Here Is the Strength That Makes Each Zodiac Sign a Good Friend

If you scroll through your phone when deciding how to spend your day, you may find yourself hovering over certain friends’ names depending on which activity you’re doing. When you’re in the mood for a chill movie night in, you know to call your friend who will be down for some gossip and to order some takeaway. If hitting yoga class each week is one of your goals,  you know to call on the disciplined friend who will make sure you make it to your mat. You definitely also know who to call when you’re so sad you can’t think straight, and need to cry it out. Based on our personalities, we all bring different strengths to our friendships. One way to dig a little deeper into what your friendship strength may be is by taking a look at the traits of your zodiac sign.

We can learn a lot about our ourselves through our zodiac sun signs, including how the traits associated with each sign reflect our personalities. These traits are informed by all the pieces that determine what each sign of the zodiac is like, including each sign’s element, modality, and ruling planet. All of these factors determine how each sign moves through and interacts with the world around them. Stephanie Gailing, astrologer and author of Astrology: An In Focus Workbook: A Guide to Understanding Yourself Through the Sun, Moon, and Stars, says all of these components are helpful to assess “who [each zodiac sign is], how they see the world, and what they want out of life, which includes what they bring to their friendships.”

“Who [each zodiac sign is], how they see the world, and what they want out of life includes what they bring to their friendships.”—Stephanie Gailing, astrologer and author

Zeroing in on these traits paints a fuller picture of each zodiac sign’s personality, which can then be used to find their friendship strength. There are lots of ways to be a good friend, and each sign brings something different that helps them form and keep tight platonic bonds. Read on for insights about each zodiac sign’s friendship strength from Gailing, astrologer Celeste Brooks, and Maria Sofia Marmanides, astrologer and author of The One Card Tarot Journal: 150 Prompts for Single Card Tarot Wisdom.

The strength each zodiac sign brings to their friendships, according to astrologers

Aries: directness

Because your ruling planet is Mars, Aries, you’re known for your assertive and fiery energy. As a result of this, your directness allows you to be extremely clear in your communication. According to Marmanides, your friends can expect you to tell it like it is because you never obscure your meaning—but you cut your vinegar with honey, so your bluntness is paired with humor. “You are the kind of friend who will deliver [your] point of view with a joke or a spot-on impersonation and try to make [your friends] see the funny side of [their] situation,” says Marmanides.

Your directness extends to your conflict resolution, Aries, because Marmanides says your friends will never be left wondering how you really feel. You may be blunt, but you’re not cruel, and your propensity to not hold grudges means you’ll tell your friends when issues arise and will be able to move on when they’re resolved.

Taurus: dependability

Taurus, you’re highly in touch with all five senses because of your earth sign element, so you know how to have a good time. This is a great quality for a friend to have, but Gailing says your key strength comes from another trait the earth element bestows on you—dependability. This quality allows you to show up for your friends when they need you. “[You] are very steadfast and dependable, so if someone needs practical advice they’d go to a Taurus,” she says.

Gemini: curiosity

Gemini, you’re chatty and quick-witted, which makes you a riot to converse with. Ruled by Mercury, the planet of communication, your liveliness puts others at ease and makes them want to socialize with you. It’s this natural curiosity and desire to know about others through chatting that is your key friendship strength, says Gailing. “[Geminis] may ask you questions about yourself, which for a lot of people is really nice, and they’re always curious and interested,” she says.

Cancer: caretaking

Your water element means you’re deeply in touch with your own feelings, Cancer, so you have a great ability to extend that care to others. According to Brooks, nothing brings you more satisfaction than taking care of the ones you love because you’re very nurturing. “Cancer energy is very caretaking and intuitive, so if you need a heart-to-heart or a hug, [they] can really just make you feel better,” she says.

Whether it’s through giving a hug when a friend needs it or providing a cozy and safe space to crash if they need it, you’ll go out of your way to make your friends feel loved and safe—making people feel at home, wherever they may be, is the strength you bring to your friendships. “If you’re feeling emotional, a Cancer friend is a really warm place to fall,” says Brooks.

Leo: fun

Ruled by the sun, you have a natural ability to grab attention and keep it, Leo. Your fire element lends to this dynamism, and contributes to what Brooks says is your friendship strength—your ability to facilitate a good time. “[Leos] can gather attention and draw people to them, so they bring this fun and dynamism,” says Brooks. Your unwavering loyalty to those you love is a bonus, too, she says.

