Say what you will about Astrology, it sure is persistent. The idea that the alignment of the stars and planets when you were born can hold sway over your personality dates back more than 5,000 years. If you’re unsure where you stand on the topic, consider what the great psychologist Carl Jung had to say about it:

“We are born at a given moment in a given place and like vintage years of wine we have the qualities of the year and of the season in which we are born. Astrology does not lay claim to anything else.” – C.G.Jung

Or you can go with Katy Perry, who said, “I believe in a lot of astrology. I also believe in aliens.”

With that in mind, here is a breakdown of the 12 zodiac signs… and what your birth sign says about you as a parent.

Aries (March 20 to April 19)

Aries are leaders by nature, so you can expect to be a towering, dominant figure in your kids’ life all throughout their childhood and beyond. But be careful: Aries is also the sign of war, which means you should be prepared for some explosive fights with your kids, making for some very intense teenage years. We often hear that parents ‘butt heads’ with their kids, a term which originates from two rams crashing into each other. What’s the symbol of Aries? The ram. You get the picture – you’re a born fighter, and if you aren’t careful, you’re going to butt heads with your children – a lot. The secret for you is not to impose your vision of what your kids should be and accept them for who they are. On the flipside, when not at war, Aries are the natural born ‘quarterbacks’ of the zodiac and you should make for an amazing head of the household. If you’re not crushing it at your job and providing financial security for your family, you’re probably crushing it at home, being an incredibly attentive parent who makes sure your kids have everything they need. Just keep your powerful personality in check from time to time, and remember that kids are a hundred times more sensitive than the typical grown-ups you may be used to battling with. Focus on your natural leadership and your kids will happily follow you to the ends of the earth.

Taurus (April 20 to May 20)

Stable, patient and reliant, a Taurus parent is the perfect pillar of strength that every child longs for when growing up. In fact, Taureans by their very nature may be the most suited for parenthood, especially fathers. Patient and deliberating, one of your most important goals in life is to create a safe and secure environment for your family. This stable feeling you provide will become a touchstone for your kids, and when they think of “home” they will think of you specifically. You also take great pride in the actual structure of your house, from the layout, to the furnishings and cleanliness. Yours will be a special home with particular attention paid to little details, and your kids will enjoy growing up in such a pleasant and orderly environment. Taureans are also known for their unparalleled loyalty and friendship, which can translate into you being one of those lucky parents whose children say, “My mom/dad is my best friend.”

Gemini (May 21 to June 20)

Gemini is an air sign that loves intellectual stimulation, whether it comes from debating an issue in depth, consistent reading or good old-fashioned conversation over dinner. You have strong opinions and a well-defined moral code, which makes you ideally suited for parenting and passing these worldviews down to your kids. What’s more, Geminis are natural-born teachers, so you should be able to communicate your thoughts and discoveries very clearly to your kids – don’t be surprised if they wind up adopting many of your traits, habits and beliefs. Much like Libra, your home will be a place where discussion is valued at a premium and you will find tremendous thrill and satisfaction in enlightening your children, as you help them reach their own personal certainty. The downside? That famous Gemini duality means you can switch moods pretty easily, so be aware that such emotional swings can be hard for children to deal with. Kids like consistency, and that applies to your character. If you can keep your emotional swings in check, your kids should emerge from childhood with a strong sense of self and a well-defined belief system, which is the sign of great parenting.

Cancer (June 21 to July 22)

Cancer is the most soothing, caring sign in all of the zodiac – and what child doesn’t want that? As a pure water sign, your psychic connection to your kids will be deep, much like your fellow water signs Scorpio and Pisces – and you will share in their joy and feel their pain much more deeply than the average parent. Don’t be surprised if all of these deep connections at times result in anxiety and worry, perhaps more so than most parents, as you constantly wonder where they are and if they are okay. But don’t worry, the empathy you give to your kids is like a drug, and they will keep coming back to you for the healing and restorative love your provide. The other thing about Cancer signs is that they put a huge emphasis on home life– family movie night on the couch with your spouse and kids cuddled beside you under a blanket is your ideal evening. Just make sure you don’t forget to get up and go outside from time to time, to engage in activities. Your cozy home can be constricting if you aren’t careful.

