Astrology 101: The Signs
Welcome to my first post of the Astrology 101 series, where we will breakdown each of the zodiac signs, their significations, and what it means to you in your own personal birth chart. The goal with these blog posts is to be sort of a cheat sheet for you as you learn more about astrology, as well as an additional resource for when you have questions reading the forecasts or my other posts!
The Tropical Zodiac
First, it’s important to distinguish what we are actually studying and discussing when I mention zodiacal signs. The zodiac system that I, and many other western astrologers follow, is known as the tropical zodiac. This was not the first system that was developed. In ancient practices, the astrologers (who doubled as astronomers) studied the planets, the Sun, and the Moon the way they were in the sky and mapped out their path. They noticed that the planets never deviated from this path, which was called the ecliptic. Along this ecliptic, there are certain constellations of stars the planets passed through. This became the start of the constellation zodiac, which only includes the constellations (zodiac signs) the planets passed through.
However, the constellations in the sky are all different sizes — some are extremely large and others very short in length. Around the 5th century BCE, the creation of the sidereal zodiac came into being, which set all twelve constellations the planets passed through into 30° segments each. This became the start an abstract system, not exactly based on the reality of the different size constellations, but the stepping stone to developing the tropical zodiac.
The tropical zodiac kept the same system of twelve signs at 30° each but didn’t use the exact placement of the constellation as the marking of the sign. Around the 1st and 2nd century BCE, a famous ancient astrologer Ptolemy began to use the tropical zodiac, which took the twelve constellations but aligned them based on the solstices and equinoxes, using the periods of seasonal change as a marker for zodiacal sign changes. The signs were then given significations based on the seasonal period they represented, along with the development of the Thema Mundi (a whole other blog post later).
During the period the tropical zodiac was created, it was similarly aligned with sidereal zodiac. However, due to a phenomenon called precession, where the stars in the sky shift about 1° every 72 years, the tropical and sidereal zodiac are now about 24° apart. This is why you may have a different sun sign under the sidereal (eastern) zodiac.
There’s a lot more to discuss about the different zodiac systems, but this is the commencement. We will now begin to look into each of the twelve signs and their significations. Understanding what we know about the tropical zodiac, we can recognize that their “personality” or flavor and name of each sign was inspired by the constellations in the sky (sidereal) but is really influenced by the seasonal changes that were overlaid on top (tropical).
Aries ♈︎ The Ram
The first sign of the zodiac is assigned so as it represents the Spring Equinox, seen in the ancient times as the rebirth of the Sun from the long dark winters. This means Aries is a cardinal sign, all cardinal signs represent the start of the season, the beginning of something, the push to kickoff something new. Spring, and therefore Aries, seek the dawn of new growth, opening of a new activities, and getting some movement back into life.
Building on the spirit of rebirth, Aries is also a fire sign. Fire signs symbolically represent increased passion or energy to achieve or pursue something, often in a very spirited and purposeful manner. Aries strives to grow and nurture these creation energies, the drive to generate something new and exciting, and the motivation to continue to attain personal desires or wants.
Aries is a diurnal sign. Diurnal signs embody traditionally more literal and active manifestations in our life. They are focused on achieving physical accomplishments, actions, and goals — often with things that can be tangibly sought after. Diurnal placements may be more commanding, leading, and goal-oriented with their direction.
The last significator that we will look at for each sign is the ruling planet. Planetary meanings and why they are assigned to certain signs will be discussed later, but they play an important role in understanding the qualities of the sign. Aries is ruled by Mars, which represents our anger, passion, drive, and aggression. This gives Aries an appearance of being outspoken, bold, headstrong, and intense about their choices and orientation in life.
Taurus ♉︎ The Bull
The second sign in the spring season is Taurus. Taurus is the first of the fixed signs, representing a point of stability and steadfastness in the season. During fixed sign activations, we are deep into the seasonal changes and embracing the nature of that moment. Fixed signs generally do not like change or sudden shifts, they tend to seek that which is reliable and stable. Especially with Taurus, which is about searching and maintaining what is comfortable and unwavering.
