A Summary Of The Characteristics Of Each Zodiac Sign
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The Characteristics Of The Zodiac
Each of the Zodiac Signs has its own unique characteristics and corresponding element, mode, and ruling Planet that is integral to their understanding.
Western Astrology is SEASONAL, based on the relationship between day and night, and the position of the Sun along the ecliptic (its apparent path around the Earth).
The Tropical Zodiac begins at the Vernal Equinox, when the Sun is said to enter Aries. It follows through a Zodiac Sign every 30 days. Each subsequent Equinox/Solstice is known as the other “Cardinal” Signs - Cancer (Summer Solstice), Libra (Autumnal Equinox), and Capricorn (Winter Solstice). The traits of each Zodiac Sign largely take their meaning from their ruling Planet (including which House it finds its “joy” in), element, and modality (where in the season they fall), as well as its polarity (nocturnal/diurnal) and other considerations.
Apart from forming our unique Astrological makeup, when we are in the season of a Zodiac Sign, we will generally tend to feel the Zodiacal energies and deal with things of its nature, which will be influenced by where that Sign is placed in our Natal Chart (the “House” it’s in). You can align with the specific energies of the season with our Zodiac Workbooks!
Read on below to find out an outline of each of the Zodiac Signs:
The Zodiac Signs
There are 12 Signs in the Zodiac each with corresponding characteristics and associations, we each have all twelve Signs in our birth chart somewhere (which is a snapshot of what the sky looked like the moment you were born), and we flow through each Sign’s “season” throughout the solar year- so it’s important to get a grasp on all of them!
Most people are aware of their Sun (star) Sign, but where the Moon is placed in your Natal Chart (your Moon Sign) as well as the Sign rising on the horizon when you were born (your Rising/Ascendant Sign) are equally as influential! You can get a free Natal Chart here, and read more about what your Rising Sign indicates in our post here.
Then, we have the so-called “Personal Planets”, these are Mercury, Venus, and Mars, which also hold a strong influence over us depending on the Sign they are placed in; the “Social Planets” Jupiter and Saturn, whose transits can be extremely prominent for us; and the “Outer Planets” Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, which also hold significant energies in their transits and placements if contacting one of the personal Planets.
Each Planet “rules” 1-2 Zodiac Signs and has strong similar influences over it. Check out my post on the Planets for more information!
In addition, each Sign is assigned an Element (Fire, Earth, Air, Water) and Quality/Mode (Cardinal, Fixed, Mutable) which denotes whether it falls at the beginning, middle, or end of a season, respectively. All of this adds to the flavour of their energies and gives them their subtle differences. For example, a Fixed Fire Sign (Leo) is different to a Mutable Fire Sign (Sagittarius). Here’s a summary of their Elements and Modes:
ELEMENTS:
FIRE SIGNS = Aries, Leo, Sagittarius - These Signs are said to hold fiery passion, energy, enthusiasm, and boldness.
EARTH SIGNS = Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn - These are the grounded, earthy Signs of the Zodiac. They are hard-working, practical, and pragmatic.
AIR SIGNS = Gemini, Libra, Aquarius - These are the communicators and ideators of the Zodiac. They are said to intellectualise (including their emotions) and enjoy conversing.
WATER SIGNS = Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces - These are the most intuitive, emotive Signs. They are in touch with their subconscious, empathetic and fluid.
MODES:
CARDINAL SIGNS = Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn - The leaders and self-starters. They like initiating things but may struggle with completion.
FIXED SIGNS = Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius - These Signs are hard-working, reliable, and determined. They are able to see things through but may be stubborn to change.
MUTABLE SIGNS = Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces - These Signs are flexible and adaptable. They are able to embrace many things but can be restless.
