Astrology And The Zodiac Signs – Everything You Need To Know
Most people know astrology through their sun sign, and have at some point read a daily horoscope. You probably have too, right? When you read the daily horoscope, you may find it fascinating because it will tell you what the future has in store for you. You may take what your horoscope tells you seriously, or you may scoff at it because the predictions seem ludicrous. You may either believe you will have a wonderful day because your horoscope said so, or will no longer believe in astrology when you have the worst day imaginable. Here’s the thing. Astrology is so much more than the daily horoscope you read in the newspapers.
In this article we will take a deeper look into what astrology really is, its history, and how we can use it today!
What Is Astrology?
A study revealed that 1 in 5 Americans confuse Astronomy and Astrology, so let’s first clear up the confusion once and for all. Astronomy is the scientific study of the planets, while Astrology is an ancient form of divination that involves interpreting the influence of the sun, moon, and planets on our lives. Astrology consists of observing the position and movement of these celestial bodies to gain insight about people’s lives and personalities, and forecast future events on earth. A person’s date of birth is especially important when an Astrologer profiles the individual and makes predictions about their future. One popular, but simplified, form of astrology are horoscopes, which commonly appear in newspapers.
The History Of Astrology
The Babylonians were the first to discover that the sun, moon, and planets affected human life over 3000 years ago. They observed that these celestial bodies were moving through different constellations in the sky. Today we know them as the 12 Constellations of the Zodiac. They connected various earthly events, disasters, and good fortune to these transits, and made astrological charts to calculate the recurrence of these events. They would use this knowledge to make predictions about the future, and looks for good and bad omens when making important decisions.
This knowledge was then passed on to the Greeks in the 4th century BC. The people of ancient Greece were always fascinated by the stars and planets, and had a lot of knowledge of the celestial bodies. So when astrology made its way there, scholars such as Aristotle and Plato began studying it and improving it, eventually leading it to being regarded as a science. Astrology was later also embraced by the Romans, Arabs, and finally it made its way to western cultures many centuries later.
Unfortunately, once astrology made it into the western cultures the practice was not taken very seriously by many, and the interest in it slowly faded. In the 17th century AD, it was astronomy, the scientific study of the stars and planets, that was blossoming. However, in the 1930’s, when newspapers and magazines started publishing daily, weekly, and monthly horoscopes, astrology slowly began rising up from the ashes and back into public favor. Even though horoscopes are a simplified form of astrology, many began studying astrology seriously after it became popular again.
Astrology Today
Western astrology is largely based on the astrology from ancient Greece. Even the names of the 12 constellations of the zodiac come from Greek mythology. However, the most popular form of astrology today is the horoscopes. Millions of people love reading their daily horoscopes, and let’s be honest, it’s fun to read what the Zodiac signs tell us about ourselves and others! But did you know that the horoscopes you read in the newspapers and magazines are not always accurate because they are only based on the sun sign? The sun sign only makes up a fraction of who you are.
A professional astrologer will use a birth chart, aka natal chart, when making a profile of someone’s traits and future paths. Every person’s birth chart is unique as it is a snapshot of how the various celestial bodies were aligned at the exact time and date of their birth. You could say that every person’s horoscope is made up of their Sun sign, Moon sign, Rising sign, the other planets, and the transits happening at the time of their birth. That is a lot more complex than the sun sign alone, which is why horoscopes in the newspapers only give you a small piece of the full picture.
Fortunately, there are many who study astrology seriously today, some with decades of experience. So, if you want to get the full picture of what the sun, moon and planets really tell about you and your destiny, then you can get a reading by a professional astrologer. You can find out who the best online astrologers are here.
The Zodiac Signs
First of all, what is the Zodiac? Zodiac means [a] path [of the sun, moon, or stars]. It is a circular band in the sky in which you find the 12 constellations of the zodiac. It is often depicted as a circular diagram which is divied into 12 sections. The sun travels through each zodiac sign throughout the year, affecting us on earth, and giving us insights about our lives, personalities, and future paths.
The zodiac starts with Aries and ends with Pisces. So for instance, if you’re born between March 21 and April 19, then the sun is in the Aries constellation, so you’re said to be an Aries. It’s that simple!
Below you will find all the 12 zodiac signs, which are also known as the sun signs or star signs. Click on your sign to go directly to your personality traits, or continue reading about the elements and modalities.
The Elements
The Greeks believed that the World was composed of the four elements: Fire, Earth, Air, and Water. They also believed in the notion of a single cosmos in which all things are intimately related and connected. So when astrology found its way to Greece they implemented their own elemental system into it, as a complement, making the divination method even more useful. That is why astrologers today divide the 12 Zodiac signs into the four classical elements.
By knowing which element your sign belongs to, you can find out more about yourself and who you are compatible with. For example, fire and air feed one another, and earth and water go well together. However, fire and air are usually not compatible with water and earth. Below is a short explanation of what each of the elements mean in Astrology.
Fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius)
The fire element is associated with action, energy, spirituality, creativity and competition. People who are born under the fire sign are often described as out-going, enthusiastic, and passionate. They often have ambitious dreams and like to take risks and do things their own way.
Earth (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn)
The earth element is associated with money, work, productivity, material possessions, and health. People who are born under the fire sign are often described as reliable, responsible, and practical. They are hard workers and prefer to take the safe and steady route to reach their goals.
Air (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius)
The air element is associated with communication, ideas, thoughts, information, and wisdom. People who are born under the air sign are often described as thinkers and are highly idealistic. They are curious about everything in life, enjoy learning new things and coming up with clever ideas.
Water (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces)
The water element is associated with family, intimacy, privacy, emotions, and sensitivity. People who are born under the water sign are often described as empathic, caring, and sensitive. They are very family oriented and value privacy, but if someone needs help they are the first ones to offer their help.
The Modalities
In addition to the four elements, there are also the three Modalities, also known as Qualities. The three modalities are Cardinal, Fixed and Mutable. As with the elements, each zodiac sign is associated with one modality. The Modalities can be described as the Zodiac sign’s Modus operandi, and will give insights about our general approach to life and how we operate in the world.
The Modalities are deeply connected with the four seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. Each season has three stages: The beginning, the middle, and the end. Cardinal signs begin each new season, Fixed signs appear in the middle of each season, and Mutable signs conclude each season. For example, if you are an Aries, then you are born in the beginning of spring, which makes Aries a Cardinal sign. Below is a short explanation of each Modality in Astrology.
Cardinal (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn)
Cardinal signs represent new beginnings. As each of these Zodiac signs mark the start of a new season, they tend to be energetic, impulsive and full of initiative. They have many ideas, always wanting to start new projects, and they prefer to take direct action instead of waiting passively on things to happen.
Fixed (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius)
Fixed signs represent stability. As each of these Zodiac signs appear in the middle of their season, they tend to be stable, reliable, and practical in their thoughts and actions. They are focused, hard workers, and can be trusted to get a job done. You know what you get with Fixed signs.
Mutable (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces)
Mutable signs represent change. As each of these Zodiac signs appear in the end of their season, they tend to be versatile, flexible, and can easily adjust to change. They are often described as jacks-of-all-trades, and they can adapt to any situation. They are also the ones that make sure things get finished.
Zodiac Sign Personality Traits
Below you will find information about all the 12 Zodiac Signs, including what their main personality traits are.
Aries (Mar 21 – Apr 19)
If you were born between March 21 and April 19, then your sun is in Aries. This means that you have those bold, confident, and adventurous traits. You like to take risks and do things your own way. You are naturally competitive and enjoy beating your friends in games, quizzes or sports. You are good at initiating new projects, and once you are determined to do something, you will make every effort to achieve your goal. However, you also tend to be impatient, self-centered, and impulsive. Remember that you’re not the only one in the world that matters, Aries.
Taurus (Apr 20 – May 20)
If you were born between April 20 and May 20, then your sun is in Taurus. You have a strong appreciation for your belongings, routines, and your security. You embody stability and are satisfied with most things in your life. Just like Ferdinand the Bull, you would prefer to just sit and relax under a tree and smell the flowers. In the case of an emergency, you have the ability to stay calm and use your resourcefulness, making you a rock of dependability. However, you can be stubborn to a fault because you don’t like change. Remember that sometimes change can be a good thing, Taurus.
Gemini (May 21 – Jun 20)
If you were born between May 21 and June 20, then your sun is in Gemini. You are good at communicating and listening to others. You are also witty and can easily make people laugh, as well as come up with interesting and creative ideas. You love to read and learn new things to feed your curiousity, and you are able to pick up knowledge quickly because you have a very perceptive and analytical mind. However, somtimes you lack consistency and cannot concentrate on one thing at a time. Remember that you can’t do everything at once, Gemini.
Cancer (Jun 21 – Jul 22)
If you were born between June 21 and July 22, then your sun is in Cancer. You are the zodiac’s mother because you are caring, nurturing, and attach great importance to family. You are always supporting and helping the people around you. Although you like to help others, you are very protective of yourself, just like a crab which has a hard shell but a soft inner heart. You are also known to have many layers and moods. However, sometimes you can become overly emotional and moody. Remember that you can’t always help everyone. You need to also take care of yourself, Cancer.
Leo (Jul 23 – Aug 22)
If you were born between July 23 and August 22, then your sun is in Leo. You are a natural born leader who is passionate, self-confident and creative. You are able to achieve anything you set your mind to, and will tackle any task or challenge with a fiery passion. You find it easy to make friends because you are loyal, playful and have a great sense of humor. However, let’s face facts. Leo is the King or Queen of the zodiac, which means you can be dramatic and need to be the center of attention. Remember to be humble and let others shine too, Leo.
