I find the zodiac signs to be exciting, and often, spot on. I started studying astrology back in middle/high school. While browsing the Square One Mall one evening with friends, I ended up purchasing a book titled, “Love, Sex, and Astrology” by Teri King at Contempo Casuals. This book was eerily accurate, in my opinion, and I was hooked. Anyone, I encountered or had a romantic interest in from that day forward was subjected to this book, and my analysis of our compatibility. This book was originally published in 1973, and one of my favorite parts is that it has quizzes for each of the signs. In preparation for this blog post, I pulled the book out for the first time in many years, and I found the scores from when I gave my now husband the quiz back in 2009. No surprise, he is still very much a Leo (I made him retake the quiz).
“Astrology gives insights into whom to love when to charge forward into new beginnings, and how to succeed in whatever you put your mind to. When paired with self-care, astrology can also help you relax and reclaim part of yourself that tends to get lost in the bustle of the day.” – Stellas
To clarify, I do not live my life by the zodiac, but there is merit to studying it. I can usually spot certain signs when I meet people, and I love asking people what their sign is and deciding if I see them that way. Now it is not that cut and dry. Some people depending upon on their where they fall within a specific zodiac sign date range, can exhibit different attributes, such as being born on the cusp (close to another sign). I have never gotten into making birth charts and that stuff, mostly because my mother can never confirm my birth time with any sense of accuracy (sorry, mom). Oh, and a few years ago, when they tried to re-do the zodiac signs, I did not buy into that for one second.
But what does this have to do with self-care? A couple of weeks ago, I was browsing on Amazon, and I stumbled across a newer book, “The Astrological Guide to Self-Care,” by Constance Stellas, and I had to have it. Pisces and self-care? What have I been missing all these years? What else can I learn about myself and my loved ones to practice better self-care according to the stars? The book does not disappoint.
In a series of monthly posts to follow, I will explore each of the zodiac signs more in-depth according to this book. Up first will be Gemini.
“Astrology is the study of the connection between the objects in the heavens (the planets, the stars) and what happens here on earth. Just as the movements of the planets and other heavenly bodies influence the ebb and flow of the tides, so do they influence you — your body, your mind, your spirit. This relationship is ever-present and is never more important — than when viewed through the lens of self-care.” – Stellas
There are 12 signs of the zodiac, and you know what sign you are according to your birth-date. If you are unsure of your sign, please refer to the list below.
- Aries – March 21 – April 20
- Taurus – April 21 – May 20
- Gemini – May 21 – June 21
- Cancer – June 22 – July 22
- Leo – July 23 – August 23
- Virgo – August 24 – September 21
- Libra – September 22 – October 22
- Scorpio – October 23 – November 21
- Sagittarius – November 22 – December 21
- Capricorn – December 22 – January 20
- Aquarius – January 21 – February 19
- Pisces – February 20 – March 20
All signs have different governing elements of Fire, Earth, Air, and Water. With each element, you dive deeper into understanding yourself and your sign.
Below are some highlights that Constance Stellas offers about Self-Care according to the Four Elements:
Fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) – Fire signs recognize the importance of self-care but have trouble setting aside the time to practice it. Fire signs should look for fun self-care activities and lots of variety in their routine. They require a good night’s sleep as they can be prone to burnout. Competitive by nature, they also need time to recover after intense activity. And be sure to get lots of sunshine.
Earth (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) – Earth signs, unlike Fire, do not need a lot of variety in their routine. They flourish with the same diligent routine repeatedly. They are efficient in their approach but can sometimes get stuck in a rut. Self-care for Earth signs should include all the senses. Earth signs should embrace their practicality by going slow, caring for plants, and practicing grounding exercises for optimal happiness.
Air (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) – known for their curiosity, the pursuit of knowledge, and their keen ability to communicate. They have a sensitive nervous system and must consider this in any self-care practices they participate in. A thinking sign oriented towards the physical. They can quickly get stuck in a rut, so variety is key to a self-care routine. Swimming, Pilates, writing, crossword puzzles, taking time away from electronics, walking, reading, enjoying the fresh air, and caring for plants are great self-care activities for Air signs.
Water (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) – Self-care comes naturally to Water signs, and they recognize how essential it is. Physical self-can be a challenge as they only like to do things when they want to do so. Until they develop a routine, they will keep searching through trial and error to find what works. Scheduling self-care practices works best. Activities such as belly dancing, stretching, water sports, boxing, ice skating, chanting, meditation, and arts are great ways for Water signs to practice self-care.
Next week we will dive into Self-care for Geminis.
Don’t forget to tune into Facebook LIVE every Tuesday at 12 PM for Talk-Back Tuesday at the Self-Care Cabaret. If you miss the LIVE video, you can always watch it later when you have time.
Stay well,
Dr. MC
