Rae Orion - Astrology For Dummies

FIGURE 4-2:The symbol of Aries the Ram.

Aries is a force of nature like no other. Blessed with boundless energy and a bold, exhilarating personality, you have a zest for life that other signs can only envy. You’re a firebrand — intrepid, enthusiastic, passionate, and courageous. Unconventional and joyously individualistic, you display a robust sense of who you are and an eagerness to forge your own path. You have a sense of purpose and a distinct personal style, and you refuse to let others define you. Often a creature of extremes, you react quickly and make instantaneous decisions. You believe in action and proudly stand up for what you know is right, even if it conflicts with commonly held notions. Neither a joiner nor a follower, you’re a natural-born leader because you have a clear, decisive mind combined with total faith in your own reactions and plans.

At your audacious best, you’re untiring, ardent, thoroughly original, and filled with joie de vivre You’re an activist on your own behalf, a risk-taker with a pioneering spirit and a deep need to prove yourself. So when a fresh idea or a groundbreaking mission captures your imagination, you rush in. Later on, if your interest falters or your hopes don’t pan out, you move on, undaunted. Life is too short to waste on anything that fails to interest you.

Like a child, you can be self-centered, inconsiderate, and intent on doing things your way. When you really want something, you can be combative, brash, and even ruthless in your efforts to get it. You’re willing to do a lot of rule breaking, a trait that doesn’t always work to your benefit. Rather than bending to someone else’s requirements, you prefer to simply obey your instincts. You have initiative, but at times you exhibit a woeful lack of foresight, and you often lack diligence. Although your enthusiasms are many, you’re restless, and your initial interest may fizzle. Your impatience is legendary. For that reason, you find greater satisfaction with short-term ventures than with lengthy ones.

Emotionally, you find it difficult to imagine how other people feel. You can strike people as insensitive, egocentric, and self-absorbed. And there’s no avoiding the fact that you have a volcanic temper: It comes and goes in a flash, but when it appears, you’re terrifying. You hold strong opinions, and you’re not afraid to express them, no matter how impolitic (or impolite) they may be. You figure it this way: If expressing your views causes others discomfort, let them nurse their fragile sensibilities on their own. You have too much to do to sit around obsessing over hurt feelings or petty criticism.

Anyone who knows you, from friends and family to the most casual of acquaintances, knows where you stand. Outspoken and direct, you don’t hesitate to express yourself, and you have little patience for those who can’t take the heat or require a lot of coddling. Self-sufficient and independent, you prefer your friends to be as on-the-move as you are, and you can’t bear whining. As for love, you’re an exciting person to be around. Although you suffer from jealousy and can be competitive, you enjoy the chase — not that you let it drag on for too long. You’re not a game player. You know what you like, and when you find it, you go for it. And did I mention that you’re sexually ravenous?

At the same time, you’re an idealist who’s fully prepared to hold out for the real thing. You demand equality, and if you don’t get it, you make your displeasure clear. With Mars, the warrior planet, as your ruler, you seldom shy away from confrontation. And even though you don’t mean to be contentious, at times you can’t help yourself. You’re not one to suppress your feelings or to spend endless hours delving into the intricacies of your own — or anyone else’s — psyche. You’d rather face the issues head-on. Your combustible, intimidating exterior may mask feelings of inferiority, but most people won’t realize that. All they know is that you’re a force to be reckoned with.

For information on your relationships with other signs of the zodiac, flip to Chapter 15.

With your executive decision-making ability and general verve, you’re a self-starter and an effective leader who likes to initiate change. Ambitious and competitive, you rise to a challenge. But you’re a sprinter, not a long-distance runner. You love the unmistakable thrill that comes at the beginning of an undertaking, when creative momentum is high and the possibilities are wide open. You’re happy to experiment and innovate. But once things have settled into a routine and the endeavor becomes weighted down with procedures, precedents, and supervisors, your excitement wanes. You find it dispiriting to spend time focusing on details or doing standard maintenance tasks. Quitting too soon is one of your worst and most frequent mistakes.

Aries craves autonomy. Independent and feisty, you’re a solo act, most contented working on your own or being the boss, preferably in an enterprise that allows you to set your own schedule. When that’s not possible, you benefit from physical activity and the opportunity to participate in a variety of tasks. You’re easily bored, and your need to express yourself is stronger than your need for security.

Pie-in-the-sky careers include being a film director like Francis Ford Coppola, Quentin Tarantino, or Akira Kurosawa, all Aries; a talk show host like David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, or Rosie O’Donnell; an entrepreneur like Larry Page, cofounder of Google; and anything that feels dangerous or has a high excitement quotient, such as being a stuntman or working in an emergency room. Surgery is said to be an Aries profession, as is anything that involves fire (such as cooking) or the military. I know Aries who are devoted activists, artists, attorneys, educators, musicians, writers, and entrepreneurs. Whatever your calling, it’s not something you choose for money or prestige. You’re drawn to it because it offers you a way to make an impact on the world and to express your incomparable, adventurous self.

If you work for an Aries, be aware that your boss will most likely be impatient with anyone who can’t keep up or requires excessive supervision. Your best move is to work independently and quickly — and don’t take those angry explosions personally.

As the first sign of the zodiac, Aries has immense vitality and a strong constitution. You heal quickly and can get by on little sleep. When something new excites you, you dive in. But tedium undoes you, and “slow progress” feels like a contradiction in terms to you. Having a goal is motivating, but if your new diet or supplement or gym class or therapy doesn’t show results fairly quickly, you’re unlikely to stick with it. You’d rather give something else a try.

In traditional western astrology, Aries is associated with the head, making you prone to headaches, earaches, eyestrain, and related woes. You are also ruled by Mars, the planet of war. His aggressive tendencies can spark angry, adrenalin-fueled outbursts and occasional accidents. That’s why the number one health tip for Aries is simple: calm down. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, stretch. A few minutes of meditation before you grab your lance and gallop into the fray can be restorative. The number two health tip: when engaged in an activity that might require headgear such as jousting or skateboarding or bicycling, don’t be obstinate. Wear the helmet. Also useful: head massages, facial acupressure, cranial-sacral massage, a sleep mask for those occasions when you don’t get to bed until sun-up.