Gen X Aries Are Totally Different from Millennial Aries (And Yes, Boomer and Gen Z Aries too)

Elton John. Mariah Carey. Lady Gaga. Lil Nas X. All born under the first sign of the zodiac: Aries. Known for being bold, fast and independent, these steadfast rams, as astrologer Kiki O’Keeffe writes, “are the season of life after death, the loud alarm that wakes you up in the morning, the Technicolor of Oz after black-and-white Kansas. Aries is the life force that says, ‘Not today, Satan!’ and charges into battle.” But how come those born under the same sign seem so…uh…different? For as much as pop culture icons like Elton John, Lady Gaga and Lil Nas have in common, we can’t quite imagine Sir Elton John donning a meat dress or Mariah sliding down a stripper pole to hell like their avant-garde predecessors. Well, that’s because there is one major difference between boomer, Gen X, millennial and Gen Z Aries: Pluto.

Pluto is the slowest moving planet in our charts, spending anywhere from 12 to 31 years per zodiac sign. So, by the time Pluto moves, we’ve likely entered a whole new generation.  And, since Pluto speaks to what that generation transforms in a society, astrologer Jaime Wright tells us, it’s not shocking that we see major shifts between generational rams—don’t worry, we’ll get to what those are.

“Boomers mostly have Pluto in Leo, so their generation really transformed self-expression and individuality,” says Wright. She explains this why she likes to think that many boomers don't want to give up power because they'll always see themselves as young and innovative. “I would say Aries boomers are very ‘typical Aries’—loud, excitable and hot-headed when not getting what they want.” This might shed light on why a millennial retorting, “OK, boomer,” ruffles a lot of feathers.

Now, Gen X is a bit more complicated—astrologically speaking that is. “This generation contains those born with both Pluto in Virgo and Libra. So, this manifests in a population interested in transforming our daily structures and work ethic (Virgo) as well as reimagining culture (Libra),” Wright explains. This is why so many Pluto in Libras especially are tastemakers, “like literally every artist involved in the indie rock revival of the mid-to-late ‘00s.” Gen X Aries are the Aries that set their own rules and take big risks. They're the artistic innovators who are always speaking their minds—no wonder it was Mariah who coined the shadiest shade of all time: “I don’t know her.”

“Millennials are the Pluto in Scorpio generation and are here to transform what's thought of as taboo,” Wright tells us. She adds: “It's the generation that grew up making secret clubs in dark corners of the internet. While boomers want to be seen, millennials just want to be understood for their depths.” This is why millennial Aries might be a bit more sensitive to group dynamics and reserved—especially after years of taking it on the chin for “being lazy” and “ruining everything.” But don’t take these rams for fools: These mid-80’s and ‘90s babies are less naïve and innocent than the archetype usually describes.

Gen Z Aries are the Pluto in Sagittarius generation, Wright explains, and they are here to disrupt our ideas about knowledge and how its obtained. Of course, TikTok comes to mind, but this is also the generation challenging gender, sexual orientation and institutional norms like never before. “It's why so many in this generation have foregone traditional higher learning and really carved their path. I would also say Gen Z Aries really lean into the trickster quality of the sign; they love playing practical jokes and are extremely funny.” It’s no wonder Lil Nas X ignited the internet ablaze with his “Montero” video, and then also followed up with a “virtuosic performance” of genius clap-backs to haters on Twitter—that’s the Gen Z Aries for you.