The greatest thing about astrology is that there’s always new things to be learned. For example, you may have recently learned what a moon and rising sign is. Or perhaps you recently discovered what element your sun sign is. But one of the lesser known – albeit interesting – facets of astrology is the qualities of your sign. But what are cardinal signs? Here’s everything you need to know.
What are cardinal signs?
Each cardinal sign marks the beginning of a season and so the cardinal signs are made up of:
- Aries
- Cancer
- Libra
- Capricorn
Aries is a fire sign, Cancer is water, Libra is an air sign whilst Capricorn is an earth sign – all of which represent a full year of changing seasons.
What are the traits of cardinal signs?
Cardinal signs are the go-getters of the qualities. In comparison to fixed and mutable signs, cardinal signs have traits of ambition, self-motivation, persistence and leadership. At their worst, cardinal signs can be a mixture of domineering and self-centred. However, at their best, they’re independent, creative and spontaneous. They approach every aspect of life from work to love with a sense of purpose and proactiveness.
Aries – the ram
Dates: March 21 to April 19
Element: Fire
Ruling planet: Mars
Key traits: Independent, courageous, energetic, assertive, passionate.
Famous alumni: Elton John, Mariah Carey, Diana Ross, Robert Downey Jr., Aretha Franklin, Charlie Chaplin, Sarah Jessica Parker, Victoria Beckham, Eric Clapton, Reese Witherspoon.
The first of all the fire signs, Aries are often misunderstood as being hot-headed and curt – which isn’t entirely untrue either seeing as they’re ruled by Mars, the planet closest to the sun. But their boldness and ambitiousness comes in handy for Aries in just about all walks of life. From approaching a potential love interest to asking for a raise – an Aries intuitively just knows how to achieve their goals.
Cancer – the crab
Dates: June 21 to July 22
Element: Water
Ruling planet: The Moon
Key traits: Sensitive, caring, intuitive, compassionate.
Famous alumni: Sylvester Stallone, Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Harrison Ford, Tom Cruise, Robin Williams, Diana, Princess of Wales, Gina Lollobrigida, Lindsay Wagner, and George Michael.
Cancer, the fourth astrological sign in the zodiac, is best known for being the feelers of all the signs. Ruled by the moon, Cancers are thought of as being sensitive, caring and highly emotionally intuitive. They have a unique ability to empathise with people and are generally very good listeners. At their most extreme, a Cancer’s strong emotional tendencies can manifest as a desire to shield their loved ones from harm which can at times present to others as defensiveness.
Libra – the scales
Dates: September 23 to October 22
Element: Air
Ruling planet: Venus
Key traits: Diplomacy, balance, fairness, social nature, creativity
Famous alumni: Bruce Springsteen, Will Smith, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Gwyneth Paltrow, Hugh Jackman, Susan Sarandon, John Lennon, Sting, Julie Andrews, and Matt Damon.
Libra, the seventh zodiac sign, is ruled by Venus, the planet of love and beauty. Libras are often hailed as the diplomats of the zodiacs. With a keen sense of fairness and justice instilled in them from the get-go, Libras are often seeking harmony for everyone. However, also plagued with a tendency to be indecisive, Libras may often struggle with decision making and over-compromising.
Despite this, they’re often the flourishing centre of all their social circles which sees them excel in the social realm of all areas of life.
Capricorn – the sea-goat
Dates: December 22 to January 19
Element: Earth
Ruling planet: Saturn
Key traits: Discipline, ambition, practicality, reliability, patience
Famous alumni: Elvis Presley, Martin Luther King Jr., Dolly Parton, Denzel Washington, Kate Middleton, Bradley Cooper, Michelle Obama, Diane Keaton, Jude Law, and David Bowie.
Capricorn, the tenth zodiac sign, is ruled by the pragmatic Saturn meaning that they often present traits of ambition, discipline, and strong work ethic. Capricorns excel in environments where they can put their leadership and work ethic to good use, which is why they generally find themselves in managerial positions in their career.
Unlike other signs, Capricorns are patient and persevere at a steady pace which allows them to overcome life’s obstacles with ease.
