Thoughtful Gifts for Each Sign!

The holidays are upon us and so it is fair to say that many of us are looking for great gifts for our loved ones.

A couple of weeks ago, I was asked to write some notes on the subject by a journalist writing for New York Magazine. She wrote an article on the subject for The Strategist – a New York Magazine website. You can find her article here.

I was so inspired by this topic that I wrote my own article on it which you can read below…

If you have already completed all of your shoppings, or you do not celebrate, or you decided to not do gifts this year, feel free to read this article with someone’s birthday in mind.

While the Sun sign is a useful starting point in astrology, it doesn’t usually provide the complete picture. Ideally, one should explore a bit deeper into the characteristics and signs of some of the other planets as well. I will go into that further towards the end of this article…

First, let’s explore the zodiac signs. The twelve signs can be divided into four groups:

1. FIRE: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius

2. EARTH: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn

3. AIR: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius

4. WATER: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces

Fire signs enjoy a challenge and tend to be active. They are often drawn to warmth and excitement. The ideal gifts for Fire signs are experiences, such as tickets to a sports event or a trip to a warm destination. They typically favor red and orange colors, so consider gifts in those shades — think Mets color schemes rather than Yankees Blues.

Earth Signs are very practical and appreciate quality, functionality and tradition. You may need to spend more on an earth sign unless you find something modest that meets those criteria. Antiques might be the way to go here. They tend to favor green and earth-tone colors.

Air signs enjoy intellectual and visual stimulation or inspiration. They are more easily pleased with a gift that aligns with their ideas and ideals. They tend to prefer yellow and light colors.

Water signs are drawn to gifts that have emotional significance. They tend to be sentimental and appreciate items that provide a sense of safety. As a result, more expensive gifts can make them feel valued; an alternative is a creative gift that holds personal meaning. Water signs often have a preference for the colors blue and purple.

Now, let’s look more closely at the individual signs:

​♈ ARIES individuals would appreciate gifts that encourage physical activity, such as workout equipment, a bicycle, or a gift certificate to a sporting goods or yoga store. Being passionate and energetic, they might also enjoy an experience like a ticket to a Rage Room or a Laser Tag session.

♉ TAURUS appreciates practical and beautiful items that delight the senses — such as a luxurious pashmina, a cashmere sweater, fine wine, gorgeous flowers, and delicious food. Since Taurus people also like to use their hands, a pottery class or high-end gardening equipment could also be a good fit.

♊ GEMINI gets a kick out of multifunctional devices that excite their curiosity or are mentally stimulating. A digital device such as a Kindle or an iPad Pro or a paid yearly subscription to Chat GPT Plus might be just the thing. However, getting them a book or two so they can learn something new would be a delight for them as well; and since they are interested in a wide range of things, you can’t go too wrong, no matter what you pick.

♋ CANCER will get the warm-and-fuzzies if you gift them something sentimental or connected to their family or home. Something expensive like a Ralph Lauren vase for the living room will make this person feel safe and cherished; if that’s not in your budget this year, go for something emotionally meaningful, like a beautiful picture frame with a photo of their loved ones.

♌ LEO people love anything fun that allows them to express themselves, like Karaoke night, charades, a party in their honor, etc. You could also go for something beautiful that helps them shine, like an expensive candle or jewelry. First-row seats to a Broadway show would win their hearts, too.

♍ VIRGO appreciates something practical and functional that makes their life easier, improves their daily health or work routines, or drives order and neatness. You can’t go wrong with quality kitchen equipment, a desk organizer, or a journal. Nothing too flashy, Virgo’s are humble. Something in the health department, like herbal teas or remedies, might also hit the spot.

♎ LIBRA people adore something visually beautiful and are concerned with what others think about their gift. So make it something that their best friend or significant other will like just as much or, better yet, can enjoy with them — a candlelight dinner for two, a night out at an art gallery, season tickets to the ballet, etc. And if that’s too extravagant, anything elegant and beautiful will do.

♏ SCORPIO people want something emotionally meaningful and profound. Something that says, “I love you forever,” but without being showoff-ish, something authentic. This could be an intense-looking card with words of devotion, something sexy (preferably black or white), or something you both enjoy for the bedroom. Since Scorpios like investigations, a murder mystery book or an Escape Room event could also be a good match.

♐ SAGITTARIUS people love an adventure, whether physical or mental, so an experiential gift like a trip to an intriguing place is ideal — think along the lines of an odyssey on a sailboat to an exotic island, a visit to the Vatican, a roadtrip to the other side of the country… And if those are too time- or money-consuming, a book about a famous adventure will also satisfy (especially if it focuses on what the adventurer learned on the journey). The Wisdom of the Ages also brings a sparkle to a Sagittarius person, so a superb translation of the Tao Te Ching, Aristotle’s Poetics, or a book of Rumi’s poetry could also make great gifts.

♑ CAPRICORN likes something practical, high-end and good for business — and they’ve been known to go for “status symbols.” They will always appreciate a nice, expensive pen that writes like butter and is cold and smooth to the touch. An antique gold watch with an inscription showing how much you appreciate them for what they do and how hard they work will do the trick, as would a nice-looking notebook from Moleskine or a designer with cachet.

♒ AQUARIUS folks like something “a little different” — creative but off-kilter, perhaps even a little shocking — a psychedelic T-shirt of many colors, a once-in-a-lifetime hat, and so on. You might also consider something that stimulates their team spirit, especially if their team is set on making a difference. This doesn’t have to be an object; it could involve a fundraiser, rally, or event with like-minded people. Aquarians are the sign most likely to be interested in Astrology, so a gift certificate for a Birth Chart Reading, an Astrology course, or a book about their sign would be well-received.

♓ PISCES loves animals, creativity, and spirituality. You don’t need to splurge on this sign; instead, give them something that possesses a soft, gentle, or ethereal beauty. Pisces people usually love pastel colors, so if you get them tarot cards or angel cards, make sure the color tones are also angelic. Since Pisces is a water sign, they will likely be delighted with something they can use in the bathtub or at the beach. If you truly want to win their heart, get them a kitten or a puppy — and if that idea scares you, donate money to their favorite charity.

I previously mentioned that a person’s astrology involves much more than just their Sun Sign. Discovering someone’s Rising Sign, Moon Sign, or Venus placement can help tremendously when selecting the perfect gift. Let me explain:

• The Ascendant or Rising Sign reflects a person’s identity and self-perception. It represents how they approach new beginnings and is their “best foot forward”.
• The Moon Sign indicates what someone needs or what feels familiar to them, it’s their emotional comfort zone.
• Venus Placement reveals what someone loves or values.

To find out your own or someone else’s Ascendant, Moon Sign, or Venus placement — which can assist you in choosing a thoughtful gift — provide me with a birthplace, birthdate, and birth time (you can contact me via my “Contact-me” page) If you don’t have the precise time, don’t worry; I can work out your Venus placement and probably your Moon sign too.