Midweek Musings ~ "They reach out in their mystic language For us to read between the lines."

The post's title is borrowed from a lovely song written by Neil Diamond titled, appropriately enough, "Signs" - first two verses:



Signs that burn like shooting stars
That pass across the nighttime skies,
They reach out in their mystic language
For us to read between the lines.
Some are born who would defy them,
Others still who would deny them, signs.

Signs like moments hung suspended,
Echoes just beneath the heart
Speak in voices half remembered
And half forgotten play their part.
Signs that come as we lay sleeping
Left behind for our keeping, signs.

On the topic of signs, astrology-wise, below are a trio of my own answers, offered on Quora's astrology section. The first, from a few days ago:


What in the world happened to the Age of Aquarius? It was dawning in the '60s and then just disappeared?


My answer:

The Broadway musical “Hair” has a lot to answer for! It was a song from that show that got hippies and some astrologers over-excited about the Age of Aquarius.

When the moon is in the Seventh House
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars
This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius
Age of Aquarius
Aquarius
Aquarius.

Not correct astrologically, but it does rhyme!

I like a theory put forward in a book and website, “Signs of the Times” by Robert Fitzgerald. The author divides the lengths of time between astrological ages into slices, more accessible bite-sized chunks called Eras and Phases.

At present, according to Mr Fitzgerald, we are in transit through the Age of Pisces. By this author's calculation the Aquarius Era of the Pisces Age ran from 1800 to 1980 - which could well account for some astrologers' insistence that we were already in the Age of Aquarius.

Then, dividing time into even smaller slices, 1950 to 1965 becomes the Aquarius Phase of the Aquarius Era of the Age of Pisces....that slice includes the psychedelic 60s - thought to be quite Aquarian, so with a double dose of Aquarius: phase and era, it was.... with a background of Pisces dreaminess.

1965 to 1980 = Pisces Phase, Aquarius Era, Age of Pisces.

From 1980 to 2160 is the Pisces Era of the Age of Pisces and we are presently in the Gemini Phase - 2010 to 2025 of the Pisces Era of the Age of Pisces.

The Cancer Phase will be 2025 to 2040.

For a brief rundown on what this means, and comparisons with similar eras and phases throughout history, do take a look at the website and/or the book.

http://www.signsofthetimeshistory.com/time.html

This one, from a few months ago, still occasionally gathers an 'upvote' or two (in Facebook language, foreign to me, I guess that 'upvotes' translate as 'likes'):


If each zodiac sign were a person and they all lived together in a house, what would each sign be doing?



Aries is telling the others to “hurry up, let’s do SOMETHING - I’m bored!”

Taurus is enjoying preparing a future meal.

Gemini, of course, is chatting, at some length, on the phone.

Cancer? Planning the next family get-together, feeling a bit teary when hearing that a dear relative will not be able to attend..

Leo is sorting through the wardrobe, deciding which outfit will make the best impression.

Virgo is checking accounts and complaining that the rest of ’em have been over-spending again.

Libra is attempting to calm down Aries and Scorpio who have gotten themselves into a heated argument about going out adventuring…Aries can’t wait, Scorpio wont go and won’t lend the car.

Scorpio - See Libra.

Sagittarius is reading some tome on philosophy, but on hearing the Aries and Scorpio scuffle loudly declares an intention to go adventuring, and that Aries is welcome to “come along”.

Capricorn is avidly checking how stocks and shares are performing , grimacing at the raised voices.

Aquarius is on the way out - to join a protest group, after preparing a large sign for use during The March for Equality - seeing this, Libra follows and they leave together.

Pisces? Who knows what Pisces is ever up to? Pisces, right now, is sitting by the window, gazing out, dreamily humming a tune, sipping a glass of wine, deciding whether to send the poems just written to that gorgeous individual met last evening.

Thirdly, I was asked to answer by questioner "Imran":

How can our zodiac signs tell us about our personality so exactly while astrology is considered to be pseudoscience?

