Sun Signs

So I’ve been trying for a long time to figure out how to delve into astrology, or at least, I’ve wanted to delve into understanding birth charts, here on the podcast, and I think I’ve finally figured out how I can do it. Because it’s such a great tool for learning about ourselves and it can help us to recognize patterns in our own behaviors and to start to deconstruct some of the more destructive, or I don’t want to use the term undesirable, but those aspects of our personalities that don’t serve our best interests or our higher callings. But there is so much to cover and so much to learn, that it isn’t going to happen in one episode. But I also don’t want to do wall-to-wall astrology episodes because that can become really tedious and potentially boring.

So the way we are going to approach it is by starting with our Sun Signs, and then take a break from it next week to talk about Ostara, or the Spring Equinox, and then we will come back to birth charts to cover Moon Signs, and the following week we will talk about Dream Magic, and then after that, we’ll be back on birth charts for rising signs or ascendants, and so on. So basically, we are going to break up all the birth chart stuff with regular episodes about witchcraft. 

 

And the reason we are going to start with sun signs is because I think probably all of us know what our sun signs are, so we won’t need to already have our birth chart to refer to for today. So, in case you don’t already know your birth chart back to front, we will go deep into Sun Sign meanings and qualities today and you can go on cafeastrology.com, or any other site of your preference, and print your free birth chart so you’ll be ready for the rest of the info in the coming weeks. And it doesn’t have to be cafeastrology, I just know that it’s free. The site is a little clunky and it’s covered in ads, but it does the job. 

 

You just go in and enter your birthdate and birthplace, and you will enter your birth time as accurately as you can to when you were actually born. If you don’t know your birth time, your birth certificate will have that info and if you don’t have your birth certificate, or if you don’t want to go dig it out of storage, just use your best guess. So you put that info in, and it will create your birthchart for you, and it will calculate where all the planets were during the time of your birth. And you can save it or print it out and use it to learn all about why the hell you do the things you do. 

 

Ok so your sun sign, just to give a super brief explanation, literally just describes where the sun was placed in the zodiac at the time of your birth. And just so we are clear, there are a lot of factors that go into creating your personality and the sun is only a part of that. Think of the sun as the blueprint for a house. You can look at the blueprint and see where the bedrooms are laid out, how many bathrooms there are, what the square footage is, but it doesn’t show you how the home is decorated, or whether it’s messy or neat, it doesn’t tell you what neighborhood it’s in, or whether the roof needs to be replaced. The sun is only part of the equation when it comes to building the house that is you. But it is a pretty significant part, and it can play a large part in how others see you. 

 

There are certain qualities to each sign, before we even get into the individual signs themselves, that we should touch on too. First, the signs are divided into two groups.  There are six so-called masculine signs and six so-called feminine signs. The masculine and feminine  designations were made about 2,000 years ago and we are of course a little more progressive in the way that we define these attributes, but for the purposes of our discussion we are just going to use the terms masculine and feminine. This does not mean that masculine signs are strong and stoic or that the feminine signs are weak and emotional, because let’s not forget, the masculine signs are the fire and air signs, and fire signs are emotional as hell.

 

The masculine signs are Leo, Libra, Gemini, Aquarius, Aries, and Sagittarius. These signs tend to be more active, spontaneous, and ambitious in a direct way. The feminine signs are the water and earth signs, they are Pisces, Scorpio, Capricorn, Taurus, Cancer, and Virgo. The feminine signs are more magnetic in the way they pursue their ambitions, they are really good at creating opportunities for themselves and figuring out how to divert the flow of resources toward their own ends rather than taking the head-on battering ram approach that the Fire and Air signs tend to prefer.

 

We also divide the signs into three categories called Fixed, Mutable, and Cardinal. The fixed signs are Leo, Taurus, Scorpio, and Aquarius, and they are the signs that fall in the dead middle of each season. So you can think of them as the quintessential signs. Leos are the quintessential fire sign, Taurus is THE earth sign, Scorpio is the ultimate water sign, and Aquarius is the very definition of an air sign. These signs tend to be relatively rigid. They oppose major change if they feel like it doesn’t serve any greater purpose and they can seem just really stubborn. But we like to think of them as confidently set in their ways.

