As a proud air sign, I can tell you all about what it means to be one of the social intellectuals of the zodiac. I’m friendly and conversational—the hallmark traits of an air sign—and admittedly, I get stuck in my head for better or worse. The truth is, knowing your ruling zodiac element is key to understanding your astrological forever mood, or the core of your temperament. Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius zodiac signs are all apt questions because when you’re an air sign, you’re bound to get carried away by curiosity.

The zodiac signs are all separated into different categorical groupings that aid in interpreting the whole scope of your birth chart: dualities, triplicities, and quadriplicities. The elements are grouped into—you guessed it—clusters of three: fire, Earth, air, and water. Historically, elements date back to notable Greek philosophers who used the four-element system used in astrology today. As astrologer Stephanie Gailing previously told Well+Good: air signs are linked to communication and social energy.

Air signs follow their inquisitive nature to better understand the people and world around them. They ask all the questions and seek meaning in the conversations and connections they make. Read on to learn more about the air signs and how they show up in the world.

What is an air sign in astrology?

Your astrological element is your overarching personality and how it’s expressed in your life. But like with every astrological quality, each element tends to come with its hiccups that need to be energetically balanced. What are their strengths, what are their weaknesses, and how (if you’re especially airy) can you keep your active mind from floating away?

For air signs, their overall disposition is talkative, friendly, and intellectual. They’re deep thinkers and are inquisitive in nature. They poke and prod until they’ve gathered enough evidence to make a decision or hold opinions.

“Air signs usually seek mental stimulation and information above all. They are intelligent, witty, and cerebral,” says Carolyne Faulkner, astrologer and author of The Signs. “Prone to overthink or dip into negative, paranoid vibes if overstimulated or tired, this is the element that delivers concepts, ideas, and ingenuity.”

“Prone to overthink or dip into negative, paranoid vibes if overstimulated or tired, this is the element that delivers concepts, ideas, and ingenuity.” —astrologer Carolyne Faulkner

While you’ll definitely want an air sign on your trivia team, they come with their fair share of baggage. The biggest struggle that air signs face is the possibility of being mentally overstimulated. They’ll stay up all night brainstorming, ideating, thinking of new and fresh ways to Do The Thing, and then show up to work the next day sluggish and burnt out. Strong air energy has the potential to blow you off course if you let it run wild, so what should you do in order to stand your ground?

Faulkner says in order to receive energetic balance, prioritize being able to clear your mind of the endless chatter that probably preoccupies it. “Unplug from electronics often and learn meditation,” she says. When you try to pare down the digital and mental clutter in your life, you’ll keep yourself from being windswept, frazzled, and unfocused.

What are the air signs?

The official lineup for air signs includes Gemini with a mutable modality, Libra with a cardinal modality, and Aquarius with a fixed modality. This difference in modality (or quadruplicity) among each of the signs in the air element points to how each sign reacts to the world, whereas ruling elements are more so a commentary on each sign’s temperament. For an in-depth analysis of the individual air signs, read on.

Gemini explained

Gemini people are born between May 21 and June 20. One thing about Gemini zodiac signs: they will follow their curiosity even if it jeopardizes their outlook on life. They’re free-spirited by design, always poking around in forbidden places to find answers, so consider the twins as the citizen journalists of the air sign bunch. If you ever find yourself in deep talks with Gemini, you might not even notice the minutes turn to hours—they have a way of making even the most mundane of conversations engaging.

Libra explained

Libra zodiac signs are born between September 23 and October 22. They’re the social butterflies of the air sign group, and their Rolodex of contacts is proof of their socialite status. This air sign thrives in social dynamics and has a friendly charm that others gravitate toward—and let’s face it, often confuse with flirting. While their elemental counterparts are concerned with analytics, Libra’s air sign logic stems from their strong sense of fairness, deeming them diplomats as they weigh all sides of a situation.

Aquarius explained

Born between January 20 and February 18, 2024, Aquarius zodiac signs are forward-thinking people who emanate their air sign qualities from a revolutionary perspective. In other words, Aquarius folks are concerned about societal advancements, from social progress to cutting-edge technology. The off-beat signs are outside-the-box thinkers, bringing unorthodox ideas to the table and solutions for the greater good of humanity. As logical as they are, though, Aquarius are open-minded to the metaphysical world, too, as their minds are a trove of eccentricities, anyway.

Who do air signs get along with?

Generally, air signs get along best with other air signs, as they can relate to the way they assert themselves in the world. Not only can two air signs talk the other’s ear off, but they can also keep up with their social calendars.

Air signs fare well with fire signs. Fire signs are bold and vivacious, which can both balance and complement air signs, who appreciate their ability to keep a fire going in their social spheres, as well as their shared curiosity about trying new things.