What Zodiac Sign Am I?

In astrology, the stars are used to describe your personality, relationships, role, and inner thoughts. The alignment of the planets and stars at the exact time of your birth dictate 12 different “placements” to discover on your chart—each “placement” is defined by the combination of one planet, sign, and house.

Each “planet” corresponds to a feature of the self, and, depending on the sign each planet falls into, personality traits are assigned to that particular feature. Then, each planet and sign pairing fits into 1 of 12 “houses” as well. The house describes a key area of life (like family, career, etc.) where this pairing will feel most relevant to you.

Sound confusing? It can be! This is actually just the beginning—the more you unravel the mysteries of astrology, the more complex the system becomes. This is probably why so many people struggle to identify with their sign, especially when the “sun sign” is all that they’re aware of. Astrology is often put in prescriptive, black-and-white terms (I.e., You’re a Capricorn, so you must be serious, ambitious, and career driven! ). But the truth is, your birth chart is more like a mosaic.

Here’s an example:

Capricorn suns are thought to be career-oriented and disciplined. But let’s say that a certain Cap sun has every other major planet positioned in Pisces—a sign that struggles with routine. This person might find it difficult to show up on time or keep promises, even though those are classic Capricorn strengths. Because of the major Pisces influence on this person’s chart, their sun sign’s effects may not be as obvious.

And what if their Capricorn sun falls into the 4th house (ruler of home and familial relationships)? This might mean that they’re less ambitious in their career, even though that’s Capricorn’s reputation. In this case, it would make sense. This person would probably take their home life very seriously, and they’d likely be a dedicated member of their family.

Read on below for more specifics about houses, planets, and signs.

The Houses:

• 1st: Self-image and self-presentation
• 2nd: Finance & material objects
• 3rd: Communication & close relationships
• 4th: Home & family
• 5th: Pleasure & romance
• 6th: Health & wellness
• 7th: Life-changing partnerships
• 8th: Sex, death, and rebirth
• 9th: Philosophy
• 10th: Status & public image
• 11th: Friendship
• 12th: Dreams & secrets
  
  

The Planets:

• Sun: Your ego, your purpose, and your role in life
• Moon: Private thoughts and feelings
• Mercury: Communication, processing of information, and travel
• Venus: Love, sex, luxury, and money
• Mars: Action, passion, and energy
• Jupiter: Luck, philosophy, and wisdom
• Saturn: Discipline, boundaries, and moral obligations
• Neptune: Sentimentality, inspiration, intuition, and soul
• Pluto: Transformation and rebirth
  
  

The sun signs:

• Aries : Aries is independent, enthusiastic, action-oriented, and a real leader. They bring passion and energy to everything they do, though they can be a bit impulsive and hot-headed.
• Taurus : Taurus is sensual, committed, reliable, and extremely in touch with the physical world. They know how to make others feel safe and supported, but they struggle with emotional vulnerability and have a stubborn streak.
• Gemini : Gemini is whip-smart, open-minded, curious, and an amazing conversationalist. They know everything about everything, and they’re always looking to learn more; however, they do struggle with consistency.
• Cancer : Cancer is sensitive, nurturing, kind-hearted, and genuinely looking to make other people’s lives better. They have the best shoulder to cry on in all of the zodiac; they do, however, struggle not to take things personally.
• Leo : Leo is generous, creative, confident, and the most magnetic person at every party. They’re a born leader and are made for the spotlight. On the other hand, Leo, at times, can be self-centered.
• Virgo : Virgo is dutiful, organized, humble, and deeply committed to the people they’re close to. They bring much-needed structure and support to their loved ones’ lives. Their perfectionism, however, can hurt them and the people around them.
• Libra : Libra is charming, clever, elegant, and kind to every person they meet—not just their close connections. They know how to appreciate life’s beauty in a way that not many can. However, their conflict aversion can cause issues in their relationships.
• Scorpio : Scorpio is creative, intense, mysterious, and very emotionally intuitive. They know how to bring depth and meaning to their lives and the lives of others. However, they do sometimes put their need for control over the needs of others.
• Sagittarius : Sagittarius is bright, bold, charismatic, and endlessly exciting to be around. They’re extremely adventurous and natural explorers. However, they can come off as a little careless, and they tend to run from their problems.
• Capricorn : Capricorn is ambitious, tenacious, and ultimately very dedicated to the people they love. They take everything seriously, and it makes them excellent partners, friends, and employees. However, they do have a reputation for being judgmental and inflexible.
• Aquarius : Aquarius is eccentric, intelligent, noble, and probably the most authentic sign in the zodiac. They live by strict morals and inspire the people around them to think deeper and be better. However, they do tend to repress and hide their deepest feelings.
• Pisces : Pisces is empathetic, gentle, kind, and skilled at understanding the emotions of other people. They create magic everywhere they go, and they’re known to be one of the kindest signs. They do struggle with organization though, so they can be a little unreliable.