How To Recognize... Aries

ARIES

Have you recently met an unusually friendly person with a forceful manner, a firm handclasp and an instant smile? If yes, then you've probably just been adopted by an Aries.

Committed to some idealistic cause they are angrily defending the underdog. Male or female, these people will fight what they feel is an injustice on the spot, and they're not bashful about voicing their opinions. Mars people come straight to the point, with no shilly-shallying.

Aries is the first sign of the zodiac and it represents birth. The ram is conscious only of himself. His needs come first; he'll call you at four in the morning without a qualm. Why shouldn't you be awake to listen to him? He's awake. That's all that counts. He wants something. He gets it.

Aries is concerned with the world only as it relates to himself. He's perfectly willing to lavish his smiles and favors on those who satisfy his demands. His innocence hangs over him and mellows his aggressiveness.

This disarming naiveté is also why Aries people are so fearless. There's not a trace of cunning wile in the ram, and he'll remain this way throughout his lifetime; forever believing with all his heart, always falling down and getting up again to try once more. Any doubts he collects along the way are immediately displaced by the next person whose kind to him.

The ram can make believe from here to tomorrow, and spin fabulous dreams, but he can't lie worth a tinker.

What you see before you is what he is. There's nothing hidden or complicated about him. He's vulnerable and helpless. Self-absorbed determination suffices beautifully to allow him to get his way. Perhaps helpless is not the right word. Vulnerable, yes-but helpless, no.

It's a cinch to recognize the physical appearance of the ram. Aries people have decided features, usually sharp, seldom soft or blurred. The well-marked brows often join with the narrow bridge of the nose in forming the sign of the ram. You may notice a mole or a scar on the head or face, a reddish cast to the hair in the sunlight, and more color than average in the complexion. Both the male and female rams normally have broad shoulders, and they may walk with the body slightly bent forward, leading with the head, so to speak, and almost always in a great hurry. There's little that's graceful about the ram, unless it's his smooth way of handling a crisis (which never fails to surprise people who underestimate him). The bone Structure is fine and strong, and few Aries people slump. Their posture reflects their supreme ego and self-confidence. Nothing keeps these people down forever, failure least of all.

The Mars-ruled person will look you straight in the eye, with unabashed honesty and rather touching faith. You're his friend, aren't you? You like him, don't you? No? Then the tears will start, but inside. He'll never show it on the surface, if he can help it. If you see him openly weeping, you can be certain that he's been cut to the very soul in some way. Aries would rather be caught dead than be “caught weak”.

The ram will seldom glance nervously around the room. When he does, he's no longer interested in talking with you. Something else has caught his attention, and for the moment, you are forgotten.

He will undoubtedly be at the head of his chosen career or involved in a profession on his own. If he's not, then you can easily recognize him by the discontent he clearly shows at being forced to submit to others. You can look for a liberal attitude, lavish generosity with both time and material things, and a marked desire to lead all the marches -with loud cymbals. But don't look for subtlety, tact or humility. He's a little short on patience, too.

Aries is very direct, to put it mildly. Deceptiveness and deviousness are entirely foreign to the Mars nature. Frankness and refreshing honesty are Arien trademarks. Some of them lack stability and evidence a child-like lack of responsibility.

Although Aries is the firebrand, who forges his way through life with daring, initiative and enterprise, there's a strange quirk to his bravery. He's never a moral coward, but he can be a huge sissy about anything that hurts. The dentist is not one of his favorite people.

Every Arien, at some time in his life, will indulge in rash behavior that brings an injury to the head or face. Cuts and burns are also likely, and severe or even migraine headaches, which could stem from kidney infections. Skin rashes, painful knee caps and stomach disorders also plague those born in late March or April. The ram's constitution is strong and tough, if he doesn't abuse it, which he usually does, by ignoring it.

Because of his forceful optimism, Aries (along with the other fire signs, Leo and Sagittarius) seldom falls victim to the chronic, lingering diseases. Say what you will about his impulsiveness, the ram is seldom guilty of gloom. The seeds of depression, even if planted, will die a quick death in Arien soil.

Because of their guileless nature, subtle tricks of strategy are impossible for these people. He learns modesty and humility only after many dismal failures. He reaches leadership only by first respecting those above him in credit and stature, yet success, when it comes, is normally gigantic and impressive.

Arien anger flashes forth with the speed of sound, but it's usually gone before the victim knows what it's all about, and the happy, child-like smile quickly returns. Mars people are often accused of having a terrible temper. They have. But they also have a complete inability to remain angry, and once over with, the grievance is generally buried and forgotten. Aries people seldom become angry with individuals. You may get the shower of sparks, but the fire is actually directed toward an idea or a situation he finds intolerable.

Ariens are capable of being calm, wise and serious when they choose. He's excessively idealistic.

Aries has an innocent wistful facet to his nature, and a kind of eternal, joyous, naive faith, blended with the blind zeal of the born crusader. Like the diamond, his Mars horns are hard, and tough to crack.

He is the pioneer, always leading others onward to an impossible goal. His beautiful iron faith is pure-unmixed with the alloys of hypocrisy and greed. He seldom amasses a fortune, and if he did, he would be too busy to stop and count it. Help yourself to his money, clothes or time. He always has some to spare, however pressed or poor he may be temporarily. The ram knows that bread cast on the waters not only feeds his ego and returns again increased, but it makes people happy, one of the things he enjoys most in life. To Aries, miracles are a dime a dozen. If you run out, he’ll make you some more, wrapped in brave, scarlet dreams.