Here’s your entire guide to all 12 zodiac signs’ dates and their meanings, from fiery, competitive Aries to sensitive, psychic Pisces.
When you first start learning about astrology, whether it’s by reading your horoscope or researching the zodiac sign of your new crush, you’re probably learning about a sun sign. The large, bright, glittering celestial body spends about four weeks in each of the 12 zodiac signs, and your birthdate may (usually) point you in the right direction.
Your zodiac sign can reveal information about your self-esteem, self-image, sense of self, and identity. It will also have an impact on your life path. However, it’s only one aspect of your entire astrological profile, often known as a natal chart (or birth chart). Your birth chart shows not only the position of the sun but also the moon and the planets in the sky at the time you were born.
It also takes into account the vantage point from which you were born. When you engage with a professional astrologer, they can tell you what each of those placements represents for your personality and life path, as well as how they interact with one another.
All of these layers mean that you may have been born with your sun in the relationship-and-balance-loving sign of Libra, but Mercury, which governs communication, was in the sign opposite Libra at the time of your birth — argumentative, competitive Aries. So you can feel a push-pull between how you express yourself and your sense of self, and so, you’re fiercer and more assertive than an airy Libra.
In other words, we each have our own “astrological DNA,” which consists of a unique combination of astrology signs scattered over the sky. Here’s a comprehensive introduction and summary of each zodiac sign’s significance, as well as features of each astrology sign to keep in mind as you investigate your birth chart.
Dates for Zodiac Signs
See where your birthday falls in the 12 zodiac sign dates below to find out what your zodiac sign is. If you were born on a cusp day, when the sun shifts from one astrology sign to the next, you’ll need your birth time to determine your solar 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
Houses, Quadruplicities, and the Elements
First, a review of the phrases you’ll come across as you learn about each zodiac sign and its meaning. You’re probably aware that each sign belongs to one of the four elements: fire, earth, air, or water. But did you know that each element has three properties (referred to as quadruplicities)?
- Cardinal: These signs are the zodiac’s big-picture thinkers, wonderful at brainstorming and starting, but not so good at following through. Aries (fire), Cancer (water), Libra (air), and Capricorn (earth) are among them.
- Mutable: These signs are the most flexible of the zodiac, but the downside is that they may be a bit wishy-washy. Gemini (air), Virgo (earth), Sagittarius (fire), and Pisces (water) are among them.
- Fixed: These zodiac signs are infamous for digging their heels in – whether you call it steadfast or stubborn as hell. Taurus (earth), Leo (fire), Scorpio (water), and Aquarius (air) are among them.
Every planet and element examined by astrologers in a chart belongs to one of the 12 houses, each of which governs a distinct aspect of life and is ruled by one of the 12 zodiac signs. Check out each profile below to see which house each sign oversees.
12 Zodiac Signs and Their Meanings
Aries ♈️ (March 21 – April 19)
- Symbol: The Ram
- Planet: Mars
- House: First House of Self
- Key Traits: Competitive, energetic, impulsive, fearless
The cardinal fire sign is recognized for its dynamism, athleticism, and relentless desire to succeed. As a result, they take great pride in being early adopters of anything from the newest sneaker release to the newest iPhone. They live to compete and dispute. Rams are more likely to be professional athletes, trend-setting influencers, or lawyers.
Taurus ♉️ (April 20 – May 20)
- Symbol: The Bull
- Planet: Venus
- House: Second House of Income
- Key Traits: Resolute, grounded, tenacious, sensual
The fixed earth sign has a reputation for being the most tenacious of the zodiac signs, but keep in mind that each element has its fixed sign! Taureans are quite laid-back thanks to their Venusian influence. They’re recognized for their love of luxury and indulgence, for being extremely loyal, and for appreciating art (whether they create or just appreciate it). Spa days and sweets are two of their favorite things. They’re known for taking their time, whether it’s having a long fuse to become energized, dragging their feet to act, or being sluggish and languorous when it comes to intimacy.
Gemini ♊️ (May 21 – June 20)
- Symbol: The Twins
- Planet: Mercury
- House: Third House of Communication
- Key Traits: Witty, curious, charming, flighty
The word “mercurial” may have been coined for Gemini, the mutable air sign that thrives on all types of communication. They enjoy communicating whatever is on their minds at any given time. Don’t assume they’re always outgoing, though. They can be quiet and guarded one minute and extremely chatty the next. They tend to have a wide, diverse group of friends and gravitate to professional lines that allow them to express themselves and use their super-smart minds due to their intuitive mastery of language and social skills.
Cancer ♋️ (June 21 – July 22)
- Symbol: The Crab
- Planet: Moon
- House: Fourth House of Home Life
- Key Traits: Compassionate, giving, sentimental, nurturing
The cardinal water sign is one of the zodiac’s finest dreamers and doers, guided by the shimmering maternal moon. They’re homebodies who were almost born for quarantine, prioritizing reinforcing their bonds with loved ones and creating a lasting sense of security as rulers of the Fourth House, which deals with family and home life. When they’re frustrated, feel put upon, or are otherwise thrown into a melancholy frame of mind, their crabbiness will undoubtedly come into play. They’ll retreat into their protective “shells,” requiring time away from others to care for themselves before returning to caring for others.
