HEALTH AND WELLNESS

The Complete Guide to Zodiac Signs and

Their Meanings
From passionate Aries to psychic Pisces, unlock the secrets of the
stars.

By Maressa Brown | Updated on March 21, 2023

0:00

When you first dip your toe into astrology, whether by reading your
horoscope or researching your new crush's zodiac sign, chances are
you're learning all about a sun sign. The big, bright, gleaming
celestial body spends approximately four weeks in each of the 12
zodiac signs, and your birthdate can (usually) guide you toward the
sun sign you were born under. November 12 babies — solid
Scorpios. Field tons of "HBD" texts on May 4? You're a Taurus.

Your sun sign can tell you about your confidence, self-esteem, self-
image, sense of self, and identity. It'll also influence your life path.
But it's just one detail of your overall astrological profile, referred to
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as a natal chart (or birth chart). (You can get one from an
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astrologer or by plugging your info into an online service such as
astrology.com.) Your chart serves as a glimpse of not just the sun
but also the moon and the planets' placements in the sky at the
specific moment you were born. It also takes the vantage point
from your birth location into consideration.

RELATED: What Your Moon Sign Means About Your Personality and Life Path

All these layers mean, for example, you could have been born with
your sun in relationship-and balance-loving Libra but when you
were born, Mercury, which rules how you communicate, was in the
sign that's opposite Libra — argumentative, competitive Aries. So
you might feel a push-pull between how you express yourself and
your sense of self, and therefore, you're fiercer and more assertive
than an airy Libra. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (known as AOC)
is a perfect example of a Libra, as her moon (astrological
emotional compass) is in Aries, while her Venus (which affects her
relationship style) and ascendant (which influences her outward
impression) are in unfiltered, philosophical Sagittarius.

In short, we each have our own individualized "astrological DNA,"

which features a unique combo of astrology signs spread across the
sky. Here, a complete guide zodiac sign dates and an overview of
each zodiac sign's meaning, including characteristics of each
astrology sign you'll want to bear in mind as you explore your birth
chart.

Zodiac Sign Dates

If you're wondering what your zodiac sign is, see where your
birthday falls in the 12 zodiac sign dates below. If you happened to
be born on a day when the sun switches from one astrology sign to
another — called a cusp — you'll need your birth time to pinpoint
your sun sign.

Aries♈️: March 21 - April 19

Taurus ♉️: April 20 - May 20

Gemini ♊️: May 21 - June 20

Cancer ♋️: June 21 - July 22

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 Leo ♌️: July 23 - August 22 Ad

Virgo ♍️: August 23 - September 22

Libra ♎️: September 23 - October 22

Scorpio ♏️: October 23 - November 21

Sagittarius ♐️: November 22 - December 21

Capricorn ♑️: December 22 - January 19

Aquarius ♒️: January 20 - February 18

Pisces ♓️: February 19 - March 20

The Elements, Quadruplicities, and Houses

First, a quick primer on terms you'll see pop up when you're reading
about each zodiac sign and its meaning. You likely already know
that every sign falls under one of the four elements: Fire, Earth, Air,
Water. But did you know that within each element, there are three
qualities (aka quadruplicities)?

Cardinal: These signs are the big-picture thinkers of the zodiac,

great at brainstorming and initiating, but might not be the
strongest with follow-through. They include Aries (fire), Cancer
(water), Libra (air), and Capricorn (earth).

Mutable: These signs are the most adaptable of the zodiac,

however, the not-as-positive flip side is that they can be wishy-
washy. They include Gemini (air), Virgo (earth), Sagittarius (fire),
and Pisces (water).

Fixed: These signs are known for being really great at digging their
heels in — whether you call that resolute or stubborn as hell. They
include Taurus (earth), Leo (fire), Scorpio (water), and Aquarius
(air).

And every planet and element that astrologers look at in a chart

falls within one of the 12 houses, each ruling a different area of life
— and each ruled by one of the 12 astrology signs. Check out each
profile below to see which house each sign oversees.
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 The 12 Zodiac Signs & Meanings
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Aries ♈️ (March 21 - April 19)

Symbol: The Ram

Ruling Planet: Mars

Ruling House: First House of Self

Key Traits: Competitive, energetic, impulsive, fearless

The cardinal fire sign is known for being dynamic, athletic, and
having an insatiable appetite for winning. For this reason, they take
great pride in being early adopters of anything and everything from
the hottest new sneaker drop to the latest iPhone. And they pretty
much live to compete and argue. Ram people tend to have the
makings of a pro athlete, trend-setting influencer, or lawyer (former
prosecutor and now Vice President Kamala Harris was born with her
moon in Aries).

