The Solar Return

The Twelve Zodiac Signs

The twelve signs of the zodiac each represent a distinct set of qualities, values, and ways of engaging with the world.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Aries is the first sign of the Zodiac. It is also the first Fire sign and is Cardinal (Initiating) in nature and is ruled by the planet Mars. The sign of Aries is the Ram. It roughly occurs at the time of Easter and the Passover, at the beginning of the Spring. After the long Winter months there are once again signs of a new emergence. The energy at that time is of renewal and hope and new life. New shoots are emerging from the ground, the trees begin to bloom and people make new plans. This emerging energy is why the Zodiac begins in March and not as you would imagine in January. Being the first sign Aries in some way contains a core of all the other signs to follow. It is the childlike nature of us all that wants to have it's needs met. Like a child it wants to satisfy itself and it wants what it wants right now. It doesn't like to wait. Also being the first Fire sign this sign has loads of unbridled energy much like the season it corresponds with. With this energy it wants to initiate new plans and new ventures. It is the beginning of the quest and of the journey. This is also shown by it being a Cardinal sign. Cardinal Signs are noted for their desire to embark and begin new ventures. People with Aries energy are not noted for their tact. Their immense energy needs to be expressed and there is often no sense in holding it back. Being the first Fire sign the energy is expressed in it's most raw form. Later fire signs as we will see modify this energy so there is more of a sense of the other person. Aries children are often actually noted for having marks on their head as they move head first into the world and often have accidents, only thinking about things afterwards. There is an innocence though about this energy. Arians are often the least sign to want to upset others , it's just they are so busy initiating plans they are not focused on what the other person maybe thinking or feeling. Infact Aries are refreshingly honest since they just say outright what they are thinking or what they believe the truth to be. People with Aries energy can use this energy in a number of ways, they can make great athletes, or soldiers as being the first sign they seem to have less of a concept of fear than the other signs. They can be great leaders and pioneers in the fields they choose as they are so full of new ideas. On the negative side they can have a temper and Aries energy gone wrong is that of the bully or the tyrant. Aries energy will modify the expression of the planet that may lie in this sign. . With Mars in Aries, this is the home sign of Mars so the energy will be uninhibited and free flowing resulting in a leader or fearless individual. With Venus in Aries, the desires of the person will be in search of new projects, exciting adventures and whirlwind romances. With Mercury in Aries , the mind will be lightning quick always the first to express new ideas and opinions, often with a tactlessness of expresssion. With Saturn in Aries, the cautious and grounded nature of Saturn, will find ways to put this Aries energy into implementing new projects and building new structures in the world. It could also inhibit the energy of Aries in such a way that it is hard for the individual to express his own energy.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Taurus is the first Earth sign in the Zodiac. It is Fixed in nature and is ruled by the planet Venus. The sign of Taurus is the Bull. Taureans are noted for their love of the Earth and it's cycles. They are very grounded in the expression of their energy. As such they can be very slow to move in to action and to initiate change. There is an earthly heaviness associated with the energy of this sign. Do not ask a Taurean to leave the comforts of his home and surroundings without a lot of resistance. Infact the word stubborn comes to mind quite often when we talk about Taurean energy, hence the fixed nature of the sign. It's not so much that they are difficult but it just takes a lot of momentum to get them moving. They follow their own rythms of time before they can begin a new task. On the other hand once a Taurean is engaged in a task they will see it right through to the end, there staying power is immense. Taurus energy endows it's recipient with a love of all the sensual pleasures, taste , smell, hearing, sight and touch. This is very much connected with the beauty given to Taurus by the planet Venus. Taureans have a certain grace and charm and style about them. They like the finer things in life, good food and wine and beautiful objects. Don't ever damage or take away a Taureans favoured possession as they will soon let you know how attached they are to these things. American Indians say `if you love something give it away so you own it and it doesn't own you'. Taureans could take good note of this. With the Taurean energy being so earthly they are practical people. Their heads are not in the clouds but in the here and now, often concentrated on manifesting physical wealth and comforts. They are often reliable and sensible even it takes them a while to get there. People with Taurus energy can use this energy in a number of professions. They make great gardeners as they are so in touch with the earth and it's beauty. They often make good farmers for the same sort of reason. They are also known to make great artists and musicians with their appreciation of the senses. With their connection to the earth they could also make