from taking accountability - specifically if they are unsettled. This can either manifest as some kind of aggression or passivity (or attracting it in life). For a Pisces placement to truly move on from unhealthy situations they may find they need to distance themselves completely and set boundaries in situations which don't serve them - especially if this is something like a relationship (getting hung up on the past with someone then communicating with them a couple years later for example). The past often does not serve well for this placement, but instead a learning opportunity.

When anxious (if they are not balanced) like they have been caught doing something (or done something they regret), they may be quite deceitful out of fear which can be quite manipulative. Often times they don't realise this and feel guilty when confronted. However, this may not just be them being deceitful - maybe someone tried to deceive them (for example about a person) to start drama and this caused them to feel unsettled, causing some kind of rift and anger. In extreme cases, a Pisces may become quite verbally, emotionally or physically aggressive and resort to threats to regain a sense of stability (although like I said, this is an extreme case).

When a Pisces feels at peace and is developing themselves (for example with fashion, art), during this process they may start to put less effort in or limit themselves to different possibilities (maybe becoming fixated on an idea or becoming very impulsive). It's important for Pisces to protect their peace, but not to the point they limit themselves to their own comfort zone. They must prioritise learning to some degree, whether that is through research (or another means of learning) or teaching other people a skill they have learnt.

~

Notes/Keywords/Phrases

Zodiac Sign

Each of the Zodiac Signs are a constellation. The Zodiac Sign shows how a Planet/Asteroid/Fixed Point/House is being represented and expressed. Once a Planet/Asteroid/Fixed Point/House falls into a Zodiac Sign, it adopts the energy of it.

For example: if Mercury falls into the constellation Sagittarius, Mercury adopts Sagittarian traits. If the 6th House falls into the constellation Aquarius, the 6th House adopts Aquarian traits.

Associated House

The Houses in Astrology are dependent on the time and location of birth in a Natal Chart and there are 12 different ones. Each of these 12 Houses are then assigned to a Zodiac Sign and 1 or 2 Planetary Rulers. The Houses in Astrology show you what area of life the energy of the Zodiac and Planets/Asteroids/Fixed Points is appointed to and helps provide depth into the chart.

For example: Capricorn's Associated House is the 10th House.

Associated Degrees

When a Planet/Asteroid/Fixed Point/House falls into a Zodiac Sign constellation, it will be appointed a Degree. This Degree shows how far along the Planet/Asteroid/Fixed Point/House is in a Zodiac Sign. Each Degree is also associated with a Zodiac Sign, meaning when this Degree comes up it can nuance the way the Zodiac Sign of a Planet/Asteroid/Fixed Point/House is being represented.

For example: Mars is 6° in the Zodiac Cancer, 6° represents Virgo - therefore the Cancer Mars also takes on Virgo traits. The 2nd House is 23° in the Zodiac Scorpio, 23° represents Aquarius - therefore the 2nd House in Scorpio takes on Aquarian traits.

Planetary Ruler(s)

This phrase refers to the Planet(s) that rule a Zodiac Sign. When a Planet falls into the Zodiac Sign it has rulership over, the energy of both the Planet and the Zodiac Sign is amplified.

For example: Pisces' Planetary Ruler is Neptune.

Modern / Traditional

These words are associated with two kinds of Astrology: Modern Astrology and Traditional Astrology. Traditional Astrology refers to Astrology that was practiced before the 19th century, whilst Modern Astrology refers to Astrology that is practiced now. Some people choose to practice Traditional Astrology, some people choose to practice Modern Astrology, whilst some others might practice both types or combine them together.

Element

Each Zodiac Sign/Planet/House/Degree is associated with an Element and this covers certain traits which are unique to the Zodiac Sign/Planet/House/Degree they correspond to.

These Elements are: Fire, Air, Water and Earth.

Modality

Much like an Element, each Zodiac Sign/Planet/House/Degree is associated with a Modality. The Modality describes what the focus of a placement is and how the energy is expressed.

There are 3 different Modalities: Cardinal, Mutable and Fixed.

[naprobe2]

Modality in Japanese

This semi-master post aims to explain modality from a purely linguistic perspective and introduce Japanese modal phrases. 

Modality is my all-time favorite topic because it explores how speakers convey subtle nuances of meaning. It's fascinating to see how we use modal structures to communicate complex ideas such as possibility and necessity, and how, despite both speakers sharing the same information, misunderstandings can still arise.

While modality refers to how we express meanings like possibility, necessity, ability, or permission, the way these concepts are communicated can vary significantly across cultures due to differences in social norms, values, and expectations.

Before we dive in 

Japanese is a nuanced language as it is, add to it a nuanced grammar concept, and we have a great confusing combo.  

Modality in English is rather straightforward. There is a set of verbs, adverbs, and phrases that are universal and versatile. English speakers rarely consider social hierarchies, politeness, and indirectness while incorporating modal structures in their sentences. Sure, they do it to some extent, but when compared to the Japanese, well, we might as well say that they actually don’t do it. 

