Illustrated astrology guide

The Twelve Sun Signs

Explore the date ranges, elements, modalities, planetary rulers and personality themes traditionally associated with every Western zodiac sun sign.

View 15 slidesCompare the signs
The Twelve Sun Signs cover with zodiac symbols arranged around the Sun
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What a sun sign represents

Your sun sign is the familiar zodiac placement determined by the Sun's position on your birth date. In astrology it symbolizes core identity and vitality, but it is only one part of a full birth chart.

Core identity

Traditionally connected with central character, ego and the way personal vitality is expressed.

Set by birth date

It comes from the zodiac section occupied by the Sun at the time of birth.

One piece of a whole

Astrologers also consider the Moon, rising sign, planets, houses and aspects for a fuller chart.

Visual guide

Explore all 15 slides

Select any image to open its full-size version. Each slide is paired with a concise summary for easier reading and discovery.

The Twelve Sun Signs illustrated guide cover
Slide 1

The Twelve Sun Signs

A complete visual introduction to zodiac dates, elements, qualities, rulers, traits, strengths, challenges and compatibility.

What Your Sun Sign Means explainer with core identity, birth date and full-chart context
Slide 2

What Your Sun Sign Means

The Sun sign is astrology's most familiar placement: a birth-date marker associated with core identity, not a complete chart by itself.

Aries sun sign profile with dates, Fire element, Cardinal quality and Mars ruler
Slide 3

Aries

Bold, energetic and pioneering. The slide pairs decisive leadership with challenges such as impatience and impulsiveness.

Taurus sun sign profile with dates, Earth element, Fixed quality and Venus ruler
Slide 4

Taurus

Reliable, patient and practical. Loyalty and appreciation of comfort are balanced against resistance to change and stubbornness.

Gemini sun sign profile with dates, Air element, Mutable quality and Mercury ruler
Slide 5

Gemini

Curious, adaptable and expressive. Quick thinking and communication sit beside restlessness and occasional inconsistency.

Cancer sun sign profile with dates, Water element, Cardinal quality and Moon ruler
Slide 6

Cancer

Nurturing, intuitive and protective. Deep compassion and loyalty can be accompanied by sensitivity, moodiness or holding on to the past.

Leo sun sign profile with dates, Fire element, Fixed quality and Sun ruler
Slide 7

Leo

Confident, generous and creative. Warm charisma and loyalty are balanced by pride, attention seeking and a tendency to dominate.

Virgo sun sign profile with dates, Earth element, Mutable quality and Mercury ruler
Slide 8

Virgo

Analytical, meticulous and diligent. Practical helpfulness may tip into perfectionism, worry or excessive self-criticism.

Libra sun sign profile with dates, Air element, Cardinal quality and Venus ruler
Slide 9

Libra

Diplomatic, charming and fair-minded. A gift for balance can coexist with indecision, conflict avoidance or people pleasing.

Scorpio sun sign profile with dates, Water element, Fixed quality and Pluto ruler
Slide 10

Scorpio

Intense, resourceful and magnetic. Loyalty and resilience are balanced by guarded emotions, jealousy and control.

Sagittarius sun sign profile with dates, Fire element, Mutable quality and Jupiter ruler
Slide 11

Sagittarius

Adventurous, optimistic and philosophical. Candor and curiosity may become tactlessness, restlessness or overpromising.

Capricorn sun sign profile with dates, Earth element, Cardinal quality and Saturn ruler
Slide 12

Capricorn

Disciplined, ambitious and responsible. Patience and resilience can harden into pessimism, rigidity or overwork.

Aquarius sun sign profile with dates, Air element, Fixed quality and Uranus ruler
Slide 13

Aquarius

Independent, inventive and humanitarian. Progressive thinking may appear detached, unpredictable or stubborn.

Pisces sun sign profile with dates, Water element, Mutable quality and Neptune ruler
Slide 14

Pisces

Compassionate, artistic and intuitive. Empathy and imagination can be challenged by escapism, porous boundaries or excessive trust.

Every Sign Has Its Season closing message about balancing strengths and challenges
Slide 15

Every Sign Has Its Season

No sign is simply good or bad: every strength has a shadow side, and every challenge can become a strength through balance.

At a glance

Compare the 12 zodiac signs

The date ranges below follow the supplied slides. Exact transition times can vary slightly by year and time zone.

Aries

March 21–April 19
FireCardinalMars

Traits: Bold, energetic, competitive, direct and pioneering.

Taurus

April 20–May 20
EarthFixedVenus

Traits: Reliable, patient, practical, sensual and devoted.

Gemini

May 21–June 20
AirMutableMercury

Traits: Curious, adaptable, witty, expressive and sociable.

Cancer

June 21–July 22
WaterCardinalMoon

Traits: Nurturing, intuitive, protective, sentimental and loyal.

Leo

July 23–August 22
FireFixedSun

Traits: Confident, generous, dramatic, warm and creative.

Virgo

August 23–September 22
EarthMutableMercury

Traits: Analytical, meticulous, modest, practical and diligent.

Libra

September 23–October 22
AirCardinalVenus

Traits: Diplomatic, charming, fair-minded, social and idealistic.

Scorpio

October 23–November 21
WaterFixedPluto

Traits: Intense, passionate, resourceful, private and magnetic.

Sagittarius

November 22–December 21
FireMutableJupiter

Traits: Adventurous, optimistic, philosophical, independent and blunt.

Capricorn

December 22–January 19
EarthCardinalSaturn

Traits: Disciplined, ambitious, responsible, patient and traditional.

Aquarius

January 20–February 18
AirFixedUranus

Traits: Independent, inventive, humanitarian, idealistic and unconventional.

Pisces

February 19–March 20
WaterMutableNeptune

Traits: Compassionate, artistic, dreamy, intuitive and gentle.

The organizing pattern

Four elements and three modalities

The zodiac combines one of four elements with one of three modalities, giving each sign a distinct symbolic style.

Elements

Fire

Aries, Leo and Sagittarius emphasize action, confidence and inspiration.

Earth

Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn emphasize practicality, stability and results.

Air

Gemini, Libra and Aquarius emphasize ideas, communication and social connection.

Water

Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces emphasize feeling, intuition and emotional depth.

Modalities

Cardinal

Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn are traditionally associated with initiation.

Fixed

Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius are traditionally associated with persistence.

Mutable

Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces are traditionally associated with adaptation.

Interpretive context

Astrology is a symbolic and cultural tradition, not a scientifically validated method for measuring personality or predicting events. Sun-sign descriptions are broad themes for reflection or entertainment and should not be used to stereotype people or make medical, legal, financial or other consequential decisions.