 

The Mutable signs are Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces, and these signs are much more adaptable. It’s a lot easier for them to cope with the unexpected than it is for the Fixed signs. This doesn’t mean that they aren’t true to their natures, just that they are more naturally able to flow with the changes in a way that serves them. They can switch gears really quickly.

 

And finally, we have the Cardinal signs, which are Libra, Capricorn, Cancer, and Aries and these are the signs that start the beginning of the seasons. These signs are the initiators, the go-getters, and they tend to possess strong leadership abilities within their corresponding masculine or feminine traits, as well as their elemental qualities.

 

Which brings us to the final delineation of the signs, the four elements. And these are pretty straightforward: the fire signs are Leo, Sagittarius, and Aries. The water signs are Pisces, Scorpio, and Cancer. The Earth signs are Capricorn, Taurus, and Virgo, and the Air signs are Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius. The fire signs are fiery, they’re high-energy, they can be impulsive, but only in ways that align with their true natures. They also tend to be competitive, and passionate.

 

Water signs are mysterious and intuitive. They’re also more cautious in general than some of the other signs. Water signs have the reputation for being emotional, but that comes from a tendency to be compassionate and sensitive. That’s at their best, at their worst, they’re very dramatic. These are very deep people, and they love very deeply.

 

Earth signs are said to be very grounded, very practical, and very loyal. They can also be preoccupied with accumulating wealth and material luxuries. These are people who want to treat themselves, they are the wine and cheese types. But on the other hand, they are very nurturing as well, so if you’re important to an Earth sign, they are going to make sure you’re well-cared for too.

 

And Air signs are very communicative, very intelligent and analytical, and they’re funny. An air sign typically has a pretty easy time making friends. They’re comfortable in different social situations, or at least, they’re good at faking it. Which brings us to the less positive traits of an air sign, which is that they can be difficult to read. 

 

And those are the different dualities, masculine or feminine, the triplicities, being Cardinal, Fixed, or Mutable, and the quadruplicities, earth, air, fire, and water of the zodiac signs. And no to signs possess the same combination. Taurus for example is a feminine fixed earth sign, and no other sign has those exact qualities. 

 

Now finally, we can talk about the polarities. Each sign has it’s polar opposite, which is the sign that sits on the direct opposite side of the zodiac. So the polarities are Taurus and Scorpio; Taurus being the sign of personal possessions and Scorpio being the sign of shared possessions. Cancer and Capricorn are opposites, Cancer is the sign of private life and Capricorn being the sign of public persona. 

 

Virgo and Pisces, Virgo is the sign of self-improvement and Pisces is the sign of dreams, and also of sort of living in a dreamland. Leo and Aquarius, Leo being the sign of personal pleasure, and Aquarius is a sign of ideals and idealism. Gemini and Sagittarius, Gemini is the sign of self-expression and Sagittarius is the sign of philosophy and higher thinking. And finally Aries and Libra, wherein Aries is the sign of the self and Libra is the sign of partnerships.

 

And before we start going through the signs individually, I want to state up front that every couple years someone rediscovers the so-called forgotten thirteenth sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus (Off-YOU-kuss) and freaks out because it throws everyone’s birth chart entirely out of whack, now you’re not even the sign you thought you were, blah blah blah. Ophiuchus is a constellation, not a zodiac sign. It’s a really cool constellation, but again, not a zodiac sign. So I don’t play that.

 

And now let’s talk about Aries! Aries is a masculine, fire, cardinal sign and they’re represented by the ram. This sign begins March 21 and ends April 19. As rams, they are very sexual and will literally try to climb to the very highest heights. At their best, Aries are very courageous, at their worst, Aries are selfish and impatient. Aries are activists, they’re assertive, optimistic, they have a can-do attitude. When an Aries gets an idea they can’t wait to put it into action because it just doesn’t even occur to them that it might not work out. And that’s why, when they try things that actually don’t work out, they just skip on to the next thing. This is why they can have a reputation for not finishing what they’ve started. But a lot of the time, things just work out for Aries. 