good practical business people accumulating lots of wealth. Taurean energy that is distorted or misused could result in the person obsessed with food and drink, or someone bound to his material possessions or too lazy to get up and achieve anything. Taurus energy will modify the expression of the planet that may lie in this sign. . With Mercury in Taurus, the ideas are rather slow in coming or in being accepted, however once an idea or project is adopted, the Taurean will see it through to the finish. With Jupiter in Taurus the persons philosophy on life will be a practical grounded material one. The Taurean groundedness will likely manifest the luck of Jupiter into physical possessions. With The Moon in Taurus the persons emotional needs will be to have a comfortable and secure home and they will feel most safe with their treasured possessions around them.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Gemini is the first Air sign of the Zodiac. It is Mutable (changeable) in nature and is ruled by the planet Mercury. The sign of Gemini is the twins. Geminis express their element of air and their rulership by Mercury the messenger in becoming great communicators. They are known as prolific talkers and are sociable in the extreme with their quick minds darting from one concept to another making instaneous connections. They are articulate, witty and slightly mischevious. In Mythology Mercury or Hermes as he was known in Greek Mythology was often up to no good playing tricks on the other Gods. Most often it was quite simply because it was good fun and he was a little bit bored and too clever by half. As Aries represented the child so Gemini is more the young adolescent investigating all the many wonderful things around him that this world has to offer. They are fascinated by observing human nature and behaviour and examing the different sides of any discussion. The word curious comes often to mind when we talk about the energy of Gemini. On the positive side Gemini energies gives it's recipient great flexibility, hence the mutable nature of the sign, in that it can jump around from concept to concept or person to person in a second. In many ways the sign is not emotional but it is intellectual. This can be one of the failings associated with Gemini energies in that it can lack some kind of depth because the mind is never settled on one area. Whatever is over the horizon is always that bit more interesting than that which is in front of the Gemini right now. Gemini energy, like that of the youth, can find it hard to stay in the present moment and complete something, because there is so much out there that just seems so much more appealing. This is often the great issue for a Gemini, in that he needs to stick with one thing long enough to make it manifest in the world, it's just too easy to start something and then go off and leave it half finsihed. People with Gemini energy can be great linguists, speakers , communicators, inventors, comedians and socialites amongst other things. They excel in linking events and people together. In this way they would be ideal to run companies such as Dating Agencies or Personnel Recruitment. On the shadow side of Gemini they can be big talkers who don't achieve anything or they can have their heads in the clouds and not be practical. They may also find it difficult to be emotional. Gemini energy will modify the expression of the planet that may lie in this sign. . With Mercury in Gemini, Mercury is at home in Gemini and the person will be endowed with a great ability to speak and communicate, the ideas will be quick and the person will make lightning connections between concepts. With Venus in Gemini, the person will love a good conversation and exchange of ideas, they may like doing word games or crossword puzzles. With Mars in Gemini the person will use words with a lot of force and may have a sharp or witty tongue. With Neptune in Gemini the energy of Neptune of dreams and an ideal world may be expressed by reading fantasy novels or poetry.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Cancer is the first Water sign of the Zodiac. It is Cardinal (Initiating) in nature and is the only Sign ruled by the Moon. The sign of Cancer is the Crab. Being a Water sign the energy of Cancer relates to others via it's emotional nature. A Cancerian needs to feel warmth and acceptance and feelings from others. They won't feel at home relating on a rational or intellectual level. They need to know above all they that they are safe and accepted and cared for by the other person. Like the Crab that is their sign, they have a tough exterior but a soft inside. The Crab also needs to live near water and can't survive anywhere else. The aspect of a Cancer needing to feel safe can often cause them to hark nostalgically after times gone by. The past can't change and is somehow something the Cancerian can fall back upon when the present seems too frightening or daunting. Countries have a sign associated with them for the date they were formed. America has it's Sun in Cancer. We can see a hint of this Cancerian nature with this country in it's love of sentimental movies, dreaming of bygone idyllic times and sports stars and that perfect family life and suburbia that seemed to exist somewhere in the past. Whether it ever existed we are not so sure but to a Cancerian the idea and the memories are enough. Some scientists say that Water has a memory and this is much of what Homeopathy is based on. The Cancerian is connected with this memory of Water. You often will find Cancerians with a love of old photos or movies or interested in their family roots. Indeed the home