Zodiac signs
The zodiac is a belt along the ecliptic divided into twelve 30° signs, from Aries through Pisces. In Western tropical astrology, signs are seasonal: 0° Aries is the vernal equinox (tropical-zodiac). Each sign names a style of expression—the “how” that colors any planets placed there.
Signs group into four elements (fire, earth, air, water) and three modalities (cardinal, fixed, mutable). Fire signs (sign-aries, sign-leo, sign-sagittarius) emphasize initiative; earth signs (sign-taurus, sign-virgo, sign-capricorn) stress craft and stability; air signs (sign-gemini, sign-libra, sign-aquarius) highlight ideas and exchange; water signs (sign-cancer, sign-scorpio, sign-pisces) foreground feeling and depth.
The twelve signs
| Sign | Modality | Element | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aries | Cardinal | Fire | sign-aries |
| Taurus | Fixed | Earth | sign-taurus |
| Gemini | Mutable | Air | sign-gemini |
| Cancer | Cardinal | Water | sign-cancer |
| Leo | Fixed | Fire | sign-leo |
| Virgo | Mutable | Earth | sign-virgo |
| Libra | Cardinal | Air | sign-libra |
| Scorpio | Fixed | Water | sign-scorpio |
| Sagittarius | Mutable | Fire | sign-sagittarius |
| Capricorn | Cardinal | Earth | sign-capricorn |
| Aquarius | Fixed | Air | sign-aquarius |
| Pisces | Mutable | Water | sign-pisces |
A planet’s sign does not replace its houses topic or aspects partners. Example solar placement: sun-in-leo. Finer grain: decanates; traditional strength: dignities.