 

Again, when we talk about sun signs, this is how others perceive you, so Aries may have insecurities hiding under the facade of enthusiasm and self-confidence, but others aren’t going to see it. Aries do get depressed and moody, but typically those moods don’t last long. Aries can have a tendency to take things personally AND because they can speak impulsively, they sometimes say things tactlessly that hurt other people’s feelings unintentionally. 

 

Aries are independent, they do not take orders well. They tend to be pretty lucky with money, which is a good thing, because they also spend it. Aries are good friends; they are givers, but they do not like to be taken advantage of and they will burn a bridge real damn quick if they feel like that’s what’s happening. And that’s the essence of Aries, and it also underlines what it’s like to deal intimately with an Aries: you’re often left wondering how the hell to keep up.

 

Next on the roster is Taurus, which is represented by the bull and runs from April 20-May 20. Taurus is a feminine, fixed, Earth sign. Taurus is the sign of property and money. Taurus likes to keep their hands on what’s theirs, and this can become an issue in romantic relationships, as Taurus can be very possessive. But they’re also gentle, stable, practical, and affectionate. They tend to be patient, but as a fixed sign, they can also be very stubborn and unyielding to change.

 

Taurus doesn’t have a short temper, but once they’ve been pushed and pushed, just look out. Taurus does not go looking to challenge people, but do not challenge a Taurus unless you’re sure you’re right, because that bull will charge. Taurus has expensive, elegant taste and likes luxury items, and while they don’t tend to spend thoughtlessly, they will drop some cash if they believe the item is going to last. This has to do with being ruled by Venus, goddess of love and beauty. But be aware that if your love language is gifts, Taurus may not be the most compatible match for you.

 

Taurus is sensuous and sentimental, those still waters run deep. They can seem shy and reserved, but there is a romantic inside that will come to the surface for the one they love. Living with a Taurus can be a challenge for less-compatible signs, because Taurus, when they’re having a bad week and they’re really going through it, can become secretive, suspicious, and they might fall back into the silent treatment. On the other hand, they’re dependable, reliable, sensitive, and under the surface, they’re emotional.

 

Gemini is next, represented by the twins and beginning May 21-June 20. Gemini is a masculine, mutable air sign. Gemini is energetic, as a mutable sign they are very versatile in different social settings and situations, and they’re intellectuals. They are always thinking, thinking, thinking. Geminis are very clever with words, and they’re quick thinkers in general. They are great at handling other people, although I hesitate to use the word manipulative, because that isn’t really where they’re coming from. Geminis are just really smooth talkers, and it isn’t even an effort; they almost don’t realize they’re doing it.

 

Duality is the hallmark of the Gemini. They want to do and try and be everything. They tend to leave a lot of unfinished business because of that. Gemini as an air sign places a lot of value on communication. They have to talk, about everything. But they aren’t mindlessly droning on, they’re always thinking out loud. And they are really good at persuasion. Gemini’s mind is so quick, and they are really good at justifying anything they do, any position they hold. And Gemini loves trivia, they’re the type that knows a little bit about everything. They’re fascinating conversationalists.

 

Gemini is usually a gifted writer and speaker. People love talking to Gemini. Gemini is CHARMING. And the dark side of that is that no one can infuriate others quite as quickly and thoroughly as a Gemini. Gemini knows how to push buttons, and if they’re bored or looking for a little drama, they might just stir the pot for the hell of it. But for the most part, they’re not trying to hurt anybody, they’re just trying to keep things interesting. Gemini is a lot of fun to be around, if you have the energy. 

 

I feel like I have to keep reiterating that these are the core traits of every sign; this doesn’t take into account the other planets’ influence in peoples’ personalities and makeup, it doesn’t take into account how people were raised or their life experiences, it doesn’t even take into account whether you were born on the cusp of a different sign, and how that can factor into your personality. These descriptions are basically what every sun sign would be in a vacuum. 

 

So, moving on to Cancer. Cancer is a feminine, cardinal water sign beginning on June 21 and ending July 22. Cancer is represented by the crab. Cancer is ruled by the moon and is thus incredibly intuitive and also a bit emotional, but it isn’t all emotion with Cancer. They are really shrewd as well. Their powers of judgment are very sharp. Cancer is the sign of home and family, and they tend to be happiest therefore at home and with their family, either their natural born family or their found family. Cancer is LOYAL.

