You have one, so does your least favorite teacher, Billie Eilish,  Harriet Tubman, JD Vance, William Shakespeare, Queen Elizabeth, anyone you could possibly think of! Because there is no escaping a zodiac sign, because to earn one…you just have to be born. Zodiac signs determine someone’s personality traits, physical features, their entire future. And as of recently, they have become mainstream. Everyone has been caught once or twice wondering which animal they are based off their zodiac sign, or what their future house will look like. Everyone also knows they’re determined by the position of the sun when someone is born, but how did the 12 zodiac sign originate? Is it true that there are 13? 

Astrological signs were originated around 500 BCE in Mesopotamia by some of the first astronomers in history— Babylonians. Priests and priestesses believed that mapping out groupings of stars, commonly known today as constellations, was a way of communicating with their many gods and goddesses. They began to map the constellations around the sun, the path of the ecliptic, with their naked eye and a limited amount of technology! Originally, they had 17 to 18 signs, which were later reduced to only 12 so that it would align with their calendar. 30° arcs for a 360° circle; which translated into 12 months each containing 30 days for a year of 360 days! 

So if you’ve ever heard someone say  that the path of the ecliptic has 13 constellations, and not 12…they would still be correct! Only 12 out of the 13 constellations were taken into account for being zodiac signs. Ophiuchus, the 13 constellations, passes through the sun for about 3 weeks each year, from November 30 to December 18. And this constellation is depicted by a man holding a serpent. But if you go out explaining how your sun sign is Ophiuchus…just don’t. It’s no? traditionally accepted as one of the 12 signs! Por Ophiuchus just didn’t make the cut!

A sun sign is the sign someone wants to know when they ask; “What’s your zodiac sign?” It’s the one where you could pull up a search engine and type something along the lines of “What is the sign for x,y,z?” And if you’re wondering “There are more?” Yes! You have a rising sign as well; it’s how others perceive you. So if you’re the person who takes change in group projects, are the loudest one in the room, or have an energy that gravitates others towards you, your rising sign could be a fire element. Maybe you’re a natural conversationalist and could strike up a conversation with a total stranger while waiting for your Starbucks order, and by the time you leave, you make a new friend. Your rising placement might be a part of the air element. It’s how other first see you as. Meanwhile, a moon sign is the things you keep close to your heart, the private things you don’t let few people in. So if you find you become emotional over the smallest of things and find it ruins your day, your moon sign might be a part of the water element. But if you find that there is something that disturbs your everyday routine, and you immediately find a logical way to get back on track with your head still intact, your moon might be in the earth element. The moon sign is your emotional placement; it controls how your emotional response in any given situation. And your sun is just who you are. Truly, that’s all there is to it! Aside from your natal chart…too soon? Thought so!

Capricorn

Dates: December 22 – January 19

Element: Earth

Represented by…a sea-goat 

Flower: Pansy & Ivy

Symbol: ♑️

Constellation –

characteristics

1. Disciplined
2. ambitious
3. modest
4. Condescending
5. Pessimistic

Aquarius 

Dates: January 20 – February 18

Element: Air

Represented by…a water bearer

Flower: Orchid & Goldenrod

Symbol: ♒️

Constellation –

Characteristics

1. Strong sense of originality 
2. humanitarian
3. Logical
4. an Unemotional
5. Rebellious

Pisces:

Dates: February 19 – March 20

Element: Water

Represented by…a fish / fishes

Flower: Water Lilly & Clematis

Symbol: ♓️

Constellation –

Characteristics

1. Creative
2. Selfless
3. Generous
4. Gullible
5. Escapist

Aries:

Dates: March 21 – April 19  

Element: Fire

Flower: Honeysuckle, Thistle

Represented by…a ram / the head of a ram

Symbol: ♈️

Constellation –

characteristics

1. Determined 
2. Courageous
3. Enthusiastic
4. Impulsive
5. Competitive

Taurus:

