Astrology: A Simple Explanation

By Raegan Jones

Have you ever wondered what people were talking about when they say, “No, I can’t help you make this decision because I’m a Libra!” Well, today,  I’m going to give you a simple explanation of each sign, listing pros and cons of each! 

To start, let’s begin by recognizing that astrology isn’t just your sun sign, which is the one that mostly everyone knows about themselves. It is the compilation of 12 signs in differing planets that make up your astrological identity, an identity that is unique to you only, based on the exact moment and place you were born. Although, for the purposes of this paper, we are going to be simply reviewing the sun signs, their traits, and how they make up who you are as an individual.

Your sun sign is who you are at your core. It is your purest state and can be the explanation for your reasoning and decision making. Keep these qualities in mind when reading the descriptions of the Zodiacs below. 

Aries (March 21st- April 20th)

• Ruled by Mars
• Fire sign
• Most compatible with Aquarius and Scorpio
• Pros:
• They are very confident in their words and actions, while also being extremely passionate about the matters they care about. Aries are capable of stating their point of view without fear of being wrong or shot down. They are very expressive and often experiment with style and presentation. 
• Cons
• Because Aries are very confident and courageous, they often speak without thinking. Their thoughts are well formulated and straightforward, so they are amazing arguers. This makes many other people upset because they feel as though they can never be right. Aries are also very short-tempered and impulsive, which can lead to hasty, poor communication.

Taurus (April 21st- May 20th)

• Ruled by Venus
• Earth sign
• Most compatible with Virgo and Pisces
• Pros:
• They are very reliable, and often are seen as down to earth compared to the other signs. One of their many traits is their use of practical love, meaning that they are good at thinking things through and making good decisions. They are also known as one of the signs of beauty, meaning that they see things in a poetic way as well as see beauty in simple things. 
• Cons:
• Because they are so reliable, Taurus’ often close themselves off emotionally because they feel as though they are there for others so they don’t have to feel their own emotions. They are also very stubborn, and hate seeing things from others’ point of view, but when they eventually do, it is in a way that often differs from others, offering an alternative point of view. 

Gemini (May 21st-June 20th)

• Ruled by Mercury
• Air sign
• Most compatible with Aquarius and Pisces
• Pros:
• Geminis are very good at communicating, which often leads to strong friendships, as Geminis are very outgoing. They are naturally humorous and often attract others in a way that no other sign can. They are very adventurous, but responsible in their spontaneous risk taking.
• Cons:
• Because Geminis are very outgoing, they can often be viewed as chatty or annoying. They are often also viewed as “fake” because they tend to be people pleasers.s. They are also often unsatisfied with other’s actions because they have so much energy that is difficult to match.

Cancer (June 21st- July 20th)

• Ruled by the moon
• Water sign
• Most compatible with Scorpio and Pisces
• Pros:
• Cancers are often seen as the most emotional sign, which is ironic because they are often the sign that reveals the least emotion. This makes them very sympathetic and supportive in times of need. Cancers love to care for others, which they show occasionally, but often don’t know how to express it in a healthy way. 
• Cons
• Because cancers often have a hard time with emotion, this sometimes manifests itself as manipulation. Cancers have such a hard time processing all their emotions. Instead of dealing with negative feelings in a healthy way, they have a tendency to manipulate others or sink into a depression. It’s hard for them to come to terms with things not being okay.. 

Leo (July 21st- August 21st)

• Ruled by the sun
• Fire sign
• Most compatible with Libra and Gemini
• Pros:
• Leos are very self assured, and this makes them more loyal than other signs.. They are very proud of their actions and accomplishments. Leos are also very good at self-expression, which contributes to their passion. Leos are also known to be good politicians and leaders because of their passion and confidence.
• Cons:
• Leos are very prideful, as stated above. Because of this, they are often caught up in themselves and can be seen as selfish. They often get so obsessed with themselves that they forget about others, but they usually come to their senses when necessary. 

Virgo (August 22nd- September 21st)

• Ruled by Mercury 
• Earth sign 
• Most compatible with Taurus and Capricorn
• Pros:
• Virgos are very big on communication and helping others. They are good at analyzing situations and have a strong point of view and sense of self. Virgos are very sympathetic towards others, and love to solve problems with reason. Many view Virgos as the most “ethical” sign because of their constant quest for justice and the truth.
• Cons:
• Because virgos are so analytical, they often have a hard time with constructive criticism from others. When they can’t control a situation, Virgos tend to panic and struggle… A lot of Virgos are also very hard on themselves, as they have very high standards in all areas of life.

