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This Is The Most Common Zodiac Sign & It Actually Makes Total Sense
Do you ever feel like you're constantly meeting people of a certain zodiac sign? Chances are that you're naturally drawn toward certain astrological personality types, since the compatibility between zodiac signs varies.But there's a chance you could attribute this phenomenon to the fact that there are simply more people born under certain signs than others. The most common zodiac signs might surprise you.
According to data aggregated by FiveThirtyEight, which studied the number of births in the United States between 1994 to 2014, it appears that birthdays throughout all 365 days of the year are not equally distributed. In fact, the top most common birthdate (September 9) boasts nearly double the number of births than the least common birthdate (Dec. 25). Which means if you can name a slew of early-September Virgos off the top off your head but struggle to think of any Capricorn Christmas miracles, you're probably not alone.
Fun fact: The three most common zodiac signs share their sun sign seasons back-to-back — meaning that the largest number of birthdates are clustered within one three-month chunk of the year. That might be why you've noticed you're always buying more birthday cards, sending more birthday texts, and showing up to more birthday bar crawls throughout (spoiler alert) the summer season.
Without further ado, meet the three most common zodiac signs in astrology.
Top Three Most Common Zodiac Signs: Leo, Cancer, & Virgo
The summer months of late June through late September, which are ruled astrologically by the signs of Cancer, Leo, and Virgo, are the most common times of the years for birthdays. That means that we do indeed have more moody Cancers, attention-loving Leos, and critical Virgos running around than any other signs! While the data shows Leo as the most common sign, followed by Cancer and Virgo, the difference between them is pretty small. So given the near-tie plus the fact that the sun switches zodiac signs at a different time (and sometimes a different date) each year, it's impossible to know how many cusp zodiac sign babies were born within one sign's territory or the other. So until birth data starts factoring in the astrological position of the sun, we'll have to settle on a relative tie between our top three.
Cancer (June 21 - July 22)
Cancer is one of the zodiac's introspective water signs, so you may not have noticed that we have a whole bunch of these unassuming but powerful crabs scattered along our shores. Cancer season is the astrological period that kicks off the summertime — and it also ushers us into the most birthday-dense stretch of the year. Studies show that more babies are born during the summer season than any other time of year, so it makes sense that we'd see more people born within Cancer's emotional territory. While two Cancer season dates (July 4 and 5) do appear amongst the 20 least common dates of the year, those lows are more than made up for by the consistently high birth numbers throughout the rest of their astrological stretch.
Cancers and the most nurturing sign of the zodiac, so having so many of them among us ups our collective sense of comfort and emotional intelligence. This sign excels at making people feel safe and well-taken care of (and they're also traditionally known as the most maternal sign of the zodiac), so it feels good to have them around in excess. No one can complain about being coddled and pampered by a gentle, compassionate, and comforting Cancer.
Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22)
You didn't think that flashy Leos would stand for anything but the best, did you? This regal zodiac sign may not have dominated the top 10 birthday list (they actually don't show up there once), but it still rules over more than one quarter of the top 100 most common birth dates — which helped secure its spot at the top. Many Leos were likely conceived during the chilly and festive winter holiday period, during which many of us are cuffing ourselves up for the winter season ahead and connecting with loved ones during Thanksgiving weekend.
We're blessed to have so many Leos among us, as this zodiac sign (which is ruled by the sparkling sun itself) is one of the most warm and gregarious of the astrological bunch. Leos love to party and gas up their friends — and while they have a reputation for being a bit egotistical, they're just as generous as they are attention-loving. Our world is a little brighter thanks to the abundance of sunny and optimistic Leos. Plus, Leo season is naturally a celebratory time, since it takes place at the height of summer.
Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22)
A whopping nine out of the top 10 most common birth dates fall within Virgo season — and all nine of these Virgoan birthdates fall between the week-and-a-half-long period of Sept. 9 to Sept. 20. This means that many of these babies were conceived during the cold and cuffing-season-heavy month of December, when many of us are hunkered down at home with our partners celebrating the holidays. No wonder it's such a popular baby-making season!
We're lucky to have an abundance of Virgos among us, as this sign is one of the most detail-oriented, thoughtful, and hardworking signs of the bunch. Their service-oriented energy seeks to improve the world around them, so our world is probably kinder (and most definitely more organized) thanks to large influence of these giving earth signs.
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Zodiac
Area of the sky divided into twelve signs
For the East Asian zodiac based on the Jovian orbital cycle, see Chinese zodiac. For other uses, see Zodiac (disambiguation).
The zodiac is a belt-shaped region of the sky that extends approximately 8° north or south (as measured in celestial latitude) of the ecliptic, the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year. The paths of the Moon and visible planets are also within the belt of the zodiac.[1]
In Western astrology, and formerly astronomy, the zodiac is divided into twelve signs, each occupying 30° of celestial longitude and roughly corresponding to the star constellations: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces.[2][3]
These astrological signs form a celestial coordinate system, or even more specifically an ecliptic coordinate system, which takes the ecliptic as the origin of latitude and the Sun's position at vernal equinox as the origin of longitude.[4]
Name[edit]
The English word zodiac derives from zōdiacus, the Latinized form of the Ancient Greekzōidiakòs kýklos (ζῳδιακόςκύκλος), meaning "cycle or circle of little animals". Zōidion (ζῴδιον) is the diminutive of zōion (ζῷον, "animal"). The name reflects the prominence of animals (and mythological hybrids) among the twelve signs.
