The Four Elements Fire, Air, Earth, and Water; the Triplicities

Fire, Air, Earth, and Water, the four elements, sometimes called the Triplicities, play an important part in astrology. The term triplicities comes from the fact that there are three planets associated with each of the four elements. Here are the planets divided by element: Fire: Earth: Air: Water: Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn Gemini, Libra, Aquarius Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces

When these elements are translated as personality traits or temperament, they become important features of the delineation. Here are brief readings of each of the four elements and delineations of a situation when one's chart contains two of the elements having similar strength. For the few who have a balance in elements, the concepts of elements should be considered balanced. That is they tend to reflect common sense (earth), action orientation (fire), thinking and communication skills (air), and the ability to feel and intuitively know (water) in reasonable proportion and don't rely overly on any of these traits at the expense of another. Just as it is important to observe the element that is strongest in the chart, it is also important to note the element, if any, that is not significantly represented in the horoscope. A reading, that may be appropriate when such an absence is noted, is also provided below. Many astrologers consider the element of each of the planets when determining which of the elements may be more significant in a horoscope. My method for evaluating the strength of an element in a birth chart is to assign a value of 4 to the element associated with the Sun; the Moon element is assigned a value of 3; Mercury, Venus, and Mars sign elements are assigned a value of 2 each, and Jupiter and Saturn each have a value of 1. Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are disregarded because their element is more societal affecting large groups of individuals born during a period. Using this approach, if as many as 8 points are concentrated in one element, it is considered a preponderance in that element. The Elements in Your Chart Fire Earth Air/Water Fire/Earth Earth/Air no Air Fire/Air Earth/Water Water Fire/Water no Earth no Water no Fire Air

A Preponderance of the FIRE element A preponderance of Fire signs planets exemplify high spirits, great faith in self, enthusiasm, and direct honesty. Your fire sign nature projects a radiant, vitalizing energy that seems to glow with warmth and exuberance. You need a good deal of freedom to express yourself naturally, and you will usually display a fairly unrelenting insistence on your own point of view. You put all of yourself in whatever you do. You are intensely assertive, individualistic, active and self-expressive. Fire sign energies stimulate people who are more lethargic, but often your energies overpower or exhaust the more retiring or more sensitive type. Good natured and fun-loving, you have many friends and you are generous with your time, energy, and resources. You place a far greater value on having a good time than on material possessions. For all the natural generosity displayed by the fire signs, they are also famous for the big egos they frequently demonstrate. You may believe so strongly in your own powers and abilities that you overlook and frequently fail

to take advantage of the talents and abilities of others. You try to do it all yourself and don't delegate well. Despite this damaging flaw in your managerial ability, you belong to a group that is the most daring and capable inspiring in a management sense; the natural leaders. In battle, sports or business, it is usually the fire signs out front leading the charge. You are the type of leader that is very independent and individualistic, rarely consulting with others for advice. You are constantly out front or "on stage" and you need to be recognized and admired for your attainment and accomplishments. Appreciation is more important than money in your estimation. Nothing hurts more than being ignored. The fire sign sense of honesty is straightforward and often child-like. Thus, you believe everyone is, like yourself, an open book. You may be somewhat gullible and naive. Fire and Earth type When the elements of Fire and Earth combine, the result is potentially powerful and creative. Fire provides action and Earth looks for tangible results. The Earth elements give sustaining power to the drive from self-expression symbolized by the Fire elements. The rapid-fire inspirations of Fire are grounded by the Earth so that energies can be conserved and focused. A problem with this combination is a degree of insensitivity that is usually present. When moving toward a goal there is little concern for anything or anyone that gets in your way. You may need to cultivate attention to ideals and your own inner life. In any event, the key words for the elements in your chart are steadiness, reliability, and productivity. Fire and Air Type With the planets in your chart concentrated in Fire and Air you are idealistic, aspiring, and positive-thinking. You have the best of intentions and motives, but your approach to life may not be completely realistic. You have the ability to put your ideas into action, but you may neglect your emotional and material or physical needs. You probably have a keen sense of humor and a very effective way with words. At its best this is a very creative combination. The problem is getting things done as you are a person that is not well grounded in the persistent traits normally required to see the job through to completion. As full of ideas and enthusiasm as you are, energies may be scattered, and you must realize that you can't just pour out your energies unreservedly without simultaneously tuning in on your deeper resources if you're to avoid a state of constant depletion. Fire and Water Type The heavy emphasis on Fire and Water elements in your chart would indicate a general tendency to express everything emotionally, excitedly, and rather impulsively. There is often a lack of logical, systematic thought and procedure, with a resulting restlessness and subjective bias. This combination has intensity, emotional extremes, and surprising sensitivity to what others think of them. You are a "whole-hogger," having a marked lack of self-restraint. You may experience big swings in moods. You function in a high-pressure state, and you do best when being challenged. Fire Absence The limited presence of the Fire element in your horoscope may suggest the need to experience life more actively. It may benefit you to become more vital, for you may lack the passion and spark that the fire signs afford. This doesn't mean that you don't enjoy life, but merely that you don't seem to know how to insert yourself into the action; pleasure, thrills and glory will be slow coming your way. Your pleasures are apt to be more subtle and sensitive, without the dramatics and flash. Although this void does not guarantee an introvert, you are not likely to be the extrovert. You lack the dare-devil courage of the fire signs, and this includes the utter selfconfidence these signs bestow. Because of this, you may like to stand back and let the other person make the first move in an encounter. If anything, you underestimate your abilities and worth. You like to test the water before you jump in, and the fire of competition can hold you back sometimes. By underrating your abilities, you are apt to often end up assisting others whose talents are less than your own, but whose reflection drive and desire is greater. Actually, you don't like having the spotlight on you, and you may prefer such a subordinate role. Self-expression,

