The Arien myth is that of the hero.  The Greek tale tells of Jason and the Argonauts who set off in search of the Golden Fleece.  It is a story of daring and adventure, very reflective of the Aries nature to confront life as if it is a permanent adventure.  A fire sign and ruled by the planet Mars, Aries can be aggressive and headstrong and when the Ram meets an obstacle it will charge head on!  Aries is courageous, spontaneous and energetic.

Key Phrase for Aries: I Am.  Colour: Red. 
Stones: Ruby and Bloodstone. 

Trees:  Holly and all thorn bearing trees and bushes.  Flowers and Plants:  Geranium, thistle and honeysuckle.

Taurus is the second sign of the Zodiac and marks the time in nature when roots are spreading and becoming fixed and grounded.   Never prone to flights of fancy, Taurus likes to know where things are going before starting out.  As an Earth sign they are protective and reliable, but they must beware of becoming possessive.
Ruled by the planet Venus they usually have a love of beauty and are often blessed with artistic skills.  Taurus is noted for being patient and they can wait longer than any other sign!

Key Phrase for Taurus:  I Have.  Colours: Pale blue, green and pink. 
Stones:  Emerald and moss agate. 

Trees:  Cypress and Ash. 
Plants and Flowers: Daisy, foxglove, rose and violet

Gemini is an air sign and they are known as the communicators and social butterflies of the zodiac.  The duality of the twins will be expressed in most spheres of the individuals life.  They are versatile, quick-witted and curious and as boredom is their worst nightmare they tend to seek a constant flow of social activities and gathering of knowledge. This is emphasised by their ruling planet Mercury, who was the winged messenger of the Gods. Often this scattered energy stops them from achieving their goals and they need to learn to focus on one thing.

Key Phrase for Gemini: I Think.  Colour: Yellow. 
Stones: Citrine, tiger’s eye, agate.

Trees: Mullberry and all nut bearing trees particularly the walnut tree.
Plants and Flowers: Lilly-of-the-valley and lavender.

Cancer the Crab

Cancerians are the romantics of the zodiac.  This water sign is the sign of sensitivity and compassion.  Their emotions do fluctuate like the phases of their ruler, the Moon. The crab possesses a tough outer shell which contains the soft and fleshy body inside, and they can be very defensive at times.  Often prone to worrying, they may suffer digestive upsets.
Cancer can be tenacious even ruthless when it comes to defending their family and close friends.

Key Phrase for Cancer:   I Feel.  Colours: Smokey grey, pale blue and green.  
Stones: Pearl, moonstone and amber. 

Trees:  All trees, particularly those rich in sap. Plants and Flowers: Honeysuckle, white rose and water lily.

Leo the Lion

 
Every Leo wishes to rule over their own private kingdom.  It may be a huge business empire or a small house and garden, but wherever it is they will take great pride in it.  Generally the Leo outlook on life is positive, generous and enthusiastic.  Ruled by the Sun and symbolised by the king of the jungle, this fire sign does like to feel important and has a great need to be admired by others.  The Leo message is about embracing personal power and not allowing pride and egotism to overshadow their courage and kindness.

Key Phrase For Leo:  I Will.  Coulours: Golden yellow and orange.  
Stones: Cat’s eye, Ruby and garnet.

Trees:  Bay, olive and citrus trees.  Plants and Flowers: Marigold, peony and sunflower.

Virgo the Virgin

 
Ruled by Mercury this earth sign has a high level of nervous and physical energy.  Keeping fit and paying attention to diet is very important.
The sign of Virgo corresponds to the harvest time, in which the wheat is separated from the chaff and indeed Virgo a most efficient and productive sign. The rulership of Mercury brings this sign the gift of analysis and Virgo’s greatest gift is assessing facts and reaching a conclusion.  But they must beware of being overly critical of themselves and others.

Key Phrase for Virgo:  I Serve.  Colours: Brown, navy blue and dark grey.
Stones: Sardonyx, peridot, sapphire And green zircon.

Trees: All nut bearing trees.  Plants and Flowers:  Azalea, fern, maidenhair and lavender.

