Introduction to The Characters in Astrologio

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General Hank Aries

Ms. Sheryl Taurus

The Gemini Brothers

In this educational and mysterious story there are different people who are given codenames for their top secret US government mission to study the unknown (to the Americans especially) island of Astrologio. What is fascinating is how each character interacts with others, and what happens to them throughout the story. There are surprises at each turn of the page and one example is how the General (Aries) changes. Of course you would have to read the entire story to get the full. Each character in Astrologio relates to a specific Zodiac Sign. Below, I explain what each character is related to, a short info about that sign, and a paragraph from the eBook regarding that character.

General Hank 'Aries'

Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, and Aries natives are the first to start and the first to finish whatever they set out to do. Aries is an active, energetic sign. People with Sun in Aries are direct, straightforward, and uncomplicated. They expect the same from others, and are baffled when they don't always get it.

"I know that every good and excellent thing in the world stands moment by moment on the razor-edge of danger and must be fought for..." -- Thornton Wilder (Sun in Aries)

To begin the dive, the team leader, General Hank Aries had been selected to lead the mission. He had graduated from the top Navy training center in the US after working as a private contract soldier during the years of Desert Storm. Aries had been the strongest, toughest and most headstrong of all the soldiers in his contracting company.

Ms. Sheryl 'Taurus'

Taurus natives are sensual folk--and this includes sex, but extends to pleasures in all areas: they delight in the sensual pleasures of food, a comfortable blanket, a richly colored aquarium to look at, the smell of flowers or spring rain, pleasing melodies coming from their stereos, and so forth. Some might even say they live through their senses more than most.

Carry the battle to them. Don't let them bring it to you. Put them on the defensive. And don't ever apologize for anything. -- Harry S. Truman (Sun in Taurus)

Ms. Sheryl Taurus was the strongest of the three ladies but she had always held too tightly to her men. At first, she had managed to keep things together as the men started fidgeting in their seats like a bunch of ornery school kids. She had taken control of the class and given them a slight understanding of the 12 zodiac signs. Then she had given up because she felt she was about to explode.

Ensign and Officer 'Gemini' (Brothers)

Gemini's are said to have a dual nature, as symbolized by twins. This duality also represents exchange and interaction. The sign of Gemini is closely associated with exchange of ideas, communication, and trade. The sign of Gemini is thought to be very adaptable and flexible, sometimes to the point of "being" two different personalities. The glyph for Gemini depicts two lines joined together, showing the symbolism of the twins, and the duality of the nature of the sign.

"I do not know whether we can be saved through the intellect, but I do know that I can be saved by nothing else." -- Dorothy Sayers (Sun and Moon in Gemini)

The Gemini brothers had never been so nervous and tense in their lives. They were usually a couple of great kidders, always talking with each other and with friends who would gather around to laugh with the twins. They were smart, quick witted and very eloquent boys who loved to venture out and have a lot of fun.

Dr. Mary 'Cancer'

The Cancerian character is the most perplexing of the signs. Cancer can range from the timid, shy, dull and withdrawn to brilliant, friendly and famous. Cancerians run the entire gamut of human emotion. Fundamentally conservative and home-loving by nature, they appreciate the security of a home-base in which to retire when the stresses of living become too much to bear.

Cancerians possess strong paternal and maternal instincts. The term nest is an appropriate label for the Cancerian home, because it describes a natural and comfortable type of residence. A retreat for the family, where you can put up your feet and feel at home.

"I love people. I love my family, my children . . . but inside myself is a place where I live all alone and that's where you renew your springs that never dry up." -- Pearl S. Buck (Sun, Mercury, and Venus in Cancer)

Dr. Mary Cancer had taken on the motherly role for Taurus as well as for Nancy Virgo who had each been hired by the Navy to train the men. Cancer had been hired by the US government after two decades of service in a human resources division. She had single handedly raised five kids in her early twenties and then gone on to get her medical degree before she was only thirty years of age.

Captain Leo

The Leo type is the most dominant, spontaneously creative and extrovert of all the zodiacal characters. In grandeur of manner, splendor of bearing and magnanimity of personality, they are the monarch's among humans as the lion is king of beasts. They are ambitious, courageous, dominant, strong willed, positive, independent, self-confident there is no such a word as doubt in their vocabularies, and they are self-controlled. Born leaders, either in support of, or in revolt against, the status quo.

They are at their most effective when in a position of command, their personal magnetism and innate courtesy of mind bringing out the best of loyalty from subordinates. They are uncomplicated, knowing exactly what they want and using all their energies, creativeness and resolution to get it, as well as being certain that they will get whatever they are after. Their followers know where they are with Leonians. Leonians think and act bigger than others would normally dare; the ambitiousness of their schemes and idealism sometimes daunt their followers, their practical hardheadedness and ability to go straight to the heart of any problem reassures those who depend on them. If Leonians meet with setbacks they thrive on the adversity.

Five enemies of peace inhabit with us--avarice, ambition, envy, anger, and pride; if these were to be banished, we should infallibly enjoy perpetual peace. - Petrarch

It had been very nice of him to hold her arm, however, as the streets here were known to be full of thieves and gangsters living off cell-phone owners and hapless foreigners. Captain Leo had made the entire evening completely safe and enjoyable. She had never laughed so much in her life as he walked around like an overgrown schoolboy showing off his astrological cut-outs. He had purposely left the cut-outs on his uniform with the Moon and Venus taped to his belly. His heart was the one that pleased the doctor so much and they had really had a lot of fun that night.

Nancy 'Virgo'

Virgo's symbol, the Virgin, shows itself in the lives of Virgos through a love of all that is "natural" and a certain purity of spirit that keeps Virgos self-sufficient and self-contained, at least on the surface. Virgos are sensitive to their surroundings, and they tend to embarrass easily. They are generally reticent when faced with anything or anyone new. However, once they feel comfortable, they can talk up a storm. Many Virgo Suns are not too comfortable in the limelight. These types are just fine living in the background, as long as they feel useful and appreciated. Solar Virgos have a strong sense of responsibility. Even when they've convinced themselves to be irresponsible about something or the other, they worry about it.

"Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain." -- Lily Tomlin (Sun and Venus in Virgo)

Nancy Virgo was an extremely intelligent young woman who had graduated from Vassar College in the early 1980s. As a young co-ed, she had preferred spending her time in the library and had eventually graduated with honors from the department of physics and astronomy in New York. Nancy Virgo could never decide the right way to act around men and was already extremely concerned about the fact that everything might somehow be a mess now that she had spoken up and said too much about herself in the initial briefing.

Lieutenant Libra

In theory, Libras are peace-loving. In practice, they can quietly stir up all sorts of trouble with their ways. Because Libra enjoys balance in their lives, they seek the middle ground. In the process, they may end up trying to be everything to everyone. This is where their reputation for untruthfulness comes from. Generally, their untruths spring from a true desire for peace and fairness--although they may not be comfortable with direct and malicious trickery, they feel totally justified when they lie in order to avoid making waves. Peace at any price! In this sense, they seem harmless. But, what can result is quite a ruckus! People involved with Libras may crib about their lack of directness and their apparent inability to take a stand. Librans are experts at avoiding being the one to blame. When confronted, they'll (calmly and reasonably) say, "What, me? No, I just want peace."

"The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function." -- F. Scott Fitzgerald (Sun, Mercury, and Venus in Libra)

The fourth and last diver on the boat was Lieutenant Libra. He was actually the friendliest of all the men and the most level headed. Aries loved this guy because he was funny and he paid attention to everything that was told to him. Lieutenant Libra had been recommended by his girlfriend, Nancy Virgo who thought he was the most charming man she had ever met. The other men on the team had also agreed to have him aboard and he was therefore approved as the final candidate.

'Scorpio'

"Intense, powerful and passionate about things - that's the Scorpio approach to life. Mars and Pluto, the planets which look after the Scorpio will give him the concentration and strength to make anything that he wants to happen, happen. It also makes him a fearsome enemy when control is taken away from him and he feels that somebody else is trying to manipulate his life for him."

"Those who are troubled with melancholy ought to be very careful not to be alone, for God created the fellowship of the church and commanded brotherliness, as the Scriptures testify ... To be gloomy before God is not pleasing to him, although he would permit us to be depressed before the world. He does not wish me to have a long face in his presence..." -- Martin Luther (Scorpio, Moon in Aries)

Scorpio thought he was handsome enough and had agreed to meet him at a coffee shop which had been overlooking the volcano[...] Scorpio simply hadn't been able to understand what made him tick[...] Scorpio was nowhere to be found.

Ho Li Sagittarius

Ho Li Sagittarius had actually worked for the US government as well. He had come to the Philippines from Singapore and then from Guam where he had originally worked as a FEMA officer for many years prior to this assignment. He had eventually gotten in with the US Navy and he was now a top level associate on the Astrologio mission. His entire shop overlooked a breathtaking view of the volcano and the back room where he worked was equipped with several radios and computers as well as an early model GPS device for tracking the other agents on the team.

Dr. Capricorn

The Capricorn is the strong friend, they will always be there to help, they are very sympathetic, caring and helpful to a friend in need. A Capricorn will get someone back on their feet again with a steady plan for success and for all this, they expect nothing in return. The Capricorn friend is deep and mysterious and full of intrigue, there always seems to be something going on in their mind.

"The ultimate measure of a person is not where they stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but where the stand in times of challenge and controversy." -- Martin Luther King (Capricorn)

The General's calibration didn't seem to be going up at all but Capricorn was insisting that there was simply a temporary downturn that would result in a big return later on. He always viewed the calibrations like securities chart, analyzing the changes according to his own set of indicators rather than the actual numbers.

Alexander 'Aquarius'

Their lives are motivated by Social and Spiritual causes and Higher Issues. They are considered to be the Innovators and Inventors of the zodiac and it is said that most people in the Hall of Fame are Aquarians. The motivating force behind Aquarius is the herd instinct. They like people, they are sociable, and are friends to a lot of people.

"Die when I may, I want it said by those who knew me best that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow." -- Abraham Lincoln (Aquarius)

His name had been Alexander Aquarius and he said that he was looking for a Tagalog tutor so that he could associate with the natives around Astrologio. He had also intended to stay in the Philippines for a very long time and work there as a writer..

'Pisces'

Pisces are spiritual in nature and emotional in expression. Pisces intuition and imagination are at once Pisces strengths and weakness. Pisces are attracted to the mystical side of things, and herein lay potential danger, for when pulled beneath the currents of everyday life, the realms of imagination and the subconscious offer little structure. Without the foundation of reality, it becomes easy to flounder and to lose direction. Pisces own salvation, however, can come from helping others less fortunate that yourself, especially those who have fallen into the misty realms of drugs, alcohol or spiritual confusion. Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent.