Zodiac Signs in Horoscope Astrology Charts - Star Sign Meanings and Dates
The Sun Sign in your Horoscope may not be your most important astrological characteristic - note when assessing compatibility!
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Zodiac Signs! - Horoscope columns in popular newspapers and magazines might lead you to suspect that the meaning of the zodiac signs in which the Sun appears in horoscopes is of such over-riding importance that little else matters. The truth is that the star signs in which the Sun appears is assigned much more importance in modern astrology than was the case in ancient times. Then, each planet (the Sun and the Moon being counted amongst the planets) signified a particular area of life as indicated in the individual birth chart. In particular, the planet that rules the ascendant (the zodiac sign rising at birth), and its sign and house position, was seen as having special meaning for the individual. I believe this ancient tradition still holds true. Nevertheless there is no doubt that sun signs in horoscopes do have importance (the ancients acknowledged this too), and I offer these thumbnail profiles of the characteristic traits of each. The twelve zodiac signs are divided into four elements: Fire - Aries, Leo and Sagittarius; Earth - Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn; Air - Gemini, Libra and Aquarius; Water - Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces.
Book a Consultation - Find out what your whole birth chart means, not just your Sun sign. Educate yourself, maybe satisfy curiosity, alleviate fears and even have fun! Click here: horoscopes for more information, and here: testimonials to read what clients say about my work.
Links to individual Zodiac Sign profiles
(N.B. The dates given vary slightly from year to year. If you were born on a date close to the beginning or end of each range, then I invite you to e-mail me, stating your date, time and place of birth, and I will advise you.)
Aries (21 March-20 April)
Taurus (21 April-21 May)
Gemini (22 May-21 June)
Cancer (22 June-22 July)
Leo (23 July-22 August)
Virgo (23 August-21 September)
Libra (22 September-22 October)
Scorpio (23 October-21 November)
Sagittarius (22 November-21 December)
Capricorn (22 December-20 January)
Aquarius (21 January-19 February)
Pisces (20 February-20 March)
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Whatever your Sun sign, your natal chart also has a Moon sign, a Rising sign (Ascendant) and planets in various of these 12 signs. Some of these may be much more strongly placed than the Sun in your chart. See the meaning of this in your horoscope - Order a Report (Natal Chart Report, Career Horoscope, Baby Horoscope or, for you and your lover, a Compatibility Horoscope). Order one report and get two for half price!
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Another way of classifying the zodiac signs is according to their so-called quadruplicities or qualities. The three quadruplicities can be seen as different ways of being creative.
Cardinal Signs
The four cardinal signs, Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn, have as a common trait the impetus to initiate or create, or to counter one initiative with another.
Fixed Signs
The four fixed signs, Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, are inclined to sustain or stabilise what has already been created, or to resist or practise endurance in the face of another's initiative.
Mutable Signs
The four mutable signs, Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces, take what has been created and attempt to alter or adapt it.
Combine the four elements with the three quadruplicities, and we find that each of the zodiac signs has a unique combination of the two. For instance, Taurus alone is fixed earth, Sagittarius alone is mutable fire. These four links will take you to a very brief sketch of the characteristics of each element, and of the differences between each sign of that element on account of the varying quadruplicities. Each page contains links that will take you to more detailed profiles of each of the zodiac signs, or you can go straight to the ones which interest you using the links above.
The fire element desires freedom.
The earth element needs security.
The air element (like fire but with a different emphasis) desires freedom.
The water element (like earth but with a different emphasis) needs security.
Personal consultations give much more complete pictures of people's Sun zodiac signs as they relate to them personally, bearing in mind the placements of the Moon and other planets in their birth charts. Click here: horoscopes for more information.
The Sun is in Taurus 16:12 GMT 19 April - 15:15 GMT 20 May 2012
(Taurus) can quite happily remain the unseen power behind the scenes: the investor, the accountant, the one who keeps the business running without getting the public laurels. Taurus is realistic enough to know that you can't eat laurels, and they won't fix a leaky roof.
Liz Greene: Astrology for Lovers. Mandala, 1989.
Consultations with Richard Hills and how to book: Astrology Readings
If you have a specific question to which you seek an answer, you may find Horary Astrology more helpful than a birth chart reading.
An overview of how horoscope analysis can help individuals and couples with compatibility issues in their relationships and suggestions about which star signs are likely to be compatible with each other: Star Sign Compatibility
The planets in astrology: planets
Moon signs in your birth chart: moon signs
(Confused about Ophiuchus, the alleged '13th sign'? See Ophiuchus - a 13th Sign? No!)
Richard Hills - Astrologer
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