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Signs of the Zodiac

ARIES TAURUS GEMINI CANCER LEO VIRGO LIBRA SCORPIO
SAGITTARIUS CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES

This is a sign of strong initiative that needs to do things its own way, and NOW - a sign of action rather than relationship, but at best showing a pioneering out-in-front type of leadership. In the relationship arena, Aries may be perceived as overly direct or pushy, insensitive, unaware of others needs, competitive or at least non-cooperative, yet s/he tends to be rather ingenuous and certainly not coming from a desire to control others. Lacking a sense of situational appropriateness, an important life lesson for Aries is to become more aware of the larger gestalt without losing his/her drive, enthusiasm, and instinctual spontaneity, without becoming excessively self conscious or self inhibiting.

With such eager enthusiasm and an innate urge to action, Aries is a great starter but not such a good finisher, tending to have too much on his/her plate or inclining to boredom when the stage of sustained or disciplined effort is called for in any project. As Aries ushers in the Spring (March 20 - equinox), the light has equalized yet again. We can breathe the lovely springtime air and feel a new vitality and aliveness.

This sign is easy going and non-aggressive yet notoriously stubborn, resistant to being pushed around or coaxed from its deep ruts of security, comfort or habit. Some of the key words and ideas that describe this most instinctually rooted and grounded of the twelve signs are: permanence, quality, stability, determination, persistance, constancy, sometimes an overattachment to "stuff" and an inability to accept change.

Although Taurus (a Venus-ruled artistic sign) resonates to the beauties of nature, the pleasures of the senses, there is a plain and simple, down-home no-nonsense quality that eschews artifice, pretension, high culture or idealism -- a 'this-worldliness' rather than an 'other-worldliness'. In fact, this sign's perspective and world view can often tend to be rather narrow and stifling, believing only in what is solid enough to be seen, tasted, or kicked. Of course, there are intellectual, highly cultured, or spiritual Tauruses, but the tendency is, even in these more exalted realms, to bring things back to the tangible, the concrete, the simple, the basic, the foundational, and ultimately to the natural in all its beauty.

For Gemini, life is a complex and subtle dance, a kaleidoscopic light show of shifting moods, thoughts and intentions, a rich fabric where nothing is simple, nothing is easily decided, where questions abound and answers produce ever new questions. Gemini is a sign of ideas, words, and communications which relate and interconnect numerous parts like the nervous system itself, the media, or society's web of transportation and communication. Whether it be on a verbal/cerebral level or on the more physical/practical plane, Gemini has dexterity, adaptability, agility, freedom of movement and a youthfully alive interest in the numerous features and facets of any operation.

Geminis are hard to pin down, resistant to commitment. They are constantly moving - mentally, physically, or socially - and, like mercury sliding through a pitchfork, they avoid what they perceive as entrapment by anyone who wishes to know exactly "where they are at." Try and ask these often eternally young looking folk what they feel and they will tell you what they think, though pinning down even what they think can sometimes be difficult. Just ask them what firm decision they've reached? Hope you're a good listener....

As much as needing to nurture, Cancer needs to have been nurtured as a child and continue to receive nurturance, otherwise s/he may be sucked dry ~ if so the resentful face of the 'used mother', or the taken-for-granted caring spouse may emerge. Cancer can be run by moods and feelings that ebb and flow like the tides in an intuitive and imaginal realm that lies beneath the more rational and controlled surface of things. This intensely personal water sign is in touch with the deepest instinctual level of life and needs to trust its hunches and intuitions, its felt sense of any situation, its subtle attunement to the feelings and emotions of others that hide behind their words.

Traditionally, the sign has been associated with pride, arrogance, bossiness and a naturally aristocratic air along with a self conscious need to perform and display, to be at the centre of things or in a leadership position. Of course such juicy perjoratives must be considered along with such lofty virtues as inspired leadership, creative vitality, social confidence and personal power, dignity, nobility, generosity of spirit, loyalty and devotion.

As for the not so uncommon introverted Leos (the ones that say, "I'm not like that") those same issues are simmering away under the surface. In these Leos, the same primal need for social acceptance and respect carries with it the fear of social ridicule or failure which constrains these shy lions from spontaneously expressing themselves.

As each sign represents an archetype of the human experience, Leo is the insistent call for us to develop a strong sense of individuality, self determination, strength of character, confidence and belief in ourselves - the courage to stand up and be who we are - fully empowered and empowering.

Virgo is a sign of self criticism, introspection, discriminating awareness, where personality expression (that Leo part of all of us) undergoes modest self effacement, considered self restraint, sometimes resulting in a social shyness or awkward self consciousness. As valuable as it is, such an objective, pragmatic, critical, skeptical, and judgmental approach to things may constrain spontaneity and fluidity of expression and limit the play of imagination. Virgo can be 'right', all right, but it can also dampen the spirits, the heart and simple appreciation.

Along with a need for order, attention to virtue, organization, craftsmanship and good work habits, there is a need in Virgo to develop good health, diet, exercise and moderate living practices. A failure to develop in this way can have rather critical consequences for a Virgo's health, but a self actualizing Virgo as skilled practitioner can become an exemplar and teacher of "right living".

