Zodiac Signs: Traits, Characteristics, and Ruling Planets Zodiac Signs: Traits and Ruling Planets Zodiac Signs

The 12 Zodiac Signs are ruled by the 10 planets, including the Sun and the Moon. These planets light up the Zodiac Signs, as they influence people born under these signs.
 
Each native of these Zodiac Signs are greatly influenced by the ruling planet to extend their "elemental behaviour".
 
The 12 Zodiac Signs are introduced in the table below:

	Aries:
	Cardinal Fire Sign; Ruled by Mars
	Willpower, impulsive, initiative, courage, energy, activity. Aries often rush headlong into things, without thinking.
	Taurus:
	Fixed Earth Sign; Ruled by Venus
	Sensual, pleasure-seeker, steadfast, strives for security. Taurus sees red when provoked for a long time.
	Gemini:
	Mutable Air Sign; Ruled by Mercury
	Mental type, witty, communicative, mobile, takes pleasure in learning. Gemini rarely touches down.
	Cancer:
	Cardinal Water Sign; Ruled by the Moon
	Emotional type, stubborn, seeks safety and closeness. Cancer is very much a family person.
	Leo:
	Fixed Fire Sign; Ruled by the Sun
	Glamour, generosity, organizer, the center of attention. Leo likes to take the lion's part.
	Virgo:
	Mutable Earth Sign; Ruled by Mercury
	Precise, differentiates, does what is necessary, utilitarian. Virgo has critical point of view.
	Libra:
	Cardinal Air Sign; Ruled by Venus
	A sense of beauty and proportion, tactful, seeks balance and harmony. Libra sometimes hovers between the scales.
	Scorpio:
	Fixed Water Sign; Ruled by Pluto
	Corrosive, passionate, piercing, extreme situations. Scorpio frequently quarrels with the spirits he called himself.
	Sagittarius:
	Mutable Fire Sign; Ruled by Jupiter
	Free spirit, carefree, love of movement, cheerful. Sagittarius is a wanderlust, who often seems to be elsewhere.
	Capricorn:
	Cardinal Earth Sign; Ruled by Saturn
	Enduring, has a sense of purpose, proud, ambitious. Capricorn can get stuck in craggy heights.
	Aquarius:
	Fixed Air Sign; Ruled by Uranus
	Communicative, humanitarian, progressive, fraternal. Aquarius is a universal spirit, with occasional astonishing obstinacy.
	Pisces:
	Mutable water; Ruled by Neptune
	Sensitive, compassionate, helpful, sociable. Pisces is very adaptable, but hard to get a hold on reality.

 
The above table explains the keywords that characterize the Zodiac Signs. These basic characteristics provide a backdrop for all influences - not only for individuals, but also for planets.
 
For example, when Saturn (the planet of conscience, and moral conviction) transits Sagittarius, he (it) is free-spirited and more lenient. This is when minor faults and mistakes go unpunished or un-noticed - that is, individuals have lesser sense of guilt. Saturn in Capricorn, on the other hand, will tolerate no wrongs.
 
For individuals, it is important to understand that when we identify someone as a Sign, we refer to his or her Sun sign. For example, if a person is Aries, it means he or she was born around 21 March - 20 April, when the Sun was transiting the Aries Zodiac Sign.
 
The Sun is the most important consideration in astrology, and owes massive influence on terrestrial life. But what is the Saturn Sign of the individual of the above example? Or, what is his or her Jupiter Sign? Or, what that matter, what are the signs of other planets?
 
Saturn governs the sense of ethics. Its position in the Zodiac at the time of the individual's birth will influence his or her sense of ethics. Similarly, the individual's sense of optimism will be directed by the position of Jupiter at the time of his or her birth. These influences make every individual unique, and thus, referring an individual as a Sign is the broadest definition in astrology.
 
As such, only a Birth Chart can provide the true characteristics of an individual, and not his or her Sun Sign - that is explained in the next article.