Who are the zodiac signs? You probably know what your zodiac sign is, and maybe your best friend’s or your love interest’s zodiac sign. But you may not know there are a total of twelve zodiac signs, each assigned to a specific element, modality, planet, and more. The twelve zodiac signs are distinct from one another despite all falling under the same astrological umbrella. 

Learning the twelve zodiac signs is imperative to create a solid foundation of astrological knowledge. In this blog post, you will learn the following about the twelve zodiac signs:

🗓️  Zodiac Seasons Dates: The sun passes through each zodiac sign, starting with Aries. When the sun is in a zodiac sign, this is known as the zodiac sign’s season. For example, Aries season occurs when the sun is in Aries. Typically, the sun is in one zodiac sign for up to one month (30-31 days). The start and end dates of the zodiacal seasons may change by +/- one day depending on when the sun leaves one zodiac sign and enters the next.

🌟  Symbol & Glyph: Each zodiac sign has a special symbol to represent it. The zodiac sign’s glyph will be located next to the zodiac sign’s name and the symbol will be listed underneath. The glyph is another way to depict the symbol. Some zodiac signs will be represented as animals or mythical creatures. Each symbol and glyph is tied to the zodiac sign’s mythology. 

💫  Modality: Modality refers to the mode of each zodiac sign, suggesting the zodiac signs have a unique way of expressing energy. Modality includes cardinal (beginning), fixed (middle), and mutable (end or transition). There are four zodiac signs per modality. Cardinal signs include Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn; fixed signs include Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius; mutable signs include Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces.

🔥  Element: Element represents the traits, behaviors, and personalities of each zodiac sign. There are four elements–fire, water, air, and earth. Each element is home to three zodiac signs. Fire signs include Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius; water signs include Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces; air signs include Libra, Aquarius, and Gemini; earth signs include Capricorn, Taurus, and Virgo.

✨  Duality: Each zodiac sign is either masculine or feminine, which represents how the zodiac sign expresses its energy. Feminine is inactive and passive; masculine is active and forthright. Although each zodiac sign is either masculine or feminine, this doesn’t mean that the zodiac sign’s duality adheres to sexist views. Astrology’s masculine and feminine energies do not correspond with sex and gender.

🏠  House: Houses represent the areas of life that are associated with each zodiac sign. There are twelve houses, one per zodiac sign.

👭 Opposite Sign: Each zodiac sign is 180 degrees apart from its opposite sign. The opposing sign will share the same modality and duality, but they do not share the same element. This means the opposing sign is similar but different from the zodiac sign.

😍  Best Compatibility: Each zodiac sign gets along swimmingly with other zodiac signs likely of the same element, or complementary element. Best compatibility indicates that a zodiac sign will likely gravitate to compatible zodiac signs in love, friendship, business, and more.

🙄  Challenging Compatibility: Each zodiac sign has struggles with other zodiac signs. The challenging compatibility likely suggests the zodiac sign has very little or nothing in common with another star sign, hence a challenging relationship. It can still work, but it will take work.

What will you discover about your zodiac sign? Keep reading to find out!

 

⭐  Meet the 12 Zodiac Signs

♈  Aries

• Dates: March 21 to April 19

• Symbol: Ram

• Ruling Planet(s): Mars

• Modality: Cardinal

• Element: Fire

• Duality: Masculine

• House: 1st House

• Opposite Zodiac Sign: Libra

• Best Compatibility: Sagittarius, Leo, Gemini, and Aquarius

• Challenging Compatibility: Cancer, Capricorn, Scorpio, Virgo

🌟  Keywords: Fierce, independent, self-made, go-getter, leader, pioneer, brave, arrogant, impulsive, optimistic, naive, courageous, hot-headed, brash, honest, argumentative, competitive, assertive, loud, passionate, forceful, instinctual, tough, self-concerned, selfish, rude, & quick

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♉  Taurus

• Dates: April 19 to May 20

• Symbol: Bull

• Ruling Planet(s): Venus

• Modality: Fixed

• Element: Earth

• Duality: Feminine

• House: 2nd House

• Opposite Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

• Best Compatibility: Virgo, Capricorn, Cancer, Pisces

• Challenging Compatibility: Leo, Aquarius, Libra, Sagittarius

🌟  Keywords: Lush, stable, consistent, loyal, hedonistic, sensory-oriented, luxurious, responsible, stubborn, kind, caring, amorous, sensual, deliberate, plodding, affectionate, slow, enduring, persistent, artistic, lazy, practical, reliable, possessive, dogmatic, steady & placid