both emotional and creative, may be difficult for you. In some cases, a person lacking fire in their chart may try to force self-expression and many of the more aggressive fire sign traits in order to compensate for the lack of these traits. Characteristic of this would be the less than talented, over-achiever in a sport who attains a modest level of skill and the ability to win through extreme hard work and long years of perseverance. A Preponderance of the EARTH element The heavy concentration of the Earth element in your horoscope suggests that you are cautious, premeditative, conventional, and dependable. You are the type of person who lives by a practical, common sense code; stable, and concerned with physical well-being rather than spiritual attainment. You are quite responsible, if a bit rigid, methodical and detail-conscious. The term "down to earth" may suit you quite well. It might be said that you are one of those people who is very well adjusted to life on this planet. A concern for the physical or material world makes you very much the realist. You are an organizer, a builder, and a hard-worker. The earth sign traits provide you with the skills and attitude necessary to succeed readily in the world of business. So pragmatic, you don't often gamble or take unnecessary chances. You understand the reality of a situation and you understand value, both in a material and in a human sense. Your approach to people is much the same as your approach to life. You are reliable and steadfast. You are predictable and you don't like surprises. Dependability, diligence and a pragmatic, no-nonsense approach to life are your greatest strengths. Lack of ideas or imagination, dullness, rigid conservatism, extreme materialism, and blind adherence to rules and regulations are your potential faults. Earth and Air Type The heavy concentration of the combination of Earth and Air in your horoscope can indicate an alternating pull between the abstract-conceptual and the more mundane practical-efficiency orientations. Properly focused, this blending allows combining intellectual and conceptual awareness with a practical sense of harmony and concrete objectives. In other words, you are a thinker and you possess some common sense; a good combination. There is a fairly dry, detached sort of logic that allows you to deal with a volume of facts or figures without getting overwhelmed with the detail. Stress never bothers you much. Emotionalism is never a problem either. Earth and Water Type A lot of earth and water often produces persons displaying much depth, seriousness, and a strong sense of self-protectiveness in all activities. You are apt to be a hard worker, for earth/water types don't seem to be happy unless they have some burden, either emotionally or in everyday work. These placements are very conscious of survival needs, and other issues of security, and others' reliance on their solidity and resources. Therefore, much of your energy is used in an effort to maintain or obtain resources, and there is great attachment to money, possessions, job, children, and other security factors. You have endurance and an ability to survive through any calamity. Your attachment to security and to rather traditional values is often manifested in a strong adherence to family, home, and community responsibility. The negative side of earth/water types is becoming too attached to the past and rather fearful of the present and the future. Positive thinking and forming ideals may be your challenge. Earth Absence The limited presence of the Earth element in your horoscope suggests that you may have some difficulties dealing with practical and mundane issues; in fact it may be said that you are not really at home on the planet Earth. You may seem to be somehow lost in space and unable to get your feet on the ground. Because of this you may reject responsibility and have trouble getting organized and following through on a task. There frequently is shown a childish inability to handle mundane tasks, and you may be one of those people who needs help to accomplish the simplest fix-up chore. Material matter and money may be secondary concerns, and you may not be particularly interested earthly possessions and material gain. Sometimes persons with an

