As a professional astrologer, I see this complaint all the time from people—they don't relate to their horoscope and feel like they have the wrong zodiac sign.
The good news is that it’s not uncommon to feel this way, and there are plenty of reasons you might not identify with your zodiac sign. Ahead, I’ve pulled together the most common examples I’ve seen working with clients and explained how you can learn more about astrology beyond your traditional sun sign.
Before you get started, I recommend using a free birth chart calculator to get a snapshot of all the planetary positions for the day you were born. Then, read on for all my advice.
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Lauren Ash is a professional astrologer, culture expert, and writer based in St. Louis. She is a regular contributor to Best Life, StyleCaster, Mane Addicts, NYLON, and Reader's Digest, among others. Follow Lauren on Twitter and Instagram or subscribe to her blog for monthly horoscopes.
Why You Feel Like You Have the Wrong Zodiac Sign
1. You were born on the cusp of zodiac signs.
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If you were born within a few days of the Sun moving from one zodiac sign to the next, this means you’re born near the cusp of two zodiac signs (between the 19-21 of each month).
Because the zodiac sign seasons and dates shift slightly from year to year, you might have the wrong sun sign entirely. The only way to know is to get a copy of your birth chart to see which sign the sun was actually in for the year you were born.
It’s also important to point out that no matter when you were born, there is no such thing as having a hybrid sun sign. It’s not mathematically possible for any planet to be in two zodiac signs at the same time.
That being said, there’s a chance that people born near the cusp of two zodiac signs will have both signs influencing other placements in their chart.
For example, if you were born near the first or last day of a zodiac’s season (i.e., born on the cusp between Taurus–Gemini, May 17–23), you might have your Sun in Taurus but have your Venus in Gemini. This would explain why you relate to both Taurus and Gemini energy.
2. You are more than just your sun sign.
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Your zodiac sign, also known as your sun sign, is just one part of the cosmic puzzle. In astrology, the sun gets an important distinction because it’s the brightest part of your energy.
It’s important to know, however, that your personality is made up of a full collection of planetary placements, each with its own unique influence on your life.
For example, your sun sign shows your ego energy and desires in life, while your moon sign symbolizes your emotional side, your dreams, and hidden secrets. And your rising sign shows how other people receive your energy and perceive you.
Each of these placements represents a particular way you experience life, and it’s possible to have each of these placements in completely different zodiac signs.
So, while it’s a majorly important part of understanding your astrology, your sun sign only makes up a small part of the bigger cosmic picture. And if you have a lot of other planets in your chart falling in different signs, it’s easy to see why your sun sign might feel unrelatable.
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3. You have a stellium in your birth chart.
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Speaking of having several planets in the same sign, there’s a technical term for when that occurs. In astrology, having three or more planets (including the Sun and Moon) in the same sign in your birth chart is known as a stellium.
For example, having your Sun, Moon, and Mercury in Scorpio would mean you have a Scorpio stellium. The more planets within a stellium, the more concentrated the energy will feel.
Stelliums intensify the traits of whatever sign they occur in. And while that comes with certain perks, it can also feel like other placements in your birth chart get overshadowed. Having your sun sign contained within a stellium is one of the most powerful alignments you can have in astrology.
On the other hand, having a stellium that doesn’t contain your sun sign could explain why it’s difficult for you to connect with the qualities of your zodiac sign.
4. You identify more with your ruling planet.
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In astrology, each of the 12 zodiac signs is associated with a planet in the solar system. These are known as planetary rulers or the ruling planets.
When looking at your birth chart, astrologers will often look to the planet that rules your rising sign to find what planet has the most direct influence on your energy. For example, if you have a Cancer rising, the Moon would be your chart ruler.
A chart ruler in astrology holds a significant amount of power among your other planets. And having your chart ruling in a more powerful position than your sun sign could explain why you don’t vibe with your zodiac sign.
Let’s say you’re a Taurus rising and you have a stellium that contains your Moon, Mercury, and Venus. Because Venus is the planetary ruler of Taurus, this would mean you have a stellium that does contain your chart ruler (Venus) but doesn’t contain your sun sign.
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5. You just don’t vibe with it—and that’s OK!
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Maybe you’ve gotten to the end of our list and nothing seems to be explaining your situation, and that’s OK.
For some people, astrology just doesn’t click for them the first time they give it a try. That doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you or your vibe; it just might not be your thing. Luckily, there are plenty of other ways to learn about mysticism without having to study the stars.
If you’re looking for a new practice to explore, you can dive deep into the wonders of numerology to discover your life path, love language, and more. Or, if you’re someone who enjoys manifesting and meditation, it might be time to learn about crystal magic.
And of course, there are always the old favorites like daily affirmations, reading tarot cards, and more. Whatever you choose, approach things with an open mind and embrace the spirit of curiosity in everything you do. You never know when life will surprise you!
