Zodiac Signs Reference

Sign Dates and Attributes

Aries (March 21 – April 19) — Fire, Cardinal, ruled by Mars. The initiator. Courageous, competitive, impatient. Thrives on challenge and new beginnings. Shadow: aggression, selfishness, burnout from constant forward motion.

Taurus (April 20 – May 20) — Earth, Fixed, ruled by Venus. The builder. Sensual, reliable, stubborn. Values security, beauty, and tangible pleasures. Shadow: possessiveness, resistance to change, materialism.

Gemini (May 21 – June 20) — Air, Mutable, ruled by Mercury. The communicator. Curious, adaptable, scattered. Lives in the realm of ideas and connections. Shadow: superficiality, inconsistency, nervous energy.

Cancer (June 21 – July 22) — Water, Cardinal, ruled by the Moon. The nurturer. Protective, intuitive, moody. Creates emotional safety for self and others. Shadow: clinginess, indirect manipulation, dwelling in the past.

Leo (July 23 – August 22) — Fire, Fixed, ruled by the Sun. The performer. Generous, dramatic, proud. Seeks recognition and channels creative life force. Shadow: ego-centrism, need for constant validation, domineering.

Virgo (August 23 – September 22) — Earth, Mutable, ruled by Mercury. The analyst. Precise, helpful, critical. Finds purpose in improvement and service. Shadow: perfectionism paralysis, harsh self-criticism, anxiety.

Libra (September 23 – October 22) — Air, Cardinal, ruled by Venus. The harmonizer. Diplomatic, aesthetic, indecisive. Seeks balance and beauty in all things. Shadow: people-pleasing, avoidance of conflict, identity diffusion.

Scorpio (October 23 – November 21) — Water, Fixed, ruled by Pluto (traditional: Mars). The transformer. Intense, perceptive, secretive. Drawn to depth, power, and regeneration. Shadow: jealousy, obsession, destructive tendencies.

Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21) — Fire, Mutable, ruled by Jupiter. The explorer. Optimistic, philosophical, restless. Chases meaning, freedom, and expansion. Shadow: tactlessness, commitment-phobia, preachy righteousness.

Capricorn (December 22 – January 19) — Earth, Cardinal, ruled by Saturn. The achiever. Disciplined, ambitious, reserved. Builds lasting structures through patience. Shadow: workaholism, emotional suppression, status obsession.

Aquarius (January 20 – February 18) — Air, Fixed, ruled by Uranus (traditional: Saturn). The visionary. Innovative, humanitarian, detached. Champions progress and collective evolution. Shadow: emotional unavailability, contrarianism, superiority complex.

Pisces (February 19 – March 20) — Water, Mutable, ruled by Neptune (traditional: Jupiter). The mystic. Compassionate, imaginative, escapist. Dissolves boundaries between self and other. Shadow: victimhood, addiction, losing self in others.

Elements

Fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius): Enthusiasm, inspiration, action-oriented. Fire signs bring warmth and initiative but can burn out or burn others. They need outlets for their energy and freedom to express.

Earth (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn): Practicality, stability, material focus. Earth signs build tangible results but can become rigid or overly focused on security. They need grounding activities and patience with slower timelines.

Air (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius): Intellect, communication, social connection. Air signs excel at ideas and relationships but can be detached from emotions or reality. They need mental stimulation and space to think.

Water (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces): Emotion, intuition, depth. Water signs feel deeply and perceive what others miss but can drown in feelings or absorb others' pain. They need emotional processing time and healthy boundaries.

Modalities

Cardinal (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn): Initiators who start things. They mark the beginning of seasons and bring leadership energy. Challenge: following through after the initial spark.

Fixed (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius): Sustainers who maintain and deepen. They provide stability and determination. Challenge: adapting when change is necessary.

Mutable (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces): Adapters who transition and transform. They bring flexibility and wisdom. Challenge: maintaining consistency and commitment.

Planetary Rulerships

Each sign has a planetary ruler that colors its expression. The Sun rules Leo (identity, vitality). The Moon rules Cancer (emotions, instincts). Mercury rules Gemini and Virgo (communication, analysis). Venus rules Taurus and Libra (love, beauty, values). Mars rules Aries (action, desire). Jupiter rules Sagittarius (expansion, belief). Saturn rules Capricorn (structure, discipline). Uranus rules Aquarius (innovation, rebellion). Neptune rules Pisces (imagination, spirituality). Pluto rules Scorpio (transformation, power).