Aries: Your Ultimate Guide To Understanding The Zodiac Sign

If you were born between March 20-April 19, you kick off the zodiac calendar as an Aries baby. You're likely an independent, fiery, passionate, kind individual with an unparalleled drive to make the most of your life. Whether you're an Aries, are dating one, or are besties with one, there are loads of things you should know about this zodiac sign.

Aries channel their native fire element by displaying unique passion in every area of their lives, from romance and family matters to their work. This is emphasized by Aries' cardinal modality, as signs with this modality are often initiators and hardworking self-starters. Aries make incredibly loyal and passionate partners and friends who will always make sure their loved ones are cared for, but they won't neglect themselves in the process. Don't get on an Aries' bad side or you might see more of their fire come out; often short-tempered individuals, Aries sometimes speak and act without thinking. A close Aries friend is a friend for life, though, so don't sleep on this sign! Now, let's chat about everything you should know about your Aries partner, bestie, coworker, or self.

Never heard of ruling planets before? Each sign of the zodiac is "ruled" by one of the planets in our solar system, and the energy of that planet characterizes the energy of the corresponding sign. Aries is ruled by the intense, competitive, courageous, and ambitious Mars, which affects how an Aries individual will walk through life. 

Mars is the god of war, and though Aries folks aren't necessarily antagonistic and may not be war-starters, they certainly engage in life with a war-like spirit. Aries are often primed and ready to tackle whatever life throws at them head-on and with little rest. Mars ensures this sign is nearly always active, intense, driven, and passionate, so don't be surprised if an Aries' intensity is sometimes overwhelming. You may notice your Aries friend becomes an incredibly passionate activist when learning about a social justice issue, or they immediately go on the defense when critiqued — don't worry, that's just their Mars ruler coming out, and it's part of what makes an Aries unique.

Every zodiac sign corresponds with one of the four elements (fire, earth, air, or water), and each sign expresses its element in a unique way. Aries, you're ruled by what could be considered the most violent of the four elements: fire. What does it mean to be a fire sign? There are three — Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius — and each embodies the element differently. Aries tend to be the most ambitious go-getters of the fire signs, and they embody the strength of the fire incredibly poignantly.

Fiery Aries are always ready to forge ahead with new opportunities, projects, and ideas. They use the fire element to propel them forward when kickstarting something new. For Aries, fire is a symbol of strength, newness, and the stamina needed to accomplish something major. Once a fiery Aries has set their mind to something, you'll be hard-pressed to stop them, so we suggest letting them go full speed ahead with whatever they have planned. Maybe even join in if you're feeling adventurous!

You probably could have guessed this one from all our talk about the fiery, Mars-ruled Aries. Aries is one of the most competitive zodiac signs, even when the stakes are low or it's all in the name of fun. Soccer match? They'll get upset if they don't score every goal they attempt. Board game night? Don't be surprised if you see the sore loser side of your competitive Aries friend. Definitely never forget that this zodiac sign will brave any challenge!

Don't take it personally if your Aries friend's competitive side rubs you the wrong way. An Aries loves to win, but not because they want to see you lose. Aries just get a strong sense of personal accomplishment when they've proven themselves the best at something. They're not looking down on or judging you, and they'll probably go back to normal after a few minutes of celebrating their victory. If you celebrate with them, you'll definitely earn some bonus points in that friendship. Want to go the extra mile in supporting your competitive Aries friend? Take them out to dinner after they successfully present that big project they've been working on, or go cheer them on at the finish line of the race they just signed up for. They'll appreciate it more than you know.

Fiercely independent Aries are unlikely to be malleable in any given situation — in fact, they may go against the flow for the simple sake of maintaining their independence. In this way, Aries, your independence can be considered a strength and a weakness. You're always admirably forging your own path, but you're likely to miss out on some tried and true roads along the way. 

As someone who doesn't go with the flow and is constantly on the go, you may find it hard to nail down plans with your Aries friend. They love you, we promise! They're just constantly moving and doing and trying new things. Aries, this means you may have to work harder at maintaining relationships, and sometimes you'll need to put your friends above your own desire for independence to remain close to them. But your independent side assures you'll never lose sight of yourself, which may be one of the biggest strengths of an Aries.

In addition to having a ruling planet and a ruling element, each sign also has a ruling tarot card. If you're familiar with tarot, you may have already guessed which card rules the Aries zodiac. That's right, Aries is ruled by The Emperor, the fourth card in the Major Arcana of a traditional tarot deck.

