An Intro to the 12 Zodiac Signs for Total Beginners

If you’re just getting into astrology, you might be confused by all the terms out there—like, what's the difference between a zodiac sign, star sign, Sun sign, and just "your sign"? Well, those terms all mean the same thing—they indicate the zodiac sign the Sun was in when you were born, which holds the key to unlocking lots of unique traits about you.

Before you can live your best cosmic life, you’ve got to build a strong foundation, and it all starts with your Sun sign. You can embrace who you are by learning more about your Sun sign and understanding how it's different from other zodiac signs. Through exploring your birth chart, you will trigger a transformative journey of self-awareness and empowerment. If you're ready to own your cosmic runway like the star you are, keep scrolling for literally every single thing I could possibly think to tell you about Sun Signs!

What Is My Sun Sign?

To put it simply, your Sun sign is determined by which zodiac sign the Sun was in when you were born. The Sun changes signs roughly once a month, and it moves through each sign during roughly the same dates from year to year (the start and end dates can shift by a day or two). For example, Aries season is typically March 21 to April 19, so if you were born within those dates, you’re probably an Aries. (And if you were born on March 21 or April 19, you will want to double-check to make sure.)

In astrology, your Sun sign describes your core identity, ego, motivations, and fundamental personality traits. It’s what makes someone say “She’s such a Leo!” or “They’re the most Gemini-y Gemini I've ever met.” Below is a bit more about each Sun sign:

Aries are bold, brave, and passionate. As the first sign of the zodiac, they demand to be noticed. They’re warm and loving, and they trust others easily. They believe in sticking up for people, even when it’s a lost cause. They have a temper, but they move on just as easily.. Aries people can get on your nerves, but they’re so adorable, you’ll forgive them. They love competition, winning, getting lucky, and being the center of attention.

• Element: Fire
• Keywords: Courageous, active, passionate, leader
• Most compatible with: Leo, Sagittarius
• Modality: Cardinal
• Ruler: Mars
• Tarot card: The Emperor
• Symbol: The ram

Taurus people are hard-working, stubborn, and have a taste for the finer things in life. They're ruled by Venus, the planet of love, beauty, and money, so they have excellent taste. Tauruses have a reputation for being lazy, but they're more of the "work hard, nap hard" kind—they'll do their best when they're focusing on a project, but they value their downtime. Tauruses are incredibly loyal to their friends and loved ones, but if you cross them, they'll hold a grudge for life.

• Element: Earth
• Keywords: Hard-working, loyal, stubborn, reliable
• Most compatible with: Virgo, Capricorn
• Modality: Fixed
• Ruler: Venus
• Tarot card: The Hierophant
• Symbol: The bull

Geminis are playful, witty, and intelligent. They have a reputation for being two-faced, because they're represented by the Twins, but this trait is more about being adaptable than backstabbing anyone: Geminis are social butterflies who can feel at home in any group. Gemini is ruled by Mercury, planet of communication and intelligence, so they're always chatting, texting, and writing. They're skilled communicators, and they tend to be quite outgoing.

• Element: Air
• Keywords: Witty, smart, playful, adaptable
• Most compatible with: Aquarius, Libra
• Modality: Mutable
• Ruler: Mercury
• Tarot card: The Lovers
• Symbol: The twins

Cancers are sensitive, caring, and intuitive. They're natural homebodies, just like their symbol, the crab, which carries its home with it on its back. Cancer is ruled by the Moon, and Cancers' moods can shift just as frequently as the Moon changes phases (this is a poetic way to say they're a little bit moody). One of Cancer's best traits is how caring they are. If you have a Cancer loved one, you should count yourself lucky because they'll always do their best to support you.

• Element: Water
• Keywords: Caring, emotional, moody, intuitive
• Most compatible with: Scorpio, Pisces
• Modality: Cardinal
• Ruler: The Moon
• Tarot card: The Chariot
• Symbol: The crab

Leos are the celebrities of the zodiac. They're outgoing and creative, and they thrive when they're in the spotlight. Just like their symbol, the lion, Leos are brave and bold. And they can act like playful kitty cats when they're with their loved ones. While Leo get a lot of flack for their ego, one of their best traits is their generosity and kindness. They're always helping their loved ones out hyping their friends up.

