What Aries colors in a chart
A sign describes the manner of whatever stands in it, so “Aries” in a chart means different things — depending on what has fallen into the sign.
Sun in Aries
The Sun in Aries is the “I'm an Aries” from horoscopes. Tradition sees here a manner of starting: a task begins with action, and thinking things through happens along the way; interest holds while there is movement and fades when all that remains is maintaining what's finished. Such a Sun does best where you can begin without approvals. This isn't about you if maintaining what's already set up is always easier and nicer for you than starting something new.
Moon in Aries
The Moon in the chart is not what you want but what restores your strength. The Moon in Aries reacts at once: resentment or joy shows the same minute and passes just as fast. Movement brings it back to itself — a run, a road, an urgent task, even an argument; the worst is sitting and waiting it out. This isn't about you if your best rest is quiet and no tasks at all.
Ascendant in Aries
The Ascendant is manner and first impression, not the whole character. With Aries rising, a person is remembered for speed: a quick step, a direct question, a decision before everyone has finished talking. In Moscow Aries rises faster than all the signs, together with Pisces, so such an Ascendant is especially sensitive to an error in the birth time. This isn't about you if new acquaintances describe you as unhurried and cautious.
Ascendant in Aries in detail: how it shows, the Descendant, the ruler and checks →
Aries at the start of a house
The sign at the start of a house sets the style in which the affairs of that sphere go. Aries there is a sphere where everything starts fast and on personal initiative: at the start of the 2nd house — money in jerks, from your own undertakings; at the start of the 10th — a career where those who take responsibility without an order are valued. The flip side is impatience right here. This isn't about you if in the sphere of this house everything goes slowly, by someone else's plan, and that suits you.
The other planets in Aries are read the same way: the planet’s role plus the sign’s manner. What each one means — Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto.
Where traditions differ
The ruler of Aries is Mars, and here classical and modern astrology agree. The classical scheme adds that the Sun is exalted in Aries: it is considered to be in its best form here, and the worst place is for Venus and Saturn. Tropical Aries begins on the day of the spring equinox, not where the constellation Aries is in the sky: because of precession the constellation has moved away by almost a whole sign.
Jyotish counts the signs from the stars: by our calculation with the Lahiri ayanamsa the Sun enters Mesha (Aries) only on April 13–14, and most of those who are Aries by horoscope have the Sun there in the previous sign — Meena (Pisces).
How to check it on yourself
Each statement below may turn out to be false about you — that’s how it’s written. Check it against your past, and write your answer down before you compare it with the chart. The first item checks the calculation itself, the rest — the interpretation.
If your birthday is between March 20–21 and April 19–21
What should match. From March 22 to April 18 the Sun is in Aries in any year from 1950 to 2030 — that’s what our calculation for Moscow time shows. March 20–21 and April 19–21 are border days: the Sun changes sign within the day, and the answer depends on the year, hour and time zone of birth.
When it’s not about you. The day is a border day, and the sign was taken from a horoscope table rather than calculated for the year and hour — then “Aries” may turn out to be Pisces or Taurus. This checks the calculation, not the interpretation.
If your Moon is in Aries
What should match. Recall your last five quarrels or resentments. In at least three the response — a word, an action, a slammed door — appears within the first half hour, and a day later the resentment no longer holds.
When it’s not about you. In three cases out of five or more the response comes a day later or longer, or the resentment lasts for weeks — this isn't about you.
If your Sun is in Aries
What should match. Write down five things from the last two years that you started of your own free will: work, study, a project, a move. In at least three the decision to start appeared before the plan, and the preparation was already going on along the way.
When it’s not about you. In three or more cases the plan was ready long before the start — this isn't about you. A hit proves little, since many people start this way, and a miss is an honest negative result.
The dates and border days of all twelve signs — on the page of all signs. How we check the rest — the site’s method.