 

So with all of those positive traits, why does it seem like Cancer is so hard to read sometimes? Well, Cancer as we said is ruled by the moon and all of the waxing and waning constantly pulls their moods in different directions which can be frustrating for people who have to deal with Cancers but is also why, when Cancer finds a good match in friendship or in love, they develop an almost undying allegiance to that person. Which is why, for all their intuition and excellent judgment, they can have a bit of a blind spot when it comes to seeing the faults in those they love. Not necessarily a bad thing, unless those faults are really serious.

 

Cancer has an exterior hard shell, but they are really very gentle and vulnerable beneath that surface. Cancer has a heart of gold, if you can manage to get past that surface moodiness. Cancer is also very nostalgic, and they can tend to live in the past. But they’re also really good at sort of seeing which way the wind is blowing so to speak, and again that comes from their almost psychic level of intuition. They can spot a lie or a deception from a mile away, and they may not even know why they know things, but they do. Cancer holds on tight to their money because they are really preoccupied with feeling secure in material ways as well as emotional ways.

 

And next up is Leo, starting July 23 through August 22. Leo is a fixed, masculine fire sign. And let me tell you what it’s like living with three Leos. NOT EASY. But individually, Leos are a lot of fun and I love them. Leos are represented by the lion and are enthusiastic, generous, and extravagant, and also real goddamn bossy and stubborn. Leos are brave and they can be really domineering, although that isn’t usually because they want to be perceived that way, they are just so confident in their opinions and ways of doing things that it doesn’t occur to them that they are kind of steamrolling people around them. And this is why Leos can easily provoke people to absolute madness. 

 

I’ve read that all Leos possess a kingdom, it may be large or small, it can be their home life, their workplace, or their friend group, they are the leader in some aspect of their lives because they just have to be. Leos are attention seekers, even if they don’t know it and even if they would be horrified to hear that. They are talkers; they love to tell stories and regale people. They are good hosts, they want people to feel comfortable around them. Leo is ruled by the sun, and really radiates warmth. Leo is kind and helpful and a really good friend and a damn hard worker.

 

They are really opinionated, and they’re quick to get into what others would call confrontations, but which Leos see as just expressing their opinions. Leos do not take these confrontations personally, even though others often do. Leo just loves to hear the sound of their own voice and is just so sure of their opinion. Leo can be overbearing and they are really good at telling other people how to live their lives, but they are also a lot of fun and they truly and sincerely mean no harm to anyone. Leos are very hard to dislike.

 

Following Leo is Virgo, from August 23-September 22. Virgo is represented by the Virgin, and is a feminine, mutable earth sign. Virgo is very analytical, reserved, modest in their approach to things, and painstaking. Virgo is always called the perfectionist. But they can also be high-strung and they can come off as unemotional. But this is a facade; on the inside, Virgo is intense, and they can drive themselves mad by constantly being up and going and improving. Virgo is ruled by Mercury, so is Gemini incidentally, in case I forgot to mention that. And Mercury drives Virgo to constantly be accomplishing and perfecting. 

 

Virgo is very intelligent, they are forever accumulating facts and figures and information and they will not make a decision until they have exhausted every avenue; they are always planning. Virgo has a tendency to over-complicate things for this very reason. Virgo is undefeated at making a mountain out of a molehill. But, Virgo is great at staying within a budget, and they are a very dependable partner. Virgo can be hypercritical at times, but it comes from a place of worry; Virgo is always worried about something and they are very worried about their loved ones. 

 

The qualities that make Virgo seem difficult are actually what makes them a good partner. They aren’t prone to getting overly emotional or making a scene, they are excellent at talking through problems, and they are detail-oriented and really good organizers. Virgo is very conscientious and isn’t going to make some dumb impulsive decision that ultimately ruins what they’ve built. It would be too illogical, and Virgo is having none of that.