If you are using “our zodiac signs” as another way of saying “our Sun signs”, then it is far from accurate to say that these will “tell us about our personality so exactly”. Sun signs will tell about one facet of personality only, and that facet could well be modified by the rest of the full natal chart’s content.

If you are using “our zodiac signs” in a general way - that is “all 12 zodiac signs”, then the unique mix of planetary positions in the signs, in a person’s natal chart , when interpreted by a competent astrologer, will tell many things about a personality - but still not everything. Outside influences, background, education, experience, location also have input to any person’s character/personality.

People can define astrology in whatever way they see fit. Because some define it as pseudoscience, does not mean that they are correct, it means they do not have the insight needed to see further than what appears on the surface. It is for each individual to define astrology, as they perceive it, after having the courtesy of studying the basics of astrology, experimenting with it, before validating or demeaning it.

CHRISTMAS CARDS

I know, I know, they're going out of style in these days of e-mail, Facebook, smartphones etc. I realise, also, that there are valid ecological arguments against buying and sending Christmas cards. But still I buy 'em and send 'em! When governments, especially the US government, stops spending piles of money on the war machine, which puts far more toxicity into the atmosphere, and is far more wasteful of resources than my traditional habit - then I'll stop sending Christmas cards. I send cards to friends and relatives in the UK and in the USA. I try to choose cards printed in the USA and/or on recycled paper. It's a tradition that I enjoy keeping, but when my generation dies off in coming years, the tradition will be likely to die with us.

Back in 2007, at Christmas time, I did a post featuring Christmas card styles for the 12 zodiac signs. Blogger's changes to its interface and other considerations, in intervening years, have messed up that old post. The illustrations are really too small too, so - a re-make is in order! It should be borne in mind that what follow, astrologically, are in relation to the essences of the 12 zodiac signs themselves, not necessarily as Sun signs - but if Sun signs are your 'thang' y'all can consider these in that way.


Aries
Lighthearted fun, usually sent early:

Taurus
Traditional, Christmas goodies, or landscapes:

Gemini
The Trickster Twins:

Cancer
Homely scenes:

Leo
Classy, large, dramatic, colourful, expensive looking:

Virgo
Minimal, restrained but not boring:

Libra
In the best of good taste:

Scorpio
Cards which grab the attention, sometimes with a darker undertone:

Sagittarius

Santa, travel, or fun subjects with a generous flavour:

Capricorn
No nonsense, structured, traditional:

Aquarius
Unusual, non-traditional:

Pisces
Whimsical, or something important not yet featured - religious-flavour - Pisces is one of the best zodiac signs for that:

Music Monday ~ Genres & Signs

Qualities of the many different musical genres can be seen reflected (if one squints a little) in signs of the zodiac. The ideas proposed below do not refer to readers'/listeners' Sun signs, I'm suggesting only that different music styles can be compared with qualities of the 12 zodiac signs. It might, however, be noticed that if particular signs in a natal chart are strongly emphasised, that chart owner might gravitate toward a music style with similar qualities.

Classical ~~ Capricorn & Virgo - tradition, rigid structure, meticulous performance.

Jazz~~~ Aries & Aquarius - energetic, spontaneous, modern, unpredictable.

Easy Listening ~~~ Libra & Pisces - undemanding, pleasant, non-controversial, dreamy.

Country ~~~ Taurus & Cancer - old fashioned, earthy, conservative, homely.

Folk & Bluegrass~~~ Cancer, Capricorn & Aquarius - sensitive, homely, traditional, often socially aware.

Rock~~~ Aries & Scorpio - energetic, can be passionate and/or menacing.

Pop ~~~ Gemini & Aquarius - eclectic mix of themes, all communicating to "the people" - all the people!

Opera & Stage ~~Leo, Sagittarius - dramatic, exaggerated.

Blues & Soul~~~Pisces, Scorpio - deep, powerful and passionate.

Latin ~~~ Scorpio & Sagittarus - passionate, "foreign".

Big Band & Swing ~~~ Aries and Sagittarius - energetic, big, happy sound.

