Zodiac signs

All twelve signs, explained

Dates, personality, shadow side and who each sign actually works with. Grouped by element, because that is the fastest way to see why some signs understand each other and others have to work at it.

Fire signs

Direct, fast, driven by instinct. They start things.

Aries March 21 to April 19  |  cardinal  |  ruled by Mars Aries leads with instinct and momentum. First to start, first to say it out loud, and allergic to waiting.
Leo July 23 to August 22  |  fixed  |  ruled by the Sun Leo loves generously and expects the same back. Warm, proud and loyal once the heart commits.
Sagittarius November 22 to December 21  |  mutable  |  ruled by Jupiter Sagittarius loves freely and laughs loudly. Adventure, honesty and a bigger horizon are non negotiable.

Earth signs

Practical and patient. They build things that last.

Taurus April 20 to May 20  |  fixed  |  ruled by Venus Taurus builds slowly and means it. Comfort, loyalty and consistency are the love language here.
Virgo August 23 to September 22  |  mutable  |  ruled by Mercury Virgo shows love through acts, not announcements. Observant, helpful and quietly devoted.
Capricorn December 22 to January 19  |  cardinal  |  ruled by Saturn Capricorn takes love seriously. Commitment is shown through effort, plans and showing up every time.

Air signs

Curious and social. They think in connections and ideas.

Gemini May 21 to June 20  |  mutable  |  ruled by Mercury Gemini falls in love through conversation. Curious, quick and twice as interesting as yesterday.
Libra September 23 to October 22  |  cardinal  |  ruled by Venus Libra is built for partnership. Charm, fairness and harmony matter here, and so does being met halfway.
Aquarius January 20 to February 18  |  fixed  |  ruled by Uranus Aquarius loves as a best friend first. Original, independent and loyal to the people who let them be different.

Water signs

Feeling first. They read the room before anyone speaks.

Cancer June 21 to July 22  |  cardinal  |  ruled by the Moon Cancer loves by caring. Home, memory and emotional safety come first, everything else follows.
Scorpio October 23 to November 21  |  fixed  |  ruled by Pluto Scorpio loves at full depth or not at all. Intense, private and fiercely loyal once trust is earned.
Pisces February 19 to March 20  |  mutable  |  ruled by Neptune Pisces loves with imagination and empathy. Romantic, intuitive and tuned in to feelings before words.

Common questions

What are the 12 zodiac signs in order?

Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. The order follows the sun through the year, starting at the spring equinox in Aries around March 21.

How do I know what my zodiac sign is?

Your sun sign comes from your birth date. If you were born between March 21 and April 19 you are an Aries, between April 20 and May 20 a Taurus, and so on through the list above. If your birthday falls on the boundary between two signs, the exact time and place of birth decides it, because the sun changes sign at a specific moment rather than at midnight.

What do the four elements mean?

Each sign belongs to fire, earth, air or water, and the element describes how the sign takes in the world. Fire acts, earth builds, air thinks, water feels. Signs that share an element usually understand each other without much explaining.

Is my sun sign the whole picture?

No. Your sun sign is one placement out of a full birth chart. Your moon sign describes your emotional life and your rising sign describes how you come across to others, and both can look nothing like your sun. The sign pages here cover the sun sign; the full chart needs your birth time and place.