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Zodiac Signs – What Are They And What Do They Really Mean?

June 29, 2020 By in Lifestyle Tags: , , , , 6 Comments

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Open up a magazine or newspaper, and you’ll likely find a horoscope section in the back claiming to be able to predict something about your personality or your future based on when you were born. Most of us know what star sign we are, but very few of us know where this trend originated from and what the zodiac signs mean, so here’s a quick guide to all things Zodiac.

What does Zodiac mean?

Zodiac is a word derived from the Latin, zōdiacus, and the Ancient Greek, zōidiakòs kýklos, and can be translated to mean “circle of little animals’. The term, Zodiac, has long been used to refer to the pattern of animal shapes that can be interpreted in the night sky, which have in turn come to be known as zodiac signs.

What are the zodiac signs?

Although there are officially 88 constellations in the night sky, 13 of them are Zodiac constellations because these are the ones found on the Zodiac Belt that sits on the elliptical. But, despite there being 13 zodiac constellations, only 12 of them are Zodiac signs, because these are the constellations used to split the Zodiac Belt into 12 equal parts. The 12 zodiac signs are as follows:

Aries
Taurus
Gemini
Cancer
Lio
Virgo
Libra
Scorpio
Sagittarius
Capricorn
Aquarius
Piscis

These 12 zodiac signs are not only named after their constellations but also represent parts of the body of the cosmic man, also known as Kalapurusha. Each of the 12 Zodiac signs also has a planetary ruler and is grouped by one of the four elements, Fire, Water, air and Earth.

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Planetary rulers

The planets that circle the Zodiac are known as planetary rulers and rule over certain personality traits and characteristics that are then passed onto those born within their sign. Although technically not planets, the Sun, the Moon and Pluto are included as planetary rulers in this instance. Here is a list of which planets match up with which sign and what characteristics they rule over.

Sun
The Sun rules over essential personality traits and is connected to the Leo astrological sign.

Moon
The Moon rules over moods and emotions and is connected to the Cancer zodiac sign.

Mercury
Mercury rules over mind and communication and is connected to two signs, Virgo and Gemini.

Venus
Venus is predictably associated with love and attraction and is also connected to two signs, Libra and Taurus.

Mars
Mars rules over the characteristics of drive and energy and is the ruling planet of the star sign, Aries.

Pluto
Pluto rules over the characteristics of power and transformation and is connected to the star sign Scorpio.

Neptune
Neptune is the ruling planet of dreams and healing and is connected to Pisces.

Saturn
Saturn is the ruling planet of fears, challenges and discipline and is connected to Capricorn.

Uranus
Uranus rules over Aquarius and is responsible for change and originality.

Jupiter
And lastly, Jupiter rules over luck, wisdom and growth and is connected to the star sign Sagittarius.

The elements
As well as being ruled by a planet, each of the 12 zodiac signs is also connected with one of the four elements, Fire, Water, air and Earth.

Fire
The Fire element is generally associated with positive qualities such as passion, courage, individuality, love and zeal but is a temperamental element and can also represent destruction. Representing light, Fire is the element of the star signs Aries, Leo and Sagittarius.

Earth 
The Earth element is connected with Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn and represents realism and practicality. The Earth element is often associated with people who are builders and who have a strong foundation and is a more stable element than Fire.

Air
The Air element is associated with the star signs Gemini, Libra and Aquarius and is a powerful force not to be reckoned with. Separated from the Earth, the Air element represents action and change, and like Fire can at times be temperamental.

Water 
Lastly, the Water element is associated with Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces and is closely connected with feelings of security. As expansive as the ocean, those associated with the Water element are believed to be able to feel a range of emotions as vast as the sea.

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The 12 zodiac signs and their characteristics
Many people believe that a person’s personality traits can be explained by their zodiac sign. Although there’s no science to back this up, horoscopes and spiritualists have been using star signs to explain behaviour for many years – here are some of the key positive and negative characteristics for each zodiac sign.

Aries
Aries, the ram, is the zodiac sign for anyone born between March 21st, and April 19th. With Mars as its ruler and Fire as its element, Aries characteristics are dynamic, adventurous and active, but can also be selfish, short-tempered and aggressive.

Taurus 
Taurus, the bull, is the zodiac sign for anyone born between April 20th and May 20th and ruled by Venus. With the Earth as its element, those with Taurus as their star sign are loving and dependable but can be greedy and hateful.

Gemini 
Gemini, the twins, is the zodiac sign for anyone born between May 21st and June 20th and is ruled by Mercury and is connected with the Air element. Characteristics of those born in the Gemini star sign are versatility, intelligence and wit, but they can also be superficial and inconsistent.

Cancer 
Cancer, the crab, is the zodiac sign for anyone born between June 21st and July 22nd. This sign has the Moon as its ruler and Water as its element giving those born within its period the characteristics of affection, sensitivity and protectiveness, but also making them temperamental.

Leo 
Leo, the lion, is the star sign for anyone born between July 23rd and August 22nd and is ruled by the Sun and associated with Fire. Although faithful, brave and loving, Leo’s can also be intolerant but generally make good leaders.

Virgo 
Virgo, the virgin, is the star sign for anyone born between August 23rd and September 22nd and is ruled by Mercury and associated with the Earth element. Although dependable and practical, Virgo’s can also be overcritical of themselves and others.

Libra 
Libra, the scales, is the star sign for anyone born between September 23rd and October 22nd. Ruled by Venus and connected with the Air element, Libras are diplomatic and balanced but can be gullible and changeable.

Scorpio 
Scorpio, the scorpion, is the star sign for anyone born between October 23rd and November 21st and is ruled by Pluto. With Water as their element, Scorpios are passionate and emotive but can quickly get jealous.

