the 12 zodiac signs
The soul’s journey is one of education at the school of the zodiac. The instructions are open-ended and can be fulfilled in myriad individual ways during the course of your life.
The zodiac is one of the original systems of self-cultivation, self-revelation and self-evolution.
Caroline Casey
In your birth chart, you'll discover (if you didn't know already) that you have all twelve signs in your chart. Some of them may be more emphasized than others in your chart, but you have every sign coloring a specific area or theme of life.
Explore the signs of your planets/rising sign and houses below. Your chart is filled with ideas, possibilities and inspiration.
Keep in mind that the signs describe a style, like a style of operating with an objective. The objective not being a goal, but more along the lines of flow and self-discovery. Pick just a few of the concepts + keywords that stick out to you right now, work with them until you've gotten comfortable with embodying your version. And then come back for more inspiration!
If you’d like to explore the signs, your chart further and co-create with the universe, join me in Cosmic Alignment, an astrology + co-creation membership.
**I've included the standard dates for each sign season below, however due to leap years and other astronomical factors, the dates can change every year. If you're on the cusp, please make sure to get an accurate birth time and generate a birth chart to know which sun sign you are. (Time will also really affect your moon sign and your houses/rising sign).
Aries - The Ram
March 21 - April 20
Element: Fire
Modality: Cardinal
Ruling Planet: Mars
The first sign is like the infant, a newborn and forever child, wanting to discover and assert its identity. Aries is here to begin, to pioneer and to create new life. Everything is an avenue for self-discovery, because there are no failures in life! This is the sign of expressing raw and unharnessed energy - pushing past boundaries and just going for it. Aries is here to set it off, shatter limitations and independently trail blaze through life. Act first, think later vibes with a lot of excitement to get things going.
Taurus- The Bull
April 21 - May 21
Element: Earth
Modality: Fixed
Ruling Planet: Venus
The second sign, Taurus, is a stable and persevering container of energy. The grounded pace of Taurus brings us to the pleasure of the present moment and the wisdom of the body. This is the sign that achieves through waiting, patiently growing and sustaining what has true value. The present moment leads us to one of Taurus' true talents - sensuality. What feels good, tastes delicious, smells wonderful and looks beautiful to you? Taurus is the builder, grounding and rooting ideas into physical reality. Tangible results are paramount.
Gemini - The Twins
May21 - June 20
Element: Air
Modality: Mutable
Ruling Planet: Mercury
Gemini takes us into the realm of the intellect, ideas/thoughts and social skills - the mind as a connector of life. Gemini is meant to explore and dabble in whatever piques it's interest - new ideas and experiences are its fuel. Curiosity is the driving force that leads Gemini to the conversations, acquaintances, information and learnings that tap into creative power. This is when we explore the full range of the spectrum, understanding through opposites and multiple angles. It’s through this talent that Gemini makes the unlikely and magical connections that others may overlook.
Cancer - The Crab
June 21 - July 21
Element: Water
Modality: Cardinal
Ruling Planet: Moon
With Cancer, we dive into emotional connections, safety and our roots. As the sign of the nurturing and protective mother, we begin to explore our soul identity through the emotional awareness of relationship - relationship to others, to the past, to memories, to all of life. Emotions and these meaningful relationships are vehicles for security. Emotional bonds and deep feelings are the fuel that drive Cancer. The action taken must feel connected - the power comes through nourishing and nurturing what we care about into being.
Leo - The Lion
July 22 - August 22
Element: Fire
Modality: Fixed
Ruling Planet: Sun
Leo's domain is one of creativity, authenticity and inspiration. The main objective of Leo is to shine, be special, express itself and be the center of that expression. Creative intelligence, leadership, warmth and generosity are just a few of the ways that Leo's shine. By sharing its natural and innate gifts, Leo inspires others to do the same - to take up space in your own, unique way and be seen. Life is a stage, create those special magical moments. And when you bear the beams of love, you show others that being authentic and special is what they're here to do as well - in their own way (just like you).