Usage[edit]
The zodiac was in use by the Roman era, based on concepts inherited by Hellenistic astronomy from Babylonian astronomy of the Chaldean period (mid-1st millennium BC), which, in turn, derived from an earlier system of lists of stars along the ecliptic.[5] The construction of the zodiac is described in Ptolemy's comprehensive 2nd century AD work, the Almagest.[6]
Although the zodiac remains the basis of the ecliptic coordinate system in use in astronomy besides the equatorial one,[7] the term and the names of the twelve signs are today mostly associated with horoscopic astrology.[8] The term "zodiac" may also refer to the region of the celestial sphere encompassing the paths of the planets corresponding to the band of about 8 arc degrees above and below the ecliptic. The zodiac of a given planet is the band that contains the path of that particular body; e.g., the "zodiac of the Moon" is the band of 5° above and below the ecliptic. By extension, the "zodiac of the comets" may refer to the band encompassing most short-period comets.[9]
History[edit]
Further information: Former constellation
Early history[edit]
As early as the 14th century BC a complete list of the 36 Egyptian decans was placed among the hieroglyphs adorning the tomb of Seti I; they figured again in the temple of Ramesses II, and characterize every Egyptian astrological monument. Both the famous zodiacs of Dendera display their symbols, unmistakably identified by Karl Richard Lepsius.[10]
Further information: Babylonian star catalogues and MUL.APIN
The division of the ecliptic into the zodiacal signs originates in Babylonian astronomy during the first half of the 1st millennium BC. The zodiac draws on stars in earlier Babylonian star catalogues, such as the MUL.APIN catalogue, which was compiled around 1000 BC. Some constellations can be traced even further back, to Bronze Age (First Babylonian dynasty) sources, including Gemini "The Twins," from MAŠ.TAB.BA.GAL.GAL "The Great Twins," and Cancer "The Crab," from AL.LUL "The Crayfish," among others.[citation needed]
Around the end of the 5th century BC, Babylonian astronomers divided the ecliptic into 12 equal "signs", by analogy to 12 schematic months of 30 days each. Each sign contained 30° of celestial longitude, thus creating the first known celestial coordinate system. According to calculations by modern astrophysics, the zodiac was introduced between 409 and 398 BC and probably within a very few years of 401 BC.[11] Unlike modern astrologers, who place the beginning of the sign of Aries at the place of the Sun at the vernal equinox, Babylonian astronomers fixed the zodiac in relation to stars, placing the beginning of Cancer at the "Rear Twin Star" (β Geminorum) and the beginning of Aquarius at the "Rear Star of the Goat-Fish" (δ Capricorni).[12]
Due to the precession of the equinoxes, the time of year the Sun is in a given constellation has changed since Babylonian times, the point of vernal equinox has moved from Aries into Pisces.[13]
Because the division was made into equal arcs, 30° each, they constituted an ideal system of reference for making predictions about a planet's longitude. However, Babylonian techniques of observational measurements were in a rudimentary stage of evolution.[14] They measured the position of a planet in reference to a set of "normal stars" close to the ecliptic (±9° of latitude) as observational reference points to help positioning a planet within this ecliptic coordinate system.[15]
In Babylonian astronomical diaries, a planet position was generally given with respect to a zodiacal sign alone, less often in specific degrees within a sign.[16] When the degrees of longitude were given, they were expressed with reference to the 30° of the zodiacal sign, i.e., not with a reference to the continuous 360° ecliptic.[16] In astronomical ephemerides, the positions of significant astronomical phenomena were computed in sexagesimal fractions of a degree (equivalent to minutes and seconds of arc).[17] For daily ephemerides, the daily positions of a planet were not as important as the astrologically significant dates when the planet crossed from one zodiacal sign to the next.[16]
Hebrew astronomy and astrology[edit]
Knowledge of the Babylonian zodiac is also reflected in the Hebrew Bible; E. W. Bullinger interpreted the creatures appearing in the book of Ezekiel as the middle signs of the four quarters of the Zodiac,[18][19] with the Lion as Leo, the Bull is Taurus, the Man representing Aquarius and the Eagle representing Scorpio.[20] Some authors have linked the twelve tribes of Israel with the same signs or the lunar Hebrew calendar having twelve lunar months in a lunar year. Martin and others have argued that the arrangement of the tribes around the Tabernacle (reported in the Book of Numbers) corresponded to the order of the Zodiac, with Judah, Reuben, Ephraim, and Dan representing the middle signs of Leo, Aquarius, Taurus, and Scorpio, respectively. Such connections were taken up by Thomas Mann, who in his novel Joseph and His Brothers attributes characteristics of a sign of the zodiac to each tribe in his rendition of the Blessing of Jacob.[citation needed]
Hellenistic and Roman era[edit]
The Babylonian star catalogs entered Greek astronomy in the 4th century BC, via Eudoxus of Cnidus.[21][22] Babylonia or Chaldea in the Hellenistic world came to be so identified with astrology that "Chaldean wisdom" became among Greeks and Romans the synonym of divination through the planets and stars. Hellenistic astrology derived in part from Babylonian and Egyptian astrology.[23]Horoscopic astrology first appeared in Ptolemaic Egypt (305 BC–30 BC). The Dendera zodiac, a relief dating to ca. 50 BC, is the first known depiction of the classical zodiac of twelve signs.
The earliest extant Greek text using the Babylonian division of the zodiac into 12 signs of 30 equal degrees each is the Anaphoricus of Hypsicles of Alexandria (fl. 190 BC).[24] Particularly important in the development of Western horoscopic astrology was the astrologer and astronomer Ptolemy, whose work Tetrabiblos laid the basis of the Western astrological tradition.[25] Under the Greeks, and Ptolemy in particular, the planets, Houses, and signs of the zodiac were rationalized and their function set down in a way that has changed little to the present day.[26] Ptolemy lived in the 2nd century AD, three centuries after the discovery of the precession of the equinoxes by Hipparchus around 130 BC. Hipparchus's lost work on precession never circulated very widely until it was brought to prominence by Ptolemy,[27] and there are few explanations of precession outside the work of Ptolemy until late Antiquity, by which time Ptolemy's influence was widely established.[28] Ptolemy clearly explained the theoretical basis of the western zodiac as being a tropical coordinate system, by which the zodiac is aligned to the equinoxes and solstices, rather than the visible constellations that bear the same names as the zodiac signs.[29]
Hindu zodiac[edit]
According to mathematician-historian Montucla, the Hindu zodiac was adopted from the Greek zodiac through communications between ancient India and the Greek empire of Bactria.[30] The Hindu zodiac uses the sidereal coordinate system, which makes reference to the fixed stars. The tropical zodiac (of Mesopotamian origin) is divided by the intersections of the ecliptic and equator, which shifts in relation to the backdrop of fixed stars at a rate of 1° every 72 years, creating the phenomenon known as precession of the equinoxes. The Hindu zodiac, being sidereal, does not maintain this seasonal alignment, but there are still similarities between the two systems. The Hindu zodiac signs and corresponding Greek signs sound very different, being in Sanskrit and Greek respectively, but their symbols are nearly identical.[31] For example, dhanu means "bow" and corresponds to Sagittarius, the "archer", and kumbha means "water-pitcher" and corresponds to Aquarius, the "water-carrier".[32]
Middle Ages[edit]
During the Abbasid era, Greek reference books were systematically translated into Arabic, then Islamic astronomers did their own observations, correcting Ptolemy's Almagest. One such book was Al-Sufi's Book Of Fixed Stars (), which has pictorial depictions of 48 constellations. The book was divided into three sections: constellations of the Zodiac, constellations north of the zodiac, and southern constellations. When Al-Sufi's book, and other works, were translated in the 11th century, there were mistakes made in the translations. As a result, some stars ended up with the names of the constellation they belong to (e.g. Hamal in Aries).
