Air Signs May Be The Smartest Signs Of The Zodiac (Depending On Who You Ask)
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Even if you can name drop your Sun sign, rising sign, and Moon sign, you might not be familiar with the natural elements that also rule your birth chart. Each of the 12 zodiac signs is ruled by either water, air, earth, or fire, and the qualities associated with your element can explain why you are the way you are.
Take the three air signs—Aquarius, Gemini, and Libra—for example. “They are all about intellectual and mental energy, and everything that has to do with communication,” says Narayana Montúfar, a senior astrologer at Astrology.com and author of Moon Signs: Unlock Your Inner Luminary Power. “These are the signs that spend a lot of time up in their heads—thinking and analyzing every side of a situation.” They’re usually your teachers, lawyers, engineers, and journalists.
But that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to these complex signs. Curious to know more? Ahead, astrologers explain how each air sign channels their intellectual influence.
What are air signs known for in astrology?
Due to their intellectual and communicative reputation, it's not surprising that these signs are often considered the smarty pants of the zodiac, says Liz Simmons, a professional astrologer and writer for Astrology.com based in Salem, Massachusetts. At least, when it comes to existential and logical intelligence.
“The air signs' gifts lie within processing the human mind and experience,” which is no easy feat, adds Brilla Samay, a certified karmic astrologer and tarot consultant based in Los Angeles, California. They’re often the ones forming explanations for ideas, theories, and concepts you never even knew existed, she adds.
Consequently, air signs can get bored easily. “If something isn’t meeting their needs, they are quick to make changes,” says Sanasjia Clervoix, an astrologer and energy healer. And because their bodies need to keep up with their quick minds, you’ll most likely find an air sign on the go. “Air signs tend to be restless, physically expressive, and quick, due to their need for constant mental stimulation,” says Simmons.
But as with all signs in astrology, there are also a few common misconceptions about air signs. “People tend to think that air signs are unemotional and have a more detached approach to their relationships,” says Clervoix. “In reality, air signs are extremely in tune to what is going on around them and tend to compartmentalize what they are feeling internally so they can sort through their emotions from a more logical perspective.” And despite their best intentions, it’s hard for these signs to ground themselves (because, ya know, air), so they can be pretty indecisive and fickle, adds Valerie Mesa, a professional astrologer and writer based in Miami, Florida.
So it’s not so much that these signs are above it all—they may tend toward the ~ethereal~, but they're not elusive. Air signs actually love being surrounded by a variety of people and are the most social of the four elements, Montúfar says. It’s just that while they’re busy being the life of the party, they’re also completely unbothered by what anyone else thinks of them (or, simply, are trying to understand their emotions before expressing them).
What To Know About The Air Signs:
Aquarius: The Rebel (January 20 - February 18)
“Aquarius is the rebel,” says Montúfar. There’s an out-of-the-box air and originality to everything they do. Think of it this way: If there’s a crowd of people doing the same thing, you won’t find an Aquarian there. Either because they’re leading the pack or never saw the point in expending energy for a cause they didn’t really vibe with in the first place.
“Aquarians will stand out in any setting, whether they try to or not,” says Clervoix. They’re used to going against the grain and waiting for everyone else to catch up. Aquarians are also forward thinking, and this mindset allows them to be visionaries as well as revolutionaries, says Mesa.
Because they have a strong sense of self, you’d be hard-pressed to get this fixed sign to change their mind. Aquarians don’t respond well to being told what to do or how to think. But that doesn’t mean they take people for granted, says Mesa. “On the contrary, this sign has a humanitarian spirit and a collaborative mindset,” she explains. “In their eyes, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. There’s no such thing as an individual without a community.”
This is because Aquarians tend to think more existentially about innovating humanity as a whole, Clervoix says. They have a long-term, progressive vision for the world that they can only bring forward through delegating roles so everybody can work together as a team, adds Samay.
Gemini: The Chameleon (May 21 - June 20)
This sign can adapt to almost any situation and tend to be quick-witted, making them the chameleon of the Zodiac. “Whether you’re meeting up with a group of friends to celebrate a birthday or making a cameo at a work colleague’s soirée, the likelihood of a Gemini organizing either of these social events (if not both) is more than likely,” says Mesa.
And because this air sign has a natural inclination toward innovation and intellect, it's no surprise that they know how to move efficiently in social settings. Catch a Gemini “working a room and finding the right people to speak to in order to bring about opportunities for themselves, professionally or socially,” says Clervoix.
Although this mutable sign gets a bad rep for being two-faced, that’s not an accurate reflection of those born under this sign. Geminis are communicators, problem solvers, and curious people. Because they’re constantly absorbing information, both good and bad, they’re some of the least judgmental people around, says Montúfar.
