By Lucy Verlaque
Elm Staff Writer
We are currently in the middle of Aries season, which started on March 19 and will last until April 19 because of the Leap Year; in general, however, one must have a birthday between March 21 and April 19 to be considered an Aries.
Aries is the first zodiac sign of the year and is symbolized by the ram. One of the three fire signs, Aries is ruled by the planet Mars, which represents energy, action, and desire, according to Cafe Astrology. Because of these symbolic factors, Aries are often characterized as assertive, passionate, and impatient.
For senior Joshua Torrence, he particularly resonates with “Aries’ creative passion and impulsivity.”
“Just the other day I bought a trombone at the [Rose O’Neill Literary] House flea market on a whim,” Torrence said. “I don’t even know how to play, I just wanted a trombone — the goal is, of course, to learn how to play after I graduate, but I wasn’t thinking that far ahead when I decided I wanted it.”
This kind of spontaneous nature is common in fire signs, which can have both positive and negative effects.
Junior Marcelina Lewis says that while she has a strong sense of “determination and self-motivation,” this can cause her to struggle with “impatience.”
“I am very driven, and if I want something, I will go and get it, regardless of what other people are doing,” Lewis said.
Aries can also be seen as “irrational, hot-headed, and at times cruel,” according to Torrence. However, these traits are more stereotypical and may balance out differently depending on the person.
“While I’m definitely dramatic and scatterbrained sometimes, I am most of the time calm and collected,” Torrence said.
Similarly, Lewis says she does not resonate with the stereotype of Aries having “explosive tempers.”
“I think anyone who knows me knows that I have a very mellow temperament,” Lewis said.
Aries’ passion tends to manifest in their attitudes towards hobbies and work. Due to their sense of innovation and initiation, they are often eager to accomplish their goals.
“I love to write, dance, sing, act, anything and everything that has to do with art, and I come at those passions with equal fervor and intensity,” Torrence said. “I am really passionate about what I want to do, and I know that when I do it, I’m going to throw myself into it head-first.”
Lewis, on the other hand, says that she feels what is meant for her will fall into place naturally.
“I have a laid back yet active approach [to my career], which I don’t think aligns with the traditional view of Aries as being very active and pushing everything in their lives into place,” Lewis said. “But I have heard people argue that it makes sense with the confidence associated with Aries.”
Regardless of personal approach, Aries’ assertiveness makes them well-suited for leadership positions. Whether physically, socially, or intellectually demanding, Aries will likely seek out jobs that will challenge them.
This confidence and drive can also influence Aries’ interactions with others, making them seem energetic and outgoing; however, Aries are not always as extroverted as they may seem.
“I can definitely be reserved and withdrawn at times — I need my space away from people just as much as I need to be with people,” Torrence said. “A typical Aries would be partying all day every day in the presence of friends or strangers — I’m less inclined to that than to a nice, quiet evening reading a book.”
Despite Aries’ fiery and spontaneous nature, Torrence believes this season will benefit from a sense of “rejuvenation.”
“Instead of being loud and going crazy this season, Aries time will be well-spent by looking inward and honoring our limitations by learning from them,” Torrence said. “Now’s the time to consider our work-life balance and how we are distributing our energies so that we don’t get burned out or too stagnant.”
According to Lewis, focusing on “self-reflection” also helps her navigate the general transition from winter months into the spring season.
“Winter is always a hard time of year for me, so I usually come into spring needing to realistically look inward and take a hard look at my energy levels,” Lewis said. “I try [to] be really mindful about what I need to do to replenish myself and move into spring and summer with new fresh energy.”
After Aries season is Taurus season, which will last from April 20 to May 20. Stay tuned for a future Elm article detailing the aspects of Taurus season.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Photo Caption: Aries season is associated with a symbol of a ram.