The High Middle Ages saw a revival of interest in Greco-Roman magic, first in Kabbalism and later continued in Renaissance magic. This included magical uses of the zodiac, as found, e.g., in the Sefer Raziel HaMalakh.
The zodiac is found in medieval stained glass as at Angers Cathedral, where the master glassmaker, André Robin, made the ornate rosettes for the North and South transepts after the fire there in 1451.[33]
Mughal kingJahangir issued an attractive series of coins in gold and silver depicting the twelve signs of the Zodiac.
Medieval Islamic era[edit]
Astrology emerged in the 8th century CE as a distinct discipline in Islam,[34]: 64 with mix of Indian, Hellenistic Iranian and other traditions blended with Greek and Islamic astronomical knowledge, for example Ptolemy's work and Al-Sufi's Book of Fixed Stars. A knowledge of the influence that the stars have on events on the earth was extremely important in Islamic civilisation. As a rule, it was believed that the signs of the zodiac and the planets control the destiny not only of people but also of nation; The Zodiac has the ability to determining physical characteristics as well ones intelligence and personal traits.[35]
The practice of astrology at this time could easily be divided into 4 broader categories: Genethlialogy, Catarchic Astrology, Interrogational Astrology and General Astrology.[34]: 65 However the most common type of astrology was Genethlialogy, which examined all aspects of a person's life in relation to the planetary positions at their birth; more commonly known as our horoscope.[34]: 65
Astrology services were offered widely across the empire, mainly in bazaars, where people could pay for a reading.[36] Astrology was also valued in the royal courts, for example, the Abbasid Caliph Al-Mansur used astrology to determine the best date for founding the new capital of Baghdad.[34]: 66 However, whilst horoscopes were generally widely accepted by society, many scholars condemned the use of astrology and divination; linking it to occult influences.[37] Many theologians and scholars also thought that it went against the tenets of Islam; as only God should be able to determine events rather than astrologers looking at the positions of the planets.[36]
In order to calculate someone's horoscope, an astrologer would use 3 tools: an astrolabe, ephemeris and a takht. First, the astrologer would use an astrolabe to find the position of the sun, align the rule with the persons time of birth and then align the rete to establish the altitude of the sun on that date.[38] Next, the astrologer would use an Ephemeris, a table denoting the mean position of the planets and stars within the sky at any given time.[39] Finally, the astrologer would add the altitude of the sun taken from the astrolabe, with the mean position of the planets on the person's birthday, and add them together on the takht (also known as the dustboard).[39] The dust board was merely a tablet covered in sand; on which the calculations could be made and erased easily.[36] Once this had been calculated, the astrologer was then able to interpret the horoscope. Most of these interpretations were based on the zodiac in literature. For example, there were several manuals on how to interpret each zodiac sign, the treatise relating to each individual sign and what the characteristics of these zodiacs were.[36]
Early modern[edit]
An example of the use of signs as astronomical coordinates may be found in the Nautical Almanac and Astronomical Ephemeris for the year 1767. The "Longitude of the Sun" columns show the sign (represented as a digit from 0 to and including 11), degrees from 0 to 29, minutes, and seconds.[40]
The zodiac symbols are Early Modern simplifications of conventional pictorial representations of the signs, attested since Hellenistic times.[citation needed]
Twelve signs[edit]
Main article: Astrological sign
What follows is a list of the signs of the modern zodiac (with the ecliptic longitudes of their first points), where 0° Aries is understood as the vernal equinox, with their Latin, Greek, Sanskrit, and Babylonian names. But note that the Sanskrit and the name equivalents (after c.500 BC) denote the constellations only, not the tropical zodiac signs. Also, the "English translation" isn't usually used by English speakers. Latin names are standard English usage.
The following table compares the Gregorian dates on which the Sun enters a sign in the Ptolemaic tropical zodiac, and a sign in the sidereal system proposed by Cyril Fagan.
The beginning of Aries is defined as the moment of vernal equinox, and all other dates shift accordingly.[45] The precise Gregorian times and dates vary slightly from year to year as the Gregorian calendar shifts relative to the tropical year. These variations remain within less than two days' difference in the recent past and the near-future, vernal equinox in UT always falling either on 20 or 21 March in the period of 1797 to 2043, falling on 19 March in 1796 the last time and in 2044 the next. Except for 2003 and 2007, the vernal equinox has started on 20 March since 1980, and is projected to until 2043.[46]
As each sign takes up exactly 30 degrees of the zodiac, the average duration of the solar stay in each sign is one twelfth of a sidereal year, or 30.43 standard days. Due to Earth's slight orbital eccentricity, the duration of each sign varies appreciably, between about 27.5 days for Sagittarius and about 33.2 days for Pisces (see also equation of time). In addition, because the Earth's axis is at an angle, some signs take longer to rise than others, and the farther away from the equator the observer is situated, the greater the difference. Thus, signs are spoken of as "long" or "short" ascension.[51]
Constellations[edit]
In tropical astrology, the zodiacal signs are distinct from the constellations associated with them, not only because of their drifting apart due to the precession of equinoxes but also because the physical constellations take up varying widths of the ecliptic, so the Sun is not in each constellation for the same amount of time.[52]: 25 Thus, Virgo takes up 5 times as much ecliptic longitude as Scorpius. The zodiacal signs are an abstraction from the physical constellations, and each represent exactly one 12th of the full circle, but the time spent by the Sun in each sign varies slightly due to the eccentricity of the Earth's orbit.