• Element: Fire
• Keywords: Bold, creative, outgoing, playful
• Most compatible with: Aries, Sagittarius
• Modality: Fixed
• Ruler: The Sun
• Tarot card: Strength
• Symbol: The lion

Virgos are all about the details. This hardworking earth sign is practical, careful, and deliberate, whatever they do. It's likely not surprising to hear that Virgos are likely to have some perfectionist tendencies. They're also driven by routines and likely keep a color-coded Google calendar. Represented by the maiden, Virgos come across as sweet and innocent but have a secret dark side they only show those closest to them. They're caring friends, though they tend to give unsolicited advice.

• Element: Earth
• Keywords: Practical, detail-oriented, hard-working, caring
• Most compatible with: Capricorn and Taurus
• Modality: Mutable
• Ruler: Mercury
• Tarot card: The Hermit
• Symbol: The maiden

Flirtatious, fashionable, and fun, Libras are the life of the party. Ruled by Venus, planet of beauty and pleasure, they have excellent taste. Represented by the scales, Libras are the sign of justice. They care deeply about things being fair. Relatedly, they tend to be indecisive because they want to be sure they're choosing the "right" option, even if it's something as simple as where to go for brunch. They're natural-born mediators, skilled at smoothing out tension between friends.

• Element: Air
• Keywords: Flirtatious, stylish, fun, diplomatic
• Most compatible with: Aquarius, Gemini
• Modality: Cardinal
• Ruler: Venus
• Tarot card: Justice
• Symbol: The scales

Intense Scorpios are the goths of the zodiac. They're preoccupied with topics like death, transformation, and the occult. Scorpios tend to be on the quieter side, but they're very intuitive and observant. They feel things deeply and can be very emotional. Scorpios are loyal friends, but just like their sister sign Taurus, if you cross them, they will hold a grudge for life. And Scorpios are more likely to seek out revenge, too.

• Element: Water
• Keywords: Intuitive, loyal, emotional, grudge-holding
• Most compatible with: Cancer, Pisces
• Modality: Fixed
• Ruler: Pluto (modern) and Mars (traditional)
• Tarot card: Death
• Symbol: The scorpion

Sagittarius is the jet-setter of the zodiac. These adventurous and outgoing fire signs want to explore the world around them, whether it's another continent or the next town over. They're interested in the big questions about life and are often interested in philosophy. Ruled by Jupiter, Sagittarius is naturally lucky and naturally optimistic (you can't blame them, with all that luck). Sagittarius people tend to be spontaneous at best and noncommittal at worst. They also have a tendency to be overly blunt.

• Element: Fire
• Keywords: Adventurous, optimistic, outgoing, lucky
• Most compatible with: Aries, Leo
• Modality: Mutable
• Ruler: Jupiter
• Tarot card: Temperance
• Symbol: The archer

Capricorn is the most ambitious sign of the zodiac. They're driven, ambitious, and hardworking. They set five-year plans and then accomplish them. Capricorn is focused on making a secure life for themselves and their loved ones. They're caring and loyal friends, though they are definitely the "tough love" type. Despite how serious this makes them sound, Capricorn has a hilarious and dark sense of humor that they show to their closest friends.

• Element: Earth
• Keywords: Ambitious, hard-working, loyal, blunt
• Most compatible with: Taurus, Virgo
• Modality: Cardinal
• Ruler: Saturn
• Tarot card: The Devil
• Symbol: The sea-goat

Aquarius is the zodiac's rebel. They're progressive and innovative, seeing the world in a way that no one else does. Their brilliant, curious minds often lead them to explore science and technology, though their creativity means they can also be at home in the arts. Aquarius people are born humanitarians; they want to make the world around them a better place. They are caring friends but they also value their alone time and can sometimes even be "loners."

• Element: Air
• Keywords: Innovative, rebellious, creative, caring
• Most compatible with: Gemini, Libra
• Modality: Fixed
• Ruler: Uranus (modern) and Saturn (traditional)
• Tarot card: The Star
• Symbol: The water-bearer

As the last sign of the zodiac, Pisces is an "old soul" no matter how old they actually are. They're wise and intuitive, and their friends often go to them for advice. However, this doesn't mean that Pisces is practical—far from it. They're imaginative and can spend hours lost in daydreams. As water signs, Pisces are emotional and feel everything very deeply. They're nurturing to their loved ones and they're always there to offer a shoulder to cry on.

• Element: Water
• Keywords: Imaginative, emotional, wise, intuitive
• Most compatible with: Scorpio, Cancer
• Modality: Mutable
• Ruler: Neptune (modern) and Jupiter (traditional)
• Tarot card: The Moon
• Symbol: The fishes