Why He Stopped Being Affectionate, By His Zodiac Sign

Some guys are affectionate by nature. They love to hug you and always want to hold your hand everywhere you go. There are men who are on the opposite side of showing displays of affection who prefer to keep the physical side of your relationship more private.  

RELATED: How He Ruins Intimacy When He's Feeling Majorly Insecure, By Each Astrology Zodiac Sign

Relationships are tricky. One minute, you and your man could be all over each other, holding hands and kissing, and basically being the perfect examples of how NOT to do PDA. The next, you two could be more distant than strangers.

And the next minute? All over each other again. Is this normal, or do you have to start worrying about your relationship? Do all zodiac signs go through periods of no affection, or is it just a select few?

Basically, yes and no. Yes, it’s normal. A lot of people forget that things like affection and intimacy can ebb and flow in a relationship. It’s impossible to always be on and in the mood – and honestly, your partner shouldn’t expect you to be, just like you should expect him to be always ready for some PDA.

RELATED: What Zodiac Signs Can't Live Without Affection & Who Is Less Touchy Feely, According To Astrology

But, if you know your partner well, then a lack of affection can be cause to worry. Maybe he’s always affectionate, even when he’s stressed out about other things. So, when he stops being affectionate altogether, it can mean something else is going on.

As for the astrology side of it, yes, every zodiac sign can go through periods of not wanting to be affectionate in their relationship. Most of the time, it’s normal. It might still mean you need to work it out together, but it doesn’t always mean that what’s getting him down has to do with your relationship.

Other times, it IS about the relationship. But don’t let yourself judge whether or not this lack of intimacy and affection; this is something you should always work out with your partner.

There are a lot of reasons why the affection can just disappear from your relationship. It might be because of an external factor, like stress at work or taking care of family eating up your time together. Or it might be something going on within the relationship.

Maybe the spark has faded from your relationship and you’re basically just living together like roommates now, or affection just makes you uncomfortable now. There are a million and one reasons why we stop being affectionate with our partners, but knowing how to handle it can vary from one horoscope sign to another.

What will work for one sign might not work for another. Plus, you two should have open communication, which means that if things start to feel weird, you can always work it out.

But before convincing yourself that everything is ruined and your relationship is over, remember that sometimes distance is just as important as closeness — and that couples have to make a conscious effort to keep the appropriate amount of intimacy and affection alive in the relationship.

Some days, he might want his space and others, he might want to get close, but either way, it’s about making it work so that you’re both comfortable. Until you can figure out the best way to make you both happy, here is why he stopped being affectionate with you, according to his zodiac sign, per astrology.

ARIES (March 21 - April 19)

Aries puts a lot of pressure on himself to succeed – when he feels like he's falling behind when he should be excelling at something, it can really take a toll on his self-esteem. And even though he might be feeling unremarkable in one area of his life, it can still overwhelm him elsewhere.

If Aries has stopped being affectionate with you, it's because he's dealing with a lot of pressure and stress in his life. It may be within the relationship or it may not, but either way, it's affecting how you two connect physically. Now would be a good time to talk it out and see what's up.

RELATED: How To Tell If He's Missing You, According To Astrology

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20)

Taurus needs to take his time when it comes to seductions and affection. Just because he was the one who said I love you first and was eager for you to meet his family doesn't mean he likes being rushed or forced into any part of romance.

If Taurus stops being affectionate, it's because it feels like you're trying too hard to please him or because you're coming on too strong. He can tell when your usual pace is off, and if something is going on with you, it's most definitely going to affect him too and make him pull away.

GEMINI (May 21 - June 20)

Gemini loves affection, but only if he can be the one in charge of it. He isn't someone to force you to go further than you're comfortable just because he wants to, but he certainly expects you to communicate with him if you need to slow down.

If Gemini stops being affectionate with you, it's because he feels like this is what you're doing to him. He can only take so much kissing and touching at one time, and right now, he feels like he's reached his comfort level. The best thing would be to back off and give him some air.

RELATED: If He Does These 7 Things, He's Truly, Madly, Deeply In Love With You

CANCER (June 21 - July 22)

Cancer lives and dies by his emotions. Whenever something feels off with him emotionally, he takes it very seriously and does whatever he can to find that balance again. Because if he's not balanced in his emotions, it can affect everything else in his life.

