Understanding Astrology: What is a Sun Sign?
The earth makes a complete circle around the sun once each year. From our position, this appears as if the sun were traveling around the earth. In this time, the sun moves through all twelve signs of the zodiac, spending approximately one month in every one. The sign that the sun is found in at the moment of your birth is your sun sign.
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The sun is our most powerful planet (in astrological terms, the sun is referred to as a planet even though it, like the Moon, is actually a "luminary"). Even from a great distance, it sustains us on earth, giving us life, warmth, energy, and food. Because of this, the sun is arguably the most important and pervasive influence on your horoscope. In many ways, the sun determines how others see you. It governs your individuality, your specific style, and your motivation to succeed.
An understanding of your own sun sign will provide you with an added degree of self knowledge, a deeper insight into the stranger that is yourself.
The Traits of your sun sign can be altered and refined by determining what your decante is and whether you were born on the cusp of another sign.
Decantes
Each astrological sign is divided into three parts, and each part is called a decanate. The Sun moves through the zodiac at approximately the rate of one degree per day. (This is not exact because not all of our months contain thirty days.)
The decanate of a sign does not change the basic characteristics of that sign, but it does refine and individualize the sign's general characteristics.
Cusps
A cusp is the point at which a new astrological sign begins. The Sun does not move into a new sign at exactly the same moment each year, and the dates for the different Sun signs may vary by a day or so.
With cusp-born people there is always the question, "What sign am I really?" You may feel that you straddle the border of two different countries.
To some extent, this is true. If you were cusp-born, you are under the influence of both signs. However, much like being a traveler leaving one country and crossing into another, you must actually be in one country — you can't be in two countries at the same time. One sign is always a stronger influence, and that sign is almost invariably the sign that the Sun was actually in (in other words, your Sun sign).
Not everyone will have a cusp. You will only be a cusp if you are born close to the edge of the time frame of your sun sign.
Verb for your sun Sign: "I am"
This verb is modified by the zodiac sign the sun was in at the moment of your birth. Choose one of the keywords below to describe the verb "to be."
♈️ Aries 🌞
Element: Fire
Quality: Cardinal
Color: Red
Day: Tuesday
Ruler: Mars
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Libra, Leo
Lucky Numbers: 1, 8, 17
Date range: March 21 - April 19
Strengths: Courageous, determined, confident, enthusiastic, optimistic, honest, passionate
Weaknesses: Impatient, moody, short-tempered, impulsive, aggressive
Aries likes: Comfortable clothes, taking on leadership roles, physical challenges, individual sports
Aries dislikes: Inactivity, delays, work that does not use one's talents
♉️ Taurus 🌞
Element: Earth
Quality: Fixed
Color: Green, Pink
Day: Friday, Monday
Ruler: Venus
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Scorpio, Cancer
Lucky Numbers: 2, 6, 9, 12, 24
Date range: April 20 - May 20
Strengths: Reliable, patient, practical, devoted, responsible, stable
Weaknesses: Stubborn, possessive, uncompromising
Taurus likes: Gardening, cooking, music, romance, high quality clothes, working with hands
Taurus dislikes: Sudden changes, complications, insecurity of any kind, synthetic fabrics
♊️ Gemini 🌞
Element: Air
Quality: Mutable
Color: Light-Green, Yellow
Day: Wednesday
Ruler: Mercury
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Sagittarius, Aquarius
Lucky Numbers: 5, 7, 14, 23
Date range: May 21 - June 20
Strengths: Gentle, affectionate, curious, adaptable, ability to learn quickly and exchange ideas
Weaknesses: Nervous, inconsistent, indecisive
Gemini likes: Music, books, magazines, chats with nearly anyone, short trips around the town
Gemini dislikes: Being alone, being confined, repetition and routine
♋️ Cancer 🌞
Element: Water
Quality: Cardinal
Color: White
Day: Monday, Thursday
Ruler: Moon
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Capricorn, Taurus
Lucky Numbers: 2, 3, 15, 20
Date range: June 21 - July 22
Strengths: Tenacious, highly imaginative, loyal, emotional, sympathetic, persuasive
Weaknesses: Moody, pessimistic, suspicious, manipulative, insecure
Cancer likes: Art, home-based hobbies, relaxing near or in water, helping loved ones, a good meal with friends
Cancer dislikes: Strangers, any criticism of Mom, revealing of personal life
♌️ Leo 🌞
Element: Fire
Quality: Fixed
Color: Gold, Yellow, Orange
Day: Sunday
Ruler: Sun
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Aquarius, Gemini
Lucky Numbers: 1, 3, 10, 19
Date range: July 23 - August 22
Strengths: Creative, passionate, generous, warm-hearted, cheerful, humorous
Weaknesses: Arrogant, stubborn, self-centered, lazy, inflexible
Leo likes: Theater, taking holidays, being admired, expensive things, bright colors, fun with friends
Leo dislikes: Being ignored, facing difficult reality, not being treated like a king or queen
♍️ Virgo 🌞
Element: Earth
Quality: Mutable
Color: Grey, Beige, Pale-Yellow
Day: Wednesday
