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Everything You Need To Know About Aries: Personality Traits, Compatibility & More

Sarah Regan
Author: Expert reviewer:
Updated on May 3, 2022
Sarah Regan
mbg Spirituality & Relationships Editor
By Sarah Regan
mbg Spirituality & Relationships Editor
Sarah Regan is a Spirituality & Relationships Editor, and a registered yoga instructor. She received her bachelor's in broadcasting and mass communication from SUNY Oswego, and lives in Buffalo, New York.
The AstroTwins
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The AstroTwins
Astrologers
Ophira and Tali Edut, known as the AstroTwins, are professional astrologers based out of New York and Seattle. Their work has been featured in The New York Times, Elle Magazine, Vogue and Good Morning America and they are the authors AstroStyle, Love Zodiac, Shoestrology, and Momstrology.

Aries (March 21 to April 20)

Aries is the first sign of the zodiac (March 21 to April 20), and its mascot is the Ram. As a fire sign ruled by the planet Mars, Aries (called Mesha in Vedic astrology) energy is individualistic, bold, and brave.

Here, we're diving into Aries' personality traits and how they apply in love, career, and more.

Aries personality traits

  • Action-oriented
  • Passionate
  • Bold
  • Risk-taker
  • Confident
  • Determined
  • Direct and straight-forward
  • Brave
  • Impatient
  • Impulsive

As the first sign of the zodiac, Aries folks like to initiate and dive headfirst (like a Ram) into whatever it is they're passionate about.

This is partly due to their planetary ruler, Mars. As the planet of desire, action, war, and heat, Mars is responsible for lots of the traits we associate with our Aries friends.

As a Cardinal fire sign, Aries also likes to be on the move and travels a zillion miles an hour. It can be hard to keep up with an impassioned and empowered Aries.

Think about the amount of boldness, risk, confidence, and sheer energy and life force it takes to start any kind of project or phase in life. That's all Aries.

The Aries archetype is also about the passion and innocence of youth. As the first sign of the zodiac, Aries leaps in horns-first and asks questions about it later. This fiery Aries energy can be inspiring, energetic, ferocious—and a little intimidating.

Learn more about what 2023 has in store for Aries in our annual astrology forecast.

Challenges and opportunities for growth

One word: burnout. The Aries fire blazes fierce and bright, but it's fast fuel that needs to be fanned, fed, and nurtured. Remember to slow down, listen to your body, and know that you don't have to do everything with lightning-quick speed, Aries!

Mars, Aries' planetary ruler, is always in conversation with Venus, the planet of love, beauty, and art. A helpful hint for Aries is to sink into this Venusian energy once in a while and remember that leisure, beauty, and sensuality are just as important as speed, passion, and winning.

The adage, "Think before you speak; look before you leap," is a helpful reminder for ultrapowerful Aries energy. Like the ram butting its head up against the wall, Aries too can get caught in frustrating cycles of negativity.

Relax, slow down, and think about what you really want to say and do before acting.

Remember that sometimes, simply being can be a kind of action, Aries.

Aries in love, sex, and relationships

Our Aries friends need to feel the heat in the bedroom with any potential or long-term partner. After all, for Aries, passionate sex is a form of creative expression.

Aries' ruler planet Mars is about heat, drama, and intensity. This means that the Aries energy craves excitement over romance, passion over harmony. 

Since Aries are so independent, they usually need a partner who will allow them to be their boldest, most fiery selves. Aries/Mars energy is also fiercely protective of loved ones and is all about advocating for those they care about.

In short: You really want an Aries on your team, whether as a friend or a partner.

One thing to note is that all of this Mars energy can sometimes lead to a "my way or the highway' attitude, making compromise an area of growth in many Aries relationships. 

Summary

Aries need to feel the heat in the bedroom with any potential or long-term partner. Aries energy craves excitement, drama, and intensity, and needs a partner who will allow them to be their boldest selves.

Aries in friendships

If you want an up-front friend to tell it like it is, look no further than your closest Aries comrade, as they'll have no problem giving you their two-cents.

They're also great friends to have if you're looking for excitement and adventure. They are quite spontaneous, so just make sure you're ready to go and can keep up with their non-stop energy.

These people make friends easily, though it's not uncommon for them to lose touch or bounce around friend groups, as they like to keep things interesting and experience new things.

Even if you two have the occasional spat (Aries can have a bit of a temper), they can also get over it easily as they're typically loyal and value their friendships. They do, however, expect that loyalty to be returned to them.

Summary

Aries are up-front, spontaneous, and loyal friends who can give you their two-cents and make friends easily. They can also have a temper, Aries are loyal and expect loyalty to be returned.

Aries in career and money

As in love and romance, independence is a keyword for Aries in matters of career and money. Aries folks aren't known for taking orders well, preferring to be their own bosses.

Aries can also make excellent leaders. Heading up a team of people, they encourage risk-taking, pioneering vision, and fearlessness.

An ideal career for this sign is anything that allows them to use their fiery fuel to fight for a cause they believe in and/or something that involves athleticism or physicality. (Mars is bodily and likes to move.)

Aries is equally well-suited to freelancing or independent contracting, as the DIY life fits the sign's autonomous temperament.

The challenge for Aries is staying committed. This fire sign loves to start projects but not necessarily finish them. Over the course of their careers, Aries folks will need to figure out what truly makes their inner light shine and how they can best keep it burning.

Summary

Aries is an independent sign who prefers to be their own bosses and encourages risk-taking, vision, and fearlessness. They are well-suited to freelancing or independent contracting, but need to stay committed to find their inner light and keep it burning.

Aries compatibility

There are no absolutes when it comes to astrological compatibility, and Aries can make it work with anyone who shares their passionate energy. That being said, Aries typically craves partners and friends who will appreciate their indie nature and who also have full, busy lives of their own.

Compatible signs:

Generally, the most compatible signs for Aries for friendship and romantic relationships are: Libra (sometimes, opposites attract), Sagittarius, and Leo (fellow fire signs will speak their same passionate language).

  • Libra (sometimes, opposites attract)
  • Sagittarius
  • Leo (fellow fire signs will speak their same passionate language).

Incompatible signs:

  • Cancer: Aries can tend to butt heads against Cancers, as these water signs tend to take things personally—a danger when you're dating or befriending a fierce Ram like Aries.
  • Capricorn: An Aries-Capricorn match can also sometimes be tough, as Aries does not want to be restricted or restrained. Above all, Aries likes a challenge and needs the space and freedom to be themselves.

The takeaway

Aries is the fierce individualist of the zodiac. This fiery ram can teach all of us how to be our boldest, most independent selves.

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Sarah Regan author page.
Sarah Regan
mbg Spirituality & Relationships Editor

Sarah Regan is a Spirituality & Relationships Editor, a registered yoga instructor, and an avid astrologer and tarot reader. She received her bachelor's in broadcasting and mass communication from State University of New York at Oswego, and lives in Buffalo, New York.