What's Your Sign?

***WINNER ALERT!***  Congratulations to justinbarnes, who is a Pisces!  Justin has won the full set of Vicki Pettersson's Zodiac series!  In addition, because we had so many enthusiastic entries, we're going to give away two more of Vicki's books as extras:  You Said What Again gets a copy of SCENT OF SHADOWS, and Kaelie gets a copy of CITY OF SOULS.  Justin, Kaelie and You Said, send an email to booksthatgobump@gmail with your mailing info, and we'll get your books in the mail.  Thanks so much for everyone who played along - peace, love and kisses to all, whatever your sign!***

There was a time when the phrase, "Hey, baby, what's your sign?" was a universally acknowledged "pick-up phrase" of men everywhere. The modern day "Age of Aquarius" brings to mind the sixties and seventies, a period of spiritualism and open-mindededness where peace, love, cosmic forces (and evidently a few magic mushrooms!) reigned supreme.

In reality, astrology is believed to have begun with the ancient Babylonians sometime in the 3rd century B.C., and was used as a method to determine the will of the gods.  Man looked to the heavens for answers, because it was the heavens who ruled their lives: the rain that made the crops grow, the breeze that cooled their brow, the sun that beat down on their heads, the damage from storms and floods.  The movement of the sun, moon and stars began to be seen as the activity of the gods themselves, and it was believed that if these movements could be interpreted properly, man could use these patterns to his advantage.

It took several centuries before the art of horoscopic astrology came into existence, led largely by the Greek astronomist Ptolemy, whose teachings on the movements of the planets and their influence over a person's physical birth laid the foundation of astrological teachings for thousands of years afterward.  So today, in the 21st century, there are many, many people who believe that the sign you're born under has a direct influence on who you are as a person (c'mon, admit it... how many of you read your horoscope every day, even if you don't really believe it?) Many prominent rulers through the centuries were said never to make a move without consulting their personal astrologers (as recently as Ronald Reagan!), as the heavens continue to be looked to for answers, even now. 

Most of us take some kind of pride in the sign we were born under, although the actual casting of horoscopes is much more complicated than just what constellation was in the sky at the time of our birth - the place, time and position of the planets all come into play, as do the elements those planets represent.  Details aside, we seem to like the idea that some of our personal traits are given to us at birth - the good traits make us feel good about ourselves, and the bad traits are the perfect excuse for when we're less than perfect, right?  :)

So, as a proud Scorpio (loyal, passionate, independent, resourceful) my question for you today is the good, old-fashioned "What's your sign?".  One person (who if astrology is to be believed, will have been born under a lucky star), will win the ENTIRE set of Vicki Pettersson's Zodiac series!

(Two books, The Touch of Twilight and Cheat the Grave, have been signed by Vicki herself!)

Up your chances of winning by:

+1 Posting in the comments section

+1 Linking to this post on Twitter
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+1 Linking to the Supernatural Underground blog on your own blog/website

Post what you did in the comments section.  So c'mon, baby... what's your sign?