Signs are archetypal energies that make up the universe.
Archetype is a concept that represents the first model of something, prototype, or old impressions about something. They condense the first forms of human experience into universal and primordial images (Jung’s concept).
But before getting into the description of the 12 signs, let’s go to some important information:
Zodiac (from Latin zōdiacus, from Greek ζωδιακός κύκλος) is an imaginary band of the celestial field that includes the apparent orbits of the planets. Zôè means life in Greek and diakos means wheel. In other words, the wheel of life.

In astronomy, the divisions of the zodiac represent constellations and in astrology they represent the signs.
In Western astrology, the zodiac is divided into 12 signs, each being 30° longitude in the astrological mandala and corresponding “approximately” to the constellations of Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces.
In the Roman era, the zodiac was based on concepts inherited by Hellenistic and Babylonian astronomy from the Chaldean period (back to the first millennium BC).
It is represented as a mandala where the planets are positioned in the same way as they were in the sky at the moment we took our first breath here on Earth. It is precisely this photograph of the sky that forms a person’s astrological chart.
That’s why we say that someone’s birth chart is the configuration of a consciousness, the movement of heaven within us.
Let’s understand what each sign brings as an archetype?
Aries
- “I am”.
- Fire element
- Cardinal quality
- Ruling Planet: Mars.
- First sign of the zodiac. In the Southern Hemisphere, it marks the beginning of autumn. In the Northern Hemisphere, it marks the beginning of spring.
- Represents House 1.
- It talks about individuation, initiation, impetuosity, courage, defensive instinct, leadership. It is the seed, the awakening, the person who gives the spark, has the impetus of leadership, the “big ben”, the courage of the warrior, the initiative, loving individuality, authenticity, passion and enthusiasm. He acts without thinking (“I go there and do it”). Doesn’t like to be behind.
- In the shadows, he can become a compulsive doer, an angry, worn-out, struggle-weary, horny, quarrelsome, aggressive-talking, hurting, impatient person.
Taurus
- “I have”.
- Element earth
- Fixed Quality
- Ruling Planet: Venus (Earth)
- Represents House 2.
- Talks about sustainability with your feet on the ground. He is a materialist and materialist, who seeks concreteness, beauty, reason, connection with the earth and with forms. He has an obstinacy for matter and stability. He has a connection with nature, with matter (the real), with his body, with the wonderful pleasure of being alive, of breathing, of feeling the flavors. Talk about money and finances.
- It’s slow and cumbersome about change, especially when it comes to starting projects.
- In the shadows, it can become stubborn, possessive, attached and jealous.
Gemini
- “I communicate”.
- Air element
- Changeable Quality
- Ruling Planet: Mercury
- Represents the 3rd house.
- Communicator, who deals with duality, ideas, sociability, curiosity, multiplicity, logic and reason. Adaptable, intelligent and articulate, he is full of ideas, knows how to listen and be heard. It is a good square, a political sign.
- In the shadows, you can get very mental because you give your mind a lot of voice (chattering inside the mind, not giving space to hear yourself or to hear the other), anxious, insecure, agitated, with many fears, unfocused or even very mechanized .
- Its biggest challenge is doubt, because he depends on the approval of others.
Cancer
- “I nourish”.
- Water element
- Cardinal Quality
- Ruling Planet: Moon
- Represents the 4th house.
- It talks about sensitivity, fluid emotions, focus on the past, belonging, nurturing, a sense of family, home, childhood, mother and uterus.
- It has a strong bond with his mother. Your karmic commitment is to go out into the world.
- In the shadows, they may have a very rigid and severe view of the past, and may have traces of moralism or traditionalism related to the family, the past and/or society. It lives in rigidity to reframe its history.
Leo
- “I create”
- Fire element
- Fixed Quality
- Ruling Planet: Sun
- Represents the 5th House.
- It talks about self-centeredness, brilliance, creativity, passion, individuality, presence, transformation, exuberance, spirituality and daring.
- They are creative people and manifesters of what they believe in. They express their authenticity and irreverence with spontaneity and charisma.
- In the shadows, they can become vain, self-centered, insecure people, even shyness and introversion. They can also become very mental and anxious, seeking approval from others.