Some things that we all know about, yet we forget them once we encounter a modal structure: 

modal structures in English encompass a variety of meanings. For example, ‘must’ can be used to express logical assumptions as well as obligations. 

there are no 1:1 equivalents in Japanese. ‘Must’ can be translated as しなければいけません but also as だろう. 

some Japanese modal structures will be lost in translation, simply because they are non-existent in English. Some of them can easily be expressed through the tone of one’s voice and intonation in English, with no need for lexical reinforcement.  

directness or strong commands are not in favor when speaking Japanese. Instead, Japanese modal structures are like ‘requests’ often phrased politely or tentatively, reflecting the emphasis on maintaining harmony and avoiding imposition.

Of course, some phrases have direct translations, like かもしれない (might, maybe), but in the majority of cases, it’s better first to think about the context and then choose the appropriate structure. 

If you want to learn more about English modality, I recommend Grammarway books, as they discuss this topic in an easy-to-understand way. 

Modality—definition 

Modality, in simple words, allows speakers to express the “possibility” of a past, present, or future situation. It helps convey: desires, the likelihood of a situation, and that something is permissible. In some languages, it is well-developed and standardized, and some languages don’t even have the concept of modality. 

Compare: 

Momo did it!  Momo might have done it.  

The Past Simple tense is used when you are 100% sure of what you’re saying. You’re accusing Momo and this is a very strong statement.

Might have done it is used when there are doubts. You’re not sure, however, you’re suspecting Momo. 

In linguistics, displacement is the capability of language to communicate about things that are not immediately present (spatially or temporally). Animals communicate things that are only happening now; in front of their eyes. Human beings can go further than that. We can discuss the past, future, present, alternative past situations, imaginary/unreal situations, etc. 

Modality is a sign of displacement. It helps express extra information about a verb, for example, whether the verb is possible to happen, how sure I am about the verb to happen, whether it’s a good idea or maybe it is just my guess; speakers express attitudes toward actions or events. 

Understanding modality can help learn a language better and faster because it gives insights into expressing possibilities, necessities, abilities, permissions, and obligations—essential parts of everyday communication.

Many languages use modality to adjust politeness or formality. For example, “Could you help me?” is more polite than “Can you help me?”. Recognizing this helps navigate social situations appropriately.

The most common categorization of modality in English is as follows:

Modal Verbs:

Examples: can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would, ought to. Usage: “I can help” (ability), “You must go” (necessity), “It might rain” (possibility).

Adverbs:

Examples: probably, definitely, possibly, certainly. Usage: “She will probably join us.”

Phrases:

Examples: be able to, have to, be supposed to, I think, I guess, etc. Usage: “You have to finish this by Monday.”

Conditional Sentences:

Expressing hypothetical or uncertain situations: “If I were you, I would study more.”

In short, modality shapes how English speakers add layers of meaning—like doubt, certainty, or obligation—to their sentences.

Types of modality

epistemic modality (i.e., expressions that relate to displacement according to what is known or believed, conjectures, guesses)

(epistemic: relating to knowledge or the study of knowledge (Macmillan Dictionary))

prioritizing modality (i.e., expressions that characterize what is permitted, required, or desired) 

dynamic modality (relating to what courses of events are compatible with a particular body of facts/ circumstances and/or a subject’s abilities, describing abilities). 

deontic modality (i.e., modal expressions relating to permissions, requirements, and wishes; modal expressions that relate to rules, laws, or regulations of some sort; indicates how the world ought to be according to certain norms, expectations, speaker desires, etc.)

Expressions of epistemic modality 

～だろう, 

～はずだ, 

～に違いない, 

～かもしれない

These four phrases are conventionally associated with the domain of knowledge and belief.  

だろう

でしょう

はずだ  

These three express the outcome of an inferential process (Research paper by Hara, 2006). 

An inferential process is a cognitive process of making logical connections and drawing conclusions based on background knowledge and information explicitly stated.

Example: 

A: Guess what? I had to give a presentation in English in front of a lot of people ねえ聞いて！大勢(おおぜい)の人の前で、英語でプレゼンしなきゃいけなかったの。

B: Really? It must have been difficult for you. 本当？ じゃ大変だったろうに。 Formal: 本当ですか？では大変だったことでしょう 。

In this context, the inferential process could be as follows: Your friend is self-conscious about speaking English in one-on-one situations, let alone in front of a big crowd. Your logical connection is that it must have been difficult. Your friend has always been saying that they hate speaking English, they dislike big crowds (background information). When you take everything into account, the conclusion is: that it must have been difficult. 

～に違いない (lit. ‘there is no mistake in’, Narrog, 2009:89) suggests that what comes before it is entailed. For example: spending more than you earn, entails financial problems; Being rich entails the risk of being robbed. 

お金持ちに違いない You must be rich.

Seeing your huge house, expensive car, and other luxuries ← these entail richness. You must be rich.

Example: 

A: Can you call this number to cancel our reservation? この番号(ばんごう)に電話(でんわ)して、予約(よやく)をキャンセルしてくれない？

B: Sure. The call won’t connect. いいよ。電話が繋(つ)がらない。

A: You must have called the wrong number. 違(ちが)う番号にかけたでしょ。 Formal: 違う番号にかけたに違いないですよ 。 

Dialing the wrong number entails no connection.

