General characteristics of the Sagittarius zodiac

In astrology, the sign of Sagittarius is represented by a centaur named Chiron holding a bow and arrow. It is also sometimes called the sign of the archer.

Who is Chiron, and why is it the symbol of the sign of Sagittarius and the Sagittarius personality? Well, you'll need to understand something about the typical Centaur personality for it to make sense. Centaurs were wild, drunken, highly sexual beings who behaved very, very badly. Centaurs represented the animal side of human nature (hence the half-horse, half-human aspect).

While that was true of most centaurs, Chiron was different. While Chiron was a centaur, he was also the offspring of the god Titan, who impregnated a nymph while taking the form of a horse. So, although he was physically identical to a centaur, he was actually a Titan/nymph hybrid who was raised by Apollo, the god of art, music, knowledge, and - you guessed it - the bow! Due to Apollo's influence, Chiron grew up to be a gentle spirit with knowledge far transcending that of the lowly centaur.

Like Chiron, the Sagittarius personality is loyal, sophisticated, independent and kind. They are unique, artistic, and have unerring judgement - you might even say that their arrows tend to hit the mark!

The personality of a Sagittarius is not like those of other zodiac signs. The combination of independence, intelligence and compassion makes for a wonderful and caring personality type. But for every positive strength, there is also a weakness, so it is best to know what these weaknesses are in order to be a better Sagittarius and a better person.

To that end, let's break down the five key traits that make a Sagittarius a Sagittarius.

Independence is one of the strongest traits of a Sagittarius. Think of poor Chiron, who never fitted in with the centaurs, but he never fit in with the gods either. Naturally, he forged his own path, and that is what Sagittarians are doing to this day, as they follow in the astrological footsteps... of Chiron.

✓ Strengths

Sagittarians have a strong independent streak like no other sign. Independence and the freedom to pursue what they want when they want is of utmost importance to a Sagittarius. They are travellers, risk-takers, and have a great mind for business and sports. This means they tend to be some of the most innovative people around. They are not afraid to blaze their own trails, even if it means going it alone.

As a result, good jobs for Sagittarians include entrepreneurs, stockbrokers, teachers, and salespeople. These are all jobs that allow them the space to do things their own way, and the flexibility to approach their work from unique perspectives.

Sagittarians tend to be sought-after team members, as they can be trusted to get things done while doing their job, bringing a fresh perspective to their work.

✗ Weaknesses

All this independence can sometimes translate into behaviour that seems spontaneous to the point of being random and a tendency to get bored easily. They may also rebel against those in authority, which can cause conflict at work. In addition, while Sagittarians are excellent to have in a team, their independent nature can make it difficult for people to build consensus.

While Sagittarians tend to be compassionate and not consciously mean, it's also not unusual for a Sagittarius to do their own thing... even if it wasn't exactly agreed upon by everyone else.

If you are a Sagittarius, beware of your tendency to subconsciously ignore people's ideas and opinions, as consensus is important for happy and healthy relationships.

It is probably not surprising that "intelligence" and "independence" go hand in hand with this December sign. Sagittarians tend to be highly emotionally intelligent, which allows them to connect with the people around them.

✓ Strengths

A Sagittarius is a searching and spiritual soul, with a tendency to become philosophical and, well, deep. One of the things that most attracts people to Sagittarians is their ability to see the bigger picture, and to be able to diagnose and give advice for their friends' problems. Being best friends with a Sagittarius can be like having your own emotional counsellor or life coach.

Because Sagittarians are excellent at seeing a situation from all angles, they are also natural problem solvers. People with Sagittarius in their lives love them for always bringing their heads and their hearts to the table.

✗ Weaknesses

Because they are so emotionally and intellectually gifted, our Sagittarians can easily get caught up in egotism if they are not careful. Whenever being able to understand multiple nuances and facets of an issue comes easily to you, it is easy to become overconfident in your abilities, and therefore fall into idleness and stubbornness.

Remember: just because you can see the ins and outs of a problem doesn't mean you don't need help solving it. (That advice applies to a Sagittarius' own problems, too! )

Sagittarians are also not known for their ability to accept criticism. This is one of the biggest potential drawbacks of this sign's personality: confidence can come across as arrogance if it is not backed up by attention to detail! Balanced Sagittarius personalities make sure to practice the art of humility, too.

One of the reasons Sagittarians tend to be one of the most liked zodiac signs is because they balance intelligence and independence with a large dose of compassion. In other words, Sagittarians tend to be both intelligent and pleasant.

✓ Strengths

Perhaps related to their ability to intuitively understand matters larger than themselves is Sagittarius' characteristic of being deeply, poignantly compassionate.

Because of their openness to new experiences and lack of restrictions, Sagittarians get along very well with diverse groups of people and are always willing to empathise with another person's experience. To this end, Sagittarians tend to be brilliant conversationalists. Their warm and generous willingness to put people at ease comes from a genuine concern for other people's experiences and well-being.

In short: a Sagittarius at his best is a real charmer!

✗ Weaknesses

One of the Sagittarius traits that causes them the most distress is their tendency to think that their natural goodness is shared by others, which sometimes leads them to take advantage of it. Their willingness to believe in the essential goodness of everyone means that they do not always have the ability to judge whether someone means them harm.

Particularly compassionate Sagittarians should embrace their better natures, but be sure to keep an eye out for those who might take advantage of their intrinsic goodness. Better yet, surround yourself with other zodiac signs who can help you see when you might be in a bad situation.

