Aries

Aries is the first sign of the zodiac and a cardinal fire sign ruled by Mars. As the first sign, Aries is fundamentally about beginnings — the spark, the impulse to act, the courage to be first. Aries energy is direct, fast, and uninterested in committee meetings. People with strong Aries placements (Sun, Moon, Ascendant, or several personal planets in Aries) tend to be self-starters who would rather act and adjust than analyze and wait. The shadow side: impatience, impulsiveness, and difficulty seeing how their drive lands on others. In the body, Aries rules the head — Aries-strong people are often headache-prone or get hit hard in the head when stressed. The sign runs from approximately March 21 to April 19, opening the astrological year at the spring equinox.