Often this cultured, elegant, artistic, considerate, and diplomatic quality goes hand in hand with a tendency to accommodate and compromise, so that Libra can lose touch with its own deeper instincts. In order to keep the peace, Libra often avoids expressions of anger or direct (and sometimes appropriate) confrontation. But notice that, nice as it is, Libra with its idealism can be powerfully strong willed and controlling. Through its very being we feel compelled to conform to the prevailing milieu, mind our manners and be considerate and cooperative. Not a good sign for letting it all hang out!

Libra's concern with agreement, justice, fairness, and seeing both sides of any argument sometimes causes it to adopt a contrary position when there is too much one-sided consensus. Situational balance being a primary motivation, this sign of the scales can just as easily switch sides since it is rarely attached to any particular viewpoint.

Secretive and self-controlled rather than spontaneously expressive, Scorpio seeks to live intensely, to push edges, to plumb the depths, uncover secrets, to taste and experience life to the full whether in physical action, adventure, love, or creative self expression. Secrecy, obscurity, or words that resonate with hidden meaning may be called forth by a mistrust of the hidden motives of others or from a need to test the waters. More often, the Scorpio seems inscrutable because the profoundly imaginative, mythic, and visceral quality of the Scorpionic experience is not easily put into words; rather, it needs to be creatively acted out or artistically expressed.

Often deceptively calm and placid on the surface, though strong willed, powerfully defensive, relentless, persistent, prone to nursing grievances and driven by strong attractions and repulsions, this sign seeks total and personally transforming fusion with the object of longing. There is a deep ambivalence that confers a spice and a certain charismatic magnetism, a tension between the passion for total fusion and the need to remain autonomous and in control. Scorpio is called to fearlessly plumb the depths, illuminate the darkness, master the passions and to release and direct the primeval powers of the deep unconscious toward nobility and transformation.

Whether enjoying an inner or outer freedom of movement and exploration, Sagittarius is drawn by a profound belief in a greater meaning and purpose whether this be expressed philosophically, spiritually, artistically or in an earthy form, rendering our mundane world magnificent and inspiring.

Although well meaning, personable, lively, and friendly, Sagittarius can sometimes lack sensitivity, be cruelly blunt in the name of truth telling, and be more concerned with "greater things," higher callings, or more glamorous happenings than the daily demands and restrictive commitments of personal relationships. Given to grand generalities, large gestures, grandiose visions and exaggerations, an inflated Sagittarius can stumble on those concrete and logistical details of life which tend to prick the balloon that yearns to rise aloft into the stratosphere.

Yet where would we all be without our inspirations and aspirations, our dreams and visions, our longing for the divine, our search for the higher meaning and purpose of life? It is particularly those attuned to Sagittarius who are called to awaken and inspire us to ascend to our higher selves by embarking on this quest.

Matter-of-fact Capricorn's basic security is founded on the orderly functioning of human society. For this serious, conscientious, and most ambitious and achievement oriented of the practical earth signs, reality is the objective, demonstrable, sensible, and secure world established by common consensus. Expert authority is valued over subjectivity or personal needs for self expression or individual freedom.

Although patiently and persistently seeking control, this unflappable and strong willed sign is driven primarily neither by a need for accolades nor a desire to have power over others. Work is play and shows of personality are downplayed along with any desire to share personal feelings which are generally kept under control and are never as important as the task at hand. While usually not a spontaneous personal sharer, self expressor or scintillating personality, this most powerful and authoritative of all the signs must be valued above all for the integrity, self discipline, social responsibility, singleness of purpose and competent mastery which is the concrete foundation and the pinnacle of our overwhelmingly complex civilization.

Aquarians are individualists, but unlike 'rugged individualists' who thrive in a competitive, Darwinian world, they declare the dignity and freedom of all equally in co-responsible partnership and friendship. Their individualism is profoundly tied into the democratic and participatory life of the group and community.

Yet as much as the Aquarian is reasonable, friendly and socially concerned, s/he may also be something of a misfit or eccentric, though certainly an interesting and mentally alive one! Aquarius is not satisfied with the status quo since everything is much less evolved than it could and should be! So the self actualizing Aquarius becomes active within movements for social change and improvement.

Aquarius is a cool, rational and objective air sign motivated by ideas, ideals, principles, social visions and a strong sense of justice. Despite their group orientation they may have difficulty with the more personal level since they are somewhat unaccepting of their own all too human nature.

If they can get more in touch with their ordinary instinctual feelings, needs and reactions then, with their progressive social ideals and democratic spirit, they can be a true inspiration to the rest of us to get together and make a difference.

There is no clear sense of separation between oneself and others, between one's own thoughts, feelings and needs and those of others. Such a lack of strong self definition can manifest either in deeply spiritual or in neurotic ways -- or, more often, in some combination of these. Where there is wisdom and strength, a lack of boundaries can imply selfless compassion and universal love or, lacking those attributes, a Piscean can easily become a victim, a "door mat," exhausted by the emotional demands of others or psychologically overwhelmed by others' needs, problems, and suffering. To feel the pain of others, to allow the world deep into one's soul, is a great challenge to spiritual growth but can often result in emotional and even physical exhaustion if one doesn't know one's limits, set one's boundaries, learn what one needs to do for others and what one needs to do to preserve oneself.

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