Sun in Aries - sign project

[Jim Eshelman]

Welcome to the Sun in Aries discussions project, which will run April 14 - May 14, 2017 (and then will remain around in case people want to revisit it in the future). Please gather your list of Sun in Aries people (especially those you know personally) and join us.

Here are Sun in Aries interpretive resources on the forum:
Primary section: https://www.solunars.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=35#p167
Garth Allen: https://www.solunars.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=33#p130
Cyril Fagan: https://www.solunars.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=101#p614
Rupert Gleadow: https://www.solunars.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=91#p557
Manilius: https://www.solunars.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=121#p738

Additionally:
"Let's Talk About Aries!" by Garth Allen
https://www.solunars.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=148

[Jim Eshelman]

One of my relatives and best friends has Sun in Aries.

He works as a mechanic in an petrochemical refinery, and the stories he tells frequently involve mid-level superiors having to call upper-level superiors to try to force him to do something he has refused to do, only to discover, yes, he's right, he shouldn't do it that way because that way will blow something up, kill everybody standing around, and cost a lot of money. The stuff he does at work, you couldn't pay me to do: put on this fresh-air suit, go inside that poison/acid environment, or wiggle 10 yards down this small pipe after squeezing through this small access hole, or climb way up the side of that tower and cut into it. He takes pride in it - the courage and skill it requires - the danger of it.

He likes knowing the tricks that get things done quicker and with less effort, and he's apparently gained a reputation for being that guy. Before this last stretch where they've learned they want to keep him around, he had gone from job to job for years due to conflicts of personalities. He cannot stand being told how to do something if he thinks he knows better, and he's walked off more jobs in a single year than I've had my whole life.

He hates being told what somebody thinks he *ought* to do, and once he has voiced his decision, trying to get him to change his mind is a quick way for conversation turn south.

Anyway, I guess this is kind of a one-sided portrait of him, but that's most of the stuff that makes me think Aries when I'm around him. He's actually usually a calmer, easy-going, spiritual soul. We talk about all the things, you know? He just has these buttons you don't want to push.

[Jim Eshelman]

My mother and first cousin, mothers sisters daughter, are Aries Suns. They are quite similar and also quite different. Obviously similar in sun sign. My mother is not pleasant. She isn't awful or terrible. She is practical. Finance conscious and also materialistic. Not wasteful though. She isn't someone anyone wants to spend time together with. Not good company as friends. A good worker. College educated. Lazy at home besides regular house chores sits on couch or chair watches tv or online. Not active for exercise or sight seeing, exploring. Naive. Cynical. Assumes the worse about people. Not supportive. Very combative. Controlling. Self fulfilling prophecy theme but she isn't aware of the power of thought. Use her past as a major form of identity. Not story telling. Not talkative. Analytical. Perverted. Not feminine. Not peaceful. Not cute. Strong family ties but doesn't hang out with family unless special occasion. She really glows and enjoys family gatherings. She is socially stable, at home, around family gatherings. Been married since 24. 4 children.
My cousin is quite unstable emotionally, and just in life. Two children, one given up for adoption. One ex died of drug OD. Another ex also drug addict. She is uneducated, working class poor, trashy, lives off the government. Combative. Crazy
Mother is more level headed. Cousin is bipolar -Aries Sun and Mars, Pisces moon. Intelligent. Not marrying type. Bad at relationships. Both low on frustration tolerance. Neither seem to enjoy life much. Rarely fulfilled. Don't let loose socially. Guard up socially.They have few moments when they are 'on top' but both think they are in control-act like they have an edge but really don't.

[Jim Eshelman]

I met what I would have to describe as an introverted Aries Sun yesterday. I know they exist, but it always seems like a contradiction to me. Shouldn't Aries always be sticking their foot into it - whatever it is?

Anyway, she was very pleasant and polite, yet I did sense that strength to her. She was reserved, but strong. At least that was the vibe I got from her. It was interesting to note - challenged my assumptions. Maybe that seems silly; I don't know.

[Jim Eshelman]

I met what I would have to describe as an introverted Aries Sun yesterday. I know they exist, but it always seems like a contradiction to me. Shouldn't Aries always be sticking their foot into it - whatever it is?

No, that's more Scorpio - the b luster-through pure Mars. The trait you mention isn't all that rare. It's one of the reasons I find it easy to associate Aries with Pluto.