absence of Earth compensate by expressing a compulsive trait toward neatness and detail, and a forced concern for organization. More often, the absence of earth signs means good old fashioned common sense may not be your strong suit. A Preponderance of the AIR element The preponderance of Air signs suggest a strong emphasis on thought, ideas and intellectual pursuits of one sort or another. There is a detachment and a sense of objectivity associated with such a heavy influence in the element of Air. Air signs communicate and express ideas with mental agility. Your Air signs may not, however, always get the job done, and you need to be sure ideas are grounded in reality and put to practical use. You are probably more concerned with theory than with application. Often, individuals having a heavy amounts of Air signs become the impractical dreamers, constantly thinking, but not always following through as well as others. Rational and logical, you analyze situations fully, thinking them through and planning carefully before you act. While you may ponder and vacillate, you rarely make foolish mistakes. Detached and not overly emotional, you are almost always objective and fair-minded. You are peopleoriented, but more inclined toward the group than the individual. Your interests are varied, and you're apt to be a life-long student. Air and Water Type Although you often feel pulled between intellectual and emotional orientations of life, heavy does of Air and Water elements can make you very much attuned to both realms of experience. Neither the abstract nor the feeling-intuitive world is alien to you, and you are thus able to develop a mode of operation that encompasses both types of perception. This results in your being able to give depth to your ideas and in your ability to gain detachment and perspective on feelings and deeper yearnings. You are physically and psychologically sensitive; a dreamer, an escapist, perhaps a little fantasy-prone. You have an amazingly fertile imagination and specialized skills for dealing with people. You know how to tune in to people, and communicate concisely. Air Absence The limited amount of the Air element in your horoscope suggests a need to learn adaptability and the use of the mental functions in a creative manner. You don't emphasize mental activity in your daily life. This is not to say that you aren't intelligent, but just that you don't place a lot of value on the world of ideas and education's for education sake. Often, a shortage of Air signs signifies an inability to communicate effectively or clearly; you may be somewhat enigmatic and obscure. Sometimes there is a self-consciousness associated with such circumstances, and you may over-compensate by working hard to improve such inclinations. You probably don't enjoy learning unless what you're studying has an immediate and tangible end. A strength of the airweak chart is generally the enhanced ability to communicate emotionally, physically or psychically. It may be hard for you to stand back, and clearly view an issue in an objective manner. Thus, there is a tendency to have some trouble in the task of planning ahead. You may find yourself wasting a lot of energy on this account. You must make a special effort to communicate clearly and plan very carefully or your advancement will come only through costly trial and error. A Preponderance of the WATER element A heavy emphasis of Water element signs puts you closely in touch with your feelings, and in tune with the nuances and subtleties in your environment that others won't even notice. You approach life and understand it through your emotions, and you're really at your best when you "play your hunches." You don't intellectualize about things; you respond exactly how you feel. Water sign people are very attuned to their feelings. An intense sensitivity permits you to experience the heights of emotional bliss, but it can also take you to the depth of despair. Close emotional relationships are essential to your well-being and happiness. Superficial affairs are few, and less than satisfying. Romantic, sentimental, and affectionate, there must be a stable and secure bond between you and your partner. When you are happily situated in such a bond, you can be a very nurturing type. You can be "smothering" toward your children, and very possessive

of your mate. You are not one who can subscribe to the code "live and let live." You communicate best in non-verbal ways; emotionally, psychically, or through forms as art, dance, music, poetry and photography. You have a natural feel and sense for the arts. You're apt to let the heart rule the head. Highly impractical and impressionable, you sometimes use bad judgment for you are unable to be objective and evaluate situations impersonally. You may change your mind as often as your moods change, but rarely do the facts sway your beliefs. Water Absence The absence or limitation of Water signs in your horoscope suggests that you may have difficulty understanding the deeper meanings of events and circumstances. Indeed, you may be a little lacking in emotional intensity. This is not to say that you have no feelings, but it does mean that your emotions are not easily engaged and they really don't run deep. You aren't so apt to form those extremely close friendships and relationships, and you may even feel smothered and threatened by strong emotional demands of others. You recover quickly from emotional bumps and scrapes, never letting your disappointments get you down. Depression is never apt to be a problem. Many of the aspects of not having water signs are positive, but on the negative side, you must guard against becoming rather callous and cold, detached and unfeeling. Intuitive skills are not readily available to those with few planets in Water signs. In your view this does not matter so much, because you don't trust intuitive knowledge anyway.

The Sun the Twelve Signs

Every chart reading should begin with the Sun as the primary focus of astrology. The Sun's position in the zodiac is very important, and most agree it deserves first consideration. It's the core of the individual; the overriding nature and will. This is the influence that describes the "you" that is trying to be in this lifetime. This is your "awake" side, your consciousness and outerdirected individuality. Thus, the Sun is the most important single indicator, fueling the total personality. The nature of your Sun sign is your true colors that you display to the world day in and day out. Aries The Sun is in this first sign of the zodiac from March 21 to April 20 each year. The symbol for Aries is the Ram, because of the headlong, direct, and assertive nature of the sign. The sign is also symbolized by seeds shooting out of the ground in the springtime, suggesting a time and spirit of renewal. In Aries, the Sun is highly action oriented. You like to do your thing, and you are opinionated and direct in doing it. Your Aries personality constantly wants to charge ahead, and insists on being the one who organizes, rather than ever allowing yourself to be led or organized by others. You have a hard time recognizing any point of view except your own. Highly action oriented, when an idea strikes you, you are off quickly to carry it out. Yet you are not so good in seeing projects through to a conclusion. Follow-up and finish work are not matters that suit your style. You constantly need new goals, new projects, and new challenges. You are a quick learner and a self-starter; enthusiastic and curious. The main challenge for an Aries Sun sign native is the control of impulses. You must avoid scattering forces, for if you can learn to think before taking action, your energetic nature will enable you to do much. Natural impulsiveness and inability to listen to the advice of others sometimes involves you in difficulties. To succeed, you must learn to think everything through carefully before you proceed. Patience and the ability to plan are areas in which you may have to apply extra effort. You must reflect on the total effect of your actions to grow and progress in life. You may have a sharp temper and a quick fuse as Aries is ruled by Mars, the planet associated with war and combat. Fortunately, you get over anger as quickly as it comes, and you never hold

