Maybe during your lunch break today you overheard your coworkers sharing their daily horoscopes with
each other. Maybe your best friend keeps telling you that she’s “such a Libra” and you have no
idea what that means, but at the same time, you’re too afraid to ask. Whatever the reason,
you’ve found yourself in a situation where you’d be interested in learning more about
astrology. While we here at Bestie already have several videos on the subject of astrology as
well as the various zodiac signs, it has come to our attention that none of them are
ideally suited as an entry-level introduction for astrology newbies. With that in mind,
we decided to create this video as a crash course for beginners to learn more about the history of
astrology, the twelve constellations, and their associated interpretations.
Before we go any further though, consider subscribing to Bestie
and ringing the notification bell to stay up to date on our daily content. We talk
about astrology a lot, so if you like this video, there’s more where that came from.
Originally conceived as part of the science of astronomy, “astrology” refers
to a pseudoscientific concept or belief that an individual person’s most dominant personality
traits, wants, needs, and drives are all to some extent predetermined at their time of birth,
which can be gleaned by tracking and studying the movements of celestial bodies in the sky.
Under astrology, people can be sorted into twelve broad personality types
determined by twelve constellations found within different sectors of the night sky,
referred to as the signs of the zodiac. Because of the Earth’s rotation around the sun,
different signs are more visible during different parts of the year, and astrology dictates that
the sign you are born under determines your personality type. Even for people who don’t
personally believe in astrology or the zodiac, many find it a fun pastime to read up on their
particular sign as a hypothetical concept or thought-provoking “what-if” scenario.
Now that we’ve got the basic definitions out of the way, let’s take a closer
look at the twelve signs of the zodiac, what times of the year they fall under,
and what personality traits and predictions are most commonly associated with them.
♈ Aries
Aries is the first of the 12 zodiac signs and represents anyone whose birthday falls between
the dates of March 21st and April 19th. The name “Aries” comes from the Latin word meaning “ram”;
because of this, it will likely come as no surprise that individuals born under
this sign are typically expected to be bold, strong-willed and highly competitive. Aries is
also a sign commonly associated with those with strong leadership skills but have an aversion
towards unnecessary complication, details and nuance. As the first sign on the zodiac wheel,
some astrologers interpret Aries as “leading the charge” through spontaneity and blind optimism,
running ahead without taking the time to pause and reflect on their impulsive
actions. According to astrologists, this can make Aries beneficial for
group morale but also prone to selfish or shortsighted tendencies. The Aries
sign is associated with the planet Mars as well as the classical element of fire.
♉ Taurus The second sign in the zodiac cycle is Taurus,
representing those born between April 20th and May 20th. The name “Taurus” is Latin for “the bull”,
an animal that prominently appears in a number of different mythological contexts. Unlike Aries,
which is associated with brash impulsiveness, astrologers equate the sign Taurus to calmness
and serenity, though this can sometimes borderline on outright hedonism. While
this might make it sound like Tauruses are only associated with pampered lifestyles,
astrologers also claim that those born under Taurus aren’t afraid to work hard for the
things they want in life and are likely to have good sense when it comes to money.
Taurus is associated with the planet Venus as well as the classical element of earth.
♊ Gemini The third constellation in the zodiac
is Gemini and is the sign of those born between May 21st and June 20th. Gemini gets its name
from the Latin word for “twins”, and fittingly enough is often associated with workaholics with
so much to do that they might find themselves wishing they could be in two places at once.
Astrologers interpret the Gemini sign as being representative of those with a dualistic nature,
those who try to sate their intellectual curiosity through a variety of pursuits
and hobbies and those who are particularly extroverted or outgoing. Gemini is associated
with the planet Mercury (a trait it shares with Virgo) and the classical element of air.
♋ Cancer Number four is Cancer, representing
people with birthdays between June 21st and July 22nd. If that name sounds a little bit morbid,
you’ll be relieved to hear that “Cancer” in this context is taken from the Latin word for “crab”,
though their personalities can be described as anything but “crabby”. While they may wrap
themselves in a protective shell, not unlike the exoskeletons of their crustaceous namesakes,
Cancers are in fact highly empathic and compassionate individuals who aim to
win people over with their unwavering loyalty and commitment. Astrologers also characterize
Cancers as introverts and homebodies, seeking the comfort and security of the familiar and
all things domestic, which I guess means you could describe them as being “hermit
crabs”. Cancer is associated with the moon and the classical element of water.
♌ Leo Those born
between the dates of July 23rd and August 22nd can expect to fall under the constellation of Leo,
the fifth sign in the zodiac cycle. Leo’s name derives from the Latin word for “lion” and as
such are believed to possess all the pomp and vivaciousness that would be befitting of the king
of beasts. Astrologers interpret Leos as natural leaders and supportive friends, though their
strong personalities and tendency towards jealous behaviour can often result in a swollen ego and
hubristic attitudes. Leo is represented by the sun as well as by the classical element of fire.