[Jim Eshelman]

One of my favorite fellow Aries natives is the actress Kate Mulgrew, who portrayed the character of Captain Kathryn Janeway in the '90s TV series Star Trek: Voyager. Captain Janeway was the only female captain of a starship to appear in the several Star Trek series. Kate Mulgrew was born April 29, 1955, 7:00 AM, Dubuque, IA. Her chart shows natal Sun at 14 ARIES 19 and natal Mars rising at 18 TAURUS 22. And for anyone who's interested in Fagan's Novien system, Kate's natal Moon at 18 CANCER 49 yields a 1st Novien Moon of 19 ARIES 21, which conjoins her natal Aries Sun and opposes 1st Novien Mars and Jupiter at 15 LIBRA 18 and 17 LIBRA 34 respectively.

Kate_Mulgrew.gif

[Jim Eshelman]

I've long found it interesting that every male captain-lead of a Star Trek series is a Spoke but, for their first lead female captain, they not only felt they had to hire a Rim, but an Aries at that!

Shatner (Pisces). Stewart (Gemini). Brooks (Virgo). Bakula (Virgo). Mulgrew... Aries.

BTW, I've seen her live on Broadway in Equus, from 4th row center. It wasn't a major role for her, but I do have her autograph on a copy of the poster, along with everyone else in the cast and crew (it's hanging in my office).

[Jim Eshelman]

Thank you for sharing her chart, Gary!
A female Aries-Cancer as a captain of a star-ship whose mission is to come Home from far-far-away: WOW

[Jim Eshelman]

I have 9 Sun-Aries people on my list of personally-known-for-years (+myself), and dozen of others, though not so closely known and/or not so long as these nine.

The Paradox theme is indeed very prominent in all of them; it seems to be the single strongest characteristic of this group of people, and that all other traits stem from this.

"INHERENTLY CONTRADICTORY. Motivated by not wanting to be defined, limited, curtailed, corralled. Seeks liberty without external constraint" - it's amazing how true this is for all of Aries Suns on my list!!
Example: the males will almost never ask another person for an advice (especially not about something they hold important); the females, on the contrary, will ask often and with genuine interest; but, regardless of gender, they will not rely on anyone else but themselves in making decisions and acting. (Even if others actually point them to good direction; even if it's a health question and the advice is given by their own medical doctor, etc)

If you want to insult a Solar Aries, tell them that you know them well and that they are predictable!

Definitely practical people, and value practical approach in others; but not base or brute (while Moon in Aries does have this tendency to be brute, raw). Natural logicians and overall good thinkers, but value acting much more than thinking. Learn from life itself (and are proud of their scars - both physical and psychological).

Poor listeners, coming from a point of absolute certainty that their own opinion is the only right one, and definitely the most important one (so often hard to communicate with). Like to boast, and often tend to speak about weaknesses of others thus showing themselves as superior. Not egalitarian, not humble.

Keep their privacy, in a manner quite different from withholding of the Saturn types; it's not stemming from self-protection or self-preservation need (or at least that's how it seems to me, may be completely wrong given the subjectivity factor of my Sun in Aries ); I see it as essentially connected to Pluto symbolism (there's a distinct impenetrable-ness to it, and it's very natural, very non-intrusive, not something they intentionally show off) and the Paradox theme.

"I am the sole monarch of my doing/action" is the dominant attitude.

[Jim Eshelman]

I've been dating an Aries sun now for a few weeks and we used to hang out before. She is not what I expected at all. She really isn't like my mom or cousin Aries. She can be really caring, gentle and sensual, maybe because her Venus is on my angle and so it happens this way. Its bizarre. I can tell she is martian though, I thought she was a Scorpio when I first met her.
Danica you have good interpretation here on Aries. To dominate is there mind set. Not humble. Obstinate opinion but only when they are in control or want control.

[Jim Eshelman]

Was Thomas Jefferson a sidereal Aries? April 12, 1743

I had a history teacher that was a big Jefferson buff, and the theme she always talked about was contradiction, citing his various positions on slavery, anti-federalism, the Louisiana purchase.

Also, an Aries woman was the only person I've had aggressively, forcefully kiss me without asking (it happened to be a welcome action in this case, so it was ok).

[Jim Eshelman]

Was Thomas Jefferson a sidereal Aries? April 12, 1743

I had a history teacher that was a big Jefferson buff, and the theme she always talked about was contradiction, citing his various positions on slavery, anti-federalism, the Louisiana purchase.