a grudge. You are neither devious nor subtle in your actions. Many Aries Sun natives are down right blunt. Only with concentration and attention can you ever acquire much diplomacy and tact. With your natural Aries inclinations, you have a true adventurer's or pioneer's spirit; a longing for independence and a tendency to fancy yourself as a free soul. Born to lead, but not born to handle the mundane responsibility or bureaucratic red tape. When faced with complex details, you become very frustrated. Fully matured, your Aries spirit aspires to a gallant "never say die" attitude, and a willingness to take advantage of each new opportunity that comes along. Taurus Taurus is the second sign of the zodiac, and the Sun resides in this sign from 21 April until 20 May each year. The symbol of Taurus is the Bull, for reasons that will be developed in the next few paragraphs. As a Taurus, you are likely to be very patient, a hard worker, and one of those people who constantly puts forth much sustained effort. Your demeanor is slow and deliberate, and attempts by others to hurry you rarely succeed. You need time to adjust to new ideas and changes. You can be stubborn to the point of becoming rigid, but you are practical and constructive in nearly everything you do. You carefully consider options before starting any action or coming to any conclusion. You function best under conditions where there is predictability, and where you can exercise a degree of control. Good-natured and friendly, your placid demeanor rarely shows upset or anger. When you are aroused, as suggested by the symbol of the sign, your reactions are very much like those of the angered bull. This anger can be reckless, and often lingers. There is a certain reluctance in the Taurus nature to try anything new or different. You don't take many chances, and you believe in sticking with the familiar and comfortable. There is not much adventure in your soul, and it is probably fair to label you a conservative individual. The danger with Taurus is the tendency to become too narrow-minded, and to dismiss anything that can't be seen, touched, smelled or tasted. You are not usually the first to learn a lesson, but when it is mastered, you are not likely ever to forget. Retentive and steadfast, you don't scatter your energies. You may be lazy at times, perhaps not spending any energy at all for extended periods. Yet long term, you are very willing to assume responsibility and shoulder more than your fair share of the load. You may be materialistic, often showing interests in money, security, and comforts in life. To those you love, you often show your feelings in a material way, and you appreciate the same in return. The Taurus personality is sometimes too concerned with money and possessions. Perhaps a little indulgent and luxury-loving, you relish creature comforts and appreciate beautiful possessions. Because of these interests, you have good taste in clothing and furnishings. You also may have a talent for landscaping and working with plants and flowers to make your surrounding more pleasant and appealing. You may excel as a cook, but even if you don't have the inclination to prepare it, you certainly enjoy food; perhaps too much. Because of this, you may have a battle with your weight. A slow metabolism and lack of interest in exercise often compound this problem. A natural interest in art and music often leads to careers or hobby pursuits in some form of art. Taurus is the sign that rules the throat, so you may have a fine singing and speaking voice. Love relationships are very important to you. Since you don't like being alone, you may settle for a partnership that is less than ideal, instead of accepting loneliness. Once settled in a relationship, you are very steadfast and dependable. You are exceedingly loyal, and make a very

faithful friend. The most appealing aspect of Taurus, that sweet and loving temperament, is the often present when the Sun appears in Taurus. Gemini The Sun is in this third sign of the zodiac from 21 May until 21 June each year. The symbol for Gemini is the Twins, and its planetary ruler is Mercury. In Gemini the Sun is active, restless and changeable. You like plenty of variety in your everyday activities, in your friends, and even in your diet. Your interests are many and diverse--almost anything will attract your attention if only for a brief time. Truly, this is the sign of the jack-of-alltrades. As the story goes, you may find that unless you can develop your powers of perseverance, you may be the master of none. Your varied interests can result in a tendency for you to spread yourself too thin, sometimes failing to follow through on projects you've begun. Being very curious, you want to know and experience as much as you can. Gemini is the sign of duality. You find it difficult to limit yourself to one job, to one relationship, or one hobby, as you constantly seek variety and mental adventure. You scatter your energies because you don't want to miss anything. You are a lifelong student, never tiring of learning new subjects. You collect facts and tidbits of data, but you may not always have the big picture. To the Gemini person, communication is of utmost importance. You flourish on ideas, with a mind that is ever so quick and curious. You are a person who enjoys talking and writing. All sorts of communication ideas appeal to nature. You are aware of all that is going on around you, and you want to understand and participate in it all. You are hard to pin down, and even harder to beat in a debate. Your abilities of combining quick comprehension , and the communication of this comprehension to others, are the hallmarks of your sign. You can talk yourself into and out of situations with ease. Often Mercury people (Gemini's ruling planet is Mercury) take mischievous delight in disconcerting slower minds with their fast paced mental antics. You like to be around people, and you never do well working alone or on any routine type job. Extremely friendly, you enjoy companionship, and really thrive on it. Just as you don't like to be without activity, you don't like to be alone. You are likely to have a very wide circle of friends with whom you enjoy many activities--movies, games, conversation, and such. You are naturally outgoing and possess a sparkling wit. You are apt to become quickly bored with conservative types that can't make a decision or agree with your need to impose change. Not being very introspective or reflective, often you don't understand your motivations or the motivations of others. So in many ways, relationships can be shallow and superficial. Your restless mercurial nature requires constant excitement and change, or you'll becomes very dispirited and morose. Cancer The Sun is in this fourth sign of the zodiac from 22 June until 22 July each year. The symbol for Cancer is the Crab, with its protective shell. People with this Sun sign are sometimes also called "Moon Children," because the Moon is the ruler of the sign. In Cancer the Sun is receptive and moody. You are a very sensitive person who is easily influenced by your environment. You are likely to be exceedingly protective of your feelings, as well as the feelings of those to whom you are close. Emotions are strong in your nature. You approach life with many feelings and a strong nurturing tendency. Your moods are varied and changeable. They are synchronized to the Moon, flowing in and out like the tide. You are acutely aware of the atmosphere of feelings surrounding you. You're skeptical and distrustful of people. It's not what they say, but simply the way they say it and the way you interpret their meaning. You need to tell your deepest thoughts. When those around you are not receptive, you can become quite difficult to reach. The "crabby" part of Cancer shows up once in awhile, as well.

