Characteristics of Zodiac Signs
Compatability of Zodiac Signs

The following is a list of the characteristics of zodiac signs and compatibility of zodiac signs under Western astrological traditions. This compilation is intended for ease of reference, not as a thorough astrological analysis. It provides a general overview to zodiac signs meanings and compatibility and zodiac symbols. However, we encourage those who have a deeper interest in astrology, horoscopes, and the zodiac to conduct additional research into this intriguing topic.

Aries: Aries tend to be aggressive, independent, and confident. They make natural leaders and have powerful personalities, but they can also be arrogant, impulsive, and violent. Aries is considered compatible with Sagittarius and Leo.

Taurus: Taurus are generally considered disciplined, calm, and dependable. While this makes them loyal and easygoing, it can also mean that they are stubborn and headstrong. Taurus is considered compatible with Capricorn and Leo.

Gemini: Geminis are typically held as whimsical, playful, and mercurial. They can be entertaining and fun, but also superficial and unpredictable. Gemini is said to get along best with Aquarius and Libra.

Cancer: Cancers are described as being protective, caring, and sensitive. This makes them affectionate and loyal, but can also cause them to be touchy and defensive. Cancer is compatible with Pisces, Scorpio, and Taurus.

Leo: Leos are often considered to be proud, noble, and enthusiastic. They can be enjoyable to be around and make excellent leaders, but they can also be prone towards being bossy or patronizing. Leo gets along with Aries and Sagittarius.

Virgo: Virgos have a tendency to be devoted, efficient, and meticulous. While this makes them industrious and precise workers, it can lead to being fussy and self-conscious. Virgo is most compatible with Taurus and Capricorn.

Libra: Libras tend to be diplomatic, sociable, and gentle. While they tend to be fair and balanced, they might also become gullible or manipulative. Libra is considered compatible with Aquarius and Gemini.

Scorpio: Scorpios are considered to be intense, ambitious, and intriguing. While they lend themselves to having powerful and magnetic personalities, they can also be moody and overbearing. Scorpio is most compatible with Cancer and Pisces.

Sagittarius: Sagittarius are typically witty, adventurous, and enterprising. This makes them energetic and versatile, but can also lead to being temperamental and impatient. Sagittarius gets along with Aries and Leo.

Capricorn: Capricorns are held to be responsible, wise, and businesslike. This allows for a high degree of competence and professionalism, but can also make them insensitive and materialistic. Capricorn is compatible with Taurus, Virgo, and Sagittarius.

Aquarius: Aquarius tend to be tolerant, intellectual, and unconventional. While this can make them intuitive and friendly, they might also be aloof and opinionated. Aquarius is compatible with Libra and Gemini.

Pisces: Pisces are regarded as friendly, benevolent, and liberal. This makes them artistic and compassionate, but they can also be impractical and fickle. Pisces is most compatible with other Pisces.

Celestial Longitude and the Signs of the Zodiac

By Gene Schwerman

Geico Commercials notwithstanding, one of the major things that distinguished the cave man from his more advanced ancient Grecian counterpart a millennium or so later was, quite simply, his failure to look above his head. Writings and pictures on the walls of caves, depict animals, trees, people even the occasional round tusked wooly mammoth but for the most part, primitive man seemed oblivious to that which was above his head. When, Ptolemy, Hipparchus, Copernicus and other early astronomers came along, they not only looked above their head, but when they did, amazingly, they saw stars. They certainly didn't see all of the stars, or even all of the planets in our solar system for that matter, but they were able to distinguish the movement of the planets from the apparent stationery positioning of the stars. The zodiac actually describes an annual cycle of 12 stations along the ecliptic, which is the passage of the sun through the heavens as it moves by the various constellations. This journey of the sun divides the ecliptic into 12 equal parts creating zones of celestial longitude. Early astronomers referred to the five planets, they could see with the naked eye as the "wandering stars." These planets included Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, and early astronomers used the movement of the sun and these planets as a way of predicting and or explaining various occurrences here on earth.

Over time, different Western, Indian and Chinese interpretations of the zodiac have emerged. Nicolas Copernicus was clearly the first astronomer to formulate what is called a heliocentric cosmology, which is basically the study of the universe and man's place within it. Modern western astrological signs can be seen as pictorial representations of the same symbols used since Hellenistic times. The glyphic representation of these characters can be seen in many fonts still utilized today. Modern day astronomy still finds the zodiacal constellations a convenient way of marking the sun's path along the ecliptic. Quite logically, the zodiac can be used to mark the moon's path and the path of the planets along the ecliptic as well. So while the continuous use of the term zodiac and various derivative terms and descriptions relating to same are to some degree a matter of convenience and tradition, they are, at least, every bit as useful as the cave man's ancient habit of dragging his date into the cave by her hair.

The almost unbelievable number of caricatures of the various signs of the zodiac are arguably about as easy to calculate as the number of stars. Incredibly, these representations are as diverse as the distance between stars and as commonly agreed upon as the likely pictures of other inhabitants of the universe. As just one example of the complexity of trying to accumulate common zodiacal signs, consider that Western, Chinese, and Indian zodiac signs abound and there is every likelihood that ancient Mayan, Aztec, and Incan versions of zodiacal signs existed but for the most part are lost. Suffice it to say there are more different representations of signs of the zodiac than there are billboards along Interstate 15 going into Las Vegas.

Further, as if there were not already enough variations of the signs of the zodiac or symbols to represent those signs, additionally, astrologers will work up complicated presentations called astrological charts, which are based on loose interpretations of the many astrological rules, which when taken as a whole suggest that all of life is literally guided by the stars. Fortune Teller's claim to be able to interpret the set of astrological data using charts which have been devised based on complex relationships between the planets and stars and even their proximity to one another or their positioning in front of or behind or between some other planet at any given time.. So that if you were born under a certain astrological sign, and that sign is typically heavily influenced by a second sign and because you dwell in this astrological "house" you are predisposed to get along best with someone who has this other astrological birth sign. These factors lead inevitably to statements like "you must be sure never to get married during a full moon" or "perhaps you will only be able to conceive a child under a harvest moon,"or even " Don’t moon grandma in the moonlight, Moonpie, ‘cause at her age the shock could send the grim reaper into her seventh house"…etc…well maybe not that last one. Because of the complicated nature of astrological forecasts and fortune-telling, much skepticism has grown up around those who practice these ideas. While many people still profess strong beliefs in the power of astrology, it tends to at the very least, lose some credibility by association with various flimflam artists, charlatans and other miscreants in search of an easy dollar. Like many other traditions and influences around us in society some people swear by it while others simply swear at it.