Chapter One

Signs&
Elements

WHy SrcNsAcr rHE Wev Tnnv Do

Beforeanalyzingeachof the twelvesigns,it's goodto first exploretwo
prime featuresthat contribute much to understandingeachsign's
characteristics:its element (fire, earth,ai6 or water) and its mode
(cardinal,fixed,or mutable).Theblendof thesetwo factorshelpsex-
plain why a sign behavesthe way it does,why it's motivatedto re-
spondto life in a mannerunlikeanyothersign,andhow it goesabout
gettingits needsmet.Notethat no two signssharethe exactsameele-
ment-modemix:
Sign Image Symbol Element Mode
Aries The Ram T Fire Cardinal
Taurus The Bull U Earth Fixed
Gemini The Twins tr Air Mutable
Cancer The Crab $ Water Cardinal
Leo The Lion {1 Fire Fixed
Virgo TheVirgin lW Earth Mutable
Libra The Scales fr Air Cardinal
Scorpio The Scorpion llt Water Fixed
Sagittarius TheArcher f, Fire Mutable
Capricorn The Goat R Earth Cardinal
Aquarius The WaterBearer N Air Fixed
Pisces The Fishes X Water Mutable

15
 16 Signs6 Elements Signs(t Elements 17

Repetitivepatterns can be found in thesetwo primary sign classifica- something in common that the remaining nine signs do not. The
tions. In the element column, note that the zodiac begins with a sign earth signs are Taurus,Virgo, and Capricorn. The air signs are Gem-
of the fire element,followed by earth, and then ait until the cycleends ini, Libra, and Aquarius, and the water signs are Cancer, Scorpio, and
with a sign whose element is water. This element pattern then repeats Pisces.It is vital that studentsof astrologylearn thesefour main group-
tlvo more times. In the mode column, cardinal energy begins the ings assoon aspossible,which is why I am presentingthem so early on
cycle, followed by fixed energy,and ending with mutable energy-a in this book.
pattern that then repeatsthree more times. Let's explorewhat all these Although we could attempt to memorize a handfrrl of traits ("key-
groupings mean regardingthe psychologyof the signs,starting with a words") belonging to, say,Aries or Scorpio, it is more helpfirl to first
look at the four elements. know a sign by its elemental properties. Many standard traits pos-
sessedby eachsign are very much the result of its elementalmakeup,
especially at its core level. They reflect a sign s innate qualities, al-
Tnn ErBuBNrs though such features can be molded, even distorted, by the constant
Fire,Earth,Air, andWater pressuresof social programming. It's impossible to find any of us
Before anaLyzingthe basic features of all twelve signs,knowing each doing a pure expressionof any element, untainted by unconscious
sign'selement will tell us much about how that particular sign inter- collectiveattitudes and assumptionsthat we'velikely adopted.
prets its surroundings-what is its natural orientation toward life in Let's explore theseelementsin detail, starting first with fire.
general?What is the lens it usesto assessreality? Eachelement repre-
sentsa basicquality of consciousnessthat contributes to our personal
awareness-it acts like a psychologicalsenseorgan. It describeshow
we are apt to perceiveboth our inner world and outer environment.
Elements are the four filters we use to interpret what's happening to
us. They describe how we naturally perceive the people and things
around us, as well as how we understand our internal drives and
urges.Ideally,we need to partake of the insights afforded by eachas-
trological element, even if only certain ones actually dominate our
basic,day-to-daytemperament.
The four elementsof astrology all have equal value and are inter-
dependent, although in a manner not always obvious at first. They
also unfold in a meaningful sequence.There is an intelligent reason
why-from Aries to Pisces,all around the zodiac-fire alwaysstarts
eachcycleand water alwayscompletesit.
The twelve signs are thus divided into these four categories.Each
element is associatedwith three zodiacsigns.The fire signs are Aries,
Leo, and Sagittarius. This immediately tells us that thesethree share
 ii l8 TheFire Element
Tnn FrnnErnuENr
I FlameRide
Although all elementsrepresentqualities that are equally valuable to
our inner growth, the element of fire symbolizesa particularly domi-
nant cultural force throughout the world. Fire is associatedwith
"doing" rather than with "thinking" or "reflecting." It's an action-ori-
ented element that freely moves out into life to dynamically seizethe
moment-think of flames energetically shooting upward and out-
ward. Fire's "burning" urge is to experiencelife adventurously and
with full gusto. Although not particularly organized,logical, or even
considerateof others,fire motivatesus to take quick, decisiveaction in
the here and now-to strike boldly while the iron is hot and our pas-
sions are running high.
Until relatively recently the archetypal world of fire has been the
exclusivedomain of traditional male behavior,reinforced by centuries
of unquestionedand unbroken social conditioning. Societypermits
men to "do" their fire without much penalty-"boys will be boys"-
l
that is, at least until males overdo their fiery expressionand become
destructively"macho."
Fire is a fighting element,readyto attackwhatevertries to thwart its
energy or get in its way. Applied on a mass level, this becomeswar-
fare-a collective drama where men, historically, have releasedfire's
l
potential fury by engagingin large-scaleviolence.Many men of today
also vent their fire by being active in sports, by sexual conquest,by
hunting, or by plunging into exciting forms of physicalrisk-daredev-
i
ils are born of the fire element.Abhorring timid, wishy-washybehav-
ior, fire is no coward when it comesto finding waysto satisfr its urges.
Women today are also learning firsthand-and perhaps cau-
tiously-that it is psychologicallyand physicallybeneficialto own and
openly expresswhat fire represents:our human ability to move bravely
out into the world accordingto the spontaneousimpulsesof our desire
and self-will. More and more femalesare joining the ranks in such
rli fields asboxing, football, soccer,weightlifting, and so on-formerly all
male-dominatedactivities.More women are also running big busi-
tiir
l,ilii
TheFireElement 19
nessesin the corporateworld, and are taking on high political offrce-
all due to their readinessand willingness to embracethe strengthsof
fire, and thus breakgender-basedstereotypes.
Newborn babiescome into this world alreadydisplaying their raw,
untempered fire drives-they'll cry a decidedly impatient and angry
cry as their immediateway of assertingtheir being, as if claiming,"I
am alive and I am here.Deal with my needsnow!" Here is a purer, un-
cultured fire at work, accentingits customary focus on fulfilling "me"
concerns.Although not exclusivelyassociatedwith fire symbolism-
despitethe fact that astrologersrelateit primarily to the Sun-the ego
knows how to burn this element'svolatile fuel when needing to draw
attention to itself. Fire pumps up the ego'ssenseof commanding
power. Thus, expect fire to be very self-focusedand concerned with
fulfilling its own desires,first and foremost. The signsAries and Leo
havevery much been accusedof this, but lessso Sagittarius(and we'll
analyzewhy later).
Strongly fire-oriented people can spendan entire lifetime acting as
if their personal needs require urgent attention-they are not to be
postponedor denied.Instant gratification is what fire wants and ex-
pects.However,in the processof exuberantlyexpressingwho they are,
fire types can depletethe energyof others.They can indulge in too
much of a good thing, and in an uncontained manner.We tend to as-
sume that fire people give of themselvesin abundance-they warmly
and generouslyradiate their light and heat-but they also need fresh
energy sources to refuel themselves.It's exhausting to be around
people who colorfully flare out all the time, who happily expend
themselves,but then consume some of your vitality just to keep their
own blazegoing. Fire is thus a very demanding,evendraining, force to
be around for long periods of time. It canwear out other less-energetic
elements-most so earth and water, who prefer cooler temperatures,
anyway.
elementhas
Still, it's no wonder that this headstrong,self-assured
long been associatedwith natural leadership ability and royal com-
mand (especiallyLeo'sproud and dignified, if not bossy,display of
fire). Fearlesslymoving ahead into the challengingworld, to take
 20 TheFireElement
chancesleft and right, while leaning on no one for supervision and
support, fire will stand tall on its own. Yet again,once it has used up a
temporary sourceof energg leaving only ashes,fire needsa fresh sup-
ply to keep going. Fire can be a very hungry element, due to its huge
appetite for living. "Give me more of what keepsme vibrant and ac-
ll
tive," roars fire.
L So far, we get a sensethat this element can come on strong and will
fight to survive. It is willing to do battle to ensurethat it will continue
to thrive. Our capacity to thrust ourselvesbravely out into life, and
thereby developa momentum for vigorous expression,belongsmainly
Li1 to the fire element.Aries is a dynamic exampleof this. It's also a cardi-
nal sign-as we shall later explore-and thus has an advantagewhen it
comes to initiating energizedaction in the world. Becauseit's such a
natural self-starter,fiery Aries proves a smart choice as the sign to
begin the zodiac (our cosmic'Twelve Step" program for living a bet-
ter, frrller life).
Although fire can foster selfishness,it's this element'ssomewhat
iil innocent self-absorption that allows it to retain its streak of indepen-
dence,which then reinforces its instinct to follow a self-chosenpath.
Pioneers and trailblazers thus honor the fire principle within them
when they show guts by going off in new and even controversial di-
rections. They don t need permission to go where they wish to in life,
nor is gaining the approval of others what determines whether fire
types single-handedlyembark on a chosencourseof action. (Sure,
they'd enjoy having such support, but ultimately they don t need it to
initiate a major undertaking of personal interest.) "I'm here to please
myself,first and foremost,"fire honestly admits.
There is a bit of a "loner" streakin fire. This is not an elementthat
easilyattachesitself to others for long periods of time. Fire doesn't
comfortably settleinto structured relationships,and eventhe security
of enduring intimacy is not what it wants-especially if that meansits
freedom to spontaneouslymove about will be curtailed. (Trap fire in a
ti.ny metal box, and eventuallyit's life-spark will extinguish.) Thus, in
matters of close involvement, expect fire to have problems with total
TheFireElement 2l
commitment (although loyal Leo has more stayingpower in this area,
as long as few restrictionsare imposed;this is becauseLeo is also a
fixed sign, a factor that will be explained later). Settled relationships
also hint at a shared life of expectedbehavior and routine habits,
something that fire fearswill prove too tedious to bear.Where'sall the
excitementandpizzazz of living? That's what fire craves.
Since fire isn't all that deeply absorbed in others-it's not one to
merge or share-it won't allow itself to get sucked into the compli-
catedworlds of people in need (that's more water's dilemma). Fire
doesn't even feel it has to blend with the other elementsin order to
enhanceitself (which is not true). It's too self-centeredto even realize
the value of exploring other ways of perceiving the world-it's much
too sold on its own way of sizing up reality. Still, our growth process
involves a skillful and consciousintegration of many astrologicalfac-
tors that initially appear to have little in common, or that typically
clashwhen combined (the old "incompatibility" issue).
Some of us may be born with a heavyfire emphasis:besidesAries,
Leo, and Sagittarius,there are also"fire" planetsto contend with-the
Sun, Mars, and ]upiter. Sincethere are other signsand planetsin our
chart associatedwith the three remaining elements,we need to better
combine our fire energieswith theseother components.This will help
us develop a more well-rounded awarenessof ourselvesand of the
world in which we live. We can t afford to take an exclusivelyfired-up
approach to living, plus others would soon take issue with such a
headstrongmanner of behaving-we'd be accusedof being arrogant,
pushy,conceited,bossy,opinionated, or even too self-righteous.
So,when it comesto courageouslyliving the life we were meant to
live-unfazed by the attempts of others to censor us or "rain on our
parade"-fire is the elementthat points us in the right direction. It be-
lievesin authentic self-expressionand relishesdisplaying an upfront,
spirited senseof self-and to heck with what the neighborsthink! Fire
has a hard time bowing down to the dictatesof others.It won't blindly
follow set rules of conduct, especiallywhen they prove to be stifling.
We need fire in our veins to give us the gumption required to take on
 22 TheFireElement TheEarth Element 23

the world in a lusty, passionatemanner.Dramatic fire makessure that THn Eenru ErBvrnNr
our life won't be dull and anemic. It's good to note where our fire TerraFirma
signs are located in our chart, for here is where we will be supported
The fire element appropriately begins the zodiac with energeticAries
by a more robust and honest approachto people and situations.
becausethis element symbolizesthe vital thrust behind the "will to
Now let's move on to the next element:earth.
be" that gives rise to all action. Life means movement, and fire stirs
our basic need for motion. Think of fire as representingthe essential,
vital spark within every seedjust waiting to explode into a rush of ac-
tivity that initiates a plant's growth cycle(amazingly,seedsfound in
the tombs of ancient Egyptian mummies have been known to come
alive and sprout-their inner life force, although dormant' survives
for centuries of time without weakening). Thus, all sorts of begin-
nings and births in life are associatedwith fire. Freshnessand newness
belong to this element.Yet at some pivotal point, fire's expansiveen-
ergy will need structure and organization to be usefrrl.Such necessary
containment comesfrom earth, an element that logically follows fire
throughout the zodiac.
We live in a material realm that imposesall sorts of constraints,yet
activity on Earth requiresa slower paceso that we can better deal with
most issuesof physical reality. The heavinessof gravity abounds, and
time is ever-present,but together they help us feel securelyanchored
to the solid, comforting world of form. Fire is more at home with a
rapid, even agitated, alteration of conditions-i1'5 a highly kinetic
force-but to undergo too much of that could prove hectic and dis-
orienting (not to mention physically debilitating). We instead need a
more leisurelypacein order to function reliably,and thus earth makes
sure that fire's dynamic energyis grounded and better conserved.Hu-
mankind long ago learned the value of preserving actual fire, rather
than wasting it by letting it burn itself out. Astrological earth is urging
us to do the same,especiallyon the psychologicallevel.
Earth is admittedly less showy and vibrant than fire. It appears
passiveand inactive (a clump of dirt or a log of wood seemsinert and
dull compared to the high drama of a raging inferno). Nevertheless,
earth providesa necessarystillnessand an economy of movement that
helps fire's energy endure longer and thereby extend its potential.
 ilr
I 24 TheEarthElement
rl
il
Earth doesn't like to usethings up too quickly or to run out of needed
suppliesprematurely.Lessrefueling is required by this stableelement
becauseit conservesfire's life force in smart, effectiveways.Actually,
i earth is not so much "smart" in its operations as it is blessedwith
,i
common sense-an instinctual "know-how" that is not basedon mere
i intellectual knowledge.
I
As a result, earth is very sawy when it comesto understandingthe
material world and figuring out what can and cannot be accom-
plished with available resources.Earth signs all share a respectful
ti awarenessof life's inherent limitations. Fire may balk at acceptingthat
life issuesrestraining orders now and then, but earth makespeace
li with this obvious fact and learns to function well within such condi-
tions. (By the wa5 all elementshave their own take on "reality," but
earth's version of what actually exists-something highly dependent
on what our physicalsensesregister-seems lessopen to debateor
subjectiveinterpretation; at leastthat's how earth seesit.) Earthy real-
ity is tied to the tried-and-true rhythms of the physicalworld, with its
predictable, natural cycles.Earth dependson repetitive, reliable phe-
nomena. It's obvious that this elementplays a key role in the scientific
disciplines,where an earthy capacityfor clear-headedness, painstaking
testing, and sober observation are a must.
As humans, we are so unavoidably earthbound and attached to
our physical impressionsof life that it's no wonder this element is so
darn sure about what it regards as real. After all, the tangible proof
that earth needs to function is clearly found all around us-rnaffs1
undeniably exists.Earth signssteadilyfocus on this most evident level
of experience,yet they run the risk of assuming that this tangible
realm of ours is what counts the most and what truly makes up our
l prime reality-the only one on which we should frrlly depend.AII else
has lessworth in the long run. Well, we can quickly seehow this atti-
tude may lead to narrow, materialistic assumptions concerning life's
i
lIr
potential. Things in the outer world potentially hold more attraction
to earthy types than do internal, psycho-spiritualrealms of being.
il Earth is skepticalof anything asabstractas a soul or a psyche.
iriii
illltlli
TheEarthElement 25
If close-mindednessand inflexibility can be avoided, then earth
becomesa wonderful element blessedwith the power to manifest the
deeperpotential of the other elements.Earth helpslesstangibleener-
giesincarnateand enclosethemselvesin matter suitablefor their pur-
poses-earth givesspirit neededshape.We all have the signs Taurus,
Virgo, and Capricorn located somewherein our chart, indicating
areaswhere we can expressour needsand demonstrateour abilities in
worldly, concrete terms. Earth has a talent for building something
solid and supportive for us, and it believesin working long and hard
to achievewhat it wants. Patienceis its virtue, and time is its friend.
And yet, becauseit is astrology'slessglamorous element-one not
given to colorful display,emotional depth, or imaginative thinking-
earth is typically treated with less fanfare. It evokesa "ho-hum" re-
sponse.(No one ever says,except sarcastically,"Wow, it must be so
excitingto be born with all that earth in your chart!") Earth is more
like a little brown sparrow in contrast to fire's gloriously strutting
peacock.Earth is asplain and functional as a "sensible"pair of shoes,
comparedto diamond-studdedhigh heels.It's as com$' and familiar
asan old sweater.Being highly praisedas someonewho's trustworthy,
dependable,and humble-all earthy traits-seems lessa compliment
than being touted as dashing,witty, and effervescent.
Nonetheless,earth quietly makes sure that much of our ordinary
world runs in a timely, organizedfashion-it tries to keepthings oper-
ating smoothly, day by day, and this typically involves setting up sys-
tems of efficiency.Should this conscientiouselement decideto pack it
up and archetlpe itself elsewherein the Universe,chaoson our planet
would soon spreadlike wildfire, and we'd all be horrified at how messy
life would quickly become,as everything broke down or becamemis-
placed (nothing would stayput). Earth signsthus do what they can to
keep such chaos at bay, mainly by devising and enforcing necessary
rules and regulationsthat ensureorder. Earth is the custodial element
of life, dutifirlly straighteningup the world wheneverit getsout of con-
trol, while also carefully attending to all-important details,no matter
how small,that help prevent future trouble from brewing.
 26 TheEarthElement
But just so we don't pigeonhole earth as all work and no play,real-
ize that the realm of bodily sensation also belongs to this element.
Earth (especiallyThurus) enjoysthe creaturecomforts of being human.
It believesthat there'snothing wrong with feeling contentment in very
physical ways. The body is not such a bad thing to own and satisfr.
ti Earth wants us to proclaim, "Yeah,I'm part animal and proud of it!"
Varying degreesofsensuality play a role in the life experiencesfostered
by this element.We shouldn t automatically think that means sex,since
our earthy needscan alsobe met by taking a long, hot bath or evenby
ril having a professionalmassage-and let's not forget the satisfactionof
eating a wonderfully cookedmeal while in comfortable,visually pleas-
ing surroundings.
Earth also realizesthat physicalwell-being is very important in life,
r'
li and thus this element will urge us to listen to our body's signalsand
know when to quit doing whatevercould turn out to be abusiveto our
health. It's as simple as this: When tired, earth rests.When hungry,
earth eats.When stressedout, earth . . . shops!(I'm only half-joking).
i Fire, in contrast,will keep going until it runs out of gas.It often can't
even tell that it's exhausteduntil it collapses(and even then it expects
to rally quickly). Wise earth respectsits physical limits. In real life,
however,people with a Virgo or Capricorn emphasisin their charts
l
need to monitor their workaholic tendencies, since overwork and
i
other taxing mundane pressurescan drain a body's resources.I still
contend that it's the fiery factors of our chart that make us neverwant
to staystill and relax-fire alwayslooks for more excitement,more ac-
i
tion, more hustle and bustle.
Earth is an element that carefully plans its activities, but it needs
sufhcient time to do so. Nothing is to be rushed, since haste makes
waste (earth is lessforgiving of its "dumb" mistakesthan fire and air
are of theirs). Poorly organizedfolks depend on earthy types to get
things finished, and done correctly.As a result, earth can take on more
responsibilitiesthan it should. It can carry heavyweight on its shoul-
ri
ders by over-obligating itself, which becomesburdensome. Remem-
ir ber, earth likes to havethings running efficiently and will therefore see
,
ruti
iil
!l/, I il
i
TheEarthElement 27
all projectsto their completion, no matter how demanding (it may
complain a lot, but it getsthe job done). Nothing is to be left in the air'
dangling. AII bothersome loose ends are to be wrapped up. Earth can
therefore run a tight ship, especiallywhen a deadlineis fast approach-
ing. It's no wonder that all the other elementstend to leavepoor, de-
pendableearth holding the bag-earth is a suckerfor doing "the dirty
worK'that no other element wants to touch. Yet earth is quietly con-
fident that it can handle the task and successfullyend up with solid
results.
A common problem with earth is its tendencyto hold back emo-
tions, to restrain feelingsthat sometimesneed proper venting. This
kind of self-controlmakesearth look composedand mild-mannered
on the surface.This alsogivesthis elementthe appearanceof awesome
strength and composure-no wonder the weak and the easllyftazzled
are drawn to "Rock of Gibraltar" earthy t1pes.Still, more animated el-
ements (fire and air) often want to give earth a good shake,and tell it
to loosen up. They feel earth needs to show what it's really going
through on the inside for a change,and to start reacting to life more
dramatically.
Well, sorry,but earth doesn'tget fired up quickly about anything. It
would rather evaluate people and situations with a degree of level-
headedcalmnessand from a safeposition if possible("You neverknow
who or what's going to explodein your face,"warns earth). Still, earth
needsto work at learning not to repressits emotionality or even its
anger,in favor of playing it safethroughout life by not making waves.
Now let's changethe sceneryand explore the world of the next el-
ement air.
 28 TheAirElement
Tnn AIn ETeMENT
CooIBreeze
First, brazen fire urges us to go out there and do it, whatever it is.
Don't think about it, don't analyze the pros and cons, just act! Get
your motor running, jump on the opportunity, take the big plunge,
and hit the ground running-now,not tomorrow!-and don't fret
too much about the possibleconsequencesof any bold actions taken.
Next, it's security-conscious earth, wanting us to slow down the
tempo, get settled,and start to consolidatewhat we've enterprisingly
initiated for ourselves.Sustainingour earthy focus helps us fortifr our
efforts better, thus enabling our accomplishmentsto last longer (in
contrast, fi.re's outcomes can have a "flash in the pan" quality-
sparkling and energizing,but here today, gone tomorrow). Earth is
looking for permanent results, even if this takes time and demands
much stick-to-it-tiveness.The earth signsadviseus to ground our ac-
tions more fully in the practical world by laying down solid founda-
tions, and by attending to all pertinent details.We can then keep our
steadysystemof operations running asreliably as a Swisswatch.
"Whoa," gaspsair, "let's call a time-out to think about all this talk
about full-time commitment." sure enough, this next element seeksa
bit of breathing space.Air doesn'twant to becometoo immersedin
earth'sbig building projects.Creating a little healthy distancehelps air
get an objectivehandle on things-some neededperspective-so that
it can think more clearly about what has materialized thus far. Air is
afraid that earth will want to stop fire's momentum for good and in-
steadremain stuck in dull, evenstagnating,routines.It's air's nature to
circulate and to distribute its energybroadly-air is not comfortable
with becoming too settledin matter. It's not interestedin tightly com-
pressing energy into something that ends up densely packagedand
immovable, so air intuitively backs off from any condition that ap-
pearstime-consumingor too slow to takeshape.
Instead,the realm more natural to air is that abovethe ground. It's
obvious that the higher up we go, reachingeven cloud level,the more
widely we can observethe terrain below. Details may seemlesssharp,
TheAir Element 29
but the greaterour altitude, the grander the overview we can achieve.
We can also feel an expansivesenseof freedom. Thus, expectthis ele-
ment to be interestedin comprehendinglife's bigger picture.
Air alsolikes to mix life's ingredientsand then stepback to witness
the unpredictable results.This element enjoys observing how two or
more things link up. It looks for apparent similarities between such
factorsasthey combine,while noting obvious contraststo be found as
well. "If I join this with that, what will happen and why?"wonders air.
This sounds like the dawning of scientific inquiry, or perhaps just
human mischief in the making. Our capacityto undergo experimen-
tal, trial-and-error stagesin life that hopefrrlly enlighten us is something
related to air, an element that's alwayseagerto teach us something new.
Highly consciousand wide-awake, air is related to our ability to
think and reason.It's the brainiest of all the elements,the one that
loves to live life in its head and to createbrilliant ideasto sharewith
the world. Where would we be if we couldn't connect our words and
thoughts in intelligent ways?We'd sound unintelligible, and that could
lead to social isolation, something that all air signsdread.
Not a big fan of gibberish, air demandsthat languagebe clear and
precise if real communication is truly our objective (air can set the
standardshere, I guess,becauseit even invented language).Yet that
doesn't mean air can't havefun playing with words. It comesup with
new, catchy phrasesnow and then; plus, lots of (hot) air produces
chatterboxesat times. As air rules the wind, it's the element of wind-
bags,talking up a storm.
Air is the one elementof the rycle that keenly focuseson causeand
effect Bang head againstwall, get dizzy, passout. One condition not
only influences another, but apparently can be the very causeor the
catalystof that other condition. That's basicallywhat air notices, asit
busily takesmental notes on how life appearsto work-at leaston the
surface.Of course,it's on life's more observablesurfacewhere many
superficialitiesare to be found, being the home turf of much that is
shallow and trivial. Yet air gladly takes it all in, appreciating such things
asmomentary stimulations or fleeting distractions,if nothing else.
 I
30 TheAir Element TheAir Element 3-
ll
ili Fire can be passionatelysingular in its short-lived interests,while tency. Even the previous two elementsweren't equipped enough to
']r earth can be downright fixated on its long-range goals. But all air prepareair for the powerful underground world of emotionality, since
rl signs need a lot of variety and change;they wither from too much that's not their expertise,either.

1lr monotony or a life that lacks detours (or even a room without win-
dows).Air doesn'tenjoy feeling as driven as headstrongfire, nor is it
Being emotionally disengagedwith life is actually not a fault of air,
sinceventing deep feelingsisn't part of the job the Cosmosassigned
.il as task-oriented as earth. Actually, air can adapt to these and other this element to do-and we shouldn't blame one element for not be-
li statesof consciousness, aslong asthey are experiencedin small doses having like another.Yet sometimes,due to air's strong ability to keenly
i1i for short periods of time. The bottom line, howevet is that air is elu- mimic what it observes,this element can fake sentiments and emo-
sive and cannot be pinned down for long. It's not an easyelement to tions that seemconvincing-at leastfor a while-but air doesso more
I out of sheercuriosity as it attempts to figure out how others perceive
l grab onto and tightly control.
il

Highly curious air believesthat life is a buffet table: Samplean as-
I from, perceptually.It's not afraidto confront experiencesthat it finds
I
sortment of whateveritems look tasty,but don't pig out on any one
l
thing and fill up too fast.Life is too short notto spreadone'sattention
tl everywhere,and thereby mentally benefit from the open-mindedness
such diversityencourages. Air types can be very cerebralin tempera-
;,
ment. They sound smart and seemto know a lot; they evenmake up
il the bulk of life's "eternal students,"forever feedingtheir minds knowl-
edge.Along with such brainpower comesa cool detachment that can
ll l be invaluable when confronting life's more unsettling twists and
turns. When others becomehystericalduring disruptive times of great
ii chaos,those with air emphasizedin their charts are apt to keep their
rii wits about them and not abandon logic or clarity. However,this airy,
li cool-and-collecteddisposition doesnt work aswell with life situations
,il
that require emotional depth and intimacy.
rll
While it can appearto understand someoneelse'slife predicament
lrl sympathetically, air does not empathize very easily (that's more a
rli
I strengthof the next element,water). There is a bit of aloofnessto be
reality. Air wants to understand where another element is coming
unfamiliar (in fact, it needssuch stimulation). Air looks forward to
learning more about life from fresh angles.It thus invites the environ-
ment to provide more and more information to excitethe mind'
Air's capacityfor intellectual breadth (especiallyin Aquarius) can
result in innovative thinking, but it also has a talent for quickly scan-
ning situations and spotting small movements and changes-a trait
that can result in either sharp attentivenessor distractibility (the latter
is most noted in Gemini). Air is also an excellent"people-watcher"el-
ement (here'swhere Libra excels).It's fascinatedby human experience
and evenby the way people behavein diversecultural settings.As the
exchangeof ideas is important to air (never an element to appear
unsociable),finding ways to make human interactionssmooth and
hassle-freeappealsto this element.More talking about issuesand less
fighting over them would be welcome, since air knows the value in
"airing" thosethings out now that could otherwise causetrouble later'

rrilr
ilir
found hidden beneath what otherwise seemsto be an alert, inquisi-
tive, likable nature that is eager to meet life straightforwardly. Air's
"So, can we talk about it first?" asksair.
The gift of analysisbelongs to this element.Air helps us carefully
rri clevernessat times can make it seemto be a bit of a trickster, playing considerlife's multifacetedissuesbefore finding suitableoptions to re-
ili
I'
loosewith the facts,but by nature it's not a deliberatelysneaky,deceit- solvethem. Air comesup with bright solutions to life's nagging prob-
lems, but it realizes that seldom is there only one "right" way of
i ful element.Still, it has a hard time being real with itself and others in
looking at any situation. It also enjoys speculativeapproachesto life's
the realm of gut response.Air would sooner analyzefeelings (prefer-
liil ably somebodyelse's)rather than simply "feel" their power at full po- ptzzles,although this can border on abstract mind gamesthat serve
irl
il
'li
riil
llll
I4r.,
irll
 32 TheAirElement
no useful purpose;they're just a lot of intellectual gymnastics,sound-
ing impressivebut impractical. While fire and earth can think in more
simplistic, black-or-white, or even right-or-wrong terms-air allows
us to recognizethe shadesof gray in between. It evaluatesthe many
sides of any situation before coming up with a final and fair judg-
ment. Obviously,the introduction of air to the elementcyclesuddenly
makes life more complicated. Now there are no easyanswersto fall
L back on, no cut-and-dried conclusions,no "one sizefits all."
iti Perhapswhen exploring the far reachesof the observableUniverse
and when gathering astronomical data needing to be systematically
decodedby cool, level-headedminds, air becomesa fine tool for the
unbiased evaluation of certain factual realities.Here'swhere accuracy
counts, and where subjectiveimpressionscan often lead to erroneous
assumptions.Yet when using such precision-tuned,laser-sharp men-
tal equipment to probe the psychologicalinnards of a human being,
I
air fails to do the trick. Someother approachto perceivingour "inner"
reality is needed,especiallysince the world of our unconscious self is
not bound by logic or reason,nor doesit follow linear time. We're not
robots, programmed to respond in predictable waysto exact stimuli,
again and again.An unanticipated human quality arises,the result of
deeplyinternal impressionsof life. That's something all three elements
thus far have not had to deal with-mood swings coming from who
knows where.
Now it's time to plumb the more mysterious depths of human na-
ture as we delve into the hidden dimensions of astrology'sfinal ele-
ment: water.
l
'il
I'
i
r this characteristicof water is exactly what makes it so empathetic, so
tl
ii
llt
iil
TheWaterElement 33
THB WerBn ErrurNr
DeepWeIl
If the element cycle simply began with fire and ended with air, hu-
manity could survive and thrive, yet we'd tend to be somewhat me-
chanicalin our responsesto one another-almost like members of an
activeant or bee colony: organized,industrious, teeming with energy,
but rather flat and soullessin our interactions.Should a member of
our human'hive'perish, we'd feel nothing but the urge to efficiently
disposeof the corpseand continue on with our endlesstasksat hand.
No tearswould be shed sincewe'd feel no senseof real loss regarding
our dead coworker (perhapsthe air in us would be curious about
what causedthis death and if it could havebeen prevented,but that's
about it).
Sincethe element cycLedoesconclude with watet it adds one very
critical facetto our human experience:the developmentof our feeling
nature and our ability to sensitivelytune in to others.Water alsohelps
us reflect on the subtletiesof our inner life. Welcome to the world of
emotions-from the raw to the sublime. This most receptiveof ele-
ments symbolizespowerfi.rl,invisible currentsthat at times stir internal
turmoil for us,but that alsomove us to act with selflesscompassionfor
others. That's becausewater enablesus to feel deeply connectedto all
living things at a soul level, and this helps dissolveour usual senseof
being separateentities. If water sounds a bit mystical, it is! This is the
only element that has a true feeling for inner statesof Onenessand
Unity. Water allows us to become a part of all that is, aswe merge our
consciousness with our environment.
Merging seamlesslywith our surroundings, however,does haveits
problems. On one hand, this fluid ability giveswater a chameleonlike
quality. Water excelsin the art of camouflage-it loses its distinct
form while blending in with its habitat-something that has proven
invaluable to the survival of the fittest from an evolutionary perspec-
tive. Water is absorbedby what it contactsand thus it losesits senseof
self somewhat.The boundaries become blurred. On the other hand,
 Element 35

fil
34 TheWater
Element TheWater

able to get under other people'sskin and experiencetheir internal re- although such conflict can be very jarring initially to this highly im-

ri; alities. For example,fire may state,"I am me and nobody else!"Earth

may claim, "This is mine and that is yours!" Air may realize,"I've got
i1i my own ideas,but what about you?" Each of theseelementsclearlyre-
l tains an awarenessof its own identity; a basic senseof self remains
iii intact. Yet only water says,"I'm feeling exactly what you're going
pressionableelement.Water may appearweak and vulnerable during
times of stress,yet its deep,uncanny understanding of human nature
suggestsit hasthe power to withstand much turmoil before collapsing
or falling apart. However,such psychologicalendurancecan seemself-
punishing at times and evenirrational.
Imagination is the realm belonging to the water element.Water

'iiil
through, as if it's happening to me!" That's quite a radical shift of
awareness, has a direct pipeline to our unconscious,from which a vast and color-
In a sense,water invadesits surrounding spacewithout asking for fi.rl assortmentof wondrous imagescan emergewheneverwe are in a
llr permission to penetrate.Its instinct is to ignore all boundaries and in- proper stateof receptivity (i.e.,when we're sleepingand dreaming).

,lii, steadto quietly seepinto otherwise inaccessibleplacesthat are hidden

from view.Yet feelinglittle need for protectivebarriers in relationships
Suchenergiesaren't alwayspleasant,sincethe underground cavernsof
our psychealso harbor imagesthat are terrifring or filled with darker
can prove problematic,especiallywhen we becometoo absorbedby desiresthat we usually manage to keep from consciously surfacing.

rliii
llll
somebodywho is filled with turbulent energy or is loaded with nega-
tivity. Water signs can get suckedin to this kind of dark scenario,but
sometimesthey becomethe troubled oneswho pull others deeplyinto
Our angelsand demons within residein our unconscious'and the
water elementthereforesymbolizesa wide rangeof emotional states-
from bliss to hysteria. Having accessto our mysterious but alluring
their vortex.A lack of boundariescan also imply poor self-preserva- inner dimension is a must for strong water types. The rewards to be

liiili tion instincts. Water signscan be reluctant to fend offthe dominating

influencesofothers; they are not fightersby nature (exceptfor Scor-
had in the externalworld are not enoughto provide true contentment.
In fact, an almost divine discontent can plague water signs when life

']ii pio, who nonethelesscan still feel conflicted when engagingin emo-
tional battles).Water suffersfrom its passivetendencyto take in other
pressuresthem to neglectthis private reality of the soul. Emotional
disturbancescan crop up aswell.
lt
people'senergiesindiscriminately. It needsto learn to devisea better Historically,just as men havebeen programmed to channeltheir

iiiii filtering systemby borrowing a few natural defensesthat the other el-
ements use (such as fire's self-interest, earth's territorial streak, and
fire energiesinto being manly, women have been identified-almost
exclusivelyin the minds of men-as possessingthe qualities of water,

rilr air'semotional detachment).

