Astrology classifies the 12 zodiac signs in all kinds of ways, but one of the most common is by element—fire, earth, water, and air. These four elements are the foundation of life and cannot exist without each other. In astrology, they’re used to describe how a sign feels and takes action.

Have you ever had a spark of inspiration or an impetuous thought? Well, if you have, you know exactly how the fire signs of the zodiac feel 25/8. For these sparklers—Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius—there’s always room to feel your feels and then talk about them. Impatient by nature, they’re always moving forward, passionately chasing their goals—and never looking back. Because of their impulsivity, they rarely reflect on the past. Instead, they’re always racing toward the future.

What are the fire signs in astrology?

There are three fire signs in the zodiac: Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. There’s one fire sign for each modality—cardinal, fixed, and mutable. Modalities are another way of classifying zodiac signs: They describe where in the season they fall, which, in turn, gives them certain personality traits. Aries is a cardinal sign, Leo is a fixed sign, and Sagittarius is a mutable sign.

Fire signs' personality traits

All three are aggressive, lusty (*wiggles eyebrows*), and impassioned. Just think of a literal fire—hot, entrancing, and in some cases, destructive! Never apologetic, they use their drive to make sh*t happen. They believe they were born for greatness—and TBH, they’re not wrong. In fact, they have the utmost drive for success…unless, that is, they abandon a project in the middle because they get bored. Fire cannot be contained, so these signs are often found taking the lead in a group or off doing their own thing.

Fire signs and compatibility

Signs in the same elements are always four signs away from each other: For fire signs, Aries is the 1st sign of the zodiac, Leo is the 5th, and Sagittarius is the 9th. This distance is what astrologers call trine. It means that fire signs tend to get along with other fire signs, whether as friends, lovers, family members, or even coworkers. They just ~get~ each other, y’know? Fire signs also get along well with air signs—they're what's called congenial elements, meaning that even though they're different, they go together like PB&J. Water and earth signs, however, are not much of a match for fire signs.

Get to know the fire signs:

Aries

Dates: March 21 to April 19

Modality: Cardinal

Ruler: Mars

Represented by: The ram

Famous Aries: Mariah Carey, Reese Witherspoon, Diana Ross, Sarah Jessica Parker, Lady Gaga, Halle Bailey, Pharrell, Kristen Stewart, Lil Nas X, Kourtney Kardashian, Simu Liu

This rambunctious ram is a cardinal sign, aka they take charge. If you’ve ever known an Aries, chances are they charmed you with their powerful words—and then left you in the dust. They tend to use their hotheadedness to assert their views, then move on fast. Aries is the first of sign the zodiac, so they’re also leaders—the fire’s spark. That also makes them the babies of the zodiac, so don’t be surprised if they act a bit childish or impulsive sometimes.

Leo

Dates: July 23 to August 22

Modality: Fixed

Ruler: The Sun

Represented by: The lion

Famous Leos: Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck, Madonna, Kylie Jenner, Meghan Markle, Daniel Radcliffe, Andrew Garfield, Viola Davis, Maya Rudolph, Jason Momoa, Cara Delevingne

This fearless lion is a fixed sign, aka they’re stubborn AF. This strong-willed energy makes Leo a loyal friend…and someone you definitely don’t want to cross. Leo remains unwavering in their beliefs, no matter what happens. They never second-guess themselves, and they’re known to be proud and maybe a little selfish. These fiery lions will always roar about their chosen cause. They love the spotlight, and they’re always surrounded by their fans/friends.

Sagittarius

Dates: November 22 to December 21

Modality: Mutable

Ruler: Jupiter

Represented by: The archer

Famous Sagittarians: Taylor Swift, Brittney Spears, Jay Z, Nicki Minaj, Zoë Kravitz, Hailey Bieber, Miley Cyrus, Ben Stiller, Janelle Monáe, Chrissy Teigen, Vanessa Hudgens

Sagittarius is a mutable sign, aka they’re flexible and thoughtful—kinda like the zodiac’s philosophers. They use their passionate energy to power their quest for truth. As the protector of the galaxy, the archer is a fearless spiritual fighter who never minces words. However, Sagittarius does have a habit of putting their foot in their mouth—so they adopt a “live and let live” attitude to get them out of trouble. They’re extremely adventurous and just a teeny-tiny bit flaky.