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It’s time to open up a little bit more.
By Emily Ratay — Written on Nov 17, 2018
Being vulnerable is scary sometimes – like really, really scary. I don’t know if it’s the Aquarius in me saying this, or if it’s connotation that being vulnerable means you’re weak, but it’s not always easy to let your guard down emotionally, no matter what your horoscope sign is.
And for the record, being vulnerable doesn’t make you weak at all. In fact, it’s one of the best qualities your horoscope sign can have. To be vulnerable means to open up emotionally, let your guard down, and be honest about your feelings and thoughts.
It’s so easy – especially in today’s world where no one likes getting in other people’s business and vice versa – to lock our true selves up and let as few people in as possible. Being vulnerable also means letting yourself feel emotions as they come, rather than stuffing them down and never acknowledging them.
That means letting yourself cry when you’re sad, get angry when you’re frustrated or stressed, and even jump up and down like a child when you’re happy or excited. Who cares if it’s embarrassing?
You should be yourself for yourself, not hide yourself away to make others more comfortable.
But no matter how many times you tell yourself that, it can still be hard to actually be vulnerable. Maybe you’ve had a bad experience in the past where someone told you to some being so emotional all the time.
Maybe it feels attention-seeking or awkward to express yourself honestly. Depending on your zodiac sign, it might be harder for you to be more vulnerable than other astrological zodiac signs, but it’s just as important to at least try to make it a regular practice.
When you’re vulnerable, you learn what your true strength is. Vulnerability can open you up to a lot more than just being able to express your emotions. Being vulnerable can also mean learning how to be more empathetic towards others, more dedicated to self-care, and more open to love.
One of the things we’re most scared of as humans is rejection. Being vulnerable can make you feel a lot of negative emotions, like shame or guilt, because you’re worried that letting your guard down is wrong or will lead to rejection in some form.
That’s why it’s so easy for us to lock away how vulnerabilities before we even share them with others because the fear of rejection or embarrassment is way too hard to handle. A healthier way to deal with these feelings is to lean into what makes you uncomfortable.
Yeah, it’s going to be hard to let your guard down at times, but learn to work through that uncomfortable feeling and you’ll see that being vulnerable isn’t that difficult after some practice.
Learning to lean into your weaknesses, vulnerabilities, and true self, and loving every part of you (not just the nice parts) will make you a much stronger person in return. To start, get more acquainted with your vulnerable side.
Per astrology, here’s how your zodiac sign can learn to be more vulnerable.
ARIES (March 21 - April 19)
Aries, you've never been afraid to express your emotions – like telling people when they make you mad or upset. You do, sometimes, tone down just how deeply you feel these emotions, so you don't look like someone who can't handle themselves around others.
If you want to be more vulnerable, don't dull yourself to make it more comfortable for others. Whether it's with your words, your actions, or even just a look, express your emotions exactly how you want. Sharing exactly how you feel, when you feel it, is very honest of you.
TAURUS (April 20 - May 20)
Taurus, you are usually the protector of astrology. You want people to know that you will always be their rock, their anchor, when they want to be vulnerable. This also means that you don't give yourself the ability to be vulnerable yourself because you're putting it aside for others.
Being more vulnerable means getting out of your comfort zone and sharing intimate details about your life with the people you care about. If someone loves you, they'll never judge you. Sharing stories about your past, your dreams, and your thoughts makes you emotionally strong.
GEMINI (May 21 - June 20)
For you, Gemini, being vulnerable means admitting that you don't know everything. You like being the friend everyone comes to for an answer or piece of advice, but it's okay to admit that you just don't know, too. Life is one big learning curve – no one has all the answers.
Let yourself be like a child that is eager to learn as much as they can about the world. You already have the enthusiasm and energy to learn for a lifetime, so don't let the opinions of others bring you down or dull your sparkle. Let yourself get excited about anything and everything.
CANCER (June 21 - July 22)
So many people label you as moody or temperamental that in brings you down, Cancer. It's easy for people who don't know how to let their guards down to bring down others who do because it makes them feel better about themselves. In reality, they're just emotionally stunted.