and family are what provide the Cancerian with stability and security. They are known to treasure their own homes and have difficulty going off into the unknown. They make their homes warm and inviting and are some of the very best cooks and people to provide hospitality. A good family life is essential to them and they make natural and instinctive parents. Part of this comes from the Cancerian rulership by the Moon. The Moon is cyclical, waxing and waning and is connected to the rythms experienced on the Earth. As the archetypal Mother symbol it is very much connected with the Women's menstrual cycle and the tides and other cycles experienced on Earth. For this reason Cancerians seem to have an instinctive and intuitive understanding of the rythms of nature. Infact Cancerians are so connected to the rythms of the Moon that their energy will increase as the Moon waxes and decrease as the moon wanes. Chances are the Werewolf is a Cancerian during the day time ! The energy of Cancer is Cardinal in nature , which means Cancerians have a desire to start off new projects. They have great new ideas and can often become leaders in their field. They are known to be leaders in the fashion industry. They are also as we said some of the best cooks and some of the best nurses as they can feel the pain others are experiencing. On the shadow side of Cancer they can be some of the most needy people. They often need constant emotional reassurance and feedback, they can also use emotions to blackmail people and be emotionally manipulative. Cancerian energy will modify the expression of the planet that may lie in this sign. . With Venus in Cancer, the person will like to nurture others or be nurtured by them. A man with this may attract a mothering type figure as a partner. His home and family will be everything to him. He may find expression of his artistic nature by drawing upon his emotions in acting. With Mars in Cancer, a persons strength will be at the emotional level, they may use emotional blackmail or on a more positive side their strength may show itself when one of their family needs them or someone is being mistreated. With Jupiter in Cancer the energy of Jupiter connected to discovering life's meaning may find itself expressed with finding value and understanding in the past. With Saturn in Cancer a person may find difficulty in expressing their emotions or may need a very structured home life to feel secure.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Leo is the second of the Fire signs. It is fixed in nature and is the only sign ruled by the Sun. The sign of Leo is the Lion. Like the Sun that has all the planets circle around it so does a Leo often have all the other types of people look towards them as the centre. As with the Lion who is the king of all the animals in the Jungle, so the Leo energy gives it's bearer a Regal presence. Truly Leo is the divine child of the Zodiac. The only sign ruled by the brilliant Sun, a Leo is blessed with possibly the most gifts of any sign in the Zodiac. They are natural leaders and attract followers wherever they go. Their Charisma is second to none. They are often the life and soul of the party, and dispense their generosity and wit to those who inevitably gather around them Leos tend to rise to the top of any group they partake in. There is a grandness about how a Leo operates. Only the best quality are good enough for them , no expense is spared. They are big hearted , generous , warm , dignified and noble. Napoleon was a famous Leo and in his early years he epitomised that natural flair for leadership and success. His men would follow him anywhere. It all sounds too good to be true. What is the problem with this energy ? Leos have to be the centre of attention. Often they will only look at an event to see how it relates to themselves. All they may see is how creative and witty they are being. They can assume their many gifts are a result of their own specialness, and can forget to be thankful for them. Pride is what the Lion suffers from in all the fairytales, and it's ultimately pride that can be the downfall of the Leo. Even Napoleon believed himself invincible after his early successes and ultimately this hubris was his downfall. Still if the Leo does get over his specialness and his ego he can be a great force for positivity in the world. He can naturally and easily influence and lead many people. Of course he's not wrong when he feels special because he has truly been given many gifts and qualities. It's just he should remember where they came from. The energy of Leo is fixed in nature which means they have great endurance to see a task through to the end. It's virtually impossible to change the opinion of a Leo. They do have one achilles heel though and that is flattery. If you want to get a Leo to see your point of view the only way is to flatter them, and let them think it was their brilliant idea in the first place. Leos make great actors, they love the drama and creativity of being at the centre of the stage and being worshipped by the audience. The distorted Leo is the premadonna actor who is overly dramatic and self obsessed. Leos can also make good antique dealers. Their natural flair enables them to choose and deal with only items of the best quality and style. Leos make great leaders, politicians and heads of companies, however they can also be the tyrant too if their energy is not used wisely. Leo energy will modify the expression of the planet that may lie in this sign. . With Venus in Leo, there is a love of the dramatic , a love of being at the centre of things a love of pomp and style. With Mercury in Leo , the ideas are grand, the person will be a natural leader with his words, a great storyteller and dramatist. With Uranus in Leo, the Uranian rebelliousness may be directed at the ruling establishment. With Moon in Leo the person needs their specialness and creativity acknowledged and admired to feel good. Thy may enjoy eating grand and stylishly prepared meals.