Both Sun signs like to go to bed late. They’re afraid of missing out. That’s why they’re so reluctant to go to bed early, leave parties early—or walk past two strangers fighting in the street. Well-intentioned friends are constantly advising Rams and Archers: “Don’t butt in. Mind your own business. It’s none of your business. It’s a lost cause.” That last warning was a blunder. These two would walk a thousand miles for any cause, and if it’s a lost cause, they simply can’t stand to sit on their hands without trying to save it. The fact that it’s none of their business only makes it more tempting, because both signs are imbued with an over-abundance of curiosity as well as a certainty that they know everything. As for “asking for bandages,” Aries and Sagittarius are also the most accident-prone of the Zodiac (Aquarius is close behind). For obvious reasons. Not only because of the traits I just mentioned, but also because Aries men and women always stick their horns in places that angels fear to tread… even on tiptoe.
Sagittarians (symbolized by the Centaur, with the bow and arrow) are all born a little clumsy by nature. It is not easy to balance a body that is half man and half horse. Aries and Sagittarius get along quite well most of the time, because they have much in common: for example, their remarkable amount of idealism. No one is more idealistic than the naive Ram, with his childlike faith in the magical effect of desire, except the Archers, who aim their arrows in the direction of some galaxy unseen by mortal men and women. Of course, today, when less idealistic individuals poison the Earth and its atmosphere, Jupiter’s arrows may get stuck in a mass of solid pollution before they pierce a low cloud. Rams and Archers aren’t the only ones with good intentions, but they’re usually so busy, especially as a team, pushing their utopian ideas (and often running in concentric circles), that they don’t have time to be led astray by personal or political ambition. Another thing Aries and Sagittarius have in common is their love of heated debate. Only Libra enjoys starting an argument more than they do. But logical Libra is driven by a desire for fairness and justice. Rams and Archers, on the other hand, are organically incapable of evading a verbal challenge, but for other reasons. Aries argue because someone has dared to tell them they’re wrong, when Rams know they’re always infallible. Sagittarians argue because people lie, and if there’s one thing an Archer can’t stand, it’s hearing the truth twisted.
An excellent example is found in the fable about the Emperor’s new clothes. There were all these brainwashed subjects, thousands of gullible individuals, lined up along the roadside and cheering the mad Emperor as he rode in his chariot – stark naked. As he was their leader, and therefore could do no wrong, they saw him dressed in luxurious satins and velvets, radiating sparkles of precious stones. “Look how beautiful the Emperor’s clothes are!” It is impossible to conjecture what would have happened to that mythical kingdom, if some creature (who could only have been a little Virgo girl with the Moon in Sagittarius, or a young Archer with the Moon in Virgo) had not shot an arrow of truth into the crowd, shouting (in modern parlance): “Gee! The king is naked!” I don’t remember what happened to the boy in the fable, but I hope the Emperor’s guards didn’t stop him for questioning. The guards would have had a bad time. Anyone who has a Sagittarius friend has been subjected to a certain amount of verbal surgery. This playful, friendly little pup comes up to you on the street, pats you on the back, and says, “Hello, how are you? I’m so glad to see you again, but I almost didn’t recognize you. You look like a skeleton!”
This is followed by the usual Sagittarius apology for rudeness, because these guests are basically good-hearted, and only a few underdeveloped Archers would deliberately offend you. “Oh, no, I’ve messed up again. You probably don’t like being told you’re skinny, do you?” Or the scene may go like this: “How are things going, old man? Aries usually admires and defends Sagittarius’s truthfulness, because Rams pride themselves on telling the truth. But they can’t stand to hear truths that concern themselves. This is a marked difference between Aries and Sagittarius. The Archer is almost as ruthless when speaking to himself as when speaking to others. The Ram is the champion of truth only until it begins to hurt or touch him too closely. Aries are not characterized by their tendency to readily acknowledge or accept their weaknesses and shortcomings. Although Sagittarius shoots most of its arrows in good faith, without any real malice, from time to time a less evolved and enlightened Centaur will deliver to a Ram a cutting and cruel remark totally untrue and inspired only by the desire to do harm. (All the traits of the twelve Sun signs can be expressed, at times, through their negative pole.)
While this brutal Sagittarius may get his way in most cases, he will also find that it is not wise to pick on a Ram of either sex. The arrow will be returned, with the added Martian impetus of righteous indignation, and while it will not always find its mark immediately (Aries is not as good an aimer as the Archer), it will eventually end its fiery path in the right place. Jupiter is a large and powerful star, but even in the sky it keeps a healthy distance from bellicose Mars, ruler of Aries. If Mars did not defend itself against the attack, it would spoil its reputation for daring, and the whole astrological structure would collapse. This will never happen. But this is a 5-9 vibration partnership, and the quick repentance and frank mercy that both Sun Signs are capable of displaying when they have been clumsy or cruel to each other will smooth out the frequent mutual friction. Neither Sagittarius nor Aries can nurse their anger for long, and neither Sun sign can prolong their grudge beyond the passion of the moment… unless one of them has a Scorpio Moon sign.
Then they may remember the grievance for more than a few days. Still, the Sun is more powerful than the Moon, with its light influence, and eventually the solar idiosyncrasies of the Ram and Centaur will restore harmony between them. Many careers and activities appeal to the wandering, restless Sagittarius, from jungle safaris to the stock market; from horse breeding and dog training to religion; from medicine and law to higher education—all as long as the Archer has the freedom to roam, to talk, to take risks, and to find excitement. The gregarious Aries is also attracted by many careers and activities. Choose a profession, and the Ram will be happy to follow along to please you. They are not selective, as long as they can command. Aries is a cardinal sign of leadership. Sagittarius is a mutable sign, and less inclined to seek authority. Intuitively, the Archer knows that the boss is desk-bound, often unable to take as many vacations as his employees… and Sagittarius loves vacations! In fact, both prefer to be their own bosses, and gravitate toward occupations or professions where no one tells them what to do, or when to do it.
Although the Ram and the Archer are essentially extroverts, both born under positive, masculine daytime forces, they will meet more laconic Archers than laconic Rams. Perhaps this is because the more philosophical Sagittarians have discovered the hard way—and I mean the hard way—that you learn more by listening than by talking. After all. Jupiter rules higher education (among other things), and it is quite natural for the Jupiter-ruled individual to gradually develop a taste for educating themselves. Archers are intuitive by nature, and “intuition” means “teaching from within.” To understand the basic difference between Sagittarius and Aries, it is necessary to understand the differences between the two planets that rule them: Jupiter and Mars. These two people are so alike, on the outside, that it can be difficult to spot the differences, but they are there. Jupiter influences the Sagittarius man, child, woman, boy, or girl, inducing him to be expansive (often exaggerating experiences and feelings, but rarely facts), brutally honest, and highly experimental in all areas of life. The Jupiter vibration also creates in Sagittarius an intense wanderlust and endows Archers with occasional flashes of prophetic vision. The Archer, symbolized by the Centaur, who is half horse and half man, enjoys greater self-confidence and security than the Ram (never mind Aries’ superficial recklessness) because Sagittarius contains the total experience of both man and beast.
Mars influences the Aries man, child, woman, boy or girl, and causes him to be forceful and forthright in everything, to defend himself fiercely if attacked, and to be very courageous in times of emergency or crisis. The Aries needs this defense which comes from the vibration of Mars, because Aries is symbolized by the newborn child, and like the human newborn, Aries would literally die without affection and care if he were not protected by Mars. Although Aries is not as wisely prophetic as Sagittarius, he nevertheless sees the heart of all things, for he is endowed with a combination of the penetrating vision of Mars and the innocence and naivety of the newborn child, which is the purest wisdom there is. The most vital difference between these two, however, lies in the fact that the Ram is much more vulnerable to cruelty and neglect. Moreover, Aries’ intention is always devoid of malice, because Aries, like a newborn, essentially understands only goodness… while Sagittarius has lived so much (from the point of view of the soul) that he has developed more cynicism and more worldly attitudes.
In Sagittarius we find great idealism and perseverance, but rarely innocence. Sagittarius has learned to think, to use the intellect, to prophesy and to philosophize. Aries understands no path to happiness other than the newborn’s instinctive emotional reaction to love and kindness. Only the fierce protection of Mars prevents the Ram from being totally helpless in the hands of the stronger. Was it not true that our Co-Creators were wise when they resolved to preserve the order of the karmic plan through astrology, to ensure that the loyal warrior (and lover of Venus) Mars would watch over and protect the newborn of the karmic wheel? This is the divinely blessed 5-9 Sun Sign Configuration, through which compatibility between the Ram and the Archer is relatively easy to achieve. Both the rare introverted Aries and Sagittarians, and the more common and typical extroverts, feel much happier when they are mentally and physically active, learning. Like the proverbial prophets, Sagittarians often thrive much more when they are far from their homeland, and enjoy traveling to reach new horizons (without feeling too nostalgic for the “roots” they left behind).
Aries feels the memory of the “safety” he left behind tug painfully at his heart, but he bravely joins the Archer nonetheless, trying to keep up with the faster-galloping Centaur. When the Ram joins Sagittarius and they travel together, the expedition may be a bit boisterous, but never dull, and they will vigorously defend each other from the evildoers who threaten them. Despite their frequent quarrels, Sagittarius’s insatiable idealism will always foster Aries’ spontaneous affection and unusual compassion… just as the Archer will be constantly touched by Aries’ ingenuity and honesty, confident that he can trust Aries to never be hypocritical or disloyal. When all the smoke has cleared, these two will still be standing there, smiling at each other wholeheartedly. You could say that the Ram and the Archer are combustible, but compatible.