Staff Pick: 'The Private Lives of the Sun Signs' by Katharine Merlin

I've always had an interest in astrology. I don't read my horoscope every day, but whenever I come across one, I'll usually take a look. It's astonishing to me sometimes just how accurate horoscopes can be. The study of the twelve signs of zodiac can be a very revealing journey to take and I love learning more about how it all works together.

In the new book, The Private Lives of the Sun Signs by Katharine Merlin, copyright © 2015, published by Glitterati Incorporated www.GlitteratiIncorporated.com, the renowned astrologer presents an intriguing in-depth breakdown of each of the twelve signs of the zodiac. Katharine Merlin has been writing  the  Town & Country magazine horoscope column since 1989 and has been the author of the Town & Country Yearly Horoscope Guide

Katharine Merlin has four decades of experience in this field and you can sense her expertise due to the nicely detailed feel of her book. It's written in a style that is especially good for those like me who have limited knowledge of astrology, but an interest in learning. And yet I also think that this would be a good read for those who know way more than I do about astrology.

Merlin gives examples to illustrate the characteristics of each sign, often using people that she knows as examples. It's not done in an intrusive way. She protects their identities, but it made the descriptions come alive for me as a reader when they were applied to real people. The author also gives examples through the use of people of note through the decades, which makes for an interesting read and gives a deeper insight into each person. This is a fascinating book!

There is great insight into the idiosyncrasies of each sign, such as the ways in which emotions are processed and how we communicate. This is an interesting way to take a look at yourself through the lens of your astrological sign and it's also fun to look at what is said about the signs of friends or partners. Everyone is unique and in no way does the book try to act as a predictor of the future, but as a reader, I just found it fascinating to examine myself a bit to see how closely I compared to my own sign.

Here's an excerpt from the Aquarius chapter to get the feel of the book:

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”
—ROBERT FROST

Why is it that every time I think about or try to describe Aquarians I invariably get a smile on my face? It’s certainly not because they are laughable or not to be taken seriously—quite the contrary. No, it’s due to the fact that those born under this complex and fascinating sign arouse a wonder and affection that belongs to them alone. Aquarians occupy their own territory in our hearts because they are so unmistakably themselves.

Every Aquarius I know shares the quality of being distinct, like a very strong flavor that once tasted cannot be forgotten. Not that Aquarians are dominant or overbearing; they are a perplexing combination of breezy, zany and downright stubborn. They are kind, amenable and impossible to control. Or as my friend Cara says of her February 12-born husband, John, “He’s the nicest person in the world, but when he makes up his mind not to do something, forget it. It will never happen.”

Contradictions are the name of the game when it comes to Aquarius. My friend, Lorraine (February 4) is a perfect example of this: while she is very open, caring and thoughtful, she is at the same time so adamant about her own ideas and opinions that it’s difficult to reconcile her vulnerability with her toughness, or her eagerness to please with her built-in inclination to resist. But that, of course, is what makes her such an interesting and enjoyable companion. She really extends herself to people, and her generous heart steers her to shower her friends with attention and sympathy. She can’t be manipulated or controlled, though, and when push comes to shove, she is completely her own person.

Not all Aquarians are the eccentric rebels portrayed in most astrological descriptions of this sign, though some are. Actually, quite a few are more or less conformist in their behavior and views. I have known many Aquarians who really tried to fit in and wanted nothing more than to be part of the crowd. What’s painful for these Aquarians is that, however hard they’ve tried, they have rarely succeeded in blotting out the aspect of their natures that makes them that telling little bit different.

My friend Barbara’s daughter, Ellen, upon leaving the rural atmosphere of a small Midwestern town for a prestigious college in the Northeast, seemed to crave, above all else, acceptance by her peers; she so strongly wanted to look and act like one of them that her personality appeared to become subsumed. And after college she went on to a very good job in the public sector, where she is well on her way up the ladder to a high
level of success.

This is not textbook Aquarian behavior. Where is the revolutionary spirit so associated with this individualistic sign? Where is the refusal to play by the rules? The truth is that despite all of Ellen’s attempts to be one of the gang, she still comes across as somehow more distinct and out of the ordinary than those around her. Her strong will is apparent in her behavior, which, while politically correct, is just a little too forceful to insure the kind of acceptance she so clearly longs for. And her differentness also makes her special in positive ways, a person to be reckoned with and taken seriously.

It’s interesting to consider that before Uranus—Aquarius’ current planetary ruler—was discovered in 1781, the sign of the Waterbearer was purported to be under the influence of Saturn—the most structured and conservative planet of the zodiac. This is quite weird when you think about it, because Saturn is in many ways the opposite of eccentric Uranus, whose action is to break forms and structures and refuse to play by the rules. And maybe this explains why Aquarians have the characteristics of these unlikely planetary bedfellows embedded in their contradictory natures—some being more clearly dominated by traditional Saturn and others by rebellious Uranus, but all subject to a kind of tug-of-war between freedom and responsibility, or between being a joiner or a loner.

Ellen seems to be the more Saturn-dominated type, but please note that, despite her ambition, she has chosen to work in the public sector. Her choice reflects a distinguishing characteristic of one born under her Sun sign—a wish to contribute to the good of society and to place their principles above any thoughts of material gain. Every Aquarian
I’ve known is a humanist in one way or another, and the majority have chosen work that enables them to make a difference.

Above: Excerpt - From The Private Lives of the Sun Signs by Katharine Merlin copyright© 2015, published by Glitterati Incorporated www.GlitteratiIncorporated.com

There is a foreword by Pamela Fiori, former editor-in-chief of Town & Country and also a great introduction written by Katharine Merlin which lays the groundwork for what readers are about to experience in the reading of the book.

On a purely aesthetic note, I have to say that I really love the look of the book inside and out. The cover is done in a lovely, elegant grey cloth texture with the title written in white, which is surrounded by the sun sign symbols in yellow all over the cover. There are also beautifully detailed vintage illustrations throughout that give this wonderful book a timeless feel. There is also a ribbon dangler that can help you mark your place. If you're a person like me who loves books and especially visually beautiful books, you'll certainly love this one.

The Private Lives of the Sun Signs by Katharine Merlin, copyright © 2015, published by Glitterati Incorporated www.GlitteratiIncorporated.com is a book that I know I will refer to again and again. It's a fascinating read and it certainly gives readers an opportunity to examine themselves on a deeper level.

 The Private Lives of the Sun Signs can be purchased here. 


*Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book for review. All opinions are mine.