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Virgo is the second of the Earth signs. It is Mutable (Changeable) in nature and is the second sign ruled by the planet Mercury. The sign of Virgo is the sign of the Virgin. After the dramatic flair and me centredness of the Leo. The Zodiac now turns to the sign of Virgo to put this evolved personality to service for society and it's processes. Virgo energy is the analytical energy of the Zodiac. Virgo's love to understand how all the parts of a process fit together into a perfectly functioning streamlined process. Infact Virgo's will be the first to notice if something does not work in a harmonious fashion as part of a process. To them it will stick out immediately and loom larger than all the working parts. Virgo's notice the faults. This is because ultimately they are there to fix them and for that they need to be able to see them. This is not so easy of course when they are dealing with other people as what they will quite quickly see are the persons failings. The sign of Virgo is somewhat like the alchemists of old who wished to turn lead into gold. A Virgo will try and perfect the day to day routines of the society they find themselves. They will do this by gradually refining the raw materials of society. If you want a task repeated and refined until it's in it's perfected state a Virgo is your best bet. Virgo is an Earth sign and Mutable (Changeable) in nature. This reflects their desire to change the Earth and the society they find themselves in. Virgo is ruled by the planet Mercury or Hermes in Greek Mythology. The sign of the cadeuceus, as used by the medical profession, is connected with Hermes. As such the Virgo energy is very much connected with health and healing. As they wish to perfect society so they wish to perfect and heal the body. Virgo's are often fascinated with health and healing and have a great understanding of the healing arts. They also have a very strong mind body connection and are greatly affected by living a healthy or unhealthy lifestyle, even more so than the other signs. With their eye for detail Virgos make good Surgeons, they are also often connected with the fashion industry as they have such an eye for perfection, only the best is good enough for them. Virgos are prolific in the health industry and can make great healers or enlighten people with their knowledge of drugs and remedies. The Shadow side of the Virgo energy is the critic gone mad, be it to yourself or to others. It is the perfectionist for whom nothing is good enough. It is the person who is so focused on all the details and failings of something that he can no longer remember anything good from the big picture. It is the hypercondriac who looks at every food label and decides nothing is edible. Virgo energy will modify the expression of the planet that may lie in this sign. . With Mars in Virgo the energy of Mars is expressed in a detailed , organised manner. It can also express itself in a critical and judgemental manner. With Venus in Virgo, there is a love of detail , a love of the healing arts. With the Moon in Virgo there is a need for perfection and organisation before the person can feel safe. In the 1960's two planets Uranus and Pluto came together in Virgo to create the changes of that era. This revolutionary and transformative energy expressed itself in a Virgo like way as a demand for a change in the daily working environment, the legalisation of medical practices such as abortion and a new drive to eat more natural healthy food.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Libra is the second of the Air signs. It is Cardinal (Initiating) in nature and is ruled by the planet Venus. The sign of Libra is the scales. The sign of Libra starts the second half of the year, exactly six months after the sign of Aries. As Aries is very much concerned with myself and I and my emergence and plans in the world so the sign of Libra is concerned with relationship to the other person. In the Astrological chart, the sign of Libra is at home on the Western side of the chart which is where the individual meets with the other person. A Libran has to discover and grow by relating to and understanding the other person. Librans are fascinated by relationships between people and social interaction. They are known for their diplomacy and style when relating to others as they are so focused and sensitive in this area. The sign of the scales is an expression of this social interaction. Where is the justice in how one person treats another person ? What is the correct action someone should take ? These are all questions the Libran asks herself and indeed will ultimately use their energy to stand up for and defend. These are not the emotional aspects of a relationship, as dealt with by Scorpio, but are more the rules of a relationship. Librans are known though to have an achilles heel. Since they see all sides of an argument, in an effort to find the correctly balanced answer, they can often end up paralysed and fail to come to any conclusion. Suddenly when a Libran decides in favour of one side of an argument, the other side looms large and appears to take on a great significance. In this way the Libran can't make a decision. What is the remedy for this ? Well sometimes you have to just decide