Signs of the Zodiac

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Element: Fire

Modality: Cardinal

Ruling Planet: Mars, Pluto

Part of Body: Head, skull sinuses, jaws

Herbs: Pepper, garlic, hemp, poppy, holly, thistle, onion, fern, mustard

Stones: Bloodstone, ocher, diamond, ruby

Keywords: Self, ego, imitative, action, courageous, pioneering,

adventurous, freedom-loving, independent.

Business Types: Exploration, design, engineering, athletics.

Aries starts off the Zodiac, and it is self-motivation that is the hallmark

of this sign. Aries people often take a bit of a bad rap as being selfish

and vain, but the truth is they are more often self-seeking than self-

absorbed. OOther signs have bought into the „self-sacrifice“ mantra of the

Puritans (and to some degree New-Age movement), but Aries can see that in

order to achieve enlightenment the first step is to know thyself. The

second step is to love thyself. Aries knows you can’t help others if you

are miserable yourself, so they have less trouble staying on their personal

path than many of the other signs. 

The Ram is definitely a leader in the „lead, follow or get out of the way“

template. They don’t mmind if someone else is apparently in charge, provided

they are the power behind the throne. They tend to be a bit blunt in speech

and manner and it is the rare Aries that is truly shy. 

In a sign noted for independence iit is often difficult to tie an Aries

down. If you have trouble getting your Aries partner to settle down, keep a

copy of „If you love someone, set them free“ handy, because chances are you

are always going to have to give them some space of their own. This sign

does not like to be stifled.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Element: Earth

Modality: Fixed

Ruling Planet: Venus

Part of Body: Neck, throat, tonsils, thyroid gland

Herbs:  Licorice, Fenugreek, Slippery Elm

Stones:  Emerald

Keywords: Possessions, practicality, values, stability, persistent,

sensual.

Business Types: Banking, accounting, real estate, architecture, fine art.

You won’t get much argument out of a Taurus if you call them stubborn,

inflexible and unchanging. Most of them see their inherent stability and

practicality as a virtue. Taurus loves good food, a good laugh, and the

finer tthings in life, anything that feels good in a „touchy-feely“ way. You

can leave a Taurean for years, but count on them to be the „same old Joe“

years later. They do kind of get stuck in their ways – but they are usually

very comfortable with themselves. They don’t feel the need to brag, to blow

their own horns, in fact, if you want to confide a secret and be sure it

will be kept, make friends with a Taurus. You can count on tthis sign to

back you up once they have decided to make you part of their „collection of

oddities“. And they do like to collect – both people and tchotchkes.

Astrologers don’t talk much about „imagination“ and Taurus, but in my

experience, Taurus people are greatly imaginative, perhaps because of the

strong influence from Venus. George Lucas is a Taurus, and there is no

arguing he’s one of the great creative visionaries of our time. Taurus Sun

Saddam Hussien could also be called visionary in his own cruel and twisted

way. Their path to success is not usually the rocket-fast path, they pick a

slow, steady pace, and once they have decided they want something, they

almost always get their way. Taurus can be incredibly stubborn.

Perhaps under-rated as lovers because of their dowdy reputation (and lack

of interest in bragging), the true Taurus type is in fact one of the more

romantic and passionate, if at times unimaginative lovers. They are

faithful and reliable to a fault, because they hate change. Once they get

stuck in a comfortable rut it can take the heaven and earth shaking before

they’ll move on.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Element: Air

Modality: Mutable

Ruling Planet: Mercury

Part of Body: lungs, bronchial system, nervous system, arms, hands

Herbs: Yarrow, tansy, vervain

Stones: Beryl, garnet, topaz, aquamarine, marble

Keywords: Communication, tthought, ideas, logical, spontaneous, sharp,

modern.

Business Types: Broadcasting, journalism, travel, tourism, communications,

education.

Gemini is the sign of „communication“ – you’ll often find a

disproportionate number of Gemini Suns in the telecommunication,

publishing, public relations, radio and news fields. They make wonderful

writers and commentators.

These folks love to talk. Clever, self-effacing humor is a hallmark of

Gemini funnyman Tim Allen. The jokes and laughter fly at a mile a minute,

the influence of Mercury being strong in this sign. 

Gemini does take a bad rap for being shallow and vain, but the truth is

that they are sensitive and easily hurt, so they protect themselves by

keeping intimacy at arms length. If you take the time to get past the text

to the data stream, you’ll find they are really quite deep – they are

thinking all the time, after all.

Gemini has been accused of being a fickle lover too, but you’ll find no

more interesting or engaging partner. Why would you want to tie them down?