When these moods are in control of your behavior, you can snap someone's head off for no reason at all. People you live around have to learn that you are not really angry with them. This is just the way Moon children are sometimes. By nature you are quiet and somewhat reserved, frequently retreating or putting up a protective barrier when you feel in any way threatened. You are attuned to the past. You tend to cling to reminders and memorabilia of your family and of earlier times. Many Cancers are attracted to collecting antiques. You may be one of those people who collects just about everything. It's hard for you to part with something when there may be a chance need some rainy day, no matter how remote that chance may be. Cancers are the original "pack-rats." You place much importance on the home and family. Your family or your "family of friends" is the center of your life. They provide you your sense of security and belonging. Your role in this environment is the source of your self-esteem and often overshadow your sense of individuality. It's hard to break away from your early upbringing and depart from the family traditions you have experienced. Cancer is the sign of motherhood. In both sexes, it produces a parenting instinct that is caring, protective, and indulging. Even unmarried Cancers adopt friends, co-workers, and neighbors in an extended family situation. Hardworking and dedicated, you make an excellent employee. You are loyal and respect authority. This makes you supportive and protective of the boss and rarely questioning company policy. You do find it very difficult to handle change and disruption. If you are the boss, you like your employees to be dedicated as you are. Unfortunately, sometimes you may surround yourself with "yes men" who simply reinforce your decisions. You don't take chances or risk sweeping change. Money is very important to you. Not for what it will buy or for the freedom it provides, but for the sense of security it provides. No matter what else is to be said of Cancer, security and having the protective shell in place, is overriding. Leo Leo is the fifth sign of the zodiac. The Sun is in this sign from 23 July until 22 August each year. The symbol for Leo is the Lion, and most Leo natives display many of regal traits of the king of beasts. In Leo, the Sun is magnetic, forceful, and dominate. You possess a good nature that is very generous, allowing you to attract many friends and followers. You can easily become a natural leader because of your demeanor and because you are ambitious, determined, and highly industrious. Self-assurance and dignity are very strong in your nature. Your magnetic personality lets you sell yourself or your ideas easily, and your persistence at doing so further enhances your leadership potential. You are at your best when placed in charge of a large scheme, for you are truly a fine organizer. You enjoy being in a position of authority because you know you were born to rule. Your sunny disposition allows you to be candid, outspoken, and very direct in all matters, without upsetting people. You possess natural leadership ability, and project such confidence and authority that you inspire others to follow you. The typical Leo is a natural showman, and delights in having a full measure of recognition and admiration. Leo is the most expressive sign in the zodiac. You love to show off. You probably see your role in life as the starring role. Often the Leo personality chooses some artistic form through which to express talent. There is much drama associated with Leo, and the general approach to life is full of emotional exuberance. If you are not careful, these traits can result in too large an ego, which in turn can make you very susceptible to flattery. Though you have a high opinion of yourself, you still need the approbation and appreciation of your friends and followers. Your ego needs constant reinforcement. This helps keep the spotlight focused on your activities.