Leo ♌️ (July 23 – August 22)
- Symbol: The Lion
- Planet: Sun
- House: Fifth House of Romance and Self-Expression
- Key Traits: Charismatic, generous, optimistic, dramatic
The confident sun rules the fixed fire sign, which influences their upbeat, happy, and gung-ho attitude. They’re born feeling like they can achieve their greatest dreams because of a glimmery combination of attraction, luck, and endlessly believing in themselves, and they’re driven and self-assured leaders who tend to be oriented toward taking action in life. They can be highly loyal, committed, and shower their loved ones in playful energy and all of life’s finest things, despite their struggles to step out of being self-focused.
Virgo ♍️ (August 23 – September 22)
- Symbol: The Virgin or Maiden
- Planet: Mercury
- House: Sixth House of Wellness and Daily Routine
- Key Traits: Health-conscious, analytical, service-oriented, detail-focused
Given the influence of Mercury, the mutable earth sign might easily be mistaken for an air sign, implying that their minds are constantly racing. Virgos are the zodiac’s go-to researchers, organizers, and pretty much A students, thanks to their love of lists, spreadsheets, and blank diaries. They’re also perfectionists who enjoy putting in the effort to get the result of any endeavor “exactly right,” whether it’s a recipe, a professional job, or a dating hunt. When it comes to partners and loved ones, they’ll often twist themselves into knots to help and serve those closest to them.
Libra ♎️ (September 23 – October 22)
- Symbol: The Scales
- Planet: Venus
- House: Seventh House of Partnership
- Key Traits: Romantic, artistic, indecisive, diplomatic
The cardinal air sign was created to help people achieve balance, harmony, and fairness in their work and personal lives. They’re art and beauty lovers who are recognized for being social butterflies and the best hosts, thanks to their Venusian influence. As king of the Seventh House of Partnership, they place a premium on one-on-one relationships, particularly amorous ones. They aren’t sheep, yet they are interested in reaching serenity at any cost and engaging with a diverse group of people. They’re doers who will fight for what they believe in, thinking big and putting in the effort to ensure a fair outcome.
Scorpio ♏️ (October 23 – November 21)
- Symbol: The Scorpion
- Planets: Pluto and Mars
- House: Eighth House of Emotional Bonds and Sexual Intimacy
- Key Traits: Mysterious, magnetic, power-seeking, spiritual
The permanent water sign is known for being one of the most secretive signs in the zodiac, if not the most private. They may capture people’s attention with their intense, powerful presence and aura of mystery since they’re co-ruled by transformative Pluto and go-getter Mars. They’re also aware of their spirituality and sexuality, but they keep their cards close to their heart. Even if you’ve been in a platonic, romantic, or business relationship with a Scorpio for years, you may not understand the full story behind their emotional wounds and rough-around-the-edges demeanor. When they’re involved in any type of emotional conflict, though, the steadfast, razor-focused sign appears.
Sagittarius ♐️ (November 22 – December 21)
- Symbol: The Archer
- Planet: Jupiter
- House: Ninth House of Adventure and Higher Learning
- Key Traits: Philosophical, free-spirited, unfiltered, wanderlust
Sagittarians are huge, life-loving people that like globe-trotting, being at the center of any party, and exploring as much as life has to offer. They are ruled by fortunate Jupiter, who magnifies all it touches. They’re also born philosophers who are eternally passionate about their convictions and have a habit of getting up on a soapbox to communicate their point of view, typically in a blunt manner. They’re natural-born comedians, entertainers, politicians, and/or people who prefer careers that allow them to travel extensively.
Capricorn ♑️ (December 22 – January 19)
- Symbol: The Goat
- Planet: Saturn
- House: Tenth House of Career and Public Image
- Key Traits: Traditional, down-to-earth, industrious, disciplined
If you want someone on your team who is always determined to succeed, choose someone whose horoscope includes the cardinal earth sign Capricorn. People born with Cap are on a lifelong journey up a series of more difficult mountains, driven to put their noses to the grindstone, excel, and be recognized for their hard effort. Indeed, it is because of this that they have a reputation for being workaholics. They’re also incredibly loyal, have a gut-busting funny dry sense of humor, and can demonstrate exactly what’s possible when you take a sensible, steady, and grounded approach.
Aquarius ♒️ (January 20 – February 18)
- Symbol: The Water Bearer
- Planet: Uranus
- House: Eleventh House of Networking
- Key Traits: Humanitarian, eccentric, individualistic, cool
As we enter what has been dubbed the “Age of Aquarius,” the fixed air sign is making a lot of news. Quirky, generally progressive, skeptical, and gregarious, people with the Water Bearer in their horoscopes are predisposed to emphasize “we” over “me,” gravitating to causes and activities that benefit society as a whole. They prefer platonic relationships over extremely intimate ones, and they may even choose non-traditional arrangements because they like defying convention wherever possible. They’re also tech-savvy and science-minded, thanks to electric Uranus’ engagement.
Pisces ♓️ (February 19 – March 20)
- Symbol: The Fish
- Planets: Neptune
- House: Twelfth House of Spirituality
- Key Traits: Empathic, artistic, psychic, dreamy
Imagine not only being hyper-aware of your own emotions but also being able to pick up on and absorb the emotions of others. Now you’re in the mind of someone who has the mutable water sign Pisces prominent in their horoscope. They are the zodiac healers, hopeless romantics, artists, and escapists, as well as being extremely sensitive and intuitive. While they tend to escape emotional suffering by immersing themselves in faraway daydreams, the healthiest method for them to express these profoundly felt emotions is through creative activities such as theatre, music, or poetry.