Sidereal astrology remedies this by assigning the zodiac sign approximately to the corresponding constellation. This alignment needs re calibrating every so often to keep the alignment in place.
The ecliptic intersects with 13 constellations of Ptolemy's Almagest,[53] as well as of the more precisely delineated IAU designated constellations. In addition to the twelve constellations after which the twelve zodiac signs are named, the ecliptic also intersects Ophiuchus,[54] the bottom part of which interjects between Scorpio and Sagittarius. Occasionally this difference between the astronomical constellations and the astrological signs is mistakenly reported in the popular press as a "change" to the list of traditional signs by some astronomical body like the IAU, NASA, or the Royal Astronomical Society. This happened in a 1995 report of the BBC Nine O'Clock News and various reports in 2011 and 2016.[55][56][57]
Some "parazodiacal" constellations are also touched by the paths of the planets, leading to counts of up to 25 "constellations of the zodiac".[58] The ancient Babylonian MUL.APIN catalog lists Orion, Perseus, Auriga, and Andromeda. Modern astronomers have noted that planets also pass through Crater, Sextans, Cetus, Pegasus, Corvus, Hydra, and Scutum; with Venus very rarely passing through Aquila, Canis Minor, Auriga, and Serpens.[58]
Some other constellations are also mythologically associated with the zodiacal ones: Piscis Austrinus, The Southern Fish, is attached to Aquarius. In classical maps, it swallows the stream poured out of Aquarius' pitcher, but perhaps it formerly just swam in it. Aquila, The Eagle, was possibly associated with the zodiac by virtue of its main star, Altair.[citation needed]Hydra in the Early Bronze Age marked the celestial equator and was associated with Leo, which is shown standing on the serpent on the Dendera zodiac.[citation needed]Corvus is the Crow or Raven mysteriously perched on the tail of Hydra.
Precession of the equinoxes[edit]
Further information: Axial precession, Epoch (astronomy), Sidereal and tropical astrology, Astrological age, and Ayanamsa
The zodiac system was developed in Babylonia, some 2,500 years ago, during the "Age of Aries".[60] At the time, it is assumed, the precession of the equinoxes was unknown. Contemporary use of the coordinate system is presented with the choice of interpreting the system either as sidereal, with the signs fixed to the stellar background, or as tropical, with the signs fixed to the point (vector of the Sun) at the March equinox.[61]
Western astrology takes the tropical approach, whereas Hindu astrology takes the sidereal one. This results in the originally unified zodiacal coordinate system drifting apart gradually, with a clockwise (westward) precession of 1.4 degrees per century.
For the tropical zodiac used in Western astronomy and astrology, this means that the tropical sign of Aries currently lies somewhere within the constellation Pisces ("Age of Pisces").
The sidereal coordinate system takes into account the ayanamsa, ayan meaning transit or movement, and amsa meaning small part, i.e. movement of equinoxes in small parts. It is unclear when Indians became aware of the precession of the equinoxes, but Bhaskara 2's 12th-century treatise Siddhanta Shiromani gives equations for measurement of precession of equinoxes, and says his equations are based on some lost equations of Suryasiddhanta plus the equation of Munjaala.
The discovery of precession is attributed to Hipparchus around 130 BC. Ptolemy quotes from Hipparchus' now lost work entitled "On the Displacement of the Solstitial and Equinoctial Points" in the seventh book of his 2nd century astronomical text, Almagest, where he describes the phenomenon of precession and estimates its value.[27] Ptolemy clarified that the convention of Greek mathematical astronomy was to commence the zodiac from the point of the vernal equinox and to always refer to this point as "the first degree" of Aries.[62] This is known as the "tropical zodiac" (from the Greek word trópos, turn)[63] because its starting point revolves through the circle of background constellations over time.
The principle of the vernal point acting as the first degree of the zodiac for Greek astronomers is also described in the 1st century BC astronomical text of Geminus of Rhodes. Geminus explains that Greek astronomers of his era associate the first degrees of the zodiac signs with the two solstices and the two equinoxes, in contrast to the older Chaldean (Babylonian) system, which placed these points within the zodiac signs.[62] This illustrates that Ptolemy merely clarified the convention of Greek astronomers and did not originate the principle of the tropical zodiac, as is sometimes assumed.
