ARIES Woman - LEO Man

"How clever I am," he crowed rapturously, "oh, the cleverness of me!" 

Wendy was shocked. "You conceit," she exclaimed.... "of course I did nothing!" 

"You did a little," Peter said carelessly, and continued to dance. 

A love affair between a Lion and a Ram, although it can be a warm and wonderful experience, will also produce frequent emotional storms - especially when they've frozen each other's considerable pride into icicles. But icicles melt quickly between two Fire Signs, and storms have a way of clearing the air, so that afterward, everything looks all fresh and green again. 

It often starts like this: he promises to call her at five o' clock, then doesn't phone till midnight, and refuses to apologize. He tells her she can't spell, and she wears too much makeup. Then he tells her to shut up, and listen to him for a change. He does what? 

Well, that slices it. She's had enough of his overbearing arrogance, and impulsively decides to toss him out of her life. Who needs him anyway, with his bossy Napoleon routine? She does. 

With all her independent "I can take care of myself airs, at last she's found someone who knows she can't, and who calls her bluff. It's no good telling him to "go get lost." That's just what he won't do. Later, she'll remember how his voice was warm and gentle when he finally called, never mind the lateness. 

She'll recall how affectionately he scolded her about the purple eye shadow, and spelling "cat" with two t's. Maybe he was only being tenderly protective instead of insufferably condescending and maybe she should forgive him. (She might as well. She's been conquered. Now she knows how Josephine felt, not to mention France.) 

It won't be long until he's instructing her in all sorts of things she wasn't even aware she didn't know until he came along to point out her ignorance. What's more, she'll shock herself by blissfully basking in it. Of course, after the novelty wears off, she'll come down off the ceiling and top him a few times, just to keep the score from getting lopsided - and her Big Cat will discover how a Lion feels in a cage with a Lion tamer. First surprised, then resentful.. then outraged. But finally subdued. Or at least, finally willing to smooth the rough edges of his superiority complex. Actually, her fiery temperament is all right with him, as long as it doesn't reach the place where it interferes with - or outshines - his own. It never will. He's concerned over nothing, really. Since when did Mars ever outshine the Sun? Interfering with his own is another matter. 

This is the powerfully magnetic 5-9 Sun Sign Pattern, and so, when these two Fire Signs see Venus together, the romantic scene is explosive, but it's also a blinding light turned on an enchanted garden. Maybe those old dreams he packed away aren't so impossible after all. They're his dreams, aren't they? That's enough to make her positive they'll come true - and Mars faith makes mountains fly! As for her domineering ways and flashing independence, these are only distress signals for someone to guide her in the right direction. Isn't that what Lions do best - organize other people's lives, and save them from their own mistakes? She's certainly a challenge, and when did a Leo ever run away from a challenge? She may sock him in his masculinity with some rough blows, but Lions aren't weaklings. He should just sock her right back (figuratively) and let her know that he's the one who whistles for taxis and things. After he directs her Mars energy into his own groove, he can relax - while she supplies all the fire he needs, when he needs it - and he does need it. 

Since he's more practical and sensible (Leo is a Fixed Sign, remember), she'll sometimes accuse him of being pokey and stuffy. Since she has more instant vitality, sometimes he'll accuse her of wearing him out. Eventually, she'll loosen him up - and he'll slow her down - so it will come out even, and they'll both be ahead. Most of their quarrels will be instigated deliberately anyway, on a subconscious (occasionally conscious) level, for the pure pleasure of making up and reassuring themselves of each other's love. Reconciliations provide the repeated thrill of feeling the magic all over again. Their friends may wonder why they stay together, fighting the way they do, but they'll know why. 

For one thing, they don't spend all their time together in dispute. Influenced by the 5-9 vibration as they are, they will have many moments that will be marvelous and mad, merry and miraculous, full of lilacs and raindrops, druid dust, violets and enchanted carousels. Her genuine guilelessness moves him strangely, touching a chord of response in his own idealistic heart. Her sparkling excitement is contagious, matching his own sunny enthusiasms. Aries is the symbolic Infant of the zodiac (as explained in The Twelve Mysteries of Love section in the front of this book); therefore her naivete and air of innocence stir some deep well of tenderness in him. He's compelled to protect this bright, brave spirit, who, like the real infant, hasn't the slightest notion how many yawning chasms lie in wait for her to stumble into .. in the darkness. He'll help her avoid them, affectionately, with his wiser, more mature judgment, for Leo is ahead of Aries on the karmic wheel of life. 

She will, living up to the "infant essence" of her Sun Sign, stop demanding her needs, and lose her fear of falling with no one there to catch her, once she's experienced the warm security of the Lion's devotion. His strong arms will catch her if she falls, and he's clearly capable of meeting .. any needs .. she may have. And so, she relaxes, becomes calmer, more tranquil... gently soothed by the Lion's loyal lullaby of love. A Mars-ruled woman admires strength, of both the physical and the moral sort, and this man possesses it. She will place her trust in no other kind of male, however much she may struggle against submission. 

Aries and Leo strike a powerful vibration of physical response in each other, which is intensified by constant emotional stimulation. Sexual expression between them can be wonderfully healing, because each fulfills what the other requires of mating: passion, blended with affection. That's not as common a need as you may think. Most people desire - and are able to give - only one or the other, not both. The result could be a stirring of feelings they both thought were safely buried with the lost ideals of childhood. That's pretty heady stuff, the kind of happiness they'll pursue together at almost any cost in temporary tears or heartache ... or punctured pride. But Leo won't pay the price of being possessed for it. He wants to roam the jungle, unfettered by the clanking chains of jealousy. So does she. Therefore, does the "freedom" bit work both ways? 

It does not. She'll have to give him plenty of rope, while he'll permit her just about enough with which to hang herself. As frustrating as it is for the Aries woman to turn the other cheek to her Leo lover or husband, it's immeasurably more agonizing for the proud Lion to humble himself. Humility is a virtue he constantly preaches but nearly never practices. She'll have to be the one to forgive first, and try to understand. I wish her luck and courage. She'll need it. 

Their sexual compatibility will not be without some sharp growing pains. A girl Ram has this strange quirk. She knows how small her chances are of finding a male virgin, but she comprehends this with her head. Her Mars-ruled heart has other ideas. Incredible though it may seem, she'd like to believe she's the first woman he's ever touched, whispered to or conquered sexually. Since romance is as natural as breathing to Leo males, she's indulging in a vain hope. When she prods him into admitting every passionate sigh in his past, with names, dates and places included, this fact will be driven home. All right, so he's made love to other women. She'll accept that, though it will be painful. (Rams always face unpleasant truths with courage, once they're recognized as inevitable.) But another shimmering Aries dream must yet be subjected to the cold, hard realities of human nature. It doesn't have to follow that he enjoyed it, does it? Perhaps he was seduced; maybe some vixen handcuffed him or tied him with ropes while he struggled desperately, and he still has nightmares about the ugliness of it all? 

Now, there's no use expecting a Leo male to plead frigidity. He's too proud and honest. No, he wasn't tied to the bedpost with square knots, or handcuffed. (Remember, we're talking about romantic experiences before they met, past tense. There's no way she'll be able to forgive or forget a present or future tense infidelity, not after they've given themselves to each other, and made a commitment. It isn't that she won't forgive, she can't. That's the way Aries is.) Anyway, after she tricks him into relating his former affairs by touching his swollen vanity, he'll hasten to tell her that he didn't give his heart away to any of those girls, not until he found her. But she may not hear him. She'll be too busy picturing wild orgies. He doesn't really belong to her, as he said. It was all an illusion. Her knight-in-shining-armour has muddy feet; his white horse has turned into a splotchy, grey donkey. 

It's this sort of shattered dream of misty purity that can destroy the sexual harmony between the Aries idealist and a Lion with a long romantic history behind him. Her past love life? That's different. It will be rationalized away by a dozen different excuses. She didn't enjoy it, you see. (I keep telling you that Rams are unintentionally selfish.) 

There are two possible solutions. The first one is for her to grow up emotionally and realize that the Present, if it's strong and beautiful and good, cannot be soiled by Yesterday, which is already gone and forgotten. In light of the typical Mars temperament, however, that solution is highly unlikely. It's against her basic nature, unless she has a more detached and objective Moon Sign or Ascendent, like Gemini or Libra. (An Aquarian Moon or Ascendent will work too but may cause her to be too detached and objective to suit him, creating other problems.) 

The best solution is for the Lion to tell her frequently and periodically about the negative reactions he had to his discarded past sexual experiences (till she feels safe from falling into the darkness of loneliness) - and then to enumerate all the aspects of his sexual fulfillment with her which are not only superior to the others but "firsts," between them alone. There's no need to explain here the meaning of the word "firsts." Any Aries-Leo couple will immediately understand. 

