Twelve signs of the Zodiac

12 signs of the Zodiac

Each sign has certain characteristics; but the signs are also categorized in several ways. First, they are grouped by element:

Fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) are associated with action, enthusiasm and leadership, as well as an openness to change.

Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) embody emotion, sensitivity and compassion.

Earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) symbolize practicality and a focus on material goals.

Air signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) are the signs of the intellect.

Signs can also be cardinal, fixed, or mutable, which are related to movement, resistance to change and ability to change freely, respectively. And finally, each sign is either masculine or feminine, alternating around the zodiac. This designation is not related to what most of us think of as gender, but instead to the Chinese concept of Yin and Yang, in which, to oversimplify a complex subject, opposing forces or traits both define and create one another.

Twelve signs of the Zodiac (12)

Aries - The Ram

March 21 - April 20

Cardinal, Fire, Masculine

Proud, youthful, impulsive, brave, competitive, arrogant, violent

Taurus - The Bull

April 21 - May 21

Fixed, Earth, Feminine

Conservative, loyal, stubborn, materialistic, resistant to change, possessive, sensual

Gemini - The Twins

May 22 - June 21

Mutable, Air, Masculine

Persuasive, concerned with information, highly literate, curious, adaptable, absent-minded, loves to travel

Cancer - The Crab

June 22 - July 22

Cardinal, Water, Feminine

Cautious, family-oriented, romantic, domestic, imaginative, shy, thorough, interested in the past and tradition

Leo - The Lion

July 23 -August 21

Fixed, Fire, Masculine

Proud, courageous, stubborn, extroverted, vain, ambitious, optimistic, open, associated with royalty

Virgo - The Virgin

August 22 - September 23

Mutable, Earth, Feminine

Conservative, shy, prudish, kindly, uptight, skeptical, concerned with health, often introverted and melancholy

Libra - The Scales

September 24 - October 23

Cardinal, Air, Masculine

Extroverted, analytical, unbiased, secretive, tactful, concerned with harmony but prone to collapse in the face of conflict

Scorpio - The Scorpion

October 24 - November 22

Fixed, Water, Feminine

Vengeful, sarcastic, courageous, tenacious, protective of itself, known for survival in the face of disaster

Sagittarius - The Archer

November 23 - December 22

Mutable, Fire, Masculine

Daring, proud, impatient, dual-natured (refined and intellectual as well as bestial and passionate), extroverted, looking to the horizon, progressive, eclectic

Capricorn - The Goat-Fish

December 23 - January 20

Cardinal, Earth, Feminine

Neurotic, introspective, inhibited, conservative, fatalistic, methodical, practical, concerned with detail, a good planner

Aquarius - The Water Bearer

January 21 - February 19

Fixed, Air, Masculine

Intellectual, connected to civilization, rational, individualistic, iconoclastic, concerned with science, tolerant

Pisces - The Fish

February 20- March 20

Mutable, Water, Feminine

Emotional, self-sacrificing, adaptable, empathic, religious, versatile, talkative, often takes on the behaviors of others, creative, impractical