One very important condition that water enables us to feel is
love-not gushy romantic love, which is more a social invention, but
in large part becauseof this element'sassociationwith maternal urges
and mood swings.Women, as mothers,were viewed as tender care-
givers by nature, rather than by social dictate. They also have long

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love as a measureof caring and intimacy that revealsa deeperconcern
for the welfare of others. Water offers love as a uniting force to help
dissolveall barriers that keep people at odds with or isolatedfrom one
been saddledwith the task of maintaining domestic harmony and
order, suggesting(to the men in their lives) that they inherently havea
stronger need to be sheltered(due to their assumednesting instincts)

illi
another. With such love emergesmany soul-refining traits, such as
gentleness,kindliness, unselfishness,charity, and patience (especially
the patiencerequired to cope with the difficult temperamentsof oth-
ilir ers).Water has the inner strength neededto endure external conflict,
and protected,asthe so-called"weaker" sex.While fire-identified men
were to go out to eagerly fight life's battles and even literally bring
home the bacon, their women were expectedto keep the home fires
burning and to have food ready on the table for when these strong,

lliii
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-itllll
 36 TheWater
Element TheWater
Element 37
bravewarriors returned from their vigorous outdoor adventures.This chologicalreality.Having surfaceknowledgeabout ourselvesand oth-
fixed pattern of gender role-playing has gone on for thousandsof ers is not enough to help us evolve.We must dig deeperin order to
years,and it has deprived both sexesof their greaterhuman potential. contact our soul. This is what water encourages,a journey within,
Thankfully, much of that is changing in today's transitional world wherewe getto uncoverrepressedor underdevelopedpotentialswhose
regardingthe sexes.The conceptof men becoming"Mr. Moms" who releasedpower can renew our total being. Water can be a soothingly
work at home while doing housekeepingand raising kids-while their restorativeelement,refreshingour spirit, especiallyif our approachto
ambitious wives fearlesslyclimb the corporate ladder-is now a real- life hasbecometoo dry, sterile,or cynical.
ity. Of course,it's still not something everyman would considerdoing It's time move on to chapter2 to look at the three modes under
(the routines of housekeepingalone are perceivedasundesirablyfem- which the signs operate.This adds yet another layer to our under-
inizing to many men). Yet modern men with a water emphasisin their standing of why eachsign behavesin the manner it does.
charts feel a natural affinity for many realms traditionally deemedto
comprise"a woman'sworld." They find that they are naturally domes-
i
tic by temperament,and probably love the quiet joys of cooking and
gardening. They also may believe that crying is a natural, healthy,
human responseand not just what "sissies"do when they can't cope
with what life tossestheir way.
Men who deny or reject their touchy-feely parts are also choking
off a supply of vital, psychologicalfluid in ways that may later render
them rigid and calcified as they age,with deadly health consequences
to pay.Water keepsour soul moisturized and able to go with the flow
instead of resistingthe unfoldment of our real feelingswith all our
might. Water signsare adept at understandingpeople'sneeds,which
givesthem an advantagewhen it comesto perceivinganother'shidden
motivation. They are drawn to what is secretly going on below the
surfaceof people'sobservablebehavior.Thus, expectwater to blessus
with an instinctive urge to investigatethe deeper mysteries of being
human. Water'snot afraid to go to the heart of such complexity, even
though potential turbulence can be found as we descendinto the un-
dergroundof our unconscious.
As previously suggested,there'sa logic behind the sequentialorder
of the elements.Fire is followed by earth and earth by air, for good
reason.Water not only rounds out our cycle of human experience,it
also succeedsthe air phasein order to ensurethat our understanding
of life doesn't neglectthe emotional underpinnings of subjective,psy-

fi
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 ChapterTwo

Signs&
Modes

THn THnnn Mopns

Also called"qualities"in traditional astrology,the modesrepresent
three waysin which astrologerscategorizehow energyflows. Each
mode describesthe characteristicmanner in which suchenergycan
be appliedto all aspectsof life. It depictsthe styleof actionireaction
we adopt wheneverwe're dealingwith people and situationswe at-
tract. Four signsof the zodiac are relatedto eachmode, and as-
trologersoftenlike to usethe four seasons of the yearasan analogous
way to demonstratethe unfolding stagesof thesemodes.This is ap-
propriate, sincethe twelvesignsare intimately connectedto the sea-
sonalcycle.l
It is important to note which of the threemodesis dominant in
our chart (especiallyif our Sun,Moon, and/orAscendantarefound in
this mode).This will determineour most characteristicmethod of
how we basicallymoveout into life to achieveperson4lgoals.Regard-
ing our leastemphasizedmode (havinglittle or no planetaryempha-
sis),we often attractpeoplewhosechartsareloadedwith that quality;
they showus the valueof adaptingto someof the waysin which that
modetypicallyactivates.This dynamicalsoappliesto our birth chartt
leastemphasizedelement.
Let'slook at eachmode in detail to determinewhat kind of ap-
proachit takesand what canresultfrom it.
 40 The Cardinal Mode TheCardinalMode 4l
I

tl THE CenprNer MooE Folks with a cardinal emphasisin their charts are very enterpris-
rii ing. They are self-starterswho want to get something new going with-
Gotta GetMoving
out being detoured by the interferenceof others. This is an "Outta my
The cardinal signs-Aries, Cancer,Libra, and Capricorn-all live life
way,here I come!" mode that can show much initiative in getting per-
at a fast-pacedtempo. Energeticinvolvement in the external world is
sonalplans off the ground. Of course,their natural senseof push can
highlighted. Cardinal energy supports taking direct action, with little
be interpretedmore as pushiness.Cardinal ty?es can appeara little
hesitationor preplanning (although moody Cancermay mull things
too driven, and anxious to put things into motion. They do need to
over at times when feeling emotionally insecure). Here the urge is to
slow down before jumping into half-baked projects.Wired for action
act swiftly, even assertively,whenever advantageouscircumstances
doesn't alwaysmean being fi,rllyawareof the consequencesthat acting
presentthemselves.Cardinal types won't stall or beat around the bush
on impulse can sometimesbring about. Here again,it's Aries-the
when somethingneedsto be done soon,orwhen urgent,critical issues
fiery aspect of cardinality-that has to watch out the most for not
il,l
l1
need to be squarelyresolved.
This vigorous mode is psychologically built to respond to situa-
looking before leaping. However, even the remaining cardinal signs
determinedby
can get restlessand antsyon thoselevelsof awareness
tional challengesinvolving quick decisionsand sudden changes,those
their associatedelements(watery Cancercan be emotionally impa-
that underscorethe benefitsof being consciousin the "now" and of
tient with people who won't openly commit themselvesto a closely
living in the moment. This is especiallyso for the sign Aries. In fact,
bonded relationship).
fiery Aries and earthy Capricorn-the cardinal signsthat seemmost
Evenif cardinal signsare not all that productive and accomplished,
dynamically engagedin ambitious worldly activity-are readyto grab
they give the appearanceof being in the thick of activity, of always
opportunities as they come. They both share the urge to mow down
being very busy and on the go. This is the mode known for hustling
obstacles,and would hate to lose ground in life by not being ready to
and bustling, where there are few quiet, still moments to enjoy before
take decisive action. Thus, ready they are! These two signs are the
lli another phaseof high activity begins.Thesesignsseemvibrantly alive
more obvious go-gettersof the cardinal group, the oneswilling to face
and driven to instigate situations in life rather than wait for things to
most issueshead-on.
happen naturally. They may at times jump the gun and act prema-
Cardinal energy can be confrontational, but cardinality doesn't
l turely. Obviously,troublemakerswho agitateothersbybeing aggressive
necessarilydemand a noisy clashof opposing forces-lively, open ne-
may havetheir shareof cardinal signs,but so do the moversand shak-
gotiation is an option. This mode is upfront and straightforward in its
ers of the world who help society get a lot of vital social projects up
dealings,but it also expectsfast results.However, frustrated cardinal
and running.
types will stir up a little commotion, now and then, that results in a
Now it's time to blend the traits of the cardinal mode with the
temporary crisis where something's got to give. Cardinal signs don't
characteristicsof eachelement to understand this group of signsbet-
do well with prolonged deliberations, whereby dilemmas are drawn
ter. In other words, cardinality comes in four flavors, which explains
ii out. They seeka quicker releaseof tensions.They're also too impatient
why its four signs may not seem alike on the surface.Here's a brief
l
i
to cope with deadlocks or the foot-dragging tactics of others (even
Iook at them:
though airy Libra is good at stalling, usually when trying to buy a lit-
Aries is a cardinal fire sign. There is a lot about cardinal energy
tle time in order to come up with a better strategy for dealing with
that reinforceswhat fire symbolizestemperamentally.Indeed,all car-
i
rli
others).
dinal signsact like they've got their internal pilot lights on all the time

t1
till
,llL
 '
ll,l * TheCardinalMode
Ii and are alwayswatmed up for action.Aries hasthe addedadvantage
I offiret natual sl)ontarcity and its courageto takechancesin life. In-
I rnediateaction takenis typically backedby much seJf-will.
I Arieswont weighall sidesofa situationand therebywastetim€ or
rI risk becomiflgindecisiv€in the pioess. This sign insteadsizesthhgs
jl up quickly and then jumps into actiod,fo! betteroi tt()rse.It doesnot
tr scatterits ercrgy,but single-mindedlyaimsits undividedattentionto-
il ward one dMllengeat a time. Cardinalfue symbolizesa higlrly driven,
li motirated nature--everon the go-that wantsto movebrward to pi-
! oneer new territor',. This is cardinality in its hottest,most overt ex-
N pression,buming with an eagerness to be in chargeof here-and-now
{ operations,with an expectationof alwayscomingout on top ofthings
1i and atteaaofthe game.
,1, Cancztis a cardinal water sign.JustbecarxeAries aud Cancerare
membersof the sameclub (firo cardinalsigns)do€sft meanthey rlat-
i urally seeeyeto eyeor blmd well togethei The main Problemgdting
in the way of smooth interactiotr involvestemperament Aries' ele-
ment offire sharplycontrastswith Canc€iselemmt ofwater. Wateris
too sensitiveto withsta[d the oftetr rough-and-tumble treatmetrt
Aries dishesout (the Ram'sbrusqueways,alone,jar the Crabt more
ii delicatesensibilities).Ariesis alsomuch too impatimt with the some-
1i times whiny, crybabyside of Canco that readily showsits hult feel-
i ings (the big pout) when neglectedor &jected, Strong-as-steel Aries
doesnt harc much resp€ctfor any signthat tri€s to useits weaknes6es
and insecutitiesto solicit q,mpathyor pity.
However,cardina.lwate! suggests that Cancer'spowerfirlemotions
I are quick to rush to the surfaceto makean immedlateimpact on the
I1 environment.Cancercanbe assertivealld evenagitatedwherl express-
] ing its fe€lings,asit is the most demonstrativeof the water signs(ol'
'rubber face") thanksto its cardr[al nature. It canl easilyhide what
it's really going through on the inside, at least not for long, unlike
I more insctutableScorpioor Pisces.whelr it doesfe€lsafealrd secure,
lf C*... ..tt e[ergiz€ othersto oPer y expresstheir own emotionsin
j healthy,tension-releasing ways.
ll
n ecadinat Moda 43
Adualy, itt cardinalit'' that spursCancerto keepemotiom actr-
ted and in play.Cardinalwater may not feel comfortablebeing too
still in this area.It .lways likesto know what someorc is feeling-ir
other uords, do whateverit takesto get other people to react. Of
course,if not handled skillfully, this needfor a mutual exposu& of
feelingsin relationshipscanbe a sourceof mauy emotionalups and
downsfor Canc€r,becausenot elieryonelike$to be asrevealingasthe
Crab wantsthem to be (plus C.ncer expectsto hear only what it can
handleemotiotrally).
Iibra is a cardiaal air signlocatedhalfu€y aroundthe zodiac,and
thus it's directly oppositeAries. Air is a sociableelemellt, cudous
about human interaction, and here it combineswith cardinality to
make for an active interest in coffiectirrg directly with people-up
dose and personal.Libra comesalfi'e around othen and generatesa
Iot of dynamic energyin all its one-on-one relationships.In many
wa''s,Libra is just antuies who hasleamedhow to charmothersmto
being cooperativeand willing to help this air sign get things to turn
out its ray.
Aries,all on its own,will fight for what it wants.Libra ifftead p€r-
suad€sothersto b€comeits valued allies,ensuringthat it 1lhavethe
backupsupportit needsto g€t its objectivesmet-but Libra will then
turn around and giveas good a5it gets(showi[g much appreciatiofl
vlrhentrcated1l!,€llby anothe! yet becominga readyopponmt when
handledunfairly; indeed,if unduly provoke4 all cardinal signsfeel
the urgeto attackothels or defendthemseh€s).
Libra js alsoassertivein initiating relationshipsdue to its cardinal
needto push forward and get somethinggoing.Actually,this is usu-
ally done in an agreeablemannerthat lets the other party lqrow that
Libra s quite interest€din forming a closeunion. Cardinalsignsusu-
ally like to giveaDdreceiveulambiguous sigruls (the exceptionis wa-
tery Canc€r,who cansendout mixed messages whetrunsureaboutits
feelings).
Calti('!/ntis a catdttalearth sign.This mode-elemmt combina-
tioD may seemstrangeat fust, since cardinality urges us to rush
und alld do a lot of thinss----atlea$tto start them-while eatth
iili
iii
44 TheCardinalMode The Fixed Mode 45

riii wants us to stay in one placewith our feet planted firmly on the ground. fnn FrxEDMoDE
Earth urgesus to plan our moveswell and to usetime and energyeffi-
Stickingto thePlans
lil
rfi
ciently. Capricorn thus feelsa strong drive to do big, important things
The fixed signs-Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius-don't enjoy
'ii in society, but it also works hard to make sure the results last a long
I the relatively fast and furious pace of cardinal signs on the move. They
time. This sign can be very assertivein the material world when it
ili
rlilii comes to gaining status.It's driven to manifest its goals in solid, en-
don t at all take kindly to pushy, aggressivepeople (cardinal types) or
ililr duringways.
high-pressuredsituations (although Scorpio is well equipped to han-

il Of all the earth signs, Capricorn is the most willing to venture

dle emergencypredicaments).While not necessarilyslow, thesefixed
signstake more methodical,organizedapproachesto life (perhapsless
'l forth into unknown territory to take a few calculated risks, something
I so with experimental Aquarius). They need to feel that they can con-
Taurus and Virgo have trouble doing. The Goat won't take chances
trol what happensto them, rather than be swept up in a flurry of ex-
iIl
,l'11
based on blind faith, but will move out into the world to try new
things only after it has carefully evaluatedthe situation. Still, this is an
citing but short-lived activity. If anything, their main interest is to pull
their energiesinwardly to better fortifr themselvesfrom within. Being
rl earth sign with guts and gumption. Capricorn also has a strong in-
centeredallows them to tap into their internal Power resources.Fixed
lt, stinct to climb (this is the sign of upward mobility regarding the lad-
ii'
rli
der of success).It's an ambitious sign always looking out for more
signs consolidate such inner forces in ways that enablethem to con-
centrateand focus long and hard on their objectives.Their attention is
rii influential social positions to attain. It's also the only earth sign with
not easily diverted by fleeting distractions. Their interests in life are

lr
ii the momentum to achieveprominence on a grand scale.The go-get-
ter energy of cardinality is certainly behind the Goat's determination
purposefrrl and enduring.
Stability resultswhen applying fixed energy.Such steadinesshelps
I to "make it big" in the world.
thesesignsperseverewith a true senseof goal attainment; they're less
Liil
irii
Now let's take a brief look at the fixed mode and its associated
signs.
in need of immediately obtaining what they desire-they can wait,
unlike the "gotta have it now" cardinal group. (Actually, Leo can
,lrll sometimeshave a problem with waiting to be gratified, but nonethe-
i' less,it is learning how timing plays an important role in the firller en-

,i,liLi joyment of life.) Patienceand the ability to clearly define what they
want are keysto the fixed signs'eventualsuccess.They're blessedwith
rli
iiiil stamina and will persist in all personal endeavors.Of course,this can
ili make them the most stubborn and fixated signs of the zodiac-the
ones who won't take "no" for an answer.Sometimesthey win in life
lir only becausethey haveworn down the opposition.
riil The desire nature is strong in these signs. The fixed-mode signs
iiiltl have appetitesthat are not easilydenied or put on hold-and that in-
ltlil cludesevenAquarius' appetite for free social expressionand its desire
not to follow a conventional path. These signs may not put up a
bloody fight when their needs are threatened,but they will-to the
 46 TheFixedMode
nth degree-resist being dictatedby others.They can t easilybe forced
to submit to outer authority. In short, they won't budge from any po-
sition they've taken until they're good and ready-and they typically
are not "good and ready" until outside pressuresback off and leave
them alone to determine their own course of action. Interference
from the sidelines is very unwelcome. Their motivation to changeis
alwaysinternal.
What's so great about the fixed mode is that its inherent staying
power allows us to finish what we or others start. Cardinal energymay
get the ball rolling in a high-energy manner, but fixed-mode energy
quietly and steadfastlyseessomething to its completion. Fixed signs
are the builders of life, desiring to further construct and give sub-
stanceto what the cardinal signs have initiated. Thus, fixed signs are
quite reliable (but again, watch out for Aquarius, who's not always
great at handling the minor details of a big project' yet can often pull
through ingeniously regardingthose matters needinglarge-scaleorga-
nization and smart social networking). Simply put, fixed signsare de-
termined to get the job done. They cannot tolerate halfi'vaymeasures
and instead tend to give it all they've got, once motivated.
One pitfall of too much fixity, when mishandled, is its tendencyto
deal with life in uncompromising terms. Fixed signs can be quite un-
yielding, and this can lead to power strugglesand no-win situations
where all parties involved refuseto give in. The doggednessthat fixity
exhibits can causetrouble in situations where compromise and adapt-
ability are neededmost. Fixity is associatedwith stalemateconditions,
where a battle of wills ensues.At times, this can be outright pighead-
ednessat work, attempting to thwart the easier solutions of others.
Sometimesproblems causedare simply due to being too habitual
about adhering to one's daily rituals, especiallyat times when intro-
ducing a touch of variety would make so much more sense.(Actually,
fixed signsof the earth and water variety-Thurus and Scorpio-have
the most diffrculty here).
Let's combine the characteristicsof the fixed mode with the traits
of eachelementto better comprehendwhy this group of signsbehaves
the wav it does:
TheFixedMode 4i
Taurusis a fixed earth sign.The zodiac'sfirst earth sign is the most
fixed, and thus most set in its waysof all twelve signs.No other sign is
asentrenchedin its attitudes as is this sign of the Bull. Yet this mode-
element combo is quite steady and secure,and values stillness and
serenity.Taurus is very anchored in the realm of the physical senses.
It's grounded in the world of material form, from which it can attract
and utilize valuable resourcesthat sustain its life. Earth is an element
that alreadyseems'fixed," consideringthat, when left unalteredby
other elements, it stays put and hardly alters its shape.Those with
Taurus emphasizedin their charts want a calm, settled life where few
changesoccur-especially thosethat happenwithout warning. This is
one sign that can enjoy the unvarying patterns of routine without get-
ting bored.
Fixed earth implies utmost dependability. Fixity likes to stay on a
plotted courseof action, without veering offinto unknown directions;
earth also appreciatesany consistent,uninterrupted activity that plays
it safe.Taurus can thus be counted on to deliver the goods in a timely
fashion,but it doesnt take such commitments lightly. In fact, it's hard
to associateanything "light" with fixed earth. Purposeful Taurus is
heavyin disposition,but not oppressivelyserious.It's more soberthan
somber.A big problem with fixed earth is its tendency to becometoo
one-track-minded and unwilling to changein midstream, evenwhen
it's plainly advantageousto do so. This mulish behavior often has
strong fixed-earth types tackling things the slow,hard way.Suchstub-
bornnessis an exampleof the deep,internal resistancethis sign feels,
especiallywhen it is being manipulated by external forces'
Leo is a fixed fire sign. It may seem odd to think of fire as being
fixed, sinceflamesnaturally love to spontaneouslyleap here and there,
especiallyon windy days. But the steady glow of logs in a fireplace,
where fire's flames are at least contained, becomesa fitting fixed-fire
image.Fireplacesadd a warm ) cozy,and evenromantic quality to any
room. The sign Leo can be like this, aswell. Its warmth radiatesfrom
its heart, and it lives the life of the eternal romantic, with all the emo-
tional drama that entails. Fixed fire implies steady enthusiasm and
 48 TheFixedMode
long-lasting passions.Contained fire can burn more intensely and
deeply (think of the fixed astronomical sun itself ). Leo'sfiery expres-
sion is lessimpulsive and more purposefullydirected.It haswell-de-
fined goalsto achieveand will harnessall its creativepower to ensure
that it ends up a winner.
This is the most dependableof the fire signs,and one that is capa-
ble of great loyalty. Fixity helps Leo's fires burn steadily and longer
than is typical of this element. Leo's flame is not easily extinguished
once ignited. However, fixed signs can be obstinate, and fire can be
willful. Leo thus has a reputation for being bossy and autocratic. It's
full of pride and self-admiration, and this can lead to behavior that
others find arrogant and snooty. Fixed fire means Leo'sperformance
can come off asbeing inordinately self-confident (fixity feelsstrongly
assuredfrom within, while fire doesn't doubt the rightness of its ac-
tions). Still, Leo needsto feel utterly sold on itself in order to accom-
plish the great things it expects to in life. Since we all have Leo
operating somewherein our chart, it's good to know that here we have
a sign that never wants us to feel like a loser.
Scorpiois a fixedwater sign. Immediately, fixed water conjuresup
the image of ice.At times, Scorpio can be accusedof transforming into
an icebergonce it withdraws its emotional heat in its relationships.Yet
its passionsrun deep,and thus this is a sign that is almost incapableof
reacting to life in cold, aloof ways-although it may look like that,
from time to time, when Scorpio is feeling deeply hurt. Since water
representsthe realm of emotions, fixed water suggestscontrolled feel-
ings that seldom spill out and needlesslyexposethemselves.Scorpio's
emotions are well contained-which perhaps makesthem lessmessy
-and yet, just how contained makes all the difference between un-
healthy repressionversusadmirable emotional self-discipline.
Fixed water suggestsa tendency to be very single-mindedin its
feelings. Such enduring interest createsan intensity that can lead to
obsession.Of course,it's Scorpio'spowerfrrl instincts that compel it to
probe and penetrateto the core of any matter with the doggedpersis-
tence of a bloodhound on the trail. Fixed water also meansthat Scor-
TheFixedMode 49
pio's feelings for others-whether loving or hateful-develop slowly
and aren't easilydissuaded.There'slittle going on here that's superfi-
cial or fleeting. Scorpio can harbor strong feelings-even grudges-
about somebody or something for a long, long time. Fixity helps
stabilizewater'semotionaliry cutting down on mood swingsand pan-
icky reactions to outside threats. Indeed, Scorpio can appear amaz-
ingly composedin the face of impending danger.It does a marvelous
job when handling crisis situations.
Aquarius is a fixed air sign. It appearsthere's alwaysone sign of
eachmode that seemsoddly misplaced (such as"shy" Cancer for the
assertive,"in your face" cardinal signs).Aquarius is that oddball sign
for the fixed group. All the other signs of this mode seemto want to
hold on tightly to what they have,and can stubbornly usestrong-arm
tactics to get their way. Thurus, Leo, and Scorpio all can be very at-
tached to their desiresand thus too inflexible to change their ways
overnight. However,Aquarius can suddenlyrevolutionize its behaviot
given the right environmental conditions. (Besides,air signs aren't
into attachmentsthat much).
Fixed air seemslike an oxymoron, sinceair's main interestis to cir-
culate and spread itself far and wide, while fixity likes things to stay
put. Actually, one image that comesto mind is an oxygentank-air in
a concentrated,contained form that's usedto keep people from losing
consciousness. Aquarius is very much interestedin oxygenatingsoci-
ety with progressiveidealsthat are aimed at vitalizing the social con-
sciousnessof many. Air in its fixed form suggestsan intellect that is
lesseasilydistracted,resulting in stronger mental concentration.Air is
filled with bright ideasthat are often best applied to human situations,
and here, fixity givesAquarius the focus and patience neededto help
such progressiveideasdevelopneededsubstanceand durability.
Aquarius is thereforevery"attached" to championing certain prin-
ciples,based on Truth, that it can apply to life on a collectivelevel-
things like life,liberty, and the pursuit of happinessfor all individuals.
Yet airy Aquarius doesn't want to becometoo grounded in mundane,
earthy realities that seem to limit the mind's vast potential. It must
 50 TheFixedMode = TheMutableMode 5l

i
l have enough intellectual freedom to breathe.Although it espouses
I
democratic conceptswith ease-especially where individual human
I Any WaytheWind Blows
rights are concerned-Aquarius can be a bit rigid and intolerant (fixed)
I in how its socialreforms areto be implemented.There'sa hidden dicta-
!
I
tor rattling around in its closetsomewhere.
Next, we need to examine the mutable mode and its associated
signs.But first:
TerrNc e Lrrrrp BnnerHER
I like to think of the action of the modes as a metaphor for our
breathing cycle:The cardinal phaseis like inhalation, where we sense
an upward surge of rushing air, seemingly moving into our head-it
keeps us from passingout and helps vitalize our body (being wide-
awakeand alert are cardinal-mode attributes).
Next comesthe fixed phase,that stillnesswhen we are momentarily
not really breathing. Actually, holding our breath (firlly possessingit)
createsmore of a static power than a gathering of energy.Hold it even
longer and that power becomesmore intense, with strong pressures
building inside. This soundslike the inner strength of the fixed mode.
(Interestingly,kids who are in a particularly stubborn mood havebeen
known to hold their breath when defring their parents.)
At last comes exhalation, that mutable phase in which we finally
ll releaseour breath and disperseits contentsback out into the world.
This is an act that completesthe cycleof respiration, and what we are
ii. releasingat this point hasbeen modified-it's not the sameoxygenwe
first took in, but is now carbon dioxide. Thus, a transitional exchange
ri1 has taken place-perfect symbolism for the mutable mode. Exhala-
tion also makes room in our lungs for a new supply of air to invigo-
rate us, allowing the cycleof respiration to repeat.
ll
I tal nature, although "mental" doesn't necessarilymean cerebral in a
li
i logic-minded sense.Sagittariusand Piscesare two signsthat live easily
Tnn Murenrn MooE
The mutable signs-Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces-weaken
the mighty resistancesthat fixed signs often put up to avoid being al-
tered. Solid structure startsto lose its form asthis processbegins.Life
is in a continuous stateof change,evenwhen there are periods where
there's a lull in the action. Every seasonmust come to an end. The
mutable mode has the task of breaking down forcesthat have already
peakedin expression,and that now need to be releasedand reformu-
lated. The concentratedenergiesof the fixed mode haveoften become
too crystallized-like a hardening of the arteries-to enhancethe vital
flow of the life force that was first animated by the cardinal signs.Mu-
tability thus plays a necessaryrole in redistributing this energy, and
preparing it for a future cycleof cardinal activity, just in time for the
arrival of a brand-newseasonof promise.
As fixed-mode energy begins to wind down, small changesoccur
that signala readinessfor adaptation.Mutable signsbecomethe agents
of consciousness that allow for this neededadjustment.They arehighly
alert regardingwhere and when such alterationsare required.Mutabil-
ity's greateststrength is its flexible opennessto change.Thesepliable
signsurge us to stayopen and adaptableto the various wayslife intro-
ducesus to new paths of self-knowledge.They also try to educateus
about life's multifacetednature. The mutable mode activatesour men-
tal curiosiry wherebywe sometimesare left with more questionsabout
life than ready answers.
Nothing is quite firm and absolute in the world of mutability, be-
causeeverything appearsto be in a transitory state,going from one
necessaryphaseto another.It's hard to feel settled about anything. It's
not even easyto have a clear direction in life, since nothing can be
taken for granted. Life is full of twists and turns, making long-range
planning tricky for strongly mutable types.
Mutable signsneed much variety to appealto their decidedlymen-

ll
ll
I
I
ilI
1l
Utr,rt,.,
l]l
 52 TheMutableMode
in their heads,yet they need grand ideasand visionary idealsthat in-
spire their collective hopes and dreams.In many ways,their interests
lie in envisioning unrealized potential and conceptualizinglife's pur-
pose in the broadest of terms. The other two mutable signs,Gemini
and Virgo, are more turned on by factsand figures,and by all concrete
matters that can be measured,tested,and confirmed as "real." They
are lessimpressedby ungrounded, abstractthought (although Gemini
is momentarily impressedby anything that soundsbrilliant, however
impractical). Still, all mutable signs are keenly observational-they
want to better understand how life works and how its many piecesfit
together.
This group is loaded with nervous energy that needsproper chan-
neling. They can be easily distracted by everything around them, al-
though earthy Virgo is self-disciplined enough to stay focused on
details and not mentally wander (even though disorder in its sur-
roundings quickly capturesits attention). It's good for mutable signs
not to be given too many options, sincethis leadsto indecisionor a
wasteful scatteringof mental energy-they can spreadthemselvestoo
thin by trying to tackle too many things at once. At the same time,
mutable signscannot tolerate monotony (although the earth in Virgo
can handle dull routines more easilythan the rest).Variety is the spice
of life for this mode.
With the pliability of the mutable mode comesa bonus: youthfirl-
ness.It seemssuch resiliency can keep us young at heart by putting a
little spring in our step,a little bounce in our beat. Mutable signscer-
tainly do not plod on, as if weighed down by gravity, but are light on
their feet.They seemto skip along life's path and tiptoe around heavy
predicaments (although watery Pisceshas to watch out for its attrac-
il tion to life-complicating, melodramatic scenarios).All fours signs
help us appear chronologically younger than we are (they even have
an aversionto aging). The mutable mode showsus that we can greatly
benefit from keeping our mind flexible and eagerto samplemore and
,il
tr
more from life, evenif only in small but digestiblebits.
Gemini is a mutable air sign. Air and mutability have much in
common, making this sign the winner of the group when it comesto
i,i
ll
il
ilil
rr,,,Ilil
TheMutableMode 53
expressingthe most obvious mutable traits. Air alreadylikes to move
about in many directions,unhamperedby time or structure. It doesn't
like feeling stale,which can happen when it staysstill for too long.
Mutability gives air plenty of opportunities for ventilation. Gemini
thus has mental equipment made for exploring a wide range of inter-
ests.It seeslittle reasonto restrain its appetitefor knowledge.Infor-
mation, no matter what kind, is stimulating for Gemini, who can
quickly scanthe environment and pick up newsyfactshere and there.
There'slittle that doesn'tinterest Gemini, at leastfor the moment. The
only problem is that the Twins can suffer from "info" overload,a case
where its head is crammed with an assortmentof data that may be too
trivial in content to be truly mind-expanding.
Still, Gemini will give anything that moves its short-lived atten-
tion-and doesit ever enjoy seeinglife in motion! There is a breezy
side to Gemini that keepsit from getting hung up about anything
that's too heavyin life, although it seeksto attain a generalknowledge
about such matters. Mutable air wants to cover a lot of intellectual
territory. In order to quickly get the gist of something,it'll skim the
surfacebefore moving on to something new. All in all, Gemini is
blessedwith a versatileintellectualcapacityfor studying a variety of
interestingsubjects.
Virgo is a mutable earth sign. While an apt fixed-earth image is a
compost heap (which takes a while to "cook" and decompose into
"black gold"-a rich, fertile soil with a concentrationof nutrients),
mutable earth soundsmore like sand,which is known for its ability to
shift and easilyreshapeitself. Sand is a more fluid form of earth, one
that is not all that solid to walk on. Virgo thus symbolizesan expres-
sion of earth that is able to yield readily to pressureand alter itself,
rather than firmly resist.Virgo can bend and adapt in practical ways,
while alwayslooking for simple solutions that work well. What's not
so simple is Virgot near obsessionwith exactlyhow everything in life
works, down to the finer, technical details. Mutability alwaysstimu-
Iates curiosity, while earth gives careful attention to life's nuts and
bolts. Therefore,Virgo excelsin organizing its specializedknowledge
of the more mundane facetsof living.
 54 TheMutableMode
Virgo likes to give attention to the small stuff in life, and wisely
knows that even big, complex machinery can come to a screeching
halt should nobody on the job notice one loose screw.Virgo, there-
fore, feelsits mission is to attend to the minor, often overlookedissues
of any project-it's an even keener observer than Gemini, due to
earth'sability to concentratepatiently on one thing at a time. (Virgo's
better at shutting out any unwanted distractions,unlessit's a dripping
faucet or a creakyfloor.) Here we have a bright but down-to-earth in-
tellect that seeksto get to the heart of any matter, without becoming
sidetrackedby nonessentialissues(which is something harder for the
I
remaining mutable signsto do).
iri
I
Sagittarius is a mutable fire sign. If you overlook the apparent
random destructivenessinvolved, a lightning-instigated, raging forest
I fire is a good metaphor for mutable fire. It's ablaze,triggeredby a bolt
I Scorpio'sintensity (especiallywhen outraged).Piscesis more a light
from the blue, that quickly spreadsfar and wide-a form of fire that
ii goesbeyond its original boundaries to covermore and more territory,
when left unchecked.(Actually, ecologistsnow know that Nature uses
spontaneousforest and brush fires to help invigorate the ecosystems
involved.) Sagittariuswants its own fires of inspiration to distribute
themselveswidely and to keep on spreading. Here, the enthusiastic
side of fire is most easily dispersed.Sagittarian warmth and hopefi.rl
optimism can uplift many people at once, which explains this sign's
urge to go out and greet the big world with its good news about life's
greatermeaning.
Sometimesmutability meansthat Sagittariusgetsa little too wide-
spreadregarding its sincerebeliefs-it suffers from too many sweep-
,ii ing generalizationsabout the big, important issuesof life. It naturally
: observesand theorizeson a large-scalebasis,and generouslyendows
the human experiencewith almost unlimited potential-particularly
in the areaof mind expansion.The fires of its vigorous intellect burn
i
brightly for this sign, but any contradictory details that crop up and
challengeone'sfaith is for another sign (Pisces)to fret over,not Sagit-
tarius. The Archer is convinced,with all the fiery self-assuranceit can
muster,that it's on the right track with its overall concepts-and that's
all it needsto know.
TheMutableMode 55
Piscesis a mutable water sign. Although Piscesis more emotional
than mental in temperament, it's also capable of grand, abstract
overviewsof life-it is the signmost receptiveto cosmologicaltheories
that attempt to unify all that existsunder one universallaw (evenmore
so than Sagittarius).Pisces'scopeof cosmic awarenesscan be vast and
profound, partly due to how well both our left-brain and right-brain
hemispherescan creativelyunite. This sign may not sharply analyzede-
tails, yet Pisceshas a knack for synthesizingmany diversefactors and
arriving at a better understandingof the whole picture of life, not just
its bits and pieces.As a mutable form of water,Piscesalsoemotionally
moistens everything it touches,like a gentle mist-not like the heavy
drenching common to the rushing waters of cardinal Cancer,or the
blast from a high-pressured hose that typically characterizesfixed
drizzlethan a torrent of rain.
Mutable water suggestsa feeling nature that is able to connectwith
life on a broad basis-emotional sensitivity is lesscontained (this is a
boundless,pervasiveexpressionof water). Piscesfeelswhat all of life
feels,a result of its mysticaltalent for linking with others in lessvisible
ways.AII the water signs are active on theseinvisible levelsof energy-
exchange,but Piscesseemsthe most unfettered in its ability to flow in
and out of the inner worlds of others. Mutability implies versatilitp
and when combined with empatheticwater,it meanspisceshasa uni-
versal understanding of humanity and can sensitively interact with
people from all walks of life. There must be a specialreasonwhy the
zodiac concludes with this mode-element combination, which cer-
tainly sounds more malleable and flowing in its life approach than
doesthe hard-headed,cardinal-fire mix that beganit all in Aries.
In chapter 3, the zodiac'sfirst six signswill be explored in greater
detail. Realizethat signs-like planets and houses-can be applied to
anything and everything that is a part of our existence,no matter how
mundane or trivial. Astrologers can spend a lifetime trying to deter-
mine what thosespecificassociationsmaybe-an important task,since
astrology is fundamentally a study of symbolic correspondences:i.e.,
Gemini "rules" motorbikes,Virgo "rules" the small intestine,Sagittarius
 56 TheMutableMode
"rules" the LasVegascasino mentality, and so on. Sincenot every ex-
isting or speculativeassociationcan be included in this or any other
astrology book, I will focus on the twelve signs more from a psycho- Chapter Three
logical, character-definingperspective,although not exclusivelyor de-
finitively so. From Aries
Well, it's time to turn the page and find out why Aries cannot wait
a minute longer to revealto us what it's really all about! to Virgo
Note
l. Each seasonconsistsofthree months, and each month appearsto reveal a
different mode's energy in operation. The first stageof a season,related to
the carilinal mode, expressesan energy pattern that describesthe initial
thrust or momentum that begins the season-it's a time when notable
changesstart to occur. A season'scardinal beginnings signal an active phase
when the new qualities ofthat seasonrush in. The changesin Nature can DrppnnENT STRoKES
seemlike dramatic turning points.
Whatever a seasonis primarily all about, its "cardinal" month and sign The zodiac's twelve signs are said to representpowerful archetypes
(starting at the equinox and solstice points of the year) reflect the energy- that are universalin theme. Perhapsthey've psychologicallyportrayed
generating display of that season'sdynamics-away with the old, worn-out
our human potential eversincethose earlytimes when our prehistoric
reminders of the previous season,and in with fresh energy that needsto be
released.The months and signs associatedwith the cardinal mode-starting ancestorsbeganto socially interact-probably ever sincethe day that
from the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere-are April (Aries), some smiley Libran cavedweller wasthe first to teacheveryonehow to
fuly (Cancer), October (Libra), and ]anuary (Capricorn).
Following this cardinal phaseis thefxed mode. The word "fixed" sounds
stop throwing rocks at eachother and instead play nice. It must have
like something is to stay put here for a while and not move. This second been a momentous occasion when Homo sapienslearned that there
stage(secondmonth) of any seasonis when fixed-mode energy is strong. As are at least two sidesto every relationship in life. Being human thus
the cardinal stagewanes-and thus a period of an initial flurry of activity
and change has diminished-the seasonsettles next into its most intense, becamemore complicated-what to decide on now rocks or hugs?
concentratedexpression. Although the signsmay have fundamental meaningsapplicableto
Any extreme conditions typical ofthat seasonare now evident during this
all of humankind, we need to keep in mind that our actualmodern-
time (such as summer's scorching heat waves and winter's blinding bliz-
zards). Nature is at its peak during this fixed phase.Actually changesoccur day experienceof each zodiacsign dependsa lot on our cultural back-
less often, since consistencyand stability reign (the days can seem almost ground and the historical times in which we live. Certain repressive
boringly similar to one another). The months and signs associatedwith the
erasand social environments may not allow various signstheir wider
fixed mode are May (Taurus),August (Leo), November (Scorpio), and Feb-
ruary (Aquarius). range of expression.Or when overglorified,some signsbecomedis-
The final phase belongs to the mutable mode. Here is when the season tortions oftheir true essence(think ofthe over-the-topArien aggres-
starts to get fickle, weather-wise,a time when nothing is all that predictable.
sion and violence shown during the fierce fighting days of Ghengis
Change is in the air, asthe seasonwinds down and, little by little, a transfor-
mation begins. Nature is in a state of transition. Those characteristicsthat Khan, who-as legend has it-was born clutching a clot of blood).
were so vividly present during its fixed phasenow start to lose steam,as the Perhapssome cultures are more naturally attuned than others to
steady pattern begins to break up and give way to the adjustments needed
for a brand-new seasonalexperienceduring the cardinal month, once again. the life processes
symbolizedby somesigns.Tibetanshavelong been
The months and seasonsassociatedwith the mutable mode are June (Gem- enthralled by the otherworldly, mystical realms of Pisces, while
ini), September(Virgo), December (Sagittarius),and March (Pisces).

