Sagittarius

When any planet is in Sagittarius, or Sagittarius is on the cusp of any House, the matters covered by the planet or House will be affected by Sagittarian characteristics.

Have you ever heard the expression "clumsy grace?" Think of a newborn foal, teetering on unsteady legs, but showing, in its inexperience, obvious glimpses of the proud, graceful adult horse it will become. Or think of a typical Sagittarius native!

Sag loves freedom, and is willing to extend the freedom he or she demands for him or herself to everyone in the circle. Unlike Aries, who demands personal freedom, but can be a bit, shall we say, "possessive" of the time and attention of friends and loved ones, or Scorpio, with the need for control, fun-loving Sagittarius believes that everyone deserves the freedom to pursue his or her own interests, and to make his or her own mistakes. If the Sag is your friend, s/he will most likely be pretty forgiving about personal mistakes, understanding that one learns from failures, as much as or more than, from one's successes.

Sagittarius is honest, some would say to a fault. Unlike the no-nonsense bluntness of Scorpio, or the sometimes thoughtless dismissal of Gemini, Sag's occasional social faux paus is entirely accidental, with no malice aforethought, or manipulative plans thrown in as afterthought. If you don't want the truth, don't ask for Sag's opinion.

The Sagittarian nature is charming, optimistic, and idealistic. Few things are sadder than a friendly, well-intentioned Sag who has had his or her idealistic views brought up short by reality. Sag really, truly, honestly wants everyone to get along, and believes firmly in the motto "Strength through diversity." Open-minded and spiritual, a bigoted Sag is rare, and their naturally cheerful acceptance is a wonderful quality indeed. Sag needs to watch out, however, that he or she doesn't get "caught" by one or more interests of the moment, and become a True Believer (tm); in such conditions the normally laid-back, inclusive Sagittarius could become narrow-minded. Still with the best intentions of course! Sag doesn't want you to agree with his or her ideas because you get tired of arguing -- Sag would never try to tell others how to live their lives! No, it's (of course) because Sag really cares about you, is convinced that he knows the best way to help you, and utterly believes that, if you simply followed his advice, you'd be a much happier and healthier person.

Travel and, interestingly, horses are common Sagittarian interests, along with spirituality, philosophy, humor and FUN! Like Leo, Sag loves being the center of attention, and is generally very good at achieving this. Like Scorpio, Sag has big appetites, and may need to watch that his or her enjoyment of alcohol, food, and other substances do not become a problem. Ordinarily very healthy people, some Sagittarians may find themselves with hip or sciatic nerve problems, as well as the tendency to put on weight as the years pass.

The Sagittarian native is honest, loyal, quick-minded, and has a protective side that would rival that of a mama bear whose cubs are in danger. Who or whatever falls under Sag's protective shield is likely to remain there, and woe betide anyone foolish enough to hurt easygoing Sagittarius' family and friends, or to attempt to sabotage Sag's dearly-held projects. If there's a cause close to your heart, enlist a Sagittarius to help you with it. Should your own pet cause end up snagging Sag's interest, s/he will work tirelessly and more than competently to bring attention to the matter, never whining, never expecting any reward beyond that of effecting positive change in the world. They're wonderful people who make wonderful friends, and should always be treated wonderfully in order to gain the full benefits of Sag's complex combination of intuition, planning, and the sheer good fortune that so many of them effortlessly attract.

For information regarding the physical traits and characteristics of the Sagittarian native, please see our page on Physical Appearance and Astrology.

Artwork: Boticelli Centaur; Chiron with young Hercules.