Ptolemy also demonstrates that the principle of the tropical zodiac was well known to his predecessors within his astrological text, the Tetrabiblos, where he explains why it would be an error to associate the regularly spaced signs of the seasonally aligned zodiac with the irregular boundaries of the visible constellations:
- The beginnings of the signs, and likewise those of the terms, are to be taken from the equinoctial and tropical points. This rule is not only clearly stated by writers on the subject, but is also especially evident by the demonstration constantly afforded, that their natures, influences and familiarities have no other origin than from the tropics and equinoxes, as has been already plainly shown. And, if other beginnings were allowed, it would either be necessary to exclude the natures of the signs from the theory of prognostication, or impossible to avoid error in then retaining and making use of them; as the regularity of their spaces and distances, upon which their influence depends, would then be invaded and broken in upon.[29]
In modern astronomy[edit]
Astronomically, the zodiac defines a belt of space extending 8°[64] or 9° in celestial latitude to the north and south of the ecliptic, within which the orbits of the Moon and the principal planets remain.[65] It is a feature of the ecliptic coordinate system – a celestial coordinate system centered upon the ecliptic, (the plane of the Earth's orbit and the Sun's apparent path), by which celestial longitude is measured in degrees east of the vernal equinox (the ascending intersection of the ecliptic and equator).[66] The zodiac is narrow in angular terms because most of the Sun's planets have orbits that have only a slight inclination to the orbital plane of the Earth.[67] Stars within the zodiac are subject to occultations by the Moon and other solar system bodies. These events can be useful, for example, to estimate the cross-sectional dimensions of a minor planet, or check a star for a close companion.[68]
The Sun's placement upon the vernal equinox, which occurs annually around 21 March, defines the starting point for measurement, the first degree of which is historically known as the "first point of Aries". The first 30° along the ecliptic is nominally designated as the zodiac sign Aries, which no longer falls within the proximity of the constellation Aries since the effect of precession is to move the vernal point through the backdrop of visible constellations (it is currently located near the end of the constellation Pisces, having been within that constellation since the 2nd century AD).[69] The subsequent 30° of the ecliptic is nominally designated the zodiac sign Taurus, and so on through the twelve signs of the zodiac so that each occupies 1/12th (30°) of the zodiac's great circle. Zodiac signs have never been used to determine the boundaries of astronomical constellations that lie in the vicinity of the zodiac, which are, and always have been, irregular in their size and shape.[65]
The convention of measuring celestial longitude within individual signs was still being used in the mid-19th century,[70] but modern astronomy now numbers degrees of celestial longitude continuously from 0° to 360°, rather than 0° to 30° within each sign.[71] This coordinate system is primary used by astronomers for observations of solar system objects.[72]
The use of the zodiac as a means to determine astronomical measurement remained the main method for defining celestial positions by Western astronomers until the Renaissance, at which time preference moved to the equatorial coordinate system, which measures astronomical positions by right ascension and declination rather than the ecliptic-based definitions of celestial longitude and celestial latitude.[69]
The word "zodiac" is used in reference to the zodiacal cloud of dust grains that move among the planets, and the zodiacal light that originates from their scattering of sunlight.[73]
Unicode characters[edit]
In Unicode, the symbols of zodiac signs are encoded in block "Miscellaneous Symbols":[47]
- U+2648 ♈ARIES (HTML )
- U+2649 ♉TAURUS (HTML )
- U+264A ♊GEMINI (HTML )
- U+264B ♋CANCER (HTML )
- U+264C ♌LEO (HTML )
- U+264D ♍VIRGO (HTML )
- U+264E ♎LIBRA (HTML )
- U+264F ♏SCORPIUS (HTML )
- U+2650 ♐SAGITTARIUS (HTML )
- U+2651 ♑CAPRICORN (HTML )
- U+2652 ♒AQUARIUS (HTML )
- U+2653 ♓PISCES (HTML )
There is also a character defined Ophiuchus: U+26CE ⛎OPHIUCHUS (HTML )
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^"zodiac". Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
- ^Because the signs are each 30° in longitude but constellations have irregular shapes, and because of precession, they do not correspond exactly to the boundaries of the constellations after which they are named.
- ^Noble, William (1902), "Papers communicated to the Association. The Signs of the Zodiac.", Journal of the British Astronomical Association, 12: 242–244, Bibcode:1902JBAA...12..242N
- ^Leadbetter, Charles (1742), A Compleat System of Astronomy, J. Wilcox, London, p. 94; numerous examples of this notation appear throughout the book.
- ^See MUL.APIN. See also Lankford, John; Rothenberg, Marc (1997). History of Astronomy: An Encyclopedia. Taylor & Francis. p. 43. ISBN .
- ^Ptolemy, Claudius (1998). The Almagest. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. ISBN . Translated and annotated by G. J. Toomer; with a foreword by Owen Gingerich.
- ^Shapiro, Lee T. "Constellations in the zodiac." NASA. 27 April 2011.
- ^B. L. van der Waerden, "History of the zodiac", Archiv für Orientforschung16 (1953) 216–230.
- ^OED, citing J. Harris, Lexicon Technicum (1704): "Zodiack of the Comets, Cassini hath observed a certain Tract [...] within whose Bounds [...] he hath found most Comets [...] to keep."
- ^
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Clerke, Agnes Mary (1911). "Zodiac". In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. 28 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 997. - ^Britton, John P. (2010), "Studies in Babylonian lunar theory: part III. The introduction of the uniform zodiac", Archive for History of Exact Sciences, 64 (6): 617–663, doi:10.1007/S00407-010-0064-Z, JSTOR 41134332, S2CID 122004678,
- ^Steele, John M. (2012) [2008], A Brief Introduction to Astronomy in the Middle East (electronic ed.), London: Saqi, ISBN
- ^Plait, Phil (26 September 2016), "No, NASA hasn't changed the zodiac signs or added a new one", Bad Astronomy
- ^Sachs (1948), p. 289.
- ^Aaboe, Asger H. (2001), Episodes from the Early History of Astronomy, New York: Springer, pp. 37–38, ISBN
- ^ abcRochberg, Francesca (1988), Babylonian Horoscopes, Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, 88, American Philosophical Society, pp. i–164, doi:10.2307/1006632, JSTOR 1006632
- ^Aaboe, Asger H. (2001), Episodes from the Early History of Astronomy, New York: Springer, pp. 41–45, ISBN
- ^E.W. Bullinger, The Witness of the Stars
- ^D. James Kennedy, The Real Meaning of the Zodiac.
- ^Richard Hinckley Allen, Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning, Vol. 1 (New York: Dover Publications, 1899, p. 213-215.) argued for Scorpio having previously been called Eagle. for Scorpio.
- ^Rogers, John H. "Origins of the ancient constellations: I. The Mesopotamian traditions." Journal of the British Astronomical Assoc. 108.1 (1998): 9–28. Astronomical Data Service.
- ^Rogers, John H. "Origins of the ancient constellations: II. The Mesopotamian traditions." Journal of the British Astronomical Assoc. 108.2 (1998): 79–89. Astronomical Data Service.