Naturally emotionally exuberant, you are not only a good actor, but you make a truly outstanding teacher, as well. The Leo association with the fifth house of the chart suggests a strong bond with children. You may consider your children to be expressions of your creativity. Typically, the Leo is very close to children, the loving benefactor and protector. The lordly Leo sometimes feels there should be an automatic granting of power and authority. Because of this, you may be one of those Leo types who doesn't feel the need to work your way to the top. Though in many ways you show that you are ambitious, you also can be lazy. You may only want to work at jobs that offer prestige, glamour, power or a good time. You exert yourself only in those situations were you can exhibit your star quality, and garner the attention and respect of others. Your gift is surely the ability that you naturally possess to lead and to inspire. You are at home on the stage or at the podium. Your poorest showing comes when you are unable to control your ego, and you let an exaggerated sense of your own importance get the upper hand. In spite of your self-assurance and dignity, you may have a degree of concern about being laughed at or disgraced in some way. Again, ego is at the base of your nature and being. Virgo Virgo is the sixth sign of the zodiac, and the Sun is in this sign from 23 August until 22 September each year. The symbol for Virgo is the Virgin, denoting the puritanical demeanor usually common to those of this sign. In Virgo the Sun is orderly and thoughtful. With the Sun in Virgo you are predisposed to be hardworking, conscientious, and well-organized. Modest, discriminating and thorough, everything you do, you do well. Practical and down to earth, you are a diligent worker with a competent, discriminating intellect. You are highly analytical and exacting, especially adapted to handling projects with painstaking perfection. Thus, you are fond of good workmanship and the utmost in quality. You are dependable because your approach is always one based on common sense and a realistic and analytical assessment of the problem. You give much attention to detail, but you can carry this to extremes, becoming fussy and critical, sometimes interfering. Large-scale projects can overwhelm you because of your insistence on perfection. Unless you can deliver such quality, you may become frustrated and discouraged. There is always the tendency and danger with Virgo that the big picture idea will be missed in search of minute details. You expect yourself and everyone around you to be perfect, often setting yourself up for disappointment. Your outlook is too negative and picky sometimes. Modest and unassuming, you are usually content to live in the background. Your attitude, at times, can become puritanical and prudish. You consider yourself an ordinary person, and you are never given to any airs of pretentiousness or showing off. There may be a tendency for you to see your role as one of service and "behind the scenes" support activity. You have a serious attitude toward refining your mind and acquiring knowledge. With your highly varied interests, you can gain a remarkable amount of data about different subjects. You instinctively know that you must grasp all parts before you can fully understand the whole. Systematizing and detail organization are your strengths. You are idealistic, but always practical and reasonable. You're not likely to make general statements based on too few facts. You may be somewhat health conscious, for you have an instinctive sense of balance in diet. You're very sensible in taking care of your health, and for that matter, the health of others. Often, the Virgo becomes exceptionally neat and orderly, even a bit neurotic about cleanliness. You're likely to be susceptible to stress related problems because you do tend to worry too much.

Libra The Sun is in this seventh sign of the zodiac, from September 23 until October 22 each year. The symbol for Libra is the Scales. In Libra the Sun is tolerant, affectionate, and well balanced. You are a courteous and agreeable person who is considerate of other people's feelings. You have a personal charisma attracting friends. Functioning well when working in harmony with other people, you are an excellent team player. You like being on the winning team. You prefer working in a pleasant and very orderly atmosphere, with people who don't put undue pressure on you. You like to see your role as that of peacemaker. Peace and tranquillity are so important. The least sign of hostility or discord is very upsetting to you. You refrain from speaking your mind if you fear your thoughts would alienate or start an argument. Always ready to compromise or mediate, you need to be careful not to appear wishy-washy or less than reliable. In many ways, you are dependent upon the approval of others. Libra is the sign of relationships. You think of yourself as half a partnership rather than an individual. Because of this feeling of dependence, you put your mate's needs and desires ahead of your own. You may become confused as to what you want at any particular time, versus what your partner wants. Your partner's goals and ambitions become your goals and ambitions. You are the true helpmate. Because of this attitude, Libra is very stable and dependent in a relationship, even a bad one. As attached as you are to your partner, you may not really show it much. In your quest for balance and harmony, you rarely have or express strong emotions of any kind. Yours is a very dispassionate demeanor that is detached. You don't invest much passion or feeling in your relationships, loving with your head instead of your heart. When cast in a supervisory role you may have some difficulties. This is because you weigh each decision before choosing your direction. You can experience problems if you are called on to make frequent snap decisions for the group. You are an excellent go-between, and not as good at being the leader or boss. Unfortunately, such a balanced view of situations sometimes makes decisive action more difficult. You have a hard time making everyday decisions of little or no consequence. On the big issues, you may vacillate indefinitely. One of your main personality traits is a love of justice. You are insistent on fair play. In this too, you have a very balanced and unbiased way of looking at everything in your world. Accordingly, you are often called on to be mediator in family disputes or in disagreements at work. Your impartial judgment can always see both sides of a matter. You can be very cool and detached, keeping your feelings well under control in pursuit of fairness. Your love of balance and harmony allows you to appreciate music and the arts. Libra is ruled by Venus, the planet closely associated with artistic endeavors. If you don't have talent yourself, you probably to do have an interest and excellent taste in these matters. Courteous and refined, good manners are important to you. You exhibit them and you expect them. You are especially repelled by vulgarity and coarseness. Tactful, diplomatic, refined and socially successful, you strive to say and do the right thing. It is always so important for you to make the right impression. Scorpio The Sun resides in this eighth sign of the zodiac from 23 October until 22 November each year. The symbol for Scorpio is the Scorpion. Like the other water signs, this sign is very sensitive and emotional. With Scorpio, unlike the water signs Cancer and Pisces, the emotions remain under rigid control. They may not even be