Finally, each Sign is said to be either nocturnal or diurnal. Diurnal Signs are more outwardly focussed whereas Nocturnal Signs are said to be more inwardly-focussed. Here’s a summary of each of the Zodiac Signs’ polarity:
DIURNAL: Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius, Aquarius
NOCTURNAL: Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn, Pisces
THE ZODIAC SIGNS:
For the dates of the Signs, they may differ slightly depending on the year, so it’s best to double check if you are looking at a cusp date near the start or end of a season. Either way, Aries will always kick of the Spring Equinox, Cancer the Summer Solstice, Libra the Autumn Equinox, and Capricorn the Winter Solstice in the Northern hemisphere (as they’re not actually based against the current position of the constellations, only inspired by their mythology in name).
Please bear in mind that these are SIMPLIFIED versions of the archetypes in their purest forms and is by no means a complete indicator of your Sun (“star”) Sign characteristics! Further, our Natal Charts are incredibly nuanced and complex with many mitigating factors, if you would like personalised insights you can book in a 1:1 reading with me.
Here’s a complete overview of each of the 12 Zodiac Signs:
Aries
ELEMENT: Fire
MODE: Cardinal
RULER: Mars, (Ares, God of War, the lesser malefic)
DUALITY: Diurnal
CHARACTERISTICS: Kicking off the start of the Astrological year, we have the bold and life-path carving Aries. Like a newborn baby, Aries knows exactly what it needs and when, and is not afraid to demand it. Archetypal Aries is brave and fearless, sure in what it wants and deserve, courageously going after it. The first of the 6 inner-focussed Signs, Aries is concerned with the Self, in a way that is unafraid to take up space. It is direct, impulsive, and energetic.
Taurus
ELEMENT: Earth
MODE: Fixed
RULER: Venus, (Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, the lesser benefic)
DUALITY: Nocturnal
CHARACTERISTICS: The earthy bull is one of the most grounded Signs. It loves to indulge in earthly pleasures and enjoys the finer things life has to offer- good food and drink, quality fabrics and objects, and luxurious experiences. Taurus knows the true value of things, and while they are happy to pay for quality, they appreciate knowing they are making an investment. Taurus is also capable of hard work and determination, it may be slow to move and get going but has great stamina once started. It is a practical, pragmatic, steadfast Sign.
Gemini
ELEMENT: Air
MODE: Mutable
RULER: Mercury (Hermes, Messenger of the Gods)
DUALITY: Diurnal
CHARACTERISTICS: Archetypal Gemini is quick-witted and quick-thinking, keen storytellers. Able to adapt to a number of people and situations, they are interested, curious and flexible, easily influenceable. They’re an intellectual Sign, constantly thinking about what they’re going to say next and analysing everything, coming up with new ideas and eager to share them, able to digest facts and figures into digestible chunks.
Cancer
ELEMENT: Water
MODE: Cardinal
RULER: The Moon (traditionally ruler of the body, emotions, family, and travel)
DUALITY: Nocturnal
CHARACTERISTICS: The homely crab is the nurturing, emotive Sign of the Zodiac. With a strong sense of family and taking care of those they love, Archetypal Cancer is highly in touch with their emotions, able to process the world viscerally. Everything related to hearth and home is Cancer’s domain, from cooking to ancestry and the maternal figure. Great protectors, Cancer cares about safety, comfort, and security.
Leo
ELEMENT: Fire
MODE: Fixed
RULER: The Sun (traditionally ruler of our core characteristics)
DUALITY: Diurnal
CHARACTERISTICS: Ruled by the centre of our solar system, the equally fiery Leo has the capacity to draw attention to itself like the force of gravity (whether it wants to or not). Archetypal Leo is both the monarch and the child, generally comfortable being the centre of attention and equally desirous to spread joy and lead from the heart. It is often associated with creativity, performance, and entertainment.
Virgo
ELEMENT: Earth
MODE: Mutable
RULER: Mercury (Hermes, Messenger of the Gods, ruler of the mind)
DUALITY: Nocturnal
CHARACTERISTICS: The keen analyst can be seen as the nighttime domicile of Mercury, concerned with detail-orientated and perfectionist improvement. Known as the editors of the Zodiac, their keen eye doesn’t miss a thing. As the archetypal Harvest Goddess, Virgo seeks to heal and be of service, able to separate the wheat from the chaff.