RELATED: An In-Depth Wellness Guide to the Aries Zodiac Sign

Taurus ♉️ (April 20 - May 20)

Symbol: The Bull

Ruling Planet: Venus

Ruling House: Second House of Income

Key Traits: Resolute, grounded, tenacious, sensual

The fixed earth sign has quite a reputation for being the most
stubborn one of the zodiac, but remember, there are fixed signs in
each element! Thanks to their Venusian influence, Taureans are
actually fairly chill. They're known for loving luxury and indulgence,
being super-loyal, and enjoying art (whether they create or just
appreciate it). (Sound a bit like Ariana Grande? Although her sun is
in Cancer, her Venus is in sweet Taurus.) They tend to adore spa
days and sweets. They're known for taking their time — whether
that means having a really long fuse to get fired up, dragging their
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feet to take action, or being lazy and languorous when it comes to
intimacy.

RELATED: An In-Depth Wellness Guide to the Taurus Zodiac Sign

Gemini ♊️ (May 21 - June 20)

Symbol: The Twins

Ruling Planet: Mercury

Ruling House: Third House of Communication

Key Traits: Witty, curious, charming, flighty

The word "mercurial" might have very well been created for Gemini,
the mutable air sign that lives for communication in all forms.
They're lovers of sharing whatever is on their mind, whenever,
however. (Amy Schumer's sun and Venus are in the loquacious air
sign.) Although, don't assume they're always outgoing. They can be
reserved and shy one minute and incredibly chatty the next. Given
their innate mastery of language and social skills, they tend to have
a wide, diverse circle of friends and gravitate to career paths that
allow them to express themselves and utilize their super-buzzy
brains (think: marketing/PR, politics, publishing).

RELATED: An In-Depth Wellness Guide to the Gemini Zodiac Sign

Cancer ♋️ ( June 21 - July 22)

Symbol: The Crab

Ruling Planet: Moon

Ruling House: Fourth House of Home Life

Key Traits: Compassionate, giving, sentimental, nurturing

The cardinal water sign, influenced by the shimmering maternal

moon, is one of the greatest dreamers and do-ers of the zodiac. As
the ruler of the Fourth House, which deals with family and home
life, they're homebodies who prioritize their connections with loved
ones and
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absolutely will come into play when they're frustrated, feel put
upon, or are otherwise catapulted into a moody headspace. They'll
go into their self-protective "shells," requiring time away from
others to take care of themselves before they can get back to
taking care of everyone else. (Mindy Kaling has a stellium — her
sun, moon, and Mercury — in the endearing water sign.)

RELATED: An In-Depth Wellness Guide to the Cancer Zodiac Sign

Leo ♌️ ( July 23 - August 22)

Symbol: The Lion

Ruling Planet: Sun

Ruling House: Fifth House of Romance and Self-Expression

Key Traits: Charismatic, generous, optimistic, dramatic

The fixed fire sign is ruled by the confident sun, which informs their
positive, cheerful, gung-ho vibe. Driven and self-assured leaders,
they tend to be oriented toward taking action in life, and they're
born feeling like they can accomplish their wildest dreams thanks to
a glimmery combo of magnetism, luck, and endlessly believing in
themselves. (Former President Barack Obama's sun and Mercury
are in the charismatic fire sign.) Although they might struggle to
step out of being self-focused, they can be extremely loyal,
devoted, and adore showering their loved ones in playful energy
and all of life's finest things.

RELATED: An In-Depth Wellness Guide to the Leo Zodiac Sign

Virgo ♍️ (August 23 - September 22)

Symbol: The Virgin or Maiden

Ruling Planet: Mercury

Ruling House: Sixth House of Wellness and Daily Routine

Key Traits: Health-conscious, analytical, service-oriented, detail-

focused
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The mutable earth sign might very well be mistaken as an air sign
given the influence of Mercury, which means their minds are pretty
much going nonstop. Lovers of lists, spreadsheets, and blank
journals, Virgos are the go-to researchers, stand-out organizers,
and pretty much A students of the zodiac. They're also
perfectionists who adore working hard to make the end result of
any pursuit "just right" — whether that's a recipe, a professional
project, or search for a partner. (Or in the case of Beyonce, whose
sun is in the earth sign, the entertainment and art we can't get
enough of.) Speaking of partners and loved ones, they'll often bend
themselves into knots to help and be of service to their nearest and
dearest.

RELATED: An In-Depth Wellness Guide to the Virgo Zodiac Sign

Libra ♎️ (September 23 - October 22)

Symbol: The Scales

Ruling Planet: Venus

Ruling House: Seventh House of Partnership

Key Traits: Romantic, artistic, indecisive, diplomatic

The cardinal air sign was born to bring balance, harmony, and
justice to their work and relationships. Given their Venusian
influence, they're lovers of art and beauty who are known for being
social butterflies and the ultimate hosts. And as the ruler of the
Seventh House of Partnership, they prioritize one-on-one bonds,
especially of the romantic variety. But although they tend to be
interested in achieving serenity at all costs and connecting with a
wide range of people, they're not sheep. They're go-getters
(Serena Williams is one!) who will stand up for what they believe in,
dreaming big and putting in the time and energy to ensure a fair
result.