Religious/Sacred/Gospel ~~~ Sagittarius, Pisces & Capricorn - spiritual, devout, traditional.

Arty Farty Friday ~ Tejal Patni's Photographs

In searching for something, or someone, not featured in Arty Farty posts in the past, I stumbled upon this piece:
Photographer Mixes High Fashion And Zodiac Signs In Stunning Calendar (Photos)
by Kaylin Pound at Elite News, in 2015. At left is a small image of his version of one zodiac sign - astro fans will easily guess which one it represents!

Photographer is Tejal Patni, Indian born in Mumbai [Bombay]. I haven't found any date of birth for him, but he appears to be a fairly young guy. There's little detail about him online at present, other than lots of his beautiful work. An interview at The Floating Magazine, by Payal Khandelwal provides some enlightenment, and some of his photographs. First paragraph :

Tejal was born and brought up in India and moved to Dubai in the 1980s. He graduated from Sir JJ School of Applied Arts in Mumbai, and later studied film making at the London Film Academy. Over the years, he has worked with some of the biggest fashion brands across the world including Harvey Nichols, Bloomingdale’s, Caprese, and magazines like GQ, Grazia, Harper’s Bazaar, etc. The annual calendar he creates for the Middle East’s premium fashion brand Splash has been highly instrumental in getting him a much deserved wider recognition. And that’s not surprising at all because his sharp instincts, his inspirations and his unique vision – all come together on the stage of Splash calendar every year to give a spellbinding performance.

The Splash calendar is featured in the first link above - the one relating to zodiac signs. Splash, by the way is (Wikipedia) India's largest fashion retailer[citation needed] and part of the Landmark Group,one of the biggest retail conglomerates in the Middle East and India.

Scrolling down the photographs in the first link above gives some idea of Patni's style - though I'm not convinced he had the best astrological advice about the signs, in some cases.

Do also take a look at some of Patni's other work - I enjoyed the zodiac-related photos, but prefer others :

http://www.tejalpatni.com/

https://adlmagazin.wordpress.com/2014/01/08/tejal-patni/



I'll borrow a single example. This photograph comes from his 2017 Splash calendar. Personally I, with Sun in Aquarius, think something along these lines would have better represented Aquarius than the Aquarius photograph in the zodiac-related calendar linked at the top of the post.

Aquarius Considered

 Aquarius by Erté

In his book, Astrology published 1964, Louis MacNeice, not an astrologer, but a poet and scholar, gathered together much of interest from a variety of sources, ancient and modern. On zodiac sign Aquarius, through which the Sun now travels, he wrote the paragraphs below, quoting from some professional astrologers whose works may now be less known by the average astrology fan. Some related links identifying those astrologers are added at the end of this post. The excerpt has been copy-typed by my own fair fingers, rather than copy-pasted from elsewhere on the internet. Illustrations here were added by me.

Aquarius the Water-Carrier
January 21 to February 19

A fixed, airy sign. Aquarius's ruler is traditionally Saturn, though some astrologers (such as Varley) prefer to promote Uranus or at least make him co-ruler. This sign provides some of the most graceful illustrations to medieval textbooks and has long been thought of as a particularly human sign; Gleadow calls it "the only completely human sign in the Zodiac." But there seems to be a divergence of opinions to whether he represents the ordinary man or an especially gifted man. On the former premise he is linked with democracy, on the latter with science and the capacity for abstract thought. This was the Sun-sign of Galileo, Francis Bacon, and Darwin.

Some years ago the French amateur astrologer Paul Choisnard investigated the horoscopes of 119 outstanding intellectuals and claimed to have found that under only three signs was the incidence more than average - Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius. these, of course, are the three airy signs and the symbolism of air here is obvious. Traditionally Aquarius rules the circulation of the blood, and this has been correlated with the circulation of ideas. If Uranus is brought in, one would expect to find Aquarians showing the characteristics of that planet (like mechanical inventiveness) and also what Ingrid Lind calls the "Uranian urge to disrupt." Miss Lind, on the assumption of co-rulership, would like to distinguish Saturnian Aquarians from Uranian Aquarians. Rupert Gleadow, writing of the so-called "Aquarian Age" (see below), foresees the spread in the immediate future not only of such Uranian effects as machinery and inventions, but of "world-wide organizations...international collaboration, and the Brotherhood of Man."