Virgo - The Virgin
August 23 - September 22
Element: Earth
Modality: Mutable
Ruling Planet: Mercury
Virgo is when we become aware of others needs and the ability to improve or practically heal. Organization, healing, integration and discernment. How can we optimize it? Make it more efficient? How can we purify it even further and distill it to its essence? Virgo's gifts are in discerning what's useful and what isn't. Life is a never ending and constant journey of joyful improvement. Virgo skills include optimized care for what it deems important and bringing order to chaos. In the process, they pragmatically heal their own lives and the lives of those around them.
Libra - The Scales
September 23 - October 22
Element: Air
Modality: Cardinal
Ruling Planet: Venus
Libra's domain is relationships. But these relationships aren't just for romantically partnering up - Libra is here to partner up with all of life and bring greater balance, harmony and beauty into the universe. Visually, interpersonally, socially and internally. This all starts with what harmonizes and balances within and how you wish to let that radiate outward. The art of getting along is an energetic dance with the world around you, explored through interdependence and partnership. Libra's talent and awareness of what brings that internal balance for themselves is what creates greater harmony for all.
Scorpio - The Scorpio & The Phoenix
October 23 - November 22
Element: Water
Modality: Fixed
Ruling Planet: Mars & Pluto
Emotions get intense in Scorpio and we enter the deep waters of personal transformation, intimacy and the mysteries of life. There's always more underneath the surface, and in Scorpio we investigate, probe and dive deeper. When do you feel the intensity of your emotions? When do you feel the desire to dig into the depths? As an incredibly mysterious sign, in Scorpio, we explore all that is hidden in order to experience true depth and the transformative experience of losing ourselves to our passions. Led by feelings and intensity, Scorpio's talent lies in connecting to others and life on a deep, soul level.
Sagittarius - The Archer
November 22 - December 21
Element: Fire
Modality: Mutable
Ruling Planet: Jupiter
Sagittarius is like a roman candle, shooting out of the barrel in search of meaning, truth and adventure. Sag is when we go big picture and explore the unknown. We travel to foreign places, or expand our minds through knowledge and philosophies, or explore all that life has to offer. Experiencing the world provides the integrated wisdom that learning alone doesn't provide. Through broadening our horizons, internally and externally, we enlarge our consciousness. We know we are a part of something much larger, and we share that wisdom with those around us.
Capricorn - The Seagoat
December 22 - January 20
Element: Earth
Modality: Cardinal
Ruling Planet: Saturn
Often referred to as the administrator, Capricorn makes things real - through structure, responsibility and serious ambition. With a blend of practicality, work ethic and sense of duty to what it holds to be true, accomplishment is how they express themselves in the physical world. What will make what I truly care about, real and tangible in the world? With so much ambition, commitments to your truth are of utmost importance. As the goat climbs to the highest peaks, Capricorn likes to do the same by mastering the rules of the game - of their choice.
Aquarius - The Water Bearer
January 21 - February 18
Element: Air
Modality: Fixed
Ruling Planet: Saturn & Uranus
Aquarius' territory is one of innovation and improvement by breaking the rules of the status quo. Aquarius is the first to show us the way into the future, where personal freedom and equality are the highest ideals. Technology, originality, invention, independence and utopian ideals is where Aquarius shines. In this sign, we discover the power of joining forces with like minded others to build something newer and better, especially when it comes to freeing ourselves from the limitations of tradition and the past. Social interaction, individualism and forward thinking are the strong suits of the water bearer.
Pisces - The Two Fish
February 19 - March 20
Element: Water
Modality: Mutable
Ruling Planet: Jupiter & Neptune
The mystical realms of Pisces is where the invisible worlds of fantasy, spirit, intuition and emotional healing dominate. Pisces is the sign of unconditional love, healing others through empathy and compassion. Unconditional love also opens them up to the unseen forces of the universe, connecting them to divine inspiration and the transcendence available in everyday experiences. This is where we begin to understand that everything and everyone truly are connected - that the physical world isn't all there is. And through this, Pisces has the greatest awareness of surrender and faith - following our intuition and letting things happen is a true art.
That’s it for the 12 signs! Make sure to check out your chart houses and planets too. These are the basics of your Cosmic Alignment Map (birth chart)!