The Sun, the ruler of our inner nature, is very well placed in Aries, the sign of its exaltation. This energy is very attractive, even compelling, and few can resist being carried along in the jetstream. Ariens are always overflowing with ideas, schemes and plans to conquer the world, for a well-aspected sun in Aries radiates power and vitality. Many a moth has been burned in its flame! Life, of course, is one long party (which the more mothlike among us may find a just little wearing...).

Flair and Originality

Ariens are great organisers, full of flair and originality, although usually lacking discipline and the capacity for prolonged effort (minions must be found to do the slog work!). You are intuitive and articulate, with the capacity to inspire others, especially in projects which have a clear outcome and do not require a long lead-time.

You have masses of energy and courage and will rush in where angels fear to tread, for the Arien ego can be rather overbearing. Undue optimism, or impatience and desire for self-aggrandisement can result in wasted effort or even severe setbacks and disappointment.

A Determined Fighter

The emblem for Aries is the Ram, a determined fighter and a powerful adversary, with a strong urge to express himself over the widest possible field of endeavour. Is the grass greener on the other side of the hill? Of course it is, isn't it, Aries?

Creative Aries, a cardinal sign, loves to be the leader and can organise fantastic and impressive ventures. Unfortunately, despite your desire to be the front-runner in all you do, sometimes you do get bored with the whole affair and can just wander off, or sit back and allow the lesser folk to have their way. This can see the whole house of cards collapsing, but happily your enthusiam is easily roused and when you set your mind to it you can inspire others to stick to those essential jobs that sometimes seem no more than the merest details to the noble Ram. You see, painful as this may seem, you really need the team as much as the team needs you!

Aries Rules the Head

Aries rules the head, brain and eyes, so people with Aries active in their charts are subject to head injury, headaches, general problems with organs in the head and fevers (although the nose is ruled by Scorpio). You are all extremists and for this reason can fall prey to stress-related ailments and mental problems. However, although you can be highly-strung, your great fund of energy enables you to survive where other less exuberant folks might succumb.

Your colours are red and white. Aries rules metallic iron and your birthstone is the brilliant diamond, symbolising clear strength, purified under pressure. Nature creates the precious diamond out of crumbly, coal-black carbon, by applying intense heat and pressure for a very long time. Flowers for Aries include the red poppy, geraniums, honeysuckle and hollyhocks.

Aries in Relationships

You have a charming manner and very winning ways with the opposite sex, when you so choose. Despite your charm, you often find that some unforeseen problem seems to emerge that prevents you from obtaining the object of your desire and those to whom you are most attracted may indeed fail to respond in the way you expect. You need to harness your powerful energies, or even rein them in a little, so that those with whom you would like to spend time are not overwhelmed by your battle tactics.

Aries, a masculine sign, loves to lead and hates to follow. So in a relationship, Aries, the child of the zodiac, is the motivator and wants to be the controller. The Aries driving force compels those born under its influence to become the leading light in any co-operative venture. This can be a particular problem for Aries women, who constantly seek to measure themselves against their man (or men), always trying to gain the upper hand.

Aries is straightforward in its need to dominate. While quite socially acceptable for men, until recently this need has been rather problematic for women.

Women with Aries prominent often seem to work to overcome or defeat their partners, but in the event they succeed, have a tendency to lose respect for their formerly admired "opponents". The constant outflow of energy from egotistical Aries masks a sense of insecurity, which has its roots in a lack of self-esteem. The externalising of demons enables them to be conquered, but Aries is usually unable to formulate the problem. Like his mythic image, the Ram, Aries prefers to charge at full tilt, with little knowledge of, or care for, the consequences.

Similarly in the art of lovemaking, the Arien is enthusiastic and adventurous. Partners can sometimes be overwhelmed by this spirited approach, something which is not necessarily a sign of their weakness, but simply a reaction to the ardent intensity of passion. Aries loves to experiment and to take things to the limit, so, roll over Kama Sutra, the Aries lover is writing it all from scratch!

Seriously, though, it would not hurt for some ardent Ariens to actually take the time to discover some more sensitive approaches to the art of love. A glance through a manual or two, especially in the company of a lover, can lead to new highs and lingering climaxes that may extend the limit far beyond the boundaries of imagination.