 Aquarius by David Palladini

The Aquarian, unlike his predecessor the Capricornian, is no respecter of tradition (otherwise he would not be so well equipped for scientific research). But he is, in the best sense of the phrase, a respecter of personas because, once again, he is human. He pours out the water freely: "Your need is greater than mine." He can be tactless, though, and other faults ascribed to him are obstinacy (after all this is a fixed sign), fanaticism, and (more surprisingly) inefficiency. Countess Wydenbruck describes him as "popular yet solitary, often abnormal."
It has been observed that Aquarius men often have beautiful profiles but tend to look unduly feminine. But this is not mentioned by that old traditionalist Pearce, who merely says that the Aquarian is "of prepossessing appearance and good disposition," and has a "long and fleshy face." Here we have a minor inconsistency, in another passage describing the influence of Aquarius as a Sun-sign, Pearce speaks of a "round full face," and again goes on to mention "good disposition, though tinctured with pride and ambition; artistic or scientific."

Apart from the scientific thinkers already mentioned, other people who had Aquarius for their Sun-sign were Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt and James Dean. Edward VIII (Duke of Windsor) was born with Aquarius as his ascendant sign.

To return to the "Aquarian Age": Many astrologers block out history in periods of roughly 2000 years, each such period falling under the tutelage of a particular sign. This is dictated by the movement of the vernal equinoctial point (i.e. 0 degrees Aries), which goes very slowly backward through the signs (because of the "precession of the equinoxes", mentioned earlier). So in the last 2000 years B.C., 0 degrees Aries was in Aries the constellation. Then it moved into Pisces - very suitably, since the Piscean Age coincided with the Christian era, and the fish was an early symbol of Christ. As to whether the Aquarius Age has yet begun, astrologers disagree. Ingrid Lind thinks that it has, and ascribes to it much the same characteristics as Gleadow: "All the modern trend of thought and invention." For Morrish also, but in a different way (since what he is concerned with is subjective development)

Aquarius is "the awakener." For him it is the sign not of the scientist but of the yogi - "the development of spiritual consciousness through contemplation." This development will be completed in the next sign, which he takes as representing the "cosmic ocean".

ASTROLOGERS MENTIONED
A.J. Pearce
John Varley
Morrish (L. Furze-Morrish?)
Ingrid Lind
Rupert Gleadow
Paul Choisnard


For more posts on this sign - there are lots of 'em - please click on Aquarius in the Label Cloud in the sidebar.

Once Again Into Virgo

About to begin copy-typing the Virgo section from Louis MacNeice's "Astrology", this month, following my current monthly bloggy pattern, I noticed that, back in 2010 I had already called on Mr MacNeice's book for some assistance in constructing a post on zodiac sign Virgo. I shall give my typing fingers a rest this month and do a copy-paste job instead, perhaps replacing illustration:

 Virgo by David Palladini

The Sun has now moved along the zodiac trail from the area western astrologers label Leo to that we know as Virgo. Virgo, the Mutable Earth sign ruled by Mercury. Mercury also rules Gemini (Mutable Air); it's somehow easier to connect Mercury with Airy Gemini than Earthy Virgo.

In a 1964 book, Astrology, recently acquired (more on this in tomorrow's post) author, Louis MacNeice, not an astrologer, but poet and scholar, has this to say about zodiac sign Virgo, quoting Ingrid Lind, a 20th century British astrologer:

Ingrid Lind once again asks straight away: "How can earth be mutable and mercurial?" And the answer yet again is in the other ingredients (though she says, this internal conflict does tend to make a Virgo type a worrier).

