A list of the signs of the zodiac that make up the tropical zodiac used in western astrology. The path of the sun through the sky is known as the ecliptic, and 12 roughly evenly spaced constellations are located along this path. A persons star sign is determined by their birth date which corresponds to the sun being nearest to a particular constellation on that date.
However the horoscope used by astrologers was drawn up over two thousand years ago and the relative positions of constellations have changed since that time, to such an extent that in astronomical terms the constellations are about a month out of sync with the horoscope.
An astrologer is supposedly able to make predictions about a person's personality and physical traits by interpreting the relative positions of the sun, planets and constellations.
Each sign of the zodiac is associated with a different symbol, also one of the classical elements and one of three modalities. Each sign has a ruling planet and is also associated with a particular part of the body said to be the seat of power.
Star sign | Dates | Symbol | Element | Planet | Modality | Seat of Power |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aries | 21st March - 19th April | ram | fire | Mars | cardinal | head |
Taurus | 20th April - 20th May | bull | earth | Venus | fixed | neck & shoulders |
Gemini | 21st May - 20th June | twins | air | Mercury | mutable | hands |
Cancer | 21st June - 22nd July | crab | water | Moon | cardinal | breasts & belly |
Leo | 23rd July - 22nd August | lion | fire | Sun | fixed | heart & spine |
Virgo | 23rd August - 22nd September | virgin | earth | Mercury | mutable | intestines |
Libra | 23rd September - 22nd October | scales | air | Venus | cardinal | lower back & internal reproductive organs |
Scorpio | 23rd October - 21st November | scorpion | water | Pluto | fixed | genitals |
Sagittarius | 22nd November - 21st December | centaur | fire | Jupiter | mutable | hips & thighs |
Capricorn | 22nd December - 19th January | goat/fish | earth | Saturn | cardinal | knees, bones & skin |
Aquarius | 20th January - 18th February | water bearer | air | Uranus | fixed | ankles & circulatory system |
Pisces | 19th February - 20th March | fish | water | Neptune | mutable | feet |