If you want to be more vulnerable, you need to let your guard down, no matter what people are going to say. Being emotionally available is vital for you because you feel emotions so intensely that it's impossible to stuff them down. It's important to always have an open heart.
LEO (July 23 - August 22)
Leo, you know better than anyone that no one is perfect – we ALL have weaknesses, whether we want to acknowledge them or not. But you also know that embracing your weaknesses (rather than just ignoring them) is a sign of courage and strength.
Even when it makes you uncomfortable, admitting to your weaknesses is a way to be more vulnerable. Showing others that you have flaws just like them makes you a stronger person because you're willing to love every part of yourself, not just the good parts.
VIRGO (August 23 - September 22)
Virgo, you build your entire life around being in control. There's nothing in your life you don't have control over, and you want to keep it that way. That said, it also means you're constantly micromanaging everything and putting out fires before there's even anything to worry about.
Always being "on" isn't always smart. It just means you're not letting life happen the way it should. If you want to be more vulnerable, you have to let things happen without getting involved. I know, it's going to be hard, but you'll learn some things about yourself in the process.
LIBRA (September 23 - October 22)
Anyone who knows you, Libra, knows just what a perfect life you've created for yourself – a life with beauty, love, and all things nice in it. That said, it's also a life that protects you from reality, which isn't always a good thing. It's not healthy to avoid negativity just because it scares you.
Being vulnerable means letting your guard down and accepting that you're scared at times or that you don't know what to do. Not everything has to be perfect, but that doesn't mean things can't be improved, either. Let yourself be vulnerable by acknowledging the bad and working towards the good.
SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21)
Scorpio, you are one of the most intense, deeply emotional zodiac signs, but anyone can see that you're just not comfortable sharing details about yourself. Whatever is trapped in your mind that makes it impossible for you to open up is a lot more destructive than you think.
Being more vulnerable means shedding that mysterious, defensive side of yourself and opening up. Say how you really feel, share your emotions and thoughts, and know that being able to acknowledge your soft, caring side is incredibly brave and important.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 21)
It's so easy for you to go through life without a care in the world because you know that when things get boring or hard, you can just move on to the next thing, Sagittarius. For others, being flaky or unreliable is a bad trait, but you see it as being carefree and untroubled.
If you want to be more vulnerable, you have to learn to stick around when it hard. Being vulnerable means picking yourself and trying again when you've failed, not calling it quits. This is new territory for you, I get it, but it's also an experience in growth you can't give up.
CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19)
Maybe you work so hard because it gives you life, or maybe you do it because you're scared to fail, but let's talk about you, Capricorn. Being successful and accomplished has always been your dream, but so has having a rich and full life, complete with friends, family, and love.
It's easy to forget that you're human just like the rest of us and that you're bound to let someone down eventually (including yourself). Being vulnerable means owning up to your mistakes and failures, yes, but most importantly forgiving yourself when you do fail. Just one "I'm sorry" makes a world of difference, you know.
AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18)
It's hard for you to be vulnerable, Aquarius, because it's hard for you to express any kind of emotion. You like being known as the tough, independent zodiac sign that marches to the beat of their own drummer, but you can be that AND emotionally vulnerable, too.
Emotional vulnerability comes from being honest with yourself. Let yourself acknowledge when you feel lonely and want someone around, when you're unhappy and you want something to change, and especially when you need help. It sounds scary, but you'll still be you.
PISCES (February 19 - March 20)
Pisces, you are probably one of those most vulnerable zodiac signs already, but that doesn't mean there's nothing for you to work on. One thing in particular is wanting to be everyone's knight in shining armor. Because of your empathy, you care for other people's vulnerabilities but your own.
If you could, you would take on everyone's sadness, failures, and heartache so that they didn't have to deal with it alone. But being vulnerable means admitting that you can't be always be a hero, nor should you be. Sometimes, it's better to be with someone in their time of need, not be their savior.
Emily Ratay is a full-time writer living in Pittsburgh. She's passionate about the environment and feminism, and knows that anything is possible in the right pair of shoes. She plans on writing a non-fiction book in the future.