THE UNIVERSAL COMPENDIUM






The Twelve Signs of the Modern Zodiac

In astronomy and astrology, the zodiac is an imaginary zone of the heavens within which lie the paths of the sun, moon and principal planets. It is bounded by two circles equidistant from the ecliptic, about eighteen degrees apart; and it is divided into twelve signs, and marked by twelve constellations. The zodiac developed over 2000 years ago, and because the position of the earth has changed, the dates for each sign no longer represent the time when the sun relates to the constellation, but most astrologers still use the traditional dates.

Latin
Name
English
Name
Symbol
Order
Date of Sign[1]
Date of
Constellation
[2]
Quality 
Triplicity 
Quadruplicity 
Ruler
Aries
The Ram
First
21 Mar. to
20 Apr. (31)
21 Mar. to
18 Apr. (29)
Positive
Fire
Cardinal
Mars
Taurus
The Bull
Second
21 Apr. to
20, 21 May (30, 31)
19 Apr. to
10 May (22)
Negative
Earth
Fixed
Venus
Gemini
The Twins
Third
21, 22 May to
21 June (32, 30)
11 May to
18 June (39)
Positive
Air
Mutable
Mercury
Cancer
The Crab
Fourth
22 June to
22 July (31)
19 June to
21 July (33)
Negative
Water
Cardinal
Moon
Leo
The Lion
Fifth
23 July to
22, 23 Aug. (31, 32)
22 July to
10 Aug. (20)
Positive
Fire
Fixed
Sun
Virgo
The Virgin
Sixth
23, 24 Aug. to
22, 23 Sept. (31) 
11 Aug. to
17 Sept. (38)
Negative
Earth
Mutable
Mercury
Libra
The Scales
Seventh 
23, 24 Sept. to
22, 23 Oct. (31)
18 Sept. to
3 Nov. (46)
Positive
Air
Cardinal
Venus
Scorpio
The
Scorpion
Eighth
23, 24 Oct. to
22 Nov. (31, 30)
4 Nov. to
16 Nov. (13)
Negative
Water
Fixed
Mars
Sagittarius 
The Archer
Ninth
23 Nov. to
21, 23 Dec. (27)
17 Nov. to
13 Dec. (31, 29)
Positive
Fire
Mutable
Jupiter
Capricorn
The Goat
Tenth
22, 24 Dec. to
20 Jan. (28, 30)
14 Dec. to
21 Jan. (39)
Negative
Earth
Cardinal
Saturn
Aquarius
The Water
Carrier
Eleventh
21 Jan. to
19 Feb. (30)
22 Jan. to
14 Feb. (24)
Positive
Air
Fixed
Uranus[3]
Pisces
The Fish
(plural)
Twelfth
20 Feb. to
20 Mar. (29, 30 in leap year) 
15 Feb. to
21 Mar. (35, 36 in leap year)
Negative
Water
Mutable
Jupiter


Notes

1. Dates with the most usual variations.
2. In brackets are the number of days within each period.
3. Formerly Saturn.

Sources

Christie-Murray, D. The Practical Astrologer. London: New Burlington Books, 1990.

 



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