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♊  Gemini

• Dates: May 21 to June 20

• Symbol: Twins

• Ruling Planet(s): Mercury

• Modality: Mutable

• Element: Air

• Duality: Masculine

• House: 3rd House

• Opposite Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

• Best Compatibility: Libra, Aquarius, Aries, Leo

• Challenging Compatibility: Virgo, Pisces, Scorpio, Capricorn

🌟  Keywords: Quick, witty, intelligent, curious, flakey, adaptable, ever-changing, studious, communicative, busy, chatty, superficial, anxious, multi-faceted, versatile, fickle, “jack of all trades”, duality, clever, light-hearted, agile, whimsical, magician, shapeshifter, & comedian

💎  Shop the Gemini Collection

 

♋  Cancer

• Dates: June 21 to July 22

• Symbol: Crab

• Ruling Planet(s): Moon

• Modality: Cardinal

• Element: Water

• Duality: Feminine

• House: 4th House

• Opposite Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

• Best Compatibility: Scorpio, Pisces, Virgo, Taurus

• Challenging Compatibility: Aries, Libra, Aquarius, Sagittarius

🌟  Keywords: Moody, ancestral, intuitive, nurturing, temperamental, cunning, maternal, passive-aggressive, protective, familial, homebody, crabby, subtle, receptive, brooding, caretaker, empathetic, sarcastic, fussy, insecure, kind, tenacious, sentimental, touchy, & nostalgic

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♌  Leo

• Dates: July 22 to August 22

• Symbol: Lion

• Ruling Planet(s): Sun

• Modality: Fixed

• Element: Fire

• Duality: Masculine

• House: 5th House

• Opposite Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

• Best Compatibility: Aries, Leo, Gemini, Sagittarius

• Challenging Compatibility: Scorpio, Taurus, Capricorn, Pisces

🌟  Keywords: Expressive, self-centered, theatrical, artistic, dramatic, egotistical, generous, warm-hearted, joyful, exuberant, childlike, bossy, stubborn, loyal, conceited, mighty, regal, active, magnanimous, proud, charismatic, determined, confident, strong-willed, & bold

💎  Shop the Leo Collection

♍   Virgo

• Dates: August 22 to September 22

• Symbol: Maiden (virgin)

• Ruling Planet(s): Mercury

• Modality: Mutable

• Element: Earth

• Duality: Feminine

• House: 6th House

• Opposite Zodiac Sign: Pisces

• Best Compatibility: Capricorn, Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio

• Challenging Compatibility: Sagittarius, Gemini, Aries, Aquarius

🌟  Keywords: Editorial, fussy, detailed, adaptable, careful, nitpicking, refined, idealistic, organized, studious, intelligent, restless, anxious, analytical, reserved, conscientious, helpful, methodical, practical, agile, systematic, clean, studious, changeable, witty, sarcastic, & discerning

💎  Shop the Virgo Collection

♎  Libra

• Dates: September 22 to October 22

• Symbol: Scales (of Justice)

• Ruling Planet(s): Venus

• Modality: Cardinal

• Element: Air

• Duality: Masculine

• House: 7th House

• Opposite Zodiac Sign: Aries

• Best Compatibility: Aquarius, Gemini, Sagittarius, Leo

• Challenging Compatibility: Cancer, Capricorn, Pisces, Taurus

🌟  Keywords: Marital, commitment-oriented, passive-aggressive, balanced, indecisive, impartial, charming, kind, socially intelligent, mirror, compromising, pacifying, judicial, congenial, elegant, graceful, fair, tactful, relatable, polite, accommodating, & artistic

💎  Shop the Libra Collection

 

♏  Scorpio

• Dates: October 22 to November 21
• Symbol: Scorpion (gray lizard, eagle, phoenix) 
• Ruling Planet(s): Mars (traditional) & Pluto (modern)
• Modality: Fixed
• Element: Water
• Duality: Feminine
• House: 8th House
• Opposite Zodiac Sign: Taurus
• Best Compatibility: Cancer, Pisces, Virgo, Capricorn
• Challenging Compatibility: Leo, Aquarius, Aries, Gemini