かもしれない (lit. ‘can’t know whether’) suggests that whatever comes before it is compatible with what is known. Simply put, it means that the information marked by かもしれない can simply coexist with what we know. 

We’re preparing a presentation, and we need more ideas. We’re brainstorming some, and I throw in something marked by かもしれない. I did no harm, and my idea can coexist with other ideas. 

Examples: 

Listen, you might have been busy with something else too, but I’m pretty sure you were flirting with that girl. That’s why you didn’t send the report! 聞いて、別(べつ)のことで忙しかったかもしれないけど、間違(まちが)いなく[adverb]女の子といちゃついてた。だからレポートを提出(ていしゅつ)しなかったんでしょ。

I might have left my key at the restaurant. 鍵をレストランに置(お)いてきたかもしれない。

The student might have found it difficult. 生徒はそれを難しいと思ったかもしれない。

Senpai! The truth is… I had a terrible accident yesterday! I could have died! 本当は、昨日ひどい事故(じこ)にあった。死(し)んで（い）たかもしれない。

In all of those examples, the ideas can coexist with other possibilities. My coworker might have been busy but also might have been sick, or there was some other personal issue at play. I chose to say ‘busy’ because that was the first thing that came to my mind, but ‘you might have been sick’ would also work. Those ideas do not exclude each other, they don’t entail anything, and the inferential process is really weak (there’s no background or implied information). 

Prioritizing modality 

I like to think about it as a scale, a priority scale. 

1 = not important, whatever;  10 = you’ll end up in the pits of hell if you do or do not do something. 

Some things are super important and some are not. Japanese use conditional(-like) structures to express that something is permissible or required given the relevant rules or goals. 

Among the expressions that relate to rules, regulations, laws, goals, and wishes, we can distinguish: 

～てもいい (It is good even if you [verb.])

～ではいけない  (If/when [verb/phrase], it can’t go.)

～なければならない・いけない  (‘If I [verb/phrase], it doesn’t become.)

I’d place these expressions between 5 and 10. You need to consider who is the speaker as well. If the emperor tells you that something is てもいい well, THE EMPEROR said that, so it’s 10, and don’t you dare to argue with that.

These expressions (on my scale) are 1-5:

～ほうがいい; the weaker notion that something is recommendable based on practical considerations (without being outrightly necessary) (lit. ‘the direction is good’).

～べきだ; the formal noun べきだ is semantically similar but tends to involve a notion of moral or social appropriateness, the right thing to do, which can be absent from ほうがいい. 

～たらいい

More on べきだ and here

Extra: Finally, imperatives (verbal ending ～え/～よ/～ろ) and ～なさい, (used with children and for instructions) as well as ～てください (for polite requests) and ”let’s [verb]” forms, also express notions of prioritizing as well as deontic modality.

Dynamic modality 

Dynamic modality is a tricky category, but in short: it refers to the way modality expresses the agent’s ability, willingness, or potential to act, rather than just external necessity or possibility. In other words, it focuses on what the subject can do, wants to do, or is able to do, often highlighting capacity and intent.

Verb + ことができる

Verb stem + る (見る → 見られる)

～たい; 

～てほしい; 

～つもりです 

〜ようと思う

～てもいい (some linguists say that this structure falls within this category as well)

Deontic modality 

Deontic modality refers to the type of modality that expresses necessity, obligation, permission, and prohibition—in other words, what is required, allowed, or forbidden. This kind of modality deals with actions and states governed by social rules, laws, norms, or personal decisions. In contrast to epistemic modality (which deals with knowledge and belief), deontic modality concerns how we discuss actions in terms of moral, social, or legal obligations and permissions.

なければならない

べきだ 

なければいけない

〜てもいい

〜てはいけない

〜てはならない

〜たらいい 

〜たほうがいい

NOTE! You probably noticed that some of those phrases and structures belong to one or two categories. Modality is inherently flexible and context-dependent. This means that a single phrase might be used in different ways depending on the situation, intention, or interpretation of the speaker.

Phew! Lots of information, but you might be wondering why you need to know this. Simply because it can help you sort your knowledge out and shed new light on modal structures. It’s a tricky topic and the more perspectives and takes are available, the better! 

In English ESL textbooks, modality is usually divided into categories such as: 

(logical) assumptions 

speculations

guesses 

necessity 

obligation 

duties 

ability (and the lack of it)

prohibition 

possibility 

probability 

permission (giving, asking, and refusing, but also: talking about it)

suggestion 

request 

advice 

offers

criticism 

I haven’t found a list of Japanese modal structures divided into such detailed categories. Japanese textbooks rarely inform learners that a given structure is a modal structure. 

As an exercise, instead of translating Japanese modal phrases to their English equivalents, you can try to match English categories to Japanese modal phrases.

The Japanese phrases I have listed in this post are the most common ones.

The next step (after assigning Japanese phrases to the English categories) is to think about the context in which those phrases can be uttered, for example: formal documents, road signs, parent-child relationships, etc.

That's it for this modality post! If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me or send an ask through Tumblr :)