Her frank admiration of his courage and confidence and wisdom arouses all the Leo male's masculinity (although she may also, at times, considerably dampen it with her other qualities). His firm refusal to be dominated brings out a latent femininity in her she never knew she possessed, and perhaps she didn't until him. However, although she may submit to her Lion emotionally and sexually, she'll never give up her individuality and independence, not even for him. He needs large amounts of worship to feed his hungry ego, and to her worship is analogous to meekness, a quality she's never acquired. Leo will give her ample opportunity to cultivate it. She knows he's stronger than she is, and this turns her on. Yet, if he uses his strength to boss her around like an arrogant male chauvinist, it will turn her right off again. An Aries girl will never conform to any form of feudal feminine fiefdom. But she'd better take it easy if she wants to be liberated by this Lord and Master. When she demands her rights, he'll roar at her in frustration a Great and Mighty Truth: "I can only permit you to be my equal if you first acknowledge my superiority!" It shouldn't be difficult for an intelligent Aries girl to interpret such a command. It simply means that a proud Leo King, whose supreme sovereignty has been properly and duly recognized, will then have the confidence and power to place his Aries Queen on a throne as high as his own, and allow her to reign beside him. (She can wear the diamond tiara, but he'll hang on to the sceptre.) 

She'll admire him, respect him and love him intensely. She will also remain quite fond of herself, and of doing her own thing - though she may permit him to show her how to do it. There will be moments when he drowns her enthusiasm by scolding away her hopes with Leonine practicality. There will be other times when she wounds his pride by interrupting him, or forgetting to ask his advice. Then he'll freeze her with his regal dignity, and she'll outrage him with her stormy anger. But when his icy aloofness melts, and her fury subsides, happiness will always return to these two. After the flames of indignation have flared and died away, the overwhelming need to run into each other's forgiving arms again will create the miracle of spring - eternal magic. 

As with all 5-9 Sun Sign Pattern couples, the Ram and the Lion will discover that their devotion for each other spills over into a larger love and compassion, because their powerful trined Suns vibration is influenced by the benevolence of the 9th house ruler, Jupiter. Every 5-9 Sun Sign association in which the two people involved are really serious, feels Jupiter's beneficent rays, to some degree, in their relationship. When you really love someone all the way through, I mean love him (or her) so much that everything seems to be part of everything else, you understand better how everybody feels. You know how it is with people when they hurt, when they're lonely. Somehow, you want to share with them your own peace and joy. And in some manner, you find a way, together, to do this. 

Love is a benediction to Aries and Leo because of what they see when they look deeply into each other's eyes. He sees a woman vulnerable enough to need his wisdom, yet independent enough to challenge and stimulate him. She sees a man gentle enough to treat her tenderly, yet strong enough to protect and conquer her. And they both see .... something else .... some mystery of Yesterday, some promise for Tomorrow .... something they can't define, accompanied by the music of memory. Between Aries and Leo, the chemistry is right. The moment they touch, then together make a wish on Venus in the morning sky, whole waiting galaxies of stars are watching in wonderous joy, and making a wish on them ... in anticipation that the birth of love between these two might herald the long ago prophecies of Peace promised to the world ... "when the lamb shall lie down with the Lion." 

The ARIES - LEO Relationship

"So are you a cowardly custard?" 

"I'm not frightened." 

"Neither am I frightened." "Well, then, take it." 

"Well, then, you take it." 

Most everyone knows that Leo is symbolized by the Lion. As for Aries Rams, once they've been taught (by Leo) the gentle joys of submission, they become perfect lambs. Now, the Bible hints that when the "lamb lies down with the Lion," we may expect either Gotterdammerung - or 1,000 years of Peace. There's some dispute between theologians and metaphysicians as to the happy or sad ending of the prophecy. It could be a combination of both. Most things are. Let's hope, however, that the lamb lying down with the Lion will bring permanent Peace, and not the Gotterdammerung (end of the world). Of course, it might be argued that a truce to the clubbing around of these two would seem like the end of the world. A smooth, snoozy relationship between them would be the living end - of something. Possibly of all the fun they have racing each other to the finish line, and competing for the cheers of the lesser animals. 

Rams are winners. Indisputably. Winning is their chief occupation. They list it that way on their resumes. Occupation: WINNING! Whatever the game may be - love, friendship, business or family life - they'll win it. That puts Aries right at the top. 

Leos don't waste their valuable time trying to win anything. They don't need to compete. They were born superior to everyone else, clearly the most important person in any love, business, friendship or family contest. That puts Leo right at the top too - with much less effort and energy. The question is, will there be room at the top? 

Well, yes ... in a large arena with lots of space, they could each grab a share of the spotlight and sweet rounds of applause. But on a stage of any smaller dimensions, like an office, schoolroom, apartment or house - it might get a little crowded. Something would have to give. Namely, someone's gigantic ego. 

I'm not going to fool around with tact. It will hurt less if the message is direct and swift. It is the ego of the Ram that must bend and bow to the majesty of Leo, because the Lion and Lioness were born to lead, born to command, born to be first - BORN FREE! That means free of anyone's domination, including the government, the Internal Revenue, employers, teachers, neighbors, friends, relatives, astrologers - and especially pushy Rams. The Aries half of this team will have to be content with knowing he or she can fight any of the other Sun Signs and win .. (well, maybe not Scorpio). 

But all is not lost. (Aries considers nothing lost, just temporarily misplaced.) When I said Aries can't win against Leo, I meant in the sense of grabbing the trophies in front of an audience. Privately, the Ram can win just about anything from the Big Cat, simply by listening respectfully to those long, Leonine lectures, heaping on the praise - and keeping personal intentions and opinions to himself (or herself). The first part is easy. Aries enjoys lifting people's spirits, and showering compliments on anyone who excites the Mars admiration of power and strength (which Leo has in abundance). However, keeping quiet about the ultimate goal is a tough order for most Rams. Aries people do like to boast about it when they win an election, a kewpie doll at the carnival or an argument. Too much bragging in this double Fire Sign combination, and the Leonine half of the team may stalk off in injured dignity, when it becomes obvious that he (or she) is being manipulated or out-staged, either of which shatters Leo's pride. It's no coincidence that a group of Lions is technically termed a "pride." 

If a Lion or Lioness is in a position where stalking off in injured dignity is not possible (like an under-age child or a legal mate), he - or she - will sit in a corner and pout, looking out with reproachful, sad eyes, and stroking his or her vanity. Then too, there's always the chance that Leo will roar like the MGM Lion, and fiercely attack the injustice perpetrated by a mere peasant. That can be dreadfully noisy. It's safer for the Ram to allow a Leo of either sex to believe that he (or she) has won any game the two of them might be playing. No one, in or out of the jungle, can be as magnanimous, cheerful and just plain huggable as an emotionally and physically pampered Leo. Pampering, however, is a talent in which Aries definitely does not excel. 

Aesop, in his fables, points out how easy it is for the Lion to be managed by a lesser animal, the jackal. When the Lion becomes furious with him and roars in great anger, the clever jackal restores himself to royal favor easily - simply by reminding the Lion, at the height of his rage, that he's the King of the Jungle, the Ruler of All Beasts, and therefore mustn't expect too much from a lowly jackal. It works like a charm. 

The trouble is, a Ram is not a jackal. Aries is more likely to order Leo, in the heat of battle (and oh! there will be battles) to either give in - or get out. This will immediately create an emotional dead-end street. Since giving in is a total impossibility for a Leo - and getting out is a cowardly action, beneath the dignity of royalty (what true monarch ever retreats?), the Lion or Lioness is left with no choice except to roar louder, with increasing arrogance. Eventually, when Aries discovers that even a Ram's tough horns will not topple that splendid Leonine courage and stamina (emotional, mental and physical), it's all over but the shouting, which can last an exhausting length of time, since both these Sun Signs are rather fond of dramatic speech and posture. 

"How dare you!" "Don't raise your voice to me!" "Don't give me orders!" "You won't get away with that!" "I will not do as you say!" "Oh, yes you will!" "This has gone far enough!" "Do you know who you're pushing around?" 

"You will do as I say!" "Never! Do you hear me? NEVER!" It goes on - and on - and on. If they sold tickets, they'd have a packed house. Nothing on or off Broadway has the dramatic impact, suspense and action these two manage to pack into each Act of one of their Ego plays - and the Finale inevitably calls for an Encore. I know one Aries-Leo pair who punctuate their turbulent sessions by taking turns flipping the volume up on the record player. Even hard-to-please Broadway critic John Simon would call it a hit musical. 

However, although Leo must win in the final analysis, this Sun Sign is not a conqueror to be feared, ready to grab the spoils of war and grind the vanquished beneath his (or her) boots. Both the Lions and Lionesses are noted for their generosity and nobility of attitude toward the defeated. Of course, it must be admitted that Rams are not good losers. But if it's possible for Aries to ever lose gracefully, it will be with a Leo. 

These Sun Signs are astrologically trine (harmonious) and influenced by the magical 5-9 Sun Sign Pattern (see the Sun Sign Patterns section in the front of this book). Therefore, each senses the other's superior qualities, when compared with anyone else either of them knows. Since a genuine admiration for each other is seldom lacking, when peace descends and an armistice is declared, it's often full of vows (dramatic, naturally) of eternal loyalty and devotion. Until the next battle. Then it starts all over again. 