It would only stifle them, and make you both unhappy in the long run. If

you are determined to marry a Gemini, make sure they have enough personal

space so they can still feel they have some freedom. Angelina Jolie and

Elizabeth Hurley are examples of the kind of spontaneous passion this ssign

is known for. Once they truly fall in love, though, they are capable of

remarkably long-lived fidelity. Look at Paul McCartney. There are always

exceptions to the rule, especially when there is also a lot of Water in the

chart. The problem with Gemini is the impulsiveness the sign brings to

nearly every area of life. 

Another area I have personally observed a Gemini weakness is their love for

shopping. Consumerism and the credit card are Gemini inventions in my not

so humble opinion. Gemini women are those women who have a closet full of

clothes they „had“ to have but have never worn.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Element: Water

Modality: Cardinal

Ruling Planet: Moon

Part of Body: 

Herbs: Lily

Stones: Crystal, moonstone

Keywords: Mother, home, sensitivity, nurturance, protectiveness. 

Business Types: Staples, domestic goods, hospitality, real estate.

Cancer is the sign of „Home, Moon and Mother“, and as such it can be

incredibly sensitive, compassionate and nurturing. Male Cancer natives tend

to overcompensate because of the sexism innate in modern culture. They will

often claim to be rational and unfeeling, but close family will tell you

they are highly sensitive and often psychic. Manic comedian Robin Williams

is a good example of Cancer at work – this is a man who is fiercely

dedicated to his family, and his craft, a man whose human

compassion has

been shown in the many roles he has chosen and in his dedication to friends

like Christopher Reeves. 

Inversely, Cancer females tend to be a lot tougher than they appear at

first. If you doubt, just get between a Cancer female and her children or

loved ones. You’ll feel the sharp edges of her pincers in a hurry!

One other celebrity personifies one of the interesting aspects of Cancer –

Imelda Marcos, known for her collection of shoes, is really acting out the

Cancer need to hhoard and store. It can get extreme, even obsessive. I know

a Cancer woman who has a huge collection of what others might call „junk“.

It’s her security blanket, to keep unwanted people from her home. She knows

she will never use 90% of the material she’s hoarded, but the thought of

parting with it brings great anxiety.

Leo (July 23-August 22)

Element: Fire

Modality: Fixed

Ruling Planet: Sun

Part of Body: heart, upper back, spinal column

Herbs:  

Stones:  

Keywords: Power, authority, generosity, expansiveness, leadership.

Business Types: The „CEO“, leader, president, ttheatre, sports.

Leo likes the spotlight. Just imagine the proud, roaring lion, soaking

himself in the sun, while his harem of lionesses go out to hunt, and you

have the perfect picture for most Leo’s you’ll meet. Oh, they are not lazy,

far from iit! But they will be happy to leave the less glamorous work for

their „entourage“ to mop up, while they take the glory and the spotlight,

and in most cases, we’ll love them despite it all. Why? They really do

brighten up the room.

Leo is among the most creative of signs. Lots of entertainers, producers

and showpeople have this sign strong in their charts. 

Hot, passionate and sexy, Leo is not the most faithful of signs

necessarily, though strong Water or a strong Saturn in the chart can

moderate this somewhat. The truth is they like to be the centre of

attention in all things including love. Just look at Leos Bill Clinton and

Mick Jagger.

Virgo (August 23-September 22)

Element: Earth

Modality: Mutable

Ruling Planet: Mercury

Part of Body: pancreas, small intestine, spleen, lliver

Herbs:  Blackberry, Dill Seed, Fennel

Stones:  Sardonyx

Keywords: Critical, discerning, methodical, modest, service-oriented,

cultured, discerning.

Business Types: Bio-tech, medicine, pharmaceuticals, farming, accounting,

any work that serves others and involves exacting detail.

Virgo is often described as critical, methodical, and even „nitpicky“.

Virgo does suffer from some „bad press“ over the past 100 years or so, some

of it thinly-veiled sexism directed at the symbolism of the sign, as has

been charged by more recent feminist writers, however, there is some truth

in the description. I have never been treated to aas sharp and detailed a

critique as I have when trying to make the case in a chat room full of

Virgos that Virgos suffer from this trait.

Virgo people are some of the most selfless, dedicated, and hard workers in

the Zodiac. Highly intelligent, they are great at storing and organizing

information. Virgo is often associated with healthcare, healing and service

work for this reason. They make fantastic doctors, nurses and alternative

healthcare practitioners, and are often found healing in other ways. They

are also excellent managers, secretaries and organizers. 