 

And then we have Libra from September 23 to October 22. Libra is represented by the scales, and is a masculine cardinal, air sign. Libra is a charmer, and tends to make friends easily and draw people in. They’re just easy to like. Libra is ruled by Venus, and is the sign of marriage and partnerships. Libra is always looking to find balance, and the one thing that will piss off a Libra like no other is a sense of injustice. 

 

Libra is a great listener, and they are keenly able to understand other people’s points of view. This is why it always seems impossible for Libra to make a firm decision or express a really rigid opinion; that is not in their nature. Libra recognizes a million shades of gray, so having to come down strongly on one side or another of an issue isn’t simple for them. This is why Libra is always the peace-maker. They use those qualities to help smooth over disputes among people and reestablish balance and harmony.

 

However, Libra is by nature pretty self-centered and can use their charm and easy-going diplomacy to steer circumstances in their own favor. And for Libra, this isn’t even due to an overt effort to manipulate others; Libra doesn’t even realize they’re doing it, and most of the time, no one else realizes what Libra is doing either. Libra spends too much money too, because they love STUFF. They love art and beautiful things. But they’re idealistic, affectionate, and likable. 

 

Scorpio is next in line, running from October 23-November 21. Scorpio is a fixed, feminine water sign and is represented by none other than a scorpion. Scorpio is ruled by Pluto, the god of the underworld and of death. Scorpio is the sign of extremes: they can either be overbearing or vulnerable, clingy or distant, passionate or cold, and they can really turn on a dime. So oftentimes, a relationship with Scorpio is full of drama and complications.

 

Scorpio can be incredibly jealous and possessive, they do not want to hear that their partner has even looked at someone else, let alone been unfaithful. And if that happens, it’s 50/50 whether Scorpio will go nuclear or just go immediate and permanent no contact. With all that said, Scorpios are super loyal, they love very deeply, they are kind and generous and they are idealists. They are principled and thoughtful and they will always repay kindness. But, they will also never forgive a trespass. 

 

I feel real damn sorry for anyone who betrays or wrongs a Scorpio. You are likely to experience biblical retribution. Scorpios are not interested in justice; they want vengeance. Scorpio is just so intense. But again, if you treat them right, they’re the best friend anyone ever had, and probably the only friend who will help you set your cheating ex’s car on fire. 

 

And now let’s look at Sagittarius. Born between November 22 and December 21 and represented by the Archer, Sagittarius is a masculine, mutable fire sign. Sagittarius is energetic and ambitious and they are always up for a challenge. Sagittarius is the sign of philosophy and higher learning. Sag loves hearing new ideas and traveling to new places, and they do hate to be tied down. This can incite jealousy in their partners, who oftentimes feel like Sag is afraid to settle down and afraid of commitment. 

 

The main keyword for Sagittarius is optimism; they are ruled by Jupiter which is the planet of luck, so Sag can seem to always be in the right place at the right time. And when things generally go your way, it isn’t surprising that Sag is usually pretty happy, pretty cheerful. Sag is also really independent. They have the enthusiasm and passion of the fire sign, combined with the restlessness of being a mutable sign, AND they are ruled by Jupiter, like, is it any wonder that they just don’t want to be confined and pinned down?

 

Sagittarius also symbolizes the search for wisdom, so you’ve basically got someone who is on a higher mission willing to search high and low and to the far corners of the earth to find their truth. They are going to wander. Romantically, Sag can be difficult to have a long-term relationship with. A long, content, traditional family life is not the move. If you’re going to be with a Sagittarius long-term, you have to be ready to be on the move. On the other hand, Sag is honest and even blunt, but never malicious.  Never underhanded or dishonest. With Sagittarius, the cards are always on the table.

 

Capricorn is next, and this is a feminine, cardinal earth sign running from December 22-January 19 and represented by the goat. Capricorn is the sign of reputation and standing in the community, and also in their career. It is really important to Capricorn that the world sees them in a certain light. This can cause issues for them on a personal level, because they can engender resentment in their loved ones due to their cold pursuit of public adoration.

