Walker Geography, plate III, c. 1800
š The Foundation
The 12 Signs (Rashi)
Aries through Pisces - each sign colours how a planet expresses.
8 min readLesson 3 of 25
The zodiac is divided into 12 signs (Rashi). In Vedic astrology we use the sidereal zodiac, so sign positions differ from Western astrology by about 23 degrees.
The 12 signs and their qualities
Aries (Mesha)Fire, cardinal, ruled by Mars. Pioneering, energetic, impulsive.
Taurus (Vrishabha)Earth, fixed, ruled by Venus. Stable, sensual, stubborn.
Gemini (Mithuna)Air, mutable, ruled by Mercury. Curious, adaptable, restless.
Cancer (Karka)Water, cardinal, ruled by Moon. Nurturing, emotional, protective.
Leo (Simha)Fire, fixed, ruled by Sun. Proud, creative, authoritative.
Virgo (Kanya)Earth, mutable, ruled by Mercury. Analytical, service-oriented, critical.
Libra (Tula)Air, cardinal, ruled by Venus. Balanced, diplomatic, relationship-focused.
Scorpio (Vrishchika)Water, fixed, ruled by Mars. Intense, transformative, secretive.
Sagittarius (Dhanu)Fire, mutable, ruled by Jupiter. Philosophical, adventurous, optimistic.
Capricorn (Makara)Earth, cardinal, ruled by Saturn. Ambitious, disciplined, practical.
Aquarius (Kumbha)Air, fixed, ruled by Saturn. Innovative, humanitarian, detached.
Pisces (Meena)Water, mutable, ruled by Jupiter. Intuitive, compassionate, dreamy.
The three most important signs in your chart
- Moon Sign (Rashi): Your emotional nature and instincts.
- Ascendant (Lagna): How you present to the world and your physical constitution.
- Sun Sign: Your core identity and vitality.
When all three are in harmony, life tends to feel more aligned.
Key takeaway
Your Moon sign reveals your emotional nature - in Vedic astrology, it is often more important than your Sun sign.
Module 1 Quiz: The Foundation
Finish all 5 lessons in this module to unlock
Up next
Planetary Periods (Dasha)