I like the expression "Virgo type", as against the more commonly used "a Virgo" - it covers my constant quibble that "there ain't no such thing as a Virgo, or an Aquarian...or...etc. etc. etc." I'll remember to use the expression Virgo(or whatever)-type myself in future. There are certainly "types" who clearly reflect major characteristics of zodiac signs and/or planets, though these people may not always have natal Sun in the relevant sign.

MacNeice then quotes astrologer (Rupert?) Gleadhow:

Virgo (is) "perhaps the most earthbound" of the 12 signs, but her earthiness is very unlike the earthiness of Taurus: Mercury could never rule Taurus. In fact the earth gives Virgo common sense and Mercury supplies an unusually keen intelligence. The two together make for disciplined thinking and acting.

Virgo is traditionally represented holding a sheaf of corn and, in western Europe Virgo's time of year is harvest-time. Granaries may connect with Virgo too - also the separating of wheat from chaff, in a way representing a very Virgoan characteristic: discrimination.

MacNeice writes that Virgo is thought of as the patroness of critics and craftsmen, but not of creators or commanders......Virgo is a great deal more than a sharp-tongued and keen-eyed housewife. It is the patron sign of Switzerland (which was to be expected), but also of Paris and of cats (no doubt because cats are so neat).

He tells us that Tolstoi is accepted by astrologers as a Virgo man, having had not only Sun and Mercury in the sign but the Moon as well. Which would suggest that Virgo CAN be creative sometimes, though perhaps what is most Virgonian about Tolstoi is the exact and conscientious way in which he tried to lead a new life in his old age.

Quoting astrologer André Barbault, MacNeice writes:

.......Anyway, the traditional Virgo type is somewhat dry and cold, a fusser over detail, a discriminator, a rationalist, a perfectionist, yet prepared to sacrifice himself. Barbault suggests that if the Pisces man is like an astronomer brooding on the infinite spaces, the Virgo man is like a biologist with a microscope.

 From Searle's Zodiac by Ronald Searle

As I've noted before in these blog posts, my husband's eldest daughter has Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus & Pluto in Virgo and has spent almost all her career in the newspaper business - how much more of a Mercury-type is there? Coincidentally her birthday is the same as that of Louis MacNeice, apart, of course, from the year. She matches some, but not all of the characteristics mentioned above. Her Leo ascendant (matching that of her Dad) accounts for her softer, warmer nature and sense of humour - more than might be expected from text book descriptions of Virgo.

Other posts on zodiac sign Virgo can be accessed via the Label Cloud in the sidebar, by clicking on.....well, "Virgo".

Zodiac Sign Leo Considered

 Leo by Erté,

In his book, Astrology published 1964, Louis MacNeice, not an astrologer, but a poet and scholar, gathered together much of interest from a variety of sources, ancient and modern. On zodiac sign Leo, through which the Sun now travels, he wrote the paragraphs below, quoting from a variety of professional astrologers. This extract was not copied and pasted from elsewhere, but copy-typed by my own fair fingers; the Mussolini illustration comes from the book; additional illustrations were added by me.

Leo the Lion
July 23 to Aug 23.

A fixed and fiery sign. With Leo, Ingrid Lind begins by picking on the apparent paradox "or contradiction...in the thought of fixed fire ". The answer, she says, lies in "molten gold", but she could also perhaps have used her cookery ingredients analogy. She goes on to contrast Leo with the first Fiery sign, Aries, who is anything but fixed. Aries is impulsive and restless; Leo, like the Sun, stays put on his throne. People born with Leo rising include Bismarck, Garibaldi, Huey Long and Picasso. Among those who had Leo as their Sun-sign were Lorenzo de Medici, Louis XIV ("le Roi Soleil"), Napoleon and Rubens.

Caption under photograph: Italian fascist leader Benito Mussolini (1883-1945) was born with Sun in Leo. The planet and the sign have similar astrological character; when combined (as in Mussolini's horoscope) they are said to lead to aggressive ambition and power seeking.

