When most individuals think of astrology, their solar sign is often the first thing that comes to mind. After all, that’s the sign you’d check up when reading your horoscope or researching your cosmic compatibility with your crush. Understanding the differences between your sun, moon, and rising signs is a crucial place to start if you’re ready to delve deeper into your own astrology.
In astrology, your “big three signs” are your sun, moon, and rising sign.
Consider them your most important astrological data. These three signs are quite essential in your horoscope, and each is in charge of a different aspect of your personality and total self. While the sun represents your core self and the moon your inner self, you might consider your rising sign to be reflective of your outward self.
Even if you don’t believe in astrology, it’s just a matter of time before someone asks you for your big three, so now is the time to practice. Let’s go through the basic meanings and differences of the sun, moon, and rising signs so you may start looking into your birth chart and using astrology to your advantage. Continue reading to learn more about this crucial astrological trifecta.
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What are the characteristics that each zodiac sign is known for?
We all have all twelve Signs on our Natal (birth) Charts somewhere (which is a picture of what the sky looked like the time you were born), and we flow through each Sign’s “season” throughout the year- so it’s crucial to get a handle on them all! Most people are aware of their Sun (star) Sign, but the position of the Moon in your Natal Chart (your Moon Sign) and the Sign rising on the horizon when you were born (your Rising/Ascendant Sign) are also important! You can acquire a free Natal Chart here, and you can learn more about your Rising Sign in this post.
Then there are the “Personal Planets,” Mercury, Venus, and Mars, which have a strong influence on us depending on the Sign they are in; the “Social Planets,” Jupiter and Saturn, whose transits can be extremely prominent for us; and the “Outer Planets,” Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, all of which have significant energies in their transits and placements. Each planet “rules” 1-2 Zodiac Signs and has considerable influences on them. For additional information, see our page on the Planets!
Each Sign also has an Element (Fire, Earth, Air, Water) and a Quality/Mode (Cardinal, Fixed, Mutable) that indicates whether it occurs at the start, middle, or end of a season. All of this adds to the flavor of their energies and distinguishes them from one another. A Fixed Fire Sign (Leo) differs from a Mutable Fire Sign (Cancer) (Sagittarius). The following is a list of their Elements and Modes:
ELEMENTS:
Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius are fire signs, with blazing passion, energy, excitement, and fearlessness.
EARTH SIGNS = Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn – These are the earthy, grounded Zodiac signs. They are dedicated, realistic, and pragmatic individuals.
AIR SIGNS = Gemini, Libra, Aquarius – Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius are the Zodiac’s intellectual thinkers and talkers. They are rational, headstrong, and people-oriented.
WATER SIGNS = Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces – The most perceptive and emotional Signs. They are emotionally and subconsciously aware, compassionate, and fluid.
Is it possible to have two zodiac signs?
There is just one solution, regardless of your birth date: no one has two signs. However, if you were born within a few days of the Sun’s transition from one zodiac sign to the next, you were born on the cusp, and you may experience the effects of two separate signs.
What are the zodiac cusps?
In general, if you were born three days before or after the change in signs, you are “on the cusp.” Each cusp phase is given a name that represents the unique energy that it bears.
How does being on the cusp affect you?
If you were born on the cusp, you may find that you have personality qualities from the sign next to you. People born under the sign of Aries but on the cusp of Aries and Taurus, for example, are frequently exceptional leaders. Normally, Aries impatience can lead to hasty decisions and reactions, but if you’re an Aries born on the cusp of Taurus, these tendencies may be mitigated by Taurean energy, which is more grounded and rational. This isn’t to say that being a cusper is always sunshine and rainbows; your two signs’ energies may clash!
In any case, being born on the cusp can endow you with a wide range of talents that can blend and shine in a variety of ways. Learning about the benefits and drawbacks of your cusp might help you accept your unique and sometimes confusing personality!
With a FREE Cosmic Profile, you can learn about your unique astrological energy. Now is the time to learn more about what your astrological energy has to say about YOU.
Aries, who should you marry?
Libra (opposites attract), Sagittarius, and Leo are the most compatible signs for Aries in friendship and romantic relationships (fellow fire signs will speak their same passionate language).