apparent to those who are very close to you. When your emotions do erupt, they do so very violently, often with a strong burst of sarcasm and vindictiveness. The strength of Scorpio is in the methods employed to meet every challenge. You approach everything with intensity and passion. Nothing is ever halfway because you put everything you have in your work; mind, heart, soul. You are one of those people who always gives 100% and sometimes more. Many born under the sign Scorpio become classic workaholics. You may have an undesirable trait commonly found in the Scorpio person, holding a grudge for a very long time. The underside of Scorpio is often possessed with uncontrollable jealousies and the strongest passions. When offended the reaction is surely revenge. The higher side of Scorpio still dominates people and situations, but with much for the common good. This sign produces very few lukewarm people. You are either very bad or very good. In Scorpio, the Sun is intense, skeptical and secretive. There is an intensity and a secretiveness in your makeup which results in an inscrutable persona most people cannot penetrate. This trait makes the Scorpio personality hard to detect. You like to remain incognito, and do so with your very secretive nature. You are a master at hiding your emotions. You neither flinch nor blush. It's hard for you to share your inner feelings with anyone. You can be very critical and demanding, creating a forceful and dominating demeanor. You are strong-willed and determined, and you usually act with incisiveness. Your critical nature allows you to make shrewd and unusually accurate judgments at a rapid rate. You can penetrate the hidden agenda of those you meet. It is in your nature to protect yourself by knowing what your opponents are thinking and doing. You have uncanny intuition and accurate perceptions, making you almost psychic in understanding and making emotional connections with other people. Very few successfully earn your trust. Often, you experience difficulties with the authority figures in your life. At home, you may be something of a tyrant, wanting everything done your way. You think you are always right and won't tolerate dissent. There is a tendency for you to impose your will on friends and family since you feel so passionately that your ideas are in their best interest. No one takes relationships more serious than you. Although you are highly attracted to, and attractive to, the opposite sex, in many respects you function well as a 'lone wolf' type. Sagittarius The Sun is positioned in this ninth sign of the zodiac from November 23 until December 23 each year. The symbol for Sagittarius is the Archer. In Sagittarius the Sun is idealistic and optimistic. Sagittarius is the sign that espouses such high principles as universal love and world peace. As this period of the year is associated with the spirit of giving and good cheer, the Sagittarius personality is recognized for its generosity and expansive demeanor. You are very gregarious, enthusiastic, and open, in all that you do. You have an ability to understand a broad perspective, and to see everything from a total point of view. Your foresight and an ability to visualize the big picture make matters work out well for you most of the time. Always thinking in broad abstract terms, you usually have trouble focusing on details that arise. In many ways you are spontaneous, but with this comes an inclination to be bluntly honest and frank, or at least, straightforward and much to the point. You never intend to hurt anyone, but the truth is all important to you, and you never hesitate to tell it like it is. Tact and restraint can be issues of concern, but you probably don't care. You are so independent. You can rarely be pushed an inch in any direction unless you decide the direction your being pushed is where you want to go.

These blows are softened only by your warm, jovial and outgoing friendliness. Even when you stick your hoof in your mouth you can recover and show up as a winner. Often "lady luck" just smiles on you. Sagittarius has a happy-go-lucky, honest, cheerful, and ever optimistic approach to life; but then can turn right around and be so careless, restless and extravagant. You have a natural love of the outdoors and may develop strong enthusiasm for sports and outdoor adventure. Sagittarius is the sign most often associated with sports, and you are inclined to physical activity and active endeavors, particularly outdoors. Future-oriented, you rarely allow problems or setbacks to get you down for long. You put disappointment behind you and start working toward your next adventure. Never satisfied with moving along in slow lane, you want to set the pace on a grand scale. Whatever you set out to do, must be the biggest and best. You want to live life to its fullest. You can work well with anybody, accepting them for what they are. You are the natural, open-hearted extrovert, an easy person live and work with. Relying on your glibness and complete self-confidence, you are a natural in the world of selling. Still in the area of organization and perseverance you may need help from other factors in the chart. If you are like most Sagittarius natives, you can be down right irresponsible and unreliable at times. Your personality is such, however, that people don't get upset about it. It's that natural Sagittarius charm that carries you through the tough spots. Sagittarius is the sign of higher education. You live to expand your horizons in every possible way, wanting to see the world and experience it. You want to meet interesting people and try everything. Your curiosity is boundless and your desire for knowledge is paramount. Capricorn The Sun is in this tenth sign of the zodiac from 23 December until 20 January every year. The symbol of Capricorn is the Goat. Capricorn is associated with the harshness of winter and its stark realities. In Capricorn, the Sun is strongly goal-directed and persistent. Ambitious, serious and dedicated to duty, life is difficult, but you are the type of person who will triumph and achieve success. Your aptitude to persevere, no matter how difficult the road, sets you apart from most of your peers. You are anxious to climb the ladder of fortune, and you can usually reach your goals because of your sense of the right way of doing everything. Your patience is never ending. You are a very thoughtful and serious person, thinking everything through carefully before you set off in any direction. You possess excellent reasoning skills, and you can be counted on to select options that are both practical and that provide an economic advantage. Your attitude is conservative; conservative with time, money, and all other resources. Your philosophy is waste not, want not. You are also likely to be conservative in your political and social attitudes, although your age, upbringing, and education perspectives may influence this somewhat. You are especially well suited to business and government because of your sense of organization and structure. You combine a talent for management with an ability to carry out instructions with care. You are the quintessential careerist, taking job and duties very seriously. Therefore, you are never one to shirk responsibility and you have very little use for those that do. That which matters most to you is your public image. You show your best face to the public. You enjoy being in a position of power and authority, although you are not very much inclined to enjoy the limelight. You may prefer instead to run your business from an isolated perspective. You are loyal and dedicated, and you demand utter loyalty and dedication from subordinates. Advancing up the ladder of success is all important. You are unconcerned about, sometimes even ruthless toward, those getting in your path as you move upward.