Libra
ELEMENT: Air
MODE: Cardinal
RULER: Venus (Aphrodite, Goddess of love, the lesser benefic)
DUALITY: Diurnal
CHARACTERISTICS: Libra is concerned relationality. Ruled Venus, it is in constant search for balance, peace, and harmony. Ever the diplomat, Libra is capable of bridging the gap between people, keen not to offend or take sides. They have a strong sense of fairness and justice, and are eager mediators. It is also highly aesthetic with a fine eye for style.
Scorpio
ELEMENT: Water
MODE: Fixed
RULER: Mars (Ares, God of War, the lesser malefic)
DUALITY: Nocturnal
CHARACTERISTICS: Archetypal Scorpio is intense and magnetic, not afraid to plunge into its depths and those of others. It is in touch with its emotions, intuition, subconscious, and the mystical/occult side of life. Archetypal Scorpio cares for soul-deep intimacy, substance, and transformation. It is also determined, perseverant, and ambitious.
Sagittarius
ELEMENT: Fire
MODE: Mutable
RULER: Jupiter (Zeus, the Greater Benefic)
DUALITY: Diurnal
CHARACTERISTICS: The travelling optimist of the Zodiac, Sagittarius loves to explore far and wide. Archetypal Sagittarius loves to learn and experience new things from the world around it, on a constant quest for growth and expansion. Sagittarius can be spontaneous, impulsive, and spiritual.
Capricorn
ELEMENT: Earth
MODE: Cardinal
RULER: Saturn (Cronus, God of Harvest (sometimes equated Kronos God of Time), the greater malefic)
DUALITY: Nocturnal
CHARACTERISTICS: Archetypal Capricorn is hard-working, practical, and dutiful. It has a strong moral compass and work ethic, bearing collective responsibilities. Capricorn is a keeper of ancestral wisdom and tradition, seeking to build things of long-term value and substance. Quality over quantity.
Aquarius
ELEMENT: Air
MODE: Fixed
RULER: Saturn (Cronus, God of Harvest (sometimes equated Kronos God of Time), the greater malefic)
DUALITY: Diurnal
CHARACTERISTICS: The quirky alternative of the Zodiac, Aquarius marches to the beat of its own drum. Making its own rules in life, archetypal Aquarius can sometimes be known as the loner our outcast- it seeks to build a community of like-minded individuals but also needs its freedom within that. Prone to intellectualising its emotions, the water bearer can be stoic and visionary, able to build its own unique life, unafraid of how that looks to others.
Pisces
ELEMENT: Water
MODE: Mutable
RULER: Jupiter (Zeus, the Greater Benefic)
DUALITY: Nocturnal
CHARACTERISTICS: The final Sign of the Zodiac is said to encompass elements of all the Signs that came before it, and is also symbolic of the time in the wombspace before the cycle is repeated; thus can be at once both wise and naive. Archetypal Pisces is in touch with its emotions and intuition, boundary-less and formless, able to adapt to those around them, often absorbing others’ energy. It may be prone to losing themselves or escapism, whether that through substances, disassociating, or daydreaming. Incredibly empathetic, they can be creative, giving, and selfless.
For another layer of depth, find out the associated Tarot card for each of the Signs in my post on Tarotscopes: How Tarot and Astrology are Linked, or check out my post on The Best Crystals For Each Zodiac Sign!
So that’s a brief summary on the characteristics of each of the Zodiac Signs, I hope it’s been useful for you! Let me know in the comments section below if you have any questions or anything else to add :)
If you’d like to delve in deeper to the magical world of Astrology, enrol in my Cosmic Guidance: Traditional Astrology 101 Course!
Or, to discover the secrets of your own personal cosmic map, book in a 1:1 Natal Chart Reading with me!
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