27 March: Aries Zodiac Sign

Aries is the current zodiac sign. Here are ten things you might not know about the zodiac sign of Aries.

1. Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, and therefore also the first Fire sign.
2. Aries is the Latin word for ram, the symbol of the sign. However, in ancient times, the constellation was represented by a farm worker. The Babylonians began to associate this with Dumuzi, a deity associated with shepherds, which later shifted to the ram we're familiar with today.
3. In Greek mythology Aries was a flying ram, known as the Chrysomallus. It rescued the Twins Phrixus and Helle, sons of King Athamas, from their jealous step-mother. Helle fell off the ram's back and drowned, but Phrixus made it to safety. His way of thanking the ram? He killed it as a sacrifice to Zeus and traded its fleece for the hand of a princess in marriage. This fleece was the golden fleece which was later stolen by Jason and the Argonauts.
4. Its equivalent in Indian astrology is the month of Mesa, or Mesha. In ancient Egypt it was associated with Amon-Ra, a god with a ram's head, who represented fertility and creativity.
5. The constellation of Aries is a relatively dim one with only four bright stars - Hamal, Sheratan, Mesarthim and 42 Arietis. The constellation also encompasses some pairs of interacting galaxies.
6. Aries is ruled by the planet Mars.
7. Its colours are Red, Yellow and White and its day of the week is Tuesday.
8. Birthstones for people born under this sign are diamonds, rubies, garnet and fire opal. Metals associated with the sign are Iron and steel. Plants are betony, bramble, poppy, thistle, wild thyme, Dandelion, Carnation and mustard.
9. Aries is said to rule over beginnings, ambition, anger, impulsiveness, optimism, energy, selfishness, courage and leadership, and in the body, the head and face.
10. People born under this sign are said to be ambitious and competitive, wanting to be first in everything. They are said to be energetic, enterprising, high-spirited, assertive and enthusiastic. They're idealistic and fiercely loyal, but lack patience and are quick to get angry. They may be intolerant. They like to start projects but don't always have the patience to finish them.

My Books 

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The Ultraheroes series

Several new groups of superheroes, mostly British, living and working (mostly) in British cities like London and Birmingham. People discovering they have, and learning to live with, superpowers. Each book is complete in itself although there is some overlap of characters.

The Raiders series

A tale of two dimensions, and worm hole travel between the two. People displaced in both time and space, learning to get along and work together to find a way home while getting used to the superpowers wormhole travel gave them. A trilogy.

Golden Thread

A superhero tale with a difference. Five heroes from another dimension keep returning - whenever they return, they have a job to do and are a well-meshed team in order to do it. Until one time, something goes wrong...

Tabitha Drake series

A different kind of power - the ability to talk to dead people. Tabitha has it, and murder victims seek her out to make sure justice is done. Tabitha has this and a disastrous love life to cope with.

Short story collections

Some feature characters from the above novels, others don't. They're not all about superheroes. Some are creepy, romantic, funny.