People born under the sign of Sagittarius are often known for their honesty. They are the kind of people who hate lying and being deceived, which means they are incredibly trustworthy, too.

✓ Strengths

A Sagittarius' emotional intelligence, compassion and independence means that they tend to find value in living their truth, which involves being honest with others and with themselves. For many people, this translates into having large amounts of integrity, and expecting the same in return. Sagittarius is one of the most honest of all the zodiac signs, and they have no interest in deception.

You will always get a straight answer from a Sagittarius, and if you confront them with something you are concerned about, they will undoubtedly tell you what you need to hear (even if it is not exactly what you want to hear). As a result, other people tend to see Sagittarians as incredibly trustworthy.

✗ Weaknesses

Just as their confidence sometimes comes across as arrogant, a Sagittarius' honesty can come across as tactless. Sagittarius will always focus on the big picture, the greater good, and if their feelings get in the way, it is not something they are so concerned about.

Those of a more sensitive nature will always feel hurt by a Sagittarius, because truth is truth, even if it stings a little. Remember the metaphor of archery? Their arrows always hit the target, and sometimes that hurts! While Sagittarians must always tell the truth, good Sagittarians remember to balance that with compassion (which, fortunately, is also in their nature).

The last common trait of Sagittarians is curiosity. People born under the zodiac sign of Sagittarius tend to be full of questions. (Remember the kid who couldn't stop asking "why" in class? He was probably a Sagittarius.)

✓ Strengths

Like the ancient archers, Sagittarius is a natural hunter, especially when it comes to knowledge. Therefore, Sagittarians are always on the lookout for new information.

There is a great overlap between being curious and being intelligent, and Sagittarians are driven to build up a storehouse of knowledge. So it is natural that one of the most distinctive Sagittarius characteristics is an insatiable curiosity. Sagittarians tend to be the kind of people who are happiest when they have new experiences that allow them to add new data to their storehouse of knowledge. (That makes Sagittarians great to have on your trivia team).

A Sagittarian's curiosity applies to all aspects of their life, including work experiences, life experiences and interpersonal relationships. The Sagittarius is always focused on what new and unexpected events are on the horizon.

✗ Weaknesses

Being driven by the search for the new also means a boredom with the old. A Sagittarius can be restless and sometimes has a tendency to abandon the tried and tested to experiment with what's next. This means that although Sagittarians tend to be great beginners, they often leave things unfinished. Consequently, one of the characteristics is that they tend to have a million half-finished projects lying around.

Sagittarians need to be particularly aware of this in relationships (which we will discuss later). Remember that old and dear friends are just as important as new ones. Try to resist following every shiny object, especially if it means hurting other people who care about you.

We've already discussed many of the reasons why being in a relationship with a Sagittarius is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have. But those same incredible Sagittarius traits can make relationships with Sagittarians really frustrating, too.

Let's take a look at romantic, platonic and professional relationships with Sagittarians.

A Sagittarius' constant search for new experiences translates into a reluctance to commit. This can be a good thing if you are, say, an Aries or a Gemini, who is also likely to want to drift into the new and get bored easily with the old. However, if you like a safe and predictable routine, Sagittarius may find it more difficult to find love. Likewise, the Sagittarius' tendency for painful honesty can lead to a lot of hurt feelings, especially for sensitive zodiac signs like Cancer or Pisces.

These are the caveats of loving a Sagittarius, but the upside is that a Sagittarius partner can be a confidant, co-conspirator and therapist all at the same time, and all while constantly pushing their partners towards new and exciting things. As a result, life with a Sagittarius partner can be the most rewarding of any romance in the zodiac. So, if you're on the fence, give it a try! If you're not compatible, the honest Sagittarius will let you know in no time.

You can read more here: Sagittarius sex and love

Having a Sagittarius as a friend can be a lot of fun. But it can be a challenge to have them as best friends. Close friendships take time to develop, and since a Sagittarius is always on the hunt for something new, they can tend to drift in and out of your life. It is not uncommon for a Sagittarian friend to disappear for a long time, only to reappear when you need them most.

And that's the great thing about being friends with a Sagittarius: they'll be there when you need them. Unlike strongly loyal signs like Taurus and Scorpio, Sagittarians don't think of friendship as a constant thing. They can be your friend, even if they're not around all the time! Because they are always genuine, empathetic and on the hunt for connection, you can count on them to respond when you ask for help.

You can read more about this here: What the Sagittarius sign is like as a family

In many ways, a professional relationship is much like a romantic relationship: it is based on openness, trust and clear communication. These are all areas in which Sagittarians excel. A Sagittarius can be an amazing work partner if you value insight, flexibility and an insatiable desire to innovate. However, if you expect to work with someone who adheres to a predictable schedule and doesn't question your authority, the Sagittarius will drive you crazy!

The key to having a successful working relationship with a Sagittarius is to play to their strengths and value their input. Trust that a Sagittarius will think outside the box and see opportunities that may not be apparent to you. If you question them too much, the Sagittarius will back down and may become insolent. However, if you lean into their curiosity and drive, and allow them to think and work independently, they will reward that trust with honesty and loyalty.

If you are a Sagittarius in a work environment, it is important to remember that structure keeps an organisation moving. It's not there to make you feel trapped. If you're feeling a little claustrophobic in your role, try talking to your boss about how you can add more flexibility to your work. Oh, and remember: you actually have to finish what you start. It's a great idea to form relationships with people you trust and who can hold you accountable and keep you on task.

You can read more here: What Sagittarius is like at work