Libra (September 22nd- October 21st)

• Ruled by Venus
• Air Sign
• Most compatible with Leo and Sagittarius
• Pros
• Libras are very good at partnership and group dynamics. Their social nature contributes to why  they are seen as diplomatic. They are also good at loving others, and give good advice to those they care about. Libras also strive to be as kind as possible to avoid conflict and negativity.
• Cons:
• Libras are not good at confrontation, which often is seen as a weakness. They often avoid confrontation by being passive, leading to people believing that they are the “fakest sign.” In reality, they just don’t know how to make decisions without hurting others. 

Scorpio (October 22nd- November 22nd)

• Ruled by Pluto
• Water sign
• Most compatible with Scorpio and Pisces
• Pros:
• Scorpios are very persistent with their actions, often the most adventurous of the signs. They are also in touch with their subconscious, which leads to them being great friends because of their loyalty to others. They are also very deeply in touch with their emotions, which leads to them being big strategists and great artists. 
• Cons:
• Because Scorpios are very persistent, they can often come off as very obsessive or hard to handle. Lots of Scorpios are very harsh with their words, meaning that they don’t really think about how what they say will affect others. Because they are in touch with their emotions, they often view themselves as an outsider which leads to a lot of secrets. Their secret keeping nature leads them to have trust issues and feel sad.

Sagittarius (November 23rd- December 22nd)

• Ruled by Jupiter
• Fire sign
• Most compatible with Leo and Aries
• Pros:
• Sagittarius often find themselves in good luck and good humor. They are known for wanting the best in life, as they are obsessed with expanding and bettering themselves. They also are very into adventure and often take risks, hoping and expecting the best outcome.
• Cons:
• Because they live life on the edge and do many things without thinking, they are often blunt with their words. They also are sort of inconsistent with their actions and words. Sagittariuses can be competitive and will do anything to be at the top.

Capricorn (December 23rd- January 22nd)

• Ruled by Saturn
• Earth sign
• Most compatible with Virgo and Scorpio
• Pros:
• Capricorns are often very responsible and tend to stick to tradition. They are the person you ask advice from and feel you can talk to openly. They are very driven and are big in self-control. They often are known to work hard for things they are passionate about while simultaneously showing strength.
• Cons:
• Capricorns are responsible, but this can often lead to them being uncompromising. They are often pessimistic because their expectations for the world are not always met by others… Capricorns are stubborn, and it is hard for them to see others’ point of view.

Aquarius (January 23rd- February 22nd)

• Ruled by Uranus
• Air sign
• Most compatible with Gemini and Libra
• Pros:
• Aquarius are fun and interesting people to be around. A lot of them are into revolution and rebellion. They are very logical in their thinking as well as intelligent. They see things with a clear, yet unique point of view. They often bring ideas to the table that other signs wouldn’t have thought of. 
• Cons:
• Because they are big into individuality and rebellion, these signs are more likely to find themselves in trouble with the law. They can be unpredictable and sometimes can be disruptive, as this sign thinks too much of the future instead of the present. They are often emotionally distant because of their originality, which makes it hard for people to understand them and vice versa.

Pisces (February 23rd- March 20th)

• Ruled by Neptune
• Water sign
• Most compatible with Scorpio and Cancer
• Pros:
• Pisces are usually very psychically aware, which means they are extremely intuitive and compassionate because they feel others’ emotions heavily. They are often very imaginative, leading to them being extremely creative and involved heavily in the arts. 
• Cons:
• Because they are intuitive and feel others emotions greatly, they are often escapists and play the “victim card” as a way to get out of potentially harmful situations. They also can be moody and even depressed because of their imagination, but this can lead to great artistic pieces. 

In conclusion, all the signs have weaknesses and strengths. Astrology is not just one sign based on the day one was born, but rather, it’s based on time, location, date, etc. Although scientists haven’t officially stated that astrology can be held responsible for the way we act, I choose to believe otherwise. The alignment of the moon controls the water, and since we are made up of more than 70% of water, why is it so far-fetched that the stars have some say in the way we are as well?