Virgo
- “I analyze”.
- Element earth
- Changeable Quality
- Ruling Planet: Mercury
- Represents the 6th house.
- It values the organization, with a rational, detail-oriented mind that seeks perfection. It is analytical, has a strong connection with the rhythm of nature, thorough and logical. It also has a strong connection to matters related to health and well being.
- Its challenge on Earth is to realize that the perfection that Virgo seeks does not exist.
- In the shadows, it can be critical and mental. You may also be overly perfectionistic, not feel good enough, and be very self-critical of yourself.
Libra
- “I relate”.
- Air element
- Cardinal Quality
- Ruling Planet: Venus
- Represents the 7th house.
- It thinks about the collective, it is social and that sustains diplomacy, ethics, beauty, partnership, sociability, balance and justice.
- Libra seeks refinement, relationship and struggles to live in community. They integrate justice as a motto, being fair with themselves and with others. It aims at balance, being together with the other, ethics, morals, justice and harmony.
- In the shadows, they can become insecure, with low self-esteem, shy, fearful. The challenge is co-dependence, including on the opinion of others.
Scorpio
- “I transform”.
- Water element
- Fixed Quality
- Ruling Planet: Pluto
- Co-ruler: Mars
- Represents the 8th house.
- It carries deep and frozen emotions with a stable appearance. It seeks power, mysteries, the invisible, magnetism, memories of the past and self-transformation.
- It represents rebirth and death, transformation, the act of forgiving and releasing. Deep, powerful, mystical and wise.
- In the shade, you can keep memories under the rug and suffer alone (emotional and physical resistance). It’s like an elastic band. You can be materialistic, skeptical, suspicious, attached and mean, with difficulty letting go and letting go.
Sagittarius
- “I search”.
- Fire element
- Changeable Quality
- Ruling Planet: Jupiter.
- Represents the 9th house.
- It talks about freedom, courage, adventure, individuality, instinct. Likes to live the experiences, has high aspirations and the search for movement. He is a wise person, seeking, enthusiastic, optimistic and master of what he believes.
- They are adventurous, they want to know their own limits, they seek for themselves, for their true self and for their lifestyle.
- In the shadows, they can become restless, anxious, mental, critical, and eternally dissatisfied. They may not connect with their truths and be “always in search but never satisfied”.
Capricorn
- “I persevere”.
- Element earth
- Cardinal Quality
- Ruling Planet: Saturn
- It represents the 10th house.
- It talks about ethics, morals, seriousness, structure, perseverance, work and long-term commitment. It is mature, wise, committed, structured, confident, optimistic and achiever of his dreams. It can be serious, serious, mature or traditional.
- Likes to make the decisions, take the reins, lead and gain wisdom. Practical, it represents the sign of long-term work.
- In the shade, it can bring rigidity, excess pragmatism and harshness in life or overwork. You can become a stressed person, because you only think about the future and because you are excessively in control.
Aquarius
- “I idealize”.
- Air element
- Fixed Quality
- Ruling Planet: Uranus
- Co-ruler: Saturn
- Represents the 11th House.
- It talks about sociability, vision of the future, humanitarian ideals and collectivity. It is visionary, irreverent, authentic. It looks to the future, it is “breaking the patterns of the past” and everything that no longer works. People who have a strong desire to break with what is old and traditional.
- In the shadows, they can be cold, distant, anxious, insecure, with low self-esteem, difficulty accepting and loving themselves. They can also live excessively in the future, disconnecting from the wonders of the present moment.
Piscies
- “I transcend”.
- Water element
- Changeable Quality
- Ruling Planet: Neptune
- Co-Regent: Jupiter
- It represents the 12th house.
- Dreamer, of strong sensitivity, and connection with the human psyche, has connection with unconscious and often disorganized memories. He is a deep, compassionate person and very connected with his emotions. Spiritual, intuitive, compassionate and loving to yourself and others. He is able to feel the pains of the planet’s soul, and may have difficulty organizing the unconscious.
- In the shadows, they can become melancholic, victimizers, idealists, critics and perfectionists. He can also get away with medicine, alcohol, drugs.
Do you want to know more about signs and have you birth chart read?