The ruling tarot card of Aries, The Emperor is a card that represents strength, power, and ambition. As natural-born leaders, Aries individuals will resonate with The Emperor's role as an authoritative figure. The Emperor is far from being a dictator, though; instead, wisdom is at the forefront of everything The Emperor does. Similarly, Aries strive to lead from a place of experiential wisdom rather than impulse and emotion, which they may find difficult. The Emperor also embodies strength and determination, qualities which Aries have in spades and which also characterize Aries who are in leadership roles. In short, The Emperor tells us that Aries make great leaders — that is, when they can slow down enough to let wisdom take precedence over feeling.

Dear Aries, we have a news flash for you, and it's probably not a news flash for your friends — you're probably pretty impatient. Your friends are feigning shock right now, and you're probably slowly nodding, because you know we're right. Don't worry, though, as impatience isn't necessarily a bad thing! Your patience is just one more thing to master, and we already know you love nothing more than a good challenge.

Because Aries are such ambitious go-getters, they tend to be pretty impatient, which could work against them in the long run. Aries may prioritize getting something done over getting it done well, and though they care about the quality of the finished product, their sense of urgency can lead them to cut corners. Friends of Aries, help them out by encouraging them to slow down and be present in the moment of whatever they're doing, rather than rushing to the next thing. Aries, working on your patience and presence will help slow down the constant frenzy of movement inside your head; we wouldn't be surprised if you found yourself feeling a deeper sense of daily calm as a result.

An Aries in love is a sight not to be missed. You might not even recognize your Aries friend when they fall in love. They may become softer, more tender, and less competitive as their new romance takes up more and more of their mental space. This is because Aries are incredibly passionate individuals, and they dive into everything head-first and with unparalleled enthusiasm. If their partner can keep up with their fast-paced life and constant on-the-go-ness, this relationship could be one for the ages.

An Aries loves a passionate love affair, and falling in love with one guarantees you an adventure. It's wise to remember that, at their core, an Aries is still incredibly fiery and independent — don't be surprised if you see those sides of Aries show more as the relationship progresses. An Aries might even become discouraged if their chosen partner can't reciprocate their passion in the relationship. This goes for romantic relationships and friendships, so if you want to stay close to your favorite Aries, it's wise to show them you love them often. Aries thrive when they feel safe in relationships, and because they're incredibly loyal to their chosen people, you're sure to thrive, too.

Aries, the next time you get upset, think before you speak (or act). What's a very big deal right now may seem less so after some time has passed, and if you respond in a heightened emotional state, you may regret what comes out. Your emotions are valid and important to your character; they often propel you to achieve great things and are part of what makes an Aries so distinct. When you act on them without getting perspective on the situation first, though, you might find yourself in more of a mess than you bargained for.

Though your emotions are often heightened and you feel things deeply, this isn't a bad thing! The intensity with which you experience even "negative" emotions, like anger, can be channeled and used to push you toward really great goals. Don't be surprised if your Aries friend starts a fundraiser after getting enraged by a social justice issue they learned about while scrolling Instagram; wanting to fix problems like this is in their DNA. An angry, emotional Aries is a ticking time bomb waiting to explode, but it's one you shouldn't necessarily be afraid of. When their emotions are channeled well, Aries can achieve truly remarkable things.

Of all the zodiac signs that will always be there for you, an Aries may be the fiercest friend you could ever have. Aries' passion and sense of integrity make them fiercely loyal friends whom you'll want to keep beside you at all costs. They're truly in it for the long run. 

Once an Aries has committed to the friendship, you can be confident they won't just go running off for little to no reason. Don't get us wrong, as Aries won't give people a pass if they've been wronged. It will take a lot to destroy the relationship, though, and you can bet your Aries friend will want to fix it more than anything else. Don't be afraid to bring up tough stuff with an Aries, and don't be surprised if their initial reaction is emotional. At the end of the day, your loyal Aries friend wants to keep your friendship alive, and they'll do what they can to make that happen. When your friendship is cemented, your Aries will also go to any length to protect you from harm. They'll back you up in pretty much anything and be there for you when you need them. The friendship might take a bit more effort, but it's more than worth it.

If you're an Aries, you've probably wondered which celebrities are also Aries. If you think you can recognize an Aries on sight, some celebs on this list may come as a surprise, while others seem almost too obvious. For example, Emma Watson put her Aries on full display as Hermione Granger in the "Harry Potter" movies; even without seeing her in that role, her work as a feminist advocate could have hinted at her sign. Anya Taylor-Joy, though, tends to stay out of the spotlight when not in films and keeps a relatively private life, making her harder to pin down as an Aries.

