Zodiac and Planet Symbols: What Each Glyph Means

Every zodiac sign has its own symbol, or glyph: a small mark that astrologers have used for centuries to write a birth chart quickly. Each one is a tiny picture of the sign, from the ram's horns of Aries to the two fish of Pisces.

Here's what each zodiac symbol means, along with the planet symbols, each drawn by artist Holly Biörklund.

These are the glyphs on every Atelier Holly birth chart. Holly drew each sign and planet symbol by hand for her chart design, and they're printed around the wheel of your print.

The 12 Zodiac Signs and Their Symbols

Aries ♈ (March 21 to April 19)

The ram's horns. Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, and its glyph looks like a ram charging forward, or a new shoot breaking through the ground in spring. Fire sign, ruled by Mars.

Taurus ♉ (April 20 to May 20)

The bull's head: a circle crowned with horns. It stands for strength, patience and the pleasures of the senses. Earth sign, ruled by Venus.

Gemini ♊ (May 21 to June 20)

The twins, Castor and Pollux, drawn as two pillars joined together: two sides of one curious, talkative mind. Air sign, ruled by Mercury.

Cancer ♋ (June 21 to July 22)

The crab's claws, sometimes read as two breasts or a sideways 69. It speaks of protection, home and care. Water sign, ruled by the Moon.

Leo ♌ (July 23 to August 22)

The lion's mane and tail, in one proud sweeping line. Leo is warm, generous and made to shine. Fire sign, ruled by the Sun.

Virgo ♍ (August 23 to September 22)

The maiden, often linked to a sheaf of wheat at harvest time: an "M" with a closed loop. It stands for care, skill and attention to detail. Earth sign, ruled by Mercury.

Libra ♎ (September 23 to October 22)

The scales of balance, also seen as the sun setting on the horizon at the autumn equinox. Libra seeks harmony, beauty and fairness. Air sign, ruled by Venus.

Scorpio ♏ (October 23 to November 21)

An "M" with the scorpion's raised sting at the end. Scorpio is intense, private and deeply loyal. Water sign, ruled by Pluto and traditionally Mars.

Sagittarius ♐ (November 22 to December 21)

The archer's arrow, aimed high and far. Sagittarius is the explorer of the zodiac, always looking for the next horizon. Fire sign, ruled by Jupiter.

Capricorn ♑ (December 22 to January 19)

The sea-goat: the horns of a mountain goat joined to the curled tail of a fish. It stands for ambition, patience and climbing steadily to the top. Earth sign, ruled by Saturn.

Aquarius ♒ (January 20 to February 18)

Waves of water poured by the water bearer, or waves of energy and ideas. Despite the water, Aquarius is an air sign, ruled by Saturn and, in modern astrology, Uranus.

Pisces ♓ (February 19 to March 20)

Two fish swimming in opposite directions, tied together by a cord: dreams and reality, held as one. Water sign, ruled by Neptune and traditionally Jupiter.

The Planet Symbols

The planets have glyphs too. On a birth chart they sit inside the wheel, showing which sign each planet was in when you were born. Here are Holly's hand-drawn planet symbols, as they appear on her charts.

Sun ☉

A circle with a point at its center: the self, the spark of life at the heart of the chart. Your Sun sign is the sign most people know as "your sign". It rules Leo.

Moon ☽

A crescent: emotions, instinct and what makes you feel at home. Read more in our guide What is my Moon sign? It rules Cancer.

Mercury ☿

The messenger's winged helmet above a circle and cross: how you think, speak and learn. It rules Gemini and Virgo. When it seems to move backward, it's "retrograde": see our Mercury retrograde guide.

Venus ♀

Often read as the goddess's hand mirror: love, beauty and what you value. It rules Taurus and Libra.

Mars ♂

A shield and spear: drive, courage and desire. It rules Aries, and traditionally Scorpio.

Jupiter ♃

A crescent rising over a cross, often compared to the number 4: luck, growth and generosity. It rules Sagittarius, and traditionally Pisces.

Saturn ♄

The reaper's sickle beneath a cross: time, discipline and lessons that build over years. It's the planet of the Saturn return. It rules Capricorn, and traditionally Aquarius.

Uranus ♅

Discovered in 1781, it stands for change, freedom and sudden insight. It's the modern ruler of Aquarius.

Neptune ♆

The sea god's trident: dreams, imagination and intuition. It's the modern ruler of Pisces.

Pluto ♇

A circle held in a cup above a cross: transformation, depth and rebirth. It's the modern ruler of Scorpio.

Chiron ⚷

Shaped like a key, Chiron is a small body named after the wounded healer of Greek myth. It points to where we've been hurt and what we can learn to heal.

Ascendant (ASC)

Not a planet but a point: the sign rising on the eastern horizon at the moment you were born, also called your Rising sign. It needs an exact birth time. If you don't know yours, see our guide to a birth chart without a birth time.

Where You'll See the Glyphs in a Birth Chart

A birth chart is a circle divided into twelve sections, one for each sign, and the glyphs mark where each sign begins. The planets are placed inside the wheel, so you can read at a glance where the Sun, Moon and every planet stood when you were born. Learn more in our guide to how to read a birth chart.

Symbols by Element

• Fire: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
• Earth: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
• Air: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
• Water: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces

Choosing a print? See the colorway for every sign.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are zodiac glyphs?

They're the symbols astrologers use to write the twelve signs, each a simple drawing of the sign's figure, like the ram's horns for Aries or the scales for Libra.

Which zodiac symbols look alike?

Virgo and Scorpio are the easiest to mix up: both start with an "M". Virgo ends in a closed loop, and Scorpio ends in an arrow-like sting.

Why is Aquarius, the water bearer, an air sign?

The water Aquarius pours is often read as knowledge and ideas flowing out to everyone, which is why it belongs to the element of air.

Can I see my zodiac signs in my birth chart?

Yes. Every Atelier Holly birth chart shows the twelve signs around the wheel, with your Sun, Moon and planets placed among them, all marked with the glyphs on this page.

See your signs in the sky you were born under. Create a birth chart here.