Sasha Fenton - The Magic of Astrology: for health, home and happiness

SASHA FENTON

COLLINS & BROWN

Are you an emotional Scorpio who needs to pour out your latest drama to your friends and relatives? Perhaps you are an uptight Capricorn who keeps all your feelings to yourself. Are you a flirtatious Libran, a brave but thoughtless Arian or a careful Cancerian? Do your home and garden display Taurean flair or are your plants neatly laid out in Virgoan rows? Are you a Leo who earns a frequent-user discount while online shopping or at the beauty salon? Or a Sagittarian quietly and desperately yearning for the wide open spaces while surrounded by a nagging family and a household full of pets? Do your poor, painful Piscean feet make a martyr of you? Are you an Aquarian who is permanently searching for more and more knowledge? Whatever your individual motivations and peculiarities might be, you should be able to find them in this book.

Your sun sign or star sign is simply the sign of the zodiac that you were born under. With a good understanding of sun sign astrology, the reasons behind your behaviour patterns and even some aspects of your past and future can become clearer and can help you to understand the choices you find yourself drawn to in life. If you want to know why you prefer your home to be minimalist and spartan, or why you like it crammed full of dust-gathering knick-knacks, your sun sign could hold the answer. If, however, you are not typical of your sun sign, it is worth reading about other sun signs in order to discover which one could be exerting a strong influence over the decisions you make every day. The beauty of sun sign astrology is in its simplicity: all you need to know to start is your date of birth. With this book, you can extend your knowledge to discovering your moon sign, your rising sign and all your other modifying features. But learning about the different ways in which a sun sign can influence every aspect of your life from the partners you choose to the working role that brings out the best in you makes an ideal starting point.

YOUR SUN SIGN DATES

Aries

March 20 April 19

Taurus

April 20 May 20

Gemini

May 21 June 20

Cancer

June 21 July 22

Leo

July 23 August 22

Virgo

August 23 September 22

Libra

September 23 October 22

Scorpio

October 23 November 21

Sagittarius

November 22 December 21

Capricorn

December 22 January 20

Aquarius

January 21 February 19

Pisces

February 20 March 19

It is not difficult to work out which sun sign you belong to; even people who are on the cusp of two signs usually identify more with one than the other. As you read this book, you will find out in detail how your sun sign, and those of your loved ones, affects your motivations and your character and even, perhaps, to discover what lies in store for you in the years ahead.

Before the advent of telescopes, astronomers thought that the Sun travelled around the Earth, passing in front of each of the 12 constellations that lay along its path. We now know that the planets of the solar system orbit the Sun and only appear to be moving through these constellations from our perspective. The belt of the heavens encircling the Earth along the ecliptic (the apparent pathway of the Sun) is known as the zodiac, and it is divided into 12 equal segments: the constellations that are the signs of the zodiac. For example, on January 1 the sun appears to be travelling through the sign of Capricorn, while on July 1 it appears to be travelling through the sign of Cancer.

If you are unsure of your sun sign, refer to the table on this page. To complicate matters, unfortunately each sun sign changes at a slightly different time of day every year. Therefore, if you are born on the cusp of a sign, you may find that some astrologers give one date for the start or the end of your sign, while others go for a slightly different one.

The signs of the zodiac are always arrayed in the same order. They start with Aries, setting the astrological year rolling at the spring equinox on March 21, which the ancients saw as the beginning of the new year. Aries is always followed in turn by the sun signs Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces.

Fire, earth, air and water are the four elements from which, traditionally, the Earth and all who live on it are made. Each sign of the zodiac has an ancient link with one of these elements.

Aries, Leo, Sagittarius

These signs are associated with initiative, courage and leadership. Fire sign people wont hesitate to plunge headlong into life, though cant always understand why others dont.

Fire people are quick, intelligent and generous and love friends, family and lovers with great passion. More sensitive than they appear, they can be cut to the quick when the affection and generosity they unstintingly give is not appreciated or returned in the same measure. Fire sign subjects cannot tolerate going without the best things in life and are prepared to work for them. They can be arrogant with those they consider inferior, and can make others feel inadequate.

Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn

Practical, diligent and hard working, earth people are often happiest when doing something useful. They can be relied upon; though it takes them a while to get around to things, they usually do as they say they will. Shrewd and cautious, these people need material and emotional security and put up with a lot to get it. Many appear stingy, often driven by a fear of poverty.

The earthiness of earth folk shows itself in their sensuality, and they also have a creative streak. Shy and sensitive, earth signs cling to their families and keep outsiders at a distance, but once they make a friend they are loyal, unless the friend takes advantage financially. When they fall deeply in love, earth types are dependable, but it can take them half a lifetime to find a partner who is just right.

Gemini, Libra, Aquarius

The intellectual group, with the mind taking precedence over physical activity. If an idea is needed, look to air sign people.

Gemini and Libra are sociable, often dealing with others as part of their work. Aquarians are great at deep discussions, but need time alone to delve into their inner world, and can occasionally lose touch with reality. Some air sign folk are happier dealing with computers and gadgets than with people, but most love company. They are excellent communicators, though may find it hard to empathize with others.

Restless and nervous, air signs need an outlet for their tensions. Geminis worry about trivia, while Librans can get very confused. Aquarians may become extremely hostile when things dont turn out their way.

Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces

Water people need time to grasp new situations or ideas because these need to be filtered through their feelings before they can assess them. They can be very emotional, but they keep their feelings hidden, sometimes even from themselves, which allows resentment to build up that can be expressed in inappropriate anger. Their loved ones live alongside their spells of boundless excitement, or terrible depressions. Water people attach themselves strongly to those they love.

Water folk are extremely intuitive, feeling everything in the atmosphere around them, and use this knowledge to smooth their pathway through life. Water signs make use of intuition in business, although Pisceans are less ambitious and can miss out on good opportunities.