Understanding Aries: Sparking Self-Knowledge

Aries is a zodiac sign that’s often misunderstood, very rarely appreciated the way that it should be, and surprisingly often questioned by people wishing to learn astrology. This article is meant to provide a brief explanation of what Aries means.

Let's start with technical trivia and then get into the real deal.

Trivia:

What is it? A zodiac Sign

Element: Fire

Modality: Cardinal

Orientation: Personal

Polarity: Masculine/+

Symbol: Ram

Ruler: Mars

What does Aries do?

Aries is the first sign of the zodiac – all about new beginnings and, as you could say, the impulse of life. We can see Aries energy in the way a young plant pushes itself free from the Earth, or the way a demanding teenager fearlessly does something stupid just to claim their own place in the world. Aries is, in a nutshell, our awareness that says: “I am here, I want this, and I’m going to get it.”

We start with identity. Aries is the part of ourselves that is very much interested in identity… but not in the way of Leo that asks the question: “Is who I am enough?” Rather, Aries just has the awareness that a) there is such a thing as “the self” that is separate from everything and everyone else (as opposed to Pisces, which dissolves that very thing), and b) that there is nothing to be questioned, thought about, or explored here. Rather, the fact that the self exists leads to a necessary next step – and that is, claiming my place… and getting what I want.

It doesn’t play out as intensely as I’m writing it though: Every single part of our chart is in touch (and modified) by everything else in the chart. We all have Aries somewhere, just in different intensities… and we all have Pisces somewhere, which (as mentioned above) dissolves some of that sense of “Me is, me wants” and brings in an awareness that we aren’t the center of the universe… and that we really shouldn’t be, either. But in order to learn about Aries, we need to tease it out from the overall context so we can get a good look at the energy… so that’s what we’re doing.

Having a good sense of “I am a separate entity from XY” is foundational for human beings – and all of life, really – and is a very healthy thing. Healthy Aries is the part of us that’s capable of letting an insult ricochet off as we know it’s not true (so why would we care that some dummy said it?). The strength that comes from being settled within yourself and knowing who you are is an Aries trait… and it saves you from a lot of hardship. (For instance, not having a healthy amount of Aries – by your own development of the trait or you chart – makes you more susceptible to believing lies about yourself… because you don’t know who you are, so you’ll believe others when they claim they know you. That then makes you more vulnerable to manipulation of others).

Where Aries sits in your chart shows you where this energy is particularly active and potent in your life. Also, the strength Aries has in your chart (f.e.: how many players you have in the sign; having heavy hitters such as Sun, Moon, or Rising in the sign) shows you how easy it is for you to know who you are/have a resilient sense of self.

Knowing who you are then leads to knowing your own desires.

Wanting

Aries is the part of us that’s most clear about what we want – and that part that’s capable of cutting through any noise, distraction, and obstacle to get to both the knowledge of what the desire is, and also the way to the desire.

Here’s the thing though: Aries isn’t the part of us that leads to wise wants and desires. It’s more like the part of us that stays a child/teen and says “I want this,” not really thinking through those consequences of having it. However, other parts of the chart provide that, so: if you’re someone who has a lot of Aries in your chart, you’re not doomed to be a want-ruled teen with no wisdom or self-restrain whatsoever… until the day you die (cue the ominous music). Other parts of your chart will bring this capacity to you, so you can build on them to fill out this function. But for now, we’re teasing out the Aries energy from all other astrological symbols so we can learn about it, so we’re talking about it without the context of your specific (much better balanced and wiser) natal chart.

Having wants and desires is both natural, and pretty important in the grand scheme of things: none of us would get anything done, not even the foundational stuff for survival, if we had no motivation in our lives whatsoever (because you can push yourself without any motivation for a while; but eventually, you will get tired and give up). Aries is the part that provides that motivation, the goals we wish to go for, and the grit (together with Capricorn) to get through the tough phase to see our desire come into fruition.

Where Aries sits in your chart, it’s quite easy for you to know what you want. Also, the stronger Aries is in your chart in general, the easier it is for you to identify what you truly desire – and that goes both for figuring what you DESIRE and for figuring out what YOU desire.

Action

Aries is not just about wanting something and then sitting on our butts, hoping the desire fulfils itself and then magically drops in our lap with a bow and a 10% coupon code for future purchases: Aries is about taking the action necessary to go get it.

