♐︎ Sagittarius · November 22 – December 21 · Mutable fire

Sagittarius Zodiac Sign: Traits, Dates & Compatibility

By Dima Tretyak · Updated October 23, 2026 · Sun dates calculated, not copied

Sagittarius is the archer of the zodiac, a fire sign that aims at distant targets and tends to trust the shot will land. Its Sun season runs from November 22 to December 21 (2026, US Eastern; the exact days shift by a day from year to year).

Sagittarius at a glance

Dates: November 22 – December 21
Sun enters: November 22, 2026 at 2:23 AM EST
Sun leaves: December 21, 2026 at 3:50 PM EST
Symbol: ♐︎ The Archer
Element: Fire
Modality: Mutable
Polarity: Active
Ruler: ♃ Jupiter
Exalted here: None
In detriment here: ☿︎ Mercury
In fall here: None
Opposite sign: Gemini
Same element: Aries, Leo
Natural house: 9th · travel & beliefs

Sagittarius traits

Fire stands for enthusiasm and action, with warmth and confidence close behind and a streak of impulse. Sagittarius carries it in an open, outward form. People born under this sign often move toward what excites them before the doubts have finished speaking. The urge to act on a hunch comes easily. Aries and Leo share this quick ignition, which is one reason those two signs often feel familiar. The cost is a short fuse for slow processes, since waiting can feel like losing heat.

Mutable signs adapt, adjust, finish and move on, and Sagittarius shows this in how it handles change. Plans shift, and you may notice you adjust faster than the people around you. One chapter closes and the next is already in view. The active polarity adds an outward push, so this is a sign that tends to go toward people and places rather than wait for them. The downside is that finishing can slide into leaving, and a project may be dropped once its novelty fades.

Jupiter rules the sign and brings growth and faith, along with generosity and a love of teaching. It also stands for excess, so the same generous streak can overpromise or overreach. Jupiter's reputation for good fortune may explain the sign's habit of expecting things to work out. Mercury, the planet of speech, writing and short trips, is in detriment here, which means it works against its nature. That suits a sign more interested in the large idea than the fine print, and one whose words can come out blunt. Jupiter's gifts and Mercury's friction make up the main picture. Across the wheel sits Gemini, the opposite sign: curious, quick-witted and changeable. Where Gemini gathers many small answers, Sagittarius reaches for one big one, and each can balance the other.

Strengths

Sagittarius tends to bring hope into rooms where others have gone quiet. Frankness is a real asset here: you say what you see, and people usually know where they stand with you. Jupiter's influence shows up as generosity and a steady loyalty to the people you choose. A talent for focusing on one goal at a time helps the sign finish large undertakings. Teaching comes naturally, whether in a classroom or while explaining something over dinner. Self-reliance and idealism give a forward pull, and an intuitive sense of direction often guides a decision before the reasons arrive.

Weaknesses

The same fire can turn restless, and a Sagittarius may leave a situation just as it asks for patience. Bluntness is the shadow side of frankness. Under pressure the sign may say far more than it means, then wonder why the room went cold. Resistance to restraint can look like rebellion even when a rule is reasonable. Jupiter's pull toward excess can show up as promising too much or lecturing when the other person wanted to be heard. At its worst the sign turns domineering, certain that its own aim is the only true one.

Sagittarius in love

In romance, Sagittarius tends to want a partner who feels like an open road rather than a fence. Warmth and sincerity come easily, and affection is often expressed through shared plans, travel or long talks about what life is for. Freedom matters, so jealousy or tight control can make you pull away fast. Once committed, the sign's loyalty is real. Frankness helps when a problem needs naming, though a careless remark can sting longer than intended. Fire signs such as Aries and Leo may match your pace, while Gemini, the opposite sign, can feel like a lively and sometimes unsettling mirror.

Sagittarius as a friend

Friends of Sagittarius often describe it as good company: funny, generous, always up for a last-minute plan. The sign tends to collect people from many places and is happy to introduce them to each other. You may be the friend who offers an honest opinion before it is requested, which some value and others find a bit much. Loyalty runs steady, but a friendship that demands constant check-ins may feel confining. Mutable flexibility means you usually forgive a change of plans, provided you get the same grace back.

Sagittarius at work

At work, Sagittarius tends to do best where there is room to roam and a larger purpose to point at. Teaching and big-picture vision suit the sign, as does anything that rewards enterprise and independent thinking. Focus on a single goal is a strength, so clear targets help more than endless side tasks. Routine and close supervision may wear on you. Mercury's detriment suggests that detailed paperwork and careful wording can take extra effort, so a colleague who enjoys the fine print is a useful ally. A tendency to change occupations is common, and variety may matter more than a fixed ladder.

The three decans of Sagittarius

Decan	Sun from (2026)	Sub-sign	Ruler
1 · 0°–10°	November 22	♐︎ Sagittarius	♃ Jupiter
2 · 10°–20°	December 2	♈︎ Aries	♂︎ Mars
3 · 20°–30°	December 12	♌︎ Leo	☉ Sun

The first decan, 0°–10° and running from November 22, is colored by Sagittarius itself and ruled by Jupiter. It is the plainest form of the sign: optimistic and eager to teach, with Jupiter's generosity and its risk of excess. The second decan, 10°–20° from December 2, takes on Aries and is ruled by Mars. Expect more drive and courage here, with a pioneering streak, a love of novelty and a quicker temper when blocked. The third decan, 20°–30° from December 12, carries Leo and the Sun as ruler. It tends to be warmer and more magnetic, with a stronger sense of identity and purpose, a faithful heart and a taste for being looked to as an authority.

Sagittarius compatibility

Questions

✦What are the dates for Sagittarius?

The Sun is in Sagittarius from November 22, 2026 at 2:23 AM EST to December 21, 2026 at 3:50 PM EST. The exact day can shift by one from year to year, so people born on November 22 or December 21 should check their birth year.

✦What element and modality is Sagittarius?

Sagittarius is a mutable fire sign (active), ruled by Jupiter.

✦What are Sagittarius traits?

Sagittarius is often described as optimistic and freedom-loving, with a gift for teaching and big-picture thinking. Loyalty and generosity sit alongside a restless streak. Under pressure, the sign can turn blunt or resist any kind of restraint.

✦What is Sagittarius's ruling planet?

Jupiter rules Sagittarius. It stands for growth, generosity and faith, as well as teaching, but also for excess. That pairing may explain why the sign is so open-handed and hopeful, and why it can overreach.

✦Who is Sagittarius most compatible with?

Aries and Leo share Sagittarius's fire element, so the pace and enthusiasm often feel familiar. Gemini, the opposite sign, brings the attraction of opposites: curious and quick-witted where Sagittarius is philosophical. Any pairing also depends on the full chart, not the Sun sign alone.

✦What is the opposite sign of Sagittarius?

Gemini sits opposite Sagittarius. It is versatile and changeable, and it loves to communicate, while Sagittarius looks for one large truth and a distant goal. Each sign tends to show the other what it lacks, which can make for lively friction or a useful balance.