What Can Your Zodiac Sign Teach You?

Sometimes it seems like there are only two types of people in this world. Those that check their Co-star app the second they wake up, and those that maybe remember their zodiac sign because they used to check their horoscope in fashion magazines back in middle school.

So here’s the question: Does knowing your zodiac sign actually matter? What, if anything, can astrology teach us about ourselves?

Astrology is the study of how stars and planets influence our lives. The thinking is that if we understand more about these influences, we can better navigate our personalities and the ebbs and flows of life.

What most people think of when they think about astrology are the twelve signs of the zodiac. So, let’s start there before we dive into your moon sign and your seventh house and your birth chart and all of that.

These signs, named after constellations that are prominent in the sky at the time of one’s birth, can affect personality, relationships, and more.

What’s Your Zodiac Sign?

Your zodiac sign, also called your sun sign, is the most basic type of Western astrology. If you know your birthdate, you can look up your zodiac sign and read your “horoscope,” which is advice or a fortune based on your sun sign and what’s currently going on in the skies.

Below is a list of the twelve sun-signs (organized by corresponding birth date range) and their major personality types. My husband and I are both Pisces, so there’s certainly a lot of music and spirituality in our home! (Some escapist and self-critical tendencies too, if I’m being perfectly honest.)

Check out your own zodiac sign below and see how the profile could teach you something new about yourself.

Aries (Mar. 21 – Apr. 19)

Strengths: adventure, confidence, enthusiasm, optimism

Weaknesses: impatience, moodiness, short temper

Likes: comfort, leadership, physical challenges

Dislikes: inactivity, delays, unchallenging situations

An Aries will always tell you what they’re thinking, with a frankness that may occasionally border on rudeness. – Horoscope.com

Journaling, tarot, or meditation prompts for Aries: How can I invite more adventure into my life? How can I practice patience today?

Taurus (Apr. 20 – May 20)

Strengths: reliability, patience, stability

Weaknesses: possessiveness, inflexibility, greed

Likes: working with hands, romance

Dislikes: sudden changes, complications, insecurity

Tauruses have the ability to bring a practical voice of reason in any chaotic and unhealthy situation. – astrology-zodiac-signs.com

Journaling, tarot, or meditation prompts for Taurus: How can I invite more romance into my life? How can I practice flexibility today?

[Taurus rules the Hierophant tarot card. Click here to learn more about channeling Taurus energy.]

Gemini (May 21 – Jun. 20)

Strengths: communication, curiosity, adaptability

Weaknesses: nervousness, inconsistency, indecision

Likes: reading, chatting, being in the know

Dislikes: solitude, repetition and routine

Despite their unfair rep for being two-faced, once a Gemini is in your life, they’re loyal for life. – horoscope.com

Journaling, tarot, or meditation prompts for Gemini: How can I invite more discovery and learning into my life? How can I practice trusting my inner voice today?

Cancer (Jun. 21– Jul. 22)

Strengths: tenacity, protectiveness, sympathy

Weaknesses: moodiness, pessimism, tendency to get overemotional

Likes: art, helping loved ones

Dislikes: strangers, intrusion or nosiness

Cancer rules the stomach and literally urges us to “go with our gut.” – astrostyle.com

Journaling, tarot, or meditation prompts for Cancer: How can I best care for my loved ones? How can I practice looking on the bright side today?

Leo (Jul. 23 – Aug. 22)

Strengths: creativity, passion, generosity

Weaknesses: arrogance, intolerance, bossiness

Likes: vacations, being admired, ostentation

Dislikes: being ignored, difficult challenges

It’s quite common to see a Leo on stage or in Hollywood, since these folks never shy away from the limelight. – astrology.com

Journaling, tarot, or meditation prompts for Leo: How can I best channel my creativity? How can I practice letting others shine today?

Virgo (Aug. 23 – Sept. 22)

Strengths: loyalty, analysis, practicality

Weaknesses: shyness, harshness, perfectionism

Likes: animals, health, nature

Dislikes: rudeness, asking for help, too much attention

A Virgo hates when someone lets him or her down, even if it’s minor and unavoidable, like a last-minute cancellation. – horoscope.com

Journaling, tarot, or meditation prompts for Virgo: How can I best demonstrate my loyalty to my loved ones? How can I practice being okay with imperfection today?