This is the part of us that thrives on challenges and is invigorated by difficulty. The more Aries you have in your chart, the more you need (healthy and winnable) challenges in your life in order to feel alive and feel like you have a purpose. Adrenaline is your friend and just cruising through an easy life would sound good but feel stifling. Even someone with little Aries needs this energy in some part of their lives signified at the very least by the house Aries lands in.

Aries is not the energy for taking prisoners, thinking things through, going at something half-hearted, or waiting until you have all the pieces in place before taking action. Aries is about the boldness and brashness of just doing it. That means that Aries can be a wee bit impulsive – and carries the shadow side of impatience (how strong both of those shadow elements play out depend on the overall chart, but a very strong Aries with very few modifying placements will lead to an individual’s struggle with impulsiveness and impatience). But it also provides a power and a happy-go-lucky lifestyle that often plays out to an individual’s favor. “Thank goodness I didn’t know how hard it would be, or I never would have done it – and then, I wouldn’t have realized that I could do it.” This is the magic of Aries.

This means that Aries often signifies a part of our lives where we become trailblazers (the nature and strength of our Aries placements, as well as our choices, define how much this is the case). For instance, someone with Aries in a part of the chart concerned with education may be the first in the family/community/or even world to pursue a specific type of education (a client of mine with this placement was in the first ever class of an international study program that was the first of its kind). Trailblazing, however, isn’t done to get accolades (unless other parts of the chart, such as Leo, modify this placement to provide that element). It’s more of a byproduct of really wanting a specific result and having the willingness to just get it done no matter how.

Fighting For Something

As Aries is the part of us best equipped for challenges, Aries energy is all about fighting. This doesn’t have to look like getting into fist-fights, joining the army, or having a good ole’ spat with your boyfriend: while all of these are ways to live out the Aries’ desire for fighting, it’s just one way of living out the archetype. Fighting for something is another.

In corporate contexts, you may fight to see a project come to fruition and make the money you’d like it to make. In a work to do with charity, you may fight for the group of people you wish to help: by convincing people to donate; by building structures and providing aids for the people you wish to serve; by physically protecting the vulnerable (depending on the type of charity).

In medicine, you may fight against a disease or for someone’s health and recovery.

All of these are fights. Aries provides the fuel, desire, and capacity to get up on the mat in the first place… and to win the thing, too. Where Aries sits in our chart, we have the capacity and willingness (and even need) to do so to some extent (Note: just looking at Aries here provides an incomplete picture on this subject as other parts of the chart such as the planet Mars pick up on this theme as well.) That being said, people with more Aries energy are naturally drawn (and also need) fights in their life. If they don’t provide healthy outlets for these energies (through their job, sports, other), unhealthy ones will follow. This is why the shadow of Aries contains themes like a volatile temper, aggressiveness, competitiveness, and, at worst, violence. However, we all have a choice to grow away from the shadow side of each astrological symbol. It’s up to you what you live with.

Aries in the Categories

Aries as a Cardinal Sign:

Cardinal signs are all about new beginnings. Therefore, Aries often signifies a part of ourselves/our lives that can generate new ideas, bring something new to life, do well starting things, and so on. Unfortunately, cardinal signs aren’t as gifted with follow-through and closing things (but other parts of your chart can provide that).

Aries as a Fire Sign:

Fire signs are all about action, inspiration, and identity. They act quick and have a flare about them that can turn magnetic. However, fire isn’t always sustainable: make sure you don’t burn out. (Other parts of the chart may provide the staying power you need: if so, draw on them).

Aries as a Personal Sign:

Signs in the Personal Orientation are all about the self first. These are the signs that don’t lose sight of their own needs as much but can lose sight of everyone else’s. Other parts of the chart may modify this effect.

Aries as a Masculine Sign:

Signs of the Masculine/Positive Polarity are essentially wishing to add something to the world. They start on the inside and bring the focus to the external world. You could say that they’re extraverted and/or have a penetrative energy. Aries is the quintessential masculine sign.

Currently in Aries:

By the time I'm writing this (2025), two planets and one asteroid/centaur are flirting with Aries:

Neptune in Aries

Saturn in Aries

Chiron in Aries.

Neptune and Saturn also also forming a historic conjunction between 2025 and 2026. Here are articles you may like about this: