Guide To Your New Star Sign

So, you’ve found out which star sign you really are, according to Al’s Theorem. Time to get the low-down on your new sign: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces.


Aries  “The Ram”
Northern Hemisphere: Mar 21 - Apr 20
Southern Hemisphere: Sep 23 - Oct 22
Known As: Adventurous and quick-witted.
Recognized Strengths: Energetic, confident, independent, dynamic, warm, courageous; initiator and leader.
Potential Weaknesses: Impatient, head-strong, arrogant, daredevil, quick-tempered, lacks perseverance.
Al’s Theorem Feedback: On the mark?

Taurus  “The Bull”
Northern Hemisphere: Apr 21 - May 20
Southern Hemisphere: Oct 23 - Nov 22
Known As: Patient and loving.
Recognized Strengths: Industrious, stable, responsible, determined, reliable, slow to anger; nature-loving and creative.
Potential Weaknesses: Stubborn, materialistic, jealous, resentful, inflexible, self-indulgent.
Al’s Theorem Feedback: On the mark?

Gemini  “The Twins”
Northern Hemisphere: May 21 - Jun 21
Southern Hemisphere: Nov 23 - Dec 21
Known As: Communicative and witty.
Recognized Strengths: Versatile, sociable, alert, inventive, energetic, eloquent, inquisitive, enthusiastic.
Potential Weaknesses: Nervous, fickle, judgmental, easily sidetracked, over-commits.
Al’s Theorem Feedback: On the mark?

Cancer  “The Crab”
Northern Hemisphere: Jun 22 - Jul 22
Southern Hemisphere: Dec 22 - Jan 20
Known As: Multifaceted and caring.
Recognized Strengths: Tenacious, loving, intuitive, imaginative, shrewd, cautious, protective, sympathetic.
Potential Weaknesses: Changeable, moody, overemotional, clinging; unable to let go.
Al’s Theorem Feedback: On the mark?

Leo  “The Lion”
Northern Hemisphere: Jul 23 - Aug 23
Southern Hemisphere: Jan 21 - Feb 19
Known As: Creative and affectionate.
Recognized Strengths: Courageous, perceptive, generous, faithful, receptive, self-confident; seeks the limelight.
Potential Weaknesses: Egocentric, intolerant, domineering, proud, dogmatic, over-bearing.
Al’s Theorem Feedback: On the mark?

Virgo  “The Virgin”
Northern Hemisphere: Aug 24 - Sep 22
Southern Hemisphere: Feb 20 - Mar 20
Known As: Perfectionist and diligent.
Recognized Strengths: Practical, modest, discerning, self-disciplined, analytical, hard-working, unassuming, self-examiner.
Potential Weaknesses: Judgmental, worrier, negative, overcritical, sceptical, low self-esteem.
Al’s Theorem Feedback: On the mark?

Libra  “The Scales”
Northern Hemisphere: Sep 23 - Oct 22
Southern Hemisphere: Mar 21 - Apr 20
Known As: Charming and Fair.
Recognized Strengths: Diplomatic, perceptive, sociable, idealistic, romantic; lover of harmony, justice and beauty.
Potential Weaknesses: Indecisive, gullible, flirtatious, stubborn, dependent, self-indulgent.
Al’s Theorem Feedback: On the mark?

Scorpio  “The Scorpion”
Northern Hemisphere: Oct 23 - Nov 22
Southern Hemisphere: Apr 21 - May 20
Known As: Genuine and charismatic.
Recognized Strengths: Determined, intuitive, exciting, intense, alluring, introspective, practical, passionate.
Potential Weaknesses: Obsessive, resentful, purposefully mysterious, lacking in self-understanding.
Al’s Theorem Feedback: On the mark?

Sagittarius  “The Archer”
Northern Hemisphere: Nov 23 - Dec 21
Southern Hemisphere: May 21 - Jun 21
Known As: Incisive and optimistic.
Recognized Strengths: Friendly, jovial, witty, philosophical, straightforward, honest, enthusiastic, direct; loves travel and freedom.
Potential Weaknesses: Fickle, careless, irresponsible, superficial, tactless, restless; can be shattered.
Al’s Theorem Feedback: On the mark?

Capricorn  “The Goat”
Northern Hemisphere: Dec 22 - Jan 20
Southern Hemisphere: Jun 22 - Jul 22
Known As: Patient and humorous.
Recognized Strengths: Ambitious, prudent, self-disciplined, goal-oriented, practical, compliant, achieving, reliable, persevering.
Potential Weaknesses: Pessimistic, materialistic, miserly, overly cautious, melancholy; needs recognition.
Al’s Theorem Feedback: On the mark?

