Odds are that you have heard someone refer to their zodiac sign at some point in your life, or even done so yourself – Phrases like ‘what’s your sign’ are so commonplace that we don’t stop to think about what they actually mean. What role does the sun play with your Zodiac Sign, and how does it influence your life?

Astrology uses an important tool known as your birth chart in order to understand the impact that the universal energy at the time of your birth has on your life. This energy is influenced by a number of different factors, with each of the planets ruling over a unique area of your life. For example, Mercury is associated with communication, impacting your rational thought, reasoning, and communication skills. Meanwhile, Mars is associated with passion, driving our courage, determination, and power. These influences help to shape who we are as an individual, and how we handle various situations in life, directed by the location of the planet at the time of birth.

Along with the influence of the planets, the location of both the sun and the moon also play a vital role. In fact, these two are responsible for shaping who we are on a fundamental level. The location of the sun at the time of your birth establishes your true ‘self’, the foundation for your personality. You may not realize it, but this is an influence that many of us are actually familiar with. Known as your ‘sun sign’ or, more commonly, your ‘zodiac sign’ when we talk about being a Taurus or a Scorpio, we are referring directly to this – the sun’s location. By identifying as a ‘Leo’, you are actually saying that the Sun was found in Leo at the time you were born.

The location of the sun in your natal chart influences not only your basic personality or identity, it also has a direct influence on your creative ability, your direction in life and your ability to handle the challenges that life throws your way. It helps to determine whether you make your decisions based on your heart versus your head, or if you identify as an introvert or an extrovert.

Interested in learning more? Find your Zodiac Sign below and read on…

Aries (Mar 21 – Apr 19)

If you’re an Aries then you are a bold, determined and impulsive risk taker. When faced with a challenge in life, you refuse to waste time playing around or over-analyzing, and you’re certainly not going to wait for someone else to take care of it. Instead, you tackle the situation head-on without so much as a second thought. This courage is a reflection of the flame that burns so bright within you, and while it may occasionally get you into trouble, at least you’re going to get things done!

Taurus (Apr 20 – May 20)

To those around you, you are seen as a hard worker, even a workaholic. While others tend to shy away from the effort required to achieve their dreams, you are more than prepared to roll up your sleeve and get your hands dirty. What most people may not realize about you is that it isn’t the work or even the sense of accomplishment that drives you. You have a deep love for the finer things in life, and you’re willing to do the work to ensure that you can enjoy just that. Your biggest flaw? You’re stubborn to a fault and never know when to just let something go.

Gemini (May 21 – Jun 20)

Highly social and people driven, you truly are the life of the party. If there is anything that drives you and provides you with energy in this life, it’s the time spent with others. Not only do you enjoy constant human interaction, but you’re also a skilled communicator and gifted storyteller. Always open to share and exchange information, you need to remember that there are some things in life that you need to do alone. The sooner you learn to value your own company, the sooner you can let go of your fear of being alone. You don’t always need people surrounding you in order to be happy.

Cancer (Jun 21 – Jul 22)

The most compassionate, sensitive and emotional sign of the zodiac, those that are born under the sign of Cancer live your lives guided completely by your heart. You experience everything at an incredibly intense level – love, happiness, sadness, anger – it’s always to an extreme. This level of vulnerability will lead you down some painful and heartbreaking roads, but don’t allow it to harden your heart. The compassion and caring that you bring to this world are so badly needed!

Leo (Jul 23 – Aug 22)

Bold and charismatic, those that are born under the sign of Leo are the natural born leaders of the zodiac. You don’t shy away from the spotlight, ready and willing to take charge and lead the armies around you towards victory in whatever area of your life you are currently focused. You don’t just lead people for the purposes of success, although that is surely part of it – you genuinely care about the people around you, eager to see them succeed and find happiness themselves.

Virgo (Aug 23 – Sept 22)

Focused and driven, those born under the sign of Virgo long for success, and you go to great lengths to ensure that you achieve it. Unlike Aries and Leo, you aren’t bold, loud or in your face – your determination works behind the scenes. You set incredibly high expectations both for yourself and for those around you, to the extreme of complete perfectionism. At the end of the day, all you seek is a little acknowledgment for your actions.

Libra (Sept 23 – Oct 22)

Your life is dedicated to peace and harmony, bringing light to an otherwise dark world. While others may struggle with judgment and opinions, you are genuinely open-minded. You understand that everyone has a story, and you make an effort to understand it. Your desire for balance carries over into other areas of your life, which is why you have such an incredible natural talent when it comes to fashion and art.

Scorpio (Oct 23 – Nov 21)

Dark and mysterious, those born under the sign of Scorpio have a deep understanding of the darker side of humanity. While others hold onto their dream of a perfect world, you realize that there are going to be times that things have to be torn apart in order to be put together even better. While you accept this reality, you still build walls in order to protect yourself from it. Highly passionate, when you give yourself to something, you give your all. This is the key to your success.

Sagittarius (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

You genuinely believe that the secret to happiness in this life is that it must be lived to it’s fullest, always on the search for your next big adventure. You live your life as a student, always learning and expanding your knowledge base, but you believe that this is best done through experience. For example, you aren’t interested in reading about the culture of another country, you want to immerse yourself in it. There is nothing that you desire more than true freedom.

Capricorn (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

Life for those born under the sign of Capricorn has one main purpose, to achieve your ultimate goals and dreams. Without a goal, you lack purpose, a feeling that leaves you feeling lost and unhappy. However, when you are working towards something specific then you are truly in your element. You are highly detail oriented, nothing can get past you. Often denying your feelings entirely, you make your decisions based on facts, data, and information. However, while you may be a master of burying your feelings away, they will continue to fester beneath the surface.

Aquarius (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

Those born under the sign of Aquarius are true originals. You break the mold, test the boundaries and seek to be seen as one-of-a-kind. In fact, you will make many decisions in life specifically with the purpose of avoiding falling into ‘the norm’. Like many other signs you long for success, however, your approach is like nothing else. Your actions are sometimes so out there that others label you as eccentric, but rest assured, your individuality is key to who you are, never let that go.

Pisces (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

While the other signs may live following their heart, or their intellect, you are driven by your dreams. Highly intellectual, you refuse to believe that life is nothing more than just what you see around you. Instead, you believe that it has the capability to be so much more. You are a hopeless romantic, viewing the possibility of true love with the same optimism that you see the world as a whole. Genuinely believing that your real-life fairy-tale is out there, you refuse to stop searching until you find it.