In the family circle - in the classroom or office - or between lovers or legal mates - the relationship can be a warm and happy one, as long as Aries is willing to look up to Leo as a guide, preceptor, counselor or teacher - and as long as Leo continues to wrap Aries in the cozy warmth of the kind of loving kindness and protectiveness the Sun-ruled can give so effortlessly. It will be, on the whole, a successful association, even though not always tranquil, because the Aries-Leo relationship is blessed by the grace of the magical 5-9 Sun Sign Pattern vibration. Leo will provide plenty of sincere and extravagant compliments, something Aries needs as the flowers need rain. And vice versa. Totally vice versa. Both Aries and Leo not only seek appreciation, they quite frankly demand it. If one of them has a conflicting Moon Sign or Ascendent, their quarrels may be more serious and hurtful; yet forgiveness is, even then, usually the final resolution. 

One trouble area will be those long dissertations of wisdom from Leo, which often begin with the words, "Now, listen to me, and I'll explain how wrong you are." Since the Ram has enough trouble coping with bossy people in day-to-day living, to be forced to sit through the same sort of thing each night at dinner may ignite the very short fuse of the Mars temper .... but I'll tell you a secret. Actually, Aries will privately give Leo a lot of credit, and sincerely respect the advice given so freely and constantly, a lot more than he or she lets on. This may be because the advice given by a Leo to Aries is so frequently cushioned in real affection and concern. Rams desperately need loving guidance, and the chances are better than average that they'll get it from the Lion - or Lioness. As long as it is clearly "loving," not arrogantly authoritative. 

If only the Ram could learn to ask Leo to do things, instead of commanding, "Do it now, and don't ask questions" - the relationship between them would be smoother. No one orders royalty around like that, not even Prime Ministers. It requires lots of effort for the Mars-ruled Ram to learn to be more gracious when trying to get Leo to do something, but it's an effort that must be made, or the struggle for dominance will disintegrate into continual dispute. 

When there is mutual consideration, this can be a singular and extraordinary relationship, for Leo senses the hidden insecurities and dependency just behind the spectacular, brave Aries personality, and knows the Ram's surface sureness is not backed up by inner conviction - while Aries will grow to depend on Leo, not just for the well-organized Leonine mind and steadiness in a storm, but also for the ability of his (or her) sunny nature to give warmth and meaning to each moment of life. The Ram knows how quivering and sensitive Leo's heart really is, never mind the cover of superiority and bravado. These two have much natural sympathy. You can tell it when they smile at each other. It's a strangely intimate smile, a grin of gratitude that says: "Thanks for understanding me - I understand you too." 

In each other, Aries and Leo will find the excitement they are constantly searching for. They're both essentially dynamic personalities, driven by a desire to live life fully, missing nothing. They know that stars grow wild, like a field of daisies, somewhere high above and beyond the banal and the mundane. And even though their goals may be different, unless one of them had the Moon or Ascendent in a more financially cautious sign at birth, like Cancer, Scorpio or one of the three Earth Signs, they both believe in arriving at their destinations by traveling First Class, not just in a material sense but in every way. That may need some careful thought to be comprehended. 

We can take the world others created or imagine a new world. Aries and Leo would rather imagine a new one into manifesting, maybe the kind they dreamed of when they were children. This may be it, they muse when they meet, or at least the start of that new world. There's no telling where it will lead .. but it won't be boring.

ARIES Man - CANCER Woman

"Hullo, Wendy," he said, not noticing any difference, for he was thinking chiefly of himself. 

"Hullo, Peter," she replied faintly, squeezing herself as small as possible. Something inside her was crying. 

An Aries man is initially lured by a Cancerian girl because she seems so appealingly helpless and feminine (Note: I said she seems helpless. We'll take that up later. Appealing and feminine she definitely is, no argument there.) She appears to need his strong masculine shoulder to cry on, his fiery emotional support.

When the Moon Maiden gives a Ram her flattering, undivided attention, it proves to him what he's always suspected - that no woman can resist him. She'll cook for him, baby him, laugh at his jokes, add some pretty funny ones of her own and generally make his life one long, sweet song of soothing serenity, with comical lyrics. But the music he hears could be a prelude to a slowly growing feeling of being smothered. As you well know, if you're at all acquainted with astrology, Rams do not like to be smothered - by blankets, authority or restriction of any kind - not even by love. Smothered in attention is fine, but the Aries male draws a line at having his freedom squeezed out of him. Now, it's true that no one can squeeze away a man's freedom as painlessly and pleasurably as a Cancerian girl. If she's subtle about it, as most Moon Maids are, a Ram could find the trip on her romantic flying carpet a thrilling experience (she has a deep-seated wanderlust hiding behind her homemaking knacks, you know). However, if the Crab shows signs of beginning to cling too closely, the Aries male may jump off the carpet, without a parachute, if necessary. 

About her feminine helplessness: He'll sooner or later learn that it's somewhat of an illusion - maybe someday when she incorporates her own bank, redecorates a friend's house, runs for Congress or rescues a child from drowning in the ocean, beating the lifeguard to the spot. Cancer is a Cardinal Sign, and these women possess an amazing stamina and tenacity, along with all that moonlight fragility. After the first shock has worn off, he'll probably admire her for it. He admires any kind of strength, and she's far stronger than her timid tears when he's hurt her feelings (which may be frequently) might indicate. He could even fall more deeply in love with her when he discovers she's not all "sugar-and-spice-and-everything-nice," since he essentially needs a woman who will fight back with him now and then. 

But other sour notes may threaten to spoil love's concert between these two Sun Signs - like money. She has a pronounced compulsion to accumulate it, maybe even paper the bedroom, kitchen and nursery walls with it (her three favorite rooms). To her, financial security is synonymous with emotional security. The two are inseparable. He likes money too, and can think of hundreds of exciting uses for it, but stashing it away in a rusty old trunk in the attic or a bank vault for a rainy day is not at the head of his list. To Aries, money is to spend (or give away). His motto is: "Money can't buy happiness." Since they're both in love and happy, who's worried about cash? She is. She's worried about it. Because, you see, her motto is: "Happiness can't buy money." The Aries man contemplating a ring-around-the-rosy with a Moon Maiden should think about that. Carefully. He still won't agree with it, but he should think about it. 

It won't be long until he notices her moodiness. Of course, he's moody too, but that's different and understandable. With Aries, everything is different and understandable when they do it - also justifiable and permissible, as well as excusable. (Remember, Aries is the adorable but totally self-centered symbolic Infant of the zodiac.) Her moods he considers to be uncalled-for damp prisons of gloom, and it must be admitted that they are deeper, more indigo and longer lasting than his. Sometimes it happens that a Ram cheers a girl Crab out of her periodic Lunar melancholy with his sheer optimism. It makes him feel strong and masculine, and gives her the emotional stability she needs. But there's a danger that he may eventually revolt against a fluctuating depression he can't fathom, if only because it frightens him into thinking that perhaps his self-made Mars miracles don't have the power to swing the Universe he believed them to have. Rather than face that horrible thought, he could split. He may not get too far. She's kind of nice to come home to, and make up with - and who else bathes his ego in such charming shades of lavender and soft green, with such silvery sincerity? She's funny and tender at the same time, and eternally capable of pulling him out of those holes he jumps into, head first. Besides, she bakes a terrific blueberry muffin - and the chemical attraction between them is an added attraction. It might not have been what first drew them together, the initial interest might have been based on other things ... but after a while it grew into a positive aspect of their relationship well worth considering. 

Her Lunar imagination quickly sparks the flame of his Martian sexuality, and his enthusiastic, idealistic lovemaking can pull her out of her bashful (or snappy) shell into a beautiful fulfillment of latent passion. There's an affectionate quality in the Aries approach to sex that may reach a part of her nature which has timidly hidden itself behind her crazy, Looney Bird laughter until the right man came along to find it. Unfortunately, however, this woman's ingrained sense of Cancerian practicality soon tells her that "man can't live with hyacinths alone - he needs bread." (Cancer sometimes has a way of twisting truisms around, or reversing them, to accent the negative, and eliminate the positive.) That's when the real cash conflict may begin, when she mentions money in the middle of some romantic interlude, just as the two of them are about to become "one." Suddenly, sexual closeness is replaced by an emotional explosion. 

Any relationship between Aries and Cancer is usually subjected to a generous sprinkling of fights over money - how to obtain it, and how to dispose of it. He's extravagant, she's thrifty. At least, she's normally economical, until she spins into one of her many moods, triggered by the phases of the Moon, and indulges herself in a buying spree of feminine frivolities to boost her sagging ego. Most other times, however, she's a little reluctant to part with cash, to put it mildly. 

If they manage to overcome the sensitive point of finances, through mutual give-and-take, Aries and Cancer possess the potential of building some solid dream castles together, especially if there's a trine, sextile or conjunction between his Sun and her Moon, or vice versa. Her combination of creative flights of fancy and a common sense attitude about cash (an odd contradiction in Cancerians) coupled with his audacity and Mars determination, will usually give this Sun Sign couple immunity from the need to apply for Government Welfare. Still, the problems aren't over. Her moods keep popping up to plague them. 

