the Sun alone leads to the error meant by H. L. Mencken, who said: "Every complex problem has a solution that is simple, quick - and wrong."

It is only by studying the birth chart as a whole that the astrologer can come close to creating a complete picture of the personality. And even then there are discrepancies, because living beings are not carved in stone. They change slightly every day and every new meeting. Love, failure, success - all events in life - make a person different. However, the basics of personality remain. And the sign of the zodiac reflects this essence.

Astrology is a great tool for studying human nature. When you meet a person, he presents a mystery to you. You see the color of the eyes and hair, the style of the suit, the height. To know more, you need more information. If you know the zodiac sign under which the person was born, you can put together some pieces of the puzzle. But at the beginning of this process, you will be missing many elements. The sign of the zodiac only gives you a basis, additional information that you do not have.

Of course, information about the sign of the zodiac is useful not only for superficial secular acquaintances. They become invaluable in intimate relationships. If your Cancer husband grumbles and criticizes you, you should know that in this way he expresses his love for you. If your ten-year-old Virgo daughter resembles an old maid for whom order has become a "fad", you will understand why she feels the need to put things strictly in their places. Knowing how distracted and forgetful Gemini can be, you will find it easier to forgive your Gemini lover when they give you a belated birthday present.

Most importantly, knowing your personal zodiac sign will expand your knowledge of yourself, allowing you to get to know the stranger you are to yourself more deeply.

SOME ASTROLOGICAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE TWELVE ZODIAC SIGNS

In the 5,000 years since the first written works on astrology appeared, the twelve signs of the zodiac acquired specific connections, characteristics and meanings.

Hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, Greek philosophers formulated the doctrine of the microcosm, according to which man is the cosmos in miniature. According to this concept, all elements of nature have their counterparts in man, and therefore humanity and the universe are linked together by a system of correspondences. From this theory, also called hermetic, arose such a predictive art as palmistry, based on the connection of the solar system with various parts of the human hand.

According to the hermetic theory around the signs of the zodiac there is an extensive field of correspondences. Many types of affinity were established in the distant past, thousands of years before the present. Most of them became known in the second century AD, when Ptolemy wrote his seminal astrological work Tetrabiblos. Some information has appeared relatively recently: for example, three planets have been discovered in the last 200 yearsone, and new connections and clarifications have arisen with their discovery.

We can say that each astrological sign is a miniature Book of Knowledge, and all signs as a whole form a picture of humanity, our bodies, consciousness, emotions and the world around us in which we live.

Like an intricately patterned Chinese box, the zodiac is a single entity that can be taken apart and explored in a variety of ways.

To begin with, the twelve signs of the zodiac are divided into several groups, including two, three, four or six elements.

DUPLICITIES

The twelve signs fall into two groups, male and female. Six signs are masculine, six are feminine. Speaking astrologically, the male sign is straightforward and energetic, the female sign is receptive and prone to attraction. Masculine and feminine properties were attributed to signs about 2,000 years ago. Modern astrologers try to avoid the sexism that comes with this division. The male sign does not symbolize a positive beginning and strength, just as the female does not symbolize denial and weakness. Modern terminology defines male signs as facing the outside world and realizing their power through activity. Female signs are closed, independent, their strength embedded in the inner world of the individual.

ARIES male

GEMINI male

lion male

SCALES male

SAGITTARIUS male

AQUARIUS male

BULL female

CANCER female

VIRGO female

SCORPIO female

CAPRICORN female

PISCES female

TRIPLIQUES

The twelve characters also form four groups of three characters each. Such a group is called a triplicity, each of them denotes an element (or element). There are four elements - fire, earth, air and water. In astrology, the element symbolizes the fundamental characteristics of the sign.

Three signs are fiery. They are Aries, Leo and Sagittarius. They are active and full of enthusiasm.

Three signs are earth. These are Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn. They are practical and durable.

Air signs are Gemini, Libra and Aquarius. They are intelligent and sociable.

Three signs are called water. These are Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. Water signs are emotional and have a developed intuition.

