In astrology, modal balance refers to the relationship among the three modalities, Cardinal, Fixed, and Mutable, within a natal chart. It considers how strongly each modality is represented, where its emphasis appears, and how the different modal qualities work together within the larger chart pattern. Modal balance does not require the three modalities to be represented equally, nor does a greater or lesser emphasis make a modality inherently positive or negative. Its meaning depends on the planets involved, their placements and relationships, and the full configuration of the chart.