Aquarius  “The Water-bearer”
Northern Hemisphere: Jan 21 - Feb 19
Southern Hemisphere: Jul 23 - Aug 23
Known As: Innovative and generous.
Recognized Strengths: Friendly, loyal, inventive, progressive, independent, tolerant, ingenuous, open-minded, sociable, creative.
Potential Weaknesses: Intractable, unpredictable, eccentric, perverse, unemotional, aloof.
Al’s Theorem Feedback: On the mark?

Pisces  “The Fishes”
Northern Hemisphere: Feb 20 - Mar 20
Southern Hemisphere: Aug 24 - Sep 22
Known As: Compassionate and imaginative.
Recognized Strengths: Kind, sensitive, intuitive, selfless, charming, dramatic, humorous, impressionable, gentle, sympathetic.
Potential Weaknesses: Secretive, depressive, addictive, evasive, low vitality; lacking will power.
Al’s Theorem Feedback: On the mark?


Litmus Test

So, what do you think? Does your new sign fit you like a glove? Or do you reckon Al’s Theorem is a bit of a damp squib? Leave a comment.

Some factors that could skew the results: (1) Using your date of birth — your due date should be more accurate. (2) Your due date being on or near the cusp between two signs — your traits could be a blend of the two. (3) Your mother being near or north of the equator at any time between conception and birth.

Acupuncture was long considered a pseudoscience in The West, but its effectiveness is now almost universally accepted. And I’d like to see some serious recognition of astrology — not in predicting the future, but as a tool to better understand our varied characteristics, and how they each play an important role in society.

So your comment may just help to make history!

Your New Star Sign

As promised, here’s a table for finding your true star sign, according to Al’s Theorem, if you were conceived and born in the Southern Hemisphere. Each Southern Hemisphere star sign is six away from the Northern Hemisphere sign.

Just find your old star sign on the left, and you’ll see your new, adjusted sign on the right.

NB. The theory is that your star sign would probably be keyed to your due date rather than your actual date of birth. So if, say, you were born 3 weeks premature, I suggest using a date 3 weeks after your date of birth when calculating your (Northern or Southern Hemisphere) star sign.

If your due date was on or near the cusp between two signs, refer to the dates in the Guide To Your New Star Sign instead, and remember that you will likely share traits of both adjoining signs.


OK, so now you’ve looked up your new star sign, time to try it on for size! Click the relevant star sign above to look it up in my Guide...

Astrology 101

Settle down at the back. Nathan, is that gum I see? Something amusing you, Aeriela? How about sharing it with the whole class?

Today’s astrology is based on a system developed by the ancient Greeks. (The word ‘horoscope’ comes from the Greek ‘horoskopos’, meaning ‘hour-watcher’.)

Imagining the Earth to be unmoving, the Sun appears to traverse between east and west horizon daily, varying its path slightly over the course of the year. The stars can be imagined to be on the inside surface of a sphere overhead — the celestial sphere — and this appears to rotate laterally one revolution per year. Noting which stars were in, say, the eastern sky meant The Greeks could develop a reliable calendar. And taking account of the 29½ days between full moons, the equinoxes, etc., they divided this calendar into 12. A person’s star sign (traditionally called their sun sign) was taken from the constellation (see below) the Sun intersected at birth — in other words, the name of the month they were born in.

Over millennia, a process called the precession of the equinoxes (a cycle of variation of Earth’s orbit lasting 26,000 years) has ‘moved’ the constellations such that, on any given date, the Sun now intersects the constellation following the original one. In other words, an ancient Greek astrologer looking up at today’s sky would determine a Taurus to be a Gemini.

Yet — in the Northern Hemisphere — the familiar traits of the original star signs seem to widely hold true. Why? Well, according to, er-herm, Al’s Theorem, because star signs have nothing to do with the stars and everything to do with the seasons.

In fact, the seasons of the Northern Hemisphere have long been integral to astrology. The transition from Pisces to Aries occurs at the vernal (spring) equinox, Gemini to Cancer at the summer solstice, Virgo to Libra at the autumnal equinox and Sagittarius to Capricorn at the winter solstice.

Because of this link with the equinoxes and solstices, the Greeks’ 12-month calendar — unlike the current one — was in tune with the cues in nature used by our internal clocks. The different traits of someone, say, born shortly before the autumnal equinox compared to someone else born shortly after it, were not hard to spot. Mythological tales were used to pass the knowledge on and 12 suitable constellations were named in the night sky. The Signs of the Zodiac had their genesis.

Any questions?