QUADRUPLICITIES

The twelve characters are further divided into three groups of four characters each. Such a group is called quadruplicity and denotes quality. By quality, signs are divided into cardinal (basic), fixed (stable) and mutable (changeable). In astrology, quality characterizes the interaction of a sign with the outside world.

Four signs are cardinalone. They are Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn. Cardinal signs are enterprising and forward-thinking. They are the initiators.

Four characters are fixed. These are Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius. Fixed signs resist change. They develop the idea, polish it, without claiming authorship.

Four characters are mutable. These are Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces. Mutable signs are flexible and adaptable. They adapt to changing circumstances.

You can easily notice that each of the twelve signs has a strictly individual set of the above characteristics. No sign has a counterpart with the same duplicity, element and quality. For example, Aries is a masculine, fiery, cardinal sign. In the entire zodiac there is no second male, fiery, cardinal sign.

Since this set of characteristics is unique, each sign has its own set of features such as quality, element and duplicity.

Example: Aries is a male sign, it is more degree active rather than receptive; fire gives him excitability and energy; cardinality means striving forward and readiness for new experiments. Leo is also a male fire sign, but at the same time it is fixed, unlike the cardinal Aries. Therefore, Leo has the extroversion and temperament of Aries, but is also firm in his views, convinced of his own rightness and less Aries inclined to abandon an impossible plan and move towards something new.

POLARITY

Finally, the twelve characters are divided into six groups of pairs. Each such pair consists of polarities. Any sign of the zodiac has its opposite, that is, the sign that opposes it in the zodiac circle. The elements of the pairs have opposite characteristics.

Aries and Libra are polarities. Aries is a selfish sign. Libra opposing him is a sign of partnership.

Taurus and Scorpio are polarities. Taurus is a sign of personal property. Opposing him, Scorpio is a sign of inheritance and joint ownership.

Gemini and Sagittarius are polarities. Gemini is a sign of self-expression. Sagittarius opposing him is a sign of philosophy and depth of thinking, a reflection of the entire breadth of the world.

Cancer and Capricorn are polarities. Cancer is a sign of family life. Capricorn opposing him is a sign of social life.

Leo and Aquarius are polarities. Leo is a sign of personal pleasure and creation. Opposing him, Aquarius is a sign of hope and ideals in a broader sense.

Virgo and Pisces are polarities. Virgo is a sign of diligence and self-improvement. Pisces opposing her is a sign of daydreaming and self-deception.

Each of the twelve signs is connected in a certain way with the outside world. They have auspicious days and days of the week, special colors, plants, metals, cities, etc. Each sign also has specific traps and areas of increased danger.

In modern times, however, some of these connections are mentioned more for fun than as recommendations or advice. Astrologers do not seriously say that Aries will definitely prefer red and diamonds, and Virgo will find happiness only in Boston and will certainly plant a bindweed outside the window. Affinity for a particular color, stone, place, and flower is just part of the long history of symbols and connections that the signs of the zodiac have grown into.

However, sometimes it's fun to experiment with your zodiac affinity. For example, one client of mine hosts "astrological" dinner parties and chooses flowers, table decorations, and food according to the zodiac signs of her guests. Another client, born under the sign of Gemini, recently traveled to Melbourne just because of his sign's affinity for this distant Australian city. I received an enthusiastic letter from him: "When I got off the plane, I immediately felt that this was my true home!"

Part of the charm of astrology lies in its many facets; the various associations and symbolism surrounding the twelve signs are part of this sumptuous tapestry. There are no two similar astrological signs. Each is unique and unrepeatable. Each contains clues about who we are, the things and places we are attracted to.

WHAT SIGN WAS YOU BORN UNDER?

The dates of the beginning and end of each zodiac sign can shift in certain years by a day or two. To be sure of your sign, find the year and month of your birth in the table of zodiac signs on page 349.

ARIES

(March 2one - April one9)

DUPLICITY Male

TRIPLICYTE (ELEMENT) Fire

QUADRUPLICITY (QUALITY) Cardinal

Aries is active, energetic, excitable and impulsive, optimistic, ready for change and new experiments.

GOVERNING PLANET Mars, the ancient god of war, aggression, conflicts. It generates tension and accidents, controls fire and danger.

SYMBOL Ram. Assertive, sexy,