Sagittarius
Sagittarius, the archer, is the star sign for anyone born between November 22nd and December 21st and is ruled by Jupiter and associated with the fire element. Although at times irresponsible, Sagittarius’ are also wise and optimistic.

Capricorn 
Capricorn, the goat, is the star sign for anyone born between December 22nd and January 19th. Connected with the Earth element and ruled by Saturn, Capricorns display ambition and patience but can be stern and uptight.

Aquarius 
Aquarius, the water bearer, is the star sign for anyone born between January 20th and February 18th and is ruled by the planet Uranus. With air as their element, those in the Aquarius star sign are loyal and independent but can at times be unpredictable.

Pisces 
Lastly, Pisces, the fish, is the star sign for anyone born between February 19th and March 20th and is ruled by Neptune. Connected with the water element, Pisces’ are spiritual and emotional but can also be vague and weak-willed.

So there you have it – a quick guide to the zodiac signs, what they are and what they mean. Which zodiac sign are you? Do you believe that zodiac signs can determine your personality traits?

Could a Return to Higher Education Benefit You?

June 20, 2020 By in Lifestyle Tags: , , , , 4 Comments

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The vast majority of us engage with compulsory education. But when it comes to the age of leaving school, many skip the opportunity for higher education and will start working straight away. This is fine for many of us. There are plenty of industries out there that don’t require degrees, where you can start from the bottom and work your way up. But later down the line, you may find that you grow interested in pursuing a role that does require qualifications, or where qualifications could significantly increase your chances of getting your foot in the door. Here are a few pieces of information that can help to give you the confidence to pursue this venture, as well as guide you in the right direction!

You’re Never Too Old for Higher Education

Most of us associate higher education with people who are just leaving compulsory education and who are taking the next steps of our journey. We think that students are aged between 18 and their early 20s. Of course, many students do fall within this age category. But it’s important to remember that this isn’t the only group who can attend university or college. Instead, universities and colleges are open to anyone who’s interested in learning or who wants to add a specific qualification to their resume. Every institution has plenty of mature students who have started their education once they’ve passed the age of 21 and these students play just as important and valuable a role to universities as any students younger than 21.

A Return to Higher Education Can Completely Change Your Career Path

Pursuing an undergraduate degree or any other course being offered by a university provides you with a great opportunity to alter your career path. If you’re already within a job and simply don’t enjoy it anymore and want to try something else, or if you’ve always wanted to do something but have never had the confidence, a qualification like a degree on your CV or resume could open the door to the career you’ve been dreaming of. Alternatively, it can help you to progress along the career path you’re already on. If you’re hoping for a promotion or want to advance into a role that requires more expertise or responsibility, completing a degree is a good way to get the ball rolling in the right direction. Whether that’s an undergrad degree from CHC Christian Heritage College or a complementary master’s degree from a traditional Ivy League or red brick institution.

Choosing the Right Course

Of course, any form of higher education comes with a high price tag attached. You’re likely to have to pay a large sum upfront for the course, or you’ll have to take out a loan or apply to scholarships and grants to cover the costs. If you decide to take out a student loan, keep in mind that you can always refinance those. Just make sure you compare student loan refinance rates to get the one that works best for you. You’re obviously going to want to choose a course that works for you in order to enjoy your experience, in order to gain the right qualification with a good grade and in order to get the career path you’re planning started off on the right foot. There are so many options out there. From full-time courses to part-time courses, online courses, and more! Check league tables, browse reviews, and take your time to find the right one to suit your needs and preferences.

These are just a few tips and tricks that can help to get you off to uni. Hopefully, some will help!

 

How to Find the Right Car for You

June 18, 2020 By in Lifestyle Tags: , , , , , , , 1 Comment

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Whether you’re buying a car for the first time, or finally trading in a vehicle you’ve been trundling around in for years on end, the car-buying process can be a little bit intimidating. It’s the most major purchase many of us make in our lifetimes (with the exception of your house), and there’s extra pressure to make the right call.

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What do you need?

Before making any purchase of this sort, it’s vital to take stock of just what you’re after. Are you going to be frequently carrying passengers? What kind of surfaces are you going to be driving on? Will you be performing short urban commutes, or travelling great distances over motorways? Do you have a boat or a caravan that needs towing?

The answers to all of these questions will exert a massive influence on your ultimate choice of vehicle. But if you’re going to be driving this new car frequently, it’s also worth considering the driving experience – if a car is a pain to drive, then you’ll probably come to resent it.

What can you afford?

Having an idea of your budget at the outset will help to prevent you from entering into a burdensome agreement. You don’t want to be crippled by debt repayments for months on end, after all. If you’re in a comfortable financial position, then you might elect to pay for the entire vehicle outright. This will end up cheaper in the long term, as you won’t have to worry about interest. For everyone else, financing makes a sound investment. As a general rule, you’ll want to restrict the amount your spend on your car to around 20% of your overall outgoings, and ideally less than that.

Your financial circumstances will influence your decision; if you’re working a zero-hours contract, or you’re self-employed, then you might prefer the financial security that comes with lower payments.

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Shopping around

If you’re based in Belfast and you’re in the market for a Rav4, then looking at every Toyota dealer Northern Ireland has to offer might be impractical. Still, it’s worth examining your options and looking to see what kind of aftercare is offered at each dealership.

To lease or to buy

Leasing a car provides many advantages over buying one. To begin with, you’ll be driving a more expensive car than you otherwise would. Moreover, you’ll be able to easily upgrade every few years without the hassle of a trade-in. However, you’ll tend to spend less money overall if you opt to buy, and you’ll have the luxury of being able to modify it to suit your particular tastes.

 

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