As lovers Virgo has a totally undeserved reputation as reserved and cold.

In fact, they are passionate, devoted, and occasionally kinky lovers. They

have a wonderful sense of creativity, and have just enough independence to

keep things interesting. The reputation of course comes from Victorian

astrologers and their simple-minded association of „Virgo“ with „virgin“

goddesses. In fact, the original meaning of „virgin“ did not mean „sexually

chaste“ but „a free woman in charge of her own destiny“. This is much

closer to the true behavior of modern Virgos.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

Element: Air

Modality: Cardinal

Ruling Planet: Venus

Part of Body: lower back, kidneys, bladder

Herbs:  primrose, violet and yarrow

Stones:  Blue Lace Agate, Chrysoprase, Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise

Keywords: Harmony, beauty, balance, diplomacy, idealism, justice

Business Types: The judge, police, fashion, art, luxuries, pprecious metals,

artists, diplomats

Despite this sign’s association with „relationships, harmony and

diplomacy“, Libras don’t always find that it is a simple matter to meet the

perfect mate. In fact finding a mate does seem to be a struggle for most

Libras. Perhaps it is their fixation on pleasing others, or the constant

need to see the other person’s point of view that stymies them.

Libra does have a reputation for being indecisive, but the truth is that

they are chronic fence-sitters because they have a strong pull to discover

all the facts, analyze every position, before they jump into an issue. Once

they have done so, they can be incredibly stubborn. 

Another strong Libra trait is their desire for and association with

justice. Libras make good diplomats, lawyers and judges because they are

able to see all sides of a given story, and are devoted to the truth and

fairness above all else. 

Libras are also one of the more creative signs and tend to be good

communicators. Their desire for beauty and physical harmony makes them

excellent artists and decorators. Brandi Jasmine, the Libra horoscope

writer at Astrology.ca is also an experienced editor, writer, and artist.

Libra lovers tend to be devoted and committed, this being the sign of

„committed partners“ after all. Though that can change if tthere is a lot of

Water in the chart.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21)

Element: Water

Modality: Fixed

Ruling Planet: Pluto

Part of Body: reproductive system, sex organs, large intestine

Herbs:  Dong Quai, Black Cohosh

Stones:  Opal

Keywords: Sex, secrecy, investigation, rebirth, intensity, determination,

integrity, imagination.

Business Types: Law enforcement, religion, military, mental health.

Ah, Scorpio the sign of sex! Of course like any key concept in astrology,

the natives of this sign are saddled with prevailing social preconceptions.

Leonardo DiCaprio, a Scorpio Sun, has mastered the ability to project sex

appeal, depth and mystery. 

But like all signs, there is a lot more hidden under the surface, if you

are prepared to spend the time. Scorpio does like to hide its inner depths,

and Scorpios are among some of the most profound psychics and healers in

the zodiac. 

Determination, strength and emotional fortitude help the bearer of this

sign in every effort. Their personal power, sensuality and magnetic appeal

make them wonderful lovers, but that intensity can be overpowering to the

freedom-loving signs. They can lose themselves in the magic of the moment,

getting emotionally and psychically lost in the power of bonding. 

That psychic sensitivity can be as much a curse as a blessing to Scorpio.

Their natural bluntness makes it difficult for them to share their insights

with others in a way the recipient finds

easy to accept. They tend to see

deep into any situation, have profound intuitive powers and make terrific

investigators.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)

Element: Fire

Modality: Mutable

Ruling Planet: Jupiter

Part of Body: Thighs, sciatic nerve

Herbs:  Dandelion, Horsetail, Onion, Garlic

Stones:  Topaz

Keywords: Freedom, travel, knowledge, learning, optimism, broad-mindedness.

Business Types: The Internet, computers, science, technology, public

service, social work, some publishing

Sagittarians often complain to astrologers that they are misunderstood.

Perhaps it is that their minds, if not their bodies, are so busy floating

around the world (or the universe), that they fail tto make contact with

people in a meaningful way. Energetic and interesting, they seem to come

from „another place“. Brad Pitt is one example of a Sagittarian, whose

constant changes of style, mood and direction confuse his family, friends

and fans alike.

Sagittarius is the world traveler, often in both thought and deed. They do

love to travel, and when that is not possible, they spend a great time on

the Internet, or with their noses in books learning about other cultures

and peoples. They are often found iin the publishing industry as a result.

The sign’s association with higher education also pulls a great number of

Sagittarians into college and universities, both as students and as

teachers. They are always pushing the boundaries, searching for new ways to

explore their inner mminds.  For this reason they are also drawn to new

technologies, the Internet and computers.