He may fail to comprehend the delicacy of her emotional needs and be completely baffled by her changing moods. Perception is not an Aries strong point. It can throw him into a fit of perplexity. What could he have done wrong? (Nothing. I keep telling you, it's the Moon.) Only moments ago, she was skipping around like a dodo bird chattering and giggling and humming a tune, feeding the kitten soybean cakes - all smiles. And now, tears. What happened? Check The Farmer's Almanac, or the evening paper. It may be the Full Moon. Or it may be that her feelings have been bruised by something he didn't even realize he said. Perhaps he failed to notice her new dress, or forgot to tell her how delicious her carrot casserole was. Ever since childhood, this girl has feared that no one loved her. He'll have to gently teach her that the best way to get love is to give love. (This won't be easy, since it's a lesson he desperately needs to learn himself.) The Aries man should remember that the way to keep a Moon Maiden happy is to be sure she always receives lots of love, lots of food and lots of money. She's not greedy, she's just security-hungry, and that's not the same thing at all. I left out something. If she's a typical Lunar lady, add to the list lots of babies. Well, at least a few. 

A Ram is nearly always enthusiastic about approaching fatherhood, and she'll adore this quality in him. But after the bundles of joy grow out of their booties into Buster Browns, they may begin pulling their parenthood wagon in opposite directions. He believes in teaching the youngsters to be independent. Although he can be bossy and demanding with them, his general inclination is to give them lots of room to grow in. She takes motherhood seriously, and I mean very seriously. She'll closely scrutinize their food, clothing, romances, careers and health. They'll be stuffed with pea soup, cuddled, coddled and watched over - all done in a spirit of friendly persuasion, of course. Mama knows what's best, what's right to eat and wear, who's wrong to love and marry. All this could lead to his accusing her of smothering their individualities - and to her accusing him of being too harsh, and too detached, by turns. The offspring may feel they're being slowly squashed between two cement walls, at times. Compromise in child raising is a must, or this relationship will crack irreparably. 

The Ram's ability to give and receive love depends upon his image of himself as the strong one. He needs constant freedom of expression and action. His woman must have absolute faith in his ability to move mountains. Otherwise, his frustrated emotions may form strange neurotic patterns, turning him from a courageous Ram into a meek, unhappy sheep. Like being under a witch's hex. She should never remind him that she is better than he at juggling the bank balance (even if she is) - or anything else that may cut sharply into his masculinity. If she refrains from tossing wet blankets on his dreams, he'll stay close to home, contentedly. If she allows him to lead the parade, without dampening his hopes, he'll be able to make her mountains of secret worries and fears disappear forever. But there's always the possibility that her despairing silences, sulky temper and occasional touches of hysteria will drive him right up the side of her money-papered walls, and out of the house - and that his rash words and impulsive behavior will bring her watery nature to a boil, until it sloshes over and drowns his incentive. 

When she's weeping, and he doesn't know why, he shouldn't storm out of the room impatiently. He should take her in his arms, and lullaby her with tender reassurances, to stem the tides of fear and loneliness rising in her, whispering softly, "Please don't cry, and don't worry. Everyone loves you because you're so smart and so pretty, and you tell funny stories. Besides, we're almost sure to be rich someday. And as for me, I love you even more than other people do, and that's really a bunch. You don't have to offer to do the neighbor's laundry. We're not quite that poverty-stricken, and we never will be. Now, I want you to wash your face, brush your hair, blow your nose, and get dressed in something beautiful, because I'm going to take you out to dinner." He should then mention the name of the most expensive, exclusive restaurant in town. She'll stop sniffling right away. 

"All nine courses - including the dessert tray?" she'll ask, then, tentatively, her eyes beginning to sparkle. 

"Yes, darling, all nine courses, including the dessert tray .. and afterwards, we'll go to a movie, whichever one you want to see." 

That last promise ought to do it. It may be the first time in years the thoughtlessly selfish Ram has allowed her to choose which film to see .. or anything else.

ARIES MAN AND CANCER WOMAN LOVE COMPATIBILITY

ARIES Woman - CANCER Man

She wanted to risk it, come what might, but that was not his way ... 

Like all females born under masculine Sun Signs, who are, in addition, ruled by a masculine planet (in this case, Mars), the Aries girl has private doubts about her femininity. Ever since dancing school, she's been reluctant to let her partner take the lead. 

Most of the fellows she's waltzed around have panicked when they weren't allowed to set the pace and the rhythm of the relationship, and the male machismo mystique being what it is, her feminine "macha" caused them all to stalk off to look for a girl willing to humor their fantasies of superiority. The girl Ram is far too honest to imitate her more submissive Sun Sign sisters by pretending to allow the man to initiate every word and action, while she smiles with amused tolerance behind his back. There's a perfect example of that sort of well-meant but demeaning deception in Margaret Mitchell's great American novel, Gone With The Wind, when the dying Melanie says, of Ashley, "Look after him, Scarlet - but never let him know." 

After a few heartbreaking experiences of discovering that honesty is not always the best policy when it comes to romance, an Aries female may understandably (and justifiably) begin to have some inner traumas as she wonders about her desirability as a woman. Then along comes a Cancerian man to court her (yes, I said court her) with a respectful, gallant courtesy, like a Prince straight out of a storybook. Not only that, he makes her laugh a lot, and laughter never fails to brighten a Ram's disposition, making her sweeter to be around. From the very beginning, he makes it clear that she excites him and thrills him, no matter who walks through the door first, which one starts the conversation or who initiates a telephone call. At last! She can finally do and say what comes naturally around a man - and he still loves her. No wonder it's an intoxicating experience for her. It may be the first time she's ever felt like a member of the opposite sex. 

When he convinces her she's not the wicked old witch after all, that she's really lovely, desirable Snow White (as she always suspected) it can be exhilarating - for a while. Assuming there's a harmonious aspect of interchange between their Luminaries, Ascendents and other major horoscopic positions in their nativities, her daydreams have a good chance of coming true. Otherwise, Snow White could find herself living in the woods with only one of the Seven Dwarfs - Grumpy - and still waiting in vain for the Prince. 

An Aries female will never be permanently at peace with herself until she discovers a man who will want her to love him freely and openly, without quibbling over who initiates the first goodnight kiss, and without pouting if she occasionally interrupts him with a sudden burst of cheerful, enthusiastic chatter. She needs a man who understands that if he'll just allow her to be herself, she'll give him all the adoring love he needs to feel strong and virile and masculine. Just murmuring "Whatever you say - or whatever you decide, dear" (with a hidden smirk) is romantic hypocrisy, a travesty of honest devotion. Her love is direct. It shrinks into restless frustration when it's restricted by petty arguments over what constitutes the difference between masculinity and femininity. She loves him with all her heart and soul and mind and being - isn't that enough? Yes. It should be - and it very well may be, for a boy Crab. But Rams have other areas of friction with Cancerians. 

Both of them are intensely jealous. The chief difference is that Cancer enjoys it more than Aries. To the Crab, jealousy simply proves how much he's loved and needed, and with this woman, he'll get all of that kind of proof he needs - maybe a little more than he can handle. Jealousy can sometimes bring a sense of emotional security to the Ram too - just a light touch of it, now and then. But when it's overdone to the point of smothering possessiveness, it can sharply cramp her life-style, which is friendly, free and gregarious - and the truth of it is that a Cancerian lover or mate may lay it on with a heavy hand, once the courting gallantry is over, and he's sure she is his. Of course, it's equally true that his Crab-like trait of hanging on, when it comes to love, is an indication of his inclination toward loyalty and faithfulness. She certainly has no objection to that. In her opinion, it's the very least one should expect from true love. It's when his loyal devotion subtly and gradually is transformed into clinging, which brings the feeling of being fenced in, that she'll show flashes of resentful rebellion.

Each of these two Sun Signs is as fond of money, fame and recognition as the other. However, the Crab hides his ambition better. Although they share the same basic goals of emotional security and financial success, they have rather seriously conflicting ideas about how to achieve them - as well as what to do with money, when it's there. (She wants to spend it, or give it away, to create a nice, smooth cash flow - he wants to save it to make it expand into a higher balance.) Even before either of them achieves any degree of material success, there will be disagreements. Aries is optimistic, positive, sure of winning. Cancer is often pessimistic, negative and fearful of the future (Crabs call it sensible caution) - and this is where these two may need an interpreter to communicate. 

It's impossible for the Ram to comprehend how the Crab hopes to win, at the same time he's expecting to lose. To Aries, this puzzling Cancerian attitude was expressed perfectly by physician-philosopher Jean-Baptiste Baudin, when he wrote: "To be ambitious for wealth, and yet always expecting to be poor; to be always doubting your ability to get what you long for, is like trying to reach East by traveling West. There is no philosophy which will help a man succeed when he's always doubting his ability to do so, and thus attracting failure." Granted, there are more July birthdays in Who's Who in Industry and Commerce than any others (except Taurus and Capricorn), but that's because the Cancerian has going for him a more than adequate substitute for courageous Aries optimism - a hard-shell tenacity of purpose. 