Virgo: clarity

Virgo, you are known to be meticulous and organized, and your earth sign status grants you a high level of sensibility and balance. Your gift for lucidity in your endeavors is easily extended to others with Mercury as your planetary ruler, so Gailing says your friendship strength is your clarity. You can apply that focus and clarity to be a sounding board and reality check for friend, whether they’re working through their own decisions, feeling down, or even doubting themselves. “Virgos can really help in terms of saying, ‘let’s look at what is really going on here,'” she says. If a friend is upset or feeling lost, “[a Virgo] can help ground them and say, ‘look at this thing you achieved or this good thing in your life that you have,’ says Gailing.

Libra

Libra, you strive for balance in all your endeavors. You place a high value on fairness, and your air sign element makes you an objective thinker who is open to hearing lots of perspectives—sometimes you’re called the diplomat of the zodiac, after all. For these reasons, Marmanides says your open-mindedness is your friendship strong suit. Your desire for people to get along “makes [you] open-minded and not prone to being judgmental or dogmatic,” says Marmanides. “[Libras] like to see all sides of a situation, and they’re great at compromise and conflict mediation and have big hearts.”

Scorpio: loyalty

You don’t give your love and affection easily, Scorpio, but when you do, you give your whole heart. An emotional water sign that’s ruled by far-off Pluto, your capacity to feel everything and bring those emotions to the surface extends to the love you feel for your friends. It’s your unwavering loyalty that makes you such a great friend, say Gailing, Brooks, and Marmanides—when someone earns your trust and love, you’re ride or die. “If your Scorpio friend is committed to you, they will go to the ends of the earth to fight for you,” says Gailing. “If you want someone to help bury a body, you want to call a Scorpio,” Brooks adds.

Sagittarius: adventure

It’s no surprise that as the zodiac’s traveler, you are the friend others turn to for an adventure, Sagittarius. All the astrologers named your knack for adventure as your top friendship strength. An expressive fire sign that’s ruled by Jupiter, the planet of abundance, you’re confident and optimistic, and those qualities are contagious when you’re around.  According to Gailing, you’re the first person a friend would call if they’re embarking on an impromptu trip, or if they want help pushing—or jumping—out of their comfort zone. “You may be having a rainy day, then it’s like the sun has come out in your mind and heart because [Sagittarius] is so enthusiastic and optimistic,” she says. “There’s just a spark of joie de vivre.” But these adventures don’t always have to involve passports, and can be even closer to home: Gailing says your wisdom and capacity for deep thought and philosophical exploration could unlock adventures, too.

Capricorn: encouragement

Capricorn, sometimes you catch a bad rap for being hyper focused on achieving your own goals. As a cardinal earth sign ruled by orderly Saturn, you have the alchemy of a determined go-getter. However, you’re not selfish at all in your close friendships and you want your loved ones achieve their goals, too—according to Marmanides, your friendship strength is your ability to encourage others. “Capricorns can be super encouraging and because of their wise-beyond-their-years maturity, will often have helpful or insightful advice and perspective to share,” she says. If you can help your friends in any way, you absolutely will. “They believe that actions speak louder than words so even if they don’t always have the perfect words to say, they’ll show up for their friends whenever they’re needed, often without needing to be asked.”

Aquarius: inspiration

Aquarius, despite your deeply seated need for independence, you have a reputation for being incredibly friendly, says Marmanides. You care a lot about collective issues that impact others, and think constantly about how to best solve these issues—Uranus, your ruling planet, is associated with innovation, after all. It’s this combination of traits that lends you your friendship strength, which according to Gailing is your ability to inspire. You impart your desires and obsessions onto your friends, which could lead them to explore their own interests or to take up their own causes. “If your world seems small, Aquarius may be able to really connect you to other things in the wider world that will inspire you,” says Gailing. For example, you’re the one who is most likely to rally your friend group to volunteer or participate in a demonstration for some important cause.

Pisces: empathy

You wear your big heart on your sleeve, Pisces. Governed by Neptune, the planet of creativity and dreams, you’re an inventive spirit who cares deeply about the feelings of those you love, including your friends. The water element that allows you to connect and embody your emotions so deeply also contributes to what Gailing calls your friendship strength: your empathy. “Pisces really cares about you and just wants to help,” says Gailing. “They want to be there to help you heal, or discover more joy, or release your suffering.” Your ability to understand and share others’ feelings also makes you an attentive and active listener.