Aries is the first sign of the Zodiac. Mars, the ‘god of war’, is its ruler, while the Sun is exalted here. In the Tarot, it corresponds to the Emperor. These four points alone are enough to begin forming a hieroglyphic picture of the sign’s meaning.
Characteristics
Aries is the pioneer among the signs. It is a fire sign in its purest form: fire as people ordinarily imagine it, somewhat 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, even if received with a certain impatience, Aries will nevertheless carry them out through sheer energy. Yet these natives are very aggressive and wilful. Their ambition is boundless, and opposition only spurs them to greater effort. Sometimes they lose interest in something almost as soon as it has caught their attention. People born with this rising sign often have a narrow outlook on the world.
Aries is highly practical in matters it understands, but even then lacks the staying power to persist in the face of opposition, especially when that opposition rests on arguments beyond its grasp. People who are ahead of Aries, whether mentally or morally, are bewildering to it. Aries considers it unfair when others refuse to fight with its chosen weapons. As a rule, it cannot conceive a vision of new ideas, yet always regards itself as an original thinker, and is extraordinarily stubborn and unyielding in its beliefs.
The enthusiasm of these natives is infectious. People enjoy their company because they surround themselves with an aura of originality, though in truth they rarely produce anything genuinely surprising. In a sense, Aries is always young. Its optimism springs from an inability to gauge the forces arrayed against it. It marches magnificently forwards, scarcely considering the scale or difficulty of its undertaking, and is so convinced of its own strength that it often fails solely through inadequate preparation. All this optimism frequently lands Aries in trouble. If there is a step it can take to enhance its standing without much effort, it will take it. Thus it marries without reflection or starts a business without doing the necessary calculations. Although its mind cannot boast much originality of thought, Aries is quite prolific in devising expedients when the need arises. Aries is a master of diplomacy, but it is the diplomacy of the moment, the diplomacy of an emergency. It can think of only one thing at a time, so if Peter must be paid, it has little hesitation in robbing Paul for the purpose. The explanation follows that Paul must look after himself. Aries has no notion that it is being dishonest or deceitful, and feels aggrieved when anyone challenges its methods. It cannot grasp the significance of an undertaking extending over a long period, and mocks those who habitually view reality in this way, such as theorists and the like.
Where money is concerned, these people are exceptionally honest. They are generous and willing to spend freely, 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 a footing of their own. This often leads them to leave home early in life. As a rule, however, their conventional outlook prevents them from readily recognising that this is essentially a matter of disobedience or impatience. In love, they are very conventional and rigid. They are passionate and selfish, and even their immorality, if any, takes a conventional form. Aries despises all progressive ideas on the subject and is irritated by the notion of anyone trying to think on its behalf in such matters. Aries women are often quite the opposite of Aries men when it comes to love. They are exceptionally independent, active and unrestrained by any consideration beyond 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 a good deal of severity in their character. In the baser type, this can even become brutality — systematic bullying. They are also impatient with illness. Naturally prone to irritation, they find illness not merely offensive but profoundly alarming, for Aries natives are very afraid of death.
In carrying out routine public duties, Aries is more capable than most. Work in which quick decisions, authority and force are of primary importance provides precisely the right environment for these natives. The unexpected leaves them without an adequate response, beyond whatever expedient they can improvise on the spot; once taken out of their routine and confronted with an entirely new problem, they feel completely at sea.
Aries is very often exceptionally eloquent, making these natives popular speakers through their ability to kindle enthusiasm in an audience. Their speech is quick, incisive and precise, and they go straight to the heart of the matter. These qualities often cause friction in friendships, but in dealing with the masses they are considerable advantages.
Aries natives, particularly the more resourceful among them, run the risk of becoming ‘jacks of all trades’. Aries is generally very quick to acquire new technical skills, but when the genuinely hard work begins, and success demands qualities beyond energy alone, it is very likely eventually to abandon its newly adopted craft in disgust.