Aries, you share a sign with these amazing celebs: Reece Witherspoon, Aretha Franklin, Lady Gaga, Jessica Chastain, Matthew Broderick, Keira Knightley, Sarah Jessica Parker, Elton John, Mariah Carey, Fergie, Celine Dion, Jonathan Van Ness, Quentin Tarantino, Alec Baldwin, Natasha Lyonne, Victoria Pedretti, Paul Rudd, and more!

Aries, your ambition, drive, and determination will have you in high demand in nearly any career field. Employers love to see that you're a self-starter who's constantly innovating and imagining. Obviously, you can pursue whatever career you'd like, but Aries may be especially suited to jobs that make use of their passion, ambition, and energy.

Active, independent Aries probably won't be drawn to the traditional 9-to-5 workday. Though stable, the traditional office job doesn't tend to offer the excitement and adventure an Aries craves. Aries will thrive in leadership roles or roles where they have a decent amount of decision-making ability. If you're an Aries trying to figure out your current career path, look for a position that will put you in charge of something. Positions of authority, like doctors or managers, suit Aries' temperament well. Independent, motivated Aries might also find themselves on an entrepreneurial venture (or multiple) when on the job hunt.

As the first zodiac sign, Aries love to be at the forefront of new ventures. If you're an Aries, you're probably constantly creating, imagining, innovating, and starting new projects. You're convinced that there's nothing you can't do as long as you put your mind to it, so when you decide to see something through, there's little that could get in your way.

Aries are natural-born leaders whose ambition can propel them far in life. They're often restless, though, and tend to find themselves pulled between many possible ventures. Don't be surprised when your Aries friend opens a boutique clothing store one week and decides to go to grad school the next — they simply can't sit still, and get excited about every new project they come up with. While Aries are great at getting things off the ground, they'll sometimes find they've bit off more than they can chew, which can lead them to abandon one (or multiple) projects they've started. There's no shame in that, but if you're an Aries and this tendency sounds familiar, it's good to be aware of it as you get ready to start off on your next adventure.

Aries, all of your drive and ambition leads you to get a lot done, but it also means you let little get in your way. You might find your fuse a bit short on occasion, which can come as a surprise to you and your friends since you're often the sunny, energetic presence in the room. You just get frustrated easily and it's hard not to let it show. It's okay — we all get short-tempered every once in a while. 

Luckily, you don't tend to hold a grudge! Your outbursts come without warning and dissipate just as easily. You get fired up in the heat of the moment but probably find yourself apologizing later, once the air has cleared. Friends of Aries, don't freak out when their short temper rears its ugly head. Give them a few hours to gain some perspective, and don't be afraid to call your Aries friend out on their short temper when it gets out of hand.

Luckily for Aries, all of their drive, passion, enthusiasm, and even emotions have a running undercurrent of relentless optimism. Don't call them delusional, though; we already know that an Aries isn't afraid to acknowledge hard problems and face them head-on. At the end of the day, Aries just believe that everything really can work out for the best, and they'll do their best to be a force for good in the world.

An Aries' positive outlook on life gives balance to their qualities that might be otherwise overbearing. Even an Aries that deals with intense emotions probably finds themselves bending toward optimism when they can get some perspective on the situation. Aries' optimism also means that their overwhelming energy will be positive rather than negative; don't be surprised if you find yourself feeling more energetic and motivated after hanging out with your Aries friend. Combine unrelenting optimism with ambition, creativity, and passion, and you'll find a recipe for success in whatever ventures Aries attempt. 

Whether it comes to work, love, play, or competition, Aries will give their all to whatever situations they find themselves in. Aries are incredibly passionate individuals who would rather just not do something than do it halfheartedly, so you can be sure they'll give 110% to everything they commit themselves to. 

Count yourself lucky if you find yourself in a relationship with an Aries! Aries are all-in on their relationships and will bend over backward to make you feel appreciated and cared for. Their passion may manifest in spontaneous date nights and lots of physical intimacy. When you reciprocate, their passion will only deepen. If they feel like the relationship is one-sided, though, they might pull away and want to direct their energy elsewhere. Want to keep your Aries boo around? Let them know you love them often, and not just with your words — showing an Aries affection will go a long way with them!