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Aries: March 20-April 20
If you were born between the dates listed above, you probably know yourself as "an Aries." What you are actually describing is the position of the sun in the sky on the day you were born. If we had looked at the sun on that day, it would have appeared to be in the constellation of Aries the Ram. Accordingly, your astrological birth chart will show that your "sun is in Aries." Whatever sign the sun is in when you are born describes your core identity, so it is appropriate that most of us can name our sun sign and perhaps know a little bit about its basic characteristics. As an Aries, you were born at the beginning of the astrological year, reaping all the rewards and carrying all the burdens of being the pioneer who leads the way into new territory. Your birthday falls within the first month of spring, and it is upon you that we depend to take the risk of being the first in line. You are most fulfilled when you see the possibilities, take charge, and take action. Among the archetypes for Aries are Pioneer, Warrior, Survivor, and Risk-Taker. You are a fire sign, personifying a spiritual energy that is not quite tangible but nevertheless very effective. You prefer to be the initiator of ideas and projects, leaving the follow-up to others more suited to complete the job. You have a natural affinity for people of fire signs and air signs, although you may need the balance of your water and earth friends to keep a certain explosiveness in check. Your planetary ruler is Mars, named for the god of war, and at your core you are filled with a boldness designed to fight its way through any obstacle. Each one of the astrological signs has a higher purpose; for Aries, that purpose is to build willpower and courage. Your animal symbol is the charging Ram, with its curled horns and stamping feet. The Ram acts on instinct, without fear, and will not be intimidated. This is symbolic of the fact that throughout your lifetime, you will be confronting and overcoming certain fears, for this is the way in which courage is ultimately developed. You are learning how to trust your instincts as your guide to greatest achievement, while also being self-aware enough to direct those impulses in positive ways. You are the brainstormer, the leader, and this must manifest in some form in your life if your basic purpose is to be fulfilled. Before we are born, we choose our sun sign with the intention of developing certain qualities as a part of our soul’s quest to experience all aspects of being human. As an Aries, you are learning to be independent, to trust your inner voice, and to gain the self-awareness that enables you to choose consciously where to distribute that fiery energy. This consciousness is very important, for without that deeper awareness, you may end up being controlled by your impulses rather than knowing that you, ultimately, are the one in charge. Every sign has both a higher and a lower expression, and for Aries, your level of development is shown by the kind of battles you choose. Be assured that you will have certain confrontations in your life, for they are a necessary expression of that warrior energy you carry. But the key is to choose the battles that have meaning and higher purpose, that defend your spiritual values and higher goals. The alternative is the less conscious expression, perhaps getting stuck in that argument with the neighbor over the height of the fence. It’s a matter of where you choose to express that fiery energy, and what is ultimately important to you. On a physical level, exercise and movement are important for your health, for that energy that manifests as aggressiveness can sometimes be utilized more positively through physical exertion. Even a brisk walk can diffuse energy in a way that allows a more reasoned and higher-level response to an emotional situation. Overall, your basic stamina is strong, although this will also depend on other areas of your astrological chart. All signs correspond to an area of the physical body; for Aries, this area is the head and face, emphasizing the headstrong nature of this sign. You may even have a facial scar or two as a reminder of those times when you went headfirst into a difficult challenge. You have been given a strong ability to focus on what you want and need, and the ability also to fight for those desires. These qualities are what assist you in being the trailblazer you were meant to be. But for every sign of the zodiac, it is also important to understand something about your opposite sign. In order to keep life in balance, the higher qualities of that sign must be developed as well. For Aries, that opposite sign is Libra, the peacemaker, counselor, and mediator of the zodiac. So while your primary focus, Aries, is on forward motion and personal expression, for your highest growth you must also develop awareness of the needs and wants of those around you, taking those into account as you create your vision. In relationships, your ultimate goal is to act from a place of "enlightened self-interest." This both accommodates a basic need to satisfy personal desires and ensures that you do so in ways that do not infringe on the rights of others. That enlightenment must be cultivated, for it may not come naturally. This, then, is your primary goal, Aries: to live a life of courage and independence, of self-awareness and constructive self-interest, and to boldly go where no one has gone before. Through these experiences on Planet Earth, you are growing into wholeness. Pam Younghans is an astrological interpreter and counselor, with offices in Bellevue, Washington. In addition to private sessions and classes, Pam offers a free weekly astrological update by e-mail. For more information, call (425) 445-3775, e-mail <AOA444@aol.com>, or see Pam’s Web site at <http://www.pamsastrology.freeservers.com/>. |
This is the first
installment in a monthly series exploring the 12 signs of the
zodiac. Exact dates for the beginning and ending of the signs
may vary from year to year due to our system of "leap years,"
when the calendar days change but the sun position does not.
Please consult an ephemeris or a qualified astrologer to verify
your sun sign, and to get a more complete picture of your entire
astrological chart. Although the description that follows may
be especially pertinent for those individuals who were born when
the sun was in Aries, it is also applicable in varying degrees
for all of us, as we all have Aries represented somewhere in
our charts and somewhere in our lives.