There's not much use trying to explain this to an Aries female. She's familiar with a term like "determination," but she doesn't understand the word "tenacity," because it diametrically opposes her most evident quality - impatience. Tenacity implies waiting, and this woman loathes to wait for anything, from a bus or a red light to the arrival of her current lover at the door when they have a date - or her husband's arrival home from work, if she's a married Ram. Let him be five minutes late, and she either phones the sheriff in impulsive panic, or paces the floor, working up sufficient steam to leap on him with reproaches when he does arrive. Her Cancerian lover or mate's general attitude toward ambition and success, with or without the tenacity, utterly confuses her. She believes in simple things, that people should face the direction in which they wish to travel, and she faces the East. How can he ever expect to arrive in New York when he's headed toward California? All right, so the world is round, and he may eventually get there, but it takes so much time that way. There are several possible outcomes for the dilemma. She can become desolate in the face of his moody spells of depression, and finally decide she must escape, to avoid the fate of seeing every last one of her fiery aspirations submerged in his watery Cancerian pessimism. Or she can try to cheer him out of his periodic melancholy with her own strong Mars faith, by boosting his spirits with courage and humor - like reminding him of the old proverb that every time a sheep bleats, it loses a mouthful of hay. He can throw up his hands in defeat at her impulsive emotions and financial extravagance, take off alone with his stamp collection and his old fishing hat - or he can gently, patiently teach her that caution does sometimes make sense, and that counting to ten has the benefit of never adding up to a total of zero. 

Another trouble spot could be this man's tendency to keep secrets. The Aries woman is not so closely molded in the image of the Sphinx as he. When the Crab refuses to tell her what's on his mind, she may imagine all sorts of farout things, and torture herself into a fit of Mars hysteria. He'll soon learn (let's hope) that it's more peaceful in the long run to come completely clean with her. To level. If he clams up, she'll just pry until she sees it's no use, then decide the whole thing isn't worth the energy and heartache - and possibly leave him. Suddenly. With little or no warning. Remember, Aries will waste no time on a situation that's been analyzed as impossible to change. It could end with the Crab still sitting on his secrets, while she skips off chanting Edna St. Vincent Millay's lines: "Thanks be to God, the world is wide, and I am going far from home - and I'll forget in Camelot the man I loved in Rome." He will weep. 

Then, too, there's Mama. If his mother is still living, the girl Ram who loves a boy Crab may have some stiff competition for his devotion and attention, perhaps not when they first meet - but she won't avoid it forever. If his sainted mother has passed on, Mama's qualities could take on added luster, seen through the sparkling glass of memory. Did his mother never scorch a shirt, bake flat biscuits, sing off key, waste money or lose her temper? No. Never. Not one single time. Did his mother always save cash, look prettier by sewing her own clothes, string her own beans, wear just the right amount of makeup and know exactly what to say to make him smile when he was blue? Yes. She did. Always. In a strange way, it might work to their benefit, the Mama thing. A glowing example like that is surely a challenge, and this girl can't resist struggling to meet a challenge. She may become nearly as perfect as he thinks his mother is - or was - just to prove to him that no one can top a Ram. 

In their sexual life, adjustments will also be necessary. When love is new, his tender consideration for her desires and needs will make her feel cherished, therefore emotionally secure. (Both of them have this incredible hang-up about needing emotional security.) He'll be, in the beginning, a fabulous lover. A Cancerian can be as imaginative, subtle and clever in the bedroom as he is at the bank. Her frankness and lack of guile concerning sex, a sort of unconscious vulnerability in her, will stir him deeply. Regardless of past experiences, an Aries girl always brings a kind of fresh innocence to her approach to lovemaking - in addition, when she loves, she loves fiercely and passionately, truly giving all of herself in total honesty, and this will make him feel emotionally secure. But she may be unable to remember the thrill of their original physical compatibility when he's been cranky and moody for a few days and refuses to respond to her affectionate advances. What appears to be (but isn't) his rejection of her can considerably dampen her erotic enthusiasm. It's the Moon. She'll just have to wait until the Moon changes, and stops pulling his emotions back and forth like a piece of taffy. What she should not do during these temporary Lunar phases that threaten to eclipse their happiness is become angry, and say things to wound him she'll later regret. He'll crawl into his Crab shell and stay there, for this man is acutely sensitive. However much he may joke about it, he is - and sexual hurt will cause him to retreat into brooding passivity for long periods. Or worse yet, he could seek the solace of alcohol's seductive siren song.

On the happy side of this relationship, a Crab can be very amusing and entertaining, and can make anything from counting money to digging clams wacky fun, with loads of laughs. His beautiful sensitivity and his gentlemanly air of protectiveness can bring out all the femininity in his Aries lady. He'll secretly be proud of her courageous mind and bright spirit, no matter how he grumbles about her immaturity, and he'll grow to depend on her for the emotional support he needs when the Moon sends fragments of old fears from childhood to haunt him. On the negative side, she may believe he's too stern at times, too fussy or stingy, while he may feel she's not capable of taking care of herself without a keeper. He could now and then drown his disappointments in drink or drugs, always a very real danger with a Water Sign - and she could now and then lose her quick fiery temper in such a way that it takes a long time to atone for the pain it caused. 

This is a man who's not ashamed of sentiment; he's affected by music, art and poetry, and when his heart is moved, tears come to his eyes - and this is a woman whose own heart needs a great deal of tender, loving care, for she is, emotionally, an infant, whatever her chronological age. If they crossbreed her Aries initiative with his Cancer tenacity, they might achieve wonders. Their natal Suns are squared, and so it will require lots of patience - and lots of love. But then, doesn't everything?

CANCER MAN AND ARIES WOMAN LOVE COMPATIBILITY

The ARIES - CANCER Relationship

... but of course neither of them understood the other's language. 

A Crab can become a little tense and edgy, spinning around on an Aries carousel. Because the Lunar physical-emotional metabolism is more delicate and fluctuating, Rams can exhaust Moon people with their excessive Mars enthusiasm, which flames in even the quieter, Sheep-type Arians, on occasion (and remember that the Sheep types are in the minority). Consequently, to the determined, somewhat reckless Ram, it may frequently seem as though the Crab disapproves of his (or her) behavior. What do these Cancerians expect you to do, wonders Aries - bury your confidence and develop an inferiority complex, just to please them? 

Not necessarily. True, the Crabs might feel considerably more comfortable if the impulsive Mars rhythms could be slowed down a bit, to match their own, more cautious calliope music. But it won't benefit the basic insecurity of Cancer to have Aries join him (or her) in wailing "nobody-loves-me-everybody-hatesme-let's-go-eat-worms." One weepy hang-up like that is sufficient in an association or a relationship. Why try for two? 

Very few people are aware of how frantically Aries men and women (and children) seek acceptance while they're rushing around feverishly courting rejection with their impulsive, thoughtless ways. Among those few aware ones are Cancerians, who themselves are abnormally sensitive to hurt. Even as they appear to frown on Aries rashness, they sense, with their acute perception, that the Rams are not always as tough as they act. Because of this perception, there can be some lovely and solid relationships between these two Sun Signs. However, since theirs is a 4-10 vibrational pattern, this association more often occurs in an unavoidable career, business or family situation, than in a romantic one. The Higher Selves of any two people influenced by the 4-10 vibration may possibly arrange matters this way, because of the heavier Karma, which must be leveled and harmonized, and human nature being as it is, few people would choose the tensions and conflicts of a 4-10 soul testing if there was a choice. Naturally, there are also love and marriage involvements between Aries and Cancer, from time to time. It's just that the Ram and the Crab teams are more often found as relatives or co-workers - in a boss-employee or other career entanglement. Even those Rams and Crabs who are romantically attracted will usually first meet in a career or family atmosphere, or these matters will be a main topic of conversation between them initially. 

If the Sun-Moon aspect between their natal charts is harmonious, this combination can be surprisingly financially successful and emotionally compatible. But if a negative Luminary or Ascendent aspect exists between their horoscopes, there will be some steep hills to climb, and much soul testing for durability. 

Aries likes - and needs - to win. Aries also enjoys leading. Now, Cancer has nothing against either winning or leading. As for the latter, remember that Cancer is a Cardinal Sign of leadership, despite the Crab's attempt to hide his or her desire to lead beneath a veil of feigned unconcern. Aries is also a Cardinal Sign, and the Ram's horns being equally as tough as the Crab's shell, you can see there may be a few skirmishes over who follows the leader in any game they're playing. It's a tricky problem, because when you have two leaders, how do you determine which one will follow? (Especially when neither has any intention of doing so.) It seems like an impossible situation, but there is a solution. They can walk side-by-side, with no one ahead, no one behind. It's called compromise. Cancer tends to compromise with less pain than Aries, so it's usually the Crab who must initiate the offer of truce between them. Aries may try, yet somehow manage to say the wrong thing, in the wrong way, tinged with too much ego, which leaves the Crab either snapping angrily, or weeping inconsolably. 

All right, so now we have them (we hope) walking side-by-side toward the winner's circle - peacefully, for a while - then up pop the differences between their personalities and strategies again. The Crab advances in a rather zigzag direction, never straight ahead, like the direct, straightforward Ram. The Cancerian approach to anything is deliberate, disguised and careful, never mind how many jokes they tell along the way to distract you from noticing their techniques. Whereas the Ram is ever ready to discard dead wood and clear the decks for action, the Crab wants to be sure that no one throws out the baby with the bath water, so to speak. That's admittedly a mixed metaphor, but when discussing and describing Aries and Cancer, it's permissible. No single metaphor, analogy or allegory would suffice to fit both of these divergent Earthlings, who often seem to each other to be from different stars or galaxies. 