- ^Powell, Robert, Influence of Babylonian Astronomy on the Subsequent Defining of the Zodiac (2004), PhD thesis, summarized by anonymous editor, Archived 21 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^Montelle, Clemency (2016), "The Anaphoricus of Hypsicles of Alexandria", in Steele, John M. (ed.), The Circulation of Astronomical Knowledge in the Ancient World, Time, Astronomy, and Calendars: Texts and Studies, 6, Leiden: Brill, pp. 287–315, ISBN
- ^Saliba, George, 1994. A History of Arabic Astronomy: Planetary Theories During the Golden Age of Islam. New York: New York University Press. ISBN 978-0-8147-8023-7. Page 67.
- ^Derek and Julia Parker, Ibid, p16, 1990
- ^ abGraßhoff, Gerd (1990). The History of Ptolemy's Star Catalogue. Springer. p. 73. ISBN .
- ^Evans, James; Berggren, J. Lennart (2006). Geminos's Introduction to the Phenomena. Princeton University Press. p. 113. ISBN .
- ^ abAshmand, J. M. Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos. Astrology Classics. p. 37 (I.XXV).
- ^James Mill (1817). The History of British India. Baldwin, Cradock, and Joy. p. 409.
- ^Schmidt, Robert H. "The Relation of Hellenistic to Indian Astrology". Project Hindsight. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
- ^Dalal, Roshen (2010). Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin Books India. p. 89. ISBN .
- ^King, David. 'Angers Cathedral’, (book review of Karine Boulanger's 2010 book, Les Vitraux de la Cathédrale d’Angers, the 11th volume of the Corpus Vitrearum series from France), Vitemus: the only on-line magazine devoted to medieval stained glass, Issue 48, February 2011, retrieved 17 December 2013.
- ^ abcdAyduz, Salim (2014). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Science, and Technology in Islam. Oxford University Press.
- ^Andalusi, Salem (1991). Science in the medical world: 'Book of the categories of nations. Austin: University of Texas Press. p. XXV.
- ^ abcdSardar, Marika. "Astronomy and Astrology in the Medieval Islamic World". Met Museum.
- ^Varisco, Daniel Martin (2000). Selin, Helaine (ed.). Astronomy Across Cultures: The History of Non-Western Astrology. Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht. p. 617. ISBN .
- ^WInterburn, Emily (August 2005). "Using an Astrolabe"(PDF). Foundation for Science Technology and Civilisation: 7.[dead link]
- ^ abSaliba, George (1992). "The Role of the Astrologer in Medieval Islamic Society". Bulletin d'études orientales. 44: 50. JSTOR 41608345.
- ^Nautical Almanac and Astronomical Ephemeris for the year 1767. London: Board of Longitude, 1766.
- ^MUL.APIN; Peter Whitfield, History of Astrology (2001); W. Muss-Arnolt, The Names of the Assyro-Babylonian Months and Their Regents, Journal of Biblical Literature (1892).
- ^"ccpo/qpn/Agru[1]". oracc.iaas.upenn.edu.
- ^Alternative form: ΣκορπίωνSkorpiōn. Later form (with synizesis): Σκορπιός.
- ^American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language 3rd ed., s.v. "Pisces."
- ^""Why is the vernal equinox called the "First Point of Aries" when the Sun is actually in Pisces on this date?" | Planetarium | University of Southern Maine". usm.maine.edu. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
- ^See Jean Meeus, Astronomical Tables of the Sun, Moon, and Planets, 1983 published by Willmann-Bell, Inc., Richmond, VirginiaArchived 9 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine. The date in other time zones may vary.
- ^ ab"Zodiacal symbols in Unicode block Miscellaneous Symbols"(PDF). The Unicode Standard. 2010.
- ^Powell, Robert (2017). History of the Zodiac. Sophia Academic Press. p. 11. ISBN .
- ^Dates are for a typical year; actual dates may vary by a day or so from year to year.
- ^Not in use in either astronomy or mainstream astrology, based on Cyril Fagan, Zodiacs Old and New (1950).
- ^Julia Parker "The Astrologer's Handbook", pp 10, Alva Press, NJ, 2010
- ^James, Edward W. (1982). Patrick Grim (ed.). Philosophy of science and the occult. Albany: State University of New York Press. ISBN .
- ^Peters, Christian Heinrich Friedrich and Edward Ball Knobel. Ptolemy's Catalogue of Stars: a revision of the AlmagestArchived 29 August 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Carnegie Institution of Washington, 1915. Ptolemy (1982) [2nd cent.]. "VII.5". In R. Catesby Taliaferro (ed.). Almagest. p. 239. Ptolemy refers to the constellation as Septentarius "the serpent holder".
- ^Tatum, Jeremy B. (June 2010). "The Signs and Constellations of the Zodiac". Journal of the Royal Society of Canada. 104 (3): 103. Bibcode:2010JRASC.104..103T.
- ^Kollerstrom, N. (October 1995). "Ophiuchus and the media". The Observatory. KNUDSEN; OBS. 115: 261–262. Bibcode:1995Obs...115..261K.
- ^The notion received further international media attention in January 2011, when it was reported that astronomer Parke Kunkle, a board-member of the Minnesota Planetarium Society, had suggested that Ophiuchus was the zodiac's "13th sign". He later issued a statement to say he had not reported that the zodiac ought to include 13 signs instead of 12, but was only mentioning that there were 13 constellations; reported in Mad Astronomy: Why did your zodiac sign change? 13 January 2011.
- ^Plait, Phil (26 September 2016). "No, NASA Didn't Change Your Astrological Sign".
- ^ abMosley, John (2011). "The Real, Real Constellations of the Zodiac". International Planetarium Society. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
- ^ abThe Real Constellations of the Zodiac. Lee T. Shapiro, director of Morehead Planetarium University of North Carolina (Spring 1977)
- ^Sachs, Abraham (1948), "A Classification of the Babylonian Astronomical Tablets of the Seleucid Period", Journal of Cuneiform Studies, Vol. 2, No. 4, pp. 271–290
- ^Rochberg, Francesca (1998), "Babylonian Horoscopes", American Philosophical Society, New Series, Vol. 88, No. 1, pp i-164
- ^ abEvans, James; Berggren, J. Lennart (2006). Geminos's Introduction to the Phenomena. Princeton University Press. p. 115. ISBN .
