The 12 zodiac signs: dates, elements and ruling planets
· 2 min read
Your sun sign is the sign the Sun was passing through on the day you were born. It is the sign people mean when they ask "what's your sign?", and it is what daily horoscopes are written for.
The twelve signs
| Sign | Vedic name | Dates (approx.) | Element | Ruler |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aries | Mesha | 21 Mar – 19 Apr | Fire | Mars |
| Taurus | Vrishabha | 20 Apr – 20 May | Earth | Venus |
| Gemini | Mithuna | 21 May – 20 Jun | Air | Mercury |
| Cancer | Karka | 21 Jun – 22 Jul | Water | Moon |
| Leo | Simha | 23 Jul – 22 Aug | Fire | Sun |
| Virgo | Kanya | 23 Aug – 22 Sep | Earth | Mercury |
| Libra | Tula | 23 Sep – 22 Oct | Air | Venus |
| Scorpio | Vrishchika | 23 Oct – 21 Nov | Water | Mars |
| Sagittarius | Dhanu | 22 Nov – 21 Dec | Fire | Jupiter |
| Capricorn | Makara | 22 Dec – 19 Jan | Earth | Saturn |
| Aquarius | Kumbha | 20 Jan – 18 Feb | Air | Saturn |
| Pisces | Meena | 19 Feb – 20 Mar | Water | Jupiter |
These are the Western (tropical) dates used by most daily horoscopes. Vedic astrology uses the sidereal zodiac, which currently sits about 24 degrees behind, so in a Vedic chart your Sun is often in the previous sign.
The four elements
- Fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius): energetic, direct, quick to act.
- Earth (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn): practical, steady, focused on results.
- Air (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius): curious, social, led by ideas.
- Water (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces): intuitive, emotional, protective.
What your sun sign does not tell you
The sun sign is one point in a chart of many. Your moon sign and ascendant (lagna) need your exact time and place of birth, and astrologers usually weigh them more heavily than the Sun. That is why two people with the same sun sign can be so different.