Leo (July 23 to August 22)

The third fire sign of the zodiac, Leo parents create a boisterous, happy atmosphere filled with action and activities. If your kids get sad or gloomy, you have a knack for lifting their spirits and bringing smiles to their faces. Along with Aries, Leos are also natural born leaders and like to be the dominant figure of the household. And just like the lion from which their namesake derives, Leos are fiercely loyal. However, also like the Lion, Leos like can sometimes be a little too aggressive, egotistical and fearless… traits which may scare young children. At times, you might even find yourself in a twisted sort of competition with your kids — think of Alphas battling for control of the pride. Sure, you may live your life as a powerful figure who is always the center of attention, but with children, it’s their turn. You’ll have to dial back your natural power and authority from time to time to let your children have a chance to shine.   Also, underneath all of this pride and power, you can be quite sensitive, like Cancer, so be careful not to take it too personally as your kids develop into their own lives. If you can keep your power and ego in check, your kids will love following ‘Leo the leader’ as you raise them in a fun, activity-filled house.

Virgo (August 24 to September 22)

Here we have the most organized and disciplined signs of the Zodiac, and many Virgos come across as perfect parents. Everything you undertake, you seek perfection – the kind of person who will re-read an essay or manuscript 1000 times to make sure not a single period is out of place. You’ll treat your parenting the same way, with a slow, careful style that ensures everything is just right and nothing slips through the cracks. From keeping an orderly, detailed family calendar, to nailing every school project, your kids are lucky to have someone like you watching over them. As long as you remember that kids need to fail and mess up from time to time, and as long as you see messiness and spills and accidents as part of a ‘perfect’ childhood (i.e., you embrace it), you’re going to enjoy sharing your talents and abilities with your kids. They say children need routine more than anything else, and you are a natural when it comes to planning and setting up structure. The only thing to watch out for is that you may come to expect your same level of perfection in your children and feel let down if they don’t achieve it. Just remember to let kids be kids, with all their flaws and mistakes, and you will ‘nail’ parenting just like you do everything else.

Libra (September 23 to October 22)

The key to a Libra is intellectual wit, which means yours is a household of games, jokes, riddles, reading and education. You’ll also direct that keen mental acuity towards your children’s schedules, slotting activities and playdates with the precision of a master craftsman. As you know, the symbol of the Libra is the scales, which is embodied by your even-keel nature — not that you don’t have highs and lows like everyone else, but you are drawn toward balance, which creates a very calm and peaceful household. Libras are also natural listeners, and it’s hard to think of a more important trait in a parent. Your kids will enjoy talking to you about their problems and you may be one of the rare parents whose teenagers actually confide in them deeply. What should you watch out for? Indecisiveness can plague Libras from time to time, but if you have a strong partner in your life, you can work together when it comes to making the big decisions for your family.

Scorpio (October 23 to November 21)

The opposite side of the coin to Aries, you share much of the same traits – your love for your kids is fierce, and you will pay attention to every detail of their lives to make sure they have as perfect a childhood as possible. Scorpios are also the master of secrets, which means your kids may actually trust you with some of their deepest issues – something very rare and special in a parent/child relationship. On the flipside, you’re the kind of parent who probably wouldn’t hesitate to look through your kids personal journal or diary if you felt that something was bothering them and wanted to know what’s up. So be careful: the intensity with which you love your kids could become smothering at times, to the point where they may not be able to make a move without wondering what your opinion is. You don’t want them up on the ballet stage or on the basketball court, constantly looking out into the audience to see if ‘Scorpio’ approves. In the same vein, Scorpios are water signs, making them extremely intuitive and empathic, which means you will be able to “sense” your children’s moods, thoughts and emotions. It all adds up to your kids feeling extremely loved and extremely cared for – but also possibly feeling like they are under your thumb. Your burden is to tone it down a little, backing off so that you don’t smother them (like “momager” Kris Jenner, pictured). If you can do that, your kids will enjoy a childhood of immense love and develop a strong, intense loyalty to you.

