Meet The 12 Zodiac Star Signs: Their Strengths, Weaknesses & More

Before we dive into each of the signs, let's unpack what a star sign, or zodiac sign, actually is. There are 12 signs in the zodiac, each of them a constellation that resides in its own 30-degree portion of the sky. All together, the zodiac fills up the 360-degree chart that is Earth's orbit around the sun.

Each of these signs has a corresponding element (fire, earth, water, or air), modality (cardinal, fixed, or mutable), polarity (yin or yang), symbol, archetype, house, ruling planet, and more. When you understand all these little details about the things that make a sign what it is, understanding all 12 becomes that much easier.

Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, and its mascot is the ram. As a fire sign ruled by the planet Mars, Aries energy is individualistic, bold, and brave. As astrology expert Desiree Roby Antila tells mbg, Aries also has yang energy, and its modality is cardinal, meaning it kicks off the season it falls in (spring, in this case).

Taurus is the second sign of the zodiac, and it's symbolized by the bull. As a Venus-ruled earth sign, Taurus is grounded, sturdy, and interested in the beauty of the natural world. Roby Antila notes that Taurus has yin energy, and its modality is fixed (meaning it's in the middle of the season).

Gemini is the third sign of the zodiac, and it's symbolized by the twins. As an air sign ruled by the planet Mercury, Gemini is intelligent, curious, and cerebral. It's also yang energy, and its modality is mutable, meaning it falls at the end of the season, Roby Antila notes.

Cancer is the fourth sign of the zodiac, and it's represented by the crab. As a water sign ruled by the moon, Cancer energy is emotional, homey, and comforting. Roby Antila also tells mbg Cancer has yin energy and is a cardinal sign, kicking off summer.

Leo is the fifth sign of the zodiac, represented by the lion. It's the only sign ruled by the Sun, and it's also a fire sign, known for its glamorous, courageous, and bold energy. According to Roby Antila, Leo is fixed, falling in the middle of summer and has yang energy.

Virgo is the sixth sign of the zodiac and is represented by the virgin. It's an earth sign ruled by Mercury and is often associated with precision, critical thinking, service, and harvesting. Virgo's modality is mutable, ending summer, Roby Antila notes, and Virgo also has yin energy.

Libra is the seventh sign of the zodiac and is represented by the scales of justice. It's an air sign ruled by Venus and is often associated with balance, beauty, justice, and harmony. According to Roby Antila, Libra is a cardinal sign, and interestingly, while it is a yang sign, it's ruled by a yin planet, which is telling of its balanced nature.

Scorpio is the eighth sign of the zodiac, represented by the scorpion. It's a water sign ruled by Pluto in modern astrology and Mars in ancient astrology and is known for being mystical and mysterious. Roby Antila tells mbg that Scorpio has yin energy and is a fixed sign, landing in the middle of fall.

Sagittarius is the ninth sign of the zodiac and is represented by a centaur holding a bow and arrow. It's a fire sign ruled by Jupiter and is known for being adventurous, philosophical, and honest. It's the last of the mutable signs and has yang energy, according to Roby Antila.

Capricorn is the 10th sign of the zodiac and is represented by the sea goat, a mythological hybrid between a goat and a fish. Capricorn is an earth sign ruled by Saturn and is known for being honest, wise, and hardworking. Roby Antila tells mbg Capricorn is also a cardinal sign and has yin energy.

Aquarius is the 11th sign of the zodiac, represented by the water bearer. Don't let the water fool you though—Aquarius is an air sign, ruled by the planet Uranus and is associated with all things eclectic, creative, and forward-thinking. According to Roby Antila, Aquarians are the out-of-this-world folks in the zodiac, with yang energy and a fixed modality.

Pisces completes the astrological year as the 12th sign of the zodiac, represented by fish swimming in opposite directions. It's a water sign ruled by Neptune and is associated with the subconscious, dreams, and all things mystical. Roby Antila notes Pisces is also a yin sign and is mutable.

These folks are compassionate, sensitive, and some of the most psychic people in the zodiac, she says, adding they can be extremely healing and philosophical. They can, however, be taken advantage of if they're not careful and must be mindful not to get steamrollered by others all the time, Roby Antila says.