Which signs are rule breakers on the outside and rule makers on the inside? Introducing the zodiac’s fixed signs: Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius. There’s an undeniable ferocity with this cosmic quartet, but here’s a little secret: They’re not as spontaneous as they seem.

Fixed signs are the zodiac’s planners. They want everything, including their rebellions, timed and staged to perfection. They hustle behind the scenes, but on the surface, they make it all look so easy.

What Is a Fixed Sign, Exactly?

The zodiac is grouped in a few different ways. You might be familiar with the four zodiac elements: fire, earth, air, and water. The signs are also divided up via the three modalities: cardinal, mutable, and fixed signs. They’re grouped like this:

• Cardinal signs: Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn
• Fixed signs: Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius
• Mutable signs: Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces

Fixed is defined as “rooted,” “set,” and “secure.” These signs are the stabilizers of the zodiac and the four zodiac signs that occur in the middle of each season. The cardinal signs, which come before them (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) might set the mood, but the fixed signs make sure that everyone gets the most out of the experience.

Getty + Design by Leah Romero

Fixed Sign Traits

Because they’re so grounded, fixed signs are innately comforting to be around. Family is everything to fixed signs, and they cherish their oldest, dearest friends. They prefer certainty to change and nostalgia to trends. While they’re certainly capable of serving shock value, the people closest to them know that fixed signs are reliable rocks. Appearances can be deceiving with these folks, who often mask their more conventional traits out of a desire to be seen as cool.

Spend more than 24 hours with a fixed sign, and you’ll notice that these people have routines they’re unlikely to break. Leo Dua Lipa, who told ELLE, “If it’s not fun, I don’t want it,” also admits that she writes out her daily schedule to the hour and sticks to it come hell or high water. Those “New Rules” aren’t the only rules this fixed sign follows.

That said, when they need to relax, fixed signs can make leisure time an art form. “Work hard, chill hard” might as well be their motto.

How the Four Fixed Signs Differ From Each Other

Within the pack of fixed signs is a fire, earth, air, and water sign. The combination of element and modality creates a unique personality profile for each of the four fixed signs.

Taurus: Fixed Earth

Don’t rush the zodiac’s Bull. Not only is Taurus a rooted earth sign, but add the fixed element, and voila! It’s not hard to picture a steer snoozing in the pasture. But don’t let their “lazy girl” moments fool you. When it’s time to hustle, no one is more focused than Taurus. And they’ve probably dreamed up quite the production, as anyone who has attended a Sabrina Carpenter live show can attest. The singer even changes up the lyrics to her song “Nonsense” at every tour stop, keeping a grip on that creative control that fixed signs crave.

Leo: Fixed Fire

Anyone who’s ever played with fire knows that contained heat is the hottest. That’s how we think of Leo, whose flames burn brightly within the structured energy of the fixed modality. Talented Leos like Madonna and Jennifer Lopez put on a captivating show, but they often have an untouchable quality, like a hot stove or a roaring bonfire. Take for example, the Leo-on-Leo nuptials of Bennifer 2.0. Floating down the aisle, the soon-to-be Mrs. Affleck was fixed-sign goals. Both of these Lion queens also model the family-first qualities of the fixed signs. Madonna has admitted to being a strict parent to her six kids, while J.Lo has shared her desire to protect her kids from the challenges of having famous parents.

Scorpio: Fixed Water

Water might be an element that changes, but it’s most structured in the form of ice. Enter the cool and impenetrable Scorpio, who might be the most daunting of all the fixed signs. Picture the penetrating gazes of Scorpios Willow Smith and Demi Moore. Few people exemplify the Scorpio’s range quite like momager Kris Jenner. On camera, she’s a boundlessly compassionate matriarch, drying tears and resolving tabloid-worthy sister feuds from the heart of her Calabasas mansion. Behind the scenes, she has skillfully steered her daughters’ dramas into a billion-dollar franchise, with product deals to support generations to come. Fixed signs want to leave a legacy.

Aquarius: Fixed Air

You might be surprised to find that renegade Aquarius is a member of the fixed sign family since, like Harry Styles and J-Hope, they’re known for their quirkiness and their love of all things futuristic. But this sign can also blow in and become a steady force for good, like humanitarian Aquarius Oprah Winfrey. Their clever quips can become pop-culture anthems, like Aquarius Megan Thee Stallion’s “Hot Girl Summer.”