Sagittarius (November 22 to December 21)

The rainbow of the zodiac, your kids will benefit just by being around someone who loves life as much as you. Yes, Sagittarians can fall into deep funks from time to time, but just like a sad puppy, the minute someone suggests going out to a movie, or a concert, or ice skating, or whatever, a Sagittarius jumps up, starts wagging its tail and is ready to engage. You are a natural philosopher with an interest in human behavior, culture and religion, and this love of life is something that will draw your kids to you – basically, Sagittarians are just fun to be around. Sure, you can be a little mischievous, with an inclination toward jokes, mockery, and even gambling. But as long you keep your ‘grown-up partying’ separated from your ‘kids fun’, you should enjoy the fruits of being well-liked both inside and outside your home. Expect your kids to look up to you and try to emulate your personality as they see the magical affect your ‘rainbow’ vibe has on your many friends and colleagues.

Capricorn (December 22 to January 19)

Capricorns are extremely practical parents with a strong focus on family finances. As an Earth sign, you’re not one to get caught up in daydreaming and flights of fancy – someone has to put food on the table, someone has to pick up the cleaning and go grocery shopping, someone has to get things done! That’s you. You have a down to earth, reality based view of life as well as being family-oriented with strong ties to the home – all of which adds up to a pretty awesome parent. After all, 8 year olds don’t sit around and meditate on the nature of the universe, so you will find that you are completely in sync with your children’s daily wants and needs. Capricorns are also traditionally very reliable and punctual, because after all, “time is money!” Perfectly suited for the responsibilities of parenthood, your home should run like clockwork — granted, you might stress out about getting it to run that way, but you will get it there. If your family is under financial strain, it’s going to affect you much more deeply than it might other zodiac types, so just be aware that you can get anxious about money. Capricorns also love travel, and you should thrive on family vacations – you’ll have as much fun planning it out and purchasing the best deals as you will on the actual trip. You are completely invested in this world and that is exactly the kind of engagement that children need.

Aquarius (January 20 to February 18)

The most unique and individualistic sign of the zodiac, you instill in your kids the most important trait of all: that they follow their own path, regardless of what anyone thinks. After all, you don’t give a crap about public perception, which ironically is what makes you so cool and admired in the first place. It’s not easy teaching your kids to be themselves in the face of social pressure, but you walk the walk, which means your children will see what true self-confidence and independence are all about. Aquarius is also altruistic and humanitarian by nature, with a strong focus on helping others. All of this serves to root your children in the community, as they watch you devote time to organizations, charities, or simply doing small acts of kindness to make the world a better place.   Just keep ‘doing you’ and you’ll set an amazingly high bar of altruism and individuality that your kids will admire you for and try to live up to.

Pisces (February 19 to March 20)

Pisces are water signs which makes your parenting style soothing, caring and sensitive – your lucky kids will never have any doubts that they are loved to the moon and back. Pisces also have natural intuition much like Scorpio, which means you can expect to have a deep, almost psychic connection with your children – you will often be completely in tune with what they are thinking and feeling. With a deeply artistic streak, your family should have a strong appreciation of the arts, from music and movies to crafts and painting. Just keep an eye on your sensitivity – easily hurt, you can slip into a funk if you’re not careful. Pisces are actually famous for falling into a morass and getting stuck there. Stay optimistic, and your kids will enjoy a childhood filled with more love, beauty and art than they could ever imagine.

Conclusion

Sure, half the people in the U.S. think Astrology is bunk. But the other half think there’s some science behind it. If you’re undecided, consider some of the insights above and see if they offer any value to you as a parent. As Carl Jung said, “Astrology is unreliable in the hands of the unimaginative and dangerous in the hands of a fool. But it can be an apt tool when used intelligently… and it often provides surprising insights.”

Michael Berman