- ^"tropo-". Dictionary.com. Random House, Inc. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
- ^Holmes, Charles Nevers (November 1914). "The Zodiac". Popular Astronomy. 22: 547–550. Bibcode:1914PA.....22..547H.
- ^ abEncyclopædia Britannica. "Zodiac". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
- ^Encyclopædia Britannica. "Ecliptic". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
- ^"Zodiac". Cosmos. Swinburne University of Technology. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
- ^"International Occultation Timing Association". 18 December 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
- ^ abEncyclopædia Britannica. "Astronomical map". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
- ^G. Rubie (1830). The British Celestial Atlas: Being a Complete Guide to the Attainment of a Practical Knowledge of the Heavenly Bodies. Baldwin & Cradock. p. 79.
- ^The Astronomical Almanac for the Year 2017, Washington D. C.: U.S. Government Publishing Office, October 2015, pp. C6–C21, ISBN
- ^Clark, Alan T.; et al. (2008). Observing Projects Using Starry Night Enthusiast (eighth ed.). W. H. Freeman. p. 42. ISBN .
- ^Licquia, Timothy C.; Newman, Jeffrey A.; Brinchmann, Jarle (August 2015). "Unveiling the Milky Way: A New Technique for Determining the Optical Color and Luminosity of Our Galaxy". The Astrophysical Journal. 809 (1): 19. arXiv:1508.04446. Bibcode:2015ApJ...809...96L. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/809/1/96. S2CID 118455273. 96.
External links[edit]
The Complete Guide to Zodiac Signs and Their Meanings
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. (Keep reading for a full list of zodiac sign dates.)
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 as a natal chart (or birth chart). (You can get one from an 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. And when you work with a professional astrologer, they can tell you what each of those placements — and how they interact with one another — mean for your personality and journey in life. (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 fiery 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 signs spread across the sky. Here, an overview of each zodiac sign's meaning, including characteristics of each 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 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
- Leo ♌️: July 23 - August 22
- 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 signs. Check out each profile below to see which house each sign oversees.
The 12 Zodiac Signs & Meanings
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).
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 feet to take action, or being lazy and languorous when it comes to being intimate.
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).
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 were pretty much born for quarantine, prioritizing bolstering their connections with loved ones and achieving a lasting sense of security. But their crabbiness 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.)
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.
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
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, 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.
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.
Scorpio ♏️ (October 23 - November 21)
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.
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, entertainers, politicians, and/or generally gravitate to career paths that allow for lots of travel.
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).
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, skeptical, and social (albeit in a cool, aloof, friends-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.
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.
Maressa Brown is a writer and astrologer with more than 15 years of experience. In addition to being Shape's resident astrologer, she contributes to InStyle, Parents, Astrology.com, and more. Follow her Instagram and Twitter at @MaressaSylvie.
Signs birthday astrology
Humans have pondered the mysteries of the universe for millennia, tracking the sun’s vibrant motion, the moon’s beguiling cycle, and the swirl of boundless stars overhead. Astrology and astronomy were inextricably linked for thousands of years, and although these two fields have been disentangled over time, the mystical teachings of the cosmos still guide us today.
The study of astrology is expansive, complex, and transformative. Despite the nuances, the most fundamental principle of astrology centers on the 12 familiar star signs of the zodiac. Over the centuries, each sign has developed its own associations — including myths, animals, and colors — and its own characteristics. Every sign boasts an individual approach to life, complete with dynamic strengths and frustrating weaknesses.
The sun sign is the cosmic launching pad for both amateur and professional astrologers. Your sun sign is determined by your date of birth and represents your core personality, sense of self, basic preferences, and ways in which you move through the world. This astrological placement sheds light on your intrinsic gifts, as well as your blind spots. Joys, wishes, flaws, and fears are what make a sun sign special and unique. When combined with the other planets in your chart, it creates the distinctive profile that serves as your astrological fingerprint.
No sign is perfect on its own. The diversity of the zodiac completes the astrological wheel.
Ready to take your astrological knowledge to the next level? There are four triplicities and quadruplicities that further categorize the 12 signs. If these words sound like gibberish, don’t fret: The concepts are easy. "Triplicities" is astrospeak for elements, which include fire (the fire signs are Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius), earth (the earth signs are Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn), air (the air signs are Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius), and water (the water signs are Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces). Generally speaking, fire signs are passionate and exuberant, earth signs are practical and grounded, air signs are intellectual and curious, and water signs are intuitive and emotional.
Check out this month'sAllure Beauty Box, which is packed with products hand-picked by our editors — all for only $23.
Quadruplicities are the signs’ qualities. Cardinal signs, which include Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn, kick off new seasons. They are excellent at taking action and starting initiatives. Fixed signs, which include Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius, occur in the middle of seasons. They are the steady, consistent forces that maintain movement. Each season concludes with a mutable sign — Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, or Pisces — that possesses effortless fluidity well-suited to change and transformation. As we continue layering astrological concepts, we uncover a rich and complex practice that delivers insight into our truest selves.
