For some zodiac signs, love is about sacrifice. They are martyrs in relationships, always putting their partner’s needs above their own. Self-sacrifice, compassion, and generosity are good qualities in some things… but only if they are reciprocated and not exploited. It is also healthy to stand up for yourself and prioritize self-care.
The zodiac is divided into four natural elements (earth, fire, air, and water), with three signs for each element. Here is a zodiac from each aspect that may be sacrificing their own desires or well-being in their relationship, and how astrology explains their martyrdom attitude.
Cancer (Water)
As a water sign, Cancer is sensitive, emotional, and romantic. They love being in love, and have a high threshold when it comes to tolerating bad behavior from a partner. Cancers are also deeply empathetic. They feel their partner’s feelings as their own, so they do everything possible to avoid hurting them – often to the point of sacrificing their own happiness.
This zodiac sign is represented by the crab, which explains why Cancers have a tough exterior. They are hardworking and independent, but secretly soft and vulnerable. They are afraid that their hearts will be broken, so they won’t let more people in. But, once they form a relationship, it is very difficult for them to go back – they don’t want to start the whole process all over again with a new person. So instead, they lose their needs and desires to try to make a dying or toxic relationship work.
Leo (Fire)
As a fire sign, Leos are passionate, energetic, and fun-loving. Not only is Leo a fire sign, but it is also ruled by the sun. This means that Leo’s love is like being bathed in warm sunlight: pure, comforting, and joyful. Leos exude positivity, and one of the ways they are passionate about love is to ignore their partner’s negativity. Instead of paying attention to the red flags, they just shine a little light to chase away any darkness in the relationship.
All zodiac signs rule a specific set of body parts, and Leo rules the heart, spine, and back. Symbolically, this tells us that Leos have big, generous hearts full of love. They are hopeless lovers who will sacrifice anything for their soul mate. Spine and back shows that Leos have a strong back and will always stick to their partner and have their back (even when their partner is wrong or chooses to fight).
Virgo (Earth)
Virgos are the “fixers” of the zodiac, and somehow, they always stick to the dirty work – including relationships. It’s ironic that Virgos are martyrs in love because they do everything they can to avoid relationships in the first place. They have incredibly high standards and can easily spot flaws in a potential partner or compatibility, so they rule out a lot of people quickly.
But when they cross someone, they fall hard. They feel like they can “fix” their partner, and end up putting up with more than they should in the relationship. And, as a mutable sign, they tend to go with the flow and let their partner take the lead, even when their gut tells them it’s the wrong choice. Virgos often find themselves cleaning up their partner’s mess, both literally and figuratively. They are very willing to do the hard work in a relationship, but a relationship should be more than hard work.
Libra (Air)
Libra is ruled by Venus, the planet of love and beauty, making Libra one of the most romantic signs of the zodiac. Libras love to be in love, and are happiest when in a committed relationship. They tend to sacrifice their needs for partners because they would rather be with someone who does not return their favor than be alone.
The influence of Venus also makes Libras highly visible and willing to ignore red flags. As long as their relationship looks good on the outside, they will put up with a lot behind closed doors. Libras love people, so they avoid conflict with everyone, including their partner. They can’t stand being angry with someone and never want to rock the boat. They will sacrifice their own well-being to keep the peace and make sure their partner is happy.
