Astrology 101: Everything You Need to Know About the Zodiac Signs
This beginner’s guide to Astrology functions as much more than a simple guide. It will serve to open you up to a deeper understanding of where you are in the Universe and how the different wills and whims of the cosmos tend to affect you.
Additionally, it will put you well on your way to understanding the grander scheme that underlies us and our actions. Naturally, there will always be free will, but there is also always a grander purpose to the way things happen.
In this article, you’ll learn some important astrological principles, such as:
- How the different Zodiacs tend to function
- How to determine your own Zodiacs, including your sun, moon, and rising Zodiac signs
- The various planets connected to each Zodiac spirit (and yourself)
- Your own strengths and weaknesses
Let’s get started:
Contents
A Brief Overview of the Zodiac
The Zodiac itself is a round region of the solar system that extends out to about 8 degrees to the North and South of the ecliptic (the path the sun takes over the course of one year). When divided up into slices, each slice contains a constellation and the intersecting path of a planet that corresponds with a specific Zodiac sign.
How to Find Your Sun Zodiac
Finding your sun zodiac is easy, as it all depends on the month and day you were born. Below is a table that depicts which months and days correspond to each zodiac sign:
How to Find Your Moon Zodiac Sign
Finding your moon zodiac is a little more nuanced than your sun. To find your moon, you have to know the date you were born, the location, and the approximate time. To calculate this accurately, we recommend using a moon zodiac calculator tool, such as the one by Keikopowerwish.
How to Find Your Rising Zodiac Sign
Your rising Zodiac (or Zodiac ascendant) is calculated using your sun sign and the hour you were born. This one can also get very complicated and lengthy, so we recommend using a Zodiac calculator for this as well.
Now that you have all three of your zodiac signs jotted down, it’s time to have a look at the various personality traits and corresponding planets each one represents.
#1: Aries (March 21st to April 19th)
Symbol: The Ram
Element: Fire
Ruling Planet: Mars
Body Part: The Head
In the world of Zodiac, Aries is the first in the chart even though they are not the first of the year. Generally, those born under this sign are influential and headstrong, always the first to get something started.
Aries enjoy being leaders and generally don’t take direction well. They are also extremely good at expressing themselves and letting you know where you stand with them. This trait can also be negative, however, as Aries can come across as harsh or cruel when stressed.
Strengths:
- Determined
- Enthusiastic
- Courageous
- Honest
- Passionate
- Optimistic
Weaknesses:
- Can be aggressive
- Short-tempered
- Moody
- Often impatient
#2: Taurus (April 20-May 21)
Symbol: The Bull
Element: Earth
Ruling Planet: Venus
Body Part: The Throat
Taurus signs have a strong reputation for overindulging and focusing too strongly on worldly objects. They are also sensitive and enjoy being touched tenderly by others. Typically, they are dependable and strong, though this can sometimes translate to having an unusual aversion to change.
Strengths:
- Incredibly stable
- Known to be naturally loyal
- Reliable friends
- Enjoys being touched with passion
- Dependable and strong
Weaknesses:
- Aversion to change
- Hard to compromise with
- Prone to obsessiveness and possessiveness
- May cling to friends
#3: Gemini (May 22-June 21)
Symbol: The Twins
Element: Air
Ruling Planet: Mercury
Body Part: Arms, Hand, and Lungs
Geminis are ruled by twins spirits and enjoy conversing. They are typically intellectual people who enjoy stimulating conversation, though this can lead to leaning too much on the knowledge they have and not enough on their internal instincts. Because of this, they often second guess themselves when it comes to emotion.
Strengths:
- Extremely affectionate
- Communicative and sociable, often ready to have fun at a moment’s notice
- Learns quickly
- Loves to exchange ideas
- Witty
- Not easy to intimidate
Weaknesses:
- Often finicky and indecisive
- The epitome of the phrase “curiosity killed the cat”
- Often lacks control over their emotions and can be considered to be “all over the place”
- Unstable and unpredictable
#4: Cancer (June 22- July 21)
Symbol: The Crab
Element: Water
Ruling Planet: Moon
Body Part: Stomach, Brains, and Breast
Cancers are typically caring and compassionate, with just a little too much emotion for their own good. They have empathic abilities beyond any other Zodiac and work to heal others based on what they feel. This healing, however, can be a curse if the Cancer becomes too busy healing others and does not take enough time for themselves.
Strengths:
- Deeply sentimental and intuitive
- Extremely accurate empathic intuition
- Great healers
- Will easily sympathize and is excellent at providing a listening ear
Weaknesses:
- Often hypersensitive
- Prone to emotion-based mental illnesses like anxiety and depression
- Moods can change quickly and without warning, leaving them drained
- Insecure by nature
#5: Leo (July 22-August 21)
Symbol: The Lion
Element: Fire
Ruling Planet: The Sun
Body Part: The Heart
Leos can be found in the spotlight in most situations. They are considered the leaders of the Zodiac, and this translates into their leadership capabilities in real life as well. They are also daring, confident, and proud, though this pride can get them in trouble. They sometimes lack the ability to abandon beliefs simply because they do not want to admit they’ve made a mistake.