on something, realise there is a greater power at work than yourself and let it go from there. Since Libra is like Taurus ruled by Venus, Librans possess an appreciation and an affinity with beauty. Where the Taurus beauty can be quite earthly , the Libran energy being an Air sign can be a beauty in the realm of ideas and concepts. Librans are known to be great appreciators of art and style. Librans often possess a certain social beauty. They often have charm and grace and diplomacy. If you are hosting a party or an eventy you would do well to have a Libran in charge as chances are it wil run very smoothly. Libran energy would influence a person to be a good artist, a diplomat and a marriage counsellor. It's shadow side can be a person who can never make a decision and is ineffective in the world. Another shadow side of Libra is the person who takes justice to it's extreme, is out of touch with his emotions, and has no mercy on those around him. Libran energy will modify the expression of the planet that may lie in this sign. . With mars in Libra, the energy of mars will take on a Libran theme and the person will fight for justice to the extreme. His energy will be activated when he sees injustices around him. With Jupiter in Libra the persons philosophy of life will be one of truth and harmony and balance. With the moon in Libra the person will need a relationship to be fulfilled or will at least love to dicuss the inner workings of everyone elses relationships.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

The Sign of Scorpio is the second of the water signs. It is fixed in nature and co ruled by Mars and Pluto. It's sign is that of a Scorpion. The word deep comes to mind when you think of a Scorpio. Nothing is done by halves, there is an intensity and burning desire about this sign. Scorpios are nothing but real, with potentially all the attributes and failings that come with that. Scorpios sense what is deep under the surface of another person or situation. They often can sense the dark side or human nature and can be prone to sense any conspiracies or negativity around them. In certain situations they could be called paranoid and negative but on the other hand in some cases a group's very survival or success may depend on having a Scorpio around within it looking out for any danger. The Scorpion insect, that is the representative of the sign, is very much a survivor and a powerful advesary. With its sting it is most definitely an animal to be feared. After such things as nuclear tests one of the few known survivors is the scorpion. Most definitely people with scorpio energy have great endurance and physical strength. Their lives are often not simple and involve great challenge but quite often through this they survive and transform to a different level. With their depth of feeling Scorpios often have to battle deep internal emotions and can suffer from periods of isolation and desperation. A Scorpio is someone you most definitely would not want to have as your enemy. They say you can tell a Scorpio from their deep intense , penetrating stare. In a contest of holding someones glare don't bet on the Scorpio to be the first to turn away. Infact in a conflict you can pretty much say a Scorpio will be the one with the last word or he'll die trying to do so in the process. This revenge may take the form of a cold and calculated act. Astrologically one of the worst conflict of energies can be that of a Leo and Scorpio. Neither of these two signs of intense power will back down. On the positive side though you couldn't have a better friend than a Scorpio. For people they like they will go through anything and endure any hardship. The sign was traditionally ruled by the planet Mars. This gave it it's strength and sexuality and power. However it is now also attributed to rulership by the planet Pluto. This gives Scorpio it's deep ability to transform a person through purging that which is unhealthy or destructive in the personality, often through suffering. Scorpio's can amongst other things make great soldiers, depth psychotherapists and detectives. Scorpio energy that has gone wrong or become distorted can result in the sex addict or cruel tyrant. Scorpio energy will modify the expression of the planet that may lie in this sign. . With Venus in Scorpio, their desire will be to deeply merge with another person on a sexual or intense level. With Neptune in Scorpio the person will long for an intensity of experience and in this way will find their bliss.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Sagittarius is the last of the fire signs. It is Mutable (Changeable) in nature and ruled by the planet Jupiter. The sign is that of the half horse, half man archer. The rulership of Jupiter lends to this sign the quality of expansion and breaking through barriers. This expansion however can take place on both the physical and mental plane , hence the dual nature of the creature in the sign. On a physical level this may involve travelling to distant lands and places. It may involve breaking physical barriers such as climbing unconquered mountains or breaking endurance records. On a mental level this will manifest in a person expanding their mind in a quest for knowledge and truth. They may be interested in the many different religions and beliefs that make up the world. In reality of course the physical and the mental planes are linked but the Sagittarian energy may express itself more in one area than another depending on the individual. This searching quality is further emphasised by the sign being an archer sending his arrow to unchartered places. Jupiter also gives the sign of