Right now, Cancer is feeling emotionally flooded, and that's why he's stopped being affectionate with you. It could be because he's recovering from an argument with you or a stressful project at work, but he needs time to find his balance again before he can be affectionate.

LEO (July 23 - August 22)

Leo goes above and beyond for the people he loves. If he's not giving you attention right now, it's probably because he's helping out a friend or a family member. That's what you love about him, of course; the fact that he always makes time for love.

That said, it's exhausting to be everyone's source of light, happiness, or love. So, if he's stopped being affectionate with you, it could be because he's burnt out – physically and emotionally exhausted. He needs to recharge his batteries and do some self-care to get back on top.

VIRGO (August 23 - September 22)

One of the best things about Virgo is that he just knows when you need a hug or when you need a shoulder to cry on. He always checks in with you to make sure you're okay, and that's what makes your relationship so wonderful and special. Virgo takes a lot of pride in this.

Of course, our radar can be off about people at times, no matter how close we are. If he's stopped being affectionate with you, it could be because he fears rejection. Maybe he tried to get close and you shrugged him off, and now he's nursing his bruised ego before trying again.

RELATED: 5 Things Men Simply Don't Do When They're Genuinely Falling In Love

LIBRA (September 23 - October 22)

Libra is all for affection – the more, the better, in his opinion. So, for him to not want to smother you in love is definitely not normal. And it is definitely because of something going on between you two, too. Libra may get stressed at work or with family, but he always makes time for you.

If Libra won't be affectionate with you, there are other relationship problems getting in the way. Maybe he hasn't brought them up to you yet, but there's definitely there. It could be financial, emotional, or physical, but he can't be affectionate when other things are on his mind.

SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21)

Scorpio is one of the most passionate zodiac signs there is. So, for him to not be as affectionate as usual is definitely something you two need to talk about. Of course, he's also been known to shrug off his true feelings because he'd rather not open up about them at all.

Scorpio doesn't want to be affectionate with you because there's no pleasure in it anymore. Maybe the relationship has run its course, or he doesn't see you as worth being with anymore. Scorpio is pretty definitive when it comes to his feelings, so it may be hard to talk it out.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 21)

Sagittarius does like to be in a relationship, but he also needs enough freedom and space. When he feels like things are getting way too serious and claustrophobic, he's been known to shut down until he can find his comfort zone again.

If Sagittarius doesn't want to get affectionate with you, it could be because you're acting way too clingy for his taste and he's uncomfortable. He likes to be the one to set the pace, so you two might need a reset on the relationship for him to act like himself again.

RELATED: 18 Signs Your Partner Feels Starved For Affection (And They Need Love ASAP)

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19)

Capricorn is pretty discerning when it comes to his partners. When he knows that you're the one for him, he will be more than affectionate with you. And when he can't woo you, he at least lets you know that things are tough right now, but that he still loves you.

If Capricorn has stopped being affectionate without an excuse, it could be because he doesn't feel that deep connection with you anymore; maybe the relationship hasn't been that great for a while. He might be feeling like you two are on different paths right now, and he'd just done with it.

AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18)

Aquarius might not be the relationship type, but when he finds someone he really likes being around, he turns into a warm and fuzzy partner. He'll definitely never be the kind of partner that needs constant hugs and kisses, but he can be very affectionate when he wants to be.

If Aquarius has stopped all affection, it's because he's at a crossroads. He's reflecting on the future of the relationship and deciding if it's worth it anymore. He might be extra quiet or withdrawn before this, and now he has to decide if you're still the right one for him.

PISCES (February 19 - March 20)

Pisces loves being in love, but he has to know that you're never going to hurt or leave him before he can really open up to you. Sometimes, he can be hot and cold with his feelings, but that's only because he knows what heartbreak feels like (and isn't sure he wants to feel it again).

Usually, Pisces is very affectionate. If he's not feeling as lovey-dovey as usual, it might be because he was hurt or rejected in his last relationship. He might be feeling residual effects of heartbreak or disappointment and doesn't want to go through it again. Time for a heart-to-heart.

Emily Ratay is a full-time writer living in Pittsburgh. Along with writing about astrology and relationships, she's passionate about the environment and feminism, and knows that anything is possible in the right pair of shoes.