Aries (21 March - 19 April)
Symbolized by a letter T left melting out in the sun, Aries writers are ruled by Mars, Roman god of war, agriculture and prompt-based writing competitions.
As the warrior poets of the Zodiac, their titles often read like battle cries. Louis L’Amour’s (b. March 22, 1908) Frontier Stories included “The Quick and the Dead.” Tom Clancy’s (b. April 12, 1947) The Hunt For the Red October was acclaimed for its detailed info on naval operations and submarine schematics.
Ram-headed writers are also prone to head injuries and migraines. These fire signs are quick to disregard the health risks when marching toward their social justice causes. Charles Baudelaire’s (b. April 9, 1821) goth-romance Les Fleur Du Mal is considered by many to be a criticism of France’s soulless rapid industrialization, while Erica Jong’s (b. March 26, 1942) sexually adventurous Fear of Flying led the charge of Second-Wave Feminism of the 1970’s.
True Cardinal Signs, their writing pushes boundaries and innovates. Henry James’s (b. April 15, 1843) The Turn of the Screw set the standard for modern horror. Much of his writing focused on moral character and his relationship with the old, corrupt world of Europe and the virtue-driven new Americas. And Robert Frost (b. March 26, 1874) took the path less travelled, blending traditional forms of poetry with modernism to create his colloquially infused common man’s style.
As a positive yang sign, Aries Writers are enthusiastic champions of society’s moral underdogs. Tennessee Williams’s (b. March 26, 1911) play A Streetcar Named Desire centered around Blanche, a southern belle stripped of her high social standing and reduced to a crummy apartment in the French Quarter of New Orleans.
Associated with the First House, these writers are concerned most with identity and virtue. Released at the peak of the civil rights movement, Maya Angelou’s (b. April 4, 1928) I know Why the Caged bird Sings is a work of autobiographical fiction, boldly exploring sexual assault, racism and sexism on her journey to reclaim individualism. Flannery O’Connor’s (b. March 25, 1925) collection A Good Man is Hard to Find employs morally flawed characters, and tackles topics of race, religion, and intersexuality, and Hans Christian Andersen’s (b. April 2, 1805) titular “Little Mermaid” endured pain and heartache for the chance at attaining a human soul.
Because more than love, the ultimate reward for the Aries Writer remains a virtuous life.
Bold, prolific and righteous overthinkers, Aries Writers move with purpose, imbedding stories with morality and soul. And they might just change the world for the better, if they can keep up with the daily baby-aspirin, and maybe where a helmet when charging fearlessly toward their chosen cause.
Notable Mentions:
Booker T Washington, b. 4/5/1856
Mario Vargas Llosa, b. 3/28/1936
Anna Sewell, b. 3/30/1820
Octavio Paz, b. 3/31/1914
John Jakes, b. 3/31/1932
Tama Janowitz, b. 4/12/1956
Anne Mccaffrey, b. 4/1/1926
— Forest Oliver