Aries is the first sign of the Zodiac. Its ruler is Mars, the “god of war”, and the Sun is exalted here. In the Tarot, it corresponds to the Emperor. These four associations alone are enough to begin forming a hieroglyphic picture of the sign’s meaning.
Characteristics
Aries is the pioneer among the signs. It is fire in its purest form: fire as people ordinarily imagine it, rather different from the fire of Leo and Sagittarius. Aries can take the initiative, but lacks the perseverance to see a task through. Given proper instructions, however impatiently he may receive them, his tremendous energy enables him to carry them out. Yet Aries people are highly aggressive and wilful. Their ambition is boundless, and opposition merely spurs them to greater effort. At times, they lose interest in something almost as soon as it has caught their attention. Those born with Aries rising often have a narrow outlook on the world.
Aries is highly practical in matters he understands, yet even here he lacks the strength to persist in the face of opposition, particularly when it rests on arguments beyond his comprehension. People who are ahead of him intellectually or morally bewilder him. He considers it unfair when others refuse to fight with his chosen weapons. As a rule, he is unable to envision new ideas, yet he invariably regards himself as an original thinker and is extremely stubborn and unyielding in his beliefs.
Their enthusiasm is infectious. People enjoy their company because they surround themselves with an aura of originality, though they rarely produce anything genuinely surprising. In a sense, Aries is forever young. He is optimistic because he cannot gauge the forces arrayed against him. He marches magnificently onwards, without the slightest appreciation of the scale or difficulty of his undertaking, and is so convinced of his own strength that his failures often arise solely from inadequate preparation. All this optimism frequently lands him in trouble. If he can take a step that enhances his standing without much effort, he will do so. Thus he marries without reflection or starts a business without making the necessary calculations.
Although his mind cannot boast of original ideas, Aries is remarkably fertile in devising expedients when the need arises. He is a master of diplomacy—but the diplomacy of the moment, the diplomacy of emergencies.
He can think of only one thing at a time, so if Peter must be paid, he scarcely hesitates to rob Paul for the purpose. He then explains that Paul must look after himself. It never occurs to him that he is being dishonest or deceitful, and he resents anyone questioning his methods. He cannot grasp the significance of an undertaking that extends over a long period, and therefore ridicules those who habitually view reality in such terms, such as theorists and the like.
In money matters, these people are scrupulously honest. They are generous and ready to spend, but very particular about what they spend their money on. They are not especially attached to home or family ties; they reject parental authority and prefer to establish themselves on their own ground. This often leads them to leave home early in life. Yet, as a rule, their conventional outlook prevents them from readily recognising that their conduct is essentially a matter of disobedience or impatience.
In love, they are highly conventional and rigid. They are passionate and selfish, and even their immorality, if any, follows conventional patterns. Aries despises all progressive ideas on the subject and is irritated by the notion that anyone should try to think for him in these matters. Aries women are often the very opposite of the men where love is concerned. They are exceptionally independent, active and unrestrained by any consideration other than their own desires. They might be described as “free spirits”.
In their dealings with children and subordinates, they are very kind and generous, but neither sympathetic nor considerate. There is considerable severity in their character. In the more basic type, this can even develop into brutality—systematic bullying.
They are also impatient with illness. Naturally easily irritated, they find illness not merely offensive: their resentment is mingled with profound alarm, for Aries people are deeply afraid of death.
In the conduct of routine public affairs, Aries is more capable than most. Work in which swift decisions, authority and vigour are paramount provides precisely the right environment for these people. The unexpected leaves them without an adequate response, beyond sheer resourcefulness in the moment; once they are taken out of their routine and confronted with an entirely new problem, they feel utterly at sea.
Aries is very often exceptionally eloquent, and his ability to kindle an audience’s enthusiasm makes him a popular speaker. Aries people are quick, incisive and precise in speech, going straight to the heart of the matter. These qualities often create friction in their friendships, but in their dealings with the masses they are considerable advantages.
With Aries people, especially the more ingenious among them, there is a danger of becoming “jacks of all trades”. In general, Aries is very quick to acquire new technical knowledge, but when it comes to genuinely hard work, and success demands qualities beyond his energy alone, he is all too likely to abandon in disgust the craft he has taken up.