Random Bits & Pieces

astro-news:

All of the signs have their own ways of being friends, and most of these are pretty evident. I won’t do a complete laundry list here. I’ll limit myself to pointing out the more curious and interesting characteristics.

The following descriptions should be used judiciously — in a natal chart, they may apply to the sign of the Sun, Moon, Venus, Ascendant, Descendant, or any preponderance of sign influence. The Moon seems to be particularly important in friendship synastry, for both men and women. It makes sense that, if the two Moons are compatible, you will have a sense of family with your friend, a sense of trust and shared emotional ground. And, of course, different parts of the chart will be more or less in play at various stages of life.

Aries is gregarious but often has difficulty forming deep friendships, unless the overall chart gives some help. Aries is always onto the next thing and may leave a string of abandoned friends in his wake.

Despite being ruled by Venus, Taurus is still a bull standing alone in a field and is often not all that friendly, preferring the company of lovers and nature.

Gemini does friendships on the phone and by e-mail and tends to be erratic and unreliable, changing plans at the last minute. But male or female, they love their friends, and often give them a higher priority than a mate or children. Even after marriage, Geminis often continue to talk to their friends all day on the phone about anything and everything.

Cancer makes her friends into family, cooks for them, and takes care of them when they are sick (and even when she is sick). Cancerians are also inclined to turn their relatives into their friends and may lack interest in forming friendships outside the family — except those born in the 1950s with Uranus close to the Sun; this group has a more Aquarian slant on family, embracing friends and lost sheep into the fold and then, at times, choosing to be alone. The generation of Cancerians with Pluto in Cancer have a very deep and strong sense of family and a great tendency to expect friendship to come from relations. They may suffer loneliness as a result, especially if they have independent siblings or children.

Leo needs friends as an audience and for the experience of bonhomie. They often have a mass of acquaintances but may have trouble establishing truly deep friendships because of their need to be the star. When they do make a real friend, it lasts forever, and they are completely loyal. Leos born when Pluto was in Leo often have so much power-trippy energy that friendships suffer accordingly. Or else they are attracted to equally powerful friends with whom they plot to take over the world.

Virgo likes to do things with friends, fix things, go on hikes, and swap massages. However, Virgo knows that a dog is really a better companion than a human. The Uranus–Pluto in Virgo group have an interesting friendship style — deep, erratic, long-lasting, and often involving a shared spiritual life.

Libra often turns the partner/spouse into a friend, and that’s frequently the Libran definition of a happy marriage: He/she’s my best friend. The Neptune in Libra generation, with their fluctuating and nebulous relationship boundaries, have a tendency to turn friends into lovers, seeing anyone they are close to as a potential romantic partner. This can create all kinds of confusion.

Scorpio is as passionate and jealous about friendship as about everything else and often has fallings-out with friends over money, sex, or power. It’s usually inadvisable to borrow money from Scorpio friends, unless they have a lot of Libra in the chart.

Sagittarius is made for friendship — gregarious, fun-loving, interested in what makes human beings tick. They are the perfect companion for a discussion long into the night about the meaning of the universe. Just don’t complain when you need their support and they are about to leave for a six-month retreat in the Himalayas.

Capricorn types are social climbers. No judgement is implied. They like people who are going places. Capricorn friendships have to be tested over time to see whether they are based on more than self-interest. Of course, if you are going through a phase of life in which you favor hiding out in backwaters, any Capricorn who befriends you is someone who sees your true nature and just loves you for it. This person will be worthy of your loyalty.

Aquarius can be cool in friendship and unpredictable. They like shared political and social interests as friendship glue, but you should know that they will always put the needs and desires of the group before your individual needs. Aquarians are fantastic friends at a community level, introducing you to people and helping you to network.

Pisces is sweet and loyal but can be emotionally demanding. When young, Pisceans often bond with their friends through drugs and drink. Since they are the most prone to addiction of all the signs, they may also become addicted to their friends and stay together long past the sell-by date of their camaraderie. Sad groups of old addicts are dominated by Piscean energy that just couldn’t make up its mind to leave the party. Better for Pisces to bond through religion and spiritual study, but beware of fixating on a guru and having all your friends in a spiritual community that it then tears your heart apart to leave.

The friendship styles of my Venus/Descendant/7th house (one-on-one relationships) sign, 11th house (friendship/group associations) sign, Rising sign, and Moon sign trump my Sun sign style.