...Ryna Up Close & Personal...

Rindu

2007-08-05T19:42:00.000+08:00

Fikiran ku melayang-layang..
Semenjak ketemu dengan mu..
Hati ku berdebar-debar..
Ketika dalam kehadiran mu..
Cumbuan mu yang penuh kasih sayang..
Membuat ku tidak sabar..
Menanti akan waktu kita ketemu lagi..

Adakah aku dilamun cinta..
Sehingga merasa kosong tanpa mu di sisi..
Aku semakin merindui mu sayang..
namun ku akan setia menanti..
Sampai bilakah kita akan begini..
Persoalan yang masih menjadi teka teki..
Tetapi satu kepastian ialah kau seorang sahaja yang bertahta dihati..

MY LOVE

2007-06-26T14:50:00.001+08:00

A suitable life partner is what all women hope and pursue

And a fairy tale handsome prince is usually how it starts

A tall, loving, suave and romantic prince charming

Is what we dream of..

But time has the magic

To alter that pursuit or conquest

And time can truly reveal the true love

Of the person we are bound to marry..

My love, my husband was my closest friend

He started off as my confidant and listener

Who was always there to be a real friend to me

He’s the only one who was able to calm me in time of troubles

From friendship, feeling of love blossomed

It was never planned nor expected

It just happened

Like nature taking its course

But how do I know he’s my true love?

I know because my feelings for him

Bear witness to the authenticity

Of our love being true and real..

I know he’s the one because..

Every time he’s beside me I would feel at ease

Whenever he’s away, I would feel empty

As if a part of me is missing..

When he smiles, I couldn’t resist but smile along

When he’s troubled, my heart would be in a knot

And I want to do whatever I can to ease his worries

And see the smile back on his face..

When we fight, the hearts experience chaos..

But we never fight for long..

We don’t scream or hit each other..

We rationalize.. or most of the time we just keep quiet..

The way we live together

Shows how we suit one another..

Life may have its ups and downs

But it’s d getting up bit that’s important..

My love, my husband..

He’s the right man for me..

And I’m the right lady for him..

And may God bless us to be together for as long time permits..

Love and Beauty..

2007-06-21T22:19:00.000+08:00

What is beauty to a person..
Is it flawless skin, cute nose, sexy lips and beckoning eyes..
Is it a shapely figure that some would even die for..
Is it solely the appearance of someone..
Or is there more...

To the close minded, beauty is simple..
It is merely what's pleasant to see...
What's nice to touch and feel...
What's nice be seen with...
What's nice to possess...

But are those the qualities of true beauty..??

Beauty most of us see as something on the exterior..
But true beauty, is more on what's within...
But to see it, we have to use not our eyes but our heart..
True beauty cannot be seen, it can only be felt..
A feeling so in depth that not many may be able to experience it..

So who are the lucky ones to see actual and true beauty...??

Those in love...
Regardless of your sizes, race, appearance or any differences..
The feeling of being in love enables one to see deeper into the soul..
These people see true beauty through their hearts..
And eventually to the very soul..

When we're in love, we see the real person..
Not the physical appearance, but the inner soul..
It is there where true beauty prevails..
It is there where love flourishes..
It is there where soulmates meet...

To experience this may be deemed fairy tales..
But, for some it has already become a reality..
Love is everywhere...
But what we want is lasting love..
And where we find lasting love, we find true beauty..

My Daughters

2007-06-20T15:02:00.000+08:00

Motherhood
Shock, excitement, nerves and wonder
Sleeplessness ensues, my mind wanders...

Opportunity to nurture a life so precious, a great responsibility, can I be a success?

Will I be a good mother, someone I am proud to be?
Will I show them the complete, unselfish love that every child needs?

Giving life, a TRUE labor of love
My babies are born, two daughters are now here
A love is also born, so consuming and near

Almost suffocating, an overwhelming feeling surrounds me
Tears fill my eyes, I hold them so tightly

My love for my daughters, so grand and great
I succumb to my fear, my daughters can't wait

A Special World

2007-06-20T14:35:00.001+08:00

A special world for you and me
A special bond one cannot see
It wraps us up in its cocoon
And holds us fiercely in its womb.

Its fingers spread like fine spun gold
Gently nestling us to the fold
Like silken thread it holds us fast
Bonds like this are meant to last.

And though at times a thread may break
A new one forms in its wake
To bind us closer and keep us strong
In a special world, where we belong.

- Sheelagh Lennon -

Poetry: The Walls of Depression..

2007-06-20T14:27:00.000+08:00

You built these walls around you
To try to encage yourself
Turning your back on the world
Forever refusing all help

Your fears they surrounded you
Devoured all your soul
Left you broken into pieces
Impossible to be made whole

Your tears they became rivers
Until they drowned your body
And you just let yourself lie
Dying in your own folly

The depression it destroyed you
Left you empty and closed off
Until all memories of us
You simply forgot

Every night I came to your prison
Trying to get you free
Trying to reach you
But you no longer saw me

You closed your mind and body
Let your heart just freeze
Watched me outside the bars
Begging you not to please

I constantly tried and failed
Your empty eyes they watched
It broke my heart to see you
I prayed for it to stop

So I come tonight once again
But not to set you free
I come to say goodbye
But you can’t even hear me

I cry as I watch you
But I have to turn away
Long gone are the days
In your arms I would stay

When I leave you I’m empty
Completely closed myself off
All the pain and memories
Like you I’ve forgot

I create walls around me
To keep everything away
I make my heart go cold
So I no longer feel the old way

I become what you are
What I once did fear
No emotion escapes me
Not even a single tear

I don’t think I'll ever understand
Just what happened to us
How did two so happy and free
become closed off and unloved?

Now these bars surround us
Behind them we die
They keep in our dark secrets
We recoil inside

They lock all our emotions
Then throw away the key
The world outside aches for us
But the bars don’t let us see

We build them to get away
Thinking there we will rest
But these bars slowly kill us
They’re just cages for the depressed

We’ll rot in these cells we’ve made
We’ll tie up ourselves in chains
Becauce the reason we’re behind these bars
Is because inside we’ve gone insane

Matter of the Heart..

2007-06-07T16:01:00.000+08:00

Communication in a relationship is very important. It is not only to strengthen the bond but at the same time to deepen mutual understanding. I've had valuable exposure to friends who have exprienced commincation barrier in their relationship, specifically in a marriage.

Personally, I've always made it a point to always be open with my partner. And I hope that he's always been open with me. But no matter how much we want our partner to open up to us, there will be times when we deem it necessary not to reveal too much to our partner. But the strange thing is, some of us find it easier to share our thoughts and concern with close friends.

But why is this?