Good natured, energetic, optimistic and loving, they tend to make

interesting and exciting partners. They are also freedom-loving though, and

don’t like to be tied down. The Sagittarian lover is a challenge for anyone

who is conservative or old-fashioned.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

Element: Earth

Modality: Cardinal

Ruling Planet: Saturn

Part of Body: 

Herbs: Hemlock, nightshade, black poppy

Stones: Onyx, jet, coal

Keywords: Ambition, conservation, power, social status, discipline,

prudence.

Business Types: Global trade, civil service, music, building, science.

Leaders, CEOs, managers.

Capricorn is one of the „power-house“ signs. Dedicated, passionate,

ambitious and practical, many of the world’s corporate captains of industry

have strong Capricorn somewhere in their charts. 

Capricorns are known for a strong „workaholic“ tendencies,  excellent

leadership skills and comfort in the public arena. TThis is not because they

are all that interested in money necessarily, but because they seek the

respect and power that comes from social status. They will often sacrifice

much to maintain or improve their position in the social hierarchy. 

Without other planetary support in a chart, Capricorn lacks the simplicity

and groundedness of Taurus, and the analytical though-processes of Virgo.

With supporting planets in air or fire signs though, Capricorn is a

creative force that cannot be denied. It seeks for „the top“ in everything

it touches. DDavid Bowie is one example of this dichotomy inherent in the

sign, Elvis Presley was another. 

Despite the practical, earthy, heavy nature of the sign, however,

Capricorns do have their share of quirks. Capricorns are known for having

some strange creative and sexual eccentricities that they like to keep

secret. Additional Water and Air in the right place in their charts makes

them devoted, passionate and creative lovers.

Aquarius (January 20-February 18)

Element: Air

Modality: Fixed

Ruling Planet: Uranus

Part of Body: Circulatory system, ankles, spinal cord

Herbs: Frankincense, Myrrh

Stones: Blue Sapphire, black pearl, obsidian, slate

Keywords: Unique, humanitarian, independent, idealistic, inventive

Business Types: The Internet, computers, science, technology, public

service, social work, some publishing

Aquarius is one of the more eccentric, flexible, unusual, and avant-garde

signs. Aquarians tend to be intelligent, philosophical, communicative and

open-minded. They tend to be drawn to group efforts, philanthropy, and

charitable efforts. They may be perceived as odd, unusual or eccentric by

others. Occasionally they are perceived as „aloof“ as well. I say

„perceived“ because Aquarians are never quite what they appear to be. They

may express their emotions in intellectual terms, but are self-sacrificing

humanitarians, often philanthropists, constantly searching for the ideal

and for truth and vision. It is important for Aquarians to develop self-

love, and the personal application of spiritual practices to their daily

lives.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Element: Water

Modality: MMutable

Ruling Planet: Neptune, Jupiter

Part of Body: Lymph system, feet immune factors

Herbs: Clematis, Goldenseal, Echinacea 

Stones:  Aquamarine, Hematite

Keywords: Secrecy, investigation, rebirth, impressionable, sensitive,

psychic, adaptable.

Business Types: Health care, public service, sea-fairing businesses, water-

related businesses, film making.

Famous for psychic ability and emotional sensitivity, Pisces natives tend

to be, like their polar opposite (Virgo), excessively focused on the

„other“. They are the unselfish peacemakers and soothers who make life

easier for others. Unfortunately, this means they often neglect their own

needs. Pisces can literally work themselves to ill health in serving the

constant demand to be helpful to others. Neptune and Jupiter are both said

to „rule“ Pisces, an indication of the dreamy imagination that is often a

feature of the talents of high-profile Pisces like Drew Barrymore.

One potential roadblock for Pisces is its association with drugs, alcohol,

and mood-altering experiences. Under stress, Pisces does tend to look to

the medicine cabinet for answers. Expressed in higher terms, this can

result in a fixation with metaphysics, the occult, and meditative

techniques.

Pisces make wonderful diplomats, counselors, healers and psychologists, and

are terrifically emotive actors, artists and musicians. They use their

gentle sensitivity to make an empathic connection with the audience. Their

deep imaginations permit them to plump much greater depths. Dreams and

visions are like second nature to them.

Pisces make wonderful friends, aalways giving more than they take, and are

passionate, deep and committed lovers. It helps if they can hook up with

partners who stimulate their creative mystical qualities and can allow them

some solitary time to dream and create and reconnect with their

otherworldly source of inspiration on a regular basis.