4 Zodiacs Who Are Surprisingly Empaths

To “empathize” means to “understand and share the feelings of another.” An empath is, by definition, a person who’s highly attuned to others’ emotions.

The most obvious empaths in the zodiac are the water signs: Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. You’d never mistake them for being cold, calculating, or emotionally detached. They wear their hearts on their sleeves. You can share your joy and sorrow with them all through the night and into the wee hours of the morning, and they’ll offer kind words and a shoulder to cry on.

Then what is someone who’s “secretly” an empath? The key here is the word “secretly.” These are practical people. They don’t have to cry with you—they’re more concerned about fixing the situation that’s making you cry. And in the long run, they might help you more than the obvious empaths, because who cares if someone feels your pain if they have no clue about how to heal your pain?

Here are four zodiac signs who express their empathy differently—through helpful actions rather than soothing words or warm hugs.

1. Capricorn

The Goat is justifiably esteemed for being dependable and goal-oriented, but don’t let their tireless work ethic and sense of honor fool you into thinking they’re unfeeling. Capricorns are wise enough to realize that you can be hobbled into inaction by feeling too much. So rather than patiently sitting and listening to you complain about things you either can’t or won’t fix, they’re quietly plotting ways to fix things you may not even realize are broken. If you find out that you have a “secret admirer” or an “anonymous benefactor,” chances are that it’s a Capricorn.

2. Aquarius

Astrology can be quirky and full of unexpected surprises. Case in point: Aquarius, the sign most often considered “aloof” or “detached,” is also the sign who is most committed to social justice. But “aloof” is not the same thing as “snobby” or “unsympathetic.” Aquarians don’t make a grand display of their generosity. Instead, they’ll listen when you express that you’re having problems, download the information, and then go about doing good deeds quietly. They don’t do it for the praise, but because they think it’s the right thing to do. They might even cringe if you remind them of how good they are.

3. Taurus

The Bull is known for being stubborn, but that doesn’t necessarily imply ornery, cranky, disagreeable, or a flat-out pain in the ass. Other words frequently used to describe Taurus are “dependable,” “loyal,” “generous,” and “understanding,” all of which are traits that define empaths. Their legendary stubbornness intersects with their empathy in the sense that they insist on helping you in a way they think will actually help. Maybe they’ll withhold lending you money because they sincerely think it’s for a project that’s doomed to fail. And maybe they’ll tell you something you don’t necessarily want to hear but that they feel you need to hear. In many ways, they may be more attuned to your needs than you are, because let’s face it—you’re biased in ways that can be self-defeating.

4. Leo

The zodiac’s grand alpha personality, the one whose ego seems to shine as brightly as the Sun, the roaring Lion who draws admirers like moths to a flame, might seem an unlikely candidate for an empath. Aren’t such people egomaniacs who can only think about themselves? Well, sure, in some cases. But lurking in the shadows of Leo’s blindingly bright personality lies a deep-rooted concern for the health and happiness of those they love. They are more than eager to let you bask in the healing rays of their sunny disposition.