Strengths:
- Can easily gain the favor of any crowd
- Charismatic and influential
- Does well under pressure
- Born leaders
Weaknesses:
- May sometimes present as arrogant or overconfident
- Comes off as egotistical and domineering
- Leos have a penchant for being over-the-top and dramatic
- They may have issues being flexible
- Often are not good at adapting to the needs of others
#6: Virgo (August 22-September 21)
Symbol: The Virgin
Element: Earth
Ruling Planet: Mercury
Body Part: The Digestive System
Virgos have a strong reputation for being picky and critical, though their attention to detail consistently serves them well in their endeavors. However, their overactive mind has a habit of spiraling out of control if not kept in check, which can cause anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
Strengths:
- Hard-working
- Easily understands most things
- Virgos have an acute eye for details
- Extremely rational and practical
- Very caring lovers
Weaknesses:
- Can be overly critical of both themselves and those around them
- Can become too in-tune with negative events to realize positive ones
- Worry too much about others’ opinions
- May have trouble processing their own emotions and needs
- Prone to emotion-based mental illnesses
#7: Libra (September 22-October 21)
Symbol: The Scales
Element: Air
Ruling Planet: Venus
Body Part: Lower Back and Kidneys
This sign represents a flipping point in the Zodiacs. Whereas the first six are mostly focused on themselves, Libra and the signs thereafter have more to do with how they interact with the world. Libras in particular love to partner with others and work together to solve problems. However, this penchant for partnership can quickly evolve into codependency if not checked.
Strengths:
- Everyone’s best friend
- Very cheerful and enthusiastic
- Peaceful and fair friends
- Exceptionally keen instincts
- Great at creating peaceful environments and helping others relax
Weaknesses:
- Very non-confrontational
- Very likely to repress emotions at the cost of their own well-being
- Indecisive and easy to influence
#8: Scorpio (October 22-November 21)
Symbol: The Scorpion
Element: Water
Ruling Planet: Mars and Pluto
Body Part: The Genitals and Bowels
Scorpios are typically slow to trust and can easily verge into being manipulative toward others. They carry themselves with an insatiable curiosity and typically verge into territories that others avoid, such as occult workings, voodoo, dark magic, etc. Generally, this sign is likely to let others reveal their true intentions while waiting patiently in the background.
Strengths:
- Value loyalty and respect above all else
- Passionate
- Protective over others
- Nearly as charismatic as leos are
- Excellent with being others’ emotional support
Weaknesses:
- Jealous and suspicious by nature
- Will often question motives and not take things at face value
- Prone to self-loathing
- Short-tempered
#9: Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)
Symbol: The Centaur/Archer
Element: Fire
Ruling Planet: Jupiter
Body Part: Hips, Thighs, and Liver
Sagittarius signs are always thirsty for knowledge and will pursue it to any length possible. They are especially fascinated by philosophy, religion, and theories regarding the inner workings of the Universe. They are generally confident and do not struggle with self-doubt but they are also not afraid to change their opinion when new information comes to light.
Strengths:
- Deeply inspiring to others
- Enthusiastic about their friends’ pursuits
- Supportive friends
- Great sense of humor
- Love to make others smile
Weaknesses:
- Will argue over everything
- Too impatient for their own good
- Tend to bite off more than they can chew
- Have no filter and will say just about anything
#10: Capricorn (December 22-January 21)
Symbol: The Sea-Goat
Element: Earth
Ruling Planet: Saturn
Body Part: The Knees
Capricorns have a tendency to have a poor work-life balance. They dedicate themselves to their jobs and typically work much longer hours than their colleagues. However, they don’t do this because they have to, but rather because they want to. Typically they are level-headed and great at making decisions, but they can also become easily stuck in their ways.
Strengths:
- Hard-workers
- Will do anything to succeed
- Excellent self-motivators
- Honest
- Reasonable
Weaknesses:
- Headstrong and extremely stubborn
- Can come off as a know-it-all
- Often presents to others as being condescending
#11: Aquarius (January 22-February 21)
Symbol: The Water Bearer
Element: Air
Ruling Planet: Saturn and Uranus
Body Part: The Shins
Aquarians are known for their strong moral compass. They are our humanitarians and philanthropists who care more about improving society for the better than they do their own health. This can occasionally lead to self-neglect if they are not kept in check by themselves or others.
Strengths:
- Incredibly independent
- Emotionally wise
- Light-hearted in their approach to issues
- Very observant people
- Don’t let their emotions cloud their judgement
Weaknesses:
- Often act like they don’t have any feelings
- Prone to emotion-based mental illnesses like anxiety and depression
- Hates showing weakness
- Unpredictable temper
#12: Pisces (February 22-March 21)
Symbol: The Two Fishes
Element: Water
Ruling Planet: Jupiter and Neptune
Body Part: The Feet, Lymphatics, and Liver
The final zodiac, Pisces are typically spiritual and selfless people who focus intensely on their own self-development. Pisces are artistic and thoughtful by nature, though their propensity to think deeply on topics can often lead to emotional turmoil. Because of this, Pisces must be careful with their sensitivity.
Strengths:
- Very selfless people
- The most intuitive of the zodiac signs
- Usually in-tune with the emotions of others
Weaknesses:
- Find it hard to truth both themselves and others
- Prone to reclusing away from social interaction
- Has a tendency to see themselves as the victim
If you enjoyed this article and would like to learn more about the intricate ways in which your Zodiac affects you day to day, I recommend checking your Daily Horoscope Reading.
If you found the information in this article resonated with you, then leave us a comment below letting us know how you felt!