Taurus is an earth sign. The element of earth corresponds to that which is material and physical in our life. Think of earth as what you can see, touch, and feel with your physical senses. What visceral comforts or discomforts are in place at your life? Earth signs are often focused on the practical nature of our world — what do we literally have and don’t have and how that impact us personally.
Earth signs are part of the nocturnal family. This means that many of the goals and aspects of Taurus are focused on more passive action and understanding. Nocturnal signs are more related to the feelings that material things can bring, how they affect intuition and inner growth and understandings. They still take and plan actions, but in place of more literal darkness, meaning they must rely more on their inner awareness and senses.
Ruled by Venus, Taurus will often focus more on the pleasures of life. Venus serves the opposite half of Mars, focused on beauty, relationships, and aesthetics, as well as food and comfort — which are the physical manifestations for Taurus. Taurus will find beauty and joy in those that are nurturing to its soul.
Gemini ♊︎ The Twins
The final sign of the Spring season is the mutable sign of Gemini. Mutable signs speak for the shift or changes of seasons as we grow and progress to the next one. We are still in Spring, but around this time we begin to get sneak peaks of a new shift into Summer. Following this pattern, mutable signs are known to be the most flexible signs. They can shift and change and adapt to situations or problems as needed. While this can be a benefit, they may lose focus or have trouble finishing out projects or goals without distractions like fixed signs can.
Gemini is an air sign, which are often associated with our ideas, thoughts, and logical reasoning we present the world with. Air signs are analytical and focus on tackling issues with a more rational approach based on reason rather than strictly feelings. They can be creative and idealistic, and sometimes struggle to put those ideas into direct manifestation. But they are great at building relationships and connecting with others.
Air signs, like fire, are diurnal signs. They are associated more with material action and growth, although with air it is less about passion and intensity and approached more with reason and intellect. Either way, Gemini and air signs can be concerned with achievement and advancement through their thinking and knowledge and by putting what they know into use.
Gemini is ruled by Mercury, a planet that is known for being adaptable and changeable in whichever scenario it presents itself in. Mercury rules our thinking, reason, intellect, and communication. Additionally, Geminis can be known to be social, chatty, and smart — as well as resilient and flexible in different situations that require quick-thinking or a sudden solution.
Cancer ♋︎ The Crab
The cyclical nature and pattern of the zodiac continues as Cancer is assigned to the start of Summer season, the Summer Solstice, and therefore is a cardinal sign. Similar to Aries, Cancers are leaders and often correspond to the beginning of something new or a start of a unique process. Like many other cardinal signs, they can be creative and trendsetters, but can lose steam and ability to pursue the goal in the long term like fixed signs can.
Cancer is a water sign, which sets its cardinal qualities apart from Aries. Water signs are associated with our feelings and bodily understanding. What we can feel in our body is often a direct reflection of the emotions we are processing. Cancers, and other water signs, are often very intuitive and equally sensitive to shifts of energy and emotions in their world and those around them. They seek to find nurturing environments where they are most comfortable and not overblown with ideas, logic, or reason.
Due to these more intrinsic qualities, water signs represent the other piece of the nocturnal signs. Connecting with feelings and intuition often requires more passive and reflective energy, of processing and sorting out the emotions to clear the way for better and more decisive action in the future.
The Moon rules Cancer, doubling down on the significations of feelings, emotion, intuition, and loving care of mother-figures. The Moon is associated with our body, our childhood, those who raised us but also rules our emotions and how we process our feelings. The Moon is the intuitive and knowing piece of us, which Cancer represents in a more creative and groundbreaking way. The Moon also speaks to the mothers in our life, or those that offer that nurturing and caring aspect to our souls.
Leo ♌︎ The Lion
The fixed sign of the Summer season, characterizing the hottest months in the tropical hemisphere is owned by Leo. Following the pattern, Leo is a fire sign that is diurnal in nature. Leos are passionate and energetic given their fire qualities, but they are also more stubborn and focused on the task at hand. Like other fixed signs, Leo is focused on growing and concentrating its efforts on a particular goal or opportunity, and can often see that goal to completion. On the flipside, Leos can be inflexible and overly dependent on certain beliefs that sometimes need a change.