“Geminis are versatile, great at adaptability, and analyzing a situation from every perspective,” she says. It’s what allows them to get along with pretty much anyone. (Well, as long as that person doesn’t bore them.)
And sure, your Gemini friend may love a gossip sesh, but that’s only because “they thrive when information is transferred between humans and don’t like to limit their mental potential,” says Samay.
As the most changeable of the zodiac signs, Geminis are not here for routines or mundane schedules. Expect them to change their minds a lot because they want to be wherever they’ll have the most fun. They’re too excitable for anything less.
Libra: The Trendsetter (September 23 - October 22)
Charm and magnetism—that’s how you’ll spot a Libra. This sign is a social butterfly like Gemini, but pickier when it comes to acquaintances, says Montúfar. They appreciate anything beautiful—art, design, and all the gratification life has to offer—“as they’re the only air sign ruled by the goddess of pleasure, Venus,” she adds.
“Libras have a core desire to inspire others and their surroundings, so they’re often trendsetters,” says Samay. Over time, they may even be labeled as icons for the changes they bring to the world, she adds. (Case in point: Kim Kardashian, Cardi B, and Serena Williams are all Libra celebrities.)
Because they’re also diplomatic—a Libra's symbol is a scale, after all!—expect this air sign to go out of their way to put themselves in someone else’s shoes, says Mesa. They’ll go hard for the underdog and sometimes defend them more than they’d defend themselves, notes Montúfar. In everything they get involved in, a Libra will work toward fairness and harmony.
However, as moved as they are by injustice, Libras really dislike confrontation—in fact, they’re likely to hide from it to avoid getting involved since they tend to be people-pleasers. And if they do find themselves in the middle of a sticky sitch? Don’t ask them to make a decision because they’ll hate that, too.
Similarly to Gemini’s social game, this sign brings their contagious energy to all their relationships, and they love hard. This partner-focused sign also loves to be seen with others (that’s Venus talking), so more often than not, you will find a Libra with someone by their side, says Simmons.
Libras are happiest when they’re surrounded by the finer things in life, Montúfar says. It’s all about good food, good music, (uh, good sex) and optimism for this air sign.
Which signs are most compatible with air signs?
Now, when it comes to what the other elements think of air signs, it’s kind of a mixed bag. An emotional water sign might find an air sign beau to be a bit cold, while an earth sign may be too stable for a flighty air sign.
But fire signs—Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius—they’re all about the air signs. The feeling is mutual because “air feeds fire,” Montúfar says, meaning that any of the air signs are compatible with any of the fire signs.
These two element types naturally get one another, Simmons says. Fire signs can handle air signs’ cool exterior, while also providing warmth, spontaneity, and passion to the friendship or partnership. “Air signs also like that fire signs can match their extraversion, friendliness, and independence,” she adds.
Plus, these breezy-meets-blazing pairs just complement each other. While air signs are more intellectual, fire signs are all about action. Air signs are the ones collecting all of these new ideas and planning movements, but fire signs are the ones actually at the picket line, fighting, says Samay. Together, these two elements are able to push things forward, she adds.
And you know how they say opposites attract? Well, each air sign has a fire sign opposition pairing, or sister sign (literally on the opposite side of the Zodiac wheel). For Aquarius, the perfect match is Sun-ruled Leo, while Gemini is best suited for Jupiter-ruled Sagittarius, and Libra’s OTP is Aries, ruled by the fiery planet Mars.
Which signs are least compatible with air signs?
Water signs are probably the least compatible with air signs, according to Simmons. "Air's pretty cerebral, and water is pretty empathizing," she says. While the former leads with the head, the latter leads with the heart. As a result, "air signs may not like how sensitive water signs are and how quick they are to turn in their mood," she says. "And water signs may not like how cool, calm, [and] collected air signs are."
Whatever your element, the next time you're in need of a workout buddy, look no further than your nearest air sign, due to their go-go-go nature. Just make sure the class is stimulating enough, mentally and physically—maybe cycling or HIIT—so there's no way it'll bore their active minds.
Meet the Experts: Narayana Montúfar is a senior astrologer at Astrology.com and author of Moon Signs: Unlock Your Inner Luminary Power. Liz Simmons is a professional astrologer and writer for Astrology.com based in Salem, Massachusetts. Brilla Samay is a certified karmic astrologer and tarot consultant based in Los Angeles, California. Sanasjia Clervoix is an astrologer and energy healer. Valerie Mesa is a professional astrologer and writer based in Miami, Florida.
Additional reporting by Aryelle Siclait.
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