Always Making Plans In Your Friend Group? You Might Be A Cardinal Sign
Whenever the topic of astrology or zodiac signs comes up at dinner with your friends, your mind probably goes straight to your Sun sign. (You know, like Scorpio, Gemini, or Taurus, etc.) True, your Sun sign is usually the main thing you look at when reading your horoscope—however, there’s *so* much more to astrology than that sign alone. Example: cardinal signs.
Unfamiliar with this astro term? Think of it as just one way of categorizing each of the signs in the zodiac by various qualities—this time by modality, specifically. There are three different modalities in astrology: Cardinal, fixed, and mutable, and each of them bring out a unique set of qualities in the four signs that fall into the respective categories.
The cardinal signs are Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn, says Donna Page, an Atlanta-based astrologer with a graduate degree in counseling psychology. The mutable signs are Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces. Finally, the fixed signs are Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius.
And while each of the zodiac signs that fall within the different modalities bring something special to the astrological table, cardinal signs *specifically* are known to be the initiators of the zodiac, which means they’re the ones who incite change and lead.
If you’re a cardinal sign and this resonates with you, or you’re just curious and want to learn more, here's everything you need to know about being a cardinal sign, according to professional astrologers.
Meet the Experts: Donna Page is an Atlanta-based astrologer with a graduate degree in counseling psychology. Sanasjia Clervoix is an astrologer based in New York.
What is a cardinal sign, exactly?
If you're a zodiac buff, you already know there are different types of signs in astrology: You have your Sun sign, your Moon sign, and your Rising sign, among others. But while these are planetary signs—determined by where a certain planet was in the sky when you were born—a cardinal sign is a quality sign.
Quality signs help determine how you approach things in life. And, to make matters even more interesting, quality signs are associated with the four seasons. In a nutshell, that means cardinal signs start each weather season, mutable signs end every season, and fixed signs are in the middle of each season.
Each of the four cardinal Sun signs is tied to the beginning of a new season. For example, Aries starts Spring, Cancer kicks off summer, Libra begins fall, and Capricorn rings in winter, says Page. So, yeah, you're kind of a big deal in the sky and on the ground.
What are the four cardinal signs?
The zodiac signs that fall under the cardinal category share some common characteristics, but the modality manifests itself in each one a bit differently. Ahead, take a deeper dive into each of the four cardinal signs, Capricorn, Libra, Cancer, and Aries, according to Sanasjia Clervoix, an astrologer based in New York.
Capricorn
Dates: December 22 - January 19
Element: Earth
Symbol: Sea-Goat
Ruling Planet: Saturn
Personality Traits: ICYDK, Capricorn season signals the start of the new year, which is why there’s all that "new year, new me" energy floating around, Clervoix says. Like a true cardinal sign, Caps are also the main initiators of the zodiac, and their self-starter attitudes allow for new things to open up and build in just about everyone else's lives, too.
Basically, this earth sign possesses the mold for what comes to fruition in the following months. "They’re really good at knowing what needs to be done in order to achieve any goals," Clervoix explains, which is why you probably go to your Cap friend for advice when you want to do tricky things that require a solid plan, like starting your own business, taking on big projects, or entering a new phase in a relationship.
Libra
Dates: September 23 - October 22
Element: Air
Symbol: Scales
Ruling Planet: Venus
Personality Traits: Like the scales representing it, this air sign brings balance to the zodiac. They’re the mediators, with a knack for being able to reflect and manage the energy in a room, Clervoix says. Thanks to these talents, Libras channel their cardinal energy in a more social way.
"Libras show people in their social network what to do with the energy they have based on what’s around them," explains Clervoix. "Their energy is activating for the collective, and they’re able to communicate what needs to be done." Basically, because of their penchant for balance and maintaining the social order, Libras use their cardinal energy to guide a group to feel harmonious.
Cancer
Dates: June 21 - July 22
Element: Water
Symbol: Crab
Ruling Planet: The Moon
Personality Traits: Cancers are typically facilitators, considering their "cardinal activation is more subconscious," Clervoix says. This water sign will "help people see what they may not have been seeing within themselves," allowing them to initiate change, Clervoix explains. Cancer's energy can remove blockages by showing others where they’ve been lying dormant, then provide guidance on how to move forward, she adds.
And ICYMI, Cancers are known for being ~emotional~ creative creatures, but this tendency also helps them uncover any feelings hiding under the surface that need to be revealed and released—which is how they use their initiating cardinal power.
Aries
Dates: March 21 - April 19
Element: Fire
Symbol: Ram
Ruling Planet: Mars
Personality Traits: A fire sign, Aries channels their cardinal sign energy by being the motivators of the zodiac. Among other things, an Aries will never sit around and wait for you to tell them what to do, Clervoix says. So if they want something, they work toward it until it becomes a reality, and they don’t care if you tell them no. (Which is why sometimes Aries are also labeled as impatient and impulsive, ha.)
And because they’re so intrinsically motivated, others tend to look toward Aries as an example of what to do, and then follow suit. "They’re the cardinal sign that leads the charge and shows what needs to be done," Clervoix says. Like the other cardinal signs, they show people what’s missing in the current environment before encouraging them to make necessary changes.
What are the common cardinal sign traits?
It’s a little different for each Sun sign, but as a whole, being a cardinal sign can have a big impact on your personality. If you’re a cardinal sign, you’re first and foremost a born leader. "Their energy is about jumping in and pushing things forward," Page says. Cardinal signs are movers and shakers, she explains, so you’re not the type who sits around waiting for things to happen.
You're also all about building on any existing momentum to take things to the next level. For example, as soon as you finish running a 5K, you’re ready for a 10K. And, if that gets your adrenaline pumping, you’ll totally do a half marathon and full marathon at some point. That’s just how you roll, Cardinal.
Lastly, you’re totally the group planner. Yup, you’re also super amazing at coming up with plans and a pro at getting others to rally around you. So, it makes sense that on the career front, you’re the one everyone wants on their team. You have the motivation to push things forward and, honestly, you make everyone else look good in the process. (Go, you!)
Being a cardinal sign is pretty dang awesome (hello, you lead everyone!), but keep in mind that, sometimes, it’s okay to kick back and just be. Sure, pushing things forward is your ~thing~, but it’s also nice to chill out and watch the clouds roll by. After that, you can totally get back to ruling the world, as you do best.
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