🌟  Keywords: Secretive, possessive, mysterious, brooding, controlling, loyal, steadfast, seductive, passionate, strategic, transformative, sleuth, intense, powerful, observant, temperamental, determined, resourceful, dogmatic, perceptive, restorative, & psychological

💎  Shop the Scorpio Collection

 

♐  Sagittarius

• Dates: November 21 to December 21

• Symbol: Centaur (archer)

• Ruling Planet(s): Jupiter

• Modality: Mutable

• Element: Fire

• Duality: Masculine

• House: 9th House

• Opposite Zodiac Sign: Gemini

• Best Compatibility: Aries, Leo, Libra, Aquarius

• Challenging Compatibility: Virgo, Pisces, Taurus, Cancer

🌟  Keywords: Adventurous, big picture thinking, educated, spirited, buoyant, hopeful, confident, boisterous, courageous, independent, worldy, aspirational, cultured, careless, uncouth, changeable, rude, frank, irresponsible, adaptable, expansive, fun-loving, lawless, & spontaneous

💎  Shop the Sagittarius Collection

 

♑  Capricorn

• Dates: December 21 to January 19
• Symbol: Goat (sea-goat)
• Ruling Planet(s): Saturn
• Modality: Cardinal
• Element: Earth
• Duality: Feminine
• House: 10th House
• Opposite Zodiac Sign: Cancer
• Best Compatibility: Virgo, Capricorn, Scorpio, Pisces
• Challenging Compatibility: Aries, Libra, Gemini, Leo

🌟  Keywords: Professional, stoic, mature, leader, ambitious, authoritative, conservative, serious, accomplished, consistent, reliable, structured, responsible, dry, cold, patient, realistic, pessimistic, executive, disciplined, intolerant, cynical, shy, utilitarian, stern, & hardworking

💎  Shop the Capricorn Collection

♒  Aquarius

• Dates: January 19 to February 19

• Symbol: Water-bearer

• Ruling Planet(s): Saturn (traditional) & Uranus (modern)

• Modality: Fixed

• Element: Air

• Duality: Masculine

• House: 11th House

• Opposite Zodiac Sign: Leo

• Best Compatibility: Gemini, Libra, Aries, Sagittarius

• Challenging Compatibility: Taurus, Scorpio, Cancer, Virgo

🌟  Keywords: Maverick, unconventional, detached, aloof, cold, progressive, humanitarian, original, authentic, genuine, friendly, intelligent, socially aware, technical, clever, loyal, dogmatic, eccentric, rebel, erratic, unreliable, scientific, urban, idealist, individualistic, & independent

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♓  Pisces

• Dates: February 19 to March 21

• Symbol: Two Fish

• Ruling Planet(s): Jupiter (traditional) & Neptune (modern)

• Modality: Mutable

• Element: Water

• Duality: Feminine

• House: 12th House

• Opposite Zodiac Sign: Virgo

• Best Compatibility: Cancer, Scorpio, Capricorn, Taurus

• Challenging Compatibility: Gemini, Sagittarius, Leo, Libra

🌟  Keywords: Dreamy, elusive, victim, shapeshifter, creative, empathetic, changeable, compassionate, deceptive, imaginative, opportunistic, intuitive, artistic, sensitive, impressionable, musical, escapist, inspiring, mystical, tender, vague, & unconditional 

💎  Shop the Pisces Collection

😊  Click Here to Download Your Complimentary Zodiac Sign Cheat Sheet

 

💫  Astrology Readings at ASCEND

Did you know you have all 12 zodiac signs in your birth chart? Learn more about your birth chart by booking your astrology reading with ASCEND’s in-house astrologer, Liz Simmons. Together, you and Liz will go through the power of your zodiac sign and so much more. What do the stars have in store for you?

⭐️  Book Your Astrology Reading

 

 

 

✍️  Meet ASCEND’s In-House Astrologer & Writer

Liz Simmons is a writer, astrologer, and tarot reader based in Salem, MA. Liz is the resident astrologer at ASCEND Get Lifted. Aside from providing astrological readings and tarot readings, Liz writes for ASCEND’s blog. Her expert commentary is featured in over twenty publications, including Cosmopolitan, Shape, Women’s Health, & more. Check out her work on Instagram, @the_ _crone & book a reading with her at ASCEND.