When Capricorn Ice Spice rapped, “If you ain’t cookin’, then get off the pot,” she probably didn’t realize she was demonstrating a classic cardinal sign flex. Nevertheless, she nailed it. This grouping of zodiac signs—which includes Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn—is large and in charge. As the innovative leaders of the pack, there’s always something heating up in their worlds. And if you want to retain VIP access to their kitchens, you’d better get on board fast.
What Is a Cardinal Sign, Exactly?
You’ve probably heard about the zodiac’s four elements: fire, earth, air, and water. As Sagittarians ourselves, we proudly boast our fire sign status. A lesser-known—but equally important—segmentation comes in the form of the three modalities: cardinal, mutable, and fixed zodiac signs. They’re grouped like this:
- Cardinal signs: Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn
- Fixed signs: Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius
- Mutable signs: Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces
Cardinal means “chief,” “primary,” or “principle.” These signs are the alphas of the zodiac and the four zodiac signs that start each season:
- Aries kicks off the annual spring awakening with the vernal equinox.
- Cancer takes the wheel at the summer solstice.
- Libra brings us back into balance at the autumnal equinox.
- Capricorn winds it all down with the winter solstice.
Astrologically speaking, these boss signs show up when it’s time to change the climate every quarter. That’s not exactly an easy feat, which might explain the cardinal signs’ power and authoritative demeanor. Just ask Greta Thunberg, who was born under the cardinal sun sign of Capricorn.
Cardinal Sign Traits
At the core, cardinal signs are groundbreaking visionaries. We count on them to drive progress and disrupt entire industries. To these folks, life is an endless laboratory to experiment in. Love them or hate them, they’re here to push us toward the future, like Cancer Elon Musk.
Boredom is a foreign concept to a cardinal sign, and these high achievers draw plenty of admiration. Nevertheless, their style can drive process-driven teammates absolutely bonkers. Cardinals’ tireless push toward growth and innovation guarantees they’ll leave a legacy behind.
Trouble is, cardinal signs can be so devoted to their ambitions that loved ones wind up feeling neglected. To get quality time, they might literally need to start a business with their family or friends. Just look at Aries Joanna Gaines of the Magnolia Home empire or the three Kardashian sisters, Kourtney (Aries), Kim (Libra), and Khloé (Cancer).
How the Four Cardinal Signs Differ From Each Other
Within the cardinal quartet is a fire, earth, air, and water sign. The combination of element and modality creates a unique personality profile for each of the four cardinal signs.
Aries: Cardinal Fire
Given that Aries is the first sign of the zodiac and a cardinal sign, it’s no wonder they’re so driven to be No. 1 at everything they do. Add the flamboyance of the fire element into the recipe, and you are blessed with some of the most genre-busting icons of our time, like Aries Lady Gaga and Lil Nas X. As a cardinal fire sign, Aries brings the heat with their originality. They’ll withstand plenty of it too as they burn away stereotypes, like Aries Halle Bailey, who was grace under fire when she was cast as Ariel in Disney’s live-action The Little Mermaid and faced racist backlash.
Cancer: Cardinal Water
Cancers might be the zodiac’s nurturers, but don’t mistake their kindness for weakness. While the water element makes them deeply empathic, their cardinality prevents them from being so fluid that they forget where you end and they begin. This sign can have hardcore boundaries, needing privacy and alone time in order to stay centered. (Cancer’s crab shell and pincers are no joke!) Their highly attuned sensitivity makes them powerful leaders for a cause, like former Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards. Cancerian Only Murders in the Building star Selena Gomez is also the founder and owner of Rare Beauty, a cruelty-free beauty line with a focus on mental health.
Libra: Cardinal Air
When the breezy charm of an air sign meets the high-achieving rigor of cardinality, the effect is like an iron fist in a velvet glove. You’re not really aware that you’re being handled, but suddenly you’re falling under Libra’s smooth spell. Libra Gwyneth Paltrow is a prime exhibit of this, leading scores of women through a tunnel of New Age fads, including jade yoni eggs and coffee enemas. And who else but a cardinal air sign could breeze into court (legal Libra’s domain) and set off a global “quiet luxury” trend?
Capricorn: Cardinal Earth
Talk about grit! Capricorns are famous for their longevity and cardinal signs for their originality. Put those two elements together, and you have the makings of a hall-of-famer, like country music legend Dolly Parton. Hard work is something cardinal earth sign’s relish in as an essential ingredient to mastery. Blackpink’s Jennie Kim, a die-hard Capricorn, trained for six years in preparation to become a member of the K-pop girl group.
Cardinal Signs in Your Birth Chart
Even if you’re not a cardinal sun sign, note if you have a lot of cardinal signs in your chart, as the traits can still apply. (You can take this free test to find the balance of modalities in your chart.)
Scorpio Emily Post has a chart that’s heavy on cardinal signs, and her name is still synonymous with manners 60 years after her death. Taurus Adele, whose chart is stacked with cardinal signs, is in a league of her own as a singer and songwriter.
Our new book, The Astrology Advantage (Simon Element), which comes out August 27, also uses modalities to break down the full magic of your chart. Through the book, you’ll learn how to use your unique cosmic code as a guiding system for timing, planning, or navigating difficult dynamics—all without having to memorize your birth chart.
