Aries Zodiac Sign: Fiery, Active, and Magnetic
Representing the very first sign of the entire zodiac system, Aries are known for their dynamism, energy, and action.
Representing the very first sign of the entire zodiac system, Aries are known for their dynamism, energy, and action.
Being naturally placed first in the cosmological order fills an Aries with what we might call "the opposite of fear"—pushing them to forge ahead and lead the pack, no matter the odds (for better or for worse!).
If you're an Aries or close to one in your life, read on to learn all about this hot-blazing zodiac sign, including their strongest tendencies and perhaps some hard-to-break traits you may want to watch for.
Aries are born anywhere between March 20 and April 19.
What makes an Aries an Aries, you might be wondering?
Well, aside from the fiery personality traits that we'll get into below, the primary thing that makes you an Aries—or any of the other 11 zodiac signs for that matter—is the position of the heavens when you're born.
Also called a "sun sign," your zodiac sign is determined by the position of the earth relative to the sun at the exact moment of your birth. From approximately March 20 to April 19, the sun appears to pass in front of the Aries constellation, making anyone born during this time an Aries.
There's more to your cosmological sign than just a sun sign. If you want to get the full picture of who you are (in the zodiac sense, at least!), then you'll want to discover your moon sign, too.
So what's the Aries moon sign?
The short answer is there isn't a single moon sign for Aries. You can be an Aries with a moon in Sagittarius, a moon in Libra, a moon in Capricorn…really any of the 12 zodiac signs. You can even be an Aries with a moon in Aries—a particularly dynamite combination.
What determines your moon sign is not a standardized date range (like it is for the sun sign) but rather the position of the moon at the exact date, time, and place of your birth. The moon's monthly cycle is much more rapid than the sun's annual cycle, so precise birth details matter a lot when it comes to your moon sign.
If you know you're an Aries but want to find out your moon sign, you can calculate your natal chart with a local astrologer, through websites like Astrology.com, or via mobile apps like Co-Star.
Speaking of natal charts, there's another very important use for them—and that's for people who were born right on the edge of Aries season.
The reason why being "born on the cusp" can be so tricky is that the Aries birthday range is just an approximation. (All of the zodiac birth dates are.) Our manmade calendar system does not exactly 100% align with the heavens' movements, especially since thousands of years have passed since astrology was first understood.
People born on the cusp are those who were born very close to either side of the Aries season:
The long and short of it is this. If your birthday is close to either edge, then calculating your natal chart is the only way to be sure which zodiac sign you really are.
No. Because your sun and moon sign are based on the position of the universe at the specific time of your birth, your zodiac sign (and your moon sign) will not change.
If you're an Aries today, you'll always be an Aries!
There's a lot to unpack with astrology, and the deeper you dig, the more fascinating facts and features you'll find. Since we don't have hours to devote to your personal astrological consultation (hire an astrologer for that!), we'll stick with the core features of the Aries zodiac sign—giving you the "must knows" to understanding your Aries self.
You probably already know that each zodiac sign is represented by an animal, which is said to embody the traits of this particular sun sign. With a focus on taking action and charging forward, is it any surprise that Aries is represented by a ram?
Rams charge at life head on, just like Aries do in every aspect of their lives.
Every zodiac sign also has a written symbol or letterform that accompanies it. This symbol is based on an ancient simplification of the zodiac animal—and for Aries, you can definitely see the resemblance to the ram!
Part of what gives each zodiac sign its particular energy is actually the other zodiac signs. After all, it's an entire system—and each element has a unique relationship with all of the others. Makes sense, right?
Here's how Aries fits into the larger zodiac picture and how this sun sign gets its unique personality.
Each "triplicity" represents a group of three zodiac signs, all of which are connected by a particular facet or feature.
It is believed that ancient astrologers assigned each triplicity a cardinal direction such as north, south, east, or west. In modern times, however, each triplicity is viewed as a type of element.
Together with Leo and Sagittarius, Aries is a fire element.
If a triplicity is a group of three zodiac signs, it follows that a "quadruplicity" is a grouping of four zodiac signs. These groups are also called modalities, and they're based on where each sign falls in the larger zodiac order:
As the very first sign of the entire zodiac system, Aries is a cardinal element.
Another way in which order matters relates to the system of houses. In astrology, there are 12 "houses," which are seen as embodying different aspects or areas of one's life.
Because Aries is the first zodiac sign, its natural house is also the first house.
The first house refers to the Self. It is the house of personal growth, the realization of our full potential, and the way we craft our identity and present it to the world. For this reason, the first house is considered to be centered on the face and the head—the two core aspects of who we are and how we appear to the world.
Unsurprisingly as the first sign of fire, Aries' ruling planet is Mars, a planet named after the Roman god of war. In the Greek tradition, the equivalent god of war (or battle) is Ares. Sounds a lot like Aries, doesn't it?
Fun fact: Far from being some kind of secondary deity, Mars was the one of the most important gods in ancient Rome. His sons, Romulus and Remus, are said to be the founders of Rome itself—which gives all you modern-day Aries some pretty huge shoes to fill!
Historical trivia aside, you might be wondering what a "ruling planet" is.
This is one of the more confusing concepts in astrology, but it's important to understanding the full cosmological influence of your zodiac sign.
Basically, a ruling planet is the "master" of its zodiac sign. Each zodiac sign has a ruling planet that does not change. This ruler influences the zodiac sign, filling each person with the energy and characteristics of the planet itself.
For Aries (which is ruled by the planet Mars), this energy can be seen in the natural inclination toward action, aggression, passion, and drive.
Learning the details about houses, ruling planets, triplicities, and quadruplicities all serve one purpose: to better understand the influence of the universe on your zodiac sign. In other words, what does it really mean to be an Aries?
Here's how astrologers describe the most powerful personality traits of an Aries:
Like every zodiac sign, the best traits are often reflected in the worst traits of an Aries, too. The same drive that makes them eager to lead and move forward can be harnessed in a negative light—resulting in some less-than-desirable tendencies.
If an Aries isn't careful to master their spirit, they may be seen as quick to anger, stubborn, selfish, hard-headed, impatient, or hot-tempered.
You may not have known that these celebrities were Aries, but the connection might make perfect sense when you think more about it:
According to Astrology.com's horoscope projections, Aries in 2021 will have the opportunity for lots of growth—as long as they remember to take care of their own needs. As for all of us, 2020 was a difficult year for Aries, who experienced intensely fiery emotions like anger.
In the new year, it's time to regroup and get back on that forward-thinking energy that Aries are so known for. By taking care of yourself in the coming year, you'll master your natural tendencies toward action and become even more motivated to claim what's yours.
Like Aries always do—upward and onward!
Tweet
Pin
Share
