The Twelve Signs (Rashis)

The zodiac is a circle of 360 degrees divided into twelve signs of 30 degrees each. In Vedic astrology they are called rashis.

The signs and their lords

Movable, fixed and dual

Signs are also grouped by how they act:

• Movable (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) — quick to start, fond of change and travel.
• Fixed (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) — steady, patient and slow to change.
• Dual (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) — flexible, able to see both sides.

The four elements

Fire signs bring drive and confidence; earth signs bring practicality; air signs bring ideas and communication; water signs bring feeling and intuition. A chart with most planets in one element tends to show that style strongly.

Your Moon sign

In India, when people say "my rashi", they usually mean the sign the Moon was in at birth. The Moon sign is used for daily predictions, for Sade Sati and for many matching rules, because it describes the mind and how events are felt. See Moon sign and Sun sign.

Masculine and feminine signs

Odd signs (Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius, Aquarius) are called masculine or active; even signs (Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn, Pisces) are feminine or receptive. Some planets are said to work better in one kind than the other — the Sun, Mars and Jupiter prefer odd signs; the Moon, Venus and Saturn are comfortable in even signs.

Signs and directions

Each element is linked with a direction: fire signs with the east, earth signs with the south, air signs with the west and water signs with the north. This is used in Prashna (horary) questions about lost items or the direction of travel, and in some Vastu methods.

Sign qualities in daily life

• Aries — quick to start, brave, impatient.
• Taurus — steady, practical, fond of comfort and good food.
• Gemini — curious, talkative, quick to learn.
• Cancer — caring, protective, attached to home.
• Leo — dignified, generous, likes to lead.
• Virgo — careful, analytical, service-minded.
• Libra — balanced, fair, social and artistic.
• Scorpio — intense, private, determined.
• Sagittarius — principled, optimistic, fond of learning and travel.
• Capricorn — disciplined, patient, ambitious.
• Aquarius — independent, thoughtful, interested in society.
• Pisces — gentle, imaginative, spiritual.

These are the colours of each sign. A planet placed in a sign takes on some of that colour.

A worked example

Mercury in Gemini (its own sign) gives a quick, flexible mind and skill with words. Mercury in Pisces (its debilitation) gives an imaginative, intuitive mind that may find dry detail harder. Neither is "better" for every purpose: the first suits trade and writing; the second can suit poetry, music and healing work.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my Vedic sign differ from my Western sign? Because Vedic astrology uses the sidereal zodiac, about 24 degrees behind the tropical one. See sidereal and tropical.

What is my "lagna rashi" and "chandra rashi"? The lagna rashi is the sign of the ascendant; the chandra rashi is the Moon sign.

Are some signs luckier than others? No. Each sign has strengths and challenges; the chart as a whole decides.