Ruler: Mercury
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Pisces, Cancer
Lucky Numbers: 5, 14, 15, 23, 32
Date range: August 23 – September 22
Strengths: Loyal, analytical, kind, hardworking, practical
Weaknesses: Shyness, worry, overly critical of self and others, all work and no play
Virgo likes: Animals, healthy food, books, nature, cleanliness
Virgo dislikes: Rudeness, asking for help, taking center stage
♎️ Libra 🌞
Element: Air
Quality: Cardinal
Color: Pink, Green
Day: Friday
Ruler: Venus
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Aries, Sagittarius
Lucky Numbers: 4, 6, 13, 15, 24
Date range: September 23 - October 22
Strengths: Cooperative,diplomatic, gracious, fair-minded, social
Weaknesses: Indecisive, avoids confrontations, will carry a grudge, self-pity
Libra likes: Harmony, gentleness, sharing with others, the outdoors
Libra dislikes: Violence, injustice, loudmouths, conformity
♏️ Scorpio 🌞
Element: Water
Quality: Fixed
Color: Scarlet, Red, Rust
Day: Tuesday
Ruler: Pluto, Mars
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Taurus, Cancer
Lucky Numbers: 8, 11, 18, 22
Date range: October 23 - November 21
Strengths: Resourceful, brave, passionate, stubborn, a true friend
Weaknesses: Distrusting, jealous, secretive, violent
Scorpio likes: Truth, facts, being right, longtime friends, teasing, a grand passion
Scorpio dislikes: Dishonesty, revealing secrets, passive people
♐️ Sagittarius 🌞
Element: Fire
Quality: Mutable
Color: Blue
Day: Thursday
Ruler: Jupiter
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Gemini, Aries
Lucky Numbers: 3, 7, 9, 12, 21
Date range: November 22 - December 21
Strengths: Generous, idealistic, great sense of humor
Weaknesses: Promises more than can deliver, very impatient, will say anything no matter how undiplomatic
Sagittarius likes: Freedom, travel, philosophy, being outdoors
Sagittarius dislikes: Clingy people, being constrained, off-the-wall theories, details
♑️ Capricorn 🌞
Element: Earth
Quality: Cardinal
Color: Brown, Black
Day: Saturday
Ruler: Saturn
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Taurus, Cancer
Lucky Numbers: 4, 8, 13, 22
Date range: December 22 - January 19
Strengths: Responsible, disciplined, self-control, good managers
Weaknesses: Know-it-all, unforgiving, condescending, expecting the worst
Capricorn likes: Family, tradition, music, understated status, quality craftsmanship
Capricorn dislikes: Almost everything at some point
♒️ Aquarius 🌞
Element: Air
Quality: Fixed
Color: Light-Blue, Silver
Day: Saturday
Ruler: Uranus, Saturn
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Leo, Sagittarius
Lucky Numbers: 4, 7, 11, 22, 29
Date range: January 20 - February 18
Strengths: Progressive, original, independent, humanitarian
Weaknesses: Runs from emotional expression, temperamental, uncompromising, aloof
Aquarius likes: Fun with friends, helping others, fighting for causes, intellectual conversation, a good listener
Aquarius dislikes: Limitations, broken promises, being lonely, dull or boring situations, people who disagree with them
♓️ Pisces 🌞
Element: Water
Quality: Mutable
Color: Mauve, Lilac, Purple, Violet, Sea green
Day: Thursday
Ruler: Neptune, Jupiter
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Virgo, Taurus
Lucky Numbers: 3, 9, 12, 15, 18, 24
Date range: February 19 - March 20
Strengths: Compassionate, artistic, intuitive, gentle, wise, musical
Weaknesses: Fearful, overly trusting, sad, desire to escape reality, can be a victim or a martyr
Pisces likes: Being alone, sleeping, music, romance, visual media, swimming, spiritual themes
Pisces dislikes: Know-it-all, being criticized, the past coming back to haunt, cruelty of any kind
A note about sun signs
It's happened to all of us: you open a website to read your horoscope and thought “That doesn't fit me at all!” Keep in mind, the Sun sign is only one piece of your character. The Moon and each of the planets also influence you in a variety of ways. With the added environmental and genetic factors, it would be impossible to define the essential you-ness of you by only one factor.
You are a unique combination, unlike anyone else. If you think of yourself as a difficult puzzle, your sun sign would be the edge pieces.
Interpret your entire chart—Sun Sign and all—using this free worksheet. Click the button, enter your info, click the download link, print or save to your computer.
Learn the basics for reading your own birth chart
(and how you can use this information to live your best life).
Your birth chart, as the name would suggest, is based on the time you were born. It is a snapshot of the sky and what was going on at that moment. Each planet—including the sun and the moon—were in a position somewhere in the sky space associated with the signs of the zodiac. When you map out these positions that is your birth chart. Once you understand the influence of these positions, you can make the most out of the energy that influences you from the moment you are born to the moment you die.
Natal Jewelry
Have you ever had your natal chart read? Have you ever wished you could wear your personality with the world to see? Mumbles & Things offers Natal Jewelry. Each unique-to-you piece come with a detailed analysis of your personal star chart. How has your personality been influenced by the celestial bodies?
This Post is part of a series. Follow the entire Understanding Astrology Collection
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