ARIES

(21 March to 20 April)

Animal:  ram, tiger, leopard.
Bird: magpie.
Colour: red.
Day: Tuesday.
Origin and glyph: The ram's horns, which may be traced back to Egypt.
Ruling planet and groupings: Mars; masculine, cardinal and fire.
Flowers: gorse, wild rose, thistle, honeysuckle.
Food: traditional rather than exotic.
Gemstones: the most fortunate stones for those born in this period are the ruby, bloodstone and diamond. One of these gems should always be worn about the person to ensure good luck.
Metal: iron.
Numbers: seven for Aries; nine for Mars.
Trees: holly, thorn, chestnut.

The Sun enters the zodiacal sign Aries on approximately March 21 each year, remaining in this sign until about April 20. For the first seven days or so of its occupancy it is still influenced by the gradually declining power of the preceding sign, Pisces; so that persons born between March 21 and 27 are to some extent ruled by Pisces, as well as by Aries.

Most people born under the sign of Aries (the Ram) are full of energy. They often react like a battering ram, barging ahead with horns out and head tucked under, with little regard for either themselves or others. Arians often give the impression of being very self-confident. But do not be fooled by appearances. They are really just as insecure as the rest of us. They are simply much better than most people at covering it up. Arians are almost as vain as they are brave. They love to be popular and the centre of attention. And they spend a lot of time on their appearance.

Arians are no good at deceit or pretence. They are honest and direct people, but they tend not to think before they speak or act. So they can easily offend or hurt other people. Aries is known by astrologers as a fiery and positive sign, and is aptly symbolized by the ram, an animal of great courage and spirit. Aries is ruled by the planet Mars, and those born during this period are notable for their action, energy and initiative. In life's battles they play the part of guides and leaders; they glory in fighting and in surmounting difficulties, and their courage and self-confidence make them pioneers in all kinds of enterprises.

Arians have several noticeable characteristics, such as courage, seemingly boundless energy, enthusiasm, initiative and enterprise, and a desire for adventure and travel. This means that when faced with a particular challenge, there is a tendency to rush in without heeding the consequences, and this can often cause problems. This impulsiveness is, of course, one of their less appealing traits, and it may also be accompanied by selfishness. This manifests itself in the need to accomplish set tasks and reach planned goals, although they tend to have the beneficial quality of being able to concentrate on the primary aim by removing anything that is unnecessary and of little importance. Competitiveness is never far from the surface for an Arian, no matter what aspect of life is involved.

Their aptitude for responsibility and command gains them an ascendancy over others, and they are never so happy or so well employed as when they are supervising or directing a difficult undertaking, and imparting some of their own boundless enthusiasm to their followers and employees.

The ambition of persons ruled by Aries knows no bounds, nor does their ability to overcome obstacles. Therefore, provided their interest in their occupation is sustained, they are fated more than all other types to rise to the head of any affairs in which they may be actively concerned. They are, however, impatient and rather capricious, and are apt to lose interest in an undertaking that does not promise to engross all their activities. Moreover, they will not brook the slightest opposition or contradiction; having implicit faith in their own abilities and in the cause which they have espoused -whether it be right or wrong-they will impose their will upon others and override their opinions, and even when proved to be in the wrong they will seldom admit the fact.

The outstanding defects of Aries subjects are rashness and excessive self-confidence, which often bring about their ruin. Aries people are inclined to outstrip the bounds of discretion in every direction, and they seldom learn restraint from past disasters. By their excessive frankness and boldness of speech they frequently make themselves detested, and by their unwarranted optimism and temerity they bring misfortune upon themselves and others.

Though they are splendid organizers and have the ability to see far ahead, they seldom work according to fixed and well-laid plans; in fact, scheming and subtlety of any kind are foreign to them, and they prefer to be guided by their natural intuition and presence of mind rather than by rules and precedents or a matured course of action.

Aries subjects cannot be led or compelled; but they can easily be deceived or seduced. Having little guile or subtlety in their own make-up, they fail to recognize it in others. Thus they can be influenced by suggestions cunningly made, and are readily deceived by praise and flattery, often of the most gross and obvious kind. Then, inflated by conceit and arrogance, they can be made to view things in a distorted way, and may be impelled to a course of action which, of their accord, they would never have contem-plated; whereas any open attempt to control or overrule them would be met with instant, and often violent, opposition. If an Aries subject is convinced that he or she has been deceived or made to appear a fool, his or her anger is terrible to behold and the deception is never forgotten, although at other times he or she is among the first to forgive injuries and slights.

The highest type of person born under Aries is a resolute idealist. He or she  will fight to the bitter end in the cause that he or she holds dear, and will sacrifice everything for it, and opposition-even persecution-only makes the fire of his or her conviction burn the brighter.