The cycle of western astrology begins in March, in the springtime when buds are bursting and the world is coming alive again after the dark, cold winter.

Aries: the ram, rules the first month sign and (although it varies somewhat depending on the astrologer) the feisty, newborn Aries period lasts from March 21 to April 20.

If you were born after midnight on April 20, you are a
Taurus. These nature-loving business-like folks are born between April 21 and May 21.

After the stolid Bulls come the jabbery Gemini who are born between May 22 and June 21.

Then on June 22, Cancer, the crab enters the scene. Cancer comes creeping to an end on July 23.

After the crab, on July 24, we welcome self-involved Leo the Lion who always wishes to be noticed.

Then of course the picky, altruistic Virgo arrives on August 24 and stays until September 23.

Virgo makes way for the level-headed luxury-loving Libra who has difficulty making decisions until Scorpio comes along on October 24 and stings old Libra out of existence and then reigns until Nov 22.

Perhaps Scorpio is shoved out of the way by the swaggering, adventurous Sagittarius who flies in on Nov. 23 and governs right up until December 21 when it's time for cool-headed Capricorn to gambol up on stage and hang around until after the holidays. Capricorn ends on
January 20.

Then, On January 21, it's our resident lunatic genius Aquarius turn to take the reins until February 19 when on February 20, dreamy sensitive Pisces swims out of a crack in the rock and stays until March 20 when the soldierly Aries barrels back in on March 21 to jump start the whole shebang all over again.