Your Sun sign
Your Sun sign is the zodiac sign the Sun was passing through on your birthday. It is the best-known part of astrology and describes your core identity, your energy and the person you are growing into.
The full deep dive
What the Sun shows
In astrology the Sun stands for your centre: your sense of self, your vitality, your pride and purpose. Its sign describes the flavour of that core self. It is the part of you that shines when you feel most yourself.
How it is worked out
Over a year the Sun appears to travel through all twelve signs, spending about a month in each. The dates shift by a day or so from year to year, so if your birthday is on the change between two signs (a “cusp”), the exact time and year decide which sign you are. Starlight works this out precisely.
The twelve Sun signs
| Sign | Roughly | Element |
|---|---|---|
| Aries | 21 March to 19 April | Fire |
| Taurus | 20 April to 20 May | Earth |
| Gemini | 21 May to 20 June | Air |
| Cancer | 21 June to 22 July | Water |
| Leo | 23 July to 22 August | Fire |
| Virgo | 23 August to 22 September | Earth |
| Libra | 23 September to 22 October | Air |
| Scorpio | 23 October to 21 November | Water |
| Sagittarius | 22 November to 21 December | Fire |
| Capricorn | 22 December to 19 January | Earth |
| Aquarius | 20 January to 18 February | Air |
| Pisces | 19 February to 20 March | Water |
Cusps
People born on the day the Sun changes sign sometimes say they are “on the cusp” and feel like a blend. Astronomically you are always one sign or the other, but neighbouring planets in your chart may well bring in the next sign’s flavour too.
Sources and perspectives
- Linda Goodman, Sun Signs
- Stephen Arroyo, Astrology, Psychology and the Four Elements