57
 58 FromAriesto Virgo
ancient Egyptians were intensely fascinatedwith Scorpio'sworld of
the dead and the afterlife.
So, is each sign expressedthe same way around the globe?As-
trologers ideally assume'for example,that Virgo's traits will remain
intact for people everywhereon the planet-from Stockholm to
Bangkok to Tierra del Fuego.Theoretically,folks with their Sun in
Virgo who were born near the North Poleshould be just as picky and
detail-obsessed asthoseborn near the South Pole.Indeed,it doesap-
pear that Virgo still actslike Virgo for citizensfrom Down Under asit
does for people who hail from Chicago.We thus can say'with assur-
ance,that fastidiousVirgo has not-anywhere on this planet-myste-
riously transformed instead into an archetype of the superslob who
thrives on disorder! Likewise,we can consistently count on a certain
degreeof uniformity throughout the world regarding any sign'sbe-
havioral traits.
In various cultures, becauseof the social customs involved, some
signsmay be lessfree to be all that they can be, especiallythe fire signs
in those countries that have long had a tradition of keeping women
from showing their assertive,independent side-perhaps for fear that
they might directly competewith and outdo the men (the ones who
normally get to act out fire without impunity). Fire-signexpressionfor
such women may be muted and evenheavily projected onto the males
in their lives-and that's not a psychologicallyhealthy thing to do.
In contrast, nations that cherish and protect the personal free-
doms of its peoplepromote a more open expressionof both fire and
air-although, again, men can exhibit such traits without any prob-
lil lems while women have to be careful not to overdo it and intimidate
the easilythreatenedopposite sex (that's at least the social message
women get).
In cultures that place a high value on ai6 everyoneat least getsto
voice an opinion-air-sign expressiveness is seldom held back here.
Actually, people everywhereexercisetheir air-sign ability to a degree,
sinceeveryculture useslanguageto facilitate communication, plus so-
cietieshaveall devisedwaysto count (evenbartering requiresthe con-
I
iiil
FromAriesto Virgo 59
cept of numbers). In countries where accessto certain information is
forbidden by the ruling parties, or where illiteracy prevails, the ex-
panded potential of the air signs is impeded. The air in each of us
evolvesthe more we're free to know things; censorshipthus thwarts
air's natural development.
In heavily industrialized nations-where a pragmatic, materialis-
tic, even scientific intellect is highly prized-it's our water-sign expe-
rience that suffers. Water leans toward more mystical, magical,
gut-knowing waysof perceiving reality-ways all deemedby left-brain-
dominant authorities as "superstitious" irrationalities that threaten to
take us "back to the Dark Ages"if left uncheckedby the superior powers
of logic and reason.
Somecultures criticize too much introspective self-preoccupation
asa causeof antisocialbehavior or evenmental illness.Wanting to be
left alone with few social contacts (water signs crave solitude) is
looked on as odd and troublesome-society is quick to warn such
water types that they really need to "get out" more and mingle. Of
course,most people turn to television,movies, or novels to escape
into worlds of larger-than-life emotionality and melodralnx-n vis41-
ious way to safelyexperiencewater-sign intensities.
Earth signs seemto reflect the common experienceof all people,
but perhaps most so for those intimately bound to the land for their
sustenanceon a continuous basis.Less-sophisticated cultures,existing
in rural, jungle, or isolatedsettings,are highly attuned to the earth ele-
ment and know how to survive in this sometimesharsh and physically
taxing realm. Yet, if we live in countries where learning the ropes of
survival is lesscritical-since industry provides our basic needs-we
may be less in touch with the nurturing depths of the earth signs.
Earth, instead,takesthe form of manufacturedgoodswe'd like to own.
Becauseof suchlimited earth-elementcontact,we may not be self-
sufficient enough to know how to live off of the goods of the earth
while in the woods or the wilderness,if we had to. We also live more
insulated lives to avoid exposing ourselvesto Nature's raw elements
(evenour carscomewith their own climate-controltechnology).
 ll 60 FromAriesto Virgo
iil It seemsthat nobody getsto experiencethesetwelvesignsand their
modal-elementalenergiesin a firll-bodied or even a balancedmanner.
Nobody's a walking, well-adjusted,living archetypeof any sign! We'll
I
alwayshaveto grapplewith any perceptualdeficienciesbrought about
by collectiveforcesbeyond our control, or so it seems.Perhapsall this
I will changein the centuriesto come, so that more self-awaremen and
women will value the processesof all twelvesignsequallyand usethem
in more self-empoweringways.
''l
Still, it's so darn hard to erasethousandsof yearsof collectivepro-
gramming, especiallythat which involvestraditional genderroles.The
l good news is that evolutionary indicators suggestwe are ready to
shakeoff socialroles that have hamstrung our potential, as spiritual
,l human beings,to be much more than just the limited byproductsof
Il our short-sightedcultural conditioning.
Now let's look more closely at the dynamics of the first six signs,
keeping in mind that the following interpretations do not necessarily
reflect the traits of someoneborn with only the Sun in any of these
signs.They are more apt to reflect the temperament of individuals
who haveseveralplanetsin a particular sign-especiallythe Sun,Moon,
Mercury, Venus,or Mars.
l fear allows us the opportunity to activateour fiery essence,that spark
lr
lj
Aries 61
AnrBs
Partyof One
clyph:T
Symbol: The Ram
Mode: Cardinal
Element Fire
Planet Mars/CI
House:First
Motto:'I Am Me-You're Not!"
Full SpeedAhead
Of all the signsof the zodiac,Aries seemsto be the most desirousof
speed.Fire and air signsappreciatequick responsesin life, but being
cardinal and fire, Aries demands the fastestresults and can be quite
impatient when time seemsto drag. Aries has a very short attention
span,but that's okay,sinceit doesn't need a lot of time to react.Noth-
ing is mulled over in Aries'world-either it likes something or it
doesn't,either it will do something or it won't! This is a nearly instan-
taneousdecisionthat bypassescareful,analyticalevaluation.There's
no weighing of all sideswith Aries, and thus snap decisionsare fol-
lowed by forthright action. Actually, following gut impulse without
of spirit within.
Aries knows it's here to get something in motion, now, at this mo-
ment! All personal interestsare activatedby a single-minded drive to
satisfr self-will. Like a bullet, Aries ejects itself into its immediate
world to give whateverit targetsits best shot-and sometimesits only
riril 62 Aries Aries 63
ltl people,and then they'll never feel they own you," concludesAries. Ac-
shot-of adrenaline and self-starting power. Its impulse is to begin
new experienceswith an innocent kind of boldness that you won't tually this sign is not so well equipped to psychoanalyzethe motives of
,]
find anywhereelsein the zodiac-innocence basedpartly on Aries'in- others (that's Scorpio), yet it knows that the lesspeople involved in its
iir
ability or reluctanceto self-reflect.Being reflective can slow any sign act,the better.Then things will move fasterwith fewer obstaclesin the
1,r
i down-definitely not what the Ram wants to experience. way (people'sopposing needspulling at Aries becomesuch obstacles;.
rli Thus, Arien self-interestis strong, ongoing, and fairly obvious. Its All fires signs need a lot of room to grow, but Aries will fight for its
rll
1l initiative and enterpriseare to benefit itself, first and foremost,in ways own space,and won't take kindly to anyone who's too clingy or pos-
I

that often ignore,minimize, or dismissthe needsof others.How this sessive.It's not in Aries' nature to attach itself to others and thus lose
tl sign appliesits raw, uncultured power becomesits big lesson.Life will some of its vitality. Although it will energeticallyinteract with people
il
i teach Aries that it cannot live or act only for itself, nor will it be al- -and often competitively so-it doesn't want to own anyone or be
llt lowed to let others dominate its life. It needs to balance its energies owned by them. It wants eyeryoneelseto be asself-reliant as it is (this
ri
ti better.Developing a dynamic senseof personalidentity is a main con- sign would havea tough time being the codependenttype).
l cern for this sign. "Can I live life my way?"wonders Aries. Typically,
jrr War Games?
I the Ram doesn't feel it has a lot of time to be what it wants to be and
i to get to where it wants to go-cardinal Aries is certain it's "gotta get A classicimage of Aries is that of the warrior, all done up in red paint
I
moving" before someoneelsegetsthere first. and armed with spears,swords,piercing war cries,or whatever elseit
takesto look and sound fierce and dangerous.In real life, Aries is not
Il Don't Crowd Me all that angry or ready to do battle, plus today's world doesn't allow
ii, Until Taurus came on the scene,Aries was utterly 5s1s-gygn fs1 5e the Ram its destructiveoutbursts-those leading to physicalattacks-
;'il brief a moment-that it was the only archetypethat Creation had de- without suffering penalizing,legal repercussions.Besides,Aries is not
l signed for human consumption.'After all, what elsecould beat the innately bloodthirsty and out to kill. It's not psychologicallytwisted
I thrill of getting all fired up by a surge of self-seekingimpulse?" asks enough for that.
l
Aries. But even as the other signs soon began to multiply like rabbits One thing that doesget Aries to seered is being denied the right to
l
and then becamecurious asto how they could interplay with one an- act immediately on something when it's darn ready to. When Aries'
lfl other-especially thoselast six signs-Aries could nevererasefrom its energyis blocked by others,its instinct is to scratchand bite. Yet when
awarenessthe realization that, once upon a time, it was happily all by it's given the go-ahead to plunge into activity at its customarily vi-
1i
1i brant pace,there'sno problem. Aries then becomesan invigorating
itself, unfettered by any kind of energy-sucking relationship. There
rli
l was no one else to cater to. This archetype still likes to keep some influence that heatsup situations in just the right way.
healthy distancewhen creating partnerships-it's not a sign that is so While it's true that Aries is sometimesastesty asa hornet stuck on
i
much detachedasit is noncommittal. The Ram doesn'twant its spon- the wrong side of a screendoor, it doesn'tsustainits angerfor long.
t Nothing getsto linger inside Aries and slowly build pressure.Nothing
taneous fires snuffed out by demanding or needy types who either
lrl make all the rules or lay on heavy guilt trips. It also hatesto hear how festers.Aries hasa low tolerancefor such pressureand blows off steam
liiil
lrl selfishand"me, me, me" it can be. quickly. It can make an awfully noisy scenewhen riled, but then it'll
One way for Aries to avoid that kind of dreadedentanglementis to just quit flaring up when it's had enough action (even though that's
il; i do as much as it can as self-reliantly as possible."Don't ever lean on typically when its opponent is just getting started).
rl
i

il
rl
rll rl
 ,ll 64 Aries
Cardinal fire, not known for its stamina, often does better when
i
i releasingenergy in short but intense spurts, the kind that packs a
mean punch when needed.Astrologerseagerlytell clients with lots of
Aries in their charts to work off their energy surplus by exercisingor
stayingactive.Bewareof thosestronglyArien tFpeswho, oddly enough,
l are chronic couch potatoes-they could be human time bombs quietly
ticking away,and all it takesto trigger a big blowup is to dare yank that
l remote control awayfrom them!
Identify Yourself
ri
Aries needsto develop its own identity by putting its personal stamp
of individuality on everything it does.It wants to be left alone to dis-
cover its strengthson its own terms. This becomescritical for those
strong Arien types who have been raised in householdswhere they
were not permitted to just be themselves,evenif that meant being ir-
repressiblyloud and overactivelittle kids (especiallywith natal Mars
and/or Mercury in Aries).As Aries'natural inclination is to breakthe
rules, trying to conform to the standardconduct expectedofall "obe-
dient" children might havebeen a struggle.Aries, who'd rather gov-
ern its own behavior,will resort to a little head-butting when met
with opposition-it's not easilydisciplined by others and hatesbeing
supervised.
In later years,when we're more on our own, our Aries energies
make us wary about how much of ourselveswe'll let the world control.
We don't want to feel we belong to anybody-not a lover, a spouse,a
company,or even a religion-who then would havethe power to dic-
tate our movesand make decisionsfor us. Those are two surefireways
to make us feel we're losing our identity by becoming someoneelset
creation.Aries will make certain that things never get that far and one
way to prevent this is by not allowing for true intimacy-nobody gets
to seeAries'more I'ulnerable,emotional side.They insteadget to wit-
nessthe tough-as-nailsact, the bravado,the chip on the shoulder,and
the "I don't need you" routine-all protective Arien defensesused to
keep potential control freaksat arm's length.
Aries 65
Daredevil
To seeAries taking risky chanceshere and there is to wonder if this
sign has a secretdeath wish. It doesn't.It's just that Aries is sometimes
Iike a toddler who thinks nothing of running into noon-day traffic,
oblivious to its dangers.The child is simply caught up in the thrill of
energeticallyrushing aheadand is really paying attention to little else.
fuies also has a similar ability to block things out when focusedon an
immediate objective.It's very single-minded and determined when it
wantsto do something,€v€r if that somethingis pretending to be Spi-
der Man climbing up the Empire State Building. Strong Arien types
aregutsy (and reckless)enough to attempt going over NiagaraFallsin
a steelbarrel. Let's not forget that Aries is a very physically assertive
sign,but one that is not very protective of its body (unlike Thurus). It
is more driven by its fiery will to battle its fears and to prove itself to
be ever-courageousin action.
It indeed takes couragefor us to be ourselves,Aries-style,in a
world where becoming what others want us to be is insteadrewarded,
status-wise.When we play certain preapprovedsocial roles to perfec-
tion, never veering much from the script, society holds us in high
regard and allows us a secureposition in the world. We become up-
standing citizens who are worthy of even becoming role models for
others.Yet this all sounds too much like Capricorn, a cardinal-earth
sign that Aries has trouble relating to, probably becauseCapricorn is
so hung-up on glorifring authority (either by being one or bowing
down to one). The daringnessof Aries is not just reservedfor death-
defring stunts. It also comesin handy when trying to stand up against
a social systemthat tries to turn people into obedient sheep,not fight-
ing rams.Aries will defr authoritarian control in very personalterms.
It must be free to be itself!
It's probably a fact that many malcontent Ariens, during turbulent
historical times of political upheaval,haveclashedwith the dictatorial
powers in chargeand havelost their freedom (and even their heads).
Still, where would we be without such warriors ready to fight for an
individual's rights?Many planetsin Aries suggestfolks who won't toe
 66 Aries Aries 67
the line in order to climb the ladder of success,often much to their
Allby Myself
detriment-but at leastnobody owns their soul. Still, it's important to
Aries may be thrilled not to haveothers around who can slow things
know when to stop being so headstrongand insteadto submit to a few
down and keep mattersfrom being anything but spontaneous.Aries
of Capricorn'svirtues if we really want to be taken seriouslyby soci-
Iivesin the moment-and it can be a vigorously exciting moment-
ety-besides, earth doesn't alwayshaveto put out the flames of fire.
but once somebodyelseis involved (making it more of a Libra experi-
Simplicity ence),activity hasto be shared.Sharing,to Aries, meansthat someone
elseis going to butt in and try to exert their influence.Aries doesn't
Aries is not a simple-minded sign-and never let it hear you saythat!
like to realizethat others can have equally strong wills and can be just
Still, it doesbecome restlessand lessengagedwith things that are too
as pushy, or even aggressive,as Aries is in getting its needs met. So
involved or multifaceted.Details bore Aries, yet ignoring them can get
I sharing spacewith another is to risk losing autonomy and the power
I a sometimes ill-prepared Ram in hot water. However,Aries does see
I to makeone'sown decisions.
the value in keeping most matters in life as uncluttered as possible.
It just so happensthat Libra is Aries'opposite sign,and the one best
l Why overload experienceswith nonessentials?Aries is a little like
ableto provide the Ram with neededbalance(seechapter 5 for inter-
Virgo in this regard. Of course,it's hard to achievedepth-awareness
pretations of opposing signs).Inside Aries is latent Libra energy that
when we're unwilling to handle the complexities of being human.
needsto come out and expressitself. Aries tlpes don't recognizethis
Aries seesthings in black-and-whiteterms-nothing vague or am-
Libran quality in themselvesearly in life, but probably warm up to the
biguous:"Are you or areyou not a murderer?"barksthe Arien prose-
notion as time goeson-and as they realizethat without cooperation
cutor. "Well, 1l€S. . . I guessI am . . . but that dirty cockroach had it
and a showing of considerationfor others,Aries getsnowhere . . . fastl
coming-they can make you quite sick, you know," timidly explains
Still, Aries cannot affiordto becometoo relationship-dependentor
Virgo. Hmmm . . . Aries obviously doesn't deal well with certain sub-
to even let others alwayshave their way. Never being allowed to take
tle distinctions.
the initiative in personalmatters can eventuallyleavethe Ram boiling
Nonetheless,Aries has an ability to get right to the heart of any
inside with anger and self-disgust.This sign psychologicallymust call
matter. "What are we basicallytrying to accomplish here?"asksAries,
the shots rather than acquiesceto others.Those of us with a natal
who then goesabout doing it. WhereverAries is in our chart, itt best
Aries emphasiswould do well to be self-directive,meaning we need to
not to beat around the bush too much. Decisiveaction is needed,once
think twice before letting others in on our pet projects-even highly
we view our situation in simpler terms, without throwing in extrane-
competent people.Aries has a built-in senseof life as an ongoing
ous considerations.That helps us becomemore clearabout what ac-
struggle,but the Ram also realizesthat its physical and psychological
tion needs to be taken. Real life doesn't always accommodate this
muscleswill strengthenonce it allows itself to make more of an effort
"keep things simple" approach, but Aries doesn't work as well when
to attain its goalsindependently.
boggeddown by too many unnecessaryroadblocks,nor doesit like to
take detours due to the complicated affairs of others. Its solution: Quality time alone is vital for Aries types.It's atl right to indulge in
that Arien "loner" streakfrom time to time and do things that dodt re-
Don't obligate yourself to people or let them interfere with your per-
quire another'sinvolvement.(fogging while wearing headphones,dan-
sonal plans of action. Wing it alone if you can.
gerous as it can be during peak traffic hours, is probably a delicious
 'iil 68 Aries : Aries 69

here-and-nowrisks to get what we want. If we make a few Arien mis-

tiii
experiencefor Aries-one that combinesrunning fast,sweatinghard,
and shutting out the externalworld by listening to blaring music with takesalong the way-maybe we're too impulsive and headstrong in
a driving beat.) It is hoped that the Ram will use any quality time action-life allows us to start again without much ado. (That's cer-

ltii alone to understand why it was blessedwith an abundanceof energy,

backedby a strong will to achieve.With Aries, we are to learn what we
can do on our own, once we fearlesslytake that first step.
tainly not the caseonce we get to Libra, a sign that teachesus much
about the consequencesof actions.)Aries attempts to do the impossi-
ble, whether it succeedsor not. It alwayswants to feel victorious, but
llil more importantly, it never wants to back down from a chanceto do
ABlast of Mars things within its grasp.However,Aries won't really know what can or

]ii The planet associatedwith Aries is Mars, known for its spunky self-as-
sertiveness.Fiery Mars is loaded with a burning drive to triumph in its
endeavorswithout outside help. It likes to find out what it can accom-
plish on its own, similar to Aries. Both planet and sign need to be en-
ergetically doing things, as inactivity can be vitality-depleting for
them. Mars is a self-focusedplanet and thus appropriately represents
the "me-first" side of Aries. Like the Ram, Mars won't lean on others
for support, but will strike out on its own to confront challengeswith
courage.It can be assingle-minded in its pursuits asAries can.
However,strong Mars types aren't as innocently naive about their
potential strengthsasis Aries, who can be a bit foolhardy when assert-
cannot be done until it takesthe plunge. This uncertainty is, in itself,
motivating.At work here is Aries'blind self-trustand its innate "can
do" attitude, two things that pavethe way for the Ram'sultimate suc-
cess.Where Aries is in our chart, let's plow through any doubts and
fears,and come alive in the Now!
Fe.rvrousAnrns Tvprs (natalAries placementslisted)
Marlon Brando, actor: Sun,Moon, Mercury
Gloria Steinem,writer-editor: Sun, Mars, Uranus
GregoryPeck,actor: Sun,Mercury, |upiter
Mnya Angelou,poet-writer: Sun,|upiter, Uranus
JosephCampbell, mythologist-writer: Sun, Mercury, Iupiter, Mars

il.lil
ing itself. The Ram is spontaneously daring becauseit is typically Diana Ross,singer:Sun, Mercury
blind to the consequences involved in plunging into risky enterprises-
it just wants to ignite immediate action.Mars is better equippedto bat-
tle life because,while awareof the dangersinvolved,it is determinedto
fight to the end (its symbol d showsthat it alreadycomesarmed with
its sword and shield).Both planet and sign are self-willed in action, yet
Mars is more capableof satisfring its desiresdue to its greaterstaying
power-it's determined to succeedat all costs,while Aries is prone to
move on to somethingnew beforefinishing what it had oncevigorously
started.The Ram is sometimestoo cardinal-too impulsive and lacking
in strategy-to suit the needsof Martian ambition and desire.

ClosingComments
Aries motivates us to test our inner strengths when facing life chal-
lengesthat require our undivided attention for the moment-times
when we are encouragedto put all our eggsin one basket and take

lIi
 70 Taurus - Taurus 7l

/, l\
all that wild, fiery energy ready to burst at the seams;that is, once the
-\J--'-F. A\
:Y*\ttl Bull has lovingly added a little fertilizer to its basic soil mix-that
t l-l r-l \ -l
' I\JU' T

t I - a^ t\
richly organic, earthy-smelling stuff really helps all things take root.
lt.t/Y\
ltl\ttnl The life spark in Aries establishesa more settled,stableenvironment
,a- -\\ \ t -
in which to materializein concreteterms.
/,
Thurusis a fixed-earth sign,suggestinga double doseof stability-
Teunus something the zodiac apparently needed,soon after its combustible
The ComfortZone Aries stage,before it could sensiblydiversifr. Fixed energy isn't going
anywhere,at leastnot until it has pulled together and organizedall its
clyph: U resources.In addition, methodical earth likes to takes its time when
Symbol:TheBull building supportive structures that ensure durability. Thus, Taurus
Mode: Fixed has little trouble planting its hooves on the ground and firmly con-
Element Earth nectingwith the world of matter-a tangible substanceit knows it can
Planel Venus/9 count on to not rapidly changein form. Matter is appealingly solid
House:Second and predictable to Thurus, a sign that needsto feel safelyenclosedby
protective and evenpermanent boundaries.
Motto: "It's Mine, Once lt's on Sale!"

Don't Push Me
On Steady Ground
Taurus' reputation for being slow and deliberatemay be the result of
It seemsa bit odd that the speediestsign of the zodiac (Aries) is im-
the Bull's cautious reaction to anything that rushestoward it. Taurus
mediately followed by the slowest,Taurus-talk about slamming on
doesn'tlike having things that demand immediate action thrust in its
the brakes!Actually,the Bull's reputation asa slowpokeis exaggerated,
face.To suit this sign temperamentally,new conditions haveto easeon
especiallyif "slowness"is to be deemedundesirable (like a slow day at
in at a more relaxedpace.There needsto be enough time to consider
the office). We should appreciate what the Cosmos had in mind at
issuescarefi.rlly.Having slower reflexes than Aries-and what sign
that pivotal moment when it decided,'Aries is great,but life needs
doesn't?-Taurus is not very jumpy in disposition. It's also not as
more options!" Once word got out that there were more openings
quick to act on impulse-unless it's feeling hunger pangs.
available,Taurus-surprisingly the first archetype on line-patiently
Like Aries, Thurus has strong, instinct-driven desiresthat seeksat-
waited to be picked. Hmmm . . . the Bull was apparently not all that
isfaction in very personal ways. However, the Bull will first sensibly
slow way back then. As Thurus has alwaysbeen good at quickly spot-
sizeup any current situation before expending its energy.It is smart
ting the best seatin the house to plop down in, here it somehowknew
about conserving its strength and won't waste its vitality on activity
that being the secondsign of the zodiacwould be one cushy position
that it doesn'tvalue.Although lessapt to first analyzeconditions log!
that it just had to have!
cally,Thurus usesits powerful instincts and common senseto allow it
Considering only thesetwo emerging signs,we seethat Aries first
to get a better feel for the generaltone of a circumstance.It wants to
whips up a firestorm of activity-sending seedsof vital, germinating
know, before making an effort, what actionswill best lead to satisfring
energy flying every which way-and then Thurus enjoyably contains
 72 Thurus
results.Its comfort zone must alwaysbe honored if Taurus is to coop-
eratewith any unfoldment of events.
Should Taurus appear to be slow or lazy about taking action, it's
also because it often unconsciously waits for the right-even the
ripest-moment in which to invest its energies.The Bull has an un-
canny senseof practical timing in most mundane affairs, especially
when it comesto getting good dealson purchase5-fig1s, its tendenry
to hold back from taking action, until a later date,often paysoff.
There'sa big differencebetweenwaiting to take advantageof opti-
mal timing versus plain of immobility-refusing to budge for less-
sensiblereasons.Taurus can be entrenched in its familiar worlds of
habit and routine, to the point of being stuck in a rut. That's when the
Bull's inner stillnessturns to stagnation.It's at times like this that Tau-
rus will stubbornly refuseto be pushed into taking action, at leastnot
until it's darn ready,and that could be never!
Gentle Treatment
Part of Taurus' need for comfort stems from its capacity to receive
sensorypleasurefrom its surroundings. The gratification of the phys-
ical sensesis vital to this sign, and not necessarilyfor hedonistic rea-
sons. Pleasing our five sensesis one way to develop them further.
(Children deprived of adequatesensorystimulation during their for-
mative years often become emotionally flat in their responseto life
later asadults-very little fills them with delight.) By respondingto its
own sensualurges,Taurus learns much about the waysof the natural
world. Touching,tasting, hearing, smelling, and seeingall help Thurus
appreciatelife on its most basic, physical level. Unfazed by abstract,
theoretical conceptsthat seem far removed from real-world experi-
ence,Taurus instead wants to appeaseits earthy appetitesregarding
the more concrete,here-and-now matters of the flesh.
It's in Taurus that we first senselife's softer, maternal side-after
1
all, this is the sign of "Mother lrJ41s1s"-although mothering themes
are more explicitly realizedin emotional terms in the water sign Can-
cer.Along with Taurus'protective instinct to insulate comes a gentle,
peace-lovingdisposition.This sign hasa natural talent for being sooth-
Thurus 73
ing. It knows how to relax and unwind bodily tension. It can settle
down into more tranquil statesof consciousness that alsohavea calm-
ing effect on its surroundings. Energy becomesevenly modulated and
applied in steady,reliable ways.
All this sounds lovely-and what a contrast we havehere from all
that driving fire of ever-activeAries-yet this observablyserenequal-
ity may mask a less desirable passivity that keeps Taurus from ever
growing beyond its accustomedways of being. Its sensescan become
dulled from too much monotony in life or perhaps gorged from too
much self-pleasuring.Taurean types can feel too much at easewith
their lack of dynamic expressionin life, as their low levelsof activity
become bad habits not easilybroken. It may all look "laid back" and
restfi.rlon the surface,but the Bull may sadlybe vegetating.Suchfolks
need to be careful not to resist making even moderateschangesthat
could bring in neededfresh energy (there'sa good reasonwhy Gemini
must follow Taurus-Gemini will never let us get stuck in mindless,
habitual routine).
BrickbyBrick
A Taurean emphasisin our chart means we are to learn to ground
ourselvesin worldly reality.No other sign acceptsthe terms of the ma-
terial realm as well as Thurus, an archetype very much in harmony
with Nature. Fixity symbolizesenergy that is purposefully applied in
steadfastways.Earth is the element that dealswith practical, tangible
issuesin the here and now. Patient planning plays a role in our suc-
cessfuloutcomes in life. Nothing unfolds quickly here. It will take a
while to capitalizeon our raw talents and to amassresources'but the
Thurus factor within us can wait for the tide to roll in-which is
something that Aries has great diffrculty doing.
This earth sign'smain objective is to stabilize conditions by care-
fully building, brick by brick, frameworks of security that will prove
everlasting (although life upsets even the best-laid plans, now and
then). Taurusis very hard-working, not just pleasure-seeking. It has
the stamina and focus neededto plod on. It refusesto quit any project
until all is satisfactorily completed. Once committed-this is a sign
 74 Taurus
that isn't afraid to make commitments-the Bull will carefully orga-
nize itself so that any job at hand is effectivelyaccomplished.Method-
ical in its approach,it can be a little too fixated on its habitual waysof
getting things done (it rarely deviates).Taurus is not looking for a
wide range of options; that's more an interest of the next sign,Gemini.
Becauseit knows it will finish whatever it starts-unlike Aries,
who tends to abort labor-intensive missions without warning-Tau-
rus hatesto be pressuredor forced to do things it really doesrt'tenjoy.
That's basically becauseThurus knows it will nonethelessput much
energy into even those projects it finds unappealing, if they must be
done. It doesn'tjump ship.The Bull alsowon't do a careless,messyjob
(its aestheticsensibilitiesare strong), nor will it leavethings half-fin-
ished. Becauseof this, Taurus is wary of obligating itself to others.
Deep down inside, it feels everyone should strive to be as self-suffr-
cient as it is. Thurus tries to take care of its own tangible needsin the
material world and thereforeleanson no one.
Of GreatValue
One critical theme of Thurus in modern astrology is the cultivation of
self-value.The more Taurus is emphasizedin our chart, the more
pressingit becomesfor us to establisha personalsenseof worth-
something that is not to come from externalsources,such aswealth or
a prestigioustitle. Nobody can give us what we'll needto best appreci-
ate ourselves.It hasto come from deeper,subjectiveparts of ourselves
for it to feel truly valuable to us. Of course, once we've established
such inner worth, nobody can take it away-we've earned it.
It makessensethat self-worth is something of which Taurus needs
to havetotal control,like everythingelsein its life. Both Aries and Thu-
rus instinctivelypush off the influence of others,seeingit asinterfering
with their desireto be self-directed.Taurusis more independentin ac-
tion than traditional astrologyhasled us to believe,althoughsometimes
bullheadedness may result.Still, a strongsenseof seH-appreciation
helps
this sign feel good about itself and its actionstaken in life.
With our self-valueintact, we can emanatewarm feelingsof inner
satisfaction. Perhaps no other sign experiencesself-contentment as
Taurus 75
deeply as doesTaurus, especiallywhen everything on a material level
is working out-in other words, when the Bull is feeling rewarded for
living in sync with the rhythms of the natural world. Working hard
and then being paid well is evidencefor Taurus that it is, indeed,in
harmony with life. Stayinghealthy is another indicator.
The Bull's needs are fairly simple, although perhaps unsophisti-
cated.It doesn't require a life of glamour and glitz (or not even great
wealth) to be at peacewith itself. Its appetitesare certainly not insa-
tiable nor a sourceof internal suffering (that's more the caseof its op-
posite sign, Scorpio). Thurus is blessedin knowing exactlywhat it
wants and needsto be happy.Not many other signs-especially those
alwayshungering for newer and more challenging experiences-can
claim that, since they are rarely satisfiedwith the status quo of their
lives.But not Taurus,a sign that doestake the time to both plant and
smellthe roses.
Basic Instinct
By the time we get to Pisces-the zodiac'scrowning achievement-we
are ready to understand how "Believing is seeing."But Thurus is sure
it's the other way around. It likes to think that it alwayshas its feet on
the ground and its eyeswide open when it comesto reality,and thus it
cannot be easilyfooled by illusion. Like Aries, Thurus typically accepts
or rejectsthings at facevalue. It's not inclined to dig deeperin search
of hidden complexitiesin life-either something existsor it doesnt.
Thurus is especiallysold on its initial perceptionsof people and sit-
uations, those basedmainly on surfaceevidenceor the "facts" as they
appear (rather than on intuitive hunches,sinceat this early stageof
the zodiac,real intuition technically doesn't exist, although powerful,
animal instinct does).Once it has an imageof somethingor someone
firmly planted in its head,the Bull won't easilybe swayedby any up-
dated evidenceto the contrary. It sticksto its first impressions.
Muybe Taurus is not intuitive in a Sagittarian,Aquarian, or even
Pisceansense(three signsthat can tune in to high-frequency energies
at times). Yet becausethe zodiac'sfirst two signsare more primal in
their instincts, Taurus can tell on a gut level when something just
 76 Taurus
doesn't feel right. This is certainly not an analytical assessmentor one
that can even be articulated, but it's probably an awareness-shared
throughout the animal kingdom-that keepsthe Bull ever on the alert
regarding potential threat or danger.
Taurus getsa "vibe" about something, won't take time to evaluate
it, doesn't even need to know why that "something" feels off-the-
beam, but protectively reactsbasedon what it feels,nonetheless.This
can lead to instant likes and dislikes of people and things. It may not
seemrational at times, but Taurus will hold tight to its initial feelings.
The Bull usually benefits by heeding such strong but seemingly irra-
tional instincts, yet at times it will need to learn the wisdom of alter-
ing such first impressions,as new "facts" present themselvesin ways
that would be foolish to doubt. Even then, something inside the Bull
doesn'twant to adjust,at leastnot until enoughtime haspassed.
Territorial Critter
Taurus is keenly aware of what it owns, since the things it possesses
becomestrong emotional attachments-even thosethat havegreatre-
salevalue. The Bull knows its territory well becauseit carefully creates
clearboundary lines. (Heck,it's the sign that first thought of putting
up fencesto keep intruders out.) Taurus knows exactly what belongs
to it-even where it belongs-and is never vague or confused in this
regard. It'll stake a film claim to something and will not easily part
with it.
Never give heavily Thurean folks nice gifts and then dare to take
them back-that will just bring out the hidden "raging bull" factor in
this sign. Thurus takesits possessionsseriouslyand expectsto keep all
the goodiesthat life givesit. One big problem here occurs when that
"possession" happensto be a person,not an object.However,correc-
tive help arrives five signs later, as Libra works to adjust that kind of
faulty attitude. (Taurus quincunxes Libra, meaning that these two
Venus signs have notably different perspectiveson relationships. See
chapter8.)
BecauseTaurusfeelsso attachedto things, and becauseits nature
is to preservewhateveris of true worth, we can expectthis sign to take
Taurus 77
good careof what it owns. It will naturally feel responsiblefor main-
taining its goods as a way to extend their worth (although it's not as
fastidious about this as Virgo, the efficiency expert of the zodiac). A
problem Tauruswill somedayfaceis that it cannot hold on to its cher-
ished goods forever-things eventually break or permanently mal-
function. The Bull hates when that happens,but at least it's not as
emotionally wrapped up in its attachmentsas is the water sign Cancer
(the one more apt to be devastatedby untimely losses).Taurus is
practical enough to realizethat newer (and maybe improved) mater-
ial items can replacethat old junk it lovesto hang on to so much, but
can learn to live without if it must. Its inclination, though, is to at-
tempt to keep it all.
It also may help if Taurus understands,metaphysically,that it re-
ally owns nothing-it's just borrowing the physical items it needsat
different stagesof its growth. The underlying energy patterns that
give form to theseitems need to be recycledat a later date-a job for
the mighty Cosmosto perform (who assignsthis task to Pisces).Of
course,there is little about the Bull's psychologythat will openly ac-
cept this notion, sincepersonalownershipseemsso real and perma-
nent to Thurus.Still, evolutionary forceswill teachThureantypes-the
hard way-that it's good to enjoy what we have for now, but then
freely let it go when the time is right. After all, there will alwaysbe new
possessions to take the placeof those with which the Bull now happily
surrounds itself.
Venuswithout Frills
The planet associatedwith Thurus is Venus,although someastrologers
think this earth sign is too unrefined and unyielding to be represented
by a planet long known for its gracefulnessand its spirit of coopera-
tion. Venuswill bend over backwardsto accommodatesftrgl5-5sms-
times for opportunistic reasons-yet stubborn Taurus often won't
give an inch in relationships if it feelspressuredor used.Venus often
vacillates-basically becauseit looks for solutions that will please
everyone-while Thurus has little trouble deciding that it will at least
pleaseitself (of course,neither Venusnor Thuruslike to be rushed).
 78 Taurus Taurus 79

