The following guest post is by Laura F. Walton of Astro What?

Leather and lace, fringe and fetish.... In this series, we'll take a peek at the kinkier side of the zodiac. Each sign has its own distinct sexual flavor; by combining the various tastes you find in the natal chart, each person's unique sexual recipe begins to emerge. Let's take it from the top with Aries, who is anything but vanilla.

In some ways, this cardinal fire sign is straightforward. Headstrong and willful, direct and impatient, Rams charge through their sex lives without so many of the exotic twists that slow down some other signs. Aries isn't interested in needless variation; as far as sex is concerned, they want it vigorous, and they want it now. They rarely offer anything less than straight-up, full-tilt lust.

As direct as it is, though, even Aries has its kinks. Spontaneous sex in unplanned places is often a turn-on. Aries is not necessarily an exhibitionist, but there's something delicious about wanting each other so badly that you're willing to risk a charge of indecent exposure. The hallway at home will do -- or the garage, or the hood of the car -- anywhere, really, so long as it involves the prospect of wild, do-it-right-here-and-now action.

Aries also likes angry sex. The Aries libido runs parallel to the Aries will; switching an angry Ram into a horny one is an incredibly easy trick. Just let them know you're turned on, and they'll instantly forget an argument, at least for as long as it takes to work out your frustrations right there on the dining room floor.

It's not uncommon for this sign to get off on causing pain. The Arian Mars, especially in combination with a power-sensitive sign such as Capricorn or Scorpio, can indicate a taste for full-fledged sadism. Most are content with the whimpers they get from minor discourtesies (such as penetrating a little too abruptly, or biting a little too hard) but many also enjoy the outright screams of pleasure mixed with pain. If you're into a bit of pain as an erotic experience, Aries is often willing to accommodate; just make sure to set firm boundaries, and insist that your Aries respects them. They can be headstrong at times.

In situations that call for a clear distinction between assertive and receptive roles (such as BDSM, mentor/protege relationships, gender play, rape fantasies, etc.) many will top with great enthusiasm, though they sometimes lack self-control and subtlety. Aries is not really into the mental aspect of sexual fantasy; this sign responds more to physical than to psychological stimulation.

Arians will also bottom, but are only satisfied with a top who matches their lusty physical drives. Don't try to top a strong Arian unless you have the Mars to see it through! They don't like teasing, and are rarely into delayed gratification games or elaborate scenarios. Even in the most standard of sexual setups, Aries wants action, not words.

Aries is the hunter/warrior of the zodiac, and has the sex drive to match. If wild, uncomplicated, aggressive sex sounds like your idea of heaven, find a partner with strong Aries placements. Then get ready for the ride of your life -- there's nothing iffy about a naked Aries!

About the Author
Laura F. Walton is a writer, artist, and arts instructor based in Texas. She has been a practicing astrologer for nearly ten years; she specializes in areas of sexuality, individuality, and creative self-discovery. She has contributed forecasts for print media, and currently provides monthlies on her blog Astro What?

Labels: aries

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• Are you interested in both planets and stars (and I don't mean the fixed kind)?
• Do you lose sleep because Sarah Silverman and Jimmy Kimmel broke up, and you want to know why?

Or do you just not give a flying fig newton?

Please let me know in the poll below. If there is sufficient interest, I might feature weekly astro-gossip.

Because I haven't completely sold out yet.

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by Michelle Piller

This week, power struggles with our mates are in the air, partly because we're at odds with our inner powermonger. Nobody wants to be the bad guy, so we do backflips trying to take care of our partners - completely forgetting to nurture ourselves. Tuning into your intuition helps maintain a healthy balance of give and take. The good news is there's oodles of cosmic energy to spice up our love lives. If you're searching for a mate, your homework this week is simply to put your imagination to work. What you dare imagine will eventually show up. So first, dream....

Click below for your Sun sign horoscope. For additional accuracy, read the horoscope for your Rising Sign. (How do I find out my Rising Sign?)

Aries	Taurus	Gemini
Cancer	Leo	Virgo
Libra	Scorpio	Sagittarius
Capricorn	Aquarius	Pisces

Labels: horoscope

This post is Part Two of the "Are you better off being single?" series. Please read Part One: Neptune for an introduction.

Two universal human needs must constantly be negotiated: to be an individual, yet to feel like part of something bigger. If you become too independent, you risk losing your sense of affiliation. Yet if you conform too much to the group, your identity becomes squashed. There is a middle ground, but to achieve equilibrium you must frequently readjust your priorities.

The Uranian individual has a strong need to forge their own path, and sometimes there is just no room to accommodate another person during the journey. There is a stubborn quality to Uranus -- as well as Aquarius, the fixed sign which this planet rules -- such that a person following the Promethean call does not want to "bend" for the sake of a partner. When you are obsessed with a singular vision and are committed to pursuing it at all costs, intimacy often falls by the wayside. Or if you are in a relationship, you may be so detached -- with your mind focused on your passion project -- that your partner would have to be so self-sufficient that your absence is tolerated or even appreciated.

How to tell if you are from Uranus

You may feel so easily stifled or smothered that only an equally independent person would be an appropriate partner. You don't want to be controlled, or to have emotional demands made upon you. In fact, you may feel more satisfied having a large network of friends than being consumed by a romantic relationship. You want to have stimulating dialogues and enjoy alternative community events (Burning Man, anyone?) without having to say, "I love you" or get into icky conversations like, "where is this thing going?"

You may chafe at traditional models of relationship like, say, monogamy. As a freedom-loving soul, you prefer to sleep with whomever strikes your fancy, without having to be beholden to another individual. Scorpionic states like jealousy and possessiveness are rarely in your lexicon.

Of course, none of these personality characteristics preclude you from having a successful, satisfying relationship. But they can make it more difficult. You might thrive in an alternative arrangement:

• Maintaining a separate home from your partner
• Having an open relationship
• Having many friends to whom you can retreat when you feel constrained doing the "one-on-one" thing
• Challenging antiquated notions such as "ownership" of another person, which is implied in the marriage contract

Some possible chart patterns to look out for:

• Uranus in hard aspect to, or conjunct, the Sun, Moon, Venus or ruler of the Seventh House
• Uranus in the Seventh House or Aquarius on this house's cusp
• Some of these key planets in Aquarius
• Although I don't see the Eleventh House as closely associated with Uranus and Aquarius in the way that I combine Neptune/Pisces/Twelfth, a stellium of planets in the Eleventh can indicate an individual who values friendships and participation in groups more than romantic partnership.

Related posts:

• The Seventh House curse of Uranus on the Descendant?
• Does Uranus in the Seventh House automatically mean infidelity?
• Why do some Aquarius women cheat?

Comment below: Does this pattern apply to you? If so, describe your relevant chart patterns and how they manifest in your love life (or lack thereof).

Labels: aquarius, uranus