Zodiac Signs and Symbols

Zodiac signs are something that most of us are quite familiar with. Based on our date of birth, we know our Sun Sign or Zodiac Sign. In fact, every newspaper always has a column where an astrologer gives out a daily prediction based on your sun sign. You may even be getting an e-mail or two from some websites with some similar information.

If you may have looked at the newspaper carefully, you may have seen a little symbol or a drawing right next to your sign. These are called zodiac symbols. These symbols, more or less, help us define the basic characteristics of each sun sign.

Let us look at the 12 sings of the zodiac and their respective zodiac symbols to gain more insight and understanding of the basic nature and impulses of each zodiac sign.

Aries – The Ram

Aries is the first sign of the zodiac. As such, the Ram represents someone who is like a new born infant. An Aries person is always demanding attention. His needs always come first. He is aggressive and committed to his cause. He is firm and independent and an idealist. As the Ram is the symbol of Aries, you may often find the Aries person to have sharp features with well marked brows. The horns on the Ram symbolize that he means business. Since his ruling planet is Mars, this person is absolutely direct and to-the-point about everything that he wants.

Taurus – The Bull

Taurus is the second sign of the zodiac. Like their symbol, the Bull, Taureans are always steadfast and solid. He likes to be left alone. If pushed, he can be obstinate. And if he is pushed a little more, then he will charge like a raging Bull. Taureans normally don’t speak much, and if they do, they make do with small and crisp sentences. They can be brooding and stoic, but never nervous. With Venus as the ruling planet, Taureans love grand things and doing things in grand style.

Gemini – The Twins

Ruled by Mercury, the sign of Gemini displays mercurial fervor in all its aspects. These people are always on the go, and can switch between emotions so fast, that one begins to wonder. Their symbol, ‘The Twins’ is very apt for them as they can be one thing one moment, and another thing the next. Gemini people are eager, impulsive and quick in their movements. They can talk on both sides of an argument, and make each side sound right. With the Gemini duality, they can do two things at a time – they are the master multi-taskers.

Cancer – The Crab

Ruled by the Moon, Cancerians can change their moods based on the phases of the moon. Moody and emotional, the Crab will never be able to take a decision until he hems and haws over it for a very long time. He is funny, witty and then he is melancholy and depressed. They have a vivid imagination. Cancer people are often quite intuitive and secretive. They never give up, just like the Crab, they hold on to what they want, tenaciously. And just like the Crab, they love their home.

Leo – The Lion

Ruled by the Sun, Leos love to be in the middle of the limelight and the glory. They bask in all the attention that they get. He is the perfect mixture of a loving cat and the arrogant pride of the King of the Jungle. These Lions don’t like to take orders from anyone. They always like to tell people what to do and how to do it. At the same time, Leos are generous and giving. They absolutely thrive on drama and theatrics. They are very romantic and love taking on responsibilities.

Virgo – The Virgin

A Virgo is a silent person and most definitely a loner. No matter what, this person is always neat and clean. Typically, he is a worrier. Dependable and sincere, Virgos are workaholics. Virgos are not the lavish types – rather they are very prudent and conservative. They can become very intense in their thinking process. In romance, a Virgo will look for quality, rather than quantity.

Libra – The Scales

A Libran is typically like the symbol of its sign – balanced and poised. They are good natured and pleasant. However, there is an inherent inconsistency with this sign. They can never make up their minds. They fluctuate with their moods, their ideas and their periods of activity and rest. They are kind, gentle, fair, and also argumentative, stubborn and indecisive.

Scorpio – The Scorpion

A Scorpio is a very intense and secretive person. He rarely likes to reveal his mind. He can be extremely patient, but when his patience wears down, beware! He will lash out just like the scorpion that is his zodiac sign symbol. His eyes are always deep and penetrating and intense. Remember – A Scorpio is an egoist. But at the same time, he is a gentle and a helpful person. But, then again, he will never flatter you. And if you ask for his opinion, be ready to listen to short and sweet, but harsh version of the truth.

Sagittarius – The Archer

He is the heart of the party. He is lively and witty and cheerful. But then he often does not think before he talks, and if he ends up saying the wrong thing, he never meant it except in the nicest way possible. With a Sagittarius, you are always left wondering. He is the archer and is always restless. He cannot keep still. He has to be doing something at all times. With Jupiter as the ruling planet, you can count on a Sagittarius to be loyal to his friends and be the one to help them when they are in trouble.

Capricorn – The Goat

Capricorns are observant, steady and they know how to take things slow. But that doesn’t mean that they don’t want to go to the top. Just like the Goat, which is its symbol, the Capricorn knows that "Slow and Steady Wins the Race". He is determined, serious and stable. They can be stubborn and melancholy. With Saturn ruling their sign, when Capricornians decide to go for it, they just go for it. The Capricorn person is efficient and reliable and responsible. Depend upon it.

Aquarius – The Water-Bearer

An Aquarius is intelligent, witty and a dreamer. They are original and determined, but they love their freedom. They can often be perceived as superficial. They seek quantity rather than quality in their social circle. They have an analytical bent of mind. They are constantly seeking new knowledge and information.

Pisces – The Fish

Pisceans are just like the symbol of their sign – two fish going in opposite directions. They can never be still and their mind is always doing two things at the same time. They are very intuitive and dreamy and their powers of imagination are legendary. He is a born romantic. He is artistic and creative. He is very compassionate and generous and loving. A Piscean has a great sense of humor.

With this information about the zodiac signs and the zodiac symbols, it should become easy to understand the basic impulses of each sign.