 

Capricorn is ruled by Saturn, the planet of limitations, discipline and restrictions. Capricorns are incredibly strong organizers. This comes from their tendency to take a leadership position in almost any situation. Their personalities are designed for leadership and power, they do not and will not accept having to depend on others to make sure things get done and get done properly. Capricorn is very conservative with money, this is definitely due to being an Earth sign, but also because they prize security. 

 

Capricorn can be difficult to love, because they can seem outwardly very prideful and almost aloof, and they will constantly test their loved one’s loyalties in little ways and they almost don’t even realize they’re doing it. But, as long as Capricorn can be in the driver’s seat in a relationship, they are deeply loyal, and they will always protect the ones they love. If you’re comfortable being along for the ride, Capricorn will see to it that you’re well taken care of. 

 

Aquarius comes in on January 20-February 18. This is a masculine, fixed air sign represented by the waterbearer. Aquarius is assertive and analytical, and they have really strong opinions. This is the ultimate air sign; Aquarius is the sign of hopes and dreams, and Aquarians are idealistic and they are more concerned with large, global issues than they are with their own personal relationships, but on the other hand, they make excellent friends. Aquarius is the sign of the future, and Aquarians are often visionaries.

 

Aquarius is ruled by Uranus, which is the planet of change, yet as a fixed sign and an air element, what you end up with is someone who tends to be progressive and liberal in their outlook who will not be persuaded to feel differently. Aquarians are always doing things and thinking things in their own ways, and because they are so friendly and likable, it can be really jarring the first time you bump up against an Aquarius’ set idea. You think this person is a go with the flow type until you hit the brick wall of some idea or plan that they are totally inflexible about.

 

Aquarius can be argumentative sometimes, just for the hell of it, they will sometimes take up an opposing view in a discussion just to be different. But on the whole, Aquarius is easygoing and helpful, they are always rooting for the underdog, they want to help mastermind a Utopia (even though they won’t really do the work to create it), they’re eccentric, and they’re never boring. That’s one thing an Aquarian would never allow. 

 

And finally, Pisces. Pisces runs from February 19-March 20. They are represented by the fishes, obviously due to their being a water sign. Pisces is feminine and mutable. Pisces is ruled by Neptune, the planet of illusion, glamour, mystery, and deception. Pisces is the sign of dreams and mysticism, and Pisces is deeply intuitive. They are romantic, emotional, imaginative, and they are very changeable. It can be hard to keep up with their shifts in mood. Pisces represents the end of a cycle, rebirth, reincarnation, and Pisceans seem to have an old soul.

 

Pisces is uniquely able to put themselves in other’s place and to almost take upon themselves the hardships and pains of others, and this is why they can be taken advantage of by ruthless people. It’s hard for Pisces to say no to someone they feel bad for. Pisces is the captain save-a-ho of the zodiac, and they tend to pick fixer-uppers for romantic partners. They are so sensitive and kind-hearted that they just want to save everyone. 

 

Pisces is loyal and generous, and they will always help a friend who is down on their luck. Pisces are soul readers, if they will just set aside their emotions and look deeply into a person, they have the ability to understand others to an almost psychic degree. It would just be helpful if they could also turn that intuition inward, because Pisces are also really gifted at self-delusion. They are truly dreamers.

 

And that’s the rundown on the sun signs. Again, not to beat a dead horse, but there are a lot of reasons why these descriptions may not necessarily line up with your own self-perception. And a large part of that will have to do with your moon sign, which we will address week after next. There are so many aspects that color who we are, but as I said, in a perfect world, in a complete vacuum without any outside influence, these descriptions are who we would be. And certainly, the sun sign description is a lot more like how others will see us versus how we see ourselves. Outside observers can only judge us by our words and our actions, they don’t know our histories, they don’t know the inner workings of our minds and our motivations. 

 

So, I hope this has given you a little more insight into not only yourself, but those close to you. And please go ahead and get hold of your birth chart and start investigating what you find there. I will post a link to cafeastrology.com in the show notes for anyone interested, and I will talk to you again next week. We are going to talk about Ostara, or the spring equinox, so have a wonderful day, and don’t forget to set your clocks forward this Sunday if you live in a state that still recognizes Daylight Saving time. My name is Eli, and this has been the Middle-Aged Witch podcast.