The Astrological Constellations We Grow Up In

How sign groupings shape our families, friendships, attraction patterns and even the shows we love

Have you ever sat down and really considered the astrological “constellation” you grew up in?

I do quite often.

In my family growing up there were five of us: two Air signs (Mom and one sister), two Earth signs (Dad and my other sister), and then me, the lone Water sign. When I was young, I sometimes felt like I’d been adopted and of course my older sister loved to tease me that this was definitely the case:)

Funnily enough, my husband’s family had a very similar makeup: two Air signs (him and his mom) and two Earth signs (his dad and sister), so I fit into that dynamic quite naturally.

These kinds of elemental ecosystems fascinate me.

And I’ve noticed over the years that certain families seem to operate almost like astrological ecosystems unto themselves, with one person often carrying a very different energetic role from the rest.

Take the Royal Family, for example.

Charles, Diana, William and Camilla are all Water signs, while Harry is the lone Earth sign. These “odd person out” children can sometimes feel separate from the rest of the family system or fundamentally misunderstood. Word was that Harry always felt a particular affinity with the Queen, a Taurus and fellow Earth sign.

You see these groupings everywhere once you start noticing them.

Not just in families either, but on the world stage.

A surprising number of current world leaders are Air signs.

Trump, Xi and Droupadi Murmu are all Geminis (and for my fellow Canadians, so are Poilievre and Elizabeth May). Putin is a Libra, while both Zelenskyy and Shigeru Ishiba are Aquarians.

Air signs are known for their ability to emotionally detach, which can be incredibly useful in leadership. But as history repeatedly shows us, detachment can manifest in very different ways depending on the consciousness of the individual expressing it.

Astrologically, we are also entering an intensely Air-oriented period collectively. Pluto has moved into Aquarius and Uranus has moved into Gemini. These revolutionary, disruptive and transformative planets will remain in Air signs for quite some time. Add Saturn and Neptune shifting into Aries, and it certainly feels like humanity is entering a new chapter.

As above, so below. Buckle up.

On a lighter note, I also find myself looking up actors’ Sun signs whenever I’m watching a show with a cast that gels beautifully together.

For Frasier, Kelsey Grammer’s Pisces Sun is surrounded by Air and Fire. Roz and Martin are both Geminis in real life, while Daphne and Niles are played by Aries actors. The chemistry works incredibly well because those elements feed and animate each other.

On CSI Vegas, most of the original core cast are Water sign actors, and I swear you can feel that emotional undercurrent running through the show. Gil, Nick and Hodges are all played by Pisces actors. Catherine, Doc and David are Scorpios, while Jorja Fox’s Sara has quintessential Cancerian energy.

Warrick was the lone Fire sign in the original cast, while my beloved Brass is played by a delicious Capricorn who somehow keeps the whole emotional operation grounded. Whenever his stoic exterior cracked, you felt it.

But one of my favourite ensemble casts of all time is Brooklyn 99, which my husband and I are currently rewatching for the fifth time.

What fascinates me about that cast is that almost everyone falls into either Fire or Water signs, with one notable Air-sign exception.

Before reading further, if you know the show, see if you can guess who it is:)

Jake, Amy, Terry, Hitchcock, Kevin Cozner and Wuntch are all played by Leos in real life, while Boyle and Pimento are both Sagittarians. On the Water side, Holt and the Vulture are Cancerians, Doug Judy is a Scorpio, and Gina and Scully are both Pisces.

The one standout Air sign in the main cast is Rosa (swoon), played by an Aquarius.

Rosa’s character is written again and again as a kind of riddle wrapped in mystery, emotionally guarded yet fiercely principled. Everyone loves her, fears her, and never fully knows what she’ll do next. In the final season, Rosa leaves the 99 because she becomes disillusioned with the police force and wants to work outside the system helping victims of police brutality.

It is such an Aquarius storyline.

My own grade-school girlfriends range from Scorpio to Pisces, so mostly the Universal signs. We’ve been friends for over 40 years and still call ourselves the “True Blue Crew.”

Interestingly, many of the small handful of close male friends I’ve had throughout my life fall into those same later zodiac signs too: Sagittarius, Aquarius and Pisces.

Which makes me wonder if we’re often drawn toward certain energies at particular stages of life.

Astrologically, I suspect Secondary Progressions have a lot to do with this. My natal chart is heavily Fire and Water, but my progressed chart has become dominantly Air and Earth over time.

Since moving into our new house in 2022, I’ve found myself surrounded by people from the earlier zodiac signs: a couple of Tauruses (both with Aquarius Moons!), a hilarious Leo and a warm, cuddly Virgo.

Looking back, I’ve realized that many of the significant people I’ve pulled into my life in later years belong to the Personal signs, most notably my husband, who is a full-on Gemini. In fact, he seems to have started a bit of a Gemini trend.

Last week at a gathering at our house, I suddenly realized I was surrounded by Geminis, many with strong Capricorn placements. Apparently I like my Air signs mixed with Earth and my Earth signs mixed with Air:)

Am I getting too granular yet? Lol.

But honestly, I do think we are often drawn toward certain signs when we are ready for their energy in our lives.

So now I’m curious about you.

What was the astrological constellation you grew up in, and how did it shape you?

What sign or element have you dated most?

Have you noticed certain Sun sign groupings in your own friendships, workplace, or family system?

And have you ever noticed particular elemental “flavours” showing up collectively on the world stage?

You know I love hearing your astrological musings.

xo,

Shannon