The Bull may have too many utilitarian traits to suit those who view
Venusas cultured, aesthetic,and desirousof living a life of refinement
(which can get expensivein waysthat turn off frugal Taurus).
Obviously it's the earthy-rather than airy-side of Venus that
better fits less-polishedTaurus.This is an aspectof Venuslesssuscep-
tible to socially programmed behavior. Venus loves the pleasuresof
the flesh, and Taurus has strong, sensualappetites.Both planet and
sign seek bodily gratification. Taurus certainly is calm and gentle
enough to evoke the relaxing, soothing qualities of Venus.Each loves
giving and receiving affection, as physical closenessis important to
both. Earthy Venus also is as beauty-consciousregarding form as is
Taurus, but it appreciatesa less idealized kind of beauty, one that's
more rooted in the natural world. Both Taurus and Venus seekhar-
mony in their environment and are usually even-tempered.
need to recognizewhen forms have outgrown their purpose and are
no longer useful, sincethat's when they start to becomeburdensome.
Feuous Tlunus Tvpes (natalTaurusplacementslisted)
Andre Agassi,tennispro: Sun, Mercury, Saturn
actress:Sun,Venus,Mars, Uranus
Glenila I aclcson,
Lib erace,pianist: S:un,MercurY,Mars
Katharine Hepburn, actress.'Sun, Moon, Mercury
Karl Mar x, philo sopher: Sun, Moon, Venus,North Node
Lange,Actress:Sun,Mercury,Venus
Jessica

ClosingComments
Taurus enablesus to contain our vital energiesto the point whereby
an inner strength develops,which is something that can help us feel
securelyanchored in the world. We'll learn that somemeasureof self-
discipline and emotional control helps this processalong.We Taurean
types are here to both consolidateour assetsand make practical useof
them in the mundane world. We're here to recognizeand developany
raw talents and find practical ways to materially sustain ourselves
through them. It is typically where our Taurus is in our chart that
we'll want to be remunerated on some level for our efforts (not just
monetarily). We cant keep on giving and giving without getting back
something solid in return. We need to feel rewardedfor our efforts.
Although seeking gratification, Taurus can also delay satisfaction
until the timing is just right-this is something impatient Aries will
not readily do. There will be other human experiences,representedby
the upcoming signs,whose successwill require the Taureanability to
wait, be still, and remain calm before taking action (especiallysince
life gets more complex the further into the zodiac processwe get).
Thurus has a gift for turning energy into viable forms. Still, we will

Gemini
GEvrrNr
Twofor theRoad
clyph:tr
Symbol: The Twins
Mode: Mutable
Element: Air
Planet: Mercury/V
House: Third
Motto: "I'm Interested,So Let's Thlk about It SomeMore!"
Wind Gusts
It seemsevery time the Cosmoscomesup with a fresh concept-em-
bodied in a new sign-it can't help but boast,"Now there'sa needed
improvement!" Life hasbiologically functioned for eonson this planet
by running exclusivelyon raw Arien and Thureanenergies-two signs
blessedwith savry,animal instinct. Their main concern is self-preser-
vation: the survival of the fittest-or even of the fattest,where food-
worshipping Thurus is concerned.As long as their basic "me-first"
needsare provided, thesetwo signs are satisfied.The ever-wiseCos-
mos knew that the zodiac still had to include more options to make
human life interesting. Hmmm . . . how about some brainpower?
While all signsoffer us their native intelligence,what Gemini brings to
our awarenessis quite unlike what has alreadymanifestedthus far.
Staying alive involves a lot of little things we must learn to do re-
peatedly.Instinct is great,but it can't really plan aheador analyzepast
mistakes.Simple, organizedthought becomesthe key to accomplish-
ing life's necessarytasks on a day-to-day basis.Observing causeand
effect in action-and taking mental notes-he$s us learn how to un-
= Gemini 8l
derstandthings better. It seemsthat in the astrologicalschemeof life,
Gemini hasto follow Thurus if we are really to get anywhere,mentally
and even literally, since Gemini was born knowing how to drive and
usea cell phone at the sametime!
Apparently, Gemini-showing an interest in being the zodiac's
third sign-knew just how to catch the Cosmos'attention and sell it-
self by coming up with its own little gimmick talking Twins-two
minds for the price of one.What a novel idea-mental energysplit in
half, with both sidesequally stimulated but headedoffin opposite di-
rections.This clevertrick was something that neither the Ram nor the
Bull could ever concoct,yet coming up with smart ideasis essentially
what the Twins are all about. Being both mutable and airy, Gemini is
the most adaptablesign of the zodiac. It's like the wind in a playful
mood, with air currents changing their speedand direction at whim,
from a light, refreshing breeze to a sudden, mischievous gust-the
kind that lovesto scatterimportant papersall over the place.
Off Course
Mutable air has little of the driving force of Aries or the physical sta-
mina of Taurus. Lacking the impetus and focus neededto push hard
in any one direction, Gemini follows no fixed course of action. Aries
energy first propels itself outward into life and assumesit will never
stop rushing forward. But then Taurus slows things down-it even
stalls for time-so that it can gather its power and build on itself fur-
ther, until its foundation is rock solid. And now, in airy Gemini, mu-
table energy decides to take a few experimental detours by sharply
moving sideways,or diagonally, or in any direction that allows it to
view life from different angles.
By the time Gemini came onboard, Thurus was alreadybecoming
oppressivelypredictable, since it's a sign that rarely ventures off the
{
!i
beaten path (the Bull is seldom ready to face life's unknowns). En-
t
trenched habits, although they keep things safe and stable up to a
{ point, eventually become tedious due to a lack of variety-same old
stuff! Yet life thrives on unpredictable change,even if in only minor,
transitory ways.Gemini's function is to keep energyin a variable state
 82 Gemini
so that nothing grows stale or limits us. The Twins open the door to
refreshing activities that deviate from Nature's establishedpatterns,
and this helps quicken evolutionary progress.
Besidesmoving sideways-an urge perhaps triggered by momen-
tary distraction-Gemini is also eagerto rise into the air and spread
itself over an expanseof local space.This sign will elevate beyond
ground level in order to scan a wider territory, one that offers a
broader view of things. Gemini is lesslocked in by the densebound-
aries that Taurus has structured, plus it can rekindle the flames of ad-
venture in Aries (Gemini and Aries feedeachother in complementary
ways). Thurus may feel unsettled with the TWins'apparent lack of di-
rection, purpose, and staying power, but Aries sensesthat Gemini
helps life branch out further in waysthat require fiery vitality. Gemini
is willing to explore the unfamiliat somethingthat excitesAries. How-
ever, to offset Arien intensity and Thurean heaviness,Gemini intro-
duces a little needed lightness (we can thank Gemini for allowing
biscuits in the oven to rise and turn out flufff). Perhapsthe secretto
stayinglight and airy is to get things offour chestby talking about our
problems, Gemini-style,before stressgetsthe best of us.
CanWeTalk?
Gemini probably started out talking to itself first in order to practice
the art of gab (besides,it couldn't get much out of tight-lipped Thu-
rus-and Aries, naturally,was more action than talk). The Twins soon
realizedthat mere chatter transforms into real communication once a
creativeexchangeof ideasis involved. Gemini is thus astrology'sfirst
sign of social dialogue. Here is symbolized a lively interplay between
minds that seldom seeissuesthe sameway. Gemini enjoys the con-
trasts and contradictions in life that provide us with different waysto
look at anything. The first two signs of the zodiac see this new air
trend as somewhatof a complication, since single-mindednessis now
no longer the only way to tackle life. Gemini refusesto overconcen-
trate its energieson any one interest, especiallysince casuallyspread-
ing itself all over the placeis much more satisfring.
Gemini 83
However, at this early stageof communication-which is not as
refined a processas it will later become-Gemini is more prone to
talk at someone than talk with someonein any kind of a balanced,
give-and-takemanner. The first three signsof the zodiac are still very
"me-oriented"in attitude.Gemini, obviouslyenthusedand charmed
by its clever ideas,tends to talk too much and unwittingly hog the
conversation,although entertainingly so.It's a sign that needsto real-
ize how much can be learned about life and people by simplybeing a
good listener (something Libra is skillful at doing). Otherwise, Gem-
ini becomesmuch too stimulated by the workings of its own active
mind, and when all this is verbally expressed,everyoneelseeventually
becomesbored-not so much with the information the TWinsdeliver
as with their style of delivery: nonstop yak yak yak! Who can get a
word in edgewisewhen Gemini's mind and mouth are going strong?
It would seemthat Gemini, delightful as it can be, expressesthe
mentality we seein toddlers who are learning languageand using
words for the first time. They babble on as they dart quickly from
topic to topic, while never pausing to reflect. Of typical interest to a
young mind is'*hy" things are the way they are.Gemini is highly cu-
rious about the "whys" behind the "whats" in life. It quickly notes how
one thing in life can link to another (Gemini can happily spend a life-
time observingor evencreatingsuch connections).Its flexible mind is
one reasonwhy Gemini staysso youthful. Wherever Gemini is found
in our chart, we need to keep from becoming too serious and too
adultlike in our disposition, if doing so means becoming stiff and
unimaginative in our ways.Instead we need to loosen up, remain pli-
able,and forever be willing to try out new ideas,even if for only short
periodsof time.
SkimmingtheSurface
So far, the first three signsof the zodiac seemcomfortable living in the
here-and-nowworld. They deal consciouslyin the presentand oper-
ate directly on the surfaceof life. Although Gemini introduces a mul-
tilevel way of viewing reality, none of thesesignsare truly complex in
their makeup (things get much more complicated for the zodiac'slast
 84 Gemini
six signs).Gemini's orientation is a major departure from the strongly
instinctual ways in which Aries and Taurus relate to the physical
world. It's also the first sign whose image involves human figures,in-
steadof an animal. The Twins could have aptly been portrayed astwo
chattering magpies,but the human element depicted here instead is
intentional and significant.It suggeststhat Gemini symbolizesa hand-
ful of charactertraits that are only to be found in people,eventhough
all of life's creatureshave ways of communicating with one another.
One of those human traits is humor, especiallyof the witty variety.
Gemini likes poking fun at everydaylife.
Also, what Gemini adds to the communication process-some-
thing more than just grunts, whistles,and body signals-is the ability
to reason. Logic and reason have long been deemed as distinctly
human skills,although someresearchers suspectthat certain mammals
(such as apes,elephants,and even dolphins) may sharetheseabilities,
at leaston a simple level.Reason,alone,ideally helpsus learn from our
mistakes,as we evaluateour actions and seek explanationsfor what
went wrong. Our thinking may not really be all that logical, but we do
want to know how to avoid repeatingunpleasantexperiences.
Gemini teachesus to study the outcome of actionstaken by others
and then learn from their situations. Gemini is smart enough to real-
ize that it doesn't have to undergo such events firsthand to benefit
from any knowledge gained. Let old Aries and Taurus play the role of
crash-testdummies-learning things the hard way-while the TWins,
cool and collected,stand back and take mental notes on what results.
Always a quick study, Gemini is ever-curious about how things
work, as long as the details involved are not too grueling. Air usually
prefers to have a clear, concise,overall picture of something rather
than to be given precise, blow-by-blow descriptions (which are of
more interestto Virgo). "Keep all answersshort and to the point, since
we have a lot to cover,"advisesGemini, even though this sign does
have its own windy dayswhen it becomesmuch too talkative. For the
most part, Gemini doesn't careto get too deeply into anything. That's
not its function. It can be brilliant, yet seldom is it profound. Com-
Gemini 85
fortable with trivid but fascinatinginformation, Gemini doesn'tdelve
into life's more imponderable issues.Obviously, its intellect can be
glib, and quite bright, but a tad superficial.Intellectual breadth is not
its forte. However, the Twins enjoy every minute of observing their
world from lessintensemental perspectives.
What Am I Feeling?
"If you have to ask, something'swrong!" saysCancer,the water sign
that follows Gemini. Water signs typically know what they're feeling,
even when they are not in touch with why they are in the mood
they're in. When Gemini,like all air signs,feelsa little emotion stirring
within, it quickly wants to take its feelingsapart to figure them out-
anything to avoid merely feeling feelings on their own terms. The
world of emotions, being a nonverbal one, baffles and even frustrates
Gemini. Of course, the TWins, as excellent mimics, can display any
human responseafter first studying it in others, but can they gen-
uinely feel emotion on a gut level?Probably not.
The TWinsare not cold-hearted-and thank goodnessthey're not
cynical-but they are on the cool-headedside.Technically,the depths
of emotional reality haveyet to be acknowledgedat this early stagein
the zodiac process(although the next sign, Cancer,remediesthat).
Gemini types need to talk out their feelings,hopefully to those who
may have insights to offer (air signs like to share their experiences).
But generallyspeaking,this particular mutable air sign is uncomfort-
able with the delicateand often sticky realm of personalfeelings.One
big reasonfor this is that emotionality can seemso irrational and per-
plexing. Gemini wants to back off and turn its attention to matters of
a more coherent,cerebralnature.
As previously stated,we shouldn't fault a sign for not doing an-
other sign'sjob. Gemini is not temperamentallysuited to be ultrasen-
sitive, in touchy-feelyways,to the inner workings of others.It doesn't
enjoy reading into things that deeply,but would rather have human
motivations plainly spelledout. It seeksunambiguous, clear-cut defi-
nitions. Yet,the world of emotionality is loaded with hard-to-define,
 86 Gemini
inarticulate moments. How doesan air sign handle all this murky, in-
ternal business?It detachesand createsa little distance.Emotionality
can prove suffocating,and air needsspaceto breathe.
Mind lourneys
Gemini is associatedwith our mind's ability to comprehendall sorts
of topics that educateus about the world in concreteways.The infor-
mation Gemini seeksmusn't be too abstractor esoteric.While Gemini
doesn't always demand useful knowledge-since it enjoys studying
oddball stuff as well-it does appreciateanything that it can quickly
apply to its life. It likes to have the answersit needs at its fingertips,
and thus gets antsy when such information takes too long to obtain
(that's when Gemini changesits mind and decides it really doesn't
need such information after all. sinceits intellectualinteresthas sud-
denly shifted).
What mutable air offers us is the concept that our minds are free
to roam whereverthey wish, and free to make sharp detours and head
elsewhereif we don t like where our journey is leading us. The mind's
unrestricted development is what Gemini supports. The TWinsdo not
wish to be protectedfrom exposureto any subject,just becauseothers
find such topics to be controversialor provocative.Like Aquarius, this
sign detestscensorship.
Frankly,becausethe Cosmoshasrt'tevendreamedup high-minded
Sagittariusyet, Gemini doesn't reject anything basedon moral be-
liefs-it's an amoral sign. It has a budding awarenessof life's duality
(which includesthe conceptsof good and bad, right and wrong), but
Gemini certainlyisn't in an all-knowing intellectualposition to offer
final answer on such matters. It even enjoys the juxtaposition of
shadowand light-it's too much of the samethat Gemini finds boring.
In this regard,Gemini makesa wonderful "devil's advocate,"intel-
lectually swappingsidesjust to keepthings lively in discussionsand to
exercisemore than one viewpoint on any subject.It's all done for fun
and perhapsasa way to show offthe TWins'mentalagility. Mutable air
can convincingly adopt any position for a short period of time. It has
Gemini 87
the ability to sell anything to anybodyby knowing how to usethe right
words to get its messageacross.Folks with a strong Gemini emphasis
in their chart need to be activein verbally expressivefields where they
can usetheir powersof persuasion.They like to turn peopleon to new
information-Gemini's a natural teacher-but then theywish to move
on to explore new subjectsthemselves.
Travel Bug
What Gemini can't afford to do too much is to stay still. It must be
mobile on some level. While its active mind is alwaysclicking away,
never at rest, Gemini also likes to make the rounds to check out the
comingsand goingsof its local environment.Of course,it's not lim-
ited to its neighborhood, and can happily explore all unfamiliar terri-
tory. The needto move about and enjoy a changeof sceneryis essential
to Gemini's well-being. For this reason,it's called the butterfly of the
zodiac.Butterflies are carried aloft by the shifting winds, as they flit
from flower to flower. Evenwhen it finds a delectableblossom, a but-
terfly won't linger-suddenly, it's ready to take off again. Gemini is
very much like that, too-it's here,there, and everywhere!
What travel affiordsGemini is proof that human diversity existsin
a world of different strokesfor different folks. The farther away from
home the Twins venture, the more that things look different (this fact
is empathetically realized by the time we get to the sign of culture
shock, Sagittarius).Urbaniteswho spend a recreationalweekendin
the mountains get to briefly experiencethe Gemini joy of travel. Rural
folk who spend a few daysshopping in "the big city" are also relishing
Geminian energy.The key here is that our environmental changesare
to be brief, stimulating, yet not that demanding of an adjustment.
Gemini'senergyis carefreeand ephemeral,not intenseand dramati-
cally life-altering.
Mercury B ehind the Wheel
Mercury is the planet associatedwith Gemini. Both planet and sign
share many qualities in common, including mental agility, quick re-
actions,restlessness,curiosity, and a need to be in constantmotion.
 88 Gernini Gemini 89
However,Gemini may be too flighty at times for Mercury, a planet F.o,uousGnurxr Tvpss (natalGeminiplacements listed)
more capableof studying-not just scanning-whateverit finds in- IsadoraDuncan,dancer:Sun,MercuryVenus
teresting.If giventhe right subjectmatter,Mercury is lessapt to be BobDylan, musician:Sun,Mercury,Venus
bored.But Gemini,by temperament,doesnot want to staygluedto Marilyn Moflroe,actress:Sun,Mercury
anphing for too long, sincethis sign is more easilydistractedthan JohnDewer, musician:Mars,Saturn,IJranus,Ascendant
Mercury.However,both areskilled at verbalself-expression. Stffi Graf,tennispro: Sun,Moon,Mercury
Geminiis probablyalsomore flexiblethan is Mercury a planetthat Patti Labelle,musician:Sun,Saturn,Uranus
hasa hardertime adaptingto changewhenin fixedsigns,or focusing
its mental powerswhen in mutable signs.UnlessMercury in one's
chartis in Gemini,the natalsignit's in greatlyinfluencesits expression.
Shouldthisbe an earthsign,Mercurywont seemverymuchlike Gem-
ini at all, sincethe mind describedhereis careful,methodical,plod-
ding, and lesslikely to invite changejust for the sakeof change.Still,
the airy sideof Mercury and mutableGemini arewell matched.

ClosingComments
WhereverGeminiis in our chartdescribes wherelife doesn'twant us
to feel stuckin a rut. We shouldn'tseektotal, everlastingsecurity,since
Gemini is insteadteachingus to adapt to frequent change.We thus
needto not hold on to experiences heretoo tightly.Gemini helpsus
stepbackand look at our situationalconditionsdispassionately, with-
out emotionalbiasescloudingour judgment. The TWinswant us to
takeadvantageof opportunitiesin the present,and to perhapsalsoget
a little excitedaboutthe potential of the nearfuture,but neverto wal-
low in the past and rehashthe painful stepsthat led us to any fail-
ures-unless we cantruly learnsomethingfrom the experience, and
then moveon. Let'snot get too emotionallyworkedup while we're
doing this. Be enthusedaboutlife, but let the headrule the heartin
most matters.Meanwhile,if we havesomethingbrilliant to offer the
world, by all means,let's find out how bestto get our ideasout there.
Geminidoesn'tenjoybeingsilentfor too long.We'llneedto find a va-
riety of smartwaysto expressour thoughts,
 90 Cancer
CeNcpn
Call Me Mama
Glyph:$
Symbol: The Crab
Mode: Cardinal
Element Water
Planet The Moon/)
House:Fourth
Motto: "It Hurts to SavGoodbve-So Don't Go!"
Ties that Bind
The Gemini stageof life teachesus to not get bogged down in any-
thing for too long. Let's not try to nail material security to the floor in
hopes of enjoying it forever, since we live in an ever-unfolding Uni-
verse where change is the only constant-and change permits our
awarenessto expand, evenwhile it periodically shakesus up. It's best
that most life conditions do not remain permanent, forever unaltered
by time. Gemini enablessmall, continuous changesto occur-life's
little detours-that eventuallyresult in large-scale,evolutionary inno-
vation. The time comeswhen DNA finally getsrestlessfrom boredom
and decidesit's just not going to faithfully reproduce what has pre-
dictably come before. Gemini instead encourageslife to juggle some-
thing different, for once, something that puts the cosmic zing back
into living.
Now, if the zodiacprocesswere to abruptly quit after this stimulat-
ing Gemini phase-something the Twins evenonce suggestedthe Cos-
mos consider,since they couldn t imagine what elsecould be missing
Cancer 9l
from life that would be more exciting than an active intellect-we
could still survive, but without any real senseof deep connection to
one another. The human race certainly wouldn't seem like one big
family, and nobody would feel in their gut that they just had to go
home for the holidays! Evenworse, television soap operaswould fail
miserablydue to a lack of sympathy in viewers (or maybebecausethe
charactersand subplotswould seemon the dry side).
Friendly Gemini helps us interact with one another,although not
intimately so. Smiles,handshakes,and even witty remarks abound as
everyonet taiking up a storm. Still, this air sign prefersto keepa healthy
emotional distancefrom others while it sharesits mental energies(of
course)Aries and Thurus are not convinced they even want to share
what they've got with smiley,chatty strangers).Unknowingly, Gemini
setsthe stagefor Cancerto emerge,by demonstratinghow much fun it
canbe to intermingle with thosewe find interesting-the conceptof in-
formal sociabilityis thus born in Gemini.
Legendhasit that Gemini evenfi.rsttaught Cancerhow to hug and
kiss.This was something the Twins spontaneouslycameup with asan
odd but amusing way to passthe time: Let's hug and kiss, kiss and
hug-ha ha! (The Twins love to dream up "silly" stuff to do when
bored.) But then when they eachtried out this routine on the lonely-
looking Crab, who was tightly clutching strands of seaweedon some
desolatebeach,suddenly the poor crustaceanburst into tears!At first,
the TWinsnervously thought the Crab had sprung afatal leak-what
elsecould it be?But teary-eyedCancerlater confessedthat it cried be-
causeit had neverbeen shown such kindnessand concern,Ieavingthe
cluelessTwins to scratchtheir headsin puzzlement."Whatever!" they
muttered, asthey realizedtheir little "hug and kiss" gamewas now get-
ting too intensefor them to enjoy-it's no longer a kick for Gemini if
someonebecomestoo choked up to talk!
Anyway, what Gemini innocently started turned out to be one of
the most powerful forces ever to take hold of humankind-raw, gut
emotion. This was something beyond mere instinct, asall three previ-
ous signsconcluded.It waseven a little scaryto behold, yet it was also
 92
Cancer
a very compelling power that seeminglycamefrom deepwithin. Can-
cer is the zodiac'sfirst sign to put us in contact with our soul, which is
a different entity than the fiery spark of spirit that Aries embodies.
While Cancer may not be all too clear about what "soul" means,it
nonethelesssensesthat something potent inside itself moves it to
want to protect all in life that is vulnerable and in need of shelter.This
is alsothe first zodiacsign to poignantly feel both love and sadnessfor
the human condition. Cancerworries that the often indifferent outer
world, which cannot easilyfulfill our inner needs,doesnt even havea
notion of who we really are deep down inside-plus, we're typically
reluctant to show others our most private selves.
MoodyWaters
It didn't take much time before Gemini observedtouchy Cancerin ac-
tion and sighed,"Life's gonna get messy-no more fun. Now we have
to watch what we say!"Canceris a cardinal-watersign,and so it is very
active and sometimes pushy in the expressionof its feelings.|ust as
Aries cannot easily turn off its dynamic, fiery energy and rest for a
while, Cancerhasdifflculty shutting offits emotional faucet.The water
alwaysseemsto be running forcefully.This is a highly reactivesign dri-
ven by its surging feelings.The Crab was born with an amazingsensi-
tivity that allows it to absorb what's going on inside others-stuff
that's kept hidden from surface exposure (all three waters signs have
this ability).
Cancer,alwaysalert to the unspokenfeelingsof others,somehow
thinks it is obligated to offer its sympathetic support to those in need.
People'sneedinessarousesits maternalinstincts.The problem is that
it doesn't alwayswait to be askedto help. It feelscompelledto mother
people-once it picks up on their distresssignals-and thus intrudes
on their emotional space.Yet the Crab seesitself more asbeing timid
and shy-though this is not so (remember, cardinal energy can be
quite assertive).
Actually, how Cancer respondsto its surroundings is as varied as
the phasesof the Moon, its planetary agent.Someseesuch change-
ability of temperament as moodiness.The Crab would instead say
I
dr
Cancer 93
that it's only reflecting the invisible currents in the psychologicalat-
mosphereof the moment. Cancerreadily spongesin the environment,
and often without using protective filters. It's typically only after the
Crab has taken in too much "negative"emotional dischargefrom oth-
ers that it learns to build a hard shell to ward off further invasion.
Along with such armor comesa crustlt crabby disposition that be-
lies Cancer'ssofter,gentler side.It's a neededdefensethat keepsantag-
onistic forcesat bay-learn to snap at others and be grouchy,and then
maybe the world might back off and leaveyou alone! Note how real,
live crabson the beachhavethat one huge claw they love to thrust out
at whoever approachesuninvited-as if to menacingly say,"Ya see
this?" Apparently, Cancer can already start off with a bad attitude
when feeling insecureabout dealing with new situations.
SometimesCancer'smood swings are how it dealsbest with its
own feelingsin flux-its internal high and low tides. Nonetheless,the
Crab is the first sign to introduce a warmer kind of caring that goes
deeperthan the comforting energy of Taurus.Cancerenvelopsothers
in its protective aura asit tends to their needs,although it attachesit-
self in waysthat feel suffocating at times. It's not objective enough to
realizehow oppressivethis can be to others-it doesnt pull back and
createhealthy,neededspace.
The mothering side of Cancer also unconsciouslyrefusesto let
anyone it loves grow up and exerciseindependence'Should they no
longer need to be parented,loved ones might one day say goodbye
and walk away,leavingCancerall alone-and being left alone is one
of the Crab'sworst nightmares.The fear of abandonmentwouldn't be
such a big theme for Cancerif it weren't able to connectwith others as
deeply asit does.
Perfect Nest
There's little that is shallow about the Crab, although Cancer can be
preoccupiedwith the immediate,surfacereactionsof others.It's too
quick to let itself be triggered emotionallyby someoneelse'sbody lan-
guage,especiallyfacial expressions-for example,you can drive Can-
cer crazyby remaining stone-facedand still; this sign thrives on active
 Cancer 95

human response.Laugh, cry, get angry-but show something! The ActingLoony

Crab will try to look for even the subtlest of signals in people that
Canceris the first zodiacsignto activateimagination, although Gem-
spell rejection. All this can often make Cancer a temperamental sign
ini also pokesaround here a bit. The Crab is able to draw upon un-
to live with-unless you enjoy walking on eggshells,never knowing if
conscious resourcesthat tie into humankind's collective memory
your actionswill be taken the wrong way.
bank. This is one reasonwhy Canceris so rooted in the past and is
Actually, Cancer has more emotion invested in creating and sus-
comfortable with the strangelyfamiliar world of times long ago-it's
taining a calm and peacefulhome, one where all relationships reflect
a sentimentalist at heart, one who loves to reminisce about bygone
deep and sensitivebonding. It's not a sign that handlesfights and dis-
days.Of course,selectivememory is at work here, sincemany not-so-
agreementswell, which is one reason why it receivesa frictional pleasantthings make up part of everyone'spast. Cancerian nostalgia
square-often an aspectof blockageor resistance-from both com-
choosesto dwell only on the good stuffthat happened.
bative Aries and potentially argumentative Libra (read more about
However, the unconscious can also be home to the dark side of
signsthat squareone anotherin chapter5).
being human. Cancer can suffer from a brooding, negative kind of
Domestic tranquility is vital to Cancer,since-besides shelter-a
imagination that allows fearsto loom too largely.It is the fraidy cat of
home is a placewhere our ability to nurture ourselvesand others can
the zodiac, the one who's scaredthat it may bump into its own (Jun-
be developed.Being able to nourish all living things is important to
gian) shadow.No wonder Aries has trouble respecting ol' chicken-
this tender-heartedsign.Water is an element that wants close,human
hearted Cancer,at times, sincethis water sign worries too much about
contact. Yet Cancer can be aggressivelyattentive (cardinal) in how it
the threat of a potentially shakyfuture. The Crab can sometimesbe so
caresfor whatever it looks after. Such smothering attention could be
spineless.
misreadasbeing bossyand controlling. It's just that Cancerholds on
Worse than that, an emotionally out-of-sorts Cancertends toward
too tightly due to its insecurities and its fear of loss. However, the pessimism, a general distrust that the world's basically a selfish and
Crab would instead saythat it's only protectively watching out for the
cold-hearted place. Cancer types who get like this are too easily dis-
welfare of others, and won't hesitateto do what has to be done to en-
couraged when their lives takes a bad turn and things seemsto fall
sure their ultimate safety.
apart. Suddenly,everyoneelse is at fault and Cancer is the poor vic-
The "perfect" home environment allows Cancer to retreat happily
tim-that's how the Crab seesit. Nobody seemsto be able to help
into its private world (although cardinality can also motivate the Crab
Canceriansgain the perspectiveneededto feel better, once they start
to securea safehavenin societyaswell, most so regardingone'spro-
to go loony like this. They willfully insist (cardinal) on creating much
fessionalinterests-Cancer's opposite sign, Capricorn, plays a role in
overblown, psychologicaldrama for both themselvesand whomever
this, as we shall seelater). As the Crab has a need to feel "at home"
else they latch on to in desperation.No other sign can drown in its
whereverit goes,it thus tries to quickly establishan emotional rapport
own sorrow asintently asCancer.
to help it adjust to new placesand new faces.This doesn't mean Can-
cer is overtly friendly, but it does look for signs of receptivity in oth- WhenDarkSkies Clear
ers. (When traveling to parts unknown, some Cancertypes may even After the rainstorms of life have passed and the sun comes out
bring their family photos to sharewith others they meet, just to feel again-assuming Cancer has survived the ordeal-the Crab is ready
more comfortable when far awayfrom their home turf!) to build a new foundation for itself asit once more startsto feel that it
 96 Cancer
belongsto the world and is neededby many. Luckily for Cancer,life is
fullof peoplewho are hungry for this sign'ssoothing, reassuringener-
gies.Still, the Crab has a memory like a steeltrap, and can never in-
nocently begin its life anew if past disturbances have not been
completely forgotten or forgiven. It will feel like it still has to watch
out about getting hurt again by similar life disappointments. Cancer
will thus remain guarded and self-protective(and can physically gain
a lot of insulating weight-a buffer zone of fat and retainedv/2fs1-45
a result).
A formerly wounded Crab tends to build protective walls around
its heart, and only traffics in saferelationshipsthat cannot causemuch
emotional damage.Theserelationships may not be intimately finfi[-
ing, but they do allow Cancer to give deeply of itself in waysthat can
feel healing to all parties involved (as in doing volunteer work for the
disabled).If Cancerhas sufferedrepeatedabuseand rejection,it can
seemcoldly remote for a while (asit is symbolized by a cold-blooded
creature,it can expertly turn offits feelings).Yet,its truer nature is to
be warm and maternally giving, for that's when it comes alive most
and feelsempowered.
Steamed Crab?
Cancer can be cranky, irritable, and capableof lashing out when it's
feeling stressed.It may seemodd to discoverthat it's also terrified of
losing its temper, for fear that doing so will permanently drive loved
ones away forever (it anticipatesisolation as its punishment for vent-
ing conflicted feelings).Ironically, when Cancer doesget angry,it can
go ballistic with a totally blind, irrational rage that can be destructive
in its full release.This overwrought display of fury happensbecause
the Crab lets its emotional tension build and build to levelsof danger-
ous, pressure-cookerintensity, and then it blows like Mount Etna! The
floodgatesopen wide, as a river of boiling emotion rushesforth. The
Crab is then aflame with heated grievancesand burning resentments
(asthere is something inherently fiery in cardinal energy).
Scorpio has this problem as well-the slow, steamybuild-up rou-
tine-except Scorpio is usually quite awarethat itt becoming enraged
Cancer 97
long beforeit finally erupts (it can evenplot the grand finale).However,
when ticked off, cancer may insteadplunge vigorouslyinto heavy-duty
housework(or child rearing) and doesnt suspectit hasa growing prob-
lem with stored-uphostility that needsseriousattention.
When its attack of fury is over, the Crab is as stunned as anyone
that it let itself get so emotionally out of control. That's when it wants
to go back into its shell and pretend it was all a bad dream. What it
really needsto do is to own up to its anger,vow not to turn its fired-
up feelingsback on itself-only to suffer bodily inflammations or in-
fections-and instead face the fact that being human sometimes
means confronting those who make us seered. we haveto blow off a
little steam when pushed to our limit, just to let folks know how we
really feel.
Baby Me
Cancer assumesit's born to play the "mamma" role in life, but the
fact is that it also never got over its quality time in the womb. Thus,
the baby within the Crab'spsycheis still alive and kicking, almost as
if it has prenatal memories of it all. As a result, some Cancer types
feel they need a lot of pampering and tender loving carefrom those
they get closeto. There may be a degreeof emotional immaturity to
deal with when the Crab doesn't get fed what it wants from others.
Nevertheless,Cancer enjoysaffection (let's play "huggy-kissy") and
can especiallylavish sweetnesson young animals and infants (the
crab is aroused by anything that seemshelplessand dependent).
Still, when the needy baby is actually a Cancerian adult who's way
past the midlife crisis years,perhaps therapy is in order-primal
scream,anyone?
MoonGIow
The "planet" associatedwith Cancer is the Moon (yes,astrologers
know it's really a satellite of Earth, but from a horoscopic point of
view, it operateslike any other planetary archetype).ChangeableCan-
cer sounds much like this planet, famous for its monthly mood
swings.Both planet and sign instinctively adapt to their surroundings'
 =
98 Cancer Cancer 99

although insecure Cancer can put up much resistanceat times if can be very imaginative in using our Cancerianenergies,and should
changesare imposed too quickly or insensitively.The Moon's power nurture all creativeoutlets that grab us emotionally. Muybe then we
stemsfrom its willingness to protect life by making things feel safe-it can mother budding talents that we can control, with the blessingof
thus appearslessfearful of uncertaintiesthan doesmore anxious Can- the Cosmos.
cer.Astrologers don't usually view the Moon as hiding behind a hard Flrrous CeNcsn Tvpns (natal Cancerplacementslisted)
shell for the samedefensivereasonsthat Cancerdoes.Still, it is a planet Tom Hanlcs,actor: Sun,Moon, Mercury
that likes to feel insulated from life's harsher elements.Insulation also MeryI Streep,nctress:Sun,Venus,Uranus
provides a nurturing kind of warmth when the emotional climate Robin Williams, nctor-comedinn:Sun,Mars, Uranus
startsto turn chilly. Under certain conditions, an upset Crab can even Phyllis Diller, comedian' Sun, Moon, Mercury, Pluto
turn stone cold and emotionally distant (as can all water signs). John Glenn, astronaut-politician: Sun, Mercury, Mars
Both planet and sign are responsiveto human need. They offer Elisabeth Kilbler-Ross,psychiatrisf; Sun, Moon, Pluto, North Node
tender care that helps people feel nourished. Both dwell in the world
of our subconscious,where a gut-reactive awarenessis at work, pick-
ing up on subtle information from life. The Moon is just as much a
spongeas Cancer,absorbing everything that touchesits emotions.Yet
letting things go or even releasingthe past can be tricky for both of
them. A maternal streakis another strongly sharedtrait, although the
Moon is more apt to mother others, while Cancer can revert to the
helplessbaby who alwayshungers for love and attention. Cardinality
drives Cancer to reach out assertivelyfor a support system,while the
Moon is more likely to go within to createa secure,inner home base.

ClosingComments
Wherever Cancer is in our chart points to a need to let our emotions
flow more openly into the world. Let's be upfront with our feelings
and deal with them honestly, in the moment. Water signs-when re-
pressedfor long periods-suffer psychological damage,as their in-
jured parts sink deeperwithin to slowly fester and becometoxic. The
results can be very harmful to our physical and psychologicalhealth.
Cancer,a surprisingly headstrong and willful water sign, thus pays a
heavy price when it refusesto exert neededemotional self-discipline.
The Crab often getsitself much too worked up over various things-
both big and small-that are beyond its power to control. Where our
natal Cancerparts are found, we need to stop busting a gut over what
we cannot changeor fix in others.On the plus side,dont forget that we
 100 Leo
I
Lno
Hear Me Roar
G$Ph:r)
Symbol: The Lion
Mode: Fixed
Elemenfi Fire
Planet:The Sun/O
House: Fifth
Motto: "The Show Must Go On-starring Me!',
GettingNoticed
The cancer stageof being-with its emotional highs and lows-can
be a bit of a drain, since it's exhausting to cater endlesslyto people's
internal needs(no wonder the Twins warned us that things could "get
messy"once the crab becamea bona fide member of the zodiac).still,
with cancer comes a deeper awarenessthat we're all brimming with
potent energiesthat enableus to impact one another strongly.we can
arouse hidden feelings in people that simultaneously help us get in
touch with our own feelings.It thus benefitsus to reachout sensitively
to others in an attempt to understand their personal lives, since their
needsoften mirror our own.
water ignores-even as it penetrates-the barriers deliberately
createdby the ego to keep everyone apart and unattached (such ego
defensesprobably took ef[ectway back when Aries was the only game
in town). Cancer'swatery phase gives us a sensethat-although we
may appear to be separateindividuals contained in our own private
space-we're invisibly connected to one another by way of an inner
- 101
realm we all share.There is unseen,psychicnetworking going on at all
times, aswe all swim in the sameriver of energies.This development
of a specialsensitivityto one another preparesus for Leo'senergy,
sincethe Lion also wants to havea huge impact on others.
This fire sign realizesthat it can energizepeople by its dramatic
self-presentation, and so it learnsto becomelargerthan life in its ac-
tions and behavior. Leo is a strong individualist who has a clear sense
of self, thanks to the ego-building experiencesprovided by all four
previous signs.This secondfire sign also belongs to the fixed mode,
suggestingthat its flame is steadierand more enduring than what car-
dinal Aries produces.The Ram constantly fights the containment of
its blazing fire, while the Lion learns to make such containment work
to its advantage.It offers the world a more reliable, radiant heat that
warms the heart while it also lights up the stage.It's an appealing,
charismatic form of fire that knows how to get noticed. Leo is deter-
mined to receivepositive attention and desiredrewardsfrom an ador-
ing world.
FullEsteemAhead
The Lion doesn't spend a lot of time wondering what's wrong with it-
self,sinceit's rarely plaguedby insecurity or self-doubt.Fire doesn't
hold itself back from taking gamblesin life, evenwhen successcannot
be guaranteed.Leo'sconfidence in its abilities is usually strong. Such
self-assuranceleadsto inner pride and dignity. We expect this much
from fixed fire. Yet Leo's feelings of self-honor aren't necessarily
earned solely through its achievements.The Lion feelsit was born to
shine brightly and enjoy elevated status. It behavesas if first-class
treatment from the Cosmosis its birthright.
ii This is the first sign to think about its place in society,although
t
,i
not with any real perspective regarding collective needs. Leo still
knows that, at this stage,"It's all about me!" The ego is very comfort-
:
i ably entrenchedin this sign and seesno reasonto releaseits tight grip
anytime soon. However, fire representsthe start of a new elemental
,i
il cycle,and in this case,we are learning to feel more important to those
around us who need our dynamic involvement,evenif in a leadership
 L02 Leo
capacity.Therefore,Leo cannot live and breathe only for itself. It must
pour its vitality into others-preferably an audienceof loyal fans-to
help them enliven their own creativeenergiesand thereby raise their
i
spirits. Leo, a wonderful morale booster,is a shining exampleof one
who has great faith in itself and has the will to accomplishmuch'
what's happening at the Leo stageof life is that we are starting to
becomemore socialized.rAt this blossomingstageof socialinterplay,
the Lion soon discoversthat it needsapplause,but alsothat its goals
will never be satisfactorilymet if it only basksin its self-createdglory.
To get a lot out of life, you've got to give a lot in return' With Leo,we
learn to be generouswith others regardingour spirited energyand
positive outlook on life. If we can pump people up and make them
feel good, they'll turn around and inflate us with joy, aswell' Leo will
consciouslyplay this gamebecauseit wants to feel big and important.
Snob Story
Feelinglike a divine child favoredby the gods,Leo can sometimesact
like an obnoxiousvery Important Personby displayinga few unap-
pealing traits, those stereotypicallyassociatedwith privileged rank.
Arrogance is something this fire sign can indulge in, often without re-
alizing it (as Leo won't give itself bad reviews). Acting smug can get
the Lion in trouble with others,who would then love to dethrone this
sign for being so full of itself-so full of it' period!
A stumbling block to true social integration for Leo is its tendency
to feel superior to others. However,eventhough Napoleon and Mus-
solini were such Leos,most Sun-in-Leo people shouldnt automati-
cally be seenin this light, since they have a host of other modifring
astrological factors to offset the Lion's potential to be a royal snob.
Still, any egotistical senseof self-adulation for feeling special-in a
kingly or queenly manner-comes from the essenceof Leo' Thank
goodnessnobody is a pure, living, overblown archetype of just any
one sign.
Being a member of the sameelement,Aries feedsthe fires of self-
interest in Leo. The Ram'sway of looking at life appealsto Leo,who'll
I
103
Leo to
easily draw on Arien energywhen needed.Gemini stimulates
that
be creativelyversatilewhile it encouragesplayfulness.It's Thurus
(they
posesa problem for the Lion, sincethesesignssquareeachother
sharethe samemode, but involve lesscompatible elements)'
part2will analyzeall sign-to-sign relationshipsin detail, but here
to less-as-
it,s safeto saythat the quiet humility that comes naturally
big splash
suming Thurus is not what Leo thinks will help it make its
plate, yet
on Broadway!Maybe a slice of humble pie should be on its
just to let everyone
the Lion would rather roar its way to stardom,
to tone it
know its alive and here to dazzlethe world. Don't tell Leo
intimi-
down just so others can feel better about themselvesand less
inter-
dated by such an overwhelmingly fiery force. The Lion is only
manner.
estedin showing offits greatnessin an honest,self-validating
"Don't dare try to put out my eternal flame, especiallywhen the cam-
erasarerolling!" saYsLeo.
Forever Young
Leo may seembold yet brassyto thosewho find such self-glorifying
ability to
behavior annoying. Yet others are enchanted by the Lion s
managed
enjoy itself wholeheartedlyin all its endeavors'This sign has
make
to shakeoff the sometimescrippling fears and inhibitions that
not to
the Cancerian phase of life so painful at times' Mayb" it pays
down
worry too much about what others think. Let's just let our hair
engage in a
and havefun adding color to our personality'Leo wants to
its spir-
robust life adventurewithout anyone or anything dampening
its youth-
its. Thanks to the fire it exudes,it doesa good job retaining
forever.
firl vitality-if it could, fixed fire would love to burn brightly
because it
The Lion has a knack for stayingyoung and vibrant' partly
with
doesn't allow itself to grow up completely and burden itself
joy of
somberoutlooks.capricorn-style"maturity" may curtail Leo's
living a more carefreelife of self-admiration'
Another youth-ensuring trait is Leo'swillingness to face its future
withoptimismandenthusiasm.Althoughnotdeeplyphilosophical,Leo
by
is an idealistwho believesthat we can makefabulousthings happen
 104 Leo
allowing a senseof high self-regardto empower us. The Lion refuses
to think little of itself. It is sure that the Cosmosdidn't put us all on
Earth just to suffer, by being denied our rightful opportunity to
show off our specialtalents to the world. Like the spirit of youth it-
self, Leo willingly takes chancesto get what it wants. It's blessedwith
courage and a unfaltering belief that the Universewill grant it its
heartfelt desires.
At times impetuous and too strong-willed,the Lion is willing to
risk all on a golden dream, never foreseeinganything lessthan a glori-
ous outcome. When failure or loss occurs instead,Leo is crushedand
heartbroken (it may roar with hurt and anger when it doesn't win the
top prize it seeks).Still-unlike emotionally immature youth-the
Lion is big-hearted and self-assuredenough to know that its competi-
tors also need to feel like winners, now and then, and thus Leo-after
swallowing a little pride-can allow others their moment of glory, as
long asthe Lion doesn't remain out of the spotlight for too long.
Love from the Heart
For Leo,the principle of love-which first beganto developin family-
oriented Cancer-is not universal in scope,as this sign's steady ego
focus is on personal fulfillment (the world is to revolve around the
Lion, who acts as if it's in chargeat the center of it all). Yet to evolve,
we do need to learn about the importance of self-loveand of being
genuinely good to ourselves,without guilt or apology.Leo symbolizes
the stageat which we're allowed to havea romance with the creatively
dynamic person we're becoming (this is a sign that naturally excelsin
high-visibility, self-promotional activity). In doing so, Leo is listening
to its heart when it says,"Give all that you've got if you truly want to
be loved."Thus, don't hold back on being your radiant self if you wish
to be filled with the admiration of others.Love what you do, do it with
all your heart, and otherswill then love and honor you, too. Hmmm . . .
it might just work!
Leo could actually be saying to its throngs of autograph-seeking
well-wishers, "I love you for helping me love myself so well." It's not
105
too clear if the Lion seesothers as anything but extensionsof itself,
sort of like props on a stage.Leo may think, "Everyone'ssupposedto
make me look good, and those who do so best get my love the most."
Love does come straight from the heart for Leo, a brightly burning
kind of love full of idealism and high expectation.
Romanceis also avery specialstateof being for the Lion, whose
generousemotional nature easily revealsitself whenever it has fallen
passionatelyfor someone.Leo is a sign that puts all its eggsin one bas-
ket and won't play it safe when it comes to such heartfelt matters
(even if it is actually romancing a breakthrough scientific theory that
it has lovingly crafted). No matter who or what is the recipient of its
attention, Leo will give what it loves its all,while in a high-level state
of vitality. It won't evenconsiderremaining involved if it cant keepup
this degreeof elation, plus love also hasto be deemedto be a fun and
even recreationalexperience.Expect Leo to be thoroughly committed
to having a grand time when in love with a person' a project, a con-
cept, an ideal, or a dream it knows will somedaycome true.
Ego inBloom
A simple, uncomplicateddisplay of ego-in-the-makingis found in
Aries, who's often unawareof how totally self-absorbedin action it is.
The developmentof our individuality dependsa lot on the strength of
our ego.Yes,it's true that "ego" hasbeen seenasthe eternalenemyof
that blissful state of Onenessmystics talk about (although they then
turn around and assureus that the ego'spower is illusionary). Aries
has highly personalneedsthat override anyoneelse's-and it's too bad
if that appearsselfishto others. Aries is driven to survive at all costs,
and thus the Ram will first look out for its own well-being in most sit-
uations. However, without Aries, we wo.uldn't have the fire in our
belly-and that innocent senseof daring-that spursus to go out into
the world to test our strengthsand conquer our fears.And so, for
Aries, ego arousalis a good and most necessarything.
By the time we get to Leo-where fire begins to operate in a new
mode (now from cardinal to fixed)-the ego has polished itself up a
 106 Leo
bit and has developedmore backbone.It becomesa consolidated
force. Theoretically,Leo'sego power is at its peak performancelevel in
ll
terms of how it servesour individual needs.This is a turning-point
stagein the zodiac process,when both our will and ego are sufflciently
developed so that we can now cope with the demands of the bigger
world around us. Leo provides us with a solid inner center,a core
senseof self that helps us become involved in increasingly collective
circumstances,without losing our hard-earnedidentity. This is im-
l
portant, sinceonce we get to Sagittariusand beyond,ego identity is
tli challenged by more transpersonal ways of being. But for now Leo
needsto enjoy its self-importance and its ability to unabashedlycele-
brate its attention-grabbing individuality.
Wanna Be a Rock-and-Roll Star?
Although fame and acclaim becomesa serious quest for Capricorn
(another go-gettermember of the cardinal group), Leo is the first sign
to care about being favorably known and even idolized by others. It
seemsthat once we feel secureat the root of our being (Cancerat its
best), then we're ready to fearlesslyexpressourselvesto an audience
Iarger than just our family. The Lion anticipates,long before it hasig-
nited its ambitious nature, that somedayit will make a name for itself
in society. It observespeople who have already made it big in the
ll world, and it knows that it, too, wants to enjoy an equally distin-
guishedlife.
Fixed signs have the ability to work long and hard to reach well-
defined goals.They are determined to unfold their lives in a purpose-
ful manner-they just don't "go with the flow" and wait to seewhat
l
happens.They instead attempt to take chargeof their destinies,being
iiil the control freaks that they are. Supremely confident Leo may make
all this look like loads of fun, but the Lion is nonethelessseriousabout
l
taking on prestigiousrolesof greatsocialinfluence.Leo aims to be a
superstar,the one to outshine all the rest.
The entertainment field magneticallydraws Leo in, as this fire sign
was born to pleasea crowd. Hollywood is crawling with Leo types.
rLi
l
ir
Leo 107
Many of them, sadly,may never receivethe accolades(or eventhe Os-
cars) they deserve,becauseof the highly competitive nature of the
film industry (a businesswhere luck and connectionsplay an even
greaterrole than talent alone).Evenin jobs that aren't meant to enter-
tain us, Leo still exhibits a flair for being expressiveand even a bit
showy (think of Leo types happily working at Tiffany's or selling
faguarsin fancy showrooms-the Lion has a thing for luxury items).
If Leo doesnt ever seeitself on the silver screen-even though act-
ing comes easilyto this sign (Dustin Hoffman and Peter O'Toole are
both gifted Leos)-another venue can be the Broadwaystageor the
equally theatrical music industry. Wowing and dazzlinga mesmerized
crowd of fans-and Leo knows how to work a room-is a dream
come true for the Lion. Being a natural exhibitionist, Leo will do
whatever it takesto pour its creativevitality out into the world to so-
licit an enthused,high-energy response.Due to its childlike awe of it-
self,Leo lovesto make a big fuss when it announces,"Hey world, look
at this fabulous thing I've just done!"
Here Comes the Sun
The Sun is the "planet" that astrologyassociates with Leo (of course,the
Sun is really a gloriously shining star of primary importance to life,
much like the Lion fanciesitself to be). Both planet and sign havesome-
thing to sayabout our ego,our willpower,our needfor recognition,and
Both are astrologicalsymbols
our ability to be vibrantly self-expressive.
of warmth, of heat that steadily comesfrom our creativefires within. It's
hard not to notice the Sun once it has risen;the samegoesfor the Lion,
once it has climbed the ladder of success. The astrologicalSun also re-
latesto our integrity and our pride. Leo is a sign very much concerned
with self-dignity and getting respectfrom others.
Actually, the Sun is lessable than Leo to laugh at itself and to be-
come a little kid having fun. Strongly solar types are not necessarily
gleeful, and they view themselvesmore as authority figures in com-
manding positions. Being held in high esteemis important to the Sun
(as it is for Leo), and thus it's a planet that will seldom clown around
 108 Leo Leo 109
in the amusingmannerthat Leodoesto stealthe show(think of com- F.luous Lno Tvpss (natalLeoplacements listed)
ical Leoslike LucilleBall and SteveMartin). Stanleylfubrlclc,fiIffi ilirector:Sun,Venus,Neptune
The Sunis the "big cheese" of the solarsystem,with all the plan- Martha Stewart,entrepreneur.' Sun,Pluto,Midheaven
ets-like loyalsubjects-revolvingaroundthis centralpowersource. Anily WarhoLartist: Sun,Mercury,Venus,Neptune
Leosharesa bit of this attitude,aswell.IGowing how to flatter in order KathleenBattle,colotaturasoprano:Sun,Mercury,Saturn,Pluto
to getits way,the Lion is probablybetterat engagingthe cooperation Bill Clinton,U.S.ptesiilerf Sun,MercurSSaturn,Pluto
of peoplethan is the Sun,who'dprobablyrathertakecontrol of mat- Ihthie LeeGffiril, television personality:Sun,MercuryMars,Pluto
terswithout assistance. Leowantsto direct a big project,but it must
havea loyal crewto help out with all the necessarydetailsthat ensure
a successfulperformance.This fire signthus learnshow to keepevery-
onehappywithin their roles.Yetspreadingcheerand goodwill doesn't
soundasmuchlike the Sun,a planetthat'sevenmoreself-directed in
actionthan Leo.Still, this planetunderscores much of what vitality-
exudingLeois all about.

ClosingCotnments
WhereverLeois in our chartpoints to wherewe needto givein to our
urgeto showoff our talents.We afeto let othersseehow individual-
izedwe are.Leo is a signthat remainstrue to itself and wort't accept
being told by societywhat to becomejust to blend in better.Leo
doesn'twant to getlost in a crowd.('i{lways wearsomethingin bright
red,"advisesLeo,"that way they can't missyou.") The fixity in Leo
helpsus recognizeour limits regardinghow much of ourselveswe
darereleaseto the world beforewe beginto overwhelmothers(such
uncheckedfiery output canconsumetoo much energyfrom others,
who eventuallysufferexhaustionfrom overexposureto Leo energy-
it's like gettinga nastysunburn).
Actually,we canstart off feelingself-consciouswhereverour Leo
energyis in our chart.Our goal,aswe mature,is to dev,elop enough
self-esteem to shinein front of otherswithout beingthe frrstonesto
give ourselvesbad reviews.Without sufflcientself-confidence, Leo's
energyquicklyburnsout.What we presentheremustcomefrom our
heartasan expression of our essence.Honoring its individudity is as
important to Leo asremainingplayful in life (together,these*ill heh
all Leotypesstayyoungat heart).
 110 Virgo
Vrnco
TidyingUp
clyph: I?
Symbol:TheVirgin
Mode: Mutable
Element: Earth
Planet: Mercury/Y
House: Sixth
Motto: "I'm Making a List-and Checking It TWice."
Let's Get to Work
The Leo stageof life-as joy-filled and exuberantasit is-is much like
an overexcited child tearing open birthday presents,Ieft and right.
While the kid is totally self-absorbedin such excitement, all kinds of
things are carelesslystrewn about, instantly making a big mess.In fact,
most festiveparties are like this-especially those superblaststhat Leo
likes to throw-but ultimately, there'salwayslots of clutter and trash
left for somebodyto clean up afterwards.The Lion is not particularly
interestedin doing what's required to restoresuch order. The zodiac's
specialistfor that job is conscientiousVirgo. This is astrology'ssecond
earth sign, meaning that it symbolizesanother aspectof practicality-
the mutable side of earth.
Mutable energy allows earth a degreeof neededflexibility, some-
thing that astro-archaeologistsstill havenot been unable to uncoverin
fixed Thurus-keep on digging, folks! Think of mutable earth as pot-
ter's clay-it's solid and somewhat heavy,but malleable.Clay can be
fashioned into a variety of shapes,even molded into many useful
Virgo 111
items (such asthat big water jug Aquarius holds). Virgo is a sign that
adaptsto all pressingneedsimposed by necessityin the here and now-
Life demands constant (but usually minor) adjustments that require
level-headedthinking and common sense.The Virgin (whom I prefer
to call the Analyzer) supplies all this in carefully measuredamounts.
It's a sign that tackleslife as if it's a high-maintenancejob requiring
much patienceand thoughtful planning.
Putting life in working order is a must for Virgo-literally astrol-
ogy's neatestsign. The Analyzer wants to get busy finding smart ways
to spot and solveproblems before disasterstrikes.Why wait for a situ-
ation to spin hopelesslyout of control? This sign tries to analyzethe
little things that can go wrong, sometimeslong before an actual crisis
looms.
Details Galore
Leo seesits life as a bold but beautiful adventure in self-discovery.
However,the Cosmoshas enough wisdom and foresight to know that
we needto figure out how to best turn our Leo-inspired creativity into
productive assetsthat will enablesocietyto reachmore organizedlev-
els of complexity.This involves payingkeen attention to the details of
daily living.
To do this, Virgo draws partly from Thurus'patient, steadyfocus
(the Bull's messageto Virgo is that a job well done takestime-slow
down and do things right). Virgo rejectsthe speedier,less-prudent
methods favoredby Aries and Gemini (although asleastthe Ram will
start a project, while the Twins can be aggravatinglynoncommittal-
sometimes all talk, plenty of options, but no action taken). Virgo
sharesCancer'surge to nourish life in a careful,caring manner,but
the Crab'semotionality getsin the way of making hard, pragmatic de-
cisions. The Analyzer finds its own sedatedemeanor to be the most
appropriate and effective,since it realizesthat even Leo'sextravagant
behavior is ill-suited for the humble and not-so-glamorous tasksthat
mundane life demands (like taking out the garbageevery day). Leo
doesnt like to do "dirty" jobs or ordinary tasksthat demand keeping a
low profile.
rli II2 Virgo Virgo 113

ii I
One way to know the details of something firsthand is to first take
it apart. Doing this is of great interest to Virgo-a sign that loves to
signs, whose policy is to have sex whenever the impulse hits. Virgo
also knows that unplanned sexcan later proYeto be problematic (un-
l
break things down into their many interrelated pieces,and then study wanted pregnancy, venereal disease,even wrinkled clothes on the
i floor). "Why let momentary passion invite such complications into
eachpiece intently while learning how that particular part is meant to
i.ll function. What practical purpose does it serve,and how is it con-
structed to do its job? Next, Virgo studieshow thesepiecesinteract, as
one's life?" Virgo reasons.So the Analyzer lets its head rule its hor-
mones in this regard.
l,I Actually, the label of "virgin" more accuratelyimplies that this sign
ti l
it puts everything together again in hopes of restoring things to their
original wholeness. strivesto remain true to its essence-keeping its honor and virtue in-
The Analyzer also learns what can happen when certain parts tact-rather than to allow itself to be penetrated and thus corrupted

ili
ril
don t interact well, and how this itself can lead to an overall malfunc-
tion. Virgo is the first sign to note the consequences
of such dishar-
by the baser energies of others. Heck, Virgo doesnt even feel easy
being around people who cough or sneeze,as if to say,"Dott't pollute
mony-a theme carried over into Libra and even Scorpio, the next me!" Inner purity is valued (think of it asthe desirablepurlty of "extra

lii
'i l
two signsto follow.
If details are that important to the understanding of how life
virgin" olive oil).
Virgo-following a phaseof theatrical Leo behavior-wants to re-
works, Virgo's mind needsto be forever organizedto enableit to weed tain its real, unembellished nature. Remaining self-possessedis one
I out nonessentials.Gemini finds all information temporarily stimulat- way to help make sure this sign will stay relatively uncontaminated.
ing, but regarding such data,Virgo devisesa rating systemin terms of Virgo obviously pays attention to those times when publicity-crazy
relevancy.The Analyzer's challengeis learning not to become over- Leo sellsparts of its soul to the world in return for temporary notori-
i ety. The Analyzerdoesn't want to be owned by anybody or anything,
r whelmed by trivial issues-don't sweatthe small stuff, in other words.
Fussingwith less-important details can sidetrack our main objectives and has qualms about becoming too public a figure. In this sense'

l and fail to help us build the momentum neededto successfullymove

forward in life. We find ourselves stuck in irrelevant matters that
Virgo is lesssociallyaccessiblethan Leo.In fact, much of what the An-
alyzeris all about seemsto be an adversereaction to Leo'sself-promo-
tional excesses.Of course,maybe it's better to saythat Virgo seeksto
nonethelesseat up our time and energy.Virgo's job is to discriminate,
lii
'irl to know what needs attention versus what can be put aside for the refine (even redefine) much of how the Lion expressesits ego.
moment. Thus, being selectiveabout what to focus its mind on is one
AtYour Service
iti of Virgo'sbig lessons.
Before Virgo came onboard to give the zodiac a close-up inspection

lri.li
rli
Like aVirgin?
This is a good time to clearup one misconception:the Virgin is not
and a ratings review,all five previous signs (Aries to Leo) felt they had
unconditional freedom to expressthemselvesin any way they wanted
necessarilyvirginal in a sexual sense,even though many Virgo types fs-\ /21f5and all. Now, their sharedlament is, "Why did the Cosmos

ri
il
are cautious about the private, physical intimacies they share with
others. Thus, Virgo may refrain from giving in to its sexualimpulses
feel it had to hire this'outside' efficiency expert to do a productivity
checkon us?"The Analyzer obviously makesthesesignsnervous' even
more so by alwayscarrying along its own regulatory manual of tech-
iir in pressured,carelesssituations.Yet being earthy,Virgo knows there's
a proper time and place for sexual activity. This sign is not the big niques guaranteedto improve day-to-day functioning.

irii
i
prude that it hasbeen made out to be-especially by those friskier fire

ill
ili
 lI4 Virgo Virgo u5
This sign thinks it knows better ways to do just about anything,
Fusspot
methods that it's willing to teach others to perfect. It plainly feelsthat
Virgo types claim neverto be truly angry about anything-they're just
the current state of affairs needsimmediate correction before the zo-
peeved.A messyworld can be so vexing to the Analyzer.Why do folks
diac can efficiently progressany further. After all, Virgo believesthere
willingly do things the dumb or inconsiderate way?Why can't they
are things that all the previous signshavemishandled in life, although
take the time to do things right? (And who left this sticky gum wrap-
the Analyzer believesthat at least Gemini can be easilyreeducated.
per on the floor?) What Virgo doesn't alwaysrecognizeis how irritat-
Surely,thinks Virgo, these five signs can try to do a better job at
ing its perfectionism can be to those who don t want to be flawlessin
I channeling their resources,and in more meaningful ways that not
all that they do. After all, making a mistake isnt the end of the world.
1 only benefit themselves,but even others in society.Sowhy aren't they
("Maybe," responds Virgo, "but making that same stupid mistake
rr doing it? Virgo concludesthat it's here to teach all the signsa few new
tricks. The Analyzer just hatesto seeany constructive potential being
again and again is unpardonable.")Virgo believesin looking before
leaping,and is amazedat those signswho either disagreeor simply
wasteddue to laziness,ignorance,or a lack of training or discipline.
don't care.Don't we all want to know exactlywhat we're getting into
Virgo also brings to our attention a new life concept-the theme of
before we're caught up in the thick of it? Isn t it alwayssmarter to be
willingly serving others.We can't all be selfishly preoccupiedand still
fully preparedfor what can go wrong before taking action?
expect the bigger world to run like it should. There are many small
Muybe so, but Virgo sometimes has a nagging way of getting its
l jobs for all of us to do, and attitude adjustments will be required to
cautionary messageacross.People can feel scolded by the Analyzer,
perform those tasksuncomplainingly.
who alwaysseemsto havethe right answersto everything,making this
Cancerhas a positivegut feeling about this new idea of "service,"
sign sound like a "know-it-all" (of course,Virgo may seemall-know-
although it has never looked at the nurturance it instinctively givesto
ing becauseit studieslife scrupulously).Virgo assumesthat it's basi-
others in that light (to the Crab, it's more an act of love, not duty, of
cally dealing with an incompetent world, and thus it doesn'ttrust that
caring, not efflciency).Yet the other signsmost likely think that Virgo
others necessarilyknow what they're talking about or doing.
has the makings of a pesky busybody, and they could be right! Virgo
I The Analyzer will therefore test that assumption by asking a list of
l naturally playsthe role of a censorattempting to suppressor eliminate
questions about the subject matter of concern.Virgo doesn't do well
li what it finds to be objectionable (and the Analyzer-adopting a
with vagueor generalizedresponses, but perksup when someonehas
i watchdog attitude-can readily object to many things in life). Its main
truly done their homework and it shows.This sign has a high respect
motive, however,is to be helpful and usefirl.
for knowledgeablepeople.Still, others findVirgo's sryleof questioning
Social serviceis somewhat an act of healing to the Analyzer, since
to be annoying,asif they're undergoing an examination.The Analyzer
it tries to do things that help make life better for all. This is a sign that
seeksconcise,preciseanswers,and doesn'ttolerate rambling conversa-
thinks mainly of what will provide the best practical results for many
tions or inarticulateresponses.
people,not just for itself. In some ways,Virgo representsthe zodiac at
Wherever we haveVirgo in our chart is obviously where we want
an interesting turning point in awareness-from a "me" to a "we" ori-
to deal in realism and clarity, yet we leavethe door wide open for dis-
entation. However,unlike Libra, Virgo doesn'tfeel equalto others,nor
appointment when we expect others to neatly packagethe informa-
does it easilyidenti$' with its peers.
tion they give us. We feel almost compelled to establish order, but
actually may unduly spend time attending to inconsequentialmatters
 116 Virgo
that we find to be so irksome. Of course,the more imperfect some-
thing is, the more our Virgo energy getsa chanceto analyzethe situa-
tion and hopefully fix that which is in need of repair.
StayingFit
Every fire sign is followed by an earth sign. Perhapsfire's expression
reachesa point where it becomes overenergizedin dangerousways
that run rampant. Fire then becomesa destructive force. Earth actsas
a necessaryprotective container that harnessesfire's flames.If the zo-
diac were to quit after the Leo phase-"Great idea,lit's end on a high
note," saysthe Lion-we'd all becomeburnt out from the fiery kind of
high-charged, nonstop activity that always leads to self-exhaustion.
Virgo follows Leo to teach us insteadto replenish our precious physi-
cal, emotional, and mental energies.We do this by getting proper rest
(fire signshate to do this), nutrition, sensibleexercise,and quiet time
alone.
Everything in Virgo's world is to be done in moderation. Life can-
not afford to have its brightest lights alwaysturned on at their highest
wattage.Virgo thus designsa dimmer switch that will help tone things
down (and saveenergyfrom being wasted).Virgo'sjob is to regulate
the body's various systemsso that none of them becomeprematurely
worn out from unhealthy overstimulation. The earth element is al-
waystrying to teach us when to stop doing something that can other-
wise harm us. Naturally,fire signsfind earth signsto be classicparty
poopers,but earth signs demand that we shut down for a while to
conserveour vitality.
Virgo types seemto know that staying fit is very important to en-
joying a satisfring life. And considering the workload that the Ana-
lyzer normally handles, good health is imperative. Sharing Leo's
independent spirit, Virgo doesn't relish the idea of being beholden to
1l anyone just becauseit's in poor physical shape and can't take care of
itself. After all, Virgo is supposedto be the expert healer who learns
which medications can relievesymptoms and restorehealth. This sign
won't allow itself or anyoneelseto remain sick.
il
Virgo ll7
Wherever our Virgo is found in our chart, we are concernedwith
keepingthings working aswell asthey can)elrenif periodic tune-ups
are required.This is seldoman areaof neglect(and when it is, we suf-
fer in obvious ways). Perhapsour Virgo qualities are also evident
wheneverwe appeara bit too nervousabout the well-beingof some-
thing or someone.Still, here is where we believein using preventative
measuresto avoid major hassleslater on.
The Studious One
Whatever Virgo does for fun will seldom involve other people. This
sign observed the frenzy of attention that poor Leo received from
spending too much time in the limelight, and decidedthat this wasn't
the route it was going to take. Being modest and humble has its ad-
vantages.Virgo discoversthat it's okay to be alone.It insistsit will have
its privacy, and one way to ensure that is to act with discretion in all
matters. Don't try to stand out among the crowd or demand to be the
leader.Blend in and disappearat times, and then nobody bothers you.
Virgo would rather spendquality time learning how to developa vari-
ety of useful skills than be socially out and about.
This sign would also love to be able to fix anything on its own
rather than depend on hired help. To do this, Virgo teachesitself
whateverit needsto be self-sufficient(remember,it doesn'ttrust the
so-called"expertise"of others,so a "do-it-yourself" approachis ap-
pealing).It will work hard to learn how to do things well, painstak-
ingly so, if need be. Like Gemini, Virgo learns much by asking
questions-the "right" questions,that is. Sinceit's not willing to be as
verbal as the TWins,Virgo seeksout reading material that is lucid and
educational,written by those blessedwith common sense,as well. All
in all, Virgo likes to keepits mind sharp and in activepursuit of timely,
pertinent information. It likes to haveconcisefactsat its fingertips.
Mercury the Organizer
Mercury is Virgo's traditional planet, but here Mercury behavesless
restlesslythan it does in Gemini. The influence of earth helps this
 118 Virgo
planet stay more grounded and thus better able to concentratefor
longer periods of time. This Mercury is discerningregardingthe in-
formation it gathers (Gemini's airy Mercury, being less systematic,
doesn't organize data as easily,and may get its "facts" from question-
able sources).Flexibility is reduced when any planet is in an earth
r sign, but Virgo is nonethelessexcellentat adapting to changein sensi-
ble ways (Gemini is more prone to scatter its mental energieswhen
i adjusting too impulsively and indiscriminately). The Virgo side of
Mercury thinks things through logically,and then makesits final deci-
sion. It doesn'tlike dealingwith too many options, which cannot be
said of Gemini's Mercury.
Related to either sign, Mercury remains alert and observant of
life's many pieces.Still, the earthier side of Mercury is better able to
retain the most relevant information, while discardingthe rest.It esti-
mateswhat data will prove to be the most useful, and won't let its cu-
riosity create needlessintellectual detours. Virgo's Mercury stays
better focusedon its subiect.
One problem here, however,is that this Mercury can become
mired in too many details-a result of its ability to keenly observethe
smaller things in life. Its gift of analysismakesit a sharpshooterwhen
it comesto problem-solving(whereasGemini's Mercury doesn'tcare
to analyzeanything too deeply,and only offers quickie solutions that
may not get to the heart of the matter). Still, Virgo's Mercury has to be
careful not to overresearchanything it finds interesting, as informa-
tion overload results.When well managed,earthy Mercury knows the
value of eliminating the superfluous and instead sticking to the most
essentialfacts.
ClosingComments
Wherever Virgo is in our chart points to where we are learning to
sharpen our critical faculties so that they can help us realistically as-
I
sessexisting conditions. Virgo is the enemy of faulty thinking and
delusion. It favors down-to-earth solutions to life and shuns anything
too abstractor impractical. The Analyzeris only interestedin what is
workable. It dealswith what is evident, not speculative.At times, our
I
Virgo 119
Virgo parts overreact negatively to disorder, fearing that we will be
overwhelmedby chaos.This implies that Virgo is uneasywith the
outpourings of our irrational unconscious,which can often seem
uncontrollable.
if we try to suppress
Still, we can't expectto grow in self-awareness
this powerfi.rl,sometimestranscendentdimension of our inner world.
Evenemotionality can scareVirgo, probably becauseit's unpredictable
(the unknown makes our Virgo side anxious) and also becauseit's
harder to classifr (plus emotions can makesrelationshipsmessy).We'll
haveto work harder with our Virgo energyto recognizethat fred ven-
tilating our feelingsis asimportant to our health asmaking surewe get
enough daily vitamins and minerals in our diet. It's also important to
be lesscritical of ourselvesand otherswheneverwe haveVirgo empha-
sizedin our chart.
Feuous Vrnco Tvpss (natalVirgo placementslisted)
Sophia Loren, actress:Sun,Venus,Neptune
SeanConnery, actor: Sun, Moon, Mercury, Neptune
ChrissieHynde, musician' Sun, Mercury, Venus
D. H. Lawrence,writer: Sun, Mercury, |upiter
Lily Tomlin, comedian:Sun,Venus,Neptune
Leonard Bernstein, conductor: Sun, Mercury
Note
1. The Gemini stage of life gives the appearanceof being socially oriented,
since the Twins like to pick people'sbrains and find out everyone'sopinions
about everphing. Gemini loves to feed its mind all sorts of interesting in-
formation. Still, it's main concern is intellectual self-stimulation-and if
others learn something from Gemini's communication Process,more power
to theml Gemini is more self-involved with its knowledge-gathering than
are the other air signs.By the time we get to Leo, we learn to risk creatively
extending ourselvesmore publicly to others, who then either praise or crit-
icize our "performance." Thus, other people'sreactions matter a lot to how
Leo seesitself, which createsan ego vulnerability that is lessa problem for
detachedGemini.
 ChapterFour