This, then, is obviously an extravert sign; it has produced far more than its share of presidents both in the U.S.A. and in France. As to the physical characteristics of Leo men, Pearce attributes to them "a large, fair stature, broad shoulders; prominent and large eyes; hair generally light and often yellowish; oval, ruddy countenance; of a high, resolute, haughty, and ambitious temper." Varley, less flatteringly describes Leo physiognomy as "most resembling a lion, especially in the nose and retreating chin; such as the profile of King George III." Barbault distinguishes two physical types of Leo - the Herculean and the Apollonian - but they are both athletic and fine figures of men. As for Leo ladies, Barbault notes that they go in for la grande toilette [translation: the full dress. Perhaps indicating a flashy dresser?]

 Leo,  from drawings by Ronald Searle

The Sun in Leo is at his greatest strength, and it is this strength that is the essence of this sign - the strength of a fire that has now been brought under control and is harnessed to useful ends. Morrish (in his psycho-evolutionary scheme) brackets Leo with Cancer as the "fundamental positive and negative polarities underlying everything." Barbault contrasts Leo with Cancer: In Cancer the umbilical cord has not yet been cut; it is Leo who breaks out into independence.

But though independent and very full of himself, the Leo man is far from anti-social: "His ego disappears in his vocation" and he is a great worker. However passionate and ambitious he may be (with him "vouloir c'est déjà pouvoir" [translation: not sure - ? to want something and it's already done - maybe our equivalent would be "no sooner said than done".]) Barbault says, his ruler the Sun acts as a sort of internal gendarme. Not that he always obeys this gendarme. As with any other sign, the types can go wrong. One should specially beware of Saturn in Leo, a sign in which he is "in exile": This can produce people like 'Cesare Borgia.

There seems no need to stress the animal symbolism of Leo - the king of beasts etc. His 30 degrees of the Zodiac are filled with roaring. But when we step over the border between this sign and the next we perhaps hear a typewriter, or a vacuum cleaner, a secretarial voice reading the minutes, a whispered aside of criticism. We have entered territory where everything must be "just so" - floors must be swept, files must be kept, i's must be dotted and t's crossed, beds (in all senses) must be properly made.

Astrologers mentioned:
André Barbault
A.J. Pearce
John Varley
Morrish (L. Furze-Morrish?)

Zodiacal Aggravation

I came upon this light-weight, fairly light-hearted ramble through the zodiac signs
(Sun-sign-wise) in

The Best of the Illustrated National Astrological Journal 1934

- a volume I found in an antique store on our travels years ago:

Aggravating the Zodiac - Advice to Belligerents and Tips on the Art of Peace Making, by Ellen McCaffery

I've copy-typed the piece here. The original used "he" throughout, I've changed those references to "he/she" or "their" to make it clearly all-inclusive.

As astrology fans are well aware, Sun sign related edicts are not always 100% reliable. If your Sun sign paragraph isn't recognisable to you as "you" in this context, take a look until you find a paragraph that fits well, then look at your natal chart. I bet you'll find that you have personal planet(s) in that sign or, if you know your time of birth, your rising sign is "it". Image below has reminders of date spans for each zodiac sign.

Aries
Keep an Aries person waiting for hours on end, then give a long-winded explanation as to why you are late. Insist on both of you wearing headgear or carrying an umbrella in the rain, and such trivialities will arouse the Aries temper to boiling point. Aries will walk out slam the door vigorously. Next day, in trying to make amends, Aries is called asking for their help to fix some equipment of yours that's out of order, and "nobody can fix it quite as well as you" - a promise that they'll be there "on the dot of" 8pm might ensue. Aries admires positiveness, for there is no zodiacal sign quite so positive as Aries. Peace-making may be stormy but can be done...until next time.