♍ Virgo Virgo is sign number six,
falling between August 23rd and September 22nd. According to astrologers, Virgos are
characterized as being highly detail-oriented, often to the extent of being perfectionists,
with a preference for logic and practicality when it comes to everyday life. Virgos are said to be
efficient organizers, able to process and make sense of even the most convoluted information,
though their meticulousness can sometimes borderline on an unhealthy obsession with
unrealistic standards or ideals. Like Gemini, Virgo is represented in our
solar system by Mercury, and is also associated with the element of earth.
♎ Libra Libra is the seventh constellation in the zodiac,
the sign associated with people born between September 23rd and October 22nd. Libra’s name
derived from the Latin word for a set of weighing scales, making Libra unique in that it is the only
sign named after an inanimate object rather than an animal or type of person. As the name implies,
astrologers characterize Libras as valuing a sense of balance and symmetry, seeking to fill
all aspects of life with a sense of equilibrium and harmony. According to astrologists,
Libras are also classified as intellectuals and art lovers, and their oft-impeccable taste makes
them ideally suited towards pursuits such as interior design and decoration. Libra
is associated with the planet Venus alongside Taurus, as well as the classical element of air.
♏ Scorpio October 23rd to November
21st is the domain of Scorpio, the eighth zodiac sign on this list. This might seem a bit obvious,
but “Scorpio” comes from the Latin word for “scorpion”. If you thought cancer got a raw deal
by being named after the crab, try sharing your name with a desert-dwelling arachnid known by most
for its venomous barbed stinger. However, much like the scorpion, Scorpios are ambush hunters,
using subtlety and calculation to determine when is the best time to strike. According
to astrologists, Scorpios pride themselves in their ability to think three steps ahead,
applying careful plans and long-game strategies in order to get what they want. They are careful
tacticians in the game of life and always play with their cards close to the vest. Scorpios
are associated with everyone’s favourite dwarf planet Pluto as well as with the element of water.
♐ Sagittarius Sagittarius is the
ninth constellation in the zodiac. If you were born between November 22nd and December 21st,
this is the sign for you. Sagittarius's name comes from the Latin word for “archer”,
and as that name would imply, they have their sights set on the far horizon. Astrologers
characterize those born under Sagittarius as globetrotters and adventure seekers,
forever questing for knowledge and to sate their constant wanderlust. In addition, Sagittarius is
a sign equated with mutability and flexibility, and are believed to value freedom as well as the
capacity for change. Sagittarius is represented by the planet Jupiter and the element of fire.
♑ Capricorn We’re nearing the end
of the list now with the tenth sign, Capricorn, ruling between December 22nd and January 19th.
Capricorn’s name in Latin translates roughly to “horned goat”, or “goat horn” and is symbolized
by a mythological half-goat, half-fish entity fittingly known as a sea-goat. Astrologers view
Capricorns as study and focused individuals, hardened at an early age by past hardships
and challenges. While this might make them come across as overly stoic individuals,
astrologers also claim Capricorns can be lively and outgoing under the right circumstances,
becoming more outgoing and optimistic as they mature and the weight of their past difficulties
begins to ease up. Capricorn is represented by the planet Saturn and the element of earth.
♒ Aquarius
Second-to-last on the list is Aquarius, falling on the dates of January 20th to February 18th.
Despite its name being translated from Latin to mean “water-carrier”, Aquarius
is actually represented by the air element, and astrologers characterize those born under this
sign as healers and humanitarians. Aquarius-born individuals are often also interpreted as rebels
and advocates of social change, hoping to make a positive impact on the world through
social progress and by shaking things up in the status quo. While big-picture thinkers,
the lofty ambitions of an Aquarian can often lead them to stretch themselves too thin, neglecting
familial and relationship obligations and losing sight of their immediate surroundings. In addition
to the classical element of air, Aquarius also carries an association with the planet Uranus.
♓ Pisces Bringing up the rear on
the zodiac list is Pisces, the official zodiac sign for anyone born between February 19th and
March 20th. Pisces in Latin is the pluralized word for “fish”, and the constellation is often
represented symbolically by two fish swimming in opposite directions. According to astrologists,
the life of a Pisces is similarly divided, representing a mental tug of war between fantasy
and reality. Pisces are believed to be empathetic and compassionate but also highly emotional,
and often run the risk of getting carried away when their feelings get the better of
them. Pisces is also believed to be mutable and highly adaptable to their surroundings,
and possess a high degree of creative potential. Pisces is associated with the planet Neptune,
and as you might have guessed, this sign’s element of choice is water.
And with that, this brings our breakdown of the twelve zodiac signs to a close. While this video
doesn’t cover all the nuances and beliefs of astrology, hopefully, it will at least provide
you will enough info to carry on a conversation the next time a coworker asks you about your
sign. If you are interested in learning more on the subject, be sure to check out the other
videos we’ve published on astrology, available in Bestie’s “Zodiac Signs and Astrology” playlist.
So, which zodiac sign is yours? Do you believe in the concept of astrology,
or do you see it more as a fun pastime? Let us know in the comments below to
keep the conversation going. We would love to hear what you think.