Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Gossip Guide Sun Signs

I've been into astrology for years, and am overly-reliant on it to hash-out people's personalities. I was delighted when Antonia Frasier used Louis XIV's sign as a way to explain him in Love and Louis XIV. Georgiana was a Gemini, like myself, and could be used as the definition of the sun sign.
So for a while I've been working on with a list of famous eighteenth century English examples of each sign which has been quite daunting due to unspecified birth dates and such. So without further ado, here is the Gossip Guide's guide to your star sign.


Aries March 21 - April 20
The Ram, Element: Fire
Traits: Adventurous, energetic, pioneering, courageous, enthusiastic, confident, dynamic and quick-witted.
Negative Traits: Selfish, quick-tempered, impulsive, impatient, foolhardy and daredevil.
Wardrobe Colours: Red, bright colors, especially green, pink, white, and yellow
18th Century Arieses: Queen Caroline (George II's consort) and John Duke of Dorset


Taurus April 21 - May 21
The Bull, Element: Earth Traits: Patient, reliable, warmhearted,loving, persistent, determined, placid and security loving
Negative Traits: Jealous, possessive, resentful, stubborn, inflexible, self-indulgent and greedy
Wardrobe Colours: All shades of blue and green, turquoise, soft rose-pinks
18th Century Tauruses: Lady Bess Foster and Thomas Gainsborough


Gemini May 22 - June 21
The Twins, Element: Air Traits: Adaptable, versatile, communicative, witty, intellectual, eloquent, youthful and lively
Negative Traits: Nervous, tense, superficial, inconsistent, cunning and inquisitive
Wardrobe Colours: White, silver, yellow, spring green, pale gray
18th Century Geminis: Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire and William Pitt the Younger


Cancer June 22 - July 22
The Crab, Element: Water Traits: Emotional, loving, intuitive, imaginative, shrewd, cautious, protective and sympathetic
Negative Traits: Changeable, moody, overemotional, touchy, clinging and unable to let go
Wardrobe Colours: Pale blue, silver, pearl, glistening white, emerald green
18th Century Cancers: Elizabeth Armistead and Joshua Reynolds


Leo July 23 - August 21
The Lion, Element: Fire Traits: Generous, warmhearted, creative, enthusiastic, broad-minded, expansive, faithful and loving
Negative Traits: Pompous, patronizing, bossy, interfering, dogmatic and intolerant
Wardrobe Colours: All shades of gold, yellow, orange, vermilion, copper, blood red
18th Century Leos: Lady Lavinia Spencer and George Prince of Wales


Virgo August 22 - September 23
The Virgin, Element: Earth Traits: Modest, shy, meticulous, reliable, practical, diligent, intelligent and analytical
Negative Traits: Fussy, a worrier, overcritical, harsh, perfectionist and conservative
Wardrobe Colours: Pastel shades of blue, gold, peach, yellow, and amethyst; jade green, autumn hues
18th Century Virgos: Lady Selina Hastings and Prince William, Duke of Clarence (later William IV)


Libra September 24 - October 23
The Scales, Element: Air Traits: Diplomatic, urbane, romantic, charming, easygoing, sociable, idealistic and peaceable
Negative Traits: Indecisive, changeable, gullible, easily influenced, flirtatious and self-indulgent
Wardrobe Colours: Royal blue, cerulean blue, rose-pink, amethyst, violet
18th Century Libras: Princess Royal Charlotte and Lord Horatio Nelson


Scorpio October 24 - November 22
The Scorpion, Element: Water Traits: Determined, forceful, emotional, intuitive, powerful, passionate, exciting and magnetic
Negative Traits: Jealous, resentful, compulsive, obsessive, secretive and obstinate
Wardrobe Colours: Deep, dark shades of red, russet-brown, shadow-black, stone-gray
18th Century Scorpios: Lady Caroline Lamb and Richard Brinsley Sheridan



