TEMPER

"We boil at different degrees".
(Ralph Waldo Emerson).
Are you prone to temper tantrums, sulky silences, violent outbursts quickly subdued, cool sardonic comebacks, or sweet as sunshine all the time?

From An Encyclopaedia of Psychological Astrology by C.E.O. Carter, first published 1924, Fourth Edition 1954. My copy reprinted 1963:

Temper must be judged from the rising sign, Mercury, and the general appearance of the horoscope.
The usual characteristics of the signs when rising are:

Aries - Easily angered and then often go to great lengths.

Taurus - Not readily moved, but when aroused become furious.

Gemini - Not bad tempered, but can be "waspish" and malicious.

Cancer - Not easily angered, but soon hurt. Timid.

Leo - Often hot-tempered, though affectionate.

Virgo - Temper is usually controlled and seldom violent. Often uses "the retort courteous". Tends to shun conditions that are liable to upset it.

Libra - Seldom the first to quarrel. Easily appeased.

Scorpio - Hot-tempered, especially when its affections are touched. Implacable and rarely forgets.

Sagittarius - Good-tempered.

Capricorn - The temper is generally cold, and the tongue controlled.

Aquarius - Courteous.

Pisces - Good-tempered.

In cardinal signs the temper is usually sharp; in mutable nagging, and in fixed sudden and violent. The above remarks apply, of course, to ordinary, everyday persons, Mercury, and to a somewhat less extent the Lights or ascendant, afflicted by malefics usually corrupts the temper. Fiery signs are usually the most explosive. Mars afflicted by Uranus in Fire generally causes a bad temper, and Mars and Saturn are also often evil. On the other hand, Venus conjunct Mercury, the Lights or ascendant will usually cause the moods to be harmonious and equable. Jupiter, in similar circumstances, inclines to good spirits and bodily health.

It must not be forgotten how often a bad temper is really the direct results of some functional disorder, such as liver trouble or nervous derangement.

Often the signs of good and bad temper are contradictory and in such cases a person's disposition will vary.

That's pretty accurate for my Cancer rising, with some modification from Capricorn Mercury, but Aries Moon can boil me over at times. How about you?

Temper and Anger

"We boil at different degrees", a quote attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson. Respected British astrologer C.E.O. Carter, wrote an "Encyclopaedia of Psychological Astrology" (reprinted between 1924 and 1976) in which he lists, in alphabetical order, psychological traits, spanning "Ability" to "Youthfulness", and describes astrological configurations which he had found often present in people who exhibited certain traits. Under the heading Temper Mr Carter, investigating boiling points, wrote:


"Temper must be judged from the rising sign, Mercury, and the general appearance of the horoscope. The usual characteristics of the signs when rising are:

Aries (rising) ....... Easily angered and then often go to great lengths.

Taurus (rising).......Not readily moved, but may when aroused become furious.

Gemini (rising)...Not bad tempered, but can be "waspish" and malicious.

Cancer (rising)...Not easily angered, though soon hurt. Timid.

Leo (rising)......Often hot tempered, though affectionate.

Virgo (rising)....Temper is usually controlled and seldom violent. Often uses "the retort courteous". Tends to shun conditions that are liable to upset it.

Libra (rising)....Seldom the first to quarrel. Easily appeased.

Scorpio (rising)....Hot-tempered, especially when its affections are touched. Implacable and rarely forgets.

Sagittarius (rising)...Good tempered.

Capricorn (rising)....The temper is generally cold, and the tongue controlled.

Aquarius (rising)...Courteous.

Pisces(rising)...Good tempered.

(Note from me: to calculate rising sign it's necessary to know one's exact time of birth)

In cardinal signs the temper is usually sharp; in mutable nagging, and in fixed, sudden and violent. The above remarks apply, of course, to ordinary everyday persons. Mercury and to a somewhat less extent the Lights or ascendant afflicted by malefics usually corrupts the temper. Fiery signs are usually the most explosive. Mars afflicted by Uranus in Fire generally causes bad temper, and Mars and Saturn are also often evil. On the other hand, Venus conjunct Mercury, the Lights or ascendant will usually cause the moods to be harmonious and equable. Jupiter in similar circumstances, inclines to good spirits and bodily health.

It must not be forgotten how often a bad temper is really the direct result of some functional disorder, such as liver trouble or nervous derangement.

Often the signs of good and bad temper are contradictory and in such cases a person's disposition will vary."

Was C.E.O. Carter correct? I have Cancer rising, natally. That description is accurate for me, or was. I'm no longer as timid. Obtuse with a tendency to come over all cold, determined and menacing when angered would be a better description these days. Husband has Leo rising. He can flare up, usually temper comes and goes quickly. He also has Mercury conjunct Saturn, and a tendency to use sarcasm as a defence, rather than frequent hot temper.

The term "losing temper" has a rather frivolous, selfish, superficial feel to it, and usually indicates a short-term condition, whereas seriously displaying anger on a deeper level could, in some cases, be worthy of more respect.

Do not teach your children never to be angry; teach them how to be angry.
(Lyman Abbott)

Bad Temper ?

Back in the 20th century, British astrologer C.E.0. Carter wrote the "Encyclopaedia of Psychological Astrology". It was reprinted many times between 1924 and 1976. The author lists, in alphabetical order, many and varied psychological traits, spanning "Ability" to "Youthfulness". Mr. Carter describes astrological configurations which he found often present in people who exhibited certain traits.

Under the heading "Temper", Mr Carter has this to say:

"Temper must be judged from the rising sign, Mercury, and the general appearance of the horoscope. The usual characteristics of the signs when rising are:

Aries (rising) ....... Easily angered and then often go to great lengths.

Taurus (rising).......Not readily moved, but may when aroused become furious.

Gemini (rising)...Not bad tempered, but can be "waspish" and malicious.

Cancer (rising)...Not easily angered, though soon hurt. Timid.

Leo (rising)......Often hot tempered, though affectionate.

Virgo (rising)....Temper is usually controlled and seldom violent. Often uses "the retort courteous". Tends to shun conditions that are liable to upset it.

Libra (rising)....Seldom the first to quarrel. Easily appeased.

Scorpio (rising)....Hot-tempered, especially when its affections are touched. Implacable and rarely forgets.

Sagittarius (rising)...Good tempered.

Capricorn (rising)....The temper is generally cold, and the tongue controlled.

Aquarius (rising)...Courteous.

Pisces(rising)...Good tempered.

In cardinal signs the temper is usually sharp; in mutable nagging, and in fixed, sudden and violent. The above remarks apply, of course, to ordinary everyday persons. Mercury and to a somewhat less extent the Lights or ascendant afflicted by malefics usually corrupts the temper. Fiery signs are usually the most explosive. Mars afflicted by Uranus in Fire generally causes bad temper, and Mars and Saturn are also often evil. On the other hand, Venus conjunct Mercury, the Lights or ascendant will usually cause the moods to be harmonious and equable. Jupiter in similar circumstances, inclines to good spirits and bodily health.

It must not be forgotten how often a bad temper is really the direct result of some functional disorder, such as liver trouble or nervous derangement.

Often the signs of good and bad temper are contradictory and in such cases a person's disposition will vary."

I have Cancer rising, natally. That description is accurate for me, though I'm no longer timid, I probably was though, back in the mists of time. Obtuse is a better description these days!

HWK (the husband) has Leo rising. He has been known to flare up, but temper comes and goes very quickly. He also has Mercury conjunct Saturn, and a tendency to use sarcasm as a defence, rather than frequent hot temper.