FromLibra
to Pisces

LrvrNc IN Two Wonr,Ps

The zodiac'sfirst six signs(Ariesto Virgo) enableus to build a solid
conceptof personalselfthat will proveindispensableto our ability to
function on an individuallevel.Oneof the most importantresultsof
this processis the developmentand fortification of our ego,the seatof
our "I"'consciousness primarily in chargeof our will to be. Interest-
ingly, two out of astrology'sthree fire signsarefound in this first half
of the zodiac,emphasizing the importanceof exercising will and ego
earlyon in our development.
If most of our planetsfall in thesefirst six signs,we'll needto focus
more directly on ourselves,to discoverour strengthsand weaknesses,
beforewe can effectivelygo out and challengeor changethe world.
We'll havevery personalissuesto addressthat overrideour engage-
ment in broader collectiveconcerns.That doesn'tmeanwe should
avoidaltruisticpursuitsuntil we first know who we areinside.Reallife
doesrt'twork like that.Yetit doessuggestthat we'dbestavoidtrying to
escapefrom who we areby insteadpouring all our energiesinto im-
personal,globalissues.(Let'snot devotea lifetime to savingthe rain
forestsfrom destructionuntil we havefirst takena cold,hard look at
our own unresolved problems-the psychological jungleinsideus.)
Avoidingour internal realitywon t keepus in goodshape,no mat-
ter how muchwe appearto contributeto societyor how mariyhonors

t27
 122 FromLibrato Pisces Libra r23

we publicly receive for our unselfish, humanitarian efforts. The day

will come when intense self-confrontation is forced on us, a time
when our personal life may become quite disruptive and filled with
]l inner turmoil. We then are made to turn our attention to our inner
self in an attempt to sort out our interior conflicts. Remember,all this
is necessaryonly if we've spent decadestrying to run awayfrom those
private dimensions of our personality symbolizedby the first six signs. Ltsne
With undue attention paid to life matters related to the first six
TakingTurns
signs,we can become too entrenchedin self-interestto the point that
l what happensto others on societal levelsmatters lessto us. We're so Glyph: f}
il wrapped up in our own little world that we truly don't care much Symbol: The Scales
about the pressingneedsof humanity. We don't feel ourselvesto be a Mode: Cardinal
part of life'sbigger picture. To remedythis tendency,the zodiac contin-
Element Air
ues its processwith six new signsthat can help us realizehow mucn we
Planet Venus/9
need to willingly support society's larger frameworks. We can play
House: Seventh
more meaningful roles in the social evolution of the collective.
Societyneedsits reformers and socialenlightenersto show the rest Motto: "We're in This Together-So Let's Share!"
of us better ways to coexist in peaceand understanding. These next
Two-Way Street
signsput us in touch with expansiveworldviews,where we shift atten-
Virgo, perhapswithout evenknowing it, setsus up for a major reori-
tion from the exclusivelypersonalto the impersonally social,and even
entation in consciousness-the Libra stage of life. The Analyzer
l to the transpersonallycosmic. Each of thesesigns also challengesthe
knows it must tone down the egocentricity of Leo if people are ever
statusquo of the first six signs.Suddenly,we feelwe aretrying to live in
going to be able to work together effectively (plus we can t have all
two worlds, and this requiresbalancedparticipation. How do we inte-
Ieadersand no followers). In fact, Virgo seeksto refine or redefinethe
grate our private needswith our public involvement?Life obviously gets
qualitiesof eachsign that camebefore it-those first five that basically
more complex aswe move from Libra to Pisces,yet the Cosmosknows
make up our individualized being. Analytical Virgo has determined
firll well that our spiritual self is up to the task of expandingour con-
that some signs have traits that are better applied to certain circum-
sciousnessand allowing us to enjoy livesof firller self-understanding.
stances,although not to others. The Analyzer realizesthat there is an
Let's now examine the dynamics of theselast six signs,keeping in
appropriate time and placeto do just about anything. We simply need
mind that the following interpretations do not necessarilyreflect the
to developgreaterdiscernment,basedon a careful,practicalstudy of
traits of peopleborn with only their Sun in any of thesesigns.Thesede-
the issuesat hand, rather than relying on intuition or gut instinct.
scriptions are more apt to reflect the temperament of individuals who
Virgo is a cool-headedsign not given over to impulse.
have severalplanets in a particular sign-especially the Sun, Moon,
To be able to even get this far in its awarenessof life suggeststhat
MercurgVenus,or Mars.
Virgo can pull back and evaluateconditions more objectivelythan any
 t24 Libra
other sign has done thus far. It's also learning how to deal with those
piecesthat don t fit so well together-a problem that definitely captures
the Analyzer'sattention-and thus, this sign is learning how to deal
with dissimilarities(things that clashtypically jarvirgoan sensibilities).
It is a sign that seriouslystudieslife's contrastingfeatures.Libra, starting
whereVirgo leavesoff, exploresthis theme evenmore intently: Can any
two things (or people) that are unalike still join forces and work to-
gethercooperatively?Or arethey foreverincompatible?
At this Libra phasewe learn to copewith factors that are different
from one another-different, but perhapscomplementary.Both Virgo
and Libra seem to have a talent for arranging things to form more
harmonious relationships.Virgo doesit to satisfr a need for order and
functional improvement,while Libra does it for more aestheticrea-
sons-harmony is a thing of beauty for Libra, not just a sensibleway
to make matters run smoothly. With this cardinal-air sign, we learn
that there are others in life with whom we can form unions basedon
equality. This concept,of two or more people being on equal footing,
had not been put forth before by the first six signs.It becomesa whole
new way to view life, but not a simpler way. TWo-waystreets invite
more traffic, and now we need to look both waysbefore crossing.
AloneNo More
Libra (whom I'll call the Balancerrather than the Scales,which sounds
too impersonal) seeksout others with whom it can mutually sharelife
experience.This means more than just wanting company to avoid
being alone (although that is partly the motive). Shared experience
usually implies there'll be at leasttwo different viewpoints to contend
with, since people rarely see eye to eye in every matter (and Libra
wouldn't enjoy that kind of union, anyway).But what if this entailstwo
completely opposite opinions-like "Let's buy a used Chevy" versus
"How about leasinga new Porsche?"
The Balancer ideally would love to reach an amiable agreement
after hearing both sidesand hammering out a solution-perhaps a
compromise-that all parties involved can live with. Apparently,Libra
Libra t25
is skilled in the art of negotiation. The airing out of contrasting ideas
is important to the Libran growth process(all air signsmust get their
thoughts out in the open, and cardinality is certainly not going to
sidetrackissues-it pushesthem to the forefront). Libra clearly wants
to get things off its chest,but it prefersventing to a committed, trust-
worthy partner rather than to a bathroom mirror, especiallyunder
harsh lighting!
Libra comesalivewhen it can interact with a partner, whether love
or war is in the air. Yet achievingjust the right balanceof give and take
is not easy,sinceLibra alsowants to be the recipient of all that it hap-
pily givesto its partner. It's not a doormat and it won't allow itself to
be used,although it takes a while to decide to put its foot down and
say,"No more!" The key to its true inner contentment comes from
Libras ability to make a marriage within itself, to harmonize its inner
parts in waysthat lead to peaceof mind-the kind that cannot come
from any relationship' no matter how intimate a couple appearsto be'
If the Balanceris secretlyout of balancewith itseli its partnerships
emphatically reflect this discord
About Those Scales
It may seemstrangethat Libra's symbol-the Scales-is the zodiac's
only inanimate object. Libra introduces the impersonal concept of
justice, an ideal that reflectsthe nature of causeand effect on moral
and legal levels-'As ye sow, so shall ye reap." Those unfettered ac-
tions taken by innocently self-seekingAries are now shown to haveso-
cial consequencesat this Libran stageof unfoldment. What is clear
here is that we can't just do whatever we please,at leastnot at the ex-
penseof others.Their needsare to be considerednow as well. We're
learning to seeboth sidesof a relationship, not just our own.
The scalesof justice don t allow for specialtreatment in this regard.
All who break the rules of proper conduct-including fair play and
common decency-will suffer penalties.What goes around, comes
around-hmmm . . . this soundslike karma in the making' Nowwe get
to realizethat inconsiderateaction can have repercussions.Libra is a
 t26 Libra
sign ofpotential backlashregardingselfishbehavioron our part (and
it only gets worse in Scorpio). At this point in the zodiac, we realize
that willful misbehaviorwill be punished-if not immediately,then at
some timely point in the future. The zodiac has now made us aware
that a day of judgment awaits.
What this also suggestsis that normally sweet,charming Libra-
on some deeperlevel-is immune to dramatic emotional pleas,clever
rationalizations, or brilliant intellectual argumentswhen it comesto a
violation of rights. The Balancerhas been wisely dubbed "the iron fi.st
in the velvet glove,"suggestingthat it can be "one tough cookie" who's
surprisingly unyielding, evenunder strained conditions. Tlue justice is
not vulnerable to human manipulation. No one is abovethe law. This
explains why Libra, when oppressivelybacked up against the wall,
would sooner die for its principles than compromise under tyrannical
pressureand lose its integrity.
This doesn't mean, once we get past its pleasing,socialveneer,that
Libra is a cold-heartedsign. The Balancertempers justice with mercy.
Yet it wouldn't be able to do so if it didn't understand human nature
very well. Remember,Libra can seeand understand many sidesof an
issue.Nothing is to be judged in rigid, black-or-white terms. A careful
weighing of diversefactors is required.
Virgo provides us with an opportunity to try to figure people out,
especiallyregardingwhy they sometimesdo the dumb things they do.
Libra goesfurther by sharpeningits understandingof human psy-
chology (while in Scorpio,we finally plumb the darker depths of the
psycheto determine what needsa total overhaul). Libran tlpes appear
to be more understanding of social misconduct becausethey can rec-
ognize conflicting motives in operation that result in such behavior.
Yet if aggravatedenough, the Balancerwill chillingly say,"Let the ax
fall so that justice is served!"Libra then becomesan agentof karmic
retribution.
Haye aNice Day?
Libra is very sensitiveto the current atmosphereit finds itself in, espe-
cially whereverpeople congregate.Observing societyin action is stim-
Libra t27
ulating for this sign. While Gemini is also a "people watcher,"it's not
alwayswilling to participate in relationshipsasfully-mutable energy
doesn't urge us to plunge into experiencein the energeticallyassertive
way that the cardinal mode does (the one mutable exceptionis Sagit-
tarius, due to its irrepressiblyfiery nature). Libran types must have
harmonious social contact on a daily basis and are quite unnerved
when somethingentersthe picture to spoil an otherwisepleasantex-
changebetweenpeople. It's a sign that believesin the cultural impor-
tanceof courteousinteractions.
SinceLibra is also learning about disharmony-the other side of
the coin-invariably somebody comes on the sceneto causea little
friction that tips the scales,typically leavingthe Balancerfeeling quite
out of sorts. (Virgo isn't keen on such disruption either,but then, this
realisticearth sign doesn'tharbor idealisticexpectationsabout other
people'sbehavior-it anticipatesthat they'll eventuallyscrewup')
Libran types need to be careful not to expresstoo much sweetness
and light, sinceit becomesvery hard for them to sincerelysustainsuch
an aura of peace(and somewho try to do so are probably suppressing
a lot of darker elementsthat then get projected on to antagonistic
people in their lives). Libra can forever play the "smiley-face"game
and pretend everything is beautiful, as long as nobody makes any
wavesor touchesa raw nerve.
The ability to handle the downside of being human is also impor-
tant to the Balancer'sinner growth. Libra even has to learn to be a
fightea and not just of socialcauses.It needsto learn how to defend
itself againstdirect, personalattack.The key is to fight fairly and intel-
ligently (somethingAries doesnt alwaysdo). Doing battle can be up-
graded to an art form, and indeed, military strategists benefit by
having natal planetsin Libra.
It's okay to be kind to others and to show consideration, but it's
not so hot when Libra feelsit's alwaysthe one bending over baclavards
to pleasethosewho'd neverthink of returning the favor.Why risk get-
ting hurt againand againby expert abuserswho only look at relation-
ships one way-their way! The Balancerneedsto lovingly permit itself
to give back as good as it gets, and to hell with having a nice day!

128 Libra
(Scorpio decidesit's going to giveback even more than it getsto those
who really have it coming, aswe'll soon see.)
LookingGood
Virgo is a sign that praisesthe virtues of good grooming-staying
clean and looking neat and presentablerequire a degreeof organiza-
tion. How freshly things smell seemsto concern this earth sign (it
knows that anything with a rotten odor is probably not in a healthy
state).Libra carriesthis theme of being well-groomedto a more ideal
; Ievel-looking marvelousis sometimesevenmore important than ac-
tually feelinggreat.Appearancemeansa lot to the Balancer,and maybe
that's becausewhen we look our best,we attract the "right" people.Yet
ri when we look like a skid-row reject,we repel them.
Libra feelsits life will run better if it takestime to doll up and pack-
ageitself asa classact.It's a sign whosemore cultivated,polished image
becomesa magnet for socialapproval.It's easyto seethe shortcomings
of only being impressedby things having such surfaceappeal.Yet Li-
bran types aren't bothered by this becausethey know they're not shal-
low at heart. They just prefer to look at things that are pretty. Why
tolerate ugly conditions? Let beauty and grace come to the rescueof
weary souls everywhere!
The Manying Kind
Libra is more than just the sign of one-on-one relationships,which can
also imply those of an adversarialnature. It's a symbol of committed
unions, and thus it governsthe traditional stateof matrimony. In this
area,the Balancerseemsmost comfortable with the conventional,legal
set-up-polygamy will neverdo (nor will that "group" marriageexper-
iment that nonconformist Aquarius sometimestalks about). Regard-
lessof sexualorientation, Libran types want an intimate partnership
that society will endorse,and the Balancer is not ashamedto admit
that it doescarewhat othersthink (it's like Capricorn in this regard).
However,Libra also knows how unfair society can be whenever it
tries to regulatethe private lives of its members (perhapshere,Libra is
at odds with rule-enforcing Capricorn for this reason).Air believesin
Libra 129
freedom of expressionfor all, and thereforeadopts a "live-and-let-
be
live" policy. But for itself, Libra would rather that its blessedunion
bound by law, if possible-so where'sthe ring?
in
The ideal arrangementin Libra's mind would be for two people
love, who have much respectfor each other, to join forces as self-de-
termined individuals, eachwith a healthy ego intact. That's a situation
the Balancerwould value the most. Libra wants a marriage of equals
(no previous sign thought of that possibility)' This suggeststhat no
per-
one is to play a parental role, or one of a helplesschild' Nor is one
Libra
son to dictate the actions that another is permitted to take.
mar-
doesn'tbelievethat partners own eachother, just becauseof a
con-
riage contract, and will balk at the thought of being unfairly
trolled or dominated.
TheproblemisthatLibrantypescanhavestormydialoguesinside
rela-
their headsthat they dare not verbalizein any ongoing, difficult
Libra
tionship, at least not for a while. Eventually the tables turn, as
treated' A
unleashespent-up anger and outrage over being poorly
Bal-
colder side emerges(thosescalesare made of hard metal) asthe
to
ancer addressesall grievancesit has suffered.It's nearly impossible
appealtoLibra'ssweetsideoncethislevelofalienationhasbeen
one
reached.Yet until that day occurs,Libra is apt to forgive its loved
again and again (but it neverforgets abuse,asit's alwayskeeping score
the
and will wait for the right time to issuean ultimatum, or elseleave
union for good).Actually,at heart, Libra wishesthat the honeymoon
just try to get
could go on and on . . . so why can't two people in love
along?
Lazy Times?
those
It,s hard to understandwhy Libra goesthrough its lazy spells,
Bull
usually reservedfor that other venus sign,Thurus. (of course,the
cre-
can be one of the hardest-workingarchetypesthe Cosmosever
real lazi-
ated,and so it doesn'tconsiderits restperiods to be akin to
and
ness.)Libra is a cardinal sign' and cardinality wants to stay active
air
on the go. Being idle is not appealingto cardinal types' Also an
sign, Libra doesnt like to stay still for too long. It prefers to socially
tl,] 130 Libra
circulate.Muyb" Libra isn't aslazyas it may appearat times (heck,Leo
ll could win the top prize here,sinceit will put off doing dull, menial
choreswhen there'sfun to be had elsewhere).
Libra is a sign that deliberatesbefore making a moye. It may even
prod others to initiate daring activity instead,so that it can sit back
and evaluatethe results by weighing the pros and cons.Yet for itself,
the Balancerwill refrain from doing things until everyrhingfeelsright,
and who knows how long that will take?When we perceiveso many
facetsof any situation, we probably havea harder time recognizingthe
one thing that we must first do to initiate action. That infamous Li-
bran indecisiveness takeshold, and we seemto be stalling for time.
Then, when we don't take effective action when others think we
should,we can appearto be lazy procrastinators.
Actually, if being a little lazy is pleasurable("I've earnedthis goof-
off time," saysLibra), then it's not such a big deal.It's probably even
what helpskeep the Balancerso even-tempered.Libra cannot handle
prolonged stresswithout having neededtension-releasingbreaksto
balanceout its energies.
Venus in Style
Venus is Libra's publicity agent, always out to make this sign look
good. Yet it's a Venus that-while seemingly sophisticated-can ap-
pear contrivedat times.Thurus'Venusgoesfor a more natural look of
beauty, something that's not so perfectly chiseledand flawless.But
airy Venusneedsa little makeup and a stylish wardrobe to createjust
the right allure. The props that ensurebeautiful resultsare important.
In some ways,this is a more seductiveVenus that literally can charm
the pants off of someone, even though Libra's Venus likes flirting
more than it does having sweatysex (leaveall that erotic sensualityto
Thurus'Venus).AiryVenus believesthat good tastemust be cultivated.
This side of Venusis more consciousand thoughtful in its develop-
ment, which fits air's mental nature well.
Whether associatedwith either Libra or Taurus,Venus is a lovely,
comforting energyto wrap ourselvesin. In Libra, it is simply more a
Libra t31
relationship-orientedand lessan object-relatedinfluence.That doesn't
mean Libra won't enjoy being surrounded by works of art (it even can
createsuch fine art); but peopleare its greaterinterest.Libra is more
open to combat, when necessary,than is Venus (partly due to the pull
of its oppositesign,feistyAries). The Balancercan be argumentative
and is stimulatedby rousing debates,while Venusshiesawayfrom any-
thing that comescloseto saber-rattlingor the need to raiseone'svoice
in protest. Still, Libra lovesto enjoy the good things in life and love, at
leastenough to satisfr Venus'refined tastes.
ClosingComments
Wherever Libra is in our chart describeswhere we don't wish to Iive
for just ourselves.We'll want to include someoneelsein our personal
activities,perhaps so that we can benefit from that person'sfeedback.
The Balancer has a mind of its own, but it does like to field the re-
sponsesof others before deciding whether it's on the right track. And
if it's off the beam, Libra will modifr its plans by incorporating the
best advice it has received.It is a reasonablesign when it comesto ac-
cepting sound suggestions,but only from those it deemsto be honest
and level-headed.It's good that Libra can be as discerning asVirgo is,
at leastwhen making sure that emotions (often someoneelse's)don't
get in the way of the mental clarity it seeks.
The more Libra is emphasized,natally,the more likeable we are-
or want to be to others. We'll put our best foot forward to make a
wonderful impressionon thosewho, we hope, will then turn around
and support our objectives.Sometimesthat meanswe'll flatter people
just to get them to join our side and sharetheir talents,but perhaps
we'll regret we did so later on, when some of thesepeople prove to be
more trouble to dealwith than they're worth. Libra is a bit of a manip-
ulator an opportunist who justifies such behavior by thinking it's co-
ordinating a project that hopefirlly will reward everyonewho happily
contributestheir share.'You'll appreciategetting involvedwith me!"
persuasiveLibra saysconvincingly.
 132 Libra Scorpio 133

Fluous LrsneN Typns (natalLibraplacements listed)

Matt Damofl,adot: Sun,Mercury Uranus
GurynethPalffow,actress:Sun,Mercury,Uranus,Pluto
F. ScottFitzgerald,writn: Sun,Mercury Venus
SigourneyWeaver,actress:Sun,Mercury,Neptune
T S, Eliot,writer: Sun,Mercury,Venus,Uranus,Ascendant
ChristopherReeve,actor: Sun,Mercury Venus,Saturn,Neptune Sconpro
All or Nothingat All
clyph:lll
Symbol The Scorpion
Mode: Fixed
ElementWater
Planet Pluto/Y
House:Eighth
Motto: "Tfust Me-You Donlt ReallvWantto KnowMy Secrets!"

Heart of Mystty
Scorpiois a fixed-watersignwith an overblownreputation for being
difficult to relaxaround.At first glance,it's definitelynot the chummy
type.DescribingScorpioasintense,penetrating,brooding,and even
volcanicmakesthis archetypesoundlike somethingthat'sbestleft
aloneto quietlylurk in dark,hard-to-reachhiding places.The warn-
ing is that unnecessarily agitatinga Scorpionwho'swithin deadly
striking distanceis a vbry bad idea.Well, there is somepsychological
truth to this,but Scorpiosurelydoesntseeitself asthe terrifring Beast
of the Abyss
Being a water sign, the Scorpionviews itself more as a sensitive
soulwho'scommonlymisunderstood by others.Why misunderstood?
Because Scorpiodoesn'twantto revealwhat it's feelingin anysimple,
forthright manner(leavethat to Aries).If anything,it only seemsto
generatea smolderingintensity that warnsothersto back off-don t
dare get too close. . . not yet, or maybenot ever.Scorpiokeepsits
power-pacftedemotionsunder lock and key,and that alonecanmake
 t34 Scorpio
others feel suspiciousand uneasy(things that Scorpio assumedit was
the only one feeling). Iust who is this masked stranger dressedall in
gothic black?Scorpio'snot too sure if it really wants you to know.
Fixed water sounds like a block of ice, which can be treacherous
when in the form of an actual iceberg,whose imposing massbelow
the oceanis hard to detect at sealevel (here,what you don't seecan be
more dangerousthan what you do). Ice is alsothe hardest,least-fluid
form of water there is. Likewise,Scorpio can be fixated in its focus and
unable at times to just "go with the flow." It doesn't melt easily.Inter-
estingly,this sign is a symbol of that which is either lava hot within us,
or asfrozen and impenetrable asthe Arctic tundra in winter. No won-
der Scorpio is considereda sign of behavioral extremes.
The Scorpion-probably as a reaction to Libra's friendly openness
to people-realizes that, while intimacy can heal, it can hurt as well.
Exposing our psychologicalinnards to another involves utmost trust,
and when we don't use good judgment regarding the partners we
pick, such exposure of our private selves can result in criticism,
ridicule, abandonment,or worse-betrayal. All water signsknow they
are quite emotionally vulnerable,but Scorpio,hating that fact, will do
whateverit takesto hide such hypersensitivity.It makesthe mistakeof
equating wlnerability with weakness(and,like Aries, Scorpio despises
weaknessesdetectedin itself and in others).
So,while often appearing stone-facedand alwaysin the iron grip
of self-control,Scorpio becomestoo emotionally cryptic and unap-
proachable for its own good. (Hey relax, Scorpio-not everyone'sa
trained bloodhound, just dying to sniff out your most guardedmys-
teries.) In spite of this standoffrshbehaviot Scorpio wonders why it so
often deeply feelsall alone, cut off from most social rituals it seesoth-
ers happily engaging in all the time. (Gee, how come they aren't so
paranoid about revealingthemselvesto others?)
Pride and Passion
All fixed signsseemto havean inborn senseof pride. Fiery Leo beams
with obvious pride in its dynamic self-expression;Iess-showyTaurus
is quietly proud of its ability to spot true value in the material world,
Scorpio 135
and evenwithout having to pay a premium price!-it's proud of its
bargain-hunting skills; Aquarius is proud that it is brilliant and free-
spirited enough to avoid following conventionalwisdom or partaking
of anything designedfor mindless,massconsumption.But the source
of Scorpio'shidden pride is harder to track.
The Scorpion can be riddled with deep insecurity, the kind that
makesits world appearuntrustworthy. Yet,just try to deliberatelyhu-
miliate a Scorpio-and then watch for signsof barely contained rage.
Scorpionic fury may be felt even before a senseof shamesetsin, if it
does at all. (Here'swhen Scorpio transforms into a screamingeagle,
shrieking "How dare you?" at the poor soul who was stupid enough to
outragethis emotionally volatile sign,especiallyif in public.)
The bottom line is that Scorpiowill not allow itself to be teased,
toyed with, scolded,or even threatened in demeaningways.Leo may
indulge in its dramatic, royal pout when its pride has been wounded,
but Scorpio aims for the jugular, at leaston those psychologicallevels
where it knows it can do more permanent damage.It's not too sure if
it can ever"play nice" again once violated by another.But what about
passion?Any sign capableof rage and fury is naturally loaded with
passionatefeelings.
In Scorpio,passion is even more intensified becauseit is often re-
strained or suppressed.Deliberatelyholding something back often
only strengthensit, yet when it does finally come out, the Scorpion's
passioncan becometoo strong and uncontrollable a force. Scorpio
types needto learn to releasetheir heatedemotions more often, before
theybuild up and becometoo hot to handle.
Total Commitment?
The commitment theme that Libra first proposed can be taken to the
nth degreein Scorpio. Libra thinks it knows how to establishhealthy
boundaries in relationships-as air needsits spaceto breathe-and it
evenwelcomesanother'sindividuality and willingness to dialogue. (It
could be saidthat Libra prefersa significant other who actsmore like a
self-honestAries, although one who's not as rough around the edges.)
 136 Scorpio
l
i "I'm this and you're that, so let's enjoy our differences,"saysLibra.
"Let's blend our dissimilarities in mutually beneficialways."
l 'Well,
enough of that nonsense,"mutters Scorpio.For perhapsun-
fathomable reasons,Scorpio types are uneasywith any partner who is
too independent and self-willed. Muybe this is becauseit's harder to
merge intensely with another who behaveslike that. Scorpio also
sensesthat such a person can and will be confrontational,the last
thing this secretivewater sign feelsit needsin any long-term union.
ill The truth is, the Cosmosdemandsthat Scorpiotypesbecomeem-
broiled in periodic confrontations that help them peel awaylayersof
secret motivation and unrevealed desire. There's so much cooking
emotionally inside Scorpiothat othersnever get to see,and this puts
them at a disadvantage.Hmmm . . . what happenedto Libra's ideal of
fair play? Has its two-way street of communication now become a
i sitive to the unseen, unspoken energies that are constantly being
dead-endroad of silence?
Scorpiois capableof putting up many psychologicalbarriers,de-
signed to forbid easyaccessto its underground world. Yet, unfairly, it
demandstotal candor and commitment from anyoneit choosesfor a
partner. That meansothers are alwaysexpectedto come clean regard-
ing their pfivate, internal life-no secretsare to be kept from the Scor-
pion! And if needed,Scorpiowill trespasson another'sterritory to get
I at any "top secret"information it feelsit must haveto stay in control.
Fixed water implies that this sign can hang on tenaciouslyto a few,
select"others" for its emotional security,and thus has a diffrcult time
letting go psychologically.(Gee,and we thought the Crab had a big
problem here,but it seemsScorpio is evenmore obsessedabout its at-
tachments!) Others may not feel the depth of commitment that stead-
fast Scorpio does,nor do they ever wish to. If Scorpiowasn't such a
control freak,maybe total commitment could feel like a warmly devo-
tional stateof caring. However,this sign is notorious for trying to do
unwanted makeoverson people, from head to toe, inside and out.
Others may not wish to be part of such a manipulative situation.
It's true that the Scorpion has a knack for picking up on other
people'shidden potential-their buried treasure-but the measuresit
ili
Scorpio t37
takesto tap that potential is what others find so intrusive and coercrve.
"I won't be satisfieduntil you become all that you were meant to be,"
is something we might expect to be told while training with an
Olympics coach,but not from a parent or a spouse.If this is what total
commitment really means-a kind of slow suffiocation-then it's time
for "loved" onesto bail out and leaveScorpioall alone,once again,to
ponder why.
DeepTherapy
Scorpio observesLibra in action, and appreciateshow sharply percep-
tive this air sign can be regardingthe human condition. Libra is able
to understand people'smental frameworks, which thus helps it view
things the way others do-but it can't necessarilyget under their skin
to uncover more. That's where Scorpio comesin. This sign is gut-sen-
transferredin close,emotionally chargedrelationships.The Scorpion
can pick up on the scent of trouble subterraneanlybrewing between
people, and it will follow any darkly lit trail until it finds the hidden
source of such tension. It will then offer transformative ways to re-
solvethe problem, or elseit will take drastic measuresto eliminate the
conflict altogether.This is at least what it would do if stuck in such a
predicament-fix it or dump it! (Libran indecisivenessis maddening
to Scorpio,who'll insteadpick at a problem until a crisis imposesa
resolution of the matter.)
Self-awareScorpio types are dedicatedto the exploration of the
mysteries of human complexity. They seekout knowledge, and per-
haps wisdom, regardingthe nature and power of our depths within-
that realm where we undergo the beginnings of metamorphic change
that later erupt to alter the entire landscapeof our outer world. The
more interior parts of our subconsciousare where we keep well-
shieldedsecretfears,hatreds,lusts, compulsions,and other discom-
forting feelings.Yet they'll continue to consumeour energyand drain
our soul if left in their toxic states.
Our Scorpio challengeis to discoverhow to stop being devital-
ized-or sometimesmonstrously overenergized-by darker facetsof
 138 Scorpio
our psychethat need to seethe light of day.When we can't find per-
sonal waysto accomplishthis, alternativeforms of therapy await those
of us brave enough to explore such inner darkness.Scorpio discovers
that it can seequite well in the dark, and thus can learn much about
itself while descendingdeeperinto its shadowy underworld.
Feeling Sexy?
The Cosmos once warned Scorpio that its archetypal assignment
would be a tough but critically important one, and that this sign may
at times feel cursed by those samepowerful energiesit seemsto love
the most. Sexualenergy is one such mixed blessing.Taurus actually
got the sexthing going a while back and found it a pure pleasure.(Ap-
parentlp the Bull doesn'tthink twice about a casualroll in the hay.If it
feels good, do it-and then maybe make a sandwich and take a nap
later.) Sextends to be more of a fertility rite for body-loving Taurus,
who feelssomething fruitfrrl could come out this natural, earthy expe-
rience. It's at least relaxing.
However,things get more complicatedfor Scorpio,who knows it'll
use sexualconquestto get at something elsein another person,to per-
haps dislodgesome concealedemotion. Sexthus is usedto provoke,as
well as satisfr, a partner. Sex also helps the Scorpion releaseits own
enigmatic intensities,helping this sign come alive in rejuvenatingways.
Mere erotic pleasureis sometimesthe last thing on Scorpio'smind-it
instead seeksa total upheaval of the senses,perhaps triggered by a
powerfrrl orgasmicresponse,asMount St. Pluto blows its lid!
It's odd that the zodiac's"sexiestsign alive" is also one that can suf-
fer from intimacy hang-ups.Scorpio is more self-consciousabout sex
than folks would realize (it's a highly introspective sign and one
plagued by a perfectionistic streak-something it "borrowed" from
Virgo when it wasn't looking). The Scorpion fearsbeing exploited for
its sensuousappetites,yet it also dreadsbeing overlookedor evenun-
derrated as a sex object-"What, you don't find me sery?" And it's
more performance-sensitive than it caresto admit. It's also hard to
truly relax when you're this much of a psychic sponge, constantly
soaking up other people'shidden feelings.Scorpio typically processes
Scorpio 139
too many conflicting energiesat once,and thus has a hard time losing
itself even in the moment of sexualsurrender.
DeathWish
Scorpiois the sign of deathand permanentclosure.None of the pre-
vious sevensigns ever thought much about dying until Scorpio came
along (actually,Leo worried once about possibly blowing its lines and
"dying" on stage-but it never contemplatedphysical death,the final
extinguishing of waking consciousness).In Scorpio,we become aware
that, asmortal beings,our life clock is ticking away.Eachof us is allot-
ted only so many ticks until our earthly sojourn is over. Scorpio has
made peacewith this, probably becauseit wisely sensesthat a different
dimension of consciousness awaits us after our body dies. Scorpio
knows that many invisible levels of awarenessexist, simply becauseit
traffics in them daily. Although Scorpio may fight the death process
(it's even a medical "cat with nine lives" who exhibits amazing recu-
perative power), at some point it will need to willingly releasesuch
control and resistance,and allow for this final transition.
Meanwhile,the Scorpion realizesthat it must undergo many other
"deaths" in this lifetime. Not all of its fixations turn out to be magnif-
icent obsessions.Much inner darknessmust be dispelledfor those
Scorpios types who choose to deal with life's slings and arrows by
vengefrrllyretaliating.Toxichostility, resultingfrom long-term, seething
resentments,needsto die. The urge to destroy others who have emo-
tionally wounded Scorpio needsto die. And the poisonous flames of
jealous rage also need to be snuffed out for good. Anyone seeking
deeperself-understandingwould wish for the deathsof thesetrouble-
somepsychologicalcomplexes.
Actually, this sign has little choice:Redeemall of that darknessor
suffer in isolation. Scorpio can easilyturn evenits destructiveenergies
within, stinging itself again and again, whenever it feels ultimately
powerlessto control things in the outer world. This self-defeatingin-
stinct must alsobe killed off if the Scorpion is to psychologicallysur-
vive its trials in life and becometruly empoweredin all the best ways.
 140 Scorpio
BacktoLife
Scorpio is pressuredto resurrectitself during those grueling times
when it has emotionally bottomed out (devastatedScorpio types can
feel depressivelylow about themselvesin self-punishing ways). No
other sign, exceptperhapsfor Pisces,can reach such gloomy inner
depths of pain and remorse.Of course,no other sign learnsto grow as
much from such difficult, emotional states.Anyway'this is not where
Scorpio is meant to staytrapped forever.It's hard-wired to soar like an
eagle,once it vibrantly brings itself back to life (note that Scorpio's
stinger,pointing upward, resemblesSagittarius'arrow-implying that
the concentrated energy in that stinger must be transmuted and
aimed in the right direction before it can become a power source of
inspiration).
Being one of the final six signs,Scorpio is interestedin the welfare
of society. It's no saint-and it even acknowledgesthe educational
value of sin-but it is awarethat true social transformation involves
healthy human interconnections.Libra provides a few guidelinesthat
Scorpio takesa step further. Libra's focus is on the outer packagingof
harmonious, stress-freerelationships.It tries to stay on the whole-
some,upbeat side of human contact.Yet with Scorpio comesan un-
settling awarenessof the shadow elementsof deeperrelating,those
less-observableenergiesunderpinning any close,complex union. The
Scorpion is sensitiveto what is problematic in partnerships,to what
needs fixing (even surgery). It therefore has an understanding of all
people who are having a diffrcult time relating to others in life.
One result of this sensitivity is Scorpio's magnetic attraction to
psychology in all its ramifications. What makes anybody become
twi3ted and bitter enough to ruin their chancesfor intimacy and hap-
piness in relationships?That's what the Scorpion wants to know, as
well as why some people feel like losers'loners, outsiders,undesir-
ables,outcasts,and other social rejects.(In contrast,Piscesdoesn't
need to know "why"; it just acceptsand loves thesefolks, regardless.)
Scorpio doesfeel empathy for those who don't neatly fit society'sdef-
inition of "normal." The Scorpion suspectsthat if it really were to spill
i
D
.-,
I
Scorpio 141
out all its own secretfeelingsand desires,it could becomea prime tar-
get for social rejection, aswell.
Pluto's Heat
Pluto is a planet that never takesthe easyway out. It's asgood at com-
plicating life as its associatedsign, Scorpio. Both planet and sign will
deeplyprobe into the human condition, searchingrelentlesslyfor qual-
ities and traits that need to be overhauled-except that Phfio really
meansit! Scorpiobattlesbetweendefensivelyholding on to its shadow
stuff versus blasting it all to smithereens-at least those parts that
refuseto be creativelyrecycled.Pluto shows awesomedetermination
when fearlesslyenforcing major change(stubbornnessand insecurity
are not Plutonian characteristics).Yet fixed Scorpio resistsbeing pres-
sured to totally alter itself, unlessthe final orders come from within.
Superficialitiesturn offboth Scorpioand Pluto. What doesinterest
them-which they then pursue obsessivelyand enduringly-are sub-
ject matters that most people find uncomfortable to explore.These
two intense astrological influences describe individuals who have a
gutsy boldnessand a need to know the gritty, uncensoredrealities of
life, dark asthey may be. Pluto and Scorpio can also appearcalm or at
leastrestrainedon the outside,which is deceptive.Their still waters
not only run deep,but can transform into a constant state of boiling
that can psychologicallyscaldthe unsuspecting.A challengefor Pluto-
nians and Scorpio types is to keep their emotions from becoming too
concentratedand overpowering.The more such feelingsare held in,
the more forcefully they erupt when provoked.
ClosingComments
Wherever Scorpio is in our chart describeswhere we best not take
things at facevalue.Life will give us good reasonsto dig deeplyhere to
uncover those unseenelementsthat control our situations more than
we realize.Naivet6,on our part, can ultimately do us in. We'll instead
need to be more watchful and observantof subtletiesin others (the ol'
eagle-eyeapproach).We will also need to be lessobvious about our
own intentions, sincewe are learning about the value of remaining
 142 Scorpio Sagittarius t+J
=
silent. It's good to hold back somewhat and quietly study the situa-
:'
tion, wherever our Scorpio is. Others may scrutinize us here as well,
yet we shouldn't make it so hard for them to contact our deeperside.
Typically it's our job to pay keener attention to what's happening in
our relationships, even if doing so makes us feel unsettled or angry
about what we're unearthing.
Sometimes,too much Scorpionic self-control getsin the way of SncrrreRIUS
5
healthy emotional growth, as we bottle up feelingsthat later blow up *
= BigWorldOutThere
and make a big messin our lives for a while. But maybethat's how all-
E

or-nothing Scorpio likes it-hold emotions in, then violently explode, Glyph: /
clean up the debris, clear the slate, and start freshly empowered all Symbol: The Archer
over again! Indeed, Scorpio symbolizesa processoften requiring that Mode: Mutable
we separatefrom our past-sometimes by force-and then bravely Elemenf Fire
learn deeper self-suffrciencyby embracing a new life, where every-
Planet |upiter/4
thing seemsdifferent and yet compelling to us. A force within our soul
House: Ninth
is now strong enough to handle whatever the Cosmos has in store.
We're a survivor who's enjoying a well-neededrebirth. Motto: "I BelieveWe'reAll Here to Do Some Good!"