Yes, Jefferson was born April 13 (NS), 1743, in Shadwell, VA. There is no recorded birth time, and the most accepted time (Doris Doane's rectification for 1:54 AM) seems in conflict with historic records that his father immediately hopped on a horse to share the news. (I should maybe do a study of Jefferson's events... but that's another topic).

In any case, even at that early hour, Sun was already at 1°45' Aries.

One of my personal treasures - both for its content and for the history of the item - is a copy of the book, The Words of Thomas Jefferson published by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation. This copy belonged to Warren Christopher, who was a great admirer of Jefferson, and he gave the book to me at the end of his life. (A Libra-Aquarius admiring and consulting an Aries-Scorpio.) Jefferson was, indeed a cantankerous paradox, a striking example of this central Aries trait.

[Jim Eshelman]

There's a persistent question whether Aries' true ruling planet is Mars or Pluto. I'd vote for Pluto, but others would go for Mars. Maybe Pluto can't be said to rule any constellation. In trying to answer this question, it's interesting to consider what Cyril Fagan wrote in his Solunars column for American Astrology Magazine regarding the differences between the natures of these two planets. His words are recorded in The Solunars Handbook on page 17: "The influences of Pluto and Mars must not, however, be confounded. Pluto is not intrinsically a violent planet; it is just repellent. Mars on the other hand is violent, but not necessarily repellent. It will slaughter for food or indulge in contests which are forms of attraction and attachment. To repel commonly connotes dislike, if not hatred, and in that respect Pluto may be deemed a malefic and a rebel. In other respects, Pluto's severing, ridding, cancelling action can be life's greatest blessing."

Also, on page 128 of The Solunars Handbook, Fagan is quoted as follows: "To attribute the diurnal rulership of Pluto to Scorpio (tropical or sidereal) is a grave error. There is absolutely nothing in common between these two. The notion is just fanciful, a mere association of ideas born of too much traffic with Greek and Roman mythology. On the other hand, the Aries characteristics and the known effects of Pluto have much in common, as the practical astrologer knows only too well."

[Jim Eshelman]

Thanks gary for this Fagan insight. It reminds me of someone I know who got a natal reading from Fagan, and said late in life: When it comes to astrology, Fagan was the most insightful person I ever met.

[Jim Eshelman]

Gary903-nice job, well written with good sourced material. It is important to have someone chime in with more objective interpretation. Just another example of how Pluto is still unknown or difficult to place. I am not yet sold on Pluto belonging to any sign. Aries? Gemini? Shoot, prove it I say! I have had tPluto conjunct my n sun for a long time and it is something else. Difficult to put words to. Last year I had Pluto foreground, don't recall natally or transiting. Again, difficult to assign. If I were to go out on a limb, with my limited and incomplete information, If I had to assign Pluto, based on my experiences, it reminds me most of people with a Gemini moon. Kinda strange, but that's all I got. Also, if anyone knows of anyone with natal Pluto foreground, is a good measure.

[Jim Eshelman]

There's a persistent question whether Aries' true ruling planet is Mars or Pluto. I'd vote for Pluto, but others would go for Mars.

Indeed there is. And, if I were forced to pick one or the other, I'd give up Mars for Aries before I'd give up Pluto; but I've found it most useful thus far to keep them all in the mix. Sun-Mars-Pluto is pretty descriptive!'

Of course, most (not all) Mars traits can arise from Aries be un-Venus. But I don't think that gives the raw energy that is sometimes present.

One of Pluto's best fits is that neither Sun nor Mars gives what, I suppose, we can call the libertarian view - the neither-liberal-nor conservative - the instinctive avoidance of being categorized in either-or distinctions (or by what is sometimes experienced as other people's arbitrary definitions) - the instinct not to be unnecessarily known. That's pure Pluto!

Also, on page 128 of The Solunars Handbook, Fagan is quoted as follows: "To attribute the diurnal rulership of Pluto to Scorpio (tropical or sidereal) is a grave error. There is absolutely nothing in common between these two. The notion is just fanciful, a mere association of ideas born of too much traffic with Greek and Roman mythology. On the other hand, the Aries characteristics and the known effects of Pluto have much in common, as the practical astrologer knows only too well."

He is so correct!