Libra (Sept. 23 – Oct. 22)

Strengths: cooperation, diplomacy, fairness

Weaknesses: indecision, impressionability

Likes: harmony, sharing, nature

Dislikes: violence, injustice

Partnership is very important for Libras, as their mirror and someone giving them the ability to be the mirror themselves. – astrology-zodiac-signs.com

Journaling, tarot, or meditation prompts for Libra: How can I invite more teamwork and cooperation into my life? How can I practice trusting my inner voice today?

Scorpio (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21)

Strengths: determination, passion, magnetism

Weaknesses: jealousy, secrecy, obsession

Likes: truth, being right, longtime friends

Dislikes: dishonesty, passivity

Secretive by nature, Scorpio brings us to shadowy and hidden places that we don’t usually have the courage to face. – astrostyle.com

Journaling, tarot, or meditation prompts for Scorpio: What am I passionate about? What can I forgive or let go of today?

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 – Dec. 21)

Strengths: honesty, idealism, humor

Weaknesses: carelessness, impatience, superficiality

Likes: freedom, travel, nature

Dislikes: clinginess, constraint, out-of-the-box thinkers

You can trust a Sagittarius to tell you what they really think. You can also trust a Sagittarius, period. – horoscope.com

Journaling, tarot, or meditation prompts for Sagittarius: How can I invite more humor and laughter into my life? How can I slow down today?

Capricorn (Dec. 22 – Jan. 19)

Strengths: discipline, carefulness, ambition

Weaknesses: tendency to hold grudges, cynicism, condescension

Likes: family, tradition, modesty

Dislikes: pessimism, fatalism

Capricorns are perceived by people around them to be workaholics, unemotional and detached. – ganeshaspeaks.com

Journaling, tarot, or meditation prompts for Capricorn: What are my ambitions? How can I practice kindness today?

Aquarius (Jan. 20 – Feb. 18)

Strengths: original, independent, humanitarian

Weaknesses: emotional detachment, stubbornness

Likes: socializing, activism, intellectual conversation

Dislikes: broken promises, loneliness, boredom

Aquarius-born have a reputation for being cold and insensitive persons, but this is just their defense mechanism against premature intimacy. – astrology-zodiac-signs.com

Journaling, tarot, or meditation prompts for Aquarius: How can I best help and serve others? How can I practice getting in touch with my emotions today?

Pisces (Feb. 19 – Mar. 20)

Strengths: artistry, intuition, compassion

Weaknesses: fear, sadness, escapism

Likes: solitude, music, spirituality

Dislikes: criticism, a haunting past, cruelty

Pisces needs to be careful not to trust people too easily as they risk getting their hearts broken. – my.astrofame.com

Journaling, tarot, or meditation prompts for Pisces: What does spirituality mean and look like for me? What fear can I face today?

What do we do with this information?

In the words of Socrates, “Know thyself.”

There are so many layers of our being that we may not even know exist. Sure, some are a bit shadowy and dark, but some are downright glorious. And, if your zodiac sign gives you just a little more insight on the many facets of yourself, I think it’s worth it.

Take me, a Pisces, as an example.

Apparently, Pisces are compassionate. (In fact, I’ll see your compassion and raise you an empath, but that’s another post for another day.) Normally, compassion is a good thing, but it also means that we can feel other’s pain a little too well sometimes.

It makes sense, then, that taking on others’ negative vibes too easily may lead to escapism, which is one of Pisces’ biggest weaknesses.  Escapism is fine and essential sometimes, especially for introverted Pisces. However, refusing to deal with negative feelings is not okay.  Retreating into my own thoughts, the comfort of my bed, or marathon novel reading all weekend might make me feel better. But it shouldn’t take the place of processing disappointment and working through, rather than just suppressing, negative emotions.

To me, this tendency is valuable information. The next time I start to fall into this Pisces pattern, I can be more mindful about it and stop myself if necessary.

What astrological insights have you gained from this post? Let me know in the comments below!

 

 

 

 

 

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