Feuous Sconpro Tvpss (natal Scorpioplacementslisted) Endless

lourney
GraceKelly, actress:Sun, Mercury, Mars, Ascendant
It's time to loosen up, since we're now moving from Scorpio's com-
Pablo Picasso,artist: Sun, Mercury
pressedworld of emotional introspection to the high adventuresof
Marie Curie, physicist-chemist:Sun, Mercury, Venus,Mars, Saturn
mind and soul sought by a spirited fire sign who loves celebratingthe
Martin Scorsese,director: Sun, Mercury, Venus,Mars
grander designsof life. Scorpio feelscompelledto plumb its depths in
JodieFoster,actress:Sun, Mercury, Venus,Neptune
darkness,but Sagittariusinstead seeksthe sunniest of daysto explore
Robert Kenneily,politician: Sun, Mars, Saturn
the immensity of human experienceon a global scale.This easilyin-
spired sign feelslike it's on somebig mission of great collectivemean-
ing. In some ways,Sagittariusrepresentsthe wondrous fruits of soul
resurrection achievedby Scorpio-it thus takesjoy in the unfoldment
of the future. Here we happily take to the expansiveikies of a higher
consciousness,one that allows us broader visions of what is and of
what can be. The Archer enthusiasticallyviews life in this wide-angled
manner, and tries to uplift the rest of us so that we'll do the same.
Mutable Sagittarius representsfire in its most restlessexpression
(which meanssomething more than just being overactive,likeAries).
The botdnessof fire suggestedhere is lessphysical than intellectual,
 I44 Sagittarius
and the journeys to be taken are more geographicalthan psychologi-
cal. The Archer does not easily internalize its energies-it figures,
"Haven't we already had enough of that in Scorpio?"Sagittariusmay
believe in the hellish dimensions in which Scorpio has sometimes
found itself trapped, but it surely doesnt want to go there any time
soon. It's packing its bagsfor other trips to take-the fun kind filled
with awesomediscoveries.
Wherever we have Sagittarius in our chart, we'll need to wander
far from our familiar, comforting security symbols,the ones typically
reinforcedby our family conditioning. Travel,alone,puts us in contact
with what is different from our background. The Archer realizesthat,
ideally, we humans are all the same-but culturally, we certainly are
not! Mutability lends a curiosity about how people and things work,
and the pioneering spirit of fire helps Sagittariusfeel it's on a quest-
in this case,a quest for understanding the world atlarge. The Archer
hopes its journeys will never come to an end.
CommunitySpirit
This is the third and last fire sign of the zodiac.Fire alwaysseemsto
usher in new experiences,and here it can be said that Sagittariusex-
posesus to more inclusive levelsof human interaction. It's interested
in how society,for better or worse, impacts the lives of many and not
just of the few. Confronting "the big world" implies dealing with
strangers,and not necessarilyon a close,one-to-onebasis.Sagittarius
finds itself concerned with what's happening "over there," any place
far away,evenon the other side of the world. The Archer is learning to
develop an international awarenessof how varied all societiescan be
due to their cultural interests,their moral standards,their art, their
language,and even their honored religions. Sagittariusfind itself en-
thralled with all the facetsthat make eachsociety unique.
Evencloserto home, the Archer seeksto move beyond the personal
dynamics of family life and into the broader fields of community in-
volvement. This is the first sign to want to encounter people from all
walks of life. It's not afraid of strangersor strangenessin others,which
Sagittarius 145
helps it warm up to matters of universal interest; Sagittariussupports
human diversity. Thus, the thought of reaching out and connecting
with people, in an attempt to createa more ideal society,is very ap-
pealingto this civic-minded sign. Sagittariusis the "do-gooder" of the
zodiac,the one alwaystrying to drum up good cheerbetweenpeople.
It tries to promote ideals and visions that will fire others up, so that
they,in turn, will enthusiasticallycontribute somethingof socialworth
that raisesthe awarenessof many.
The Archer's mutability indicatesthat its growing mental interests
keep changing. This sign doesn't seek to buiid enduring structures
that result in entrenchedtraditions (eventhough it's the sign associ-
atedwith organizedreligion). Sagittariusinsteadtakeson the role of a
social prophet, the one to show others "the light" in hopesthat some-
thing big and beautiful will come out of any revelationsthat this sign
upliftingly offers. The dream of a model society-one that honors
individuality and freedom-is what Sagittariushasin mind. Of course,
it's a naive vision that doesn'ttake into accountthe need for rules and
regulations (Capricorn takesover those necessaryparts of society-
building).
If everyonewas equally high-minded, honest, and decent-as the
Archer feelsitself to be- then perhaps few, if any,lawswould need to
be made and enforced.We'd insteadalwaysbe doing the right thing in
ways that benefit everyone.Lofty, idealistic Sagittariusdoesn't always
understand why society'sironclad codesare so inflexible, and thus it
fights againstall authoritative restriction while thinking, "These dumb
laws don't apply to me!"
GottaHaveTruth
The concept of Tiuth may seemabstractand arbitrary to some signs,
but it is of vital importance to the Archer.A world of theoreticalpossi-
bilities openswide for this ever-expandingsign,who's in hot pursuit of
knowing what the Universeis really all about. Is there one overarching
Tiuth that determinesthe "real" nature of all elsethat exists?Is this what
God is all about, or evenwhat physicistshavenamed "unified theory,"

146 Sagittarius
which speculateson the possible-and asyet unproven-existence of a
single,determining law that can explain all fundamental energyinterac-
tions in existence?Leaveit to Sagittariusto ponder the workings of life
on eventhis cosmica scale.The big picture can get mighty BIG for this
sign!
One problem here, in defining Truth, is that fire signs are not all
that objective about anything they feel strongly about. Sagittariuses-
peciallywants to plainly seethat which it alreadybelievesto be true, in
its heart. It claims to seekthe ultimate reality underlying anything,
but it has a gullible, credulous nature that keepsit from recognizing
life's lessglorious side.The Archer is not realistic or detachedenough
to handle life's more depressingtruths.
Whatever it wholeheartedlybelievesin is something that it deems
to be absolutelytrue and right for all, not just for itself. That's when it
is more than willing to get on its soapbox and proclaim stuff like,
"Everyonewill need to become a vegetarianbefore they can find true
inner peace!"It's typical for Sagittariusto make such flat-out state-
ments that sound a bit on the dogmatic side.There is a "know-it-all"
quality to this sign that suggestsit doesnt easilyrecognizeall sidesof
any issue,just the one it preaches-it feelsit's correct about its beliefs,
and everyoneelseis a poor, unenlightenedsoul needing to be shown a
higher path in life.
The Archer puts much stock in universal principles that guide hu-
manity's development.It has faith in all unseeninfluencesthat benev-
olently help shapethe course of human destiny and even the fate of
nations. Sweepingassumptionsabout how things "really are,"in terms
of universal energies,are fortified by the Archer's certainty that its vi-
sions reflect clarity and purity, leaving little room for distortion.
(Sagittariuswas undoubtedly the first sign to utter thesewords, "God
has spoken to me, and He said . . .") It's nearly impossible to convince
Sagittarius, once inspiration has taken over its entire being, that it
could be all wrong about its cherishedbeliefs.
=
Sagixarius 147
Jolly SaintNick?
Sagittariusrepresentsa part of human nature that is willing, in most
cases,to give more than it getsback from others. Not even normally
gracious,agreeableLibra is willing to do that (and when it does,it
often backfires for the Balancer).Yet it seemsas if the Archer has an
inborn senseof abundanceand a surplus of goodwill that allows it to
be generousin spirit. It never feelslike it's a loser-at leastnot when it
still can freely give of itself to a world in need.Sagittarianemphasisin
our chart showswhere we can be like SantaClaus, readyto hand out
bag loads of gifts for the happinessof all. Theseare typically gifts of
the mind and spirit that we offer. The Archer,like Leo,has a big heart,
but is driven to give for less-egocentric
reasons,and isn't asprone to
dictate how others are to use its gifts, except as joyously and un-
selfishlyas possible.
Sagittariusis a firm believer in the importance of doing good
works. It knows the big world has big needsthat only those blessed
with ongoing hope and optimism can fuIfiU, but certainly not cynics
and misers.Sagittariusgetsasfar asit doesin life becauseit really likes
people.This is probably the zodiac'smost gregarioussign, one that
doesn't seem to mind at all who it gets to rub shoulders with-the
more the merrier-as long asthe energylevel remainshigh and every-
one'sfeeling full of pep and enthusiasm.Plus Sagittariuscan be quite
boisterous.Still, evenif sometimestoo loud and going overboardwith
glee,the cheeryArcher is only trying to bring a smile to others and get
us all to laugh ("Ho, ho, ho"), and maybe eventeachthe world to be
thankfirl for its blessings.
Nature Trail
Sagittariusactivelyenjoysthe great outdoors,perhapsmore so than
any other sign. Of course,Taurus loves Nature's quiet, maternal side,
1
l especiallyfrom the security of the Bull's own backyard. Taurus not
t
I only likes to patiently grow plants from seed,it also desiresto stay
t
I
protectively closeto its well-tended garden patch, where it can watch
the vegetativeprocessslowly unfold. As Taurus relaxesin its familiar
 =
148 Sagittarius
natural settings,it is soothed by the animal sounds that abound, by
the fragrant scentsin the ait and by the comforting warmth of the
sun's rays-things that are all pleasingto the senses.For the Bull, the
living is easywhen Nature is at its most green and fertile stage.How-
l ever,the kind of nature experiencethat the Archer getsexcited about
goesway beyond the birds and the bees.
Climbing Mount Everestis more a robust Sagittarianinterest than
potting pink petunias. For the Archer, the natural world is something
to be adventurouslyexploredrather than just appreciatedfor its beauty
while we rest in a hammock on alazy, summer day. Fire is forever on
I
the go,burning up its energywith vigorous activity. Mutability doesn't
like staying still for long and will take off in many directions. Thus,
Sagittariusis happy when running, riding a bicycle,flying a plane,sail-
ing a ship, taking a train, or hiking on a nature trail.
Sagittarius therefore likes to be in movement while it's enjoying
Nature. And it loves to combine the outdoors with elements of risk
and excitement,resulting in activities such asskydiving, hang-gliding,
skiing, big-game hunting, and white-water rafting. There is obviously
a recklessside to the Archer, who seldom feelsit's in mortal danger-
after all, how could something that's so much fun be perilous? Sagit-
tarius reminds us, "You gotta have faith that the angels are always
watching out for you!"Amazingly, such a trusting attitude works well
for this sign, perhaps more than is warranted.
FaithHealing
A refinement of the ego is what mutable fire suggests. Aries and Leo
can be fairly self-centeredin the pursuit of their goals-especially the
Ram-but Sagittarius'ego satisfactionis tied to the role it plays in
helping society improve. Sagittariusis not a power freak (although it
is sandwichedin betweentwo signs-Scorpio and Capricorn-that
have the potential to be so). The Archer wishes for great things to
i
happen to all people, not just to itself, and thus is lessself-seekingin
its aspirations.
Fire usually believesin its own ability to direct its life, without out-
side interference.Aries and Leo haveno trouble doing that, but Sagit-
I I
i
i
I
Sagittarius 149
tarius is flexible and open-minded enough to yield to outside author-
ity-that is, a supremeauthority: the vast,underlying CreativeIntelli-
gencethat ensouls all that exists.Whether called God or Spirit, this
boundlessconcept of divinity at work is thus born in Sagittarius.
Great faith is placedin an unseen,protectiveguidancethat benevo-
lently helps the Archer along on its life journey.
Relying on faith to get what it wants-instead of sheerego asser-
tion-is what puts Sagittarius in a category all its own. No previous
sign had ever looked for inner support from spiritual sources,al-
though Scorpio felt close to doing so at times when its own darker
moods led to desperationand despair.No sign, until now, has consid-
ered the possibility that a Universal Mind exists.Sagittarius is not a
mystical sign (that's Pisces).It does like to have its spiritual beliefs
backed up by more concrete frameworks (perhaps a venerableholy
book, if not an actual visionary leader to provide the answers).There
is a surprisingly orthodox sideto the Archer that seeksto uphold even
ancienttraditions and rituals.Whateverits beliefs,Sagittariusattests
to the healing power of hope and faith, seeingthem asforcesfor good
that can move both mighty mountains and human hearts.Without
Sagittarianfaith, life may seem bleak, meaningless,and much too
worldly in heavy,oppressiveways that wear down our souls.
Luckof thelrish?
Less-philosophicalSagittariantypes-those who choosenot to de-
pend on divine guidance-still can't help but note that they can be
pretty darn lucky throughout their lives. They've seen a few times
when situations could haveturned out much worse than they did, all
becauseof fortuitous, last-minute events(theseare the folks who, due
to an unexpectedtraffic jam, fail to catch a plane, only to hear later
that it crashedminutes after takeoff). Is this dumb luck? Maybe so,
but Sagittariuswill eventuallywant to know why it's been singled out
for protections that others apparently never receive.
Evennonreligious Sagittariantypes-when things are going a little
too well-will find themselveslooking upward, wondering, "Thanks,
but why me?" It will be a test of the ego to seeif this sign s famous
 150 Sagittarius
lucky streak will make the Archer assumethat it's alwaysgoing to be
the privileged one who's never slated to undergo hardships in life.
Sagittarius may arrogantly believe itself to be immune to ordinary,
human limitations.
Luck may be well deserved.Its source-not necessarilysomething
magical or angelic-may stem from the state of well-being dwelling
inside good-naturedSagittarius.Fortunateoutcomesbecomethe re-
sult of the Archer's deepacceptanceof plenitude in life. Positivethink-
ing actslike a magnet, drawing in advantageousconditions. This sign
actsas if it was born with a Master'sdegreein prosperity conscious-
ness.It is preprogrammedto expectgain, not loss,to anticipatethe
best,not the worst. It trusts that life unfolds with basicallygood inten-
tions, and that the future looks promising, not dismal.AII this addsup
to create powerful energy currents that manifest as lucky breaks in
life. This isn't dumb luck at all-it's the smart kind!
High-Spiritedlupiter
|upiter is the planet associatedwith Sagittarius. The solar system's
biggestmember finds itself at home with a sign that lovesto keep en-
larging its perceptionsof life. Both planet and sign show an interest in
stretching our mental potential. They urge us to increaseour ability to
know all about the world around us, especiallyin terms of under-
standingits larger patternsof meaning.]upiter is buoyant enoughin
attitude to relate to equally exuberant Sagittarius.Together,they pro-
mote an upbeat philosophy of living that helps our spirit soar to
greaterheights of awareness.
Fiery fupiter showsthe sameinfectious enthusiasmthat the Archer
does,but it is able to sustain its exhilaration for longer periods of
time, due to its greaterdevotional streak.It's lessrestlessfor change
than is Sagittarius,a sign as notorious asAries for its short attention
span (that's probably becausethe Archer knows there is so much in
life to which it wants to become exposed,and yet there is so little
time to do it all-whereas Aries'lack of enduring attention is more a
caseof disinterest).
Sagittarius 151
Sagittarius,being mutable in disposition, is prone to waver,waffle,
switch sides,weaselout of things, passthe buck, or renegeat the last
minute-especially when it's starting to feel trapped by a commit-
ment (mutable signs alwaysthink they have a perfect right to change
their minds, no matter what they've previous promised-and this is
doubly the casefor the fiery Archer). But all the fire planets (Sun,
Mars, and fupiter) are fi.lledwith the drive and courageto blaze on, as
if impervious to obstaclesin their path. |upiter would rather think it
will succeedin its endeavorsthan fail. Why bail out when you know
you re going to end up a winner? Of course, both Sagittarius and
|upiter can be victims of poor judgment (maybe more so overconfi.-
dent |upiter). They lack the power of discrimination found in Virgo
and the earthy side of Mercury, and thus they'll need to pay closer at-
tention to life's smaller but critical details.
ClosingComments
Wherever Sagittarius is in our chart describeswhere life is trying to
show us how good things can be, if only we'd just have more trust in
ourselves.Fear or narrow-mindedness never works in our favor here
(or probably anywhereelse).Yet sloppy thinking, basedon a reluc-
tanceto apply a little logic and reasonto our circumstances,can result
in big disappointments.We overestimateour potential, or misjudge
what our environment can offer us. Also, the grassis not always
greenerelsewhere,so let's be carefirl not to literally run awayfrom any
current problems needingto be squarelyaddressed(thosesameprob-
lems will crop up in our new locale).Actually if we try to get in better
contactwith our spiritual self-our trusty inner guide-situations can
turn out very well for us. Our faith can createa few miracles,within
reason.But procrastination or unrealistic expectationskeep us from
feeling rewardedby life.
Our Sagittarian parts also urge us to get beyond our petqr, small-
world concernsby volunteering to do something noble and inspira-
tional to help societyraiseits consciousness. Give us big, important
socialprojectsto energeticallycrusadefor, onesthat promote the wel-
fare of others on broad, humane levels.Yet Sagittariusdoesn'twant to
 152 Saginarius = Capricorn 153

be all alone championing such campaigns.It needsto network with

people of good faith and honorable intentions. (However,Libra is will-
ing to teach the Archer about the art of tact, since one of Sagittarius'
less-attractivetraits is that it's too blunt in its observationsand judg-
ments about society'sshortcomings.Libra suggestsdipping into diplo-
macy's honeypot to sweetenthe Archer's fiery rhetoric.) Sagittarius
points out where we havea talent for spreadingthe right vibes needed
to boost team spirit, the kind most necessaryfor fi,rlfillinghigh-minded CepnIconN
goals. A Slow,SteadyClimb
Feuous Secrrrenre.N TypBs (natal Sagittariusplacementslisted) Glyph: R
Noel Coward, songwriter-acfor.'Sun, Mercury, Saturn, Uranus
Symbol: The Goat
Margaret Mead, anthropologist: Sun, Mercury, Uranus
Mode: Cardinal
Mark Twain, author-humorisf.' Sun,Venus,Mars
Element Earth
Tina Turner, singer:Sun, Mercury, Venus
Wlliam Blake,poet-artist: Sun, Mercury, |upiter Planet: Saturn/h
Bette Midler, singer-actress:Sun, Mercury House: Tenth
Motto: "Life Makes Me Wait-But I'm Worth It!"

Let's Get Serious

The initial spark of personalself-interest-symbolized by Aries-has
by now gone through a major processof maturation by the time we
arrive at the Capricorn stageof development.One result of this is an
awarenessof our individual responsibility to help build a strong soci-
ety based on enduring collective values. Social structure on a large
scaleis what intereststhe Goat. Sagittariusgaveus the vision and the
ideals needed to theoretically improve the human condition, but
Capricorn provides the organizational know-how to makeworthy so-
cial dreamscome true. The Goat is readyto deal with the masseson a
serious,committed basis,typically by taking on of6.cesof leadership
and responsibility. This cardinal-earth sign is a dynamic mix of duty
(earth) and the push to makethings happen (cardinal). Capricorn can
be assertivein how it tries to take control over societalmatters, and is
ambitious and eagerto merit approval from those already operating
from high positions.

,l
 154 Capricorn
Capricorn vows to make society a safe and orderly place for its
hard-working,law-abidingmembers.One way to ensurethis, at least
in Capricorns eyes,is to set up rules and regulations designedto keep
the massesfrom creating instabilities that could lead to anarchy-the
Goat'sworst nightmare is a lawlessworld run amok. Someone'sgot to
be in chargeof it all! Thus, the rolespeople play in life-especially our
professional roles-are very important to Capricorn. Everyonemust
servea neededsocial function and be productive if society is to keep
from falling apart.
Capricorn is aware of Sagittarius' many inspired social theories,
but the wise Goat will only implement those few broad-basedcon-
ceptsthat havepractical, timely value. This is perhapsthe most realis-
tic, no-nonsensesign of the zodiac,and one that doesn'twant to waste
its energy in the pursuit of unworkable objectives.Capricorn has a
healthy regard for things that endure, things that start off having a
solid framework. Dealing with such worldly issuesis seriousbusiness
to the well-organizedGoat, who truly feels its mission in life is to
help chart the courseof collectivedevelopment in sound and sane
ways.(Startingwith Sagittarius,the life themesof the last four signs
becomeincreasinglypeople-orientedon more impersonallevels.The
needsof the massesare consideredmore important than thoseof the
individual.)
Born Old
It has been commonly observedthat Capricorn entersthe world pos-
sessinga wisdom normally reservedfor the eldersof any tribe, not its
youngestmembers.It's not so much what the Goat saysat an early age
that givesthis impressionof being a sage-since Capricorn tends to
be reservedin youth and may not evenflow with y/61d5-i1's that this
sign has a sawy way of sizing up adults in a manner that allows it to
partake of their world much earlier on than the other signs.Capricorn
studies power roles in society and finds the benefits of all prestigious
positions quite appealing.It is thus willing to behavein the self-disci-
plined, obedient manner neededto claim such power and privilege for
Capricorn 155
itself-amazingly, many Goat types understand all this by the time
kindergarten rolls around!
Young Capricorn types know that grownups are suckersfor a well-
behavedchild, one who alsojust so happensto be an expert at "kissing
up" to authorities to gain their respectand admiration. This may
sound opportunistic, yet it's not due to being phony, since Capricorn
naturally excelsin calculatedbehavior,a byproduct of its cautious dis-
position. It doesn't like feeling out of control, and showsunchildlike
restraintand composure.It also aims to please,although not in a Li-
bran sense,where the specificgoal is to be loved and liked.
The Goat instead catersto the expectationsof others in hopes of
making a good impression,one that later paysoff when embarking on
the road to worldly success.(Capricorn, very concernedabout its rep-
utation, will work hard to make sure its credentialsare impeccable-
how can it expectto enter society'supper echelonswithout them?)
Evenat a tender age,this sign knows it hasduesto pay before it will be
allowed to become somebody important in life-nothing comes for
free in the Goat'sworld, and certainly not without dedicatedeffort.
Sterling Citizen
Much has been made of Capricorn'stendencyto be so one-pointed
about its ambitions that it can become cold-hearted, ruthless, and
power-driven. In real life, most Capricorn types know, historically
speaking,that brutal dictators in societyeventuallyfall from power in
a state of disgrace,and are forever hated for having suppressedthe
masses.This is notwhatthe Goat wants for itself-a humiliating end-
ing and a permanent stain on its standing in the world.
Still, in professionalmatters-when operating in the seatof com-
mand-Capricorn can appear as the stern parent who's alwaysready
to crack the whip or lay down the law. It demandsfocus and efhciency
from all involved. ("Work as hard as I do if keeping your position
meansanything to youl'warns the Goat authority in charge.)Capri-
corn can thus become a hard taskmasterwho can intimidate weaker
souls or thosewho lack direction. It's not trying to scareanyoneneed-
lessly-it simply wants the best performance possible from those it
 156 Capricorn
employsor doesbusinesswith. There'sa low tolerancefor incompe-
tent folks who messup and indirectly make the Goat look bad.
Yet behind this apparentbossystreak-and this need to socially
advance-is this sign'sunderlying belief that its destiny involves con-
tributing something meaningful and lasting to society.It knows it's
not here to live merely for itself, but instead to help build something
that is of social worth to many, something that benefits the world.
Capricorn knows its goalsrequire it to keep climbing the mountain of
ambition until it reachesthe summit. It's only from this peak that it
can demonstrate its expert skills of management and organizational
enterprise.And it is driven to act in honorable waysthat earn society's
praise. It may seem tough and determined when achieving its set
goals,but integrity is on its side.The Goat'shumility is not alwaysap-
parent, but it keepsthis sign grounded,no matter how successfulits
life turns out.
Fame
Capricorn also has a side to it that wants to be recognizedas some-
body special,exceptthat it is not alwayssure if it's worthy of such ele-
vated status.Leo never doubts that it's a born superstar,but the more
down-to-earth Goat frowns on those who unnecessarilyshow off
their greatness.It alsobelievesnothing in life is to be given freely on a
silver platter. If anything, Capricorn's early introduction to the limita-
tions of the world left an indelible impression: Climbing to the top in
society requires constant struggle and perseverance-and most of all,
sure-footedness.
Bouts of self-doubt and discouragementplaguethe Goat,yet surges
of inner strength and fortitude compel it to become a high achiever,
one who can surpassall former limitations. None of this comesabout
becauseof sheerwill. Capricorn works unendingly at whateverit even-
tually becomesfamous for (and being a cardinal sign, it alwaysfeelsit
needsto accomplish more and more. Cardinal signs sometime never
know when to quit pushing.).
Not all Capricorn types are born to experiencefame-at least not
in a glamorous, Hollywood sense-but they do need to feel sincerely
Capricorn 157
recognizedfor their dedicatedefforts within their chosenfields of so-
cial contribution. Careerstatustypically becomesimportant, as do all
the perks that come with social prominence (like Leo, the Goat de-
mands first-classtreatment,but only once it has earnedit). Yet if all
this is apparently not forthcoming-and the Goat will patiently wait
before finally giving up-a senseof being defeatedby a cold, uncaring
world can createbitternessand a slump of depression(even reaching
the top and then disappearingfrom the spotlight, due to eventsbe-
yond the Goat'scontrol, can prove devastating).Smarter Capricorn
types sensethat fame may come at a steepprice, so they're careful not
to want it too much-but if the Fatesand the public insist, well, that's
another story!
GettingChilly?
Maybe due, in part, to its associationwith the winter solsticeand Sat-
urn, Capricorn representsthings that are on the chilly side.Coldnessat
leastsuggestsa lack of surfaceheat. The Goat may not appearwarmly
emotional, and can seema bit icy in temperament-especially when it
hasbeen humiliated in public and its first instinct is to withdraw (even
if it insteadstandsfirm and aggressively defendsits honor).
Yet,like Pisces,the Goat can be a chameleon,in that it easilyslips
into socially appropriate behaviors that others expect under certain
conditions (meaningthat Capricorn can effectivelyappearconvivial in
socialcircumstancesthat call for an engagingoutgoingness).Capricorn
doesn't feel it's faking anything here. It is simply adapting to the re-
quirementsof the moment in waysthat give it the advantageneededto
succeedin its ambitions.This, again,is not consideredphoninesson
Capricorn'spart-it's a strategicmove.The Goat alwayshas darn good
reasonsfor behavingthe way it does,yet seldom is it evertruly caught
off guard in a manner that exposesits hidden vulnerabilities.
Still, its cool and reservedside can lead others to assumethat
Capricorn is uncaring (the same could be said of its opposite sign,
Cancer-at leaston those moody dayswhen the Crab usesits shell as
a shield).The Goat seemsto be "all-business"in its demeanor,leaving
the impression that-although crisp, effrcient, and tightly organized
 158 Capricorn
-it is somewhat flat in its feeling nature. Earth signs never go too
crazy with the expressionof emotion, yet Capricorn is such a tradi-
tionalist who's sentimental about things of the past that it can get
awkwardly misty-eyed. That's how we know the Goat's heart is not
made of tin. It's just that Capricorn normally seesthe world as a place
that can hurt those who forget to wear their protective suit of armor
in public, and thus the Goat's soft and cuddly parts are guarded and
seldom exhibited.
TheParentTrap
Capricorn is one of two signsthat astrologyassociates with parentalat-
titudes-in this case,paternalones(itt the sign of the father archetype);
Cancer-the other sign-deals with the archetypalrole of mother and
other relatedmaternal themes.The Crab needsto move deeperinto the
heart of the family dynamic in order to trigger its feeling nature and to
establishan inner foundation of personalsecurity patterns.On the
I other hand, Capricorn seemspressuredto initially move away from
i anything that offers Cancerian,womblike protection. It instead tries
to make the busy,outer world its home. (For the Goat,the ideal of do-
mestic bliss doesn't hold a candleto the satisfactionof wielding exec-
utive power.)
While parental roles have changeddramatically in the last several
decades,the functions of a mother and a father were,at one time, un-
mistakably clear-cut, especiallyin the first half of the twentieth cen-
tury. Mothers stayedhome to protect the nest and lovingly raisetheir
offspring (moms also helped teach their children to feel both inner
and outer security on elementary levels).Dads, hardly ever at home,
went off to conquer the world and establishtheir place in the larger
social schemeof things (dads taught their kids about dutiful com-
mitments to nonfamily members). Mothers were close,accessible,
and responsive to their children's emotions; fathers were far away,
unavailable,and lessawareof their childrens inner lives.
Cancer and the Moon thus made symbolic sensewhen describing
the intimate maternal side of life, while Capricorn and Saturn suited a
child's impression of the more impersonal paternal experience.How-
Capricorn 159
ever,in today'sworld, traditional parentalfunctions arelessrigidly de-
fined. Ideally,both parentsnow play out Cancerand Capricorn roles
for their kids.
Like watery Cancer,earthy Capricorn is very protective, although
more in the no-nonsensemanner of a securityguard on patrol. The
Goat has to be carefrrlnot to overcontrol people in its attempt to pro-
vide them with safer and more structured ways to live. Capricorn
types,no matter what their age,may try to take chargeof others (even
the younger ones may want to parent the adults in their lives, espe-
cially emotionally immature adults who behave irresponsibly). The
Goat feelsresponsiblefor instructing peoplein how to conduct them-
selves.It tries to curb socialbehavior that it deemsto be inappropriate
or even a threat to conservativesociety-Capricorn targets not just
lawlessness, but any actions it finds immoral (Sagittarius-a some-
times opinionated sign willing to passjudgment on others-first got
this morality thing going during its fiery searchfor what "right" paths
in life to take.)
As folks with lots of planets in Capricorn feel duty-bound, they
can feel guilty when another side of them instead wants to feel free
from obligations and less weighed down. However, early life has
taught the Goat to be tough and not complain about what life doles
out. Capricorn somehow knows that adversity and uphill climbing
will only help its charactergrow stronger and becomemore resilient.
Saturn's Steady Hand
Saturn is the planet with which Capricorn is most comfortable-the
Goat probablylikes the securityof this planet'sfamous rings, resem-
bling protectivemoats surrounding a fortress.Saturns earthy sensibil-
ity appealsto pragmatic Capricorn. Both planet and sign are quite
reliable and arewilling to work hard to attain their well-defined goals.
However, cardinal Capricorn really doesn't care for the slow, deliber-
ate pace that seemsnatural to Saturn (cardinal signs are the "ants in
the pants" group, alwayseagerto take action). If anything, life forces
the Goat to wait, and not rush into experience,which later ensures
that this sign is expertly preparedwhen its time has finally come.
 160 Capricorn
While Capricorn hustlesand bustlesto make a name for itself, asit
elevatesits social standing,sober Saturn quietly plods on, often unno-
ticed. Capricorn more actively createsthe right climate for the recog-
nition it craves,while conscientiousSaturn does good work but shies
awayfrom the limelight (Saturn is monkish in behavior and is in need
of silent retreats,more so than the attention-seekingGoat).
Both Saturn and Capricorn arewilling to be held accountablefor
their actions, a thought that causesthem little anxiety, sincetheir ac-
tions are typically honest and law-abiding (these are not the rule-
breakersof astrology).The Goat-perhaps in its needto appealto those
of celebratedstatus-is more lively and sociallyadept in behavior than
Saturn, a planet that seeksan ordinary lifesryle with lessfanfare, and
one with fewer people involved. Capricorn, while not gregariousin a
Sagittariansense,doesthrive on social interaction with those who are
going placesand doing important things.Capricorn createdthe concept
of the "in crowd," made up mainly of those on the Goat'sprivate "A-list"
of most desirablecontacts-but asthis sign is status-conscious, it hasto
watch out about becoming too snooty and elitist. Saturn is better ableto
relateto decent,everyday,plain-living folks who arejust trying to stabi-
lize their world and survive life's harsh realities. Saturn is more of a
hard-working, blue-collar planet.
ClosingComments
Wherever Capricorn is in our chart describeswhere we may feel we're
given testsin life that require our stamina and patience.We havepur-
poseful needshere and we want solid results.Yet things will take time
to ripen. It's common for us to use our Capricorn assetsto advance
our professionalgoals,and to help us garner social praiseand respect.
If the Goat'sconservatismgetsthe best of us, we may come offhere as
a little too stiff-even rigid-in how we handle our duties and our so-
cial relationswith others.(SometimesCapricorn and Libra canbecome
maddeningly proper and polite in demeanor,and much too formal for
certainoccasions.)
Capricorn's driving ambition helps us attain positions that allow
us to feel self-important-and immenselyusefrrl.Being more than just
Capricorn 161
an ego boost, this awarenessof having personalsignificancemotivates
us to help strengthensociety'sfoundation and keepits structure intact.
Capricorn obviously supports the status quo and enacts needed re-
forms slowly,after much carefirl consideration.If we apply this to our
personallife, we may find that a fear of changecreepsinto the picture,
and evena dread of the unknown. Upholding the statusquo may thus
be done for defensivereasons,not simply for the purpose of stability.
Let'snot forget that sinceCapricorn is cardinal in nature,we're less
able to get stuck in ruts whereverthis sign is emphasizedin our chart
(unlike fixed Taurus). Life forces us to devise sound solutions to re-
move whateverobstaclesare temporarily blocking our path, and then
we're to get on purposefi,rllywith our lives.Our Capricorn parts teach
us to wise up about the waysof the world. Adopting a pragmatic out-
look is valuable,aslong asit doesn't convince us to suppressour cre-
ative juices, vivid imagination, or flights of fantasy.We don't need to
be as grounded as a lead balloon, but simply anchored enough in
practical realities so that we can build worthwhile material structures
for ourselvesand our society.
Feuous CepnrconN Tvpes (natal Capricornplacementslisted)
Aristotle Onassisrbusinessmagnate: Sun, Mercury, Venus,Uranus
Dolly Parton, singer:Sun,Mercury, Venus
l. Edgar Hoover, FBI direcfor.'Sun, Mercury, Venus
i Joan Baez,singer-activisf:Sun, Mercury
5 ElvisPresley,singer-actor:Sun, Mercury, Venus
t
5
t Marlene Dietrich, actress.'Sun, Mercury, Mars, Iupiter, Saturn,
 162 Aquarius
Aqunnrus
BreakingtheRules
Glyph:fr
Symbol The Water Bearer
Mode: Fixed
Element Air
Planet: Uranus/)t(
House: Eleventh
Motto: "I'm a Round Pegin a SquareHole in a Curved Universe!"
Freedom Fighter
My off-the-wall motto for Aquarius should instantly suggestthat this
sign applaudsanything that's different-plus it's a real "original" itself.
Still, asit's also a fixed-air sign with very strong collectiveleanings,the
Water Bearerdoesnt want to becomeso individualized----orsoweird-
that it feelsisolated from the society it insteadwants to help improve.
But it doeshope that its so-called"strangeness"will be accepted,since
its fixity makes this sign lesswilling to change its nature in order to
suit others.Air must haveintelligent, socialdialogues,and thus Aquar-
ius is not out to needlesslyalienatepeople.It is very fond of observing
the workings of the world, especiallyfrom a sociologicalview, one im-
plyrng an impersonal,cerebralperspective.However,Aquarius assumes
that human feelings get in the way of clear perception. The Water
Bearerthinks that emotionality tends to cloud or distort the truth in a
manner that a detached,objective mind never would (although that's
debatable).
= Aquarius 163
Following Capricorn, Aquarius takesus to a different level of relat-
ing to society,one that allows room for greatercultural experimenta-
tion. Capricorn expectseveryoneto toe the line in ways that keep
the community homogeneous-it distrusts"outsiders"or thosewho
threaten cultural cohesion.Yet this next sign saysit's time to bend a
few of the Goat'stime-honored rules and witnesswhat happenswhen
people are given a taste of greater freedom of social expression.Uni-
formity goesout the window asAquarian types-who dare to be dif-
ferent-intentionally jolt society,from time to time. This signs energy
seemsrebellious and willfi.rl, yet the Water Beareris trying to fight for
the right of all people to be themselves,rather than to bow mindlessly
to authority and blindly obey the System.Aquarius urgesus to break
away from any limited mindset that allows others to determine the
lifestyle we live.
Oddball
Aquarius in olden times was associatedwith Saturn, a planet who
knows how hard it is to get anything accomplishedwithin a group that
lacks organization and steadycommitment. SomeAquarian types do
expressSaturnian conservatismwhen involving themselvesin larger
socialconcerns.They want collectiveprogressto be made carefrrlly,at a
slower pace,and are fearful of any radical changethat could abruptly
shake up established,workable frameworks those that at one
time were consideredto be progressiveor even radical.
Such Saturn-dominatedAquariansput promising socialreforms
through endlesscommittee evaluationsbefore acceptingor rejecting
them. Yet the revolutionary spirit of Aquarius is better exemplified by
IJranus,a planet of innovative thinking and unbridled truth-seeking.
This is the side of the Water Bearer that cannot tolerate social re-
straints based merely on majority-rule decisions or stale, unchal-
lenged traditions. This is the "rebel with a cause"aspectof Aquarius,
ready to tear down the walls of conformity.
Aquarius is not a social misfit or a malcontent eagerto destroy the
Establishment(disgruntled Uranians are more prone to be like that).
 164 Aquarius
The Water Bearer is actually a farsighted idealist who can envision
better worlds of tomorrow for all. It is blessedwith a progressiveintel-
lect that enablesit to brainstorm brilliant solutions that help make
our collectivelives more interesting.
Also a bit of a techno-freak, Aquarius loves to explore innovative
waysto make everydaylife read more like a science-fictionnovel.In its
Uranian mode, the Water Beareris a wild-eyed geniuswho lives in an
energizedworld of abstractthought that traffics in theoretical con-
cepts about reality's mentally fluid nature: Intuit it and it shall be pos-
sible."Never stop being inventive,"saysAquarius, who has no trouble
telling all narrow-minded skepticsto go take a hike!
Due to all of this, someAquarian types are dismissedas oddball
l' eccentricswho are too way-out to be taken seriously,unlessthey start
causingtrouble in the ranks (and then they must be stopped). Other-
wise,their harmlessand even entertaining futuristic ravings are tol-
erable. Luckily, Aquarius is detached enough-not being all that
emotionally vulnerable-to brush off the ridicule of critics. It remains
determined (fixity) to formulate a socialvision that is way aheadof its
time. That's not to saythat a few Aquarian types don t flip out and be-
come disturbing to the community-as some do go wacko-but, be-
hind any apparent madness,their intention is to foster respect and
appreciationfor human diversity.Theywant everyoneto feel liberated
from timeworn social rituals.
A Friend in Need
One of the main themesassociatedwith Aquarius is friendship,yet not
that of the bosom-buddy variety.Aquarius is too democratic-and too
varied in its tastes-to everthink it could chooseonly one personto be
its best friend in the whole world. The Water Bearer wants to be
friendly and sociablewith lots of fascinatingpeople,and it doesthis by
forming looser bonds that do not require high maintenanceor heavy,
one-on-one involvement (asif that's somethinga sign claiming to have
about a hundred or so "close"friends needworry about).
Aquarius likes to keep its ties on the casualbut stimulating side.If
pals unpredictably pop in and out of the Water Bearer'slife, every-
I
i
iii
= Aquarius 165
thing's cool (it won't toleratebeing possessed by others and it often
needsto relateto new faces,much like Gemini). Aquarius doesn'twant
relationshipsthat are too demanding and time-consuming, so this is
not a sign that lets itself get too attachedand committed in its social
contacts.It tendsto breezein and out of the livesof many,and is happy
to be able to relateto a wide range of interesting folks.
Although Aquarius may seemaloof and emotionally detached,its
unpossessive attitudesarejust what it needsto grow and develop.Free-
dom of movement is important to the Water Bearer,which is harder to
actualizewhen involved with people who are clingy or needy (espe-
cially friends who hardly havea life of their own and who craveAquar-
ius' company much too much). Air needs spaceto move about, to
ensureit stayswell ventilated.It likes groups'but hatesto feel crowded.
It needsas much elbow room' socially,asdoesSagittarius.
Still, altruistic Aquarius will volunteer its time to help out friends
in need, especiallywhen something unusual is happening in such
people'slives.As long asthe samepals don t hit on them too much to
do little favors-and the Water Bearer sizesup such "users" pretty
quickly-Aquarian types are willing to pitch in and assistwithout ex-
pecting anything in return. (Compare that to Capricorn and Libra,
who would both keep track of all favors askedand later expect others
to reciprocate-especially the Goat.)
MindFlashes
Aquarius is given to unusual mental patterns-perhaps erratic brain-
wave activity-that enablesit to flash on ideasat lightning speed'and
evento suddenlyhavethe answersit's looking for. The Water Beareris
able to tap into the future and bring such imagesinto the now, for at
least a brief look. Its intuition may come and go, but when it feels
zapped,it "knows" its on the right track and will follow its strong
hunches about people and situations.
However, being an air sign, Aquarius will also want to come up
with a theory explaining how it knows what it knows. This is a sign
with a talent for designingthought systemsthat are brilliant but com-
plex. For Aquarius,flashesof insight often contain an instant overview
I 166 Aquarius
of the total picture. All the Water Bearerhas to do is intellectually
structure and flesh out its grand vision, while adding even more to it,
I as one flash of insight sparksanother.
What may be the Water Bearer'sbiggestobstacle,in selling its fu-
turistic concepts,is its obvious impatience with slower minds that are
too fear-basedto takebold chances.Aquarius lacksthe persuasiveskills
of diplomatic Libra, and it can explode when rejectedby those who
refuseto hear what genius really soundslike. ("But I've found the an-
swer!" pleadsfrustrated Aquarius.) Not all Water Bearersare geniuses,
of course,but they are quite bright and open-minded enough to keep
their brains well exercised.Their gift is to be able to look at any prob-
lem from an unusual slant,and usuallyone that drawsopposition from
conservatives.Aquarius will need to develop common senseand stay
calm when urgently trying to pitch its visionary ideals,especiallythose
Uranian Aquarianswho demand that reform happen overnight.
From the Heart?
Aquarius is cool-headedand, in its estimation, highly rational. Every-
I
thing in the Water Bearer'sworld needsto make sense,which is why it
takes a dim view of purely emotional interpretations of life. The wa-
r tery world of feelings is murky to Aquarius in ways that are blinding.
Being one to avoid mental fogginess,the Water Bearersupports intel-
I lectual clarity. Emotions also put us in contact with personal matters
of the heart. Aquarius is very brainy and doesn't alwaysrelate well to
even its own strictly personal,heartfelt needs(those apart from its fu-
ture hopes for the collective).And it's surely not the sentimentaltype.
The Aquarian ego has a hard time focusing exclusivelyon self-fuI-
fillment in waysthat evokea personalsenseof being specialand better
than others (no wonder this sign is as far away from Leo as a sign can
get). The Water Beareris too quick to divert attention awayfrom itself
and instead on to those with whom it networks. The truth is, if it has
such a tough time warming up to itself-even for all the right rea-
5sn5-i1'5 no wonder others sometimesfeel that friendlyAquarius also
has a cold sideto its nature that makesits heart seemunreachable.
Aquarius 167
This sign,however,is part of a group of signs(Sagittariusto Pisces)
that are trying to develop a more transpersonal awarenessof life.
Therefore,Aquarius thinks that the smart thing to do is to not allow it-
self to be dictated by its heart or by the emotionality of others. Still,
one way to unify the world is to feel truly for one another,to put our-
selvesin someoneelse'sshoeslong enough to empathize.Aquarius is a
sign that learnsearly on not to expectstability' and thus not to get too
attached to people and things-since that only leads to deep disap-
pointment and (gulp!) emotionalpain.
Yet, if the Water Beareris the adventurous,social experimenter it
claims to be, why not plunge into the unknown depths of feeling and
seewhat happens?How bad can it be to evoke a few tears or even an
illogical fit of rage once in a while? Aquarius may find that studying
quantum physics is a far easier task than turning on its emotional
valveand letting raw feelingsflow. Nonetheless,the Water Bearerneeds
to approach life, at times, straight from the heart and not panic if
doing so goesagainstits mind-glorifring ideologies.
TeamPlayer
CerebralAquarius is so interestedin exploring the unusual in life that
it could probably entertain itself forever with its eclectic studies and
human observations' even if it had nobody elsewith whom to share
this experience(all fixed signscan be self-contained,although Leo and
Aquarius really need people). However,the Water Bearerknows that
its own progress depends on how effectively it fraternizes with all
members of society,in its effort to enlighten people about better ways
to raise their consciousnessand heighten their social awareness.
Mayb" becausethe ego is not aspronounced in this sign,Aquarius has
less trouble being a team player. Actually, the nature of any planet
found in Aquarius at birth better determineshow open we are to en-
gaging in group activity-Mars, IJranus, and Saturn here seemto be
lesscooperativeand adaptable.
Aquarius typically believesthat much can get done with the right
kind of socialcooperation,but it doesnt considerthe varying needs
 = Aquarius 169
It , 168 Aquarius
l
a-flying-thanthecool-headedWaterBearer'althoughthissigncanbe
i
of each individual that makes up the team. It figures that to stay de- Uranians
passionatelysupportiveof unpopular or controversialcauses'
mocratic, everyoneis entitled to the sametreatment-no specialpriv- to the
i protect their own freedomsfi.rst,and may evenseeminsensitive
ileges for anyone. This is somewhat paradoxical' since Aquarius finds a lot
ptiglr, of others (remember,the Saturnian side of Aquarius
champions human individuality on one hand, but then it believesin in the best inter-
I of *hu, uranus standsfor to be destabilizingand not
li universal principles that should apply to all, unconditionally. The and its courage
est of the public). Yet the intuitive grasp of this planet'
Water Bearer doesn't care much for prima donnas who think they're who likes to
to dive headlong into the unknown, appealsto Aquarius'
I

