We Did Ben & Jerry’s Birth Chart, And You Won’t Believe the Results

Ben & Jerry’s was born on May 5, 1978, when co-founders Ben and Jerry threw open the doors of their very first Scoop Shop in an abandoned gas station in Burlington, Vermont and invited fans to try their funky, chunky ice creams, homemade soups, and even crepes (yes, really!). This year, to celebrate our 48th lap around the sun, we’re digging into our birth chart. Who are we? Why do we love social justice and chocolate cookie swirls so darned much? Why are we so driven to make the best possible ice cream in the best possible way? Join us on this journey of self-disCONEvery.

What is a Birth Chart, Anyway?

A birth chart is a map of the sky at the exact moment you were born, which reveals insights about your personality and strengths. It’s kind of like the label on your pint of ice cream — if you read it closely, it tells you exactly what’s inside. The “big 3” elements of a birth chart are your sun sign, moon sign, and rising sign. Based on the glorious day in 1978 when Jerry and Ben first welcomed fans into their experimental Scoop Shop in Burlington, VT, ushering in a new era of ice cream excellence, Ben & Jerry’s is a Taurus sun, Aries moon, and Leo rising. So, what does that mean? Grab a spoon, we’re digging in.

Taurus Sun

Your sun sign tells you about your core identity, fundamental drive, and life’s purpose. As a Taurus sun, we’re dependable, hard-working, and love life’s most delicious pleasures. Yup, that tracks. We’ve been churning up consistently delicious ice cream flavors packed with responsibly-sourced ingredients for 48 years now, so you can depend on us to take care of your midnight snack attack. And sensuous pleasures? We’re full of ‘em. We just call them caramel swirls and cookie dough chunks. There’s nothing like kicking back with a chocolate sundae after a long day of churning up new flavors (and getting lost in a few spreadsheets, let’s be real).

Aries Moon

Your moon sign tells you about your inner self, why you feel and react to the world the way you do. We’re an Aries moon, which means we’re independent, fiery, and sometimes impulsive and temperamental. When co-founders Ben and Jerry first decided to start an ice cream company, it was because they wanted to do business differently. They were sick of seeing companies put profits over all else and knew that business had a responsibility to take care of their employees, stakeholders, and communities. They took that frustration and channeled it into our linked prosperity model, where everyone in our supply chain gets their fair share of the profits. It was a radical idea, driven by two dudes who were totally over businesses that only cared about cashing in.

Leo Rising

Your rising — or ascendant — sign gives you insight into how you interact with the world around you and how you’re perceived publicly. As a Leo rising, we’re enthusiastic and optimistic with a flair for presentation and quality. We like to be seen and admired, but we’re also warm and fun-loving. Have you seen our offices? Our flavors? Fun is practically our middle name (although we’re pretty fond of the ampersand). And we lead with enthusiasm and optimism in everything we do, from churning up exciting new flavors with a message about creating positive change in our communities to rallying our fans to take action for the issues they care about. Optimism is at the heart of everything we do — we know that when we work together, we can build a pretty sweet future (and enjoy some pretty great scoops along the way).