“The jealous are troublesome to others, but a torment to themselves,” Libra William Penn sagely espoused.
Indeed, since humans have become conscious, ye olde green eyed monster hath been the source of much suffering. While all zodiac signs are equally capable of experiencing envy, the expression of that feeling varies from astrological archetype to archetype.
As a word geek I am inclined to share with you that the etymology/word history of jealousy is some real horror show s–t.
From the onset, the synonyms for envy had a hostile air about them suggesting possessiveness and suspicion and implying that the person in question was looking at another with malice rather than admiration. Add to this that words for jealousy in other languages are grim AF, the Swedish svartsjuka, literally translates to”black-sick,” and the Danish word for “jealous,” skinsyg means “skin-sick.”
Yikes and also, yuck.
Read on to learn more about what makes each sign skin sick and green in the guts. Make sure to read for your sun, Mars and rising sign and educate yourself with our run down of the three most jealous zodiac signs.
ARIES (March 21 – April 19)
All things, even and especially envy are a source of competition for the Aries contingent. In response to jealousy they go double down death match, trying to secure your love and affection or making you rue the day by reminding you just how easily you can be replaced and they can upgrade.
TAURUS (April 20 – May 20)
Taurus will cold shoulder the ever living hell out of you if they feel like you are trying to incite them towards jealousy.
Rulers of the second house of values and possessions they low key think everything and everyone they love belongs to them and if you subvert the safety of this sentiment they will punish you by rendering you unlovable and shifting their energetic investment elsewhere. It’s effective, it’s frosty AF and it’s part of their self-care routine.
GEMINI (May 21 – June 20)
A Gemini will never, ever cop to jealousy and will laugh off any suggestion that they could ever care enough to be threatened by their lessers.
Extreme as they are they will either pretend the threat and the person in question doesn’t exist or will find ways to verbally undercut the competition by pointing out flaws, making jabs/jokes etc.
Blessed with biting wit and a capacity for casual cruelty, their jealousy often manifests as meanness.
CANCER (June 21 – July 22)
Like their sidestepping symbol, Cancers do not directly address anything, including and perhaps especially envy.
Instead they will gradually accumulate evidence and resentment, and when least expected all of their feelings and fears will be released in a deluge of spite, moth balls, tears and hoarded hurts.
LEO (July 23 – August 22)
A jealous Leo lives between the following sentiments; ‘I wish my beloved loved me more’ and ‘I am a f—ing treasure and it is blasphemous that anyone should deign to treat me like a stale scone or cheap commodity.’
Often, envy spurs aesthetic revenge fantasies in the Leo contingent, like my lion sister who recently admitted that as a teenager she oft daydreamed about cutting off the long golden hair of her romantic rival. Just a friendly reminder of who you are dealing with when you activate a big cat.
VIRGO (August 23 – September 22)
Virgos insist on presenting a visage of calm, calculated control and measured detachment at all times and jealousy upends their ability to maintain this facade.
They take envy as an affront and real time confirmation of the negative narrative that they have written about themselves; mainly that they are not enough; good enough, hot enough, smart enough etc.
They will spiral out in a dust storm of criticism, over analyzation and vividly imagined worse case scenarios and no amount of coddling, assuaging and apologizing can bring them back from the brink. Nothing will ever be the same.
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LIBRA (September 23 – October 22)
Libra, represented by the scales and balances, is the sign of partnership. Yet, when it comes to envy there is no equitability with this lot.
Ruthless flirts and shameless flatterers they maintain their thick charm has innocent intentions but cannot and will not tolerate the same behavior from a significant other unless it’s part of larger cuckolding role play scenario in which case it’s green lights and getting it on.
SCORPIO (October 23 – November 21)
This is a bit of a moot point as Scorpio lives in a perpetual state of jealous suspicion. This ilk doesn’t get mad, they get digging looking for evidence that their deep and enduring fear of betrayal is warranted.
This excavation runs the gamut from phone monitoring to catfishing. Die hard romantics with a serious fear of vulnerability they are equally fearful of finding and not finding the dirt they seek.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 – December 21)
Sagittarius folk are the free love types who espouse that jealousy is a byproduct of the untenable constrictions of monogamy and capitalism.
This applies when they are making others envious and becomes absolutely null and void when they are cast in the role of romantic competitor.
As a guiding principle, freedom means freedom for them and absolute allegiance for everyone else.
CAPRICORN (December 22 – January 19)
Capricorns harbor an unshakable superiority complex that engenders them to see jealousy as a plebeian pursuit, beneath them and not worth the bother.
There are three specific situations in which a sea goat will be . If you think you are better than everyone who could possibly make you envious?
The answer friends is anyone with more money, more power, better seats or a superior outfit.
AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 18)
Aquarians have an interesting strategy for managing envy and it is to minimize, minimize, minimize.
They picture whoever is sending the jealousy signal to their central nervous system and the mechanical gears of their heart as an object, rather than a person and see that object getting smaller and smaller as they abandon the orbit of their influence and see them for the finite speck of space dust that they are.
PISCES (February 19 – March 20)
When made to feel jealous, Pisces folk quickly transition from benign woodland creatures humming show tunes and gathering whimsical detritus to dead eyed, rage black out, slash your tires, break into your house and cut the armpits out of your silk shirts, rabid possums.
The best among them take envy as an invitation to zen like George Harrison who, after a brief dip in the pool of jealousy, blessed the relationship between his then wife Pattie Boyd and his close friend and collaborator Eric Clapton.
Harrison exhibited an admirable “what’s not meant for me should leave from me” vibe, likely strengthened by his Buddhist faith and dissociative cocaine habit. Whatever gets you through the night and over the ex, folks.
Astrology 101: Your guide to the star
- The 12 zodiac signs
- What are the astrology houses
- Here’s what each planet represents
- Sun, moon, and rising signs: Get to know your Big 3
Astrologer Reda Wigle researches and irreverently reports back on planetary configurations and their effect on each zodiac sign. Her horoscopes integrate history, poetry, pop culture and personal experience. She is also an accomplished writer who has profiled a variety of artists and performers, as well as extensively chronicled her experiences while traveling. Among the many intriguing topics she has tackled are cemetery etiquette, her love for dive bars, Cuban Airbnbs, a “girls guide” to strip clubs and the “weirdest” foods available abroad.