Life is one huge challenging contest to Aries, who rushes out to meet obstacles headlong and headfirst, even when he or she must go out of his or her way to find them. If they aren't there, Aries will create a few, for what fun is a contest with no obstacles to overcome? 

Indeed, obstacles attract Aries like bar magnets. Meeting with constant agreement everywhere both annoys and bores a Ram. Aries is either dismayed or furious when another person refuses to fight or argue. That takes all the excitement out of it. The Mars adrenalin surges, the Aries vitality is instantly recharged, in the face of any sort of opposition. Let a conflict loom on the horizon, and the Ram is in his or her glory, bravely facing the thrill of challenge, and the explosive excitement of meeting it victoriously. There's nothing wrong with this, as long as Aries will stop once in a while to notice that there are other people in the world besides himself (or herself) and that they have feelings too. Aries people don't mean to step on anyone's sensitive feelings, but they're so intent on getting wherever it is they're going (and you can include the rare and more introverted Sheep types, along with the flashier Rams) that they can be inconsiderate and thoughtless without realizing it. Excluding those few Arians who may have a severely afflicted natal Sun or Mars, the typical Ram would never hurt anyone on purpose. Nevertheless, he (or she) does, especially the ultra-sensitive Crabs. 

By now, you can see that one of the problems between Aries and Cancer is sensitivity to hurt. Aries people have little or no awareness of this particular weakness in themselves - it clashes with their self image of strength. Therefore, when Aries is hurt, the Mars-influenced reaction is to either immediately deny it, or to become defensively angry. Cancer's vulnerability is carefully hidden, so the typical Cancerian reaction to hurt is to crawl inside the Crab shell and pout - or turn just plain crabby. If the wound is deep enough, either of these responses may be accompanied by a few buckets of tears and sometimes, the Lunar sensitivity peeks out from behind the Looney-Bird humor. When these two have hurt each other, one of them (Cancer) disappears into an inky blob of gloom, or an injured silence, punctuated by cranky snapping. The other (Aries), frustrated by the Cancerian retreat strategy, and feeling helpless to take any kind of action to resolve the disagreement between them, may then become furious, and release a torrent of words and actions, with the predictable effect of causing the Crab to burrow even deeper into the sands of silent pouting. 

Just go back to Nature for a moment, via astrological symbolism, and picture an aroused ram butting his (or her) horns against the hard shell of an impervious crab, while it frantically digs deeper and deeper into the sand on the beach. On the beach? What is a ram doing messing around on the beach, beside the mysterious ocean, anyway? He's out of his element. (So is she, if the Arian is female.) Just as the crab would be lost trying to crawl up the rocky mountain slopes where the ram is more at home. It requires a Sun-Moon trine or conjunction between their horoscopes - or a great deal of patient understanding from both - to bring these two very different astrological creatures together in a mutually acceptable emotional terrain. Even then, although they may learn to tolerate each other, and help each other grow, evolve and learn, the differences between them will be distinctly visible.

It's true that Cancerians may hide in the mop closet when their feelings are hurt, and are normally quiet and reflective sorts (except when they're making you giggle over their funnies), but they shouldn't be considered by Aries to be totally impassive, easily molded or incapable of resistance. They may not fight with the flaming sword of Mars, and may prefer to tackle obstacles with serenity, secrecy and patience; yet Crabs are not altogether quivering, soft masses of fear. Correction: Crabs are quivering, soft masses of fear, but the Ram shouldn't forget that hard shell they hide under while they're shivering and quivering. It's not advisable to rap one's knuckles on it. Whereas the Ram is inclined to favor instant and open attack when security is threatened, the Cancerian man or woman will, as unobtrusively as possible, first attempt to seek the underlying root cause of the trouble, then maneuver out of it gradually, with a secret strategy and incredible tenacity of purpose. The Crab's ability to hang on to your toe, ear, finger - or a notion - until it gets what it wants, should never be overlooked or underestimated. (That goes for both boy Crabs and girl Crabs.)

THE ARIES AND CANCER RELATIONSHIP

Aries and Cancer have different motivations, different approaches to life and different goals. But if each will give something of his (or her) basic goodness to the other, both of their lives will be greatly enriched. This is a Fire and Water combination; therefore, each is subconsciously aware that the other can destroy him (or her). Too much Aries Fire can dehydrate Cancer's delicate feelings. Too much Cancerian Water can drown the Ram's enthusiastic, shining hopes. Fire represents optimism, in astrology - Water, pessimism. The two elements seem to be incompatible; yet another word for pessimism is "caution," a commodity with which Aries could beneficially experiment - and another word for optimism is "faith," a quality Cancer would find very useful. If they're willing to take the time to translate the message of each other's hearts, who knows how high the dreams of the Ram and the Crab can reach together? Perhaps all the way to the Moon - or to Mars.

ARIES Man - GEMINI Woman

He came back, and there was a greedy look in his eyes now which ought to have alarmed her, but did not.

Unless they met in high school, and were married shortly thereafter (which does happen rather frequently with these two Sun Signs, since they're both always in such a hurry), an Aries man may fiercely resent his Gemini girl's past love life, which could have been, by normal standards, somewhat extensive. It's almost sure to include, if not a couple of ex-husbands, at the very least, half a dozen broken engagements or a few flickering old flames. All Geminis should be wary of early marriage, unless they were born when the Moon or Ascendent was in Capricorn, Virgo, Cancer or Taurus. 

It's not that she's fickle or promiscuous, but this girl may run through a long list of pitchers while she's playing the field, before she finds one who can bat her average. Yes, I know that batters don't pitch, and pitchers don't bat, ordinarily - but any man who can't do at least two things equally well, preferably more, and also preferably both at once, is likely to strike out with her. Of course, we know that could never happen to an Aries man, since he can do everything and anything better than anyone else, at any time, so I suppose it's just an academic discussion, but it wouldn't hurt for him to remember it anyway. 

All her life this woman has thought it was the house at the top of the hill that had golden windows. She keeps climbing all the way up there, only to look below, from the summit, and discover the house at the bottom of the hill is the one with golden windows, after all. So she slides back down, and re-discovers that the house at the bottom has only ordinary windows, as she first had thought, then looks up to see the golden windows shining once more at the top of the hill, decides she's been wrong, and trudges back up the hill again to another disappointment. Why are those golden windows so elusive? It can be spiritually exhausting, all that climbing up, and sliding back down, and climbing back up, until she learns that the reflection of the Sun is only an illusion - not real at all - and relative, depending upon the time of day and one's location at any given moment. 

There may be times when a Gemini girl thinks an old love was really the one with golden possibilities, but before she finds out that this, too, is an illusion, she will have lost the Aries man, whether she left him standing alone at the top or at the bottom of the hill. A Ram will never sympathize with his woman's nostalgia over yesterday's romances, even though he may go out under a toadstool, and light a candle to an old flame every spring, on Groundhog Day, himself. Remember the Aries self-centeredness. He can do it. She can't. Why? Because he knows his nostalgia is innocent and will never lead anywhere. He's not so sure about hers. (Aries hidden insecurity.) 

Their relationship may have a few other pitfalls along with it's undeniable delights - like a possible lack of will power and stability. Rams possess simply oodles of drive and energy, but sticking to things they start is not one of their strong points. Since a man subconsciously depends on his woman to supply what he lacks, he may be leaning on a feather in the breeze when he leans on a Gemini girl. Will power and dependability are not her major talents either (unless her Moon or Ascendent, as just mentioned, happens to be in Cancer, or in an Earth Sign - and naturally, the same is true of him). Consequently, these two (these three or four) can send up a lot of flares that keep sputtering out, as each one indulges the other's weaknesses of procrastination and quick boredom. This is one man who probably won't insist that his Gemini woman stay home to sweep the hearth, wearing a calico apron and watering the vegetable garden. He'll probably realize he can use her versatile viewpoints and original thinking in his business life or career, so it's common to find this couple working together, after marriage, as well as before. They usually make a crackerjack team. He knows exactly what he wants - and she has plenty of ideas about how to help him get it. Besides, he can watch her more closely if she's with him all day. It eliminates his worry about the milk man, the cleaner, the grocer, and the handsome chap who runs the elevator in their apartment building. Her Mercurial proclivity for harmless (usually) flirting adds plenty of fuel to the fires of Aries jealousy, and anything that might keep such Mars sparks under control is desirable. A survey to determine how many Aries men eventually suggest that their wives work as their secretaries, or full partners, might prove astrologically interesting. On the other hand, these lovers often meet on the job. The same kinds of occupation and career interest them both, so it's only natural that they may bump into each other in some creative field or profession that offers excitement and challenge. 

You'll never see an Aries man and a Gemini woman, however long they've been married, sitting at a restaurant table reading the paper, or staring at the other customers, in silence, ignoring each other, the way so many couples unfortunately do after the first flush of romance has become a little softer. Aries and Gemini will always have something to say to each other - sometimes too much. Conversation, in any case, is not likely to lag between them. Most of the time, their verbal communication will consist of stimulating and scintillating exchanges, but when she touches a raw nerve in his sensitive Mars ego with her talent for hitting the satirical mark, it could turn into a verbal contest that could leave some pretty deep wounds. Happily however, these two are inclined to forgive and forget injuries as quickly as they tend to inflict them. 