Sagittarius an undeniable optimism. Rarely do you see a Sagittarian in negative or downbeat mood. For them life is a challenge and an adventure and there is lots to be seen and done. Also in the sign of Sagittarius there is a rainbow. In the bible the rainbow was given after the flood by the creator to mankind to say that there would be no more severe judgement as had just been experienced. It's a positive symbol and inspires one with meaning when it is seen in the sky. Sagittarians have also been granted lots of energy as they are a Fire sign. This energy is mutable (Changeable) in nature. You can think of it as a flickering flame or a dynamic storm that passes by quckly. In this way you can see a Sagittarian could have quite a temper. They soon however say what they have to say, spending their energy, and transform back to their normal optimistic and positive self. Sagittarians are not known for their tact however. Their quest for truth and knowldege leads them to express their truths and opinions regardless of who it will effect. The Fire that rules this sign is not diplomatic or sensitive as are the water signs but is inspirational in nature. Being the last of the Fire Signs means however that this sign is of a slightly more evolved nature than say the first of the Fire Signs. It is not focused on just expressing it's own needs, as is Aries, or being a leader as is Leo, it is concerned with the Big Picture. Sagittarians need to see and understand the grand meaning of the world they find themselves in. They will search for this at all costs. Often Sagittarians are found in religious groups or sects. Sagittarians make great philosophers and teachers. They also are to be found in high risk sports breaking new boundaries. They will be the mountaineers and high risk snowboarders of the world aswell as the big wave surfers. Infact they will be found around anything that involves danger and challenge. On a more negative side this energy of adventure cannot be easily constrained. A Sagittarian may therefore be the person who walks away from a relationship if it becomes too mundane. They may also be the religious zealot or cult leader who take their beliefs to the extreme while forgetting the individuals under their care. Sagittarian energy will modify the expression of the planet that may lie in this sign. . With The Moon in Sagittarius, a persons needs will be for philosophical and spiritual meaning or seeing foreign lands and cultures. With Mars in Sagittarius, a person may have an explosive temper or could be a great sportsman breaking new bounds. With Mercury in Sagittarius a person may have scattered but inspirational thoughts. They will look for the big picture.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Capricorn is the last of the Earth Signs. It is Cardinal (Initiating) in nature and ruled by the planet Saturn. It's sign is that of the mountain goat. Capricorn is a sign that is very much connected with the material realm we live in. For Capricorns the world is a serious place and there are traditions and rules and structures that are to be abided by. It is his or her job to ascend these structures through dilligence and their own hard work and most often they do just that. For them tradition is important and all that a society has built over the generations. A person needs to earn the respect of a Capricorn by demonstrating they will put in the required effort and be reliable and trustworthy. A Capricorns motto is 'as you sow so shall you reap.' There is a saying in Astrology that as Capricorns get older they become more youthfull. Indeed if you look at a Capricornian child chances are he will look old beyond his years at an early age. He is likely to be burdened with lots of responsibilities around the home. Often the child becomes a parent to the rest of the family. Only as he grows older can he begin to relax and take his responsibilities with a lighter touch as he begins to master some of the challenges he finds in the material world. Even facially Capricornians can start to look younger as they age. Capricorn is ruled by Saturn. The Planet Saturn rules another sign Aquarius. Saturn has two faces. One of the faces looks inwards to the personal inner planets. The other looks outwards to the cosmos beyond to the transpersonal outer planets. The inner looking face is the aspect that rules Capricorn. It does not let a person go off into wild fantasies and dreams, as epitomised by Aquarius, rather it focuses the mind on the day to day responsibilities and duties of the individual. Indeed Saturn is known as the Gatekeeper at the Edge. A Person cannot pass by it, to the dreams that lie beyond, until he has proved himself worthy of these things by putting in his own effort. The time of Capricorn is right at the height of Winter in the Western World. This is a time when people have to survive on meagre sunlight and everything is dormant under the ground. It is indeed a tough time, quite the opposite of the exuberant spring. In this way the sign is a hardy sign. Capricorns are quite self reliant and being a Cardinal sign they initiate and drive new projects and ideas themselves. Much like the Mountain Goat that is their sign, they survive on a scarcity of outside help and often they find it hard to let in affection. Capricornians in their best state are some of the most honest, trustworthy , reliable and hard working people you could ever wish to meet. They can be full of integrity and principles. For them their word means everything and they stick to doing what they promise. However they have a problem in that they are bound so heavily to this physical world. The gravity of