BTW, I think when we encounter people resisting the idea of Pluto and Aries, it is because Pluto feels like it should be more like Hub constellations. But we can't go by that - you can't, for example, get a description of Hub traits by looking at planets ruling Hub constellations. Quadruplicity and planet dignities are separate factors reflected in sign traits. I might say that Venus seems more like a Hub planet and, indeed, it's easy to see that in Taurus; but Libra is a Rim expression of Venus. Similarly, even if Pluto itself might seem Hub-ish, Aries is still a Rim, and would come out as a Rim expression of the same Pluto traits.

[Gary903]

Aries seems to get a lot of bad press in Sidereal Astrology, which isn't hard to understand considering some of the characters born when the Sun was passing through it, (e.g., Machiavelli, Oliver Cromwell, Marx, Lenin, and Hitler.) Since the Sun is about to leave Aries for this year, I thought I would post a couple of writers' positive comments about this constellation. Siderealist Rupert Gleadow writes that "Present-day astrologers seem to find this the most difficult of all constellations to praise;", but he continues, "yet it is hard to believe that its natives are more unpleasant than any others, although its virtues are more apparent under difficulties than in times of peace. It has great resistance to tyranny and will stand up bravely for its rights." He also states that the Aries person "... gives himself fully to any cause that he undertakes, not suffering much from indecision." Regarding writers born under Aries, Gleadow says "Charlotte Brontë is the most typical, for the defiant manner of her poems; she exemplifies how the Ariean is true to himself and to his inspiration--as of course everyone should be."

Cyril Fagan also had quite a few seemingly negative comments to make about Sun in Aries including the following; "As the Sun, symbol of the ego, is exalted in this constellation, natives of Aries are, generally speaking, egocentric, proud, imperious, intolerant of rivalry or competition, and will seldom admit a mistake. Highly censorious of others, they resent any criticism of themselves and although they may forgive an injury, they never forget it and all too frequently seek to avenge it sooner or later. In their climb to power they will ruthlessly liquidate anyone who stands in their way. With the underdeveloped Ariean self comes first and foremost, and not a few become megalomaniacs." Wow, this certainly doesn't sound like someone you would want to cross! Speaking as a Sun in Aries myself, I'm glad that most of us are a little more "developed" than that. Thankfully, Fagan doesn't leave it there. After criticizing us in those last few sentences, he goes on to explain that, despite all our shortcomings, we do after all have potential; "On the other hand, when the Ariean deeply discerns the true nature of the ego, its falseness and nonexistence, then this constellation creates a Buddha and a Krishnamurti, the very flowers of humanity, who were both natives of it. So Aries holds enormous potentialities for good or evil, all depending on how far the intelligence of the native is unrestricted."

[SteveS]

Gary wrote and quoted some words by Fagan:

"On the other hand, when the Ariean deeply discerns the true nature of the ego, its falseness and nonexistence, then this constellation creates a Buddha and a Krishnamurti, the very flowers of humanity, who were both natives of it. So Aries holds enormous potentialities for good or evil, all depending on how far the intelligence of the native is unrestricted."

A very wise man taught me many years ago:

When it comes to learning, if you learn to sacrifice your 'ego' to the 'alter of learning,' enlightenment/knowledge flows freely.

[FlorencedeZ.]

A lot of valuable things have already been said about Aries here, especially by Danica and I can't think of any other things to add. One thing that I have always noticed with my closest and dearest of Aries friends is that they do things for praise and applause. (though will not admit this ) Even with a Sun background, to get praise and be in the picture is a driving factor in their lives I find.
Regards,
Florence

[Jim Eshelman]

Y'know, Flo... I hadn't thought of it exactly like that, and you're right (at least for many of them).

As Manilius wrote nearly 2,000 years ago, Aries has "strong Desires to venture all for Praise."

[Jim Eshelman]

I've just made small updates to the Sun in Aries basic interpretation for the site, and wrote my short summation, which I'm gradually doing for all the signs:

SUMMARY: Contradictory, contrary, oppositional, capricious. Seeks liberty, resists definition or limits. Practical, resourceful, active, impatient. Imperial, political, needs pow-er. Poor empathy. Resents criticism. Vulnerable ego. Direct, bold with opinions. Romantically aggressive. Faithful, strong family sense.

[By Jove]

A little trivial but fun fact: the man who voiced Hades (Pluto) from Disney's Hercules, James Woods, has Sun in Aries.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VN5IgJb22kk