JONATHAN CAINER'S GIFT BUYING GUIDE
Last week in Astro News Jonathan covered the "Fixed" signs: Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius
(Astro News Friday December 7th click here)
Today Jonathan focuses first on the "Cardinal" signs: Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn
then on the "Mutable" signs: Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces
The Fixed signs:
ARIES people appreciate effiency. They admire items which are cleverly
designed and well-made. Indeed, if an item has such qualities, they will
appreciate it even if they have little real use for it. People born under the
sign of the ram may be hasty but their tastes are surprisingly refined. So,
if you want to score a hit, choose something practical rather than
decorative. Give them "tools of their trade" - whatever that trade may be. If
you can't afford the set, get them one - of top quality. And don't worry if
they already have it. Aries people have an amazing propensity to lose things
so they'll be glad of a spare!
Patty Greenall suggests: Adventure gift packs - Virgin has a selection of
days out that include a flying lesson or bungee jumping, etc., hats, game of
Risk, karate lessons, kitchen knives, toys, gadgets and games that are
immediately useable (remember batteries), tool kit, tandoori cooking kit,
Action Man, Pogo Stick.
CANCERIANS are supposed to be easy to please. As all they ever want is a
little reassurance, it truly is "the thought that counts" with people born
under this sign. Really though, that's all the more reason to put some
thought into what you give them. Cancerians, who will worry about anything if
given half an excuse, often worry on behalf of the person who has given them
a present. They may worry that too money much has been spent - or that they
are now obliged to wear the scarf every day - or read the book from cover to
cover. This may sound odd but, if you really want to score a hit, find out
who your Cancerian now most wants to help or what cause they want to support.
Give something that they, in turn can use to be of assistance to others.
Patty suggests: Cosy jumpers, pearls, moonstone or opal jewellery, anything
antique or silver, a locket for a cherished photo, picture frames, pocket
photo album, lots of cushions, a new throw or eiderdown, camera, cook book or
history book, handkerchief, game of Life, small pets, music and videos for
reminiscing.
LIBRANS don't mind what they get for Christmas provided they don't have to be
asked. NEVER ask a Libran what they want for Christmas. You'll either get a
list as long as your arm or a shrug of the shoulders. Librans are never quite
sure what they want - though they are usually pretty clear about what they
don't want. That requires them to make a choice. Indeed, if you really want
to please a Libran, offer to find out what their friends want and then do the
Christmas shopping for them. That way, if the gifts go down well, they can
take the credit - and if not, they can blame you! Remembering also, that
Librans enjoy making long, slow choices, gift tokens are more appropriate for
this sign than they are for any other!
Patty suggests: Classical music, fine jewellery, silk cushions, scented
products such as candles, perfume, potpourri, flower pressing kit, vintage
wine, sweets or chocolates, musical instruments, set of scales, compass,
painting or paint set, Armani suit, dice for decision-making, flowers, lacy
or silky underwear.
CAPRICORNS are supposed to be practical and serious. In reality, this is not
so but because so many astrologers keep pressing the point, Capricorns begin
to believe it must be true. So too, do their friends who feel obliged to give
useful, sensible items rather than thrilling, frivolous presents. Capricorn
though, is NOT the sign of the sturdy mountain goat but the mysterious
mythological sea-goat. Those born under this sign appreciate the exotic and
have an attraction to all things sensual. They also appreciate items that are
stylish and intelligently designed - so much so that, as long as it is a
"classic" of its kind, you can give it to them safely and be sure of scoring
a hit, almost regardless of what the object actually IS.
Patty suggests: Timepieces - watches and clocks, dark chocolate, Granite
statue or figurine, money counter, wallet or purse, black jumper from M&S,
game of Frustration or Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, Status Quo box set,
mountain climbing gear, calculator, Range Rover, book of Who's Who.
The Mutable signs:
GEMINIS have an insatiable appetite for information. Reference works on
almost any topic will please them. Don't worry about choosing a topic they
are interested in. You can pick at random. Whether it's "Doorknobs Through
The Ages" or "The Peanut Grower's Guide to Crop Yield in Zero Gravity" your
Gemini friend will be grateful for this compendium of rare wisdom. Indeed,
there's a high chance that they will say "That's amazing. I was think ing
about this very thing just recently." Of course they were. There's not a
subject under the sun that they don't ponder once in a while. Should a book
or computer program seem inappropriate, you can pander to Gemini curiosity in
another way. Get them night-sights or devices that can detect whispered
conversations from a distance. If you dare!
Patty suggests: Gloves, bangles, rings, manicure kit and/or selection of nail
varnishes, Coloured crayons and paper, pens and stationary, lava lamp, a game
of Twister or Trivial Pursuit, karaoke machine, microphone, megaphone,
telephone, Hear'Say's new album, Latest edition of Oxford dictionary, book of
text message abbreviations.
VIRGOS enjoy finding fault. That's why it's so easy to choose them Christmas
presents. You can get them almost anything, safe in the knowledge that they
will enjoy working out what's wrong with it. Don't waste time looking for an
item so perfect or flawless as to be beyond criticism. Nowhere in the world,
for a Virgo at least, does such a thing exist! Look instead, for something
that's patently full of mistakes; a collection of funny printing errors - or
some device, imported from overseas, with dreadfully unreadable instructions.
Alternatively, bypass the intellect entirely and make a direct, brazen appeal
to Virgo sensuality. Give your Virgo a good physical reason to purr with p
leasure.
Patty suggests: Puzzle/crossword books or book tokens, health products,
aromatherapy kit, exercise contraption or Yoga videotape, magnifying mirror
(for detail), crisp new bed sheets, personal organizer, feather
duster/tickling stick, Scrabble, garden implements, houseplants, soaps and
shower accessories of any description.
SAGITTARIANS do not need books about zen meditation. They live naturally in
what eastern mystics call "the here and now." Or, so at least, we must
assume. They certainly don't live in the past. Their memories are selective
and erratic. Nor do they live in the future - to which they rarely give much
thought. For Christmas, you can give them what you gave them the year before
last. They probably won't remember and, even if they do, they will have lost
it by now. Sagittarians have broad tastes. They can appreciate most colours,
textures and styles. Even if they DON'T like a gift, you merely have to say
"I bet you won't enjoy this." People born under this sign can never resist a
challenge.
Patty suggests: Books on travel, spirituality Feng Shui, atlas, subscription
to a favourite magazine, latest sports gear, Harley Davidson, Fencing lessons
(the legal type), comedy video (Eddie Izzard/Billy Connelly/Tommy Cooper),
overnight travel bag, Hoola Hoop, game of Buckaroo, hiking gear.
PISCES is a water sign. Christmas presents, therefore, which are associated
with water will always go down well. Exotic drinking vessels or bathing
accessories for example will be well received - as too, will a luxury
yaught(!) If you can't quite run to that, here's a sure fire tip. Pisceans
without exception, have a thing about their feet. They can never get them as
comfortable as they want them to be. Offer them comfy socks, slippers or a
foot spa. Or find a chiropodist who does gift vouchers - or, for even more
fun, send them to a reputable reflexologist.
Patty suggests: Anything listed for other signs, slippers, socks, pedicure
kit, bedding, Non-alcoholic wine/larger, hip flask, kaleidescope, bubble bath,
game of Tiddlywinks, Gabrielle's new album Dreams Can Come True, new toilet
seat, theatre tickets, a day at a Spa, sleeping bag, fairy lights, gossamer
curtains or nightwear, book of myths.
Astro Fact
An annular solar eclipse takes place today at 8:53pm. We won't be able to see
it in the UK, as the sun will be set by then. Its path will be through
Nicaragua, Costa Rica and the Pacific Ocean. Even there it's not going to be
easily visible as with a total eclipse. An annular eclipse is 'total' but
the moon is too far away from the earth for its shadow to reach the earth's
surface. It's seen as a ring of light around the shadow of the dark moon.
Meet Uri Geller - Friday 14th Dec 2001 only - Harrods, London
You can meet Jonathan Cainer's friend and colleague Uri Geller who will be appearing in Harrod's in London tomorrow. Uri will be in the second floor Crystal Department from 1pm - 3pm, and again between 4pm and 6pm.