Leo is ruled by the Sun, the other luminary in our chart that like the Moon, only rules one sign. The Sun illustrates what we often think of when we discuss astrology. When asking “what’s your sign?” you are simply asking “what’s your sun sign/what sign is your sun in?” The Sun, and therefore Leo, is representative of our soul, our inner light, what motivates us in our life and what constitutes our inner burning core. It is our passion center, our foundation of where we generate energy to pursue goals or cravings we have in our life. It is truly our spirit. When our spirit is high and glowing, our love for life is as well. If our spirit feels diminished, the energy we give off feels heavy and draining.
With the Sun ruling Leo, this gives Leo the qualities of desiring to shine. Leos seek to inspire others by being themselves, by shining their own light and energy into the world and allowing others to pick up on it and be motivated to share their own unique qualities as well. The lion can be outspoken and outgoing, eager to be in the center of attention, but devoted and passionate in what or who they pursue.
Virgo ♍︎ The Maiden
The final sign of the Summer season represents the transition of the fruits that have grown and fallen to be harvested for the Fall. Virgo is a mutable sign that similarly represents the qualities of changing of the seasons. The air begins to cool a bit and fruits are fully ripe and ready to be collected. Similarly, Virgo is an earth sign that is nocturnal in nature. It represents the shifting qualities of our material world, how we develop and change with the earth herself and how we move with the fluxes of nature.
While Virgo is an earth sign, it is not as fixed as Taurus, meaning Virgo often seeks to find things that can be changed and transformed, and seek to initiate it — especially in the material world associated with the physical things we can touch and grow. Being an earth sign and more nocturnal in nature means it tends to focus on the more passive side of the situation, what are the feelings and underlying assumptions associated with our material world?
Virgo is ruled by Mercury, which is not only Mercury’s home but also its place of exaltation, meaning the planet functions very well in this sign. Virgos take on many of the Mercurial qualities of being analytical, detail oriented, and selective. They are very good at being able to critique things and pick out what is out of place and doesn’t belong. Combining the logical nature of Mercury and the earthly qualities, Virgos can be a bit of a perfectionist about the nature of what they have. And as a mutable sign, they may take on more than they can handle and may be forced to review and let go what isn’t as meaningful or important (e.g., what harvest do we need to do today?)
Libra ♎︎ The Scales
The halfway point of the tropical zodiac and the start of Fall, the Fall Equinox, is ruled by the cardinal sign Libra. Here we can begin to compare and contrast each sign to the sign opposite of it to have a better understanding of its significators. Libra is focused on the beginning and start of a new idea, action, and advancement similar to Aries and Cancer, but as an air sign, it is more concerned with idealistic and social nature of relationships with the other. Aries, as the fire cardinal sign, is more concerned with the notion of oneself and its passions, needs, and desires. While the air cardinal sign, Libra, is instead concerned with the other, other’s needs, wants, and desires and how that plays in conjunction with oneself.
Libra is the other planet ruled by Venus as her diurnal expression. Each planet, except for the Sun and Moon, rule one diurnal and nocturnal sign. While Venus does represent our pleasures and senses in life, what is beautiful and aesthetically pleasing, in Libra her active diurnal expression is about relationships and cultivating partnerships with others. With Taurus, Venus will be more concerned about the personal luxuries and material growth, in Libra, she seeks an active goal of creating pleasurable and beautiful relationships with the self and others.
Adding onto that, Libra is also concerned about the balance of relationships and needs — as the sign of the scale Libras are often seeking to maintain or find balance in one place or relationship as a constant act. Seeking justice, cultivating art and beauty with others, are all things Libra tries to be a leader within. In the Fall, where the material world begins to decay, what is left is the relationships established from this year.
Scorpio ♏︎ The Scorpion
Settling deep into Fall, where the fruits and growth from the Summer begin the transformative process of decay to regeneration, is ruled by Scorpio. This is a fixed sign as it’s the sign in the middle of the season, and also a water sign. This connects Scorpio with intuitive whirlpool of emotion and transformation in life. Being a fixed sign, Scorpios can hold on to emotions more deeply than others and can develop a sense of understanding through profound analyzation and compartmentalizing. They may be more in tune and involved with the darker expressions of emotions, those that are hidden below the vast darkness of stagnant water.