Dates: April 20 – May 20

Element: Earth

Represented by…a bull

Flower: Rose & Poppy

Symbol: ♉️

Constellation –

Characteristics

1. Patient
2. Grounded
3. Practical
4. Stubborn
5. insensitive

Gemini:

Dates: May 21 – June 20

Element: Air

Represented by…a set of twins

Flower: Lavender & Lily of the Valley

Symbol: ♊️

Constellation –

Characteristics 

1. Conversationalist
2. adaptable
3. humorous
4. gossip
5. two-faced

Cancer:

Dates: June 21 – July 22

Element: Water

Represented by…a crab

Flower: White Rose & Delphinium

Symbol: ♋️

Constellation –

Characteristics

1. E empathetic
2. Nurturing
3. strongly intuition
4. Revengeful
5. Overly protective

Leo:

Dates: July 23 – August 22

Element: Fire

Represented by…a lion

Flower: Sunflower & Marigold

Symbol: ♌️

Constellation –

Characteristics

1. Ambitious
2. Confident 
3.  Enthusiastic 
4. Egotistical
5. Jealous 

Virgo:

Dates: August 23 – September 22

Element: Earth

Represented by…a maiden

Flower: Chrysanthemum & Aster

Symbol: ♍️

Constellation –

Characteristics

1. Stratigice 
2. Modest
3. Hardworking 
4. Hypercritical 
5. Upright 

Libra: 

Dates: September 23 – October 22

Element: Air

Represented by…scales

Flower: Bluebell & Hydrangea

Symbol: ♎️

Constellation –

Characteristics

1. Charming
2. artistic
3. open-minded
4. Diplomatic
5. Indecisive

Scorpio:

Dates: October 23 – November 21

Element: Water

Represented by…a scorpion

Flower: Geranium & Hibiscus

Symbol: ♏️

Constellation –

Characteristics:

1. Passionate 
2. Loyal
3. Intuitive 
4. Secretive 
5. Possessive 

Sagittarius:

Dates: November 22 – December 21

Element: Fire

Represented by…an archer depicted as a centaur

Flower: Carnation & Dandelion

Symbol: ♐️

Constellation –

Characteristics –

1. Adventurous
2. Independent 
3. Restless
4. Judgmental 
5. Short tempered 

However, the Chinese zodiac is  a different case entirely. Their cycle takes 12 years as every year is dedicated to only one zodiac. o restart— It all began with a friendly, although competitive, Tournament commonly referred to as “The Great Race”. Once upon a time, The Jade Emperor—the supreme deity and ruler of Heaven—hosted a race for all earthly animals as he was in the mists of creating a calendar. The first 12 animals to make it across the river would have the honor of having a year named after them. But one of the animals participating would have a disadvantage—the rat. He was incredibly tiny and couldn’t swim very well. So, he woke up the next day bright and early, to ask if he could ride one someone’s back. Both the Tiger and the Horse turned him down, but the generous Ox had agreed. But the Rat was clever, right as they were crossing through the finish line, he jumped off the Ox’s back, securing first place all for himself! Then came along the Tiger and the Rabit. The Dragon, who could have easily come in first place due to it’s ability to fly, came in fifth. Acts of kindness slowed them down, like helping a drought stricken village and assisting the rabbit move along by sending a gust of air towards the log the rabbit was sitting on! Which ultimately helped move the log across the river! Then the snake slither its way to the finish line, frightening the horse into seventh place! The next three were the Goat, also known as the Sheep, Monkey, and the Rooster. Though the Dog was a talented swimmer, he had spent too much time frolicking in the water of the river.Lastly, the Pig stopped for a quick snack and took a nap!

What about the Cat? Well, what about the Cat indeed? In one scenario, the Cat was friends with the Rat, and they had decided to attend the race as a pair. The Cat had asked the Rat to wake him when it was time to go, but the Rat left without ever waking up the Cat! Another accepted version of the story was that they both wrote on the Oxus back, but just as they were nearing the finish line, the Rat pushed the Cat off into the river! The end.