The Element Encyclopedia of Birthdays. Theresa Cheung

than any have reached before.

      Tarot card, lucky numbers, days, colors: The Magician, 1, 3, Saturday, Sunday, aqua, orange

      Born today: Muriel Spark (author); Boris Yeltsin (Russian president); Harry Styles (singer)

      Potential: Original, inspirational

      Dark side: Confusing, insecure

      

       2 FEBRUARY

       The Birthday of Elegance

       “I see and serve the bigger picture”

      The life lesson: is to let down your guard.

      The way forward: is to understand that trust and intimacy are not weaknesses but strengths.

      Luck maker: Learn how your intuition or quiet knowing speaks to you.

      People born on February 2 tend to be sophisticated, with their own elegant style. They resist any attempt to impose rules and regulations, but, despite their fierce independence, they are also open-minded. This makes their presence a reassuring force. They also possess formidable determination. Their focus is often the universal, the social, the bigger picture or the group, and they are frequently healers who have suffered themselves. They are the inspirational warriors for justice who have little time for their own family; the therapists who help others work through their traumas but are unable to identify their own; the mystics who see the bigger picture but can’t see their own loneliness.

      Born designers, they can be attracted to technical careers, such as programming or engineering, or careers in fashion and design. Their charm ensures that they will succeed in jobs dealing with the public, but their curiosity may also draw them to psychology, politics and sociology, and their intuition may attract them to the arts, writing, social media, teaching, healing and spirituality or even psychic growth. They are often very concerned about their body image and need to avoid taking diet and exercise plans to extremes. For self-care, every morning, as soon as you wake up, write down your dreams before you forget them, to see if your dreaming mind has sent you any intuitive insights.

      Although surrounded by admirers, these people tend to keep close relationships at arm’s length. This could be because they can get so absorbed in their ideas or their projects that they place human contact at the bottom of the list. It is crucial for their own psychological growth that they learn to love themselves and allow others to love them. Fortunately, around the age of 18 and then again around the age of 48, they have opportunities to become less controlling and more satisfied with themselves. If they can learn to apply the same level of intuitive understanding to themselves as they apply to others, their destiny is not just to make the world a more refined place but to become truly inspirational individuals.

      Tarot card, lucky numbers, days, colors: The High Priestess, 2, 4, Saturday, Sunday, white, purple

      Born today: James Joyce (novelist); Shakira (singer); George Halas (coach)

      Potential: Dynamic, sophisticated

      Dark side: Aloof, unsatisfied

      

       3 FEBRUARY

       The Birthday of New Frontiers

       “I learn new things every day”

      The life lesson: is to deal with boredom.

      The way forward: is to understand that occasionally boredom is good because it helps you relax, think about what really matters and come back with a fresh new perspective.

      Luck maker: Rest rather than run. Sometimes opportunities come your way when you are not striving to make things happen but simply being open and available.

      February 3-born have an inquisitive mind that thrives on variety. They are boundary-breakers and nothing excites them more than a challenge or a new experience. They give every task they commit to their undivided attention. However, once they have worked things out, they move on to something else. The danger is flitting from one subject to another without acquiring anything but superficial knowledge. Challenge is what makes them feel alive and if they are not being challenged, they may make their lives more difficult on purpose. For example, setting themselves impossible deadlines at work or pushing themselves to the limits physically.

      Born technicians, they are drawn to careers in technology and science, and their gift for communication makes writing, teaching, selling, counseling, social media and therapy appealing to them. Whether they choose scientific, technical, business, sport or creative careers, their adventurous spirit and determination to learn new skills sets them apart. A routine approach to diet, exercise and sleep can help bring much-needed stability into their lives. For self-care, stretch for a few minutes as soon as you wake up in the morning. Don’t reach for your phone first thing. Make those delicious waking moments all about yourself.

      Boredom and not being able to explore new frontiers are their greatest fears in both life and relationships. This could result in superficiality, but it doesn’t mean that these people are incapable of commitment and emotional closeness; they simply need to feel that they haven’t had to sacrifice their personal freedom. Between the ages of 17 and 46 they have opportunities to develop emotional confidence; after the age of 47 there is another turning point that helps them lose their fear of emotional closeness. Once they learn to value the personal as much as the impersonal, and not to back off when things get intense, their destiny is to seek out new frontiers and to walk untrodden paths for others to follow.

      Tarot card, lucky numbers, days, colors: The Empress, 3, 5, Saturday, Thursday, aquamarine, violet

      Born today: Felix Mendelssohn (composer); Elizabeth Blackwell (physician); Isla Fisher (actor)

      Potential: Inventive, adventurous

      Dark side: Unreliable, superficial

      

       4 FEBRUARY