Zodiac Signs: Star Sign Dates, Traits & More (2024)

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Star Sign Dates & Traits

There are 12 different horoscope signs, each with its own strengths, weaknesses, traits, desires, and way of viewing the world. Your personal astrological sign is based on the position of the sun on the day you were born. Take a look below to learn what your zodiac sign is, and click on each to discover their powerful traits and secrets.

What is the Zodiac?

The zodiac is made up of twelve constellations and signs, dividing the sky into twelve sections. These pieces of the cosmos are ruled by the constellation they are affiliated with, forming each member of the zodiac. These twelve sections are further defined by the elements they are affiliated with, and the planets they are ruled by.

For example, the sun travels through each sign throughout the year, marking significant shifts that occur about every thirty days. However, we also see change occur as other planets and the moon soar through our galaxy, enriching our lives with a variety of challenges, blessings, and emotional movement.

The sign any given planet is placed under will give us insight around how that celestial bod is acting in the moment, providing a map for the energy we are to contend with throughout the day.

The Elements of the Zodiac Signs

Each of the zodiac signs is ruled by an element: fire, earth, air, or water. Each of the elements is characterized by different strengths and tendencies. But how each star sign is affected by its element is unique to that sign.

Water signs are seen as shy, reserved, and sensitive, but also intuitive and in-tune with their feelings. They make natural empaths, with an ability to tap into the emotions of people around them. They're nurturing towards the ones they love but need to be careful they're not overly giving with anyone who might take advantage of this quality. The water signs are Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces.

Fire signs, meanwhile, are known for passion, creativity, competitiveness, and inspiration.

Earth signs are considered conservative, realistic, and "down-to-earth." Patience is what gets them ahead in life, because they understand the importance of building up personal or professional goals over time. They love to be spoiled but do the same for anyone lucky enough to win their affections. The earth signs are Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn.

Finally, air signs are thought of as rational, social, and intellectual. People with this sign are naturally friendly, communicative, and analytical. Their curiosity makes them excellent students, and most continue to self-educate long after they've completed formal schooling. They love keeping up-to-date with their friends, but need to be mindful to carve out time for quiet reflection, and avoid overstimulation, anxiety, or insomnia. The air signs are Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius.

The Zodiac Signs Traits

The Rulers of the Zodiac

Each of the zodiac signs is also associated with a planet, or a "ruler." This planet exerts a stronger influence over a given sign than any other planet. It affects how your zodiac sign interacts with others, approaches life, and forms relationships. A sign's temperament is often defined by its planetary ruler, bringing through a passive, aggressive, conservative, receptive, or extroverted personality type.

The traditional planets–Mars, Venus, Mercury, Saturn, and Jupiter–all serve more than one sign. While the sun and moon are assigned only to Leo and Cancer.

Mars–ruled signs tend to be motivated by passions and can sometimes lean toward aggressive or impulsive behaviors. Mercury-ruled signs have a natural curiosity, making them excellent students and communicators. With Venus as a planetary ruler, we see a desire for romance, aesthetics, and luxury. Saturn can bring out a restrained or traditional personality type who values structure and order. Jupiter bestows the signs it rules with optimism and a larger-than-life energy. The sun's rulership of Leo can be credited for this member of the zodiac's warmth and sense of pride. The Moon is responsible for Cancer's intuition and nurturing tendencies.

These seven celestial bodies solely governed the zodiac for centuries. But as astronomers continued to discover planets, some members of the zodiac were given a secondary, or modern, ruler. Pluto represents power and transformation, aligning with the intensity it brings to Scorpios. Uranus is known to shake things up, bringing an unpredictable element to Aquarius signs. Meanwhile, Neptune is thought to be responsible for the dreamy outlook of Pisces. Though the modern planetary rulers have prominent roles in the signs they govern, it's important to take into account each sign's traditional planets as well, and how these rulers work together.

House Systems

In addition to having a planetary ruler, each member of the zodiac has a "house" that it is the natural ruler of. If you've ever pulled up your birth chart, you likely noticed that it is divided into twelve sections–each of which are correlated with a number. These numbers make up the house system and will give you additional insights to help you unlock the secrets of your natal chart.

While Aries is the natural ruler of the first house, it won't necessarily govern your personal first house, unless you are an Aries rising. The first house of the zodiac is always ruled by your rising sign–and is known as the house of self. It can provide information regarding our identities, as well as physical appearances. It can even uncover information surrounding our births.

The second house rules money and it's what helps someone feel secure. Information around how a person learns and communicates can be found in the third house, while the fourth tells the story of your home life. The fifth house rules creative expression and leisure activities, while astrologers turn to the sixth house to learn more about someone's daily routines and health. Love and relationship matters are spotlighted in the seventh house, while the eight house is often referred to as the house of "sex, death, and taxes." Our spiritual paths can be understood through the ninth house, and our career paths unfold in the tenth. Your connection to community and social activism will be found in the eleventh house, as well as group activities you like to participate in. The twelfth house is perhaps the most misunderstood area of a birth chart, as it rules the unseen, the subconscious, and secrets.

When reading your natal chart, you'll want to pay close attention to the rulers of each house in your chart and take note of your planetary placements and how they interact with one another. The house system is the backbone of any astrology reading, allowing us to interpret many areas of our life piece-by-piece.

Tropical and Sidereal Astrology

Tropical astrology is typically practiced by western astrologers and is formed around the traditional dates of equinoxes and solstices. It finds these calculations based off its relationship to the sun. Sidereal astrology takes a different approach toward calculating planetary placements. It considers the wobble of the Earth on its axis–and pays more attention to the movement of our constellations versus the fixed nature of our sun.

Why People Believe in Astrology

People believe in astrology for many reasons, which won't be the same for all. Some take a surface-level interest, turning to their daily horoscopes for a glimmer of what the day might hold. Others plummet into extensive dives into their natal charts in an effort to understand themselves and those around them more clearly. There is a general belief that a greater force in the cosmos has an effect on us humble humans, which leaves us turning to the heavens for clarity on our paths.