Taureans, unlike Arians, are notably late-arrivers. If you wish to make one completely enraged, don't wait when he/she is late. Try to hurry anyone born under the sign of the Bull, and you will have snorting anger on your hands. Hurt his/her feelings by leaving him out of the festivities you plan. The old adage, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned", might have been said of Venus on the occasion when she was denied the prize apple and left out of a party, and as Taurus is ruled by Venus, draw your own conclusions. Nasty, slighting remarks concerning the success of your affair will be made. When you have thoroughly aggravated your Taurean, wait until he/she has had time to stop sulking, for if his/her anger is really aroused you'll have to wait for your own safety, until he/she cools off. Then, meet him/her "accidentally" someplace, or get an intermediary to arrange it. Upon seeing you, his/her old
habit of being nice to you will take precedence over his/her anger. Be pleasant and he/she'll be at your feet again.

To rile a Gemini is one of the easiest things you can think of, and he/she is equally easy to placate, for the memory of the Twins is not long. They are as volatile as steam but highly intelligent, so to make one angry, criticize his/her mental processes. Insist on pinning him/her down to details. Weep on his/her shoulder, but don't let him/her dampen yours with his/her grief. After all this is accomplished, you will have a highly irritated Gemini. To make up, don't do anything but pursue your ordinary course and call that evening.

For all the home-loving, peaceful nature of the Cancerian, he/she is worse than a catastrophe of nature when aroused, so don't start to pick a fight, for in all probability you won't last long enough to make peace. The only way to bring about harmony again, once it is disrupted, is to prime one of your friends to say harsh things about you, and he/she will rush to the rescue.

A Leo is so thoroughly complacent and sure of himself that ridicule touches him not, so don't take this tack during the aggravating process. He/she will merely think you a fool, but he/she does love a good fight, so you can expect a jolly time if he/she gets mad. The way to bring about this condition is to introduce him/her to another Leo, and leave them to settle the conflict. Annoy his/her light-o'-love, and he/she will rise to the defense immediately. Put him/her in an inferior position and hurt their pride. That is the Leo "Achilles heel" - pride. The last bit of advice is to be used only when you wish to remove a Leo permanently from the scene of activity. Don't employ that in a an ordinary friendly or lovers' spat, for you will find there is no Leo on your horizon to make up with. For peace, after a small quarrel, though, just make known your real affection/respect and the depth of it, and all will be lovely.

Offend Virgo's love of detail when he/she is preparing long columns of statistics, if you wish trouble. Make loud noises of any kind when he/she is occupied; argue with him/her about their diet. Insist on a quick decision, for the Virgo mind must weigh every detail before a ponderous opinion is expressed. Insult his/her sense of the fitness of things by splitting infinitives; he/she can't stand bad grammar. When you've worn his/her nerves to the ragged edge, insist you were in the wrong. He/she knows that, but likes to be told, for it soothes his/her wounded vanity.

Librans don't like to fight, so they fade gracefully away if strife gets too thick, but there are a few things that disturb the sign of harmony. One is to make him/her get their hands dirty doing manual labor. That has no part in the Libra scheme of existence. Criticize their clothes or try to make them hurry. If you do upset his/her equilibrium he/she becomes moody. But remember this: he or she can find ready consolation with another and more sympathetic individual, so don't delay with the peace offering.

Our advice concerning the aggravation of Scorpios is - don't! They always get you in the long run. He/she won't show wild emotion as the Cancerian does - his/hers is a cold icy wind from the North, full of sharp, stinging remarks that hurt no end. If you do have the misfortune to fight with a Scorpio, you may be sure that, although it appears so on the surface, things will never be the same again. Give them the last word, and either make the best of it or gently disappear from the scene.

Sagittarius is the sign of theories, so to anger one, pull his or her pet theory to pieces. Limit him/her in anything and he/she's done for, as they like the whole world as their field of activity. Accuse him/her of lack of chivalry or generosity, and to cap the climax, talk about your trips when he/she wants to talk about his/hers. Don't do anything after a scrap - a Sagittarian thinks that you've gotten over being angry as quickly as he/she has.

Capricorn represents dignity and ambition, so to anger one, offend that overweening confidence and pride of his/hers. Make ribald remarks when he is trying to make an impression, and find fault with him/her. When time comes for an armistice to be signed, the Capricornian will work all around the cause for anger but never mention it directly. He/she finds the hardest task in the world admitting that he/she was wrong.