Scorpio is ruled by Mars as it’s nocturnal expression, opposite to Venus’ nocturnal rulership of Taurus. Venus in Taurus seeks to acquire and hold onto material matters, things of beauty, and things of pleasure like food. Scorpio is focused on the loss of those material requirements — in Spring things are growing and becoming, in Fall they are dying and decaying. Scorpio looks into the emotional side of dispossession, of letting go, and what it means to have less physically but to still be fulfilled emotionally. Scorpios may have an affinity towards death and dying, as this is the beginning of the rebirth and metamorphosis process.
Still under the warrior Mars rulership, Scorpios can be very driven and focused, especially with their fixed ability to remain engaged with the current task at hand. They can be obsessive and extreme about their desires, headstrong and more prone to pursuing revenge unlike their counterpart in Aries. Their deep intensity makes them a sign of many layers, similar to the uniqueness and diversity of deep pond at night.
Sagittarius ♐︎ The Archer
The final sign of Fall is ruled by the Archer, Sagittarius. This mutable sign builds from the Scorpion process of death and focuses on the rebirth and regeneration in a unique way. Here, days began to get shorter and nights are longer. The fruits have died, and the land is getting ready for rest for the winter, but Sagittarius imposes a sense of optimism and awakening that may have been missing. This is because it is a fire sign, associated with our renewed zeal and desire for life again now what no longer serves us had a chance to perish.
Mutable fire is associated with the process of taking the energy and motivation we have left over and designing a new and transformative way to do things and move with forward with action. This partly due to Sagittarius being ruled by Jupiter, as Jupiter’s diurnal expression. Jupiter is the planet that rules our higher mind and articulation, our philosophy, and our ability to manifest great abundance and growth in our life out of seemingly nothing. It supplies us with optimism and hope, as well as a way of looking at things with a grander viewpoint.
Gemini is the sign opposite to Sagittarius. Gemini and Mercury are more focused on the details, logics, facts, and reason that can be dialed into. Sagittarius and Jupiter look for the dreams that can pursued. They are less concerned with the logical steps to how, and instead just focus on the philosophical belief of why. Sagittarius believes that believing in the dream and yourself, and ability to create from that, is the way they can manifest great abundance and growth into their lives. Sagittarius can be a little dogmatic, especially when their goals or sights are set on something, but their ability to be mutable and create from different directions allows them to constantly pursue personal development.
Capricorn ♑︎ The Sea Goat
Our final seasonal start in the tropical zodiac is ruled by the cardinal sign Capricorn. Winter Solstice marks the start of the last season, a more passive season as the land and plants have retreated for their hibernation. However, Capricorn is still goal-oriented and focused on beginning new ventures, especially related to material matters as an earth sign. During the start of winter, most of the material world is dead or buried under snow. However, this gives Capricorn a blank slate to work with. They are often driven to reimagine the world around them — finding unique and fresh ideas to build onto the old order. They are very practical about what they have and are hardworking about establishing progress when the world and others seek rest.
This is added to the fact that Capricorn is ruled by Saturn. Saturn is the planet that defines our boundaries, responsibilities, and the work we have to do in the world. In Capricorn, it is concerned with structures and construction of new ideas, goals, and material growth that supports our current societal structures and design. They seek to build upon what is already there, to imagine growth in a way that is stable and promising. As a nocturnal expression of Saturn, Capricorn can focus on building that which feels emotionally stable. They like to focus on creating a harmonizing environment between the outer and the inner world.
This practical and hardworking sign sits opposite from the nurturing, emotionally concerned sign of Cancer. Capricorns can be known for being able to push their emotions on the sideline to focus on finishing the important task at hand, which is great for accomplishing goals, but can create a lack of connection between the body and the mind at times.
Aquarius ♒︎ The Water Bearer
The fixed sign of winter is ruled by the air sign of Aquarius. Here, the earth is dead and resting for the Spring rebirth, and we are focused on building on the material goals and structures put in place in Capricorn season. Aquarius, similar to other air signs, are more concerned with the ideals and relationship structures of the community. They are attentive to how the material structures and buildings can impact society and be used for the greater good – partly why this sign is known to be “the Humanitarian.”