Strangely, this love relationship is sometimes harder on others than it is on the man and woman themselves. The more sincerely and deeply they're in love, the more likely it is that their friends, neighbors or relatives, at some time, however rarely, will suffer from this Air-Fanning-Fire romance. Now and then, a Gemini woman will imagine all sorts of things about people that are, quite simply, untrue. She'll convince herself that a particular dialogue took place with another person, and report it to her Aries lover or husband, in words that haven't the slightest connection with reality, or with the words that were actually spoken. (Her Mercury imagination, you see, fills in the dull or uninteresting gaps with more creative phraseology.) 

Loving her as intensely as only a Ram can love, he could take furious offense at these slightly exaggerated insults to his lady fair, and direct his Mars anger, full force, toward the shocked person he's been falsely led to believe has treated her so shabbily. (Aries men are fiercely loyal to their friends and relatives, and especially to their mates.) 

Later, her honest Twin will trouble her conscience by softly, yet insistently, reminding her that things didn't quite occur as she colorfully described them to her Ram. If she then levels with him, he should control his Mars fireworks of outrage, and appreciate her attempt to separate reality from imagination, with tenderness. For the Gemini woman is made of fragile material. She's not, like him, protected on her journey through Life by the fierce warrior Mars - only by the unpredictable magician Mercury, who often hides from her, just when a girl most needs her ruling planet's wisdom. 

Her heart contains so many different chords of haunting music. She's a symphony of memories, made of loveliness and light, ugliness and shadow, making the more direct Aries man who loves her sometimes wonder, "Who is she this intimate and familiar stranger? Who is she ... and what is she?" 

Who is she ...? Whichever Twin leads the way, at any given moment. What is she? She's the bunch of marigolds in a sky blue bowl, on her teacher's desk, in the third grade the circus parade she once watched, when the clown threw a pretzel to her, and she caught it joyfully she's hayrides and hurricanes her first pair of black patent leather Mary Janes, a summer storm in the woods, at scout camp, that made the pine trees smell as fragrant as hyacinths a field of purple heather she sat in once, for hours, that transported her all the way to Scotland, where she was the Lady of the Lake and also the lonely Evangeline the small, lost bird she fed, until it was strong enough to fly, when she was five. These things are what she is. All this. 

And so, while the Gemini girl-woman must exercise a certain amount of discipline over her imagination, if she expects to achieve harmony with the straightforward, honest Ram she loves, she must be careful not to restrict it entirely, because it's the quality that makes her seem so exquisitely feminine to him. Children, too, possess vivid imaginations, and he thinks of her, this man, more often than she knows, as a little girl who needs his loving protection. Except, of course, when she shatters his image of her helplessness by beating him at mental musical chairs, King's X, tic-tac-toe, and so forth. Some Gemini females can be, when they choose, intellectual terrors, their speech as sharp as a knife, their mental acumen nothing less than brilliant - which isn't the most soothing balm for a male Ram's masculine self-confidence. But then, there's also the bunch of marigolds in the sky blue bowl.... 

As for him, he's made, not just from the rough-hewn robes of raw courage, tied with the crimson cord of bravado - his Ram's horns curl around the memories of his Lancelot days, the time he first swam, in water way over his head, when he couldn't swim - but he did - his broken top, his broken dreams ... and the nightmares with no shape or form, from a buried, now forgotten childhood fear ... the Christmas when Santa forgot the puppy on his list... the sky rockets, Roman fountains and spit-devils he ignited, when he was nine, on Independence Day ... the first time he ever saw a horse, and smelled the intoxicating odors of a barn ... the way he felt when he first knew how holy a silent night could be, sleeping alone, beneath countless glittering stars that sang to him a remembered melody no one else could hear. 

They are so many things, this man - this woman. Mostly, they are the sometimes inhabitants of a land, a kingdom they discovered by themselves, where everything is beautiful... but lonely ... needing other eyes to see it too, for only thus may it be recognized as real. They may each visit on another's private worlds, but if the mutual invitation so wistfully extended, unspoken ... is rejected then each may retreat into his or her kingdom, more and more often, leaving the other regretfully behind. These lovers should never permit such a retreat to occur, because the stars and planets have designed their make-believe lands so very much alike, they're sure to be happier when they dance through each other's dreams, than when one stands forlornly before the No Trespassing sign of the other. 

Sexually, this man and woman will believe themselves to be ideally mated, in the beginning. The Ram dreams of arriving in the garden of love on a flying carpet of adventure, straight out of the Arabian Nights (or the Age of Chivalry, either one), and the Gemini female will play her role in his dream-drama to perfection. She'll not only go along with the game, but she'll think up enough new twists to keep him fascinated far beyond the honeymoon. No one can make an ordinary bed seem as much like Sultan's harem as a Gemini woman, which is richly satisfying to an Aries man, who wants his mate to be the epitome of Woman. With her, he'll never know who awaits him at night in the privacy of the boudoir. It could be Cleopatra, George Sand, Mata Hari, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, Lady Hamilton or Fanny Brice. For a while it will excite him, until he starts to look around in the closet and under the pillows for "the sensuous woman." 

His own sexual expression is direct and intense. Hers is somewhat more elusive and complicated. True, he enjoys approaching their lovemaking on a path of imaginative romance, but he expects to quench his thirst in a stream of pure, honest passion, when he arrives at his destination. There's often an air of the intangible in her attitude toward physical love, to the extent that he may accuse her of being somewhere else during their intimate moments, and she could resent his masculine intrusion into what, to her, is always a sacred place - her mind. 

This man needs daydreams in association with sexual union, but there's a time and place for them, and to him, the last act of their love drama is not the proper place. He believes, like George M. Cohan, that the finale of anything (if it expects to receive an encore) should include a stirring version of "The Stars and Stripes Forever." Listening to Ram Andre Previn's full orchestral recording of Hoist's The Planets, on cassette or stereo, may help her sense his romantic pace. The section titled "Mars" will deliver the message profoundly, up to and including the violent percussion emphasis at the very close of that passage, that symbolizes the rhythms of his ruling planet with startling lucidity. It's an Aries sex education - and like everything else in the world, it's more beautifully learned with a musical background. 

He may sometimes feel she's searching for something that never existed, and fail to realize that with a shade more gentleness from him, she might be able to transmute her vivid imaginings into equally lovely realities. Gemini images flash a true picture of what could be - if they're tenderly allowed to take form and shape. It's her dual consciousness that may distort the communication. But love can keep those Mercury circuits free of negative vibrations. Love can do anything - literally, anything. 

This eternally youthful man and woman could hear the same music together, and follow the same distant drummer, for many happy years ... if she understands that his jealousies and petulant angers stem from his Aries emotional vulnerabilities and if he respects her love affair with her other Twin Self. It may sometimes lead her into places she runs to more swiftly than he can follow, but she'll return, refreshed, and ready to race with him toward new horizons.

ARIES MAN AND GEMINI WOMAN LOVE COMPATIBILITY

He's so bright and brave, so friendly, open and enthusiastic. She's so utterly feminine, charming, versatile and spontaneous. If only they don't try to change each other, they can remain boy and girl forever. And children are the luckiest people in the Universe. 

ARIES Woman - GEMINI Man

"You won't forget me ... will you, before springtime comes?" Of course Peter promised; and then he flew away. 

There are Aries women and Gemini men who hold hands lightly and skip down the street together like children. There are other Aries women and Gemini men who have sarcastic, furious verbal donnybrooks from the time they awake until they go to bed - and they both talk in their sleep too. Often, the emotional blending of Mars and Mercury in a love experience produces a strange alchemy of haunting tenderness, punctuated by sharp hurt, making the relationship capable of both triumph and disaster. It may be because Gemini, unlike the other two Air Signs, verbalizes both his admiration and his contempt so clearly and unmistakably. Or perhaps it's because Aries, unlike the other two Fire Signs, is consumed by the passion of the moment, whether it's love or hate, never thinking about tomorrow's possible regrets. 

This 3-11 Sun Sign Pattern is quite distinctive in its influence over two people linked together through its friendly, and very communicative, vibrations. There's no doubt they'll quarrel occasionally, even frequently; yet their more tempestuous arguments will contain the seed of spring, and fresh promises for the future. Their misunderstandings are extremely verbal, and often quite loud, but somehow, not too serious. It's almost as though they're both aware of the potential of a truce in the midst of the battle.

These two might accurately say of themselves 

some people love with restraint 

as if they were someday to hate 

but we hated gently, carefully 

as if we were someday to love...* 

There's very little restraint in the love between Aries and Gemini. When the Ram and the Twins fall in love with each other, neither will waste time wondering if the end of the affair, or the marriage, will be blissfully happy or achingly sad. The initial attraction between them, the magnetic pull of their carefree natures, causes both of them to reach out toward each other trustingly, with no worry about a far-off ending. If it should eventually occur, in whatever form - separation, divorce or death - the memories of love as naive, exciting and as full of blind faith as a child's heart on Christmas Eve, will soften the edges of the recollection of any sorrow or hurt they've mutually suffered. That's the beauty of the 3-11 vibration, in which genuine friendship forms the foundation for the empathy, from the very first hello.

