23 November - 23 December
Mutable Fire Sign

Here we are again facing the Christmas party season. How appropriate for the Zodiac’s party animal. Christmas itself happens with the Sun in Capricorn, but most of the parties leading up to it take place while the Sun is still in the constellation of Sagittarius. This is significant because you couldn’t possibly expect this optimistic and enthusiastic sign to be facing the darkest time of the year with thoughts of hibernation. For them it is far more appropriate to put up lights, the brighter, flashier and more outrageous the better. They will want all the tinsel and then they will want to banish the darkness with lots of laughter. This time of year was made for them.

To understand where this wild streak in Sagittarius comes from, we need to consider the symbol for the sign: the Centaur. Centaurs are half horse and half man. The bottom half, the horse, symbolises man’s more carnal nature. This is the part of Sagittarius that could drink you under the table, or loves to camp in the wilderness.

The horse is also symbolic of a link with nature and many Sagittarians love animals, especially large ones. So don’t be surprised if they would like to go on safari; or if you have a little Sagittarius, he/she may love visits to the zoo, possibly to see the elephants. This link with animals is also symbolic of an instinctive nature, being a fire sign they act first and think later.

Indeed there is something quite wild about Sagittarius. They play by their own rules, love to take chances and push the limits. This may translate into gambling, (I’ve known of a few who are mad about horse racing). If you try to restrict this most free spirited of signs, the result will be either a massive argument, or watching them gallop away at full speed. Either way they will be very unhappy.

Unhappiness is something which we never associate with this happy go-lucky sign. Even if something traumatic happens, although the pain will be intense, they are lucky to recover more quickly than most. Their innate optimism will come to the rescue and the belief that somehow everything will work out alright, will keep the lights on, even in the darkest times.

The upper half of Centaurs is human; an archer aiming high. Here we have a representation of the more spiritual side of the sign. This is where Sagittarius becomes philosophical. Philosophy is a search for meaning in life and this is something that interests many Sagittarians. They will look for answers either through philosophy, conventional religion or through broader spiritual pursuits such as astrology.

Sagittarius’ curiosity also means that they are likely to want to travel. They are curious about different cultures and countries. Even if circumstances don’t allow them to get on a plane, they will be watching travel programmes on TV, or simply collecting postcards.

Their search for meaning and truth may take them into the path of journalism or writing in general. They always have something to say and generally want to share it with a wide audience. Their passion and enthusiasm means that they are great at inspiring others, be it through writing, inspirational speaking, teaching or preaching.

Sagittarius is also associated with Jupiter who was king of the gods. As such, he created laws. Sagittarians may be interested in law, but this is more likely to revolve around human rights and civil liberties rather than contractual law. This side of Sagittarius may well seem at odds with the fun loving party animal which I described earlier, but Sagittarius thinks big. They can be larger than life and whether they are seeking enlightenment, helping others to attain it or just making everyone around them laugh by sharing a joke, they are sprinkling a little bit of joy into our lives. This season, let’s all acquire a little bit of Sagittarian spirit, bring out the bubbly and have a really good time.

Ana Isabel is an Astrologer with over 10 years of experience. She is influenced by Jungian fields of psychology and combines this with astrology to provide a healing experience for those seeking guidance. Besides doing private consultations, she is often heard on LBC Radio and can next be heard on Radio London on BBC Southern Counties Radio on the 18th of December at 8:15 pm. If you are out of range you can listen on the internet. Ana also organises workshops designed to help individuals learn to read and understand their own Birth charts. For more information on private readings or workshops, you can visit her website: www.lifeastrologer.com