Zodiac signs
Twelve signs, four elements, three modalities. Sign meanings go beyond the Sun: how every planet behaves in each sign.
The twelve zodiac signs are twelve styles of expression. A sign on its own does nothing; it colours whatever planet or house falls into it. That is why “your sign” is really several signs at once: the Sun, the Moon, the rising sign and every other planet each occupy one, and together they draw a much more nuanced picture than a sun-sign horoscope.
- AriesMar 21 – Apr 19Starts things; impatient, brave, direct.
- TaurusApr 20 – May 20Preserves; calm, stubborn, sensual.
- GeminiMay 21 – Jun 20Connects; curious, quick, two-sided.
- CancerJun 21 – Jul 22Nurtures; sensitive, protective, long memory.
- LeoJul 23 – Aug 22Shines; generous, proud, creative.
- VirgoAug 23 – Sep 22Refines; meticulous, helpful, critical.
- LibraSep 23 – Oct 22Balances; graceful, indecisive, fair.
- ScorpioOct 23 – Nov 21Transforms; intense, loyal, secretive.
- SagittariusNov 22 – Dec 21Seeks; optimistic, outspoken, wandering.
- CapricornDec 22 – Jan 19Builds; disciplined, ambitious, patient.
- AquariusJan 20 – Feb 18Renews; independent, rational, detached.
- PiscesFeb 19 – Mar 20Dissolves; intuitive, compassionate, scattered.
Element, modality, polarity
Every sign is a combination of three simple qualities, and learning them saves you from memorising twelve separate lists.
- Element describes temperament. Fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) is enthusiasm and initiative. Earth (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) is practicality and patience. Air (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) is ideas and connection. Water (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) is feeling and intuition.
- Modality describes how energy moves. Cardinal signs start things, fixed signs sustain them, mutable signs adapt and finish them.
- Polarity splits the zodiac into outward-directed signs (fire and air) and inward-directed signs (earth and water).
Scorpio, for example, is fixed water: deep feeling that holds on and does not easily let go. Gemini is mutable air: curiosity that keeps moving. Once you see the pattern, a placement such as Mercury in Gemini or the Moon in Capricorn almost explains itself.
Signs and their rulers
Each sign has a ruling planet, and the ruler behaves like the landlord of everything in that sign. Aries is ruled by Mars, Taurus and Libra by Venus, Gemini and Virgo by Mercury, Cancer by the Moon and Leo by the Sun. Modern astrology adds Uranus, Neptune and Pluto as rulers of Aquarius, Pisces and Scorpio, next to their traditional rulers Saturn, Jupiter and Mars. Rulers are the basis of the house rulers technique, so they are worth learning early.
The zodiac used here
The meanings on this site use the tropical zodiac, which is anchored to the March equinox rather than to the visible constellations. The sign dates shown in this guide are approximate; the exact moment the Sun changes sign shifts by about a day from year to year, so people born on a cusp should check their chart.
Beyond the Sun sign
The Sun sign shows your conscious direction, but the rising sign describes your manner and first impression, and the Moon sign describes your emotional needs. In relationships, the signs of Venus and Mars often matter as much as the Sun; the compatibility tool compares them for two people. To go further, read the planets guide, which explains what each sign is colouring, or browse the blog for practical reading guides.