The Duality Within All of the Zodiac Signs
Learn about the shadow side and empowered side of all the signs
I was recently at a dinner, and of course, the talk of signs came up. When I shared I was a double Capricorn, I was met, yet again, with a confused face.
You don’t give off typical Capricorn energy.
It’s something I’ve heard more in recent years, and obviously there are many other things at play here, but something we often tend to forget is that just like the rest of the Universe, zodiac signs also have duality within them.
What does that mean? Well, to put it simply, all the signs have their light side and their dark side, their shadow traits and their empowered traits, and we fluctuate between it all.
There was definitely a time when I was very much Capricorn energy (the good and the bad), however as I continued my self-work, the not-so-desirable Cap traits were replaced with the more empowered version of the sign that not many people were familiar with.
Below you’ll find a breakdown of all the signs and how their duality shows up, as well as their sister signs, which are a great teacher to help work through the shadow aspects.
Remember, your cosmic blueprint is not solely one sign. You’re essentially all the signs to a degree, so keep that in mind when you look through this list. However, just taking your sun, rising, moon and venus sign into consideration is a great start, too!
No judgement. No shame. Just awareness and reflection.
Aries
Archetype: The Warrior
Sister Sign: Libra
Shadow Side: a strong tendency to be moody, short-tempered, impulsive, agitated, can get angry easily, but fizzles out just as fast.
Empowered Side: often successful at anything they put their mind to, ambitious, enthusiastic, courageous, typically devoted and loyal to those they love.Tips to Elevate Your Aries Placements: For an Aries, there’s usually very little distinction between a discussion and an argument. At times, you may not really care whether you insult someone or hurt their feelings in the process, and can process their reaction as a weakness of theirs instead of taking ownership of your insensitivity. Instead of being pushy, be persuasive with your natural charm. Look to your sister sign Libra to focus on a goal of balance and harmony, as opposed to authority and power.
Taurus
Archetype: The Gardener
Sister Sign: Scorpio
Shadow Side: stubbornness, over-indulgence and possessiveness.
Empowered Side: loyal, dependable, persistent, direct, grounded and trustworthy.
Tips to Elevate Your Taurus Placements: The bull is very intimidating, and you use it to your advantage so people make sure not to cross you. When you’re angry, you’ll remove your support or affection (or both), and let your rage take the lead. You’re naturally a sensual sign, so be careful of being passive aggressive when triggered. Look to your sister Scorpio to remember the value of truth, loyalty and empathy.
Gemini
Archetype: The Intellectual
Sister Sign: Sagittarius
Shadow Side: superficiality, restlessness, and impulsiveness.
Empowered Side: imaginative, energetic, and adaptable.
Tips to Elevate Your Gemini Placements: Representing the Twins, Gemini placements may find it difficult to balance the shadow and light, especially when it comes to cutting someone with your words. You use communication and intellect to outwit and tear down others with your voice. Remember that communication is a two-way street, and you have the ability to listen just as deeply as you crave being heard. Look to your sister Sagittarius to implement more fun-loving and flexible energy in your relationships.
Cancer
Archetype: The Mother
Sister Sign: Capricorn
Shadow Side: deeply private and emotional requiring plenty of personal space and alone time to deal with the demands of the world, can seem self-pitying, self-absorbed, petty and oversensitive.
Empowered Side: extremely caring, dependable, responsive, value security, natural nurturers and love their homes.
Tips to Elevate Your Cancer Placements: Your emotions run deep, and your ability to turn on the waterworks and sulk on demand to get what you want can become manipulative. Sometimes this is unconscious. Become aware of how you emotionally blackmail to get what you want, because those around you will become hip to your game. Look to your sister Capricorn to better learn how to manage your emotions and take responsibility.
Leo
Archetype: The Royal
Sister Sign: Aquarius
Shadow Side: can have issues playing with others, can come off as domineering, pretentious, vain, or melodramatic.
Empowered Side: natural leaders, confident, ambitious, generous, loyal, and can be very successful.
Tips to Elevate Your Leo Placements: You love to be the center of attention, even if that sometimes comes at the cost of humiliating others. You know just what buttons to push and you hardly hesitate to do so. Make sure you’re attracting the right kind of recognition to yourself. Instead of being bossy and problematic, shine a light on your generous and warm heart. Your light can remind others how bright they can be, too. Look to your sister sign Aquarius to find the value in being a humanitarian.
Virgo
Archetype: The Priestess
Sister Sign: Pisces
Shadow Side: paralysis by analysis, skeptical, inflexible, cold, and interfering.