Twelve Signs of the Western Astrology
Aries
Strength: hopeful, active, energetic, honest, versatile, brave, adventurous, passionate, generous, cheerful, argumentative, curious
Weakness: impulsive, naive, self-willed, belligerent, impatient
Symbol: Ram
Element: Fire
Sign Ruler: Mars
Lucky Color: Red
Lucky Number: 5
Jewelry: Ruby
Best Match: Leo, Sagittarius and Aries
Celebrities: Hans Christian Andersen, Jackie Chan, Mariah Carey, Marlon Brando, Dennis Quaid
See Also: Aries Horoscope in 2021
Chinese zodiac twins: Dragon
Taurus
Strength: romantic, decisive, logical, diligent, ardent, patient, talented in art, perseverant, benevolent
Weakness: prejudiced, dependent, stubborn
Symbol: Bull
Element: Earth
Sign Ruler: Venus
Lucky Color: Pink
Lucky Number: 6
Jewelry: Emerald, Jade
Best Match: Capricorn, Virgo and Taurus
Celebrities: Karl Marx, William Shakespeare, Leonardo da Vinci, David Beckham, Al Pacino
See Also: Taurus Horoscope in 2021
Chinese zodiac twins: Snake
Gemini
Strength: multifarious, perspicacious, smart, cheerful, quick-witted, clement, charming
Weakness: fickle, gossipy, amphibian
Symbol: Twins
Element: Air
Sign Ruler: Mercury
Lucky Color: Yellow
Lucky Number: 7
Jewelry: Opal
Best Match: Aquarius, Libra and Gemini
Celebrities: John F. Kennedy, Queen Victoria
See Also: Gemini Horoscope in 2021
Chinese zodiac twins: Horse
Cancer
Strength: with strong sixth sense, subjective, gentle, swift, imaginative, careful, dedicated, perseverant, kind, caring
Weakness: greedy, possessive, sensitive, prim
Symbol: Crab
Element: Water
Sign Ruler: Moon
Lucky Color: Green
Lucky Number: 2
Jewelry: Pearl
Best Match: Pisces, Scorpio and Cancer
Celebrities: Alexander the Great, Raul Gonzalez
See Also: Cancer Horoscope in 2021
Chinese zodiac twins: Sheep
Leo
Strength: proud, charitable, reflective, loyal and enthusiastic
Weakness: arrogant, vainglorious, indulgent, wasteful, willful, and self-complacent
Symbol: Lion
Element: Fire
Sign Ruler: Sun
Lucky Colors: Red, Gold, Yellow
Lucky Number: 19
Jewelry: Gold
Best Match: Aries, Sagittarius and Leo
Celebrities: Napoleon Bonaparte, Deng Xiaoping, Alexander Dumas, Jennifer Lopez, Whitney Houston, Sarah Brightman
See Also: Leo Horoscope in 2021
Chinese zodiac twins: Monkey
Virgo
Strength: helping, elegant, perfectionist, modest, practical, clearheaded
Weakness: picky, nosey, tortuous, confining
Symbol: Virgin maiden
Element: Earth
Sign Ruler: Mercury
Lucky Color: Gray
Lucky Number: 7
Jewelry: Sapphire, Amber
Best Match: Sagittarius, Taurus and Gemini
Celebrities: Warren Buffett, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jackson, Rebecca De Mornay, Richard Gere
See Also: Virgo Horoscope in 2021
Chinese zodiac twins: Rooster
Libra
Strength: idealistic, equitable, just, strong social skills, aesthetic, charming, artistic, beautiful, kind-hearted
Weakness: hesitant, narcissistic, lazy, perfunctory, freewheeling
Symbol: Scales
Element: Air
Sign Ruler: Venus
Lucky Color: Brown
Lucky Number: 3
Jewelry: Coral, Amber
Best Match: Aquarius, Gemini and Libra
Celebrities: Oscar Wilde, Hillary Duff, Italo Calvino, Evander Hoilrield
See Also: Libra Horoscope in 2021
Chinese zodiac twins: Dog
Scorpio
Strength: mysterious, rational, intelligent, independent, intuitive, dedicated, insightful, charming, sensible
Weakness: suspicious, fanatical, complicated, possessive, arrogant, self-willed, extreme
Symbol: Scorpion
Element: Water
Sign Ruler: Pluto, Mars
Lucky Colors: Purple, Black
Lucky Number: 4
Jewelry: Jasper, Black Crystal
Best Match: Cancer, Capricorn and Pisces
Celebrities: Charles de Gaulle, Bill Gates, Marie Curie, Hillary Clinton, Julia Roberts, Pablo Picasso
See Also: Scorpio Horoscope in 2021
Chinese zodiac twins: Pig
Sagittarius
Strength: insightful, superior, rational, brave, beautiful, lively, lovely, optimistic
Weakness: forgetful, careless, rash
Symbol: Archer
Element: Fire
Sign Ruler: Jupiter
Lucky Color: Light Blue
Lucky Number: 6
Jewelry: Amethyst
Best Match: Virgo, Leo and Aries
Celebrities: Mark Twain, Beethoven, Taylor Swift, Britney Spears
See Also: Sagittarius Horoscope in 2021
Chinese zodiac twins: Rat
Capricorn
Strength: excellent, intelligent, practical, reliable, perseverant, generous, optimistic, cute, persistent
Weakness: stubborn, lonely, and suspicious
Symbol: Goat
Element: Earth
Sign Ruler: Saturn
Lucky Colors: Brown, Black, Dark Green
Lucky Number: 4
Jewelry: Black Jade
Best Match: Virgo, Taurus and Pisces
Celebrities: Mao Zedong, Issac Newton, Martin Luther King, Nicholas Cage
See Also: Capricorn Horoscope in 2021
Chinese zodiac twins: Ox
Aquarius
Strength: original, tolerant, ideal, calm, friendly, charitable, independent, smart, practical
Weakness: changeful, disobedient, liberalistic, hasty, rebel
Symbol: Water carrier
Element: Air
Sign Ruler: Uranus
Lucky Color: Bronze
Lucky Number: 22
Jewelry: Black Pearl
Best Match: Gemini, Libra and Aquarius
Celebrities: Francis Bacon, Thomas Edison, Agyness Deyn, Paris Hilton
See Also: Aquarius Horoscope in 2021
Chinese zodiac twins: Tiger
Pisces
Strength: conscious, aesthetic, platonic, dedicated, kind, with good temper
Weakness: recessive, sentimental, indecisive, unrealistic
Symbol: Fish
Element: Water
Sign Ruler: Neptune
Lucky Color: White
Lucky Number: 11
Jewelry: Ivory Stone
Best Match: Scorpio, Cancer and Capricorn
Celebrities: George Washington, Zhou Enlai, Albert Einstein, Justin Bieber
See Also: Pisces Horoscope in 2021
Chinese zodiac twins: Rabbit
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Confused and hesitant mumbling, I tried to look into her eyes and not at the graceful smooth and lush outlines of her just. Huge chest second or even third size. Oh, well, do not embarrass me. - clasping her palms and stretching her thin arms down, thereby squeezing her most beautiful parts of the body, the cute coquette made the most powerful. Shot at me.