Saturn which is associated with time and cycles and materiality has an extra hold upon them. They can't break free of the world they live in to dream of better things or to simply trust and let go and let a greater force carry them. Capricornians have to see to everything themselves and although this is a great asset it is their greatest failing too. Ultimately no person can control the world and we are all reliant upon each other and a greater force that oversees each person. For Capricornians they just can't let go and as a result they tend to worry about each and every thing. For a Capricorn to lose his status or his job or to have his reputation tainted is tantamount to death for this is their very life. Ultimately a Capricorn can break free form this trap but it is never easy for them, the material world calls them so strongly. Capricornians with their ethic of hard work often rise to the top of businesses and large corporations. For them it is no problem to work late into the evenings and all weekend. They also make good financial advisors and property tycoons. The Shadow sign of Capricorn is the person obsessed with money and the material realm, who can see nothing else but his business, who trusts no one or no higher purpose, and often loses everything else in the process. Just think of Ebeneezer Scrooge and you'll get the picture. Capricornian energy will modify the expression of the planet that may lie in this sign. . With Saturn in Capricorn, the qualities of Saturn such as structure and discipline will just be enhanced. People with this may be very materialistic, practical and grounded but they may also see everything in black and white and be unduly concerned with status and may be strongly bound to the materialistic world. With the Moon in Capricorn , a person will have trouble expressing their needs and emotional nature. They may appear cold and reserved. For them a solid structure and routine may be what they need to satisfy their inner needs. With Venus in Capricorn , a person will be attrracted to tradition and wealth and possibly to a partner who is much older than themselves.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Aquarius is the last of the Air signs. It is Fixed in nature and is ruled both by Saturn and Uranus. It's sign is that of the Water Bearer. Aquarians are ground breakers, they introduce and champion new ideas into the world which will elevate people and society to a new level. There ideals are those of justice, liberty , freedom and the brotherhood of man. An Aquarian cannot be kept in a box or told what to do. They know at some level that they are free people and no one can tell them what to do. The rights they champion they feel in their very soul and giving up these would force them to give up the very essence of what it means to them to be human. It's also the sign that champions the ideals of friendship and the equality of all people These ideas are very much connected to the planets that rule the sign of Aquarius. Traditionally this was Saturn. As we mentioned in the section above describing the sign of Capricorn , the planet has two aspects to it. The one side looks inwards to the personal planets and is traditional and conservative. Saturn is known as the gatekeeper and like a sentry he traditionally guarded the edge of the Solar system. This was the last of the planets of the old order and the last to be seen with the naked eye. However the other side of Saturn looks outwards to the cosmos beyond, this is the side that rules the sign of Aquarius. This is much like the person who has passed his exams or his driving test for whom the open road beckons and the possibilities seem endless and exciting. This is Aquarius as it looks to the transpersonal planets for inspiration. The other, more modern ruler of Aquarius is Uranus the next planet out from Saturn. This planet was discovered around the American and French revolutions and its nature reflects those events. It is a groundbreaker , a revolutionary that fights for Justice and Liberty and the freedoms of mankind. The sign of Aquarius is an Air sign. It is also the last of these signs so in some way there is a maturity about it different from the previous Air Signs. The realm of Air is that of the ideas of mankind. When we use phrases like Airy Fairy we are talking of a person with their ideas in the clouds and not connected to the Earth. Aquarians live very much in this realm of ideas before they are brought to the Earth. King Solomon said 'There is nothing new under the sun'. All the ideas exist somewhere out there , it's just that Aquarians have a great ability to tap into this world of ideas and hopefully assist others in bringing them to society and thus improve the lot of mankind. This is shown by their sign which shows them bearing water or enlightenment to the rest of mankind. Sometimes Aquarians are so busy championing their causes and preaching ideals to everyone that they can forget the person next to them. This is reflected in the air sign being Fixed in nature. Aquarians are not always so flexible and accomodating to other peoples ideas as they are so focused on their own beliefs. There is a phrase often used about Aquarians that can bear a lot of truth and they would take well to take note of it - 'They love humanity , it's just people they can't stand ! '. Aquarians are excellent in all the technical professions. they excel in groundbreaking roles. They are often found at the forefront of the computer industry. They would be the Einstein or Oppenheimer's of this world or even the mad professor who continually come up with new gadgets. They may make powerful politicians who espouse new ideas and rights for the individual and society, such as the people who would have led the Russian Revolution. The shadow side of this sign is the person who lives completely in the clouds and is not connected with reality or the revolutionary who has no sensitivity or care for the individual as the cause is all important. Aquarian energy will modify the expression of the planet that may lie in this sign. . With Uranus in Aquarius , the revolutionary nature of Uranus will be at home in this sign and the person will have radical and innovative ideas. With Venus in Aquarius , the person will have a love and talent for new ideas and technology. They may spend all their spare time playing with computers and gadgets. With the Moon in Aquarius the person will need to have ideals and causes to follow.