The Signs of the Zodiac

ARIES ARIES (21 March 20 April) is the first sign of the zodiac and is innocent and immediate. S/he is motivated by seIf-interest and is, above all, active. Aries' innocence means that s/he is idealist but, at the same time, tactless and rude. His/her immediacy can mean that Aries is rash and clumsy. Since Aries is a doer, s/he is usually ambitious, adventurous, enthusiastic, outgoing and competitive. However, Aries' self-interest can mean that s/he is self-centred and ruthless. Above all, Aries is a straight-forward person.

TAURUS TAURUS (21 April - 20 May) is the least spiritual of star signs. S/he tends to be possessive and materialistic. In a good sense this may mean that Taurus is stable and level- headed and, as a lover, s/he can be affectionate and even passionate. However, at times s/he can become taciturn and selfish.

GEMINI GEMINI (21 May 20 June) is all about curiosity and communication. Gemini tends to be quick-witted, resourceful, extrovert, rebellious and communicative. Gemini has an independent spirit. However, s/he can sometimes seem two-faced, superficial, hypocritical, dishonest and even unscrupulous.

CANCER CANCER (21 June - 21 July) likes emotional security. Cancer's maternal instinct means that s/he is protective, nostalgic, sentimental and sensitive. When Cancer feels threatened s/he can be aggressive. On the negative side, Cancer is capable of being fickle, whimsical and immature. Nevertheless, s/he can be imaginative.

LEO LEO (22 July - 21 August) is a creative and dominant star sign. S/he is self-assured and proud. At times, s/he can be immodest and even arrogant. To some people Leo may come across as bossy, boastful and pompous. Indeed, Leo can be very vain and often gullible in the face of flattery. On the other hand, s/he can be sociable, magnanimous and tolerant. As a friend, Leo is generous, considerate and, above all, loyal. As a lover, s/he can be sensitive and passionate. Leo is a hedonist and loves the good things in life, but at the same time s/he is usually disciplined.

VIRGO VIRGO (22 August - 21 September) is adaptable. On the one hand, Virgo is servile, obedient, shy and humble. On the other, Virgo is very analytical and practical. S/he is rational, logical and methodical, though sometimes a little sceptical. Virgo is also hardworking. At the same time, Virgo is a perfectionist. When s/he applies this characteristic to the work and habits of others, Virgo can be demanding, picky, and petty. Despite this, Virgo is generally a good friend since s/he is honest, truthful and reliable.

LIBRA LIBRA (22 September - 22 October) is balanced - harmony and beauty are important to her/him. S/he is generally easy-going and carefree. People sometimes think that this attitude to life is because Libra is lazy. Libra is often intellectual and inquisitive. On a good day, Libra is charming, however, s/he can also be spiteful.

SCORPIO SCORPIO (23 October- 21 November).S/he is energetic and strong-willed. Taken to an extreme, Scorpio can become authoritarian, intolerant and narrow-minded. However, if Scorpio's ideas conflict with the established authority, s/he will be rebellious and undisciplined. Scorpio's conflictive nature means that s/he is at times aggressive, and even sadistic. Scorpio is often self-destructive. Even if these extremes are not reached, Scorpio is often irritable. If Scorpio is aware of his/her conflictive nature, s/he may become withdrawn. In any case, s/he is always forthright and never insincere.

SAGITTARIUS SAGITTARIUS (22 November -20 December) is a visionary and an optimist. S/he is energetic, enthusiastic, forthright and open but these characteristics can also mean that Sagittarius can be tactless and hot-blooded. S/he can be playful and light-hearted but his/her time is also spent in the serious pursuit of meaning and freedom.

CAPRICORN CAPRICORN (21 December - 19 January) is a control-freak. S/he is determined, disciplined and ambitious. As a controller Capricorn is usually sensible, patient, stable and thoughtful. However, s/he can also be pessimistic and even moody.

AQUARIUS AQUARIUS (20 January - 18 February) likes groups. S/he is humane and is often gentle, compassionate and understanding. S/he is intellectual but also idealist and spiritual. At the same time, s/he can be unpredictable and eccentric. Aquarius is usually lively but can also be stubborn a times.

PISCES PISCES (19 February 20 March) is humane, generous and even sometimes selfless. However, s/he is also capable of being emotional and temperamental. This means that Pisces often comes across as unstable, fickle and weak-willed. Pisces is very sensitive and, at times, impressionable. Her/his sensitivity can mean that s/he is melancholic.

GLOSSARY self-conscious: insecure self-righteous: smug, sanctimonious, self- satisfied, superior tight-fisted: ungenerous, miserly, mean, stingy to be tactless: not have tact, be unintentionally impolite rude: (false friend) impolite

rash: impetuous, impulsive clumsy: awkward, uncoordinated, inept doer: person who "does", active person outgoing: extrovert self-centred: selfish, egocentric ruthless: brutal, cruel, merciless, relentless, without pity straight-forward: uncomplicated level-headed:calm and sensible, able to make good decisions even in difficult situations

selfish: egotistical quick-witted: alert, astute, smart resourceful: clever, capable, ingenious, inventive two-faced: insincere threatened: under attack, menaced fickle: changeable, unpredictable, volatile whimsical: capricious self-assured: confident, self-confident

to come across (intransitive): seem, appear bossy: authoritarian, despotic, dictatorial boastful: arrogant, having a tendency to talk about his/her successes (= "victories") gullible: credulous, innocent, naive

flattery: adulation, sycophancy shy: timid humble: modest methodical: meticulous, systematic picky: critical, fussy petty: obsessed about unimportant details truthful: sincere, honest

reliable: dependable, predictable, responsible, trustworthy easy-going: relaxed carefree: untroubled, without worries (=preoccupations), easy-going spiteful: vindictive strong-willed: determined, resolute

withdrawn: reserved forthright: frank, direct, candid control-freak: person who needs to be controlling everything and everyone. sensible: (false friend) responsible thoughtful: contemplative, pensive, reflective moody: melancholic, sullen

gentle: tender lively: vivacious stubborn: obstinate selfless: altruistic, self-sacrificing unstable: unbalanced weak-willed: indecisive