Kitabı oku: «The Element Encyclopedia of Birthdays», sayfa 6

17 JANUARY

The Birthday of the Leader

“I lead and I inspire”

The life lesson: is knowing the difference between what can be changed and what cannot.

The way forward: is understanding that although some things can’t be changed, what can be changed is how you react – with a positive attitude and willingness to learn from every experience, you need never feel helpless again.

Luck maker: Success attracts success. Mix with upbeat and positive people and release toxic people from your life.

January 17-born love to take the lead, not necessarily because they are egotistical but because, having assessed the situation, it is clear to them that they really are the best person for the job. Despite being respectful of tradition, they can also hold progressive ideas about social reform. They like to help others. A defining characteristic is their tough-minded, self-controlled (sometimes irritable) approach and their belief that the only person upon whom they can really rely is themselves. They know the meaning of the word “struggle,” and are a model of inspirational self-made success.

Born disciplinarians, these people are drawn to careers where self-control matters, such as in sport or the military, the law, the police or the clergy. They are superb at managing and inspiring teams, so careers in the civil service, government, banking, teaching and business may appeal. They also have an interest in fashion, hospitality and catering, as well as teaching, writing and humanitarian work. People with this birthday have a tendency to repress their emotions, so they need to find activities such as competitive sport or other forms of vigorous exercise, which can act as an emotional release. For self-care, make a point in conversation to ask other people as many questions as you can. You don’t have to agree. Simply learn a new perspective and add it to your store of knowledge.

These direct and driven people take the lead in both their working life and relationships. They are loving and generous, but can become controlling of those closest to them and need to give their loved ones freedom as well as intimacy. Fortunately, in their early thirties, there is a shift toward allowing both themselves and others greater freedom, with another powerful shift happening in their early sixties. Once they have learned to get others on their side through cooperation rather than control, and to truly believe there is always a better way, their destiny is to lead by their powerful example and help others to work harmoniously toward the greater good.

Tarot card, lucky numbers, day, colors: The Star, 8, 9, Saturday, brown, green

Born today: Michelle Obama (US First Lady); Benjamin Franklin (US President); Muhammad Ali (boxer); Jim Carrey (comedian)

Potential: Purposeful, committed

Dark side: Intolerant, domineering

18 JANUARY

The Birthday of Fantasy

“I can show you the world”

The life lesson: is learning to concentrate.

The way forward: is not to stop daydreaming—this is the secret to your creativity—but when your mind wanders to gently bring your thoughts back to the present moment.

Luck maker: Finish what you start, even if that means doing things you find boring.

The creative powers of people born on January 18 can lead them to pure visionary heights. They have a quick wit and boundless energy that often delights others and are often surrounded by admirers. Optimistic, the only things that can bring down these endearing child-like souls are rules. They place a high value on independence and need to find an environment in which their need for freedom and play (fun) is respected because, if they don’t, this will lead them to bitterness. They can become bored quickly, losing their concentration and retreating into a world of fantasy or fits of temper if their needs aren’t being met, or becoming restless and impatient if they feel too confined.

Born creators, if a career interests them enough, they are likely to excel. Once they learn to combine their creativity with practical application, the fields of advertising, fashion, business, banking, property development and online influencing may appeal. Their idealism draws them to teaching, medicine, science, technology and charity work, and their sense of playful expression to art, film, literature, the media and entertainment. Because they live so much in their heads, they need to make sure they pay attention to their physical wellbeing and avoid mood-altering substances. For self-care, when you eat your evening meal, switch off your phone and any distractions. Focus your attention only on the food. Put your life and fork down between bites. Savor the moment.

These people throw themselves deeply into relationships and can be hurt easily if their partner does not respond the same. They often fear they will not find a soul mate who will love them with the intensity they offer and crave, but more often than not they do. They become more emotionally balanced and mature in their thirties, and this empowering trend continues building momentum as they age. Asking them to be more realistic about love and life simply isn’t an option or worth forcing on them, as imagination is who they are. Their destiny is to inspire others with their flights of fantasy and encourage them to take a more courageous and imaginative perspective.

Tarot card, lucky numbers, days, colors: The moon, 1, 9, Saturday, Tuesday, red, brown

Born today: Peter Mark Roget (lexicographer); Daniel Hale Williams (surgeon); A. A. Milne (author)

Potential: Visionary, stimulating

Dark side: Impractical, undisciplined

19 JANUARY

The Birthday of Originality

“I see the world in a grain of sand”

The life lesson: is coping with routine and boring details.

The way forward: is to understand that the devil (and the potential for success) is often in the detail.

Luck maker: Find out what you love to do and what you are good at. Then think about how you can use your passion and talents to help others.

January 19-born are often honest and direct, with a genuine appreciation of beauty. There is an endearing, sometimes child-like, energy and wonder about them; they are blessed with genuine originality. Independent and free-spirited, they really don’t care too much what people think and don’t take well to rules and being told what to do, so they often rebel with immature behavior. Even if they appear respectable, they soon show what truly unique individuals they are, as anyone who gets to know them soon appreciates. Destined to shine brightly and to attract others to them like magnets, they become unhappy if they try to repress their originality.