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

The last of the water signs and the last of all the signs is Pisces. We named our web site after it so it can't be bad. It is mutable (Changeable) in nature. It is ruled by two planets, traditionally Jupiter and more lately Neptune also. The sign of Pisces is that of two fish swimming in opposite directions. Being the last of the signs Pisces is very much the end of a journey that began with the sign of Aries. Aries was about the self establishing itself in the world, about beginnings, adventures and an emerging energy and a kind of childlike naievety. Pisces is quite the opposite, it is the end of the journey, a coming home, a returning of all the experience that has been gained. It is a much more mellow energy and it is connected with the other person as much as the self. The Piscean character is vaguely dreamlike and elusive as if a part of them has not properly incarnated into the world. Infact Pisceans have a very strong memory of harmony and oneness and seek it at all costs. Some would say they rememeber this from a world previous to this one where there was no movement, effort or conflict just simply being. Pisceans naturally appear to favour being rather than doing. They can be a calming influence on a situation or a set of people. They remind people to be accepted for who they are and not what they do. The Piscean sign is a water sign. It is this water that connects them to other people in the world. Their gift is that they can literally feel what the other person is feeling and the pains and sorrow this entails. For this reason a Piscean is often very sympathetic and understanding to the other person. They can't easily be judgemental or negative about them because in a very real sense they know what the other person is going through. Sometimes this can be a real disadvantage as the Piscean is so open to other peoples influence and energy that they can literally forget who they are or what they believe in or what is the correct action to take. This is further emphasised by the Piscean sign being a mutable or changeable sign. They are so changeable and influenced by others that maintaining there separate sense of identity is difficult for them. For this reason Pisceans will often have to retreat into a secure boundary such as their homes to reestablish who they are and what their personal wishes are. Pisces is represented by the two fish. One swims up and one down. Why two fish ? The Piscean can literally go one of two ways, up or down. His desire to achieve , harmony and oneness may take the form of illusion or truth. He may swim down into the world of drugs, alcoholism, sexual excess or any kind of addiction. On the other hand if he is strong he may resist these urges which ultimately are about self satisfaction and he may use his gifts of sensitivity and understanding to swim upstream and give support to those around him. In this way he will find the harmony he is looking for but in a different way. They say a Pisces can ultimately make the best of all the leaders because they truly understand the people around them. In the bible Moses was a Pisces. At first he didn't want to be called to leadership and had a stutter and didn't think he was worthy of speaking for his people. However he had the trait of caring and would not let any even one of his sheep be lost. Ultimately he became a great leader of his people because he cared for each and everyone of them. The sign of Pisces was traditionally ruled by Jupiter. This gives the sign it's interest in all matters spiritual. It also gives a benevolent outlook to the character of the person. With the discovery of Neptune this became a second ruler of Pisces. Neptune is a about the search for the ideal, for harmony. This is truly evident in the Piscean. Pisceans may often try and lose themselves in a world of fantasy and make believe or in the movies. These are all traits given by the planet Neptune to the sign. Pisceans make good filmmakers, poets, mystics and counsellors. As we said before ultimately they can make some of the kindest, wisest and most benevolent leaders. The shadow side of Pisces is the drug addict, the dropout, the person who has given up on life or the person who expects society to care for all his needs. Piscean energy will modify the expression of the planet that may lie in this sign. . With Venus in Pisces there will be a love for mysticism, a care for the underdog and the underprivileged or maybe an ability in making movies. With the Moon in Pisces there will be a deep sensitivity to suffering and pain and the difficulties of the world. The person may need to periodically hide away and restore themselves. With Uranus in Pisces the person may have abilities to express new ideas in spirituality or may invent new technologies to alleviate suffering.