RELATED: An In-Depth Wellness Guide to the Libra Zodiac Sign

Scorpio
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♏️ (October 23 - November 21)
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Symbol: The Scorpion

Ruling Planets: Pluto and Mars

Ruling House: Eighth House of Emotional Bonds and Sexual Intimacy

Key Traits: Mysterious, magnetic, power-seeking, spiritual

The fixed water sign is known for being one of — if not the — most
private sign in the zodiac. Co-ruled by transformative Pluto and go-
getter Mars, they're able to command people's attention with their
intense, powerful presence and air of mystery. They're also very
much in touch with their spirituality and sexuality, but they hold
their cards close to their chest. (Fiercely private family man Ryan
Gosling has his sun and Mercury in the water sign.) Even after being
in a relationship (platonic, romantic, or business-related) with a
Scorpio for years, you might not know the whole story behind their
emotional wounds and at times rough-around-the-edges tone. But
once they're in any kind of emotional entanglement, the resolute,
razor-focused sign is in it.

RELATED: An In-Depth Wellness Guide to the Scorpio Zodiac Sign

Sagittarius ♐️ (November 22 - December 21)

Symbol: The Archer

Ruling Planet: Jupiter

Ruling House: Ninth House of Adventure and Higher Learning

Key Traits: Philosophical, free-spirited, unfiltered, wanderlusting

Ruled by fortunate Jupiter, which brings a magnifying effect to

everything it touches, Sagittarians are big, life-loving personalities
who adore globe-trotting, being at the heart of any party, and
exploring as much as life has to offer. They're also born
philosophers who are endlessly passionate about their beliefs and
have a tendency to hop on a soapbox frequently in order to share
their world view, often in a way that pulls no punches. (President
Biden has his ascendant in Sag, which is why he's known for his no-
nonsense rhetoric. "Folks!") They're natural born comedians,
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entertainers, politicians, and/or generally gravitate to career paths
that allow for lots of travel.

RELATED: An In-Depth Wellness Guide to the Sagittarius Zodiac Sign

Capricorn ♑️ (December 22 - January 19)

Symbol: The Goat

Ruling Planet: Saturn

Ruling House: Tenth House of Career and Public Image

Key Traits: Traditional, down-to-earth, industrious, disciplined

If you want someone who's perpetually motivated to achieve on

your team, you're going to want to tap someone whose chart
includes the cardinal earth sign Capricorn. People born with Cap
are on a lifelong climb up a series of increasingly steep mountains,
as they're driven to put their noses to the grindstone, succeed, and
earn recognition for their diligent, no-nonsense work. In fact, it's for
this reason that they have a rep for being workaholics. But they're
also extremely loyal, often exhibit a gut-busting hilarious dry sense
of humor, and ability to show you exactly what's possible when you
commit to a pragmatic, steady, grounded approach. John Legend
is a perfect example of an industrious double Cap (it's his sun and
his rising/ascendant sign).

RELATED: An In-Depth Wellness Guide to the Capricorn Zodiac Sign

Aquarius ♒️ ( January 20 - February 18)

Symbol: The Water Bearer

Ruling Planet: Uranus

Ruling House: Eleventh House of Networking

Key Traits: Humanitarian, eccentric, individualistic, cool

The fixed air sign is making plenty of headlines as we head into

what's been coined the "Age of Aquarius." Quirky, generally
progressive,
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with-everyone way), those with the Water Bearer's influence in their
charts are wired to prioritize "we" over "me," gravitating to causes
and activities that hold the greater good of society as a whole in
mind. (Look no further than Alicia Keys, who has a stellium,
meaning three or more signs, in Aquarius: her sun, Mercury, and
Mars.) They gravitate to more platonic relationships than deeply
intimate entanglements and might even opt for non-traditional
arrangements, as they love to strike out against convention
whenever possible. And given electric Uranus' involvement, they're
tech-savvy and science-minded.

RELATED: An In-Depth Guide to the Aquarius Zodiac Sign

Pisces ♓️ (February 19 - March 20)

Symbol: The Fish

Ruling Planets: Neptune

Ruling House: Twelfth House of Spirituality

Key Traits: Empathic, artistic, psychic, dreamy

Imagine not only being super-tuned into your own feelings but also
being wired to pick up on and take on everyone else's emotions.
Now you're in the headspace of a person who has the significant
presence of mutable water sign Pisces in their chart. Incredibly
sensitive and intuitive, they are the healers, the hopeless romantics,
the artists, and the escapists of the zodiac. While they have an
instinct to get swept up in otherworldly daydreams to get away
from any emotional pain, the healthiest way for them to channel
these deeply-felt emotions is through creative outlets like theater,
music, or poetry. (The late opera-loving RBG's sun and Venus were
in the water sign.) And thanks to their Neptune influence, they have
keen imaginations and tend to be up for exploring all things related
to spirituality, the metaphysical, and psychology.

RELATED: An In-Depth Guide to the Pisces Zodiac Sign

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