Born movers and shakers, they tend to do better in solitary positions but can work well in groups that allow them to freely use their imagination. The fields of literature, art, engineering and science appeal, and they may be drawn to sports or other physical types of work, as well as careers as experts, advisors and consultants. They can be engaging online experts and video or social media influencers. Bursting with energy, they need to pace themselves; otherwise they risk depression or burning out, so positive thinking and practicing meditation and yoga is strongly advised. For self-care, think like a solo mountain climber. Don’t underestimate the value of the small and steady steps you need to take to succeed. At the end of each day ask yourself if you gave everything you did that day your very best.

Prone to extremes, these people make intense lovers and need a partner who can keep them balanced and give them the occasional reality check. They are intuitive and can often sense what others miss, but it isn’t until their early thirties that the emphasis moves toward nurturing their inner life, and herein lies the secret of their success as they age. Once they learn to listen to rather than repress their intuition, and pay attention to the small as well as the big things, their destiny is to inspire others with their highly original ideas and make an unforgettable and often exceptional impact on the world.

Tarot card, lucky numbers, days, colors: The Sun, 1, 2, Saturday, Sunday, brown, orange

Born today: James Watt (engineer); Edgar Allan Poe (author); Janis Joplin (singer)

Potential: Visionary, independent

Dark side: Immature, unfocused

AQUARIUS
THE WATER CARRIER
(JANUARY 20–FEBRUARY 18)

 Element: Air

 Ruling planets: Saturn, the teacher, and Uranus, the visionary

 Tarot card: The Star (hope)

 Lucky numbers: 4, 8, 11

 Favorable colors: Calming and expansive sky blue; yellow, white and lilac

 Driving force: Innovation

 Personal statement: I confidently express my original ideas

 Chinese astrology counterpart: The Tiger

Although they are known for their visionary, frequently rebellious, “off-the-wall” approach to life, Aquarians are often friendly and compassionate. They often have a deep desire to help others and make the world a better place. They are independent and find it very tough to conform to other people’s expectations. But even though they love to be totally original and do things their way, their curious minds can be swayed by logical argument.

Personality potential

Aquarians have revolutionary instincts. They often feel that their role is to push for improvements and progressive change. Their instincts are humanitarian and idealistic, and nothing makes them feel more fulfilled than using their insight, intelligence and skills to help and inspire others. It’s not surprising that many people born under this sign are drawn to human rights, environmentalism, politics, people management, technology and others areas where they can help create positive and innovative change for others or for the planet. Their inventive and original thinking and approach to life can often earn them a reputation for being eccentric—a reputation they take great pride in.

The Aquarian instinct is to not respect rules and regulations imposed on them by others unless those rules and regulations make sense to them. They are a law unto themselves at times, but they rarely use their inventive ideas in a destructive manner. In the great majority of cases, the secret to their happiness is to find ways to use their intuition and insight to bring benefit, not just to themselves or a close group of people, but to everyone. Aquarians can’t think small. They see the bigger picture.

This sign is ruled by Saturn, the planet of self-discipline, and Uranus, the planet of originality, idealism, unpredictability and endless change. This goes some way to explaining why Aquarians don’t just cope well with change, they thrive on it. They adore finding out about new things and doing things in different ways to what has been done before. You will rarely find an Aquarian who is content living in their comfort zone. These people need to constantly push boundaries in some way to feel truly alive.

Aquarians are often very sociable, tolerant and friendly people with the ability to adapt easily to any person or situation. However, despite having an engaging personality, their intellectual approach means they can find it difficult to allow others to get close to them. They have an enviable ability to detach themselves emotionally from others and from situations. This ability to step outside and observe without attachment means they can offer much-valued objective insight. Even though there is always going to be an element of untouchable aloofness and a dreamy quality about them, they are capable of giving a lot of themselves to those they care about and will go out of their way to offer help and support to loved ones and friends when needed.

Above all, these pioneers are way ahead of their time. They are the people of the future. If inspired, they are capable of flashes of intuition and insight that can be breathtaking in their scope and originality. Blessed with an innate ability to see the upside or the positives rather than the negatives, they are an uplifting breath of fresh air with their refreshing and quirky approach to life, even when things are not going their way.

“Aquarians don’t just cope well with change, they thrive on it…”

Personality pitfalls

Depending on which planetary ruler—Saturn the teacher or Uranus the visionary—is stronger at the time of their birth, Aquarians can be unpredictable or downright quirky. When Saturn dominates, they may be prone to serious bouts of stubbornness and impatience; when Uranus dominates, they are likely to have disruptive and rebellious tendencies. They can also possess a streak of perfectionism that can be soul-destroying to both themselves and to others. Fanaticism and bigotry can sometimes find expression in their belief that only they know how to make the world a better place. With a love of change they can rebel simply for the sake of rebelling or follow a set of beliefs blindly without pausing to consider that there could be other approaches.

