today, a little astrology lesson

The Decanates of Leo
Second Decanate: August 2 through August 12:
Keyword: Expansion
Constellation: Ursa Major, the Great Bear. This is the constellation of the Big Dipper. The Great Bear symboliszes wisdom.
Plantary subruler: Jupiter

The expansive planet Jupiter co-rules your decanate with Leo's Sun, accenting intellectual and visionary qualities. You have a very proud nature and a quick temper. Your ability to dissect problems and see immediately what needs to be done gives you an authority that others respond to. Though you are jovial and good-humored, it's hard for you to laugh at yourself. You are ambitious, but not just for money; what you want is to know more, to gain in intelligence. While you can do manual labor, you much prefer mental pursuits. Sometimes you are thought of as being brash and overconfident, but this is simply a genuine expression of your enthusiasm and willingness to try.

It is often said that Mercury makes life understandable, for it is the planet of intelligence.
On the day of my birth, Mercury was in Virgo. This position of Mercury gives a fine analytical quality to the mind. You like to deal in facts; before you make up your mind you must know all sides to the question and get all the information available in order to analyze it. Once you form a theory, you're quite convinced it is the truth. Thenceforward, you expect raliity to conform to your ideas, rather than vice versa. You have an intellectual intolerance for people who are sloppy in their thinking; you don't really understand human failings. Your emotional detachment makes you an excellent scientist, researcher, teacher or reporter. You are very quick to learn and can usually memorize long pages of material. A fault is your eagerness to take on too much work or too many projects. You wear yourself down, and at times become nervous and hyper-critical. As a Mercury-Virgo, you have a superb talent for creative crafts.

Mars is the planet of physical energy. It governs your sex drive, your forcefulness, and your aggression. Mars is the planet that spurs you into action.
On the day I was born, Mars was in Scorpio. Mars in Scorpio underscores persistence and intensity. As a Mars-Scorpio you are a hard-driving and resourceful person whose strength is not so much shown in the heat of action as in determination and relentlessness. Your efforts are well disciplined, always directed toward a purpose. there are no wasted movements or neeless expenditures of energy. You have a strong and deeply felt sexuality. However, it is sometimes an emotional sexuality, displayed in jealousy, anger, hurt feelings, and resentment. Though it is possible for you to be ruthless in your relationships, you are far more often simply quarrelsome and touchy. This positioni of Mars enhances imagination and a powerful creative drive. You are always able to move an audience. Often you are attracted to professions or situations that contain an element of danger or death.

(And finally, in case you were getting bored)

Venus is the planet of love and pleasure. It rules over your capacity to express affection and to enjoy beauty. In addition, Venus lends your personality allure and desirability, and tells what kind of sex appeal you possess.
On the day of my birth, Venus was in Cancer. As a Venus-in-Cancer person you are romantic and sensitive. Being loved is more important to you than almost anything else, though you often conceal this need under a shell of reserve. You are not, however, so blindly romantic that you don't carefully consider future security. For example, if you are a man you may not propose marriage until you have som reliable means of earning a living; if you are a woman you make sure you won't end up sharing your lover's poverty or struggling to support him. In a love affair, you would much rather be pursued than do the pursuing; you need the reassurance that someone wants you enough to go after you. Once you feel secure you are demonstrative and sensual. You have a wonderful gift for eloquenc and you are also intensely sentimental. You will make a big fuss over your lover's birthday and remember the anniversary of the day you first met [Heather's birthday 11/2 almost 4 years ago]. This postition of Venus indicates strong family loyalty. Venus-Cancerians are delightfully content to be at home and often love to cook.

All of these tasty morsels of info are brought to you by The Only Astology Book You'll Ever Need, a book given to me by Eric's sister, Kristen. I treasure this book, it is sooooo interesting.

So if you got through all that, you deserve to know that today is my birthday, hence the astrology lesson. I have reached the long-sought aging plateau of 24. Nothing special about 24 really, I just think it's kinda the best age to be. I like the fact that the numbers are divisible and also square roots and, of course, both even. It's a pleasing, round number and tends to remind old people of good times past. I have a pleasant feeling about 25-28 as well, but 29 scares me.

My birthday thus far has been completely uneventful (not to mention void of presents), but it is only 3:42 pm where I am, so it's all fun and happiness from here on out, I'm sure. I'll post another day about all the wonderful presents I'm bound to receive today.