Aquarius is the diurnal expression of Saturn. Again, Saturn rules our responsibilities, work, boundaries, and how we create structure, and in Aquarius, this energy is focused on the structure of society and our place within it. This fixed energy can intensely be focused on constructive growth, but often it is about building relationships with the community and structures that go into a working and functioning society. Like other air signs, Aquarius can be somewhat idealistic, but grounded by logic and reasoning that Saturn offers.
To understand this further, we see that Leo, the sign ruled by the Sun, sits opposite to Aquarius. Leo is primarily concerned with oneself – how does its soul shine out to others. Aquarius is less about radiating its personal light, but more about how the group can work together to shine and build a structure that benefits everyone, not just the leader or a singular person. It looks more to the community needs and establishing boundaries for the self so that others around can build together.
Pisces ♓︎ The Fish
The final sign in the tropical zodiac, before the wheel repeats its pattern again, is ruled by the mutable sign of Pisces. It is still cold, but the days are slowly increasing in length and hidden spurts of warmth provide us with the promise that Spring is coming. The Saturnian signs have started and focused on many new goals and opportunities, and Pisceans have the ability to juggle the different forms and expressions of this work and expand on them in new ways. However, as a water sign, it begins to input the emotional and intuitive aspects that have been missing with the material and idealistic focused initiation.
The mutable water sign is connected to the ever-changing flow of emotions and sensitive hints to how structures and growth impact us differently. Pisces is the nocturnal expression of Jupiter, where big growth and expansion is dreamed of and pursued. Like the ocean, Pisces is diverse and in touch with different interpretations of life and goals. As it is ruled by Jupiter, it is focused on the big picture ideals and imagination, including far-reaching dreams and visions. Sometimes, Pisces can be slightly delusional about what is actually possible, but they are a great representation of shooting for the moon to land among the stars.
As Pisces is expansive and all-inclusive, it sits opposite to the more narrow-focused and critically aware sign Virgo. While Virgo has the ability to reason and pick out the pieces of an element, Pisces is concerned with the picture as a whole, less about the details and more about the overall feelings or vibe generated. This again, plays with the differences of the expansive Jupiter and precisive Mercury.
Key Takeaways
When studying or looking at the tropical zodiac, it’s important to see the overall patterns and how the signs function together as a whole and not separate, independent pieces. Each sign is unique and builds on qualities from the signs around and opposite of it. The zodiac is designed to tell a story, initially about the Sun’s seasonal journey, but also our own personal journey and development.
This is important because we all have all twelve zodiacs in our personal birth chart. Our planetary placements are unique and different, and all the signs tell a distinctive story about our life and how we best work through the seasons. Some of us may really identify with our Sun sign, perhaps because of its placement or because we have other planets in the same sign. Others may have written off astrology because they don’t relate as much with their Sun sign, a completely normal development as it fails to take in account the other planets and what sign they may be placed in.
This approach written above, focused on modality (cardinal, fixed, mutable), element (fire, earth, air, water), and expression (diurnal, nocturnal) is based on technical traditional astrological methods. This is just a starting point for looking at each sign as there is only one cardinal fire sign, fixed water, etc. Characteristics of the signs can get much more in depth but understanding the basics will take you far.
Further Learning
Curious to how all the zodiacs work in your chart? A birth chart reading looks at the planetary placements by taking a snapshot of the sky when you were born and interprets meaning and understanding about yourself, your future, and potential opportunities for growth using these techniques and more.
Transit readings are great if you have questions about a certain aspect of your life or about current growth and development you may be going through at the moment. Here we take your birth chart and overlay it with current planetary placements to show what areas of your life are being activated and asking you for your time and energy.
Request a consultation here to get started.
Works Cited + Supplementary Readings
Brennan, C. (2017). Hellenistic astrology: The study of fate and fortune (First Edition), 213-270 Amor Fati Publications.
Brennan, C. (2021, January 10). The zodiac debate: Tropical vs sidereal. The Astrology Podcast. https://theastrologypodcast.com/2016/01/03/zodiac-debate-tropical-vs-sidereal/