Sagittarius November 23 - December 22
The Archer, Element: Fire Traits: Optimistic, freedom-loving, jovial, good-humored, honest, straightforward, intellectual and philosophical
Negative Traits: Blindly optimistic, careless, irresponsible, superficial, tactless and restless
Wardrobe Colours: Lilac, mauve, purple, amethyst, violet, indigo, vermilion, midnight blue
18th Century Sagittarii: Mary Robinson and William, Duke of Devonshire


Capricorn Decmeber 23 - January 20
The Goat, Element: Earth Traits: Practical, prudent, ambitious, disciplined, patient, careful, humorous and reserved
Negative Traits: Pessimistic, fatalistic, miserly and grudging
Wardrobe Colours: Black, gray, violet, dark brown, dun, shades of earth
18th Century Capricorns: Maria Edgeworth and Edmund Burke


Aquarius January 21 - February 19
The Water-bearer, Element: Air Traits: Friendly, humanitarian, honest, loyal, original, inventive, independent and intellectual
Negative Traits: Intractable, contrary, perverse, unpredictable, unemotional and detached
Wardrobe Colours: All colors of the spectrum, particularly electric and ultramarine blue, electric green, deep violet
18th Century Aquairii: Elizabeth Lady Derby and Charles James Fox


Pisces February 20 - March 20
The Fish, Element: Water Traits: Imaginative, sensitive, compassionate, kind, selfless, unworldly, intuitive and sympathetic
Negative Traits: Escapist,idealistic, secretive, vague, weak-willed and easily led
Wardrobe Colours: Purple, violet, amethyst, sea-green, turquoise
18th Century Pisces: Frances Lady Jersey and William Godwin


For the best books on astrology or analyzing signs check out any books by Linda Goodman, the woman was scary-good in her analyzes; down to physical looks. Her Sun Signs is a must read.

15 comments:

  1. Ah, Madame, I am truly crushed that you did not list me as an Aquarian. Well, no matter. It was certainly a simple oversight!

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  2. sigh are caps a total bore or what?

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  3. Marie Antoinette was also a Scorpio and Emma Hamilton was a beautiful Taurus.

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  4. Mozart- I was sticking to those of the English persuasion. Hence the challenge

    Lauren- as my Capricorn mother said "Caps are too logical to be tarts" to which I retorted "No, they're too logical to reveal their tart-dom" Madame de Pompadour was a Cappy!

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  5. Oh no, Heather, not you!! Am I the only person left in the world who doesn't believe in this stuff?? (Ok, now try and guess what I am--and don't look at my profile :p as it's incorrect anyway).

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  6. Yup, I love it! Hmm first guess would be a Scorpio or Capricorn

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  7. Ha! Pitt and the Duchess of Devonshire have the same astrological sign! I am intensely amused.

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  8. I loved the way you posted this info with the accompanying personalities. I find astrology useful for personality types but not for its day-to-day predictive pronouncements.

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  9. Oh no! Bess and I share the same birthday-May 13. I want to cry!

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  10. Oh no! Well at least you have a famous bday connection. I think I share mine (May 30) with Peter the Great.

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  11. Mine is Will Shakespeare (April 23) but then if he wasn't who they think he was I guess it doesn't matter.

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  12. Oh is that the latest report on the Bard?

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  13. I'm a gemini too! My birthday is June 10th (same as Judy Garland).

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  14. How fun! Although of course my Leo pride doesn't take well to the fact that we have Prinny or Lavinia standing tall for our sign. Hm... Well, there is Prinny's unquestionable contribution to the prettification of London (notice I don't say Brighton...) and Lavinia's hatred of Bess. Bysshe Shelley was a Leo!

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  15. But (and don't let me hurt your Leo pride!) you must be able to admit they are great exaggerated examples of Leos. Lavinia hated on Bess so very well! Only a Scorpio, perhaps, could do better.

    Of course Caro Lamb is a great example of why we shouldn't get on a Scorpio's bad side (cough cough Byron)

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