Jealously can be a large troublemaker. The typical Aries girl is as jealous as it's possible for a woman to be, without turning solid green, and she's seldom able to recognize it rationally. It doesn't stem from a possessive nature but from the Arian symbolic Infant's terrible fear of rejection (which would mean literal death to an infant) and need for constant reassurance that it (she) is cherished. The undue Aries concern over losing love to another is more understandable when it's viewed in the light of these subconscious feelings of infantile helplessness and total dependency upon continued and uninterrupted affection. It's a feeling that's always present, just beneath the bright Mars bravado of independence and self-sufficiency which is not real in any sense, only make believe .... a kind of protection against further vulnerability. 

The typical Gemini man is not excessively jealous (barring some VenusMars affliction in his birth chart, or an Aries Moon or Ascendent). And this is where most of the difficulties may lie. Because, you see, she secretly would like him to be. The least he can do is pretend he is. Whether she consciously realizes it or not, the girl Ram rather enjoys arousing the jealous instinct in her man. It reaffirms her importance to him, a matter that can't be reaffirmed too often for any Aries. The Gemini male may oblige her, by granting her wish, if she steps out of line too obviously. But most of the time he'll be too busy changing his clothes, his moods, his ideas, his dreams and his disposition to pause long enough to stop, look and listen to any innocent flirtations she's flaunting at him in the hope of warming up his cool, detached and airy approach to life - and to her. 

Conversely, he won't have to flaunt any flirtations in front of her to bring on a bright green explosion. Saying good morning too intimately to Apple Annie at the corner newspaper stand will suffice. Considering his love of freedom and his phobia concerning emotional shackles that curb his natural gregarious activities, a little of that will go a long way with a Gemini man. Although she must learn to somehow either control or hide her jealous fears (if she doesn't want to lose him), he must also learn to sympathize with her motivation for such behavior - an inner fear that she lacks enough femininity to keep him faithful (if he doesn't want to lose her). There has been so much propaganda over the years about the slinky, sexually seductive, feather-brained, soft and sweet type of bunny-kitten "every man yearns for," you can't blame the Aries woman for developing a neurosis about her quick mind, her direct approach to love and her lack of sneaky female guile - especially since she was born under the influence of a masculine Sun Sign. 

She has courage and initiative, she's energetic and ambitious - all allegedly masculine traits. Men believe they have the market cornered on those qualities. Haven't you been reading the Women's Liberation pamphlets? (The Aries woman may very well be the leader of the ERA group in her community.) What's a girl Ram supposed to do to be considered feminine - read Marabel What's-Her-Name's book, The Total Woman, and total herself by just sitting around murmuring "You're wonderful, darling," and never do anything on her own? That's just about the size of it, according to Marabel and all the male chauvinists. Skimpy, isn't it? 

Oh, I suppose she could do other things to retain her femininity, like wash, iron, cook, diaper babies, shop for clothes, gossip, iron, wash, cook, have babies am I repeating myself? Sorry, I was beginning to get bored. As an Aries myself, I've never understood why a girl must be labeled "pushy" just because she knows her own mind. If most men prefer a Stepford Wives type robot to a real woman, that's their hang-up. Aries females, along with their Sagittarius and Leo sisters, sometimes rival the "male chauvinist pigs" by being rather blatant "female chauvinist sows" themselves. Such feminine gender animals do exist. 

Now, why did I write that? I've given the quick-witted Gemini men a new verbal weapon. My apologies to Ms. Steinem, whom I greatly admire, but it is true, Gloria, and you know it. Please don't be offended, because I'm one too. That is, I believe anything they can do, we can do equally - and some things better. No need to list the latter. We all know what they are. Oh, you don't? Well, for heaven's sake - patiently and tenderly providing a gentle garden for babes to grow in for nine months, being able to bear pain at a higher threshold than men, possessing the common sense and esoteric logic to know that war never solved anything, and being able to sense danger and evil, long before they appear, are just a few of our superiorities over the masculine essence. We're also more sensitive, intuitive and psychic, certainly more compassionate - yet far more realistic than men. But not quite as sentimental. (You didn't know that men are secretly sentimental? So much so that they've taught women to see the poetry and beauty in Life too.) It's all right for the female chauvinist sows to be aware of their own areas of both equality and superiority regarding the masculine sex, but they should also recognize the areas of a man's equality and superiority regarding womanhood. That's what makes true femininity and true masculinity. 

With her innocent faith in miracles, it's destined that the Aries woman someday discover a man who's looking for a real woman, and he could be a Gemini. This man may have two heads, and twin desires, but he also possesses a driving need to be able to play mental chess with the woman he loves. Not for Gemini the serene siren who gazes up to him in silent, palpitating passion, because it's easier than trying to match wits with him. He definitely falls in love with his mind first. His heart follows after, then his physical desire. Romance usually proceeds in just about that priority order with the Twins. As for the Aries woman, the order is only slightly changed. She falls in love first with her heart, her mind follows quickly after - and, finally, her physical desire. The initial patterns are switched, but that's not as important as the fact that they both end up on the same frequency, in its proper place - last, after mental and emotional affinity has been established. It's an amazingly successful formula.

Because he'll appreciate the constant mental challenge of the Aries girl (Aries rules the head, Gemini the mind, among other things), she'll eventually learn to trust him to love her for what she is. Then she may show him what she's allowed no other male to discover - that she can be genuinely sweet and tender, with a man who proves he's her superior in some ways, while making it clear at the same time that he also admires her for her own qualities, which are equal to his, some being likewise superior. It's a complicated juggling act, but a Gemini man can pull it off, if anyone can. His natural charm and glibness (some people call it blarney) can keep her Mars vanity and ego appeased - and he can certainly handle any kind of verbal debate she cares to start. She may start quite a few. 

She may have difficulty in adjusting to his typical Gemini habit of lateness. She's often a little lax in that area herself, but Rams have a rather selfish way of being outraged when they're forced to swallow their own medicine. A Gemini man was once three hours late for an appointment with me. Anticipating his excuses (one of the benefits of being an astrologer) I wrote a little verse about him while I was waiting.

I'm sorry I kept you waiting 

look, don't cry... it was only an hour or two 

couldn't you find something to do? 

I would have, if I had been you. * 

When he finally arrived, he read it, and exclaimed, "Oh, wow! How did you know exactly what I was going to say?" The Aries girl who's in love with this two-headed, twin wonder of dual desires and actions should carefully study the difference between the word "gregarious" and the word "unfaithful," and note that there is a difference. She should also study the meaning of the two words "freedom" and "love," and comprehend that, to a Gemini, these two words are synonyms. It will help to cut down on the arguments. 

As for their physical compatibility, he's one of the few men who's capable of creating the illusionary quality this woman must associate with sex. She idealizes the sexual expression of love into a colorful, layered fabric, woven from every book she's ever read, every movie she's ever cried over and every shining hope she's ever held deep inside her heart. She's convinced that bells should literally ring at the moment the two of them become one. With him, she may actually hear them, because his imagination can supply all the fantasies she needs to fulfill her romantic Cinderella dreams. 

This sort of empathy is what causes them to initially fall in love, sometimes at first sight (neither Sun Sign is noted for slow action). But later, it may take more than fantasies to keep her love burning brightly, when his Gemini detachment fails to satisfy her total concept of sexual expression, which is not purely imaginary. She also needs the tangible. She may begin to feel there's always a tiny part of himself he holds back, even during their intimacy, and she could be right. She holds nothing back, with the Aries instinct to give completely of herself. The Mars inclination toward direct action is seldom diluted in the giving of passion - or in the exchange of it. He may fail to arouse in her such natural (for Rams) physical impulses, with his airy approach to lovemaking. Then she might feel that faerie stories are empty, when there's no fire to set them ablaze, and become bored - or, much worse, frigid. 

It's a delicate area of adjustment, and the relationship will have a better chance for success if the Moon and/or Ascendent of his birth chart is in a Fire Sign. Otherwise, he may not be able to teach her what she's so enormously capable of learning, after her initial inhibitions have been overcome by his idealistic preliminaries. The Gemini Prince can kiss the Aries Princess awake, but she may fall back asleep again if total passion is lacking, without ever really knowing why. Then Aries Fire can turn into Aries Ice, which is a sad waste, considering the warmth she can so generously give when the complete potential of her fiery nature is encouraged to develop. 

During one of their games of mental chess, when he's behaving in an impossible manner, she might try saying: "I realize that you believe you understood what I just said, but I'm not sure you caught what it was I didn't intend to imply, for fear you might misunderstand what I believed you thought." If it confuses him, she can say: "Good. Now you know what it's like to talk to yourself or rather, to yourselves. Both of you."

GEMINI MAN AND ARIES WOMAN LOVE COMPATIBILITY 

She might also leave this book around near him, open to this chapter, to remind him of how dull his life would be now if she hadn't streaked across his heart. But she should curb her impulse to hand him the book directly, and order him to read it immediately. Cinderella would never do that.