Aries
Zodiac Sign
Horoscope Traits of the Ram Star Sign
The Aries Characteristics in Astrology
Aries, the Ram, is the first sign of the Zodiac. In astrology, Aries combines the element fire and the cardinal quality. That makes the Aries Zodiac sign personality one of a contender. A brave and eager challenger.
Aries, the Ram, is the first sign of the Zodiac. The sun enters Aries at the Spring equinox on March 21. Aries belongs to the element fire, its quality is cardinal (leading) and its charge is positive. Its Ruler is Mars, and the sun exalts in it. Aries’ motto is: “I am.”
Aries the Challenger
In the horoscope chart, Aries brings impulsive energy to planets or Houses therein. Aries is the Zodiac sign of impatient activity, the one who acts before thinking, because passivity aggravates. That easily leads to competition, even battle. For Aries, the important thing is to do something, whatever it is. You are what you do.
Achilles as portrayed by Brad Pitt in the movie Troy.
One of the best representatives of the Aries Zodiac sign mentality is Achilles, the Ancient Greek legendary warrior hero, who threw himself into battle in what seems to have been a constant struggle against boredom. His minor weakness was what finally got him, but until then he was magnificent in his proud pursuit of the warrior path.
In the horoscope, Aries is the Zodiac sign that stirs things up and makes sure that we don’t get complacent, falling asleep in a society that is good enough.
Those who have Aries as their Zodiac sign in the horoscope are born with the sun in Aries, which is between March 21 and April 19. For much more about the Aries horoscope, see the links on the left side menu and below.
Aries
English name: The Ram
Element / Quality: Fire / Cardinal
Ruler / Exalting: Mars / Sun
Keyword: Activity
Motto: “I am.”
Character: Challenger
Sun sign dates: March 21 – April 19
Archetype: The Warrior
Aries Horoscope Traits
Aries, starting when at the Spring equinox the days get longer than the nights, is the Zodiac sign of the eager contender, the challenger. The Aries horoscope character is one with the traits of impulsive activity, boldly going ahead without any hesitation or trepidation. So to speak: into the light.
Aries Star Sign
Those who have Aries as their star sign are born when the sun was in Aries, normally March 21 – April 19 (it differs slightly from year to year, because of the leap years). Therefore, it is also – more accurately – called the sun sign.
The sun in your horoscope is your natural self – what you are when you relax, when other planets in your horoscope are not active. It’s your basic drive, a character more or less evident in all you do and all you are.
The sun is the most important point in your horoscope chart, but it’s not the only thing describing your personality. You need to look at all the components of your birth chart, to get a complete astrological description of yourself. But here you find what can be said in general about the Aries Horoscope Traits, based only on the sun’s position.
No Relaxing for Aries
If your star sign is Aries, you are not much for relaxing. Actually, Aries has a hard time relaxing even when inactive. You need to do something, be involved in something. You also tend to be quite impulsive with your actions.
Aries is a strong believer in the principle that it’s better to do something wrong than nothing at all. Aries is quite energetic, making both wrongs and rights in a high tempo, rarely looking back.
To Aries, life is a challenge and should be met accordingly – sort of like a warrior or an athlete. Aries goes for the win and is not that fond at all of losing. There is pride in this, of course, but mainly it’s a question of trying one’s capacity against the biggest obstacle imaginable. Aries mainly searches for the limits of his or her personal capacity – with the intent to exceed them.
Aries, illustration from a 1482 edition of a book by Hyginus.
Three Different Aries
A Zodiac sign does not give exactly the same influence all through its 30°. Its first third has something of a cardinal quality, whatever the quality of the sign as a whole is, its second third is slightly more fixed in quality, and the last third is more mutable.
If you were born at the end of March, the sun is in the beginning of Aries. That means you’re very impatient and impulsive, indeed. You’re the typical Aries, since it’s the cardinal fire sign. Therefore, it’s the strongest in the cardinal part of the sign.
If you were born in the beginning of April, the sun is in the middle of Aries. Then you’re quite proud of yourself and what you do, and persistent in pursuing your own wishes – sort of like Leo (the fixed fire sign).
If you were born in the middle of April, the sun is at the end of Aries. That makes you extremely impatient, to the point of having trouble finishing what you started. You prefer just moving over to a new project – slightly resembling the character traits of Sagittarius (the mutable fire sign).
The star constellation Aries, represented by a ram. Illustration from Firmamentum, by Hevelius 1690.
Aries’ Father in the Horoscope
The sun in the horoscope also represents your father (the mother is represented by the moon). That means your Aries traits reveal something about the characteristics of your relationship with your father.
If you have the sun in Aries, your relation to your father is active and impatient. It’s probably mutual. You may not talk much, but you enjoy doing things together – and challenging each other. When you talk, it’s often in an argument, but you rarely stay angry with each other for long.
Aries Compatibility
The Aries Zodiac sign, coming with the strong sunlight of spring, naturally belongs to the element fire, as do Leo and Sagittarius. But that doesn’t necessarily mean Aries is particularly compatible with them – there might instead be some rivalry. Nor for that matter is the Aries Zodiac sign always incompatible with, say, the water signs Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces, in the horoscope.
All the astrological traits of each Zodiac sign have to be considered when examining their compatibility. Click the header to read more about what it means to the Aries horoscope sign.
Zodiac Sign Calculator
If you’re unsure of your Zodiac sign, or if you want to know on what degree (between 0° and 30°) of the sign the sun was at your birth, please visit the Zodiac sign calculator. It’s very easy to use, and then you’ll know for sure. Click the header to get there.
Aries Sexuality
The horoscope also reveals what your sex life is like. That’s not only done by your Zodiac sun sign, but it does give some general indications. Click the header to see what astrology has to say about the sexuality and sexual preferences of those who are born in the Aries Zodiac sign.
Aries Archetype
In the horoscope, the Aries Zodiac sign represents a certain archetype – that of the warrior, like famous Achilles on the Greek relief above. Click the header to read more about the archetype of Aries.
Zodiac Sign Meanings
Your horoscope Zodiac sign is where the sun was at the time of your birth. That’s why it’s called your Sun Sign. It’s also called Star Sign, because of the stellar constellation it represents. Click the header to read more about the twelve Zodiac signs and what they tell about personality traits.