In my opinion, there are several factors why couples do not always reveal every little detail to their partners but rather prefer to share their thoughts and concerns with close friends. The possible factors in influencing this are:

Do not wish to burden the partner with that particular information
Do not wish to hurt the feelings of the partner
Do not wish to be seen possessing any weaknesses
Felt no obligation telling a friend as opposed to a partner
Unable to change habit of not sharing with partner

Of course, there are many other factors or attributes what have the potential to influence this behaviour. But it is the methods on how best to ensure effective communication that couples should be interested in.

For couples who are facing problems in communicating and sharing their inner most feelings with their partners, this is not uncommon. To resolve it, couples need to take the initiative to actually make space and find time to sit down with their partners and actually talk. Not empty talk. But heart to heart talk. It may feel awkward for couples who have never done it before. But once we find the pace and comfort zone doing this particular exercise, it will definitely make a difference in the couples' lives together.

There is nothing wrong in sharing our thoughts with our loved ones. There is nothing wrong in making mistakes and admitting it. But it would be wrong to shut out your loved ones from the reality of your lives. So give it a try. Have a heart to heart talk. Make sure the environment is suitable. Remember "it takes two to tango". This can only work if both sides are willing to play it.

Hawaii Language

2007-05-20T19:46:00.000+08:00

I've had the most memorable and fantastic trip to Hawaii last year. In the duration of my one-month stay there, I managed to learn a few Hawaii phrases:

Good morning - "Aloha Kakahiaka"

Good Evening - "Aloha ahiahi"

How are you? - "Pehea oe?"

I am fine - "Maikai"

Many thanks - "Mahalo nui"

What is the trouble? - "Heaha ka pilikia?"

No trouble - "Aole pilikia"

Indecisiveness

2007-05-20T19:43:00.000+08:00

Have you ever wondered about why some people find it just so hard to make decisions on certain things.. or on anything at all :P

I'm sure everyone had experienced, a couple of times in their lives, situations when they just can't decide on anything... whether it's on what to eat, what to wear, where to go, who to be friends with, what to buy .. and many more.. why is it so??

Let me share with you my personal reasonings why indecision sometimes get the better of us. Among the possible reasons for indecisions are:

thinking too much about it
wanting to do more than you can cope
disorganised personality
trying to be too perfect
afraid of imperfections
afraid of making mistakes
dependency on other people to decide
lack of confidence
or some just don't bother with decisions!!

I'm sure there are may other possible reasons for indecision.. but at the end of the day.. making decisions on what ever course is about how you see yourself taking responsibility for that decision.. and it is also how you predict that the outcome of that decision will be the utmost benefits to everyone..

Decision is about making a choice.. whether it will be the right choice or otherwise.. will depend on how you derive your decision... Of course, there is no guarantee that whatever you decide on will always come out perfect.. there are always other external factors that may influence the outcome of your decisions..

But rather than pondering what might happen and what could happen if you decide this way or that way.. don't you think it would be better to actually see and feel the outcome of your decisions.. I've always believe, life is about taking risks.. some calculated risks.. and some just wild risks.. making mistakes is what turn us into a much better person.. don't think about the mistakes you've done.. but rather learn from it..and strive to improve..

So are you ready to be independent and make decisions for yourself.. try it.. and you'll know.. practice makes perfect!!

Emotions: Anxiety and Worries

2007-05-20T11:12:00.000+08:00

Matters of the heart and mind can never truly be understood holistically. Each and every individual are different from the other. This ranges from the way we think and feel about a similar issue or object.

My observation on individual's behavioural pattern never cease to amaze me. It is sometimes amusing, annoying and even to the extent mind-boggling to see that people react differently to similar situations.

Emotions, I feel, is a very interesting reflection of a person. Some people have the ability to control their emotions in the face of extreme and challenging experience. While others would just succumb and let free their emotions as a result of their inability to control their emotions.

Today I want to touch on the "worrying" emotion. People worry because of many things but mainly fear of something untoward happening as a consequence. For some, worrying can be a mild and subtle experience. But for others, it can even be an emotion that has a huge impact on the individual to the extent that it would incapacitate a person completely when an extreme condition emerge.

A few of my family members possess a so called genetically inherited "worrying" syndrome/ disease/ characteristic. What this means is that they would worry about the most trivial of things and be truly affected by it. But the most extreme outcome of being this type of "worrier" is anxiety.

Personally, I'm of solid and confident character. But being human, there are times when I would worry and feel anxious about things. But that is only mildly. And for me to fully understand a person who is an extreme worrier, can be quite challenging. But being in a family with siblings and relatives encompassing "mild" and "extreme" worriers, I have absorbed a few valuable lessons in resolving this genetically generated emotion.

For those who experience high level anxiety as a consequence of worrying about something, here are some of the things you should try out:

Wash your face with cold water
Take a cold shower
Talk about it or talk it out with someone you trust and can rely upon for enlightenment.
Self reflection:

Ask yourself what are you worrying about and why.

Ask yourself why the matter you're worrying about affects you.

Ask yourself what is the connection of that matter to you.

Ask yourself what is the purpose of worrying in such extremity.

Ask yourself how much do you know about the matter you're worrying about.

Educate yourself about the matter you're worrying about.

Refer to many sources and not confined to only one or two.

Satisfy your mind and heart with knowledge.

Distract yourself by doing something fun and with people you love and trust.
If you're someone religious, pray and recite the holy verses.

But overall, before changes and progress can be achieved.. there need to be a wanting, determination and will to control and rein in your emotions. So believe you can overcome. And only then will you achieve and conquer!

My Birthday Thoughts..

2007-05-19T07:27:00.001+08:00

Today is a very important day. It is a day that my mother gave birth to me. And that was more than 30 years ago.

Being a year older than yesterday :P makes me realize that none of us can escape old age. Being young has its advantages. But being older has even more advantages. I'm very happy so far with my life. With what I've achieved so far. And with whom I'm spending it. Truly, I feel blessed, alhamdullilah. I only pray that my life will get even better from now on. And that I get to pursue other ambitions in my life which I have yet to achieve.

Life is indeed short. Nobody knows how long we have on this earth. But rather than thinking about the deadline or expiry of our own "life", it would me more worthwhile to appreciate what you have now and what to look for in the future.

My principles in life is simple. I live for the present, first, and the future next. I never think about the past. Not to the extent that will hinder my ambition for the future. All we can do about the past is learn from it. That is all. Do not ponder on the mistakes and what-not we failed to do. But ponder on how to correct past mistakes and move forward.

I always think that I have a very very long journey ahead of me. A journey that will necessitate me to pass through various humps and curves that depict challenges and obstacles. Life is not easy. We don't always get what we want. But we can make sure we do the best we can and of course eventually with determination and drive we will eventually reach our goals.

To all friends and visitors, enjoy your life as much as you can. But make sure you spend it with your loved ones and with a purpose. A life without purpose will come back to haunt you when you least expect it. So strive to achieve a quality life, not only for yourself but for those you hold dear in your heart.

Demise of Loved Ones..

2007-05-16T11:50:00.000+08:00

Losing a loved one, whether through natural death or accidents, is always an experience each and everyone of us will never forget. The sorrow we feel at losing someone we truly love and care for can be so deep that some of us may even be scarred for life.

I remember the time when my grandparents passed away. Although I'm not the type to cry my eyes out in front of people.. but my heart felt an emptiness.. I was so sad that I just couldn't cry... that's just me.

For those who are undergoing this experience, just remember.. life and death lies with God.. whether it happens to us or even people we know, sooner or later, they are all predestined..

But the main thing is.. to make sure that the quality of life that we enjoy remain at the highest standard.. I'm not saying we must all live in material luxury and comfort.. I'm more insinuating towards living life with a mind, heart, health and emotion that is free from negativity, diseases, envy.. life is too short to be spent worrying about trivial matters and competing against other people on petty matters.

So enjoy life.. spend it with your loved ones.. strive to make your family feel happier, healthier and in serenity.. but remember.. not everyone have access to the luxury of life.. for those who do, meet these people half way, and share with them our happiness and comfort.. life would be a whole lot better if everyone start caring one another.. and our peace of mind will be worthwhile :)

Colours Reflect Personality Traits?

2007-05-11T11:06:00.000+08:00

Colours have a tendency to influence my choices when buying things. For me, I loveeeeee the colour Red, Black, Yellow and White. But my ultimate favourite is RED!!

So why do you think we’re so drawn to particular colours and not so much towards the others?? Does is reveal an association between colours and our personality traits?

I found this fantastic explanation on the effects and associations of each color that stimulate our thinking about the choices we make and the influence or impact we expect from it… Do have a read through and tell me what you think…

Gray

Gray is the color of neutrality, neither subject nor object, neither inner nor outer, neither tension or relaxation. Gray feels as though it is not colored, not dark, not light a separation between two distinct entities, a demilitarized zone free from stimulus. Gray communicates an element of non-involvement or concealment. It’s a color that remains uncommitted and uninvolved.

Blue

This is the color of calmness, repose and unity, symbolically the color of sky and ocean. Looking at blue relaxes the central nervous system, blood pressure, pulse and respiration rate all go down, which allows regenerative systems in the body to work on healing. When folks are ill, the physiologic need for blue actually increases! The physiologic associations with blue are those of tranquility. The psychological associations are of contentment, gratification and being at peace.

Green

Beyond its symbolic associations with nature and growth, green is the color of elastic tension, often associated with the desire for improved conditions: the search for better health, a useful life, social reform. It expresses the will in operation, firmness, constancy and persistence. It is a color that a person who possesses or wishes to possess high levels of self-esteem responds to strongly. Green is associated with many forms and degrees of control, not only in the sense of directed drives, but also as detailed accuracy in checking and verifying facts, as precise and accurate memory, as clarity of presentation, critical analysis and logical consistency all the way up to abstract formalism.

Red (This is ME!!!) :P

Physiologically, red makes blood pressure, pulse and respirations rates go up it’s an energy-expending color. Reds associations are with vitality, activity, desire, appetite and craving. Symbolically, red is blood, conquest, masculinity, the flame of the human spirit.

It is the impulse towards active doing, towards sport, struggle, competition, eroticism and enterprising productivity. Red is impact of the will or force of will as distinct from the green elasticity of the will.

The person who favors red wants her own activities to bring her intensity of experience and fullness of living.

Yellow

Where red stimulates, yellow suggests. It can elevate body rates as red does, but its effect is less stable. Yellow is primarily the color of happiness, cheerfulness, expansiveness, lack of inhibition. It is the welcome warmth of the sun and the glow of a spiritual halo. While calming and relaxing, the color does suggest a desire for change, that things are never quite at rest people who favor yellow may be very productive, but that productivity often occurs in fits and starts.

Violet

A combination of red and blue, violet attempts to unify the impulsive conquest of red and the gentler surrender of blue, becoming representative of identification. Purples are mystical, suggesting sensitive intimacy, union, enchantment, the blurring of thought, desire and reality. Violet represents a longing for wishes to be fulfilled and a desire to charm others.

"Violet can mean identification as an intimate, erotic blending, or it can lead to an intuitive and sensitive understanding."

Because it is so strongly associated with the idea of the world as a magical place and the need for wish-fulfillment, a preference for violet can communicate some degree of vulnerability or insecurity, perhaps a need for approval.

Brown

Symbolic of roots, hearth, home and family security, brown is a darkened mixture of red and yellow, with reduced qualities of these colors. The impulses of brown are not as volatile as red, not as restless as yellow yet the color has subtler warm, welcoming and sensuous qualities. When brown is favored, it suggests an increased need for physical ease and sensuous contentment, for release from discomfort.

Black

Black represents the absolute boundary beyond which life ceases, and so expresses the idea of nothingness, of extinction. Black is the “No” as opposed to the “Yes” of white. White and black are the two extremes, the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.

With its strong associations of renunciation, surrender and relinquishment, black is often seen as a negative color. But it can emphasize and enforce the characteristics of the color it surrounds.

This categorization theorizes that if colors generate emotional responses and associations, then the colors people prefer could say something about their current emotional status.

Friendships: When Friends Hurt and Friendships Harm..

2007-05-09T19:38:00.000+08:00

Entering into a friendship opens the door for hurt and harm; a harmful friend or a toxic friendship can be one of life's hardest relationship tribulations to forgive and forget. Toxic friends often come back to haunt you for a long time.

There are nine main types of toxic friends--those people whose friendship hurts you eventually. Knowing the categories of toxic friends helps you avoid them. Unfortunately, though, becoming friends is risky and there is never a guarantee you will not be hurt by a toxic friend.

The User as a Toxic Friend:
This person only has friends as long as he/she can use them for some purpose or goal of his/her own. This person could be the most harmful of toxic friends.

The Betrayer as a Toxic Friend:
Nothing hurts more than a friend who betrays you. The betrayer is truly a toxic friend.

The Control Freak as a Toxic Friend:
The control freak is a friend as long as she/he is in control. The control freak often seems to be helping you. Refuse that help or break that control and find out what toxic friendship really means.

The Judge as a Toxic Friend:
Ever judgmental, ever critical, this friend can erode your self-esteem. The judge is a fault finder. You can rarely do anything completely right with this toxic friend.

The Promise Breaker as a Toxic Friend:
This person rarely does what he says he will do. If you have a date, your toxic friend is often a no-show. A general lack of dependability makes this person a toxic friend.

The Gossip as a Toxic Friend:
The gossip will eventually betray your trust and become a toxic friend. Gossips are easy to spot so beware your friendships with them.

The Self-Centered Person as a Toxic Friend:
Self-centered people can't think of you as they are too busy thinking of themselves. They make toxic friends.

The Competitor as a Toxic Friend:
The competitor is always looking to be "one up." Although some competitiveness is normal in friendships, too much competition makes a toxic friend.

Again, no can always avoid a toxic friend. But often to be forewarned is to be forearmed.

The Leaner as a Toxic Friend:
The leaner is a very needy friend who clings and may be at your doorstep every day. He/she usually wants all of your time and jealousy often enters the picture in this friendship.

Why do we fall in love?

2007-05-09T19:29:00.000+08:00

As well as physical attraction, many people are drawn to someone who shares the same interests. In some relationships, arguments always seem one sided - with one partner making all the noise as the other quietly calms the storm. It's possible they both have a problem expressing their feelings, but together they're able to reassure each other that emotions are being managed. Different couples will experience it in different ways, but that inexplicable feeling of wholeness you have when you're together is what Henry Dicks, a guru in relationship psychotherapy, called the 'unconscious fit'.

Unconscious fit

All of us carry with us a psychological blueprint, holding details about our life experiences and the marks they've left. It contains information we often haven't acknowledged about our fears and anxieties and our coping mechanisms and defences.

Each of us has an unconscious capacity to scan another person's blueprint. The people we're most attracted to are those who have a blueprint that complements our own. We're looking for similarities of experience but, more significantly, we're also looking for differences.

Opposites attract

The purpose of this unconscious fit is to find someone who can complement our experiences. That might be someone who's the same as us, but most commonly we're looking for someone from whom we can learn; someone who has developed coping mechanisms that are different from our own.

The ideal partner will be someone who has struggled with similar life issues, but has developed another way of managing it. It seems that our other half is often our best chance of becoming psychologically whole.

Although no two relationships are ever the same.. have your ever noticed how there are some common types of unconscious fit. Do you recognise any of these?

Parent and child - this type of couple often has shared issues with dependency and trust. One partner copes with those issues by behaving in a childlike way. Their hidden belief is that if they remain insecure, dependent and needy their partner will look after them. Their partner takes on the role of parent and by doing so is able to deny their own needs for dependency as they're acted out by the other.

Master and slave - this couple has a problem with authority and control. One partner may feel very insecure if they're ever subordinate, so they're bossy and take charge of every household circumstance. Their partner, who fears responsibility, dutifully toes the line while smugly comparing what they describe as their laid-back attitude to their partner's control-freak attitude.

Distancer and pursuer - both partners are afraid of intimacy but have found their perfect match. The unspoken agreement is that one of them will keep chasing and nagging the other one for more intimacy while the other runs away. Occasionally the chase will swap round.

Idol and worshipper - when one partner insists on putting the other on a pedestal, this often indicates an issue with competition. To avoid any form of comparison, both partners unconsciously agree to play this game.

There are two other common types of fit based on finding a partner who has a similar problem and a similar way of coping.

Babes in the wood - you may have seen this couple around. They look alike and often wear matching sweaters. They share the same interests and, more importantly, they dislike the same things. They keep anything bad out of their perfect relationship by joining forces against the big, bad world outside.

Cat and dog - on the surface these partners look as though they should never have even met. They argue incessantly over anything. They both avoid intimacy by living in a war zone.

You may see elements of your relationship in all of these types. As we progress through our relationships, it's not uncommon to slip into a certain pattern of behaviour. For example, in a time of illness and vulnerability you may act out the parent and child model, while many couples become like babes in the wood following the birth of a child.

Good or bad chemistry?

All fits serve a psychological purpose designed to protect ourselves from discomfort. Most couples aren't aware of their fit until something happens to change it. We all grow and mature, our needs change and our relationships need to adapt to those changes.

Problems may start when one or both partners feel they are no longer able to communicate their feelings and alter patterns of behaviour that are now outdated. If you think that may be happening in your relationship, what should you do?... that I will share with you in my next blog.. I hope :P

Fruitology...

2007-05-04T21:24:00.000+08:00

Like Zodiac signs and Astrology signs, Fruits can also represent individuals personality and traits. Take your time to take a look at the list below. It is necessary to carefully choose your fruit from the list. Your favourite may not be explicitly represented, but that does not matter. It is the kind of fruit that you feel a connection with that matters - it may be the shape, the size, the colour, the smell or the flavour. Pick the type of fruit that you feel calling to your spirit.

The Fruit-Sign basically describes your personality type, as well as those unique attributes which should be taken into account when interpreting your Astrological profiles. I hope you find this new information helpful in your spiritual development, and in your interactions with those around you.

Citrus (firm, bright, intense acidic flavour, juicy) e.g. Orange, Lemon, Lime, Grapefruit, Kumquat.

You have a zest for life. You prefer bright colours and intense experiences. People often come to you for your unique insight into matters. Like your Life-Fruit, you can sometimes appear to be thick-skinned at first, but people soon learn about the real you inside. Sometimes you just need to spend a little time on your own, to relax and gather your thoughts. People can feel rejuvenated after spending time with you. The more friends get to know you, the stronger your friendship becomes. Your Sign is modified with enjoyment of the moment.

Melon (round, firm, juicy, many seeds) e.g. Watermelon, Galia, Honeydew, Cantaloupe.

You are a provider. You give, give and give some more. You enjoy helping others, and receive kindness in return. You are a lover of the Earth, and have many carefully-chosen plants around your house and garden. You have several especially close friends. You are romantic at heart. You work to prevent the suffering of others whenever you can. There are many things you would like to do, and you make time for as many as you are able. Your Sign is modified with careful determination.

Spicey (bright, variety of shapes, strong/hot flavour) e.g. Pepper, Chilli, Jalapeno

You can be fiery and bursting with energy. Sometimes you don't know what to do with yourself, but you eventually find a new project to channel your inexhaustible energies into. You enjoy rich food and good living, but never lose sight of your roots. You enjoy the thrill of a new love. Family is important to you. You enjoy thrilling experiences, but do not lose your sense of caution. You inspire those around you, whether you know it or not. Your sign has the modification of vibrant energy.

Berry (small, round, soft, sweet, variety of colours) e.g. Blackberry, Blueberry, Strawberry, Raspberry, Cranberry,Gooseberry, Blackcurrant, Tomato, Grape.

You are the life of the party, and help to bring out the best in others. Your sense of fun and enthusiasm is picked up by those around you, and you tend to make friends quickly, even with complete strangers. You like interestingly flavoured foods. You often feel that you have an important destiny in life. Like the Blackberry, your personality is comprised of many different parts, all working together to make you whole. Your Sign is modified with your naturally bubbly personality.

Orchard (hard/firm, bulbous, few seeds) e.g. Apple, Pear (many varieties of each)

The keyword here is Strength. Not only are you strong of spirit yourself, but you lend strength and support to those around you. You are able to get yourself out of sticky situations and help others out also. You enjoy fine foods. As with all Orchard Fruits, hidden deep within you are the seeds of a new awakening. Soon, you will feel the need to release them and change the direction of your life for the better. You are eager for new knowledge. Your Sign modification is a strong determination to get things done without losing touch with your tender side.

Squash (large, heavy, many seeds, fleshy) e.g. Pumpkin, Gourd

There is more to you than meets the eye. You are naturally curious. People are often surprised at how much you are able to teach them. People are not immediately aware of your deeper nature, but may often depend upon you later. You enjoy intelligent reading and conversation. Friends rely on you at times, and your steadfastness is rewarded. Sometimes the pressures of work can get you down, but you soon bounce back to meet new challenges. You prefer subtle, tasteful colours and décor. Your Sign personality is modified with exceptional gentleness and a tender outlook.

Nut (hard/tough shell, dry, brown/dark, woody) e.g. Brazil, Walnut, Coconut (and Coco-De-Mer!), Pecan, Cashew, Hazel, Peanut.

You are occasionally short-tempered, but rarely without good reason. You are resilient, and can be stubborn when you know you are right. Hold out long enough and others will see your careful reasoning for what it is. You forge friendships for life, and stay in touch with those you love even if you do not see them for years at a time. Like the nuts, it can sometime take a while to get to know you, but the effort is worth it. Your Sign is modified with strength of will and a determination to do what is right.

Tropical / Exotic (sunny climes, wide variety of shapes, colours, sizes, textures, flavours) e.g. Banana, Start Fruit, Papaya, Guava, Kiwi, Pineapple, Pomegranate, Custard Apple, Avocado

You love new experiences. You try different foods, flavours, thrills as often as possible. People often have trouble keeping up with your active lifestyle. You dislike things which cause you emotional pain. Your partner will be someone who is much calmer than yourself but loves you for who you are. You enjoy spending time with those close to you. People think of you as bouncy, energetic and fun to be around. You can occasionally be sad, but hide it in order to not sadden those around you. Your Sign is modified with caring and playfulness.

Infidelity: When the affair ends...

2007-05-04T21:17:00.000+08:00

Life will never be the same again . . . but that doesn't mean it will be worse. It can be better, but don't expect an easy mend because affairs often reflect deeper issues in a couple's relationship.

Affairs are far reaching and often traumatize children, friends, extended family, and co-workers all of who will have their own fears and opinions about the affair. While each person is affected by the affair in different ways, they all often suffer from guilt, confusion, anxiety, rejection, and pain

In order to begin working on your relationship, the affair must be addressed. And this is not easy. The person having the affair is often confused and doesn't know what to do. It is not unusual to fear loosing both partners. I find it impossible to work with the couple's relationship when the affair is ongoing. Thus, I ask the persons having the affair to place it on hold for a period of time (a month or more). This means while the primary couple agree to work on their relationship, there is absolutely no communication. If need be, at the end of this period we contract for another period of time. This is not easy but it is the only way I have found to give the couple time to decide whether to recommit or end their relationship

Vaughn (1998) suggests that couples should explore the deeper reasons for the affair, and once the affair is over or on hold, I explore these areas. In individual therapy one may explore personal issues such as hypersexuality, entitlement, self-concept, work, and even family history of infidelity. In couple therapy, relationship dynamics, conflict resolution, parenting, communication, companionship, intimacy, sharing, and sex are often discussed.

Infidelity: How Affairs Develop...

2007-05-04T21:15:00.000+08:00

Despite powerful social and religious standards in opposition to affairs, many people are having them. In fact, there are as many reasons given for affairs as there are people engaging in them. Some reasons include:

dissatisfaction with the marital relationship,

emotional emptiness,

need for sexual variety,

inability to resist new sexual opportunity,

anger at a partner,

no longer being "in love",

alcohol or drug addiction,

growing apart,

change in health status of a partner,

desire to get a partner jealous,

sexually incompatible,

"get back" at a partner who had an affair, and

a belief that monogamy isn't natural.

Despite the reason given for engaging in an affair, nearly all affairs, seem to follow a specific pattern (Karpel, 1994; Spring, 1997; Vaughn, 1998). Here are four possible stages:

Stage One - Emotional Connection: Sometimes referred to as the "getting to know you" stage. This is the innocent prelude during which an emotional connection is formed. Activities at this stage may include going for coffee breaks at work; getting to know the other person on a personal level; and sometimes providing emotional support. In almost all situations, a flirtatious spark is there! This is also the beginning of what is called triangulation (Guerin et al., 1987).

Stage Two - Secrecy: This new relationship is kept a secret. Spouses and friends are rarely told about the relationship because of the emotional attraction. Once a decision is made to keep it a secret, a boundary has been crossed and it is no longer a friendship, or collegial relationship. Fantasies about the other person are common at this point. Secrets and fantasies are very powerful and add fuel the fire! Layton-Tholl (1998) says people who keep the relationship a secret report far greater arousal, passion and obsession than with non-secret relationships.

Stage Three - The Dating Phase: Although the couple may believe they are just good friends, excuses are used to see each other. Meetings increase in frequency and they become purposeful, planned, and regular. Lunch, tennis, walks, long talks, working-out, etc. become regular activities. The couple tend to become more vigilant of comments or gestures that may draw suspicion. People close to either person might even make comments. Denial is ever present as this is "just a colleague or good friend".

Stage Four - Sex!: At this point an intense sexual and emotional relationship is started. There are feelings of excitement that come with a new relationship along with feeling of guilt about the marriage. Keeping the secret becomes harder and in fact others have probably noticed "something different".

Flirting: Eye Contact..

2007-05-04T21:07:00.000+08:00

Your eyes are probably your most important flirting tool. We tend to think of our eyes mainly as a means of receiving information, but they are also extremely high-powered transmitters of vital social signals. How you look at another person, meet his or her gaze and look away can make all the difference between a successful, enjoyable flirtation and an embarrassing or hurtful encounter.

Eye contact – looking directly into the eyes of another person – is such a powerful, emotionally loaded act of communication that we normally restrict it to very brief glances. Prolonged eye contact between two people indicates intense emotion, and is either an act of love or an act of hostility. It is so disturbing that in normal social encounters, we avoid eye contacts of more than one second. Among a crowd of strangers in a public setting, eye contacts will generally last only a fraction of second, and most people will avoid making any eye contact at all.

This is very good news for anyone wishing to initiate a flirtation with an attractive stranger. Even from across a crowded room at a party, you can signal your interest in someone merely by making eye contact and attempting to hold your target's gaze for more than one second (not too much more, though, or you will seem threatening). If your target maintains eye contact with you for more than one second, the chances are that he/she might return your interest. If after this initial contact, your target looks away briefly and then looks back to meet your gaze a second time, you can safely assume that he/she is interested. If these eye contacts trigger a smile, you can approach your target with some confidence.

If, on the other hand, your target avoids making eye contact with you, or looks away after a fraction of a second and does not look back again, you should probably assume that your interest is not returned. There is still the possibility that your target is just a very shy person – and some females may be understandably wary of signalling any interest in male strangers. The only way to find out is by close observation of your target's behaviour towards others. Does she consistently avoid direct eye-contact with men? Does he seem nervous, anxious or aloof in his interactions with other women? If so, your target's reluctance to meet your gaze may be nothing personal, and it might be worth approaching, but only with considerable caution.

Once you have approached your target, you will need to make eye contact again in order to strike up a conversation. As soon as your eyes meet, you may begin to speak. Once a conversation begins, it is normal for eye contact to be broken as the speaker looks away. In conversations, the person who is speaking looks away more than the person who is listening, and turn-taking is governed by a characteristic pattern of looking, eye contact and looking away.

So, to signal that you have finished speaking and invite a response, you then look back at your target again. To show interest while your target is speaking, you need to look at his/her face about three-quarters of the time, in glances lasting between one and seven seconds. The person speaking will normally look at you for less than half this time, and direct eye contact will be intermittent, rarely lasting more than one second. When your target has finished speaking, and expects a response, he or she will look at you and make brief eye contact again to indicate that it is your turn.

The basic rules for pleasant conversation are: glance at the other person's face more when you are listening, glance away more when you are speaking and make brief eye contact to initiate turn-taking. The key words here are 'glance' and 'brief': avoid prolonged staring either at the other person or away.

The most common mistake people make when flirting is to overdo the eye contact in a premature attempt to increase intimacy. This only makes the other person feel uncomfortable, and may send misleading signals. Some men also blow their chances by carrying on a conversation with a woman's breasts, rather than looking at her face.

Flirting and Body Language...

2007-05-03T23:25:00.000+08:00

Statistics differ but most experts agree it takes us between 90 seconds and four minutes to decide if we fancy someone - and as much as we'd like to think it all rests on that witty one-liner, it doesn't.

Fifty-five per cent of the impression we get from someone comes through our body language

Thirty-eight per cent is from the tone, speed and inflection of our voice

and a mere seven per cent is from what we're actually saying!

First impressions

This doesn't mean you can get away with droning on about your passion for snails and butterfly collection forever (content is crucial later), but it does mean you need to get the body language right straight away or they won't bother to stick around to find out how fascinating you are.

If you're not already feeling horribly self-conscious, you should be. To make you completely paranoid, here's another scary thought. Before you've even spoken to the person you've got your eye on, the way you've walked and stood is more than 80 per cent of their first impression of you!

We make snap judgements based on instinct but the fact is, almost every facet of our personality is evident from our appearance, posture and the way we move.

So, how do we tell if our body is sending the right signals - and (more importantly) how to read theirs? Let your body do the talking (and the flirting) by learning to recognise...

The five secret sexual signals that someone is flirting with you

The flirting triangle. When we look at people we're not familiar with (in a business situation for instance), our eyes make a zig-zag motion: we look from eye to eye and across the bridge of the nose.

With friends, the look drops below eye level and moves into a triangle shape: we look from eye to eye but also look down to include the nose and mouth.

Once we start flirting, the triangle gets even bigger - it widens at the bottom to include their good bits (like the body). The more intense the flirting, the more intensely we'll look from eye to eye - and the more time we'll spend looking at their mouth.

If someone is watching your mouth while you're talking to them, it can be very, very seductive. It could be that they're imagining what it would be like to kiss you.

Mirroring. This is what separates a good flirt from a great flirt: nothing will bond you more effectively than mirroring someone's behaviour. This simply means you do whatever it is they do. If they lean forward to tell you something intimate, you lean in to meet them. If they sit back to take a sip of their drink and look you in the eye, you pause then follow suit.

The theory behind mirroring is that we like people who are like us. If someone is doing what we're doing, we feel they're on the same level as us and in the same mood as we are.

There are two no-go areas with this one, though: firstly, only mirror positive body language; second, capture the spirit rather than mimicking them. As a general rule, wait around 50 seconds before following their gestures.

The eyebrow flash. When we first see someone we're attracted to, our eyebrows rise and fall. If they are similarly attracted, they raise their eyebrows in return. Never noticed? It's not surprising since the whole thing lasts only about a fifth of a second!

We're not consciously aware of doing it, but it's a gesture that is duplicated by every culture on Earth. In fact, some experts claim it's the most instantly recognised non-verbal sign of greeting used by humans.

The trick is to watch for it when you meet someone you fancy. Better still, tell them you're interested on a subconscious level by prolonging your eyebrow flash for up to one second - deliberately raise them while catching their eye for full impact.

Pointing. Sneak a peek at what their feet and hands are doing - we tend to point toward the person we're interested in. If we find someone attractive, we'll often point at them subconsciously with our hands arms, feet, legs, toes.

Again, it's an unconscious indicator to make our intentions known. Unconsciously, this is often picked up by the other person, without them really knowing why.

So if you've got your eye on someone in the corner, point your body in their direction - even if you don't make eye contact, they may take the hint.

Blinking. If someone likes what they see, their pupil size increases and so does their blink rate. If you want to up the odds in your favour, try increasing the blink rate of the person you're talking to, by blinking more yourself. If the person likes you, they'll unconsciously try to match your blink rate to keep in sync with you, which in turn, makes you both feel more attracted to each other!

Now, one final word before you go rushing off to the nearest bar to practise all this. Before you go, you must understand...

The golden rule of body language

Don't judge on one thing alone. Sitting with your arms crossed is often perceived as a defensive, stand-off posture. But it might also mean you're freezing cold, you're having a fat day or just spilt coffee all over your top!

Don't jump to conclusions, instead look for clusters of behaviour. If someone has their arms crossed and their lips are pursed disapprovingly, it's a fairly safe bet they are on the defensive. Most body language experts favour the Rule of Four, which means look for at least four signals suggesting the same thing before totally believing it.

Kissing Techniques...

2007-05-02T19:55:00.000+08:00

Kissing is a delicate art and must be taken slowly with a new partner. A good kisser knows how to pace themselves, has an active imagination, and understands what their partner likes or may not expect, but will enjoy. When kissing, remember the following: never slobber, don't stare, try not to belch, always pay attention with your non-visual senses (touch, hearing, ESP, etc.), and there is no such thing as too slow.

If you are unhappy with a kiss then chances are your partner is going to feel the same way. The best thing you can do is relax, and not just in your body, but your face, lips, neck, everywhere. Be relaxed and confident with how you kiss. Let yourself go with the flow of the moment and savour every second of it. While you are kissing, remember to use your hands, nose, and breath to entice your partner's senses. Everyone enjoys being touched and caressed while being kissed. Use your hands to gently caress the cheek, the jawbone, the back, arms, and collarbone. A gentle exhalation of air, that does not smell foul, can provide your partner with extremely light, warm feelings on their face, mouth, and neck that can be quite arousing.

Never "attack" someone when you kiss them, unless they like that sort of thing, and most people don't. Treat their lips like you would a dangerous creature. Move in slow and prepare for the kiss. Initial contact should be lips only, firm, yet gentle. React to how your partner is kissing. If they speed up, speed up with them. If they slow down, follow suit. Try to synchronize your actions with one another and always pay attention to their body language.

The following is a list of some simple techniques to spice up a kiss:

Triumverat

Kiss between the eyes, on the tip of the nose, and then on the lips.

Top and Bottom

Kiss the top lip, then the bottom lip, then both.

Lickable Lips

Run the tip of your tongue along your partner's lips.

Earlobecstacy

Gently kiss, nibble, and suck on the earlobe.

Facial Lines

Trace the neck and jawbone with your lips and tongue.

The Big Tease

Kiss everywhere but the lips, until your partner pulls you to their lips.

Caressed Lips

Rub your finger gently across their lips and then go in for a kiss.

Sensuality

Look in their eyes and whisper you want to kiss them. Press your lips gently to theirs', caress their lips with yours and then give her/him a passionate kiss.

Strawberry Secret

Place a strawberry in your mouth without your partner knowing. Crush the strawberry in your mouth and feed some to your partner while you kiss.

Cold as Ice

Put a piece of ice in your mouth without your partner knowing. Kiss them on the neck and let the ice softly touch their skin.

the sound of yourself blowing a kiss. Then either e-mail it to your partner or leave a note somewhere with instructions to press play.

Wake Up Kiss

Before your partner awakes, lean over and kiss their cheek. Then give soft kisses across their cheek until you reach their lips.

Full Body Meltdown

While your partner is laying down, slip over to them and start running your tongue, very gently, up their leg, arms, reaching their lips give them a full passionate kiss.

The Grandious Tease

Softly run your fingers across your partner's lips, lure them in to kissing you, but before you kiss, pull away and then go in for the kiss, then pull away again, etc., etc.

DATING COMPATIBILITY...

2007-05-02T19:29:00.000+08:00

TAURUS WOMAN AND ARIES MAN

An instant magnetism pulls the Taurus woman and the Aries man together. The Aries man is impatient, dashing and vain. The Taurus woman has to keep her cool and adore him for his sexy smile and good humor. The Taurus woman would better not try to force the Aries man to make any commitments and he’ll stick around longer than she would imagine.

TAURUS WOMAN AND TAURUS MAN

The Taurus woman is likely to be spending most of her time on the horizontal. Both the Taurus woman and the Taurus man love sensual pleasure and both enjoy indulgence. There’s lots of silent tenacity and mutual defiance out of the bedroom, but a wonderful earthy rapport as long as both the Taurus woman and the Taurus man remember to communicate.

TAURUS WOMAN AND GEMINI MAN

The Taurus woman adores the Gemini man’s ability to play any role she desire, both in and out of bed. The Taurus woman is strongly advised not to get possessive about the Gemini man or he may disappear faster than he appeared. The Taurus woman - Gemini man combination is good for romantic fun and erotic sex, but the he’s totally unreliable and utterly flirtatious with her friends.

TAURUS WOMAN AND CANCER MAN

Both the Taurus woman and the Cancer man require tenderness and both need time to allow their sexual secrets to unfold. The Taurus woman’s fantasy world intrigues the Cancer man, while his fantasies might take a lifetime to explore. Both the Taurus man and the Cancer man value warmth and companionship; their only test is when they both sulk for days over an upset.

TAURUS WOMAN AND LEO MAN

There’s oodles of sexy magic between the Taurus woman and the Leo man, but they have little in common emotionally. The Taurus woman and the Leo man communicate in very different ways and are liable to stubborn moods. It’s an incredibly strong relationship if they respect each other. The Leo man needs loyalty and to be treated like a king; the Taurus woman loves sensually indulging him.

TAURUS WOMAN AND VIRGO MAN

The Taurus woman’s earthy sensuality lifts the Virgo man off to a different plane when he realizes she’s the most perfect woman he’s ever met. The Taurus woman might find the Virgo man too clinical about sex and the Virgo man might eventually decide the Taurus woman is too self-indulgent. The Taurus woman - Virgo man combination is good for a long-term stability, but lacking in passion.

TAURUS WOMAN AND LIBRA MAN

As long as the Taurus woman gives the Libra man plenty of space to socialize he sticks around.
The Taurus woman should keep in mind that the Libra man lives in his head and doesn’t like to be brought down to earth too often. Both the Taurus woman and the Libra man like winding the other up in public, but in private they just like to laze around in each other’s arms.

TAURUS WOMAN AND SCORPIO MAN

This is one of the most erotic combinations of the zodiac - the Taurus woman is sensual and steamy, the Scorpio man is torrid and sexually demanding. The Scorpio man is drawn to the Taurus woman’s earthy needs and she to his extremes of passion. The Taurus woman - Scorpio man combination is a transformative relationship that can be total love or total hate.

TAURUS WOMAN AND SAGITTARIUS MAN

In a couple with the Sagittarius man, the Taurus woman could have problems. The Sagittarius man is a rover and doesn’t really want to be committed. If the Taurus woman is prepared for him to wander and return to her side when he feels like it, then she will be rewarded with a fabulous lover and friend. The Taurus woman - Sagittarius man combination won’t be easy for long-term commitment.

TAURUS WOMAN AND CAPRICORN MAN

Once the Taurus woman establishes a rapport with the Capricorn man there’s usually a strong bond between them. Sexually, the Taurus woman is more sensual than the Capricorn man. While the Taurus woman needs tactile warmth, the Capricorn man usually prefers to be plotting business coups. The Taurus woman might want to teach the Capricorn man some new tricks. The Taurus woman - Capricorn man combination is good for long-term commitment.

TAURUS WOMAN AND AQUARIUS MAN

The Taurus woman and the Aquarius man are fascinated by each other’s very different personalities. The Aquarius man loves to be alone or with a million pals and needs more freedom than anyone else. As long as the Taurus woman can tolerate the Aquarius man’s ex-lovers being his friends, the combination is good for a fun-loving affair.

TAURUS WOMAN AND PISCES MAN

The Taurus woman can get lost in the Pisces man’s imaginative world and is fascinated by his sensitive nature and intuitive talents. The Pisces man is far stronger than he appears on the surface and the Taurus woman is emotionally deeper than he realizes. Together the Taurus woman and the Pisces man can establish a long-lasting instinctual rapport.

Zodiac: Taurus

2007-04-29T01:21:00.001+08:00

The Taurean's characteristics are solidity, practicality, extreme determination and strength of will - no one will ever drive them, but they will willingly and loyally follow a leader they trust. They are stable, balanced, conservative good, law-abiding citizens and lovers of peace, possessing all the best qualities of the bourgeoisie. As they have a sense of material values and physical possessions, respect for property and a horror of falling into debt, they will do everything in their power to maintain the security of the status quo and be somewhat hostile to change.

Mentally, they are keen-witted and practical more often than intellectual, but apt to become fixed in their opinions through their preference for following accepted and reliable patterns of experience. Their character is generally dependable, steadfast, prudent, just, firm and unshaken in the face of difficulties. Their vices arise from their virtues, going to extremes on occasion,such as sometimes being too slavish to the conventions they admire.

On rare occasions a Taurean may be obstinately and exasperatingly self-righteous, unoriginal, rigid, ultraconservative, argumentative, querulous bores, stuck in a self-centered rut. They may develop a brooding resentment through nursing a series of injuries received and, whether their characters are positive or negative, they need someone to stroke their egos with a frequent, "Well Done!" Most Taureans are not this extreme though.

They are faithful and generous friends with a great capacity for affection, but rarely make friends with anyone outside their social rank, to which they are ordinarily excessively faithful. In the main, they are gentle, even tempered, good natured, modest and slow to anger, disliking quarreling and avoiding ill-feeling. If they are provoked, however, they can explode into violent outbursts of ferocious anger in which they seem to lose all self-control. Equally unexpected are their occasional sallies into humor and exhibitions of fun.

Although their physical appearance may belie it, they have a strong aesthetic taste, enjoying art, for which they may have a talent, beauty (recoiling from anything sordid or ugly) and music. They may have a strong, sometimes unconventional, religious faith. Allied to their taste for all things beautiful is a love for the good things of life pleasure, comfort, luxury and good food and wine and they may have to resist the temptation to over indulgence, leading to drunkenness, gross sensuality, and covetousness.

In their work, Taureans are industrious and good craftspeople, and are not afraid of getting their hands dirty. They are reliable, practical, methodical and ambitious, within a framework of obedience to superiors. They are at their best in routine positions of trust and responsibility, where there is little need of urgency and even less risk of change, and a pension at the end. Yet they are creative and good founders of enterprises where the rewards of their productiveness come from their own work and not that of others.

They can flourish in many different trades and professions: banking, architecture, building, almost any form of bureaucracy, auctioneering, farming, medicine, chemistry, industry Taureans make good managers and foremen surveying, insurance, education and, perhaps surprisingly, music and sculpture. They make an ideal trustee or guardian, and can attain eminence as a chef. Some Taureans are gifted enough in singing to become opera stars or to excel in more popular types of music.

They are more than averagely amorous and sensually self-conscious, but sexually straightforward and not given to experiment. They make constant, faithful, home loving spouses and thoughtful, kindly parents, demanding too much of neither their spouses nor children. They can be over possessive and may sometimes play the game of engineering family roles for the pleasure of making up the quarrel. If anyone offends their amour proper they can be a determined enemy, though magnanimous in forgiveness if their opponent makes an effort to meet them halfway.

No other sign in the zodiac is closer to earth then Taurus. The main objective in leading a Taurean life is primarily (though not entirely) to maintain stability and physical concerns. Your inner spiritual sense longs for earthly harmony and wholesomeness. When you fully understand this, and work toward this end, you will no longer need to blindly reassure yourself with external possessions and comforts. A realization that finding this inner peace will cause all of the above mentioned positive things will overtake you and your life will be very full.

Ultimately the Taurean needs to discover their truest, deepest and highest values. When they know what is truly valuable, they are no longer chained to people and to things that have to do with lesser values. The greatest indication of value to a Taurean is beauty, which cannot be owned, only appreciated.

Astrology: Dragon

2007-04-29T00:59:00.001+08:00

The Dragon is one of the most powerful and lucky Signs of the Chinese Zodiac. Its warm heart makes the Dragon's brash, fiery energy far more palatable. This is a giving, intelligent and tenacious Sign that knows exactly what it wants and is determined to get it. Dragons possess a certain natural, charming charisma that ensures they can always influence their peers and often find themselves the center of attention in social situations. This Sign is truly blessed, too; Dragons are considered to be very lucky in love! The Dragon's friends are always keen to hear what this firebrand has to say and when it comes to dispensing advice, the Dragon has the floor.

Its ego can get in the Dragon's way, but even so, this larger-than-life creature has a knack for initiating projects and keeping the troops motivated. According to Dragons, it's their natural born right to lead the way -- because who else could do it so surely and so well? As lucky as they are, Dragons have a good chance of achieving considerable material wealth during their lifetimes, although it isn't mere money that's this Sign's main motivation. Power is what the Dragon wants and truly believes it deserves. Dragons are quite the opportunists, forever searching for ways in which to consolidate their considerable power. Contrary to all this strength and fire, a weakened Dragon is a sad sack, a creature that refuses to take defeat with even a modicum of grace.

The role of leader is the only one the Dragon wants, the better from which to give orders and be king of the hill. They make solid leaders, too, knowing instinctively what needs to be done to stay on top. Crossing the Dragon is never a good idea -- this beast can singe! A valuable life lesson for this clever creature would be to absorb the principles of flexibility, compassion and tolerance. Being high and mighty can serve to inspire others, but it also keeps Dragons from living their lives to the fullest. If Dragons can learn to balance their quest for success with an appreciation for the little things, their life will be more than worthwhile.

The most compatible match for a Dragon is the Monkey or the Rat.