Virgo (Aug 23 – Sep 22)
If you were born between August 23 and September 22, then your sun is in Virgo. You are dependable, analytical, health-conscious, and a hard worker. You are known to be a perfectionist because you have a good eye for detail and like to plan out everything in advance. You are admired for your work ethic, but have a careful approach to new things. You like to take care of yourself and have a polished appearance. However, you can also be quite judgmental and critical. Remember that no one is perfect and there is nothing wrong with that, Virgo.
Libra (Sep 23 – Oct 22)
If you were born between September 23 and October 22, then your sun is in Libra. You are charming, love to be social, need balance, want justice, and have an appreciation for beauty. You are known to be kind but fair, always willing to put others before yourself. Partnership is very important for you, because you need a life that has love, peace, harmony and balance. You will do anything to avoid conflict, keeping the peace whenever possible. However, you tend to sometimes run away from your problems. Remember, it’s better to deal with problems immediately so they don’t get worse, Libra.
Scorpio (Oct 23 to Nov 21)
If you were born between October 23 and November 21, then your sun is in Scorpio. You are passionate, charismatic, protective, loyal, and a great problem solver. You also make for a great leader because you are fearless, resourceful and devoted to your responsibilities. You dislike people you aren’t genuine because you are all about being authentic and will always be true to your word. However, you can easily become jealous and possessive when you feel threatened. Remember that most people are trustworthy, just like you are, Scorpio.
Sagittarius (Nov 22 to Dec 21)
If you were born between November 22 and December 21, then your sun is in Sagittarius. This sign is the traveler of the zodiac, which means that you are adventurous, curious, gregarious, and have a love for learning. You are always on a quest for more knowledge and new experiences. As a free-spirit, you have an open mind, a generous heart, a philosophical view of the world, and don’t mind change. However, you can also be restless and a bit irresponsible. Remember that sometimes you have be serious and responsible in life, Sagittarius.
Capricorn (Dec 22 to Jan 19)
If you were born between December 22 and January 19, then your sun is in Capricorn. You are highly organized, responsible, dependable, and driven. You are very result-oriented and want to achieve a lot in your life. You will climb over any obstacles that come in your way, just like the goat in your sign would. Capricorns have a reputation of being stubborn, but you simply know what you want, and will work hard to get it. However, you can also be very demanding and too serious at times. Remember to have a healthy balance of fun and business, Capricorn.
Aquarius (Jan 20 to Feb 18)
If you were born between January 20 and February 18, then your sun is in Aquarius. You are inventive, unconventional, intelligent, humanitarian and friendly. You like to be social and have clear opinions on what you think is right and wrong. You are not easily influenced by others and you do not follow trends, you set them. You have a strong sense of social justice and want fairness for all living beings. However, sometimes you can be too opinionated and seem a bit cold. Remember to also listen to other people when they express their opinions and feelings, Aquarius.
Pisces (Feb 19 to Mar 20)
If you were born between February 19 and March 20, then your sun is in Pisces. You are creative, intuitive, imaginative, empathetic, and romantic. You have a big heart and are always willing to help others and reach out to those who need a shoulder to cry on. You also have an uncanny intuition, and can often judge whether someone or something is good or bad, almost like a psychic. This is maybe because you are more in touch with spirituality than most. However, you tend to day-dream and have unachievable goals. Remember to stay grounded and set realistic goals for yourself, Pisces.
Zodiac Sign Love Compatibility
Below is a love compatibility list that will help you find out who you are the most compatible with ❤
| Sign | Most Compatible With |
|---|---|
| Aries | Leo, Sagittarius, Libra, Gemini, Aquarius |
| Taurus | Capricorn, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Pisces |
| Gemini | Libra, Leo, Aquarius, Aries |
| Cancer | Pisces, Taurus, Scorpio, Virgo, Capricorn |
| Leo | Aries, Libra, Sagittarius, Gemini |
| Virgo | Capricorn, Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces |
| Libra | Leo, Gemini, Aquarius, Aries, Sagittarius |
| Scorpio | Pisces, Capricorn, Cancer, Taurus, Virgo |
| Sagittarius | Aries, Leo, Aquarius, Libra |
| Capricorn | Taurus, Virgo, Scorpio, Pisces, Cancer |
| Aquarius | Libra, Sagittarius, Gemini, Aries, Scorpio |
| Pisces | Cancer, Scorpio, Virgo, Capricorn, Taurus |
Conclusion
Astrology has been a helpful divination tool ever since the Babylonians first discovered the connection between us and the heavenly bodies. It can be used to gain insights about ourselves, others, and events that occur on earth. Although western astrology is today mainly about daily horoscopes, there are still many who study astrology seriously. By taking into account not only your sun sign, but also your moon sign, your rising sign, and the movement of the planets, you can find out much more about yourself, your future, and your destiny.
Want to find out what the heavenly bodies are telling about you? Check out who the best astrologers are here, or head over to Psychic Source, which is one of the most trusted websites when it comes to astrology and psychic readings.
Get 3 Minutes Free when you get a reading at Psychic Source