You don't handle chaotic situations very well. You may need to develop the ability to lighten up a little and not take life, and everything else so seriously. Although you are self-disciplined, responsible, and practical, at times you can wallow in self-pity. It's essential for you to remember that your most important asset is self-esteem, and you should never devalue this. Rigidity and fear of change may be your biggest stumbling block. Sober and reserved in your dealings with others, it takes you a good while to warm up enough to anyone to be considered a close friend. Yet once you do, you are a very caring, reliable, and most steadfast ally. Your private side is different from your public side. In private you are shy and sensitive. The harshness of your public image disappears. Emotionally demanding relationships are very difficult. Love relationships may be more like business relationships, and you are unsure of yourself in most intimate situations. Aquarius The Sun resides in this eleventh sign of the zodiac from 21 January until 19 February every year. The symbol of Aquarius is the Water Bearer. In Aquarius the Sun is eccentric and original. You're apt to be a superb thinker, and your ideas are frequently advanced, no matter what field of profession you select. Often, your unique approaches to problem solving are viewed as too radical and unworkable, but you prefer to think of them as advanced and progressive instead. Unconventional and outspoken, you see your role as the rebel and the person who rejects worn out traditions and old ways of operating. You like to be with those ushering in the new order and fostering advanced thinking. Paradoxically, you're a good team player, but one who must have personal freedom. You don't like to feel fenced in. While you're headstrong and inflexible in your ways, you can work very effectively within a large group. You have complete respect for the sound ideas put forward by others. You are aloof and detached, and your concerns are directed toward society rather than to the problems of any one person. You are somewhat impersonal most of the time. You're more emotionally involved with your work than you are with people. You can be highly critical and demanding in a position of authority. Nonetheless, you are a strong leader and organizer. You have a deep understanding of human nature, but often you lack sensitivity to the emotional content of many situations. You thrive on change and managing the unexpected. Always ahead of your time, you are viewed by everyone as being different and unusual, labels you don't mind accepting. You pride yourself on your ability to find a better way of doing the job. Sometimes you lack follow through, and you always dislike routine. You like to take chances and keep everything stirred up. Occasionally, you enjoy antagonizing people in positions of authority, and stimulating a good argument now and then. You don't mind that you are seen as a bit unusual, in fact, you may encourage this image. Equality, freedom and fairness are all important issues for you. You strongly subscribe to the doctrine that all people are created equal and should have the same rights and opportunities. In this regard, you are likely to be classified as a progressive and often associated with humanitarian issues and causes. Though you are very involved with such matters, your approach is always somewhat in the abstract, with ideological concepts, the sort that don't usually stem from true emotions. Your approach is often very impersonal and detached. Friendly and sociable, you may have a wide circle of acquaintances. Friends are very important to you. Intellectually oriented, you are happiest with friends that share common ideas and interests. Strangely, you find it more difficult to cultivate a truly satisfying intimate relationship. This aloofness exists because feelings are rarely expressed outwardly, and you usually seem distant. You resist anything or anyone threatening your independence.

Pisces The Sun is in this last sign of the zodiac from 20 February until 20 March each year. The symbol for Pisces is the Fish. In Pisces, the Sun is sensitive and idealistic. You are "tuned in" to your environment, and aware of everything happening in your world, and to everyone around you. Pisces is the dream sign of the zodiac. You may be one of the true dreamers of the world, often getting caught up in impractical plans and ideas. You absorb the ideas and the mental outlook of those around you, for better or for worse. The decisions that you make may be workable, if sometimes emotional and erratic. Often these decisions are made on hunches and feelings with little or no foundation in fact. Creative, spiritual and often a bit mystical, you can be impractical and illogical. You're a moody and introspective person, and it's hard for others to understand you. It may be hard for you to understand yourself sometimes. Your temperament varies from being optimistic to being acutely pessimistic. Although you may be very shy and unassuming, you care deeply about your stature and succeeding in your endeavors. You may feel vulnerable and anxious when you are unsure of your status and circumstances. You have a deeply hidden inner pride and when this is attacked in any way, you react emotionally. Compassionate, tolerant, kind, and loving, you are easily influenced by others because you don't want to hurt anyone. Always charming and likable, you are good to those in distress. You are as fond of animals as you are people. You are sympathetic to the world's unfortunate, including every stray animal and helpless soul you meet. You are more concerned with others' well-being than your own, and you want to save people from themselves. You are easily taken in by a hardluck story and often leave yourself open to be used. You are always there with a shoulder to cry on for your friends in need. Frequently people take advantage of this compassionate nature. If you are a typical Pisces, you're likely to suffer from an inferiority complex. You probably lack an adequate sense of self-confidence, as you are so very sensitive, shy and introspective. You never feel that you do enough, so you often overwork, putting stress on your physical body. In your quiet way, you accomplish much. Having a natural tendency to become a workaholic, you must have a generous amount of escape time, preferably with total solitude. Pisces, more than any other sign, draws strength or weakness from the rest of the horoscope. The nature of Pisces is very adaptable and pliable. You may have to fight for a sense of stability and to resist the impulses of the moment.