The objectivity and detachment of people born under this sign may sometimes come across as cold-heartedness. They are idealistic but not always warm-hearted; revolutionary but not always considerate; altruistic but not always sensitive. Indeed, they can be downright tactless and perverse on occasion. They are also prone to so overinvesting in a cause or a set of beliefs that they have little of themselves left over for their family and friends. And sometimes, when the burden of responsibility or expectation is put on Aquarians, it can be in their nature to do exactly the opposite of what is needed or requested, for the simple reason that they like to be perverse. And although they often have large numbers of friends, many of these are in fact merely acquaintances. Aquarians often need to exercise more discretion in their relationships. Fulfilling relationships require both parties to open up and share their feelings—something Aquarians can struggle with, and the reason they tend to have more acquaintances than true friends in their lives.

Darkest secrets

Many Aquarians present a distinct, sometimes eccentric image to the world, but deep down many suffer from imposter syndrome, unsure of who they really are. This uncertainty can drive them to nonconformist behavior in the misguided belief that rebellion will give them the identity and sense of purpose and self-belief they crave.

Symbol

The symbol for Aquarius is the water carrier. Water represents feelings and Aquarians are noted for their ability to offer compassion, but those feelings are carried, which represents the ability of Aquarians to detach themselves if need be. This symbol is also thought to represent the union of feelings and intuition with reason and logic to serve the greater good.

Love

Charismatic, interesting and cheerful, Aquarians rarely lack admirers. They love socializing on their terms and pride themselves on being able to get along with just about anybody. They need a partner who can share their spirit of adventure and zest for life, because someone who is too timid or small-minded will frustrate them.

When it comes to close, intimate relationships Aquarians may struggle because their perfectionist nature finds the inevitable complications that love and emotion can bring difficult to process. With their powerful desire for independence, they may find it the hardest of all the signs to settle into and commit to a relationship in the conventional sense. Allowing another person into their lives is interpreted as an invasion of their freedom—both physically and psychologically—and they may prefer to stay single rather than change or accommodate someone else. The danger here is they can become so set in their ways that it is impossible for them to share, and they end up lonely. Having said this, Aquarians love the excitement and passion of romance, and when they find a quick-witted individual who can match their sense of adventure but who also gives them plenty of space to breathe, they make loyal and loving companions.

Love matches: Gemini, Leo Sagittarius, Libra

The Aquarian woman

Don’t even try to understand an Aquarian woman. She is a beautiful mystery. She is loving but detached. She is friendly but a loner. She is gentle but tough. She is faithful but freedom-loving. She is logical but magical. The only thing predictable about her is her fierce unpredictability.

Conversations with Aquarian women will rarely be dull. She has the charming ability to make anyone feel special. She is genuinely fascinated by and eager to learn about others, and rarely imposes her own opinions on them. It’s no surprise that this enchanting creature is often surrounded by admirers, but, when it comes to commitment, she may hesitate and take a few steps back. Emotional closeness can make her feel trapped. It can take an age for a friendship or a casual relationship to move from the superficial to something deep and meaningful.

Aquarian women are many things, but above all they are free spirits. They love their independence. They are averse to friends or potential partners who are jealous and possessive. They also don’t take well to criticism or to people who are conventional in their approach to relationships. They are drawn to the eccentric because they are eccentric themselves. It is of the utmost importance that they have plenty of personal space and freedom in all their relationships. Separate bedrooms may be a relationship saver. However, once they do eventually find someone who is their love match, they can be loyal and tolerant partners. Their unpredictable personality ensures that a love affair with an Aquarian woman always feels like a love affair. It will be many things but it will never be dull.

The Aquarian man

Expect the unexpected from the Aquarian man. He is unconventional and rarely behaves the way other people expect. It can take a long time for him to reveal his true feelings. He will typically be popular and surrounded by friends—everybody is his “friend,” even his enemies—but there will be few, if any, people who are really close to him. If he says he does not like someone, the chances are that, in fact, he actually does. Sound confusing? Welcome to the world of Aquarius!

An Aquarian man prefers to keep his real motives, feelings and intentions well hidden. Not because he necessarily has anything to hide, but because he genuinely loves surprising or waking other people up. He also enjoys studying other people and, like a detective, discovering what motivates them. If he can’t figure someone out, he will become dedicated to unlocking their mystery. People who are easy to work out or who wear their hearts on their sleeves don’t attract him as much as those who are complex and mysterious.

When he does eventually meet someone who interests him enough to make him want to take the relationship to the next stage, the Aquarian male may initially struggle. He is not against marriage or fearful of long-term commitment, but it is not in his nature to share his heart and his life with another person as spontaneously as some other signs. He may even come up with logical reasons to delay or to wait and may therefore marry or commit later in life. This hesitancy is a shame because when the Aquarian man does finally find the courage to take a leap of faith with his heart and share his life with someone else, he can really thrive. He is able to open up and relax and will bring much excitement and joy to a relationship.