Empowered Side: practical, great team players, reliable, precise, observant and analytical.Tips to Elevate Your Virgo Placements: Virgos tend to have two sides to them—one is sweet, pleasant and likeable, and the other disparaging and critical. Learning how to turn your criticism into constructive feedback is crucial. Whether it’s towards others or with yourself, learning how to be softer (like your sister Pisces) will help you in the long run. You don’t always have to erase and start over. You can own your mistakes and work to fix them.
Libra
Archetype: The Lover
Sister Sign: Aries
Shadow Side: can appear critical and superficial, introverted, indecisive, and even unreliable.
Empowered Side: graceful, diplomatic, hospitable, peaceful, harmonious, a lover of beautiful things.
Tips to Elevate Your Libra Placements: You’re all about balancing the scales and fighting for the underdog. You hate seeing people being treated unfairly, including yourself, and while you’re not big on confrontation, you’re quick to address this when it happens. However, this can teeter into just ranting and raving into the void instead of being constructive. Like Aries, tap into your inner warrior and leader. Use your empowered traits in a way that cultivates change, as opposed to just complaining.
Scorpio
Archetype: The Witch
Sister Sign: Taurus
Shadow Side: obsessive, manipulative, mysterious and unyielding.
Empowered Side: passionate, resourceful, committed to the truth and loyalty, renowned empathy, great at keeping calm in stressful situations.
Tips to Elevate Your Scorpio Placements: Scorpio, you’re often misunderstood. However we both know you’re quick to strike, which is what lends to people’s judgment of you. You don’t just get mad, you get even, and you can be really cold and calculated when you do it. Use your innate charm to channel that Taurus Empress energy, and make your scheming positive.
Sagittarius
Archetype: The Wanderer
Sister Sign: Gemini
Shadow Side: overly blunt, restless, unemotional, may have issues with commitment, often need direction, can seem flighty and shallow.
Empowered Side: optimistic, visionary, inspirational, fun loving, values freedom, philosophical, spiritual.
Tips to Elevate Your Sagittarius Placements: Sagittarians get a bad rep for being gaslighters. Because you’re always focusing on “the bigger picture” and can sometimes seem aloof, your over-the-top kindness and optimism can actually come off manipulative and dismissive. You don’t have to play mind games to get what you want, and sometimes you don’t even realize that’s what you’re doing. Like your sister Gemini, your communication and intellect is best served neutral, with room for the other person to contribute.
Capricorn
Archetype: The Creatrix
Sister Sign: Cancer
Shadow Side: unimaginative, inhibited, dictatorial, sometimes too pragmatic and can seem unemotional.
Empowered Side: philosophical, intelligent, practical, organized, responsible, patient and hardworking.
Tips to Elevate Your Capricorn Placements: Capricorn, while you’re praised for your work ethic, your innate bossy nature can get too extreme. You can manipulate circumstances to make sure no one gets what they want, and when someone crosses you, your cut-off game is strong. You pull back affection and all communication. We know this is a mask, though, to protect your deeply felt emotions like your sister Cancer. No one will judge you for letting that side of you show. Let your humor out, and learn to laugh off situations instead of holding a grudge for a lifetime.
Aquarius
Archetype: The Rebel
Sister Sign: Leo
Shadow Side: tendency toward laziness, aloofness, and sarcasm.
Empowered Side: great humanitarians, strong intellect, witty, clever, and deeply devoted to causes of the world.
Tips to Elevate Your Aquarius Placements: You’re often feeling judged Aquarius, because your quirkiness and unconventional ways are not always understood by the masses. While you’re no pushover, you can often become detached and independent before engaging in confrontation. Take a page out of Leo’s book here and learn that it’s not bad to have the spotlight on you. Your intelligence and care of the world need to be showcased, and when you learn to find comfort in the uncomfortable raw emotion within you, you’ll see a whole new realm of opportunity and deeper partnership open up for you.
Pisces
Archetype: The Mystic
Sister Sign: Virgo
Shadow Side: can be escapists, lazy, oversensitive, and self-pitying.
Empowered Side: gentle souls, compassionate, adaptable, romantic, imaginative, and devoted.
Tips to Elevate Your Pisces Placements: Pisces, your emotions run deep, and it makes it that much easier for you to play the victim or martyr in order to get the attention that you crave. Your creative nature can also tend to play with the feelings of others, manipulating them into becoming your enabler. Learn from your sister Virgo how to take responsibility for your feelings and actions. Break free from the illusions you’ve created for yourself, and you’ll realize that the depth and closeness you’ve been seeking from others doesn’t have to come at the cost of mind games.
Now that you’re more familiar with the patterns and traits of your astrological placements, you can become an observer to the shadow aspects that may show up from time to time, and make a conscious effort to become more empowered.