Libra the Scales

Libra, the sign of the scales, is the only inanimate object in the zodiac.  This air sign strives for harmony and balance in all areas of life.  Ruled by Venus, goddess of love and beauty, Libra needs to create a pleasing and balanced environment wherever they go.  They thrive on harmonious partnerships and happy relationships.  Indecision and avoidance of confrontation often present problems and this can make it extremely difficult for them to focus on their goals. 

Key Phrase for Libra: I Balance.  Colours:  Pale blue, green and pink. 
Stones: Sapphire, opal, and lapis lazuli. 

Trees: Ash, cypress and all vines.  Plants and Flowers: Roses, violets and pastel coloured geraniums. 

Scorpio the Scorpion

 
Scorpio is the sign of depth and extremes, they are irresistibly drawn by the urge to explore everything that is secretive, concealed or taboo.  Scorpio is a water sign and their intense emotions are toughened by the traditional ruler Mars and given and obsessive quality by the modern-day ruler Pluto.  In mythology Pluto was the god of the underworld.  Scorpio’s greatest strength is its loyalty and absolute commitment to goals, but with fixed opinions and a reluctance to change they often have to learn to become more flexible.

Key Phrase for Scorpio:  I Desire.  Colours: Red, deep purple and maroon. 
Stones:  Opal, obsidian and smoky quartz. 

Trees: Holly and blackthorn.  Plants and Flowers: Rhododendron, anemone and all dark red blooms.

 

Sagittarius the Archer

 
The Sagittarian archer is a mythological Centaur and his mission in life is to seek truth and meaning.  Once found the next mission is to proclaim and teach the message.  A fire sign and a tireless traveller, Sagittarius usually finds the journey more important that the destination. Jupiter rules this sign and as the largest planet is also known as the planet of wisdom.  Sagittarians often lack the subtle approach and frequently jump into the deep-end!  They may need to guard against over indulgence.

Key Phrase for Sagittarius: I See.  Colours:  Purple and dark regal blues. 
Stones: Topaz, amethyst and malachite.

Trees: Oak, lime and mulberry.  Plants and Flowers: pinks and dandelions.

 

Capricorn the Goat

Symbolised by the mountain goat and an earth sign Capricorns are known to be hardworking and ambitious.  Their mission in life is to work with great resilience and patience and to dutifully complete their tasks.
In mythology Capricorn was also a sea goat and his tail resembled that of the fish.  There is always an emotional side to this sign but through the rulership of Saturn they often find their feelings difficult to express.  Care needs to be taken not to become too serious and pessimistic.

Key Phrase for Capricorn:  I Use.  Colours:  Dark green and brown. 
Stones: Jet, turquoise, obsidian and clear quartz.

Trees:  Pine and Elm.  Plants and Flowers: Pansies and ivy.

Aquarius the Water Bearer

Aquarius is ruled by two planets with totally incompatible natures.  Saturn wants order and stability and Uranus wants to tear everything down and start again.  The very nature of this air sign confirms that they often want to be seen as being very different from everybody else while actually remaining unchanged themselves.  Aquarius represents the water of loife and shows the ability to spread new and exciting ideas.  Inspirational and innovative they often have to guard against becoming detached, aloof and eccentric.

Key Phrase for Aquarius:  I Know.  Colour: Electric blue. 
Stones:  Amethyst, jade and aquamarine. 

Trees:  Aspen and beech.  Plants and Flowers:  Orchids and golden rain.

Pisces the Fishes

As a water sign Pisces is the most susceptible to outside influences.  They are often eager to escape from the harsh realities of this world. The dual rulership of this sign confirms this.  Jupiter rules religion and faith and Neptune rules mysticism.  It is often difficult for Pisces to achieve material success because, as the symbol suggests they feel pulled in two opposite directions. They can find it difficult to achieve a sense of self-identity.  Pisces has boundless empathy, is deeply sensitive and has a great affinity with fantasy and colour.

Key Phrase for Pisces:  I Believe.  Colours: Soft sea green and blue. 
Stones: Turquoise, pearl, rose quartz and aquamarine. 

Trees:  Willow and fig.  Flowers and Plants: Water-lily.