The twelve zodiac signs
The Sun passes through twelve signs in a year, and tradition gives each one a temperament. The dates are the usual round dates; a birth near the change of sign needs the time and place to be sure. Pick a sign for its page, or start with your birth date and the sign is worked out for you.
Aries
About 21 March to 19 April · Fire · Cardinal · Mars
At a glance
- Often feels
- Impatient to begin
- Shows love by
- Making the first move, and the second
- Needs
- Something to win and someone to cheer
- Watch for
- Starting more than it finishes
Taurus
About 20 April to 20 May · Earth · Fixed · Venus
At a glance
- Often feels
- At ease, until pushed
- Shows love by
- Cooking for you and staying put
- Needs
- Comfort, loyalty and no rush
- Watch for
- Mistaking stubbornness for strength
Gemini
About 21 May to 20 June · Air · Mutable · Mercury
At a glance
- Often feels
- Curious, then restless
- Shows love by
- Talking to you until the small hours
- Needs
- Variety and a good listener
- Watch for
- Changing the subject when it gets deep
Cancer
About 21 June to 22 July · Water · Cardinal · the Moon
At a glance
- Often feels
- Everything, and remembers it
- Shows love by
- Looking after you before you ask
- Needs
- A safe place and a familiar face
- Watch for
- Retreating into the shell
Leo
About 23 July to 22 August · Fire · Fixed · the Sun
At a glance
- Often feels
- Warm, and wants it noticed
- Shows love by
- Grand gestures and open praise
- Needs
- An audience that means it
- Watch for
- Pride standing in for feeling
Virgo
About 23 August to 22 September · Earth · Mutable · Mercury
At a glance
- Often feels
- Concerned, and quietly useful
- Shows love by
- Fixing the thing you mentioned once
- Needs
- Order, purpose and a little praise
- Watch for
- Criticism offered as help
Libra
About 23 September to 22 October · Air · Cardinal · Venus
At a glance
- Often feels
- Unsettled by discord
- Shows love by
- Making every evening a date
- Needs
- Harmony, company and fair play
- Watch for
- Agreeing to keep the peace
Scorpio
About 23 October to 21 November · Water · Fixed · Mars (traditional), Pluto (modern)
At a glance
- Often feels
- Intensely, and privately
- Shows love by
- Letting you into the locked room
- Needs
- Trust, depth and no games
- Watch for
- Keeping score
Sagittarius
About 22 November to 21 December · Fire · Mutable · Jupiter
At a glance
- Often feels
- Hopeful and ready to go
- Shows love by
- Taking you somewhere new
- Needs
- Room to roam and honest talk
- Watch for
- Honesty that arrives before tact
Capricorn
About 22 December to 19 January · Earth · Cardinal · Saturn
At a glance
- Often feels
- Responsible, and a little tired
- Shows love by
- Showing up, every time
- Needs
- Respect and a long-term plan
- Watch for
- Working instead of talking
Aquarius
About 20 January to 18 February · Air · Fixed · Saturn (traditional), Uranus (modern)
At a glance
- Often feels
- Detached, and interested in everyone
- Shows love by
- Making you a friend first
- Needs
- Space, ideas and good company
- Watch for
- Reasoning a feeling away
Pisces
About 19 February to 20 March · Water · Mutable · Jupiter (traditional), Neptune (modern)
At a glance
- Often feels
- Whatever the room feels
- Shows love by
- Writing you into its daydreams
- Needs
- Kindness, quiet and imagination
- Watch for
- Drifting instead of deciding