Aquarian anger is a bit heavy-footed, for this subject often blunders into a battle, rather than seeks it. But to irritate Aquarius thoroughly, delve into the past and drag it up for him/her. He/she can see nothing but the bright future of a coming age. Pooh-pooh his/her ideals and you have him/her in a veritable stew. Tell him/her long stories and make him/her listen. His/her temper is quick and on a hair edge, and you may find yourself involved in a scrap when you least expect it, by unwittingly treading on his/her figurative toes. To patch up the rents in friendship though, wait until he/she has exhausted his/her energy and he/she'll do the peace-making. An Aquarian in a rage is like a tornado, suddenly there and suddenly gone, so the best policy is not to pick a fight.

Pisceans find themselves in the clouds, so to make one mad, bring him/her down from their heavenly perch. Talk practically to him/her - they have no use for it. Disparage their successes, lay them to luck rather than their own efforts, and then tell him/her they are an ingrate. As a Piscean doesn't deliberately lie, but rather brilliantly embroiders the truth until it is a beautiful rainbow-colored story, the best thing to do in angering him/her is to tear large holes in the delicate gossamer of their tales. In making up, remember that you, and you alone were the cause of friction, regardless of the true facts. He/she dotes on martyrdom, so let him/her feel abused. But give him or her to understand that you are one of the few souls alive who "understands" him/her, watch the Piscean fold delightedly up on your bosom, and all is well.

Arty Farty Friday ~ Signs that whisper ...

Just for a change this week I decided to try to equate the 12 zodiac signs with various art styles or arty -isms. Somebody has already been there, done that etc:

The signs as art styles

The signs as art movements.

One could find numerous ways of attempting a similar exercise, endless examples of the art to present. I decided to find a painting which, for me, could represent each zodiac sign, in content and/or "feel" and spirit - not necessarily related to any art style, art movement, or Sun sign of the painter.

Click on images for clearer views.


ARIES

First sign, Mars-ruled - I first think of military-related paintings - and as Aries is the first sign, let's go for a very early example:

 The Battle of Poitiers in 1356, in a manuscript of Froissart's Chronicles of c. 1410

TAURUS

First of two Venus-ruled signs - beautiful, earthy...John Constable:

 The White Horse by John Constable

GEMINI

First of two Mercury-ruled signs - deals in communication, words...as, often, did Dadaism:

CANCER

Ruled by the Moon, relates strongly to family, home, emotion, sentimentality - all frequently found in the work of Norman Rockwell:

 Coming & Going - Norman Rockwell

LEO

Ruled by the Sun - represents brightness, love of splendour and the spotlight. An old favourite painting of mine comes to mind - In years gone by (many years) I used to have a brooch, round, silver frame with a replica of this portrait embedded. I've always seen the portrait as bright, happy, warm and altogether splendid, just like the Sun-ruled sign.

VIRGO

Second Mercury-ruled sign - stickler for detail - has to be photo-realism:

 Ralph's Diner by Ralph Going

LIBRA

Second Venus-ruled sign, said to represent beauty, grace, charm, balance, tact. So...Michael Parkes always produces variations of those attributes:

 Concerti Vivaldi by Michael Parkes

SCORPIO

Ruled by dark, sexy and transformative Pluto in modern astrology.

 Death and Life by Gustav Klimt

SAGITTARIUS

Jupiter-ruled sign of exuberance, richness, excess, philosophy and luck.

 The Wedding Dance by Pieter Bruegel

CAPRICORN

Saturn-ruled, business-oriented, earthy, practical and structured.

By  Piet Mondrian

AQUARIUS

Ruled in modern astrology by Uranus, planet of the unexpected and all that is avant garde or a wee bit odd.

 On the 1st March Crows Begin to Search by Kay Sage

PISCES

Ruled by Neptune, planet of dreams, watery expanses, fog and illusion

 Coq Rouge Dans la Nuit by Marc Chagall

[Note re post title:
"Signs that whisper" is a phrase from the song "Signs" by Neil Diamond.]