I
better than the rest (no wonder this sign can be an enemy of royalty
rl and aristocracy).Still, Aquarius needs to understand-perhaps by
working more on its emotional development-that not everyone is
psychologicallyequipped to do well in groups or to enjoy exchanging
l energyon that impersonal a level.
Rockin' with Uranus
,!
Aquarius, modern agent of social enlightenment is uranus, a planet
with a zest for inventive living. Called the Great Awakener,Uranus is
I
I
no friend of the statusquo. It is a galvanizingforce that stirs dynamic
and rapid collective growth, the kind that's not easily assimilatedby
the massesuntil the shock wearsoff and changesare later seenas ex-
L
assumethatone,smentalpowersareonlyaslimitedaSone'Sdoubts,
fears,and ignorance.
ClosingComments
allowed to
Wherever Aquarius is in our chart describeswhere we're
programming
take sharp turns and veer away from any conservative
we may find
we,vereceivedfrom the preserversof traditional society.
ourselvesresistanttoauthority,especiallythekindthatintimidates
conclusions'
our ability to think for ourselvesand arrive at original
ourlifemaynotbeasmoothandsteadyexperiencewhereverAquar-
in unexpected
ius is emphasized,sincesuddenchangescan point us
is important'
directions-yet often advantageouslyso' Adaptability

i citingly progressive.Aquarius would love to identifr itself with such a

eventhoughwemayattempttoforceouterconditionstoyieldtoour
l
planet (and both surely know what it's like to be misunderstood by up with inge-
I ideals,with mixed results.Aquarius urges us to come
society). may open many
r nious solutions rather than to staystuck in a rut. Life
Although Uranus can be obstinate-so sold on the rightnessof its and partake of
1l doors by surprise, those that allow us to enter freely
brilliant vision that it won't adopt any other outlook-it's not really
new waysto createa better reality for ourselvesand others'
all that fixed in its disposition, unlike Aquarius. The Water Bearercan and
il PerhapsAquarius is teachingus to becomemore gregarious
be very set in its ideals-it won't compromise regardingits princi-
iL, willingtofindoutaboutpeoplewhoareblatantlydifferentfromus.
ri ples-and can at times be accusedof trying to force reformative mea- folks who can
Humanity is made up of a wide assortment of colorful
ri suresonto others (Aquarius can be more dictatorial that it realizes). to go on a
,i help us feel more like universal citizens' (Aquarius needs
ll
,l
IJranus, although explosive in its urgency to change things, doesn't
triparoundtheworldwithsagittariustolearnabouthowmuchfun
l want to sustain any social campaign for too long' especiallywhen al- we are apt to
tl cultural diversity can be.) Actually, Aquarius is where
ternative routes are suddenly made available.But Aquarius'odd stick- life a bit on the

I
dare ourselvesto break down social barriers, and live
to-it-tiveness can make it appear reactionary and less willing than
ri wild and crazy side,in fun, self-expressiveways'
Uranus to change with the times. That's when its true fixed nature since
l It's hard to hang on to security wherever we have Aquarius'
comesout, loud and clear.
L ourlifesituationsmayconstantlypromotechange'notstability'But
,l Uranus is more sporadic and erratic in nature than seeminglybet- : once we let go
I the one thing that we can count on is an exciting time'
ter-focusedAquarius. Uranus is more fiery in temperament-sparks- 1
i

1
lli

tll
j
 170 Aquarius
Pisces l7I
and stoptryrng to live the life that othershavealreadymappedout for
uswithout our permission.our time on Earthis too shortto bewasted
by frrlfilling somebodyelse'sshortsighteddefinition of our "true" role
asa memberof society.
Fluous Aqulnrus Typns (natalAquariusplacements listed)
Wlliam Burroughs,nwelist: Sun,Mercury Venus,]upiter, Uranus
Oprah Wn[r"y, telefision celebrity-aaress:Sun,Mercury Venus Prscns
ThomasEilison,inventor:Sun,Mercury,Neptune
HelenGurleyBrown,publisher:Sun,Mercury
TheArt of Dreaming
WolfgangMozart, cotnposer:Sun,Mercury Venus,Saturn Glyph:X
CaroleKng, singer-songwr it er: Sun,Mercury,Venus Symbol The Fishes
Mode: Mutable
ElemenfiWater
Planet Neptune/V
House:Twelfth
Motto: "With anOpenHeart,I SwimtheDeepest
CosmicWaters!"

TheFinalMagic
Startingwith Aries,eachsignbecomesprogressively more complexin
its psychology.This really becomesapparentby the time we arrive at
Libra,who-along with the remainingfive signs-takesinto account
the rightsand needsof all others,not just of anyone individual.The
juggling actsthus requiredcanmakelife more difficult-but perhaps
moreintriguing-yet thesesignsarewell built for suchinterpersonal
challenges. Aquariusembarkson an excitingcourseof authenticliving
that reflectsits broad concernfor collectivegrowth,althoughits focus
is mostlyon an intellectuallevel.Its socialtheoriesand abstractprin-
ciplesareexpectedto yield the answersneededto improvethe human
condition-if everyonegoesalongwith the program.
Aquariusintuits humanity'suntappedhigher potential. It will
marchin the streets,if it must,to protestunduegovernmentalcontrol
and to advocatea freer,illuminated society-one that sparla the cre-
ativeoriginality in peopleeverywhere. "Let technologyhelp us get
 I72 Pisces
l there quicker," advisesAquarius. "Don't be afraid to experiment with
what soundstoo incredible to be true. An amazing future awaitsus!"
Aquarius meanswell, although it assumesthat all disharmonious
I conditions on a masslevel can be correctedby implementing brilliant
'i socialreforms and by having progressiveleadership.Once shown bet-
ter models for creating new societies-ones basedon greaterequality
and tolerance-the world is thus expected to radically improve. In
theory, everyonewill embracediversity like never before, and preju-
dicesbasedon fear and mistrust will be eradicated.Aquarius hopes
that humanity will then turn its attention to unlocking the awesome
gifts of expandedmind power,somethingthat should help us all be-
come further enlightened.
However,to havethe Cosmosend the zodiacwith Aquarius would
imply that our collectivefuture ultimately belongsto a super-raceof
geniuses-some who are perhapstelepathic,and all who are capable
of astoundingly complex mental featsand the ability to operate with
flawless,robotic precision.Think of people loaded with implanted
computer chips,made to give them that extra intellectual boost-plus
with replaceablebody parts that help defr aging and death! Science
fiction or inevitable reality?Aquarius is forever seekingideal scenarios
for all, and the thrill of enjoying advancedbrainpower and extended
life is certainly part of the Water Bearer'svision of an ideal future (of
course,we'll all haveto show a genius for socialtolerance,aswell).
However glorious will be the tomorrows that collectivelyawait us,
Aquarian-style,we still have alarge and often painfi.rlchunk of human
experienceto undergo,one that is best symbolizedby the last of the
water signs,Pisces.As well as culminating the zodiacprocess,Pisces-
coming before Aries-also symbolizesthe less-observable, under-
ground waters of spirit that feed new life potential ready to incarnate
(think of our prenatal,Pisceanwater environment in the womb, just
beforewe'reborn). We first emergeunformed from the oceanic,pre-
consciousrealm of Pisces,but eventually we return to its deepestwa-
ters in an impending state of fuller self-awareness,as we begin to
dissolveall that has ever kept us feeling separatefrom others on our
innermostlevel.
Pisces 173
This hypnotic sign lures us into its powerful vortex to strip us of
all the trappings of ego and selfish,worldly desire.Piscesguidesus to-
ward a yast sea of teeming, invisible energy that lovingly holds the
content of all that exists in an unbroken, mystical state of Unity'
Everything is one in this numinous, infinite universe of the Fishes.
Duality is only an illusion, perhapsa bad dream.
FuIl of Soul
As a mutable-watersign, Piscesis lessable to establishfixed, rigid ways
of viewing the world. It doesn'teasilydefine reality in concreteterms.
The Fishesare subjectto much changein their perceptions,depend-
ing on the flow of life's continuous currents. Mutable water is very
open and responsiveto the hidden emotions of others,especiallytheir
unspoken sorrows.Pisces'sensitivefeelersquietly reach out in all di-
rections to detect subtle undertows in people. Indeed, receptivity is
highly pronounced,yet Piscesdoesn'tsuffer the petulant moodiness
common to cardinalCancer,nor the dark brooding of fixed Scorpio.
If anything, it feelsweighed down and deeply saddenedby the inhu-
manity that occurs throughout the world. A soul-wearydepression
can result, as the Fishes naturally empathize with victims evely-
where-and not alwaysthose of the human kind. However,Piscesalso
identifieswith saints,mystics,gurus, and other cosmic light-bearers
who try to redeemhumanity's soul and lift our spirit to otherworldly
dimensions.
The Fishesfeel our joy and pain as their own, which is something
Aquarius isn,t able or willing to do. Pisces,not an emotionally de-
tached sign, has a vast overview of existencethat allows it to pull back
and perceivethe deeperpurposeof humanity's highs and lows. It es-
sentially perceivesearthly living as a struggle-after all, integrating
spirit with matter is tough work-but Piscesalso sensesthat this task
can be made easieronce we recognizeour true spiritual essence.Our
destiny is to evolveour way back Home to the indefinable Onenessof
All, that impossible-to-conceivestateof pure being in existencebefore
the Big Bang'sawesome"Let there be light!" beginning of time and
space.Most Pisceantypes certainly aren't consciouslycontemplating
 = Pisces L75
t74
life as esotericallyas this, but they do senselarger, even fated,life pat-
terns at work to enrich eachsoul'spath and give it multilevel meaning
(yet not in the more intellectualizedmanner of Sagittarius).What Pisces
sensesabout life stemsfrom a deeperknowing.
This last sign has the most unguarded ego of all, and thus it is
highly vulnerable to outer invasion-especially the energiesof others,
but also from all sorts of environmental pollutants. The Fishes are
quite susceptibleto the psychologicalups and downs of human experi-
ence,but are at odds with themselvesregardingsuch instabilities.One
fish swims toward the light, and is alwaysreadyto help heal and unify
all beings wounded by life's harsher,unjust realities.Socialunderdogs
and disenfranchisedpeoplearewarmly embracedby the redeemerside
of the Fishes.None are turned away,asthis facetof Piscesis filled with
compassionand empathy.
The other fish descendsinto darker,shadowydepthsand-sensitive
to the horrors of living-is draggeddown in spirit by a fragmented,
confusedworld in turmoil. This part of Piscesis most susceptibleto
merging with life's seamier elements,as if unconsciously identifring
with all that is most unredeemableand hopeless.This is the fish more
troubled by clouded vision and feelingsof emptiness.Perhapsit takes
two fishesto symbolizePiscesbecausetogetherthey reflect the totality
of life in its varying stagesof integration and disintegration. Piscean
types typically find themselvespulled in such contrasting directions
(i.e., world-renowned humanitarian by da5 chronic alcoholic by
night). Perhapsno other sign, except Scorpio, is capableof such ex-
treme, divergent expression.
VanishingPool
As Aries is the sign of the greatestself-interest-something it needsto
properly develop-Pisces is the sign of the leastself-preoccupation,al-
though it is enthralled with and evenaddictedto the intoxicating out-
pourings of its own unconscious. This suggestsit sometimes has
diffrculty escapingfrom its own inner world. However,Pisceansubjec-
tivity is powerful and boundless.What it vividly feelsinside itself typi-
cally stemsfrom outside sources(such as the strong emotional energy
currents of other people). The Fisheskeenly pick up on whatever is
drifting in the atmosphere,yet they seemto lack the psychologicalfil-
ters neededto rejectthat which is unhealthy to body, mind, and spirit'
Their door is alwayswide open,letting anything enter-including all
that is undesirableand even sabotagingon a soul level.
One big temptation for Piscesinvolvesthe lossof a personal,ego-
driven identity. Here'sa casewhere the malleability of mutable water
makesretaining a structured senseof self difficult. "Mold me into any-
thing you want to," saysPisces,"I'm truly impressionable."Somebody
should show Piscesa NASA close-upshot of the pockmarkedMoon
and ask,"Is thishow youwant to end up looking?" The Fishesare eas-
ily bombarded by all kinds of random energies,as if they lack the de-
fense mechanisms that all the other eleven signs have learned to
employ.Amazingly, this sign totally surrendersitself to life.
Unlike its opposite sign,Virgo, Piscesis not selectivein the experi-
encesit allowsitself to undergo.This lack of discrimination is often
what getsit in deep trouble, but it also makesPiscesthe most tolerant
and nonjudgmental sign of all. To discriminate would be to weed
something out, and that goesagainstthe Pisceanlonging for unity.
Nonetheless,Piscesneedsto avoid letting its ego vanish into a
black pool of nothingness,sinceit can otherwise tolerate living out its
life as a cipher or an invisible being, one forever unnoticed by the
world. Something in this sign makesit feel it's not supposedto stand
out and grab for the world's attention. (Leo would make a wonderful
publicity agentfor the Fishes-"Firsti' roarstheatricalLeo,"we gotta
changethat name.How about the Fabulous Flaming Fishes?")Wisely
and maturely serving some greateruniversal causeis exactlywhat the
Cosmoshas in mind for Pisces,but to just senselessly
undergo an ego-
disappearingact-and confusing it with true spirituality-is a major
blind spot of this sign. Piscestypes need to preservea strong but re-
silient senseof self,in order to make their dreamscome true.
WalkingonWater?
believesin the im-
Piscesis like Sagittariusin that it wholeheartedly
possible.Both signs,neverwantingto giveup on hope,placegreat
1j 176 Pisces
lLi faith in life's potential for last-minute miracles. Both believein beau-
tiful, grand finales, complete with unearthly rewards waiting at the
end of the cosmic rainbow-although Sagittariusis more apt to head
to LasVegasfirst to seehow luck can miraculously manifest! Piscesin-
steadprays for a little more peaceon earth to easethe plight of hu-
mans undergoing misery everywhere.
This is a sign that sometimesinterprets the world too melodra-
matically, although famines and pestilence and ravaging, incurable
diseasesare all devastatingreminders of how clearly hellish living on
Earth can be for those less fortunate. They are not figments of an
overactiveimagination. Yet if Pisceswould allow itself to sayit actually
hatesone thing with a passion-not an easything to for the Fishes
do-it would choosehuman cruelty.This is the most humane,"do-
no-harm" sign the zodiacoffers.
Do-goodersof the world typically havea strong doseof Pisces-
and its associatedplanet, Neptune-in their charts,at leastwhen they
identifr with the ideals of the fish moving toward the light. (Piscean
"no-gooders"are the oneswho blindly follow the other fish into darket
toxic waters.)Humanitarian serviceis an excellentway to channelPis-
ceanenergy,although it puts us in emotional contactwith how precari-
ous life can be-a suddendisastercan changeeverythingin one'sworld
overnight. Muybe Piscesdoesnt allow itself to becometoo attachedto
the materialworld, knowing how life-alteringfate can be, and how tem-
poral everything is, security-wise.Profound Piscesteachesus to be in
the world, but not of it-to have one foot in the door of the material
realm,but to havethe other submergedin the transcendentalwatersof
more eternalmatters.Its understandingof life'sgreatermeaning can be
comprehensive.
All this soundslike a temperament that seekspurity on the physi-
cal realm and perfectionon the spiritual plane,one that smacksof a
somewhatunreal yearning for sainthood.Actually, here'sa chancefor
the ego to come out of hiding and (unfortunately) swell out of pro-
portion, as some otherworldly Pisceantypes perceivethemselvesto be
cosmic ambassadorsfrom higher dimensions-perhaps even aliens,
Pisces I77
from other galaxies,who are using their "specialpowers" to help step
up the soul energiesof all earthlingson this planet.Piscesfeedssuch
fantasies.
Sadly,Piscescan con itself into believingits own grandiose,spiri-
tual hype-who's to prove otherwise?-while using its charisma to
mesmerizeits starry-eyedfollowers. New-Age con artists come under
this sign, aswell asthose who use imaginative waysto bamboozlethe
unsuspecting.It's a shameto seePisceantypeswho want to connect
with Spirit so badly that they'll use any fraudulent or self-delusional
meansto do so.
Ratherthan attempt to conjure up supernaturalpowersand mys-
tifu othersby adopting the etherealpersonaof a wizard or sorceress'
Pisceswould be better off chucking the theatrics and insteadgoing
down to the soup kitchens in the inner cities to do some real magical
work-or volunteering to help out at hospices,or even getting in-
volved in fundraising charity events.Heck, Piscesmay discoverit does
have supernatural power in theseareas,the kind that getsothers mo-
tivated to give of themselvesto those seemingly less blessedin life.
PiscesLiz Thylor found her true calling when sheturned her attention
to promoting AIDS awareness.Her ability to connect to the hearts of
so many along theselines throughout the yearshasbeen phenomenal,
and her efforts here are a perfect exampleof Pisceanenergyat its best.
Imagine
Savingthe world is a mighty big task that could prove too much for
any one sign to accomplish,although Piscesseemsto be the only one
interested in taking on that job. Yet in playing the role of savior, one
could easily end up a martyr, fighting for a lost causeand perishing.
But if inspired enough, the Fisheswill risk becoming sacrificial lambs
if that's the only way their dreams can instill wondrous' collectivevi-
sions in others-such as those involving global harmony, universal
love, and evena world without war, sickness,or hunger.
Piscesimaginesa better life for everyone,one that is free of all such
pain and discord.It is understandable,then, why this sign suffersdisil-
lusionment like no other. Is this world too cold-heartedand indifferent
 178 Pisces
to appreciate the selflessobjectives of the Fishes?Sometimes that's
how Piscesfeels,and this prompts it to escapeinto the depths of its
own illusionary inner world and thus remain insulated from harsh,
mundane realities.
The Fisheswill haveto be carefulwhen retreatingunder thesecon-
ditions, since their own form of virtual reality is much more awe-
somely appealingthan anything the outer world can dish up. A better
path to take is one that allows us to harnessthe incredible resourcesof
Pisceanimagination, and to use such abilities for the greatergood of
society (yes,Piscesstill needsto realizethat it's part of the socialstruc-
ture, and not some forsaken soul living on the outer fringes-even
though this sign is comfortable playing the hermit, at times, and living
a secludedlife, far awayfrom mainstream worldliness).
l
Piscesis blessedwith the power to positively channel archetypal
energy from the collective unconscious,meaning that it can tap into
angelic realms and provide us with the rarest and loftiest of images.
Beauty expressedon this level can be exquisite and is able to soothe
our deepestselves.It is good for all Pisceantypes never to deprive
themselvesof the finest their culture has to offer in the realms of art,
music, and drama. This safelyallows them to have the transcendent
iri
i1
experiencesthey secretlycraveand need.
'lll ClosingTime
l1
Being the last sign of the zodiac,Piscessymbolizesthe poignant end-
ings of conditions that have alreadypeakedand are now preparing to
break down and dissolve.The cyclethat beganwith Aries-fresh and
vigorous-is coming to a meaningful close here, implying it's now
time to rest, reflect, and let go of our attachment to the material
world. It's the assignmentof the Fishesto further the disintegration of
all that once gaveus solid support and concretemeaning.
Life thus seemsto be in awoozy stateof collapseand uncertainty,
almost as if the Cosmos is drunk and a bit disoriented (hmmm . . .
and after being so disciplined and organizedin Capricorn). Nothing is
to hold its shapefor long. Everything is fluid and constantlychanging,
yet not for the purpose of instigating new beginnings and getting our
= Pisces 179
little ego all pumped up. Changeshere lead to a cessationof self-
willed activity, as Piscesinstead teachesus to stop assertingourselves
in action just to satisfr earthy ambitions. Insteadwe are to descendto
our depthsto experiencestillnessand contemplation.Who could have
imagined that the zodiac would finally lead to all of this? Yet, from
water we came and to water we return, hopefully in a more illumi-
nated stateof self-awareness.
As a result,Piscesfeelsit can't trust permanent securityfor long,
at least not in a worldly sense.It knows that everything eventually
dissolves.Yet societystill expectsus to build reliable,tangible struc-
tures,aswe accumulatethings of material value.(In fact, Taurusgot
all this going quite a while back on the day it received its first pay-
check and went to town!) But Piscesis not sure that such "stuff" is
what it needs to be amassing.It knows material attachments won't
last forever,and they really don't even feed us what we need on a soul
level. "Everything is destined to break down or fall apart," realizes
Pisces.And somethings end in disturbing waysthat play havocwith
our emotions.
Thus, the Fishes-at leastunconsciously-have determined not to
exclusively possessanything, no matter how precious.Yet they are
willing to sharewhat they havefreely and lovingly with the rest of the
world. Sharing unconditionally like this is one way to prevent any
senseof ultimate loss.As this slow processof dissolutiontakesover,
Piscesis challenged to distill the deeper meaning-the underlying
essence-from all experienceson Earth, and then to offer that essence
back to the Universe,to later be recycledfor the collectiveenrichment
of all. It's not to be retainedfor self-seekingpurposes,sincePiscesis
the most universallyoriented sign of them all.
NeptuneHeals
Neptune-Pisces' associatedplanet of inner illumination-helps us
tap into the one eternal reality that underlies the conscious,material
realm in which we humans becomeso engrossed.Neptune symbolizes
an indescribable,cosmicstillness,where time and spacedo not exist-
at leastnot in the normal manner.This is the leastearthly'of all the
 180 Pisces
planets,which is fitting for a sign that is the least materialistic in ori-
entation. Both Neptune and Piscesenjoy retreating to more quiet,
inner placesof the heart and soul. Worldly ambition is not strong, but
big, beautiful dreams of universal love and harmony do appealemo-
tionally to both.
However,Neptune is more prone to be extreme in its releaseof ir-
rational feelingsthat flood our consciousness
and alter our senses.It
enablesus to plug directly into our unconsciousyearnings.Pisces-
being more subject to our cultural climate-instills an obligation to
focus on often neglected societal concerns that affect the welfare of
many.We feel driven to apply this sign'senergiesto humanitarian is-
sues.Yet Neptune-temperamentally a mystic-is content at times
just to have us enter its subjective,magical world to explore its won-
ders,typically while we're alone. It's lessdrawn to organizedcommu-
nity involvement and doesn't feel the same senseof active duty to
servethat Piscesdoes (although strongly Neptunian types do need al-
truistic socialoutlets to keep them balanced-too much seclusionand
avoidanceof human contact can get them in trouble psychologically).
If anything, it's Piscesthat needsto find quality time alone,awayfrom
others who can be energy drainers,sincethe Fishesare surrounded
too often by dependentpeoplein need.
Neptune,like Pisces,can be a marveloushealing force. Both planet
and sign inspire us to dissolveall that impedes our growth and that
destroyslife, although we humans sometimesunwisely usetheseener-
giesin distorted waysand end up destroyingourselves,rather than so-
ciety's negative elements.Neptune and Piscesdo not have a healthy
senseof boundaries and can fail to shield themselvesfrom unwanted
external forces (even those coming from darker areasof the uncon-
scious).This leadsto greatvulnerability,although it seemsNeptuni-
ans suffer more here than Pisceantypes, who appear to apply greater
detachment (a trick they picked up from both Aquarius and their op-
posite sign,Virgo). Perhapsthe Fishessimply chooseto ignore what
otherwise could prove bothersome.Neptune is more prone to absorb
its surroundings, and the people in them, than is Pisces,evenif this is
not all that obvious on the surface.
Pisces l8l
Piscesalso seemsto be better at visualizing life's larger schemes.
Neptune may sensethat a vast,underlying force is in operation,but
Piscesis better able to understand how all the piecesof anything fit to
comprise a whole. Piscesis more observationalthan Neptune, who
getsits information from internal sources,not from the outer world.
Unlike Neptune, a planet more apt to be blinded by its subjectivity'
Piscesis lessdevotedto its beliefs.Still, both keenly sensethat there is
much more to life than meets the eye-a profound awarenessthat
meditation and contemplation can revealto us.
ClosingComments
Wherever Piscesis in our chart describeswhere we're guided to go
within and discoverhow to make this often confusing areaof our life
work best for us. Outside advice won't alwaysmake sense,probably
becauseit doesn'tsensitivelyaddressour internal needs(plus, until we
can better articulatesuchneeds,nobody can reallyhelp us). Our Pis-
ceanparts require gentletreatment and tender concern.Here we have
hidden wisdom that needsto be coaxedout of us' once we learn to
valuelisteningto our inner voice.Following the path of worldly suc-
cesswill not appeasethe hungersand insecuritieswe may feel inside.
Tuning in to a more transcendent reality-which helps us feel more
purposefully connectedto something larger than ourselves-seems
insteadto give us greaterpeaceof mind and a sensethat we can visu-
alize abetter future for ourselves.
Piscesalso helps us become more accepting of what we cannot
change(comparedto Neptunians,who are more prone to seek"mira-
cle" curesand other quick, magicalfixesfor what ailsthem). Self-decep-
tion tied to misplacedfaith may be stronger in Neptunians. Pisces,at
leastfor the sakeof balance,can draw from the strengthsof its opposite
sign, analytical Virgo (a sign less prone to place faith in things un-
proven). Still, Neptune tunes into the Pisceandesireto take away the
pain in people and to restore their souls with hope. We won't grow
properly with our Pisceanenergiesif we remain too narrow-minded
to believe that there are positive, universal forces guiding us toward
spiritual fulfillment. This part of our life needsour fluid imagination