‘Your Sun Sign, Your Musician’ – The Gryphon Music Horoscope

Charlotte Trenbath on 8 December 2024

In astrology, the Sun represents the self. In other words, your Sun sign will be an indicator of your core identity, your ego, and your individuality. 

Aries [March 21st – April 19th] – Lady Gaga.

As the first sign in the zodiac, the Aries Sun is best expressed through a trailblazer like Lady Gaga. Ruled by Mars, the planet of war, Aries individuals run on passionate ambition, facing conflict head-on in true ram fashion. With the Sun exalted in the sign of Aries, self-expression is paramount and unwavering in the face of criticism – a fitting characteristic for a genre-blending, meat-dress-wearing pop pioneer such as Gaga.  

Taurus [April 20th – May 20th] – Cher.

Ruled by the planet Venus, Taurus Sun natives are endowed with a certain regal beauty that feels permanent in its steadied earthiness. It is no wonder, then, that the eternal ‘Goddess of Pop’ is also a Taurus. Cher’s patience, self-assuredness and penchant for material indulgence are prime Taurus characteristics. In her own words: ‘I am so slow to anger, you have no idea. I am such a Taurus. But when I get to a place of real anger… you just don’t want to know about it.’ 

Gemini [May 21st – June 21st] – Kendrick Lamar.

Naturally, an intelligent lyricist such as Kendrick Lamar would have a Gemini Sun. The Mercury-ruled sign is associated with the third house, the House of Communication, blessing Gemini natives with a keen mental agility. Lamar’s formidable storytelling skills and the intricacy with which he explores a variety of topics is synonymous with Gemini’s detail-oriented curiosity and dynamic communicative skills. 

Cancer [June 22nd – July 22nd] – Lana Del Rey.

Cancerians are indeed the most likely zodiac to write flowing, poetic ballads about love and loss – Lana Del Rey is living proof. Known as the sign of the ‘mother’ [quite literally in Lana’s case] and ruled by the moon, Cancer Sun natives possess a notable intuition and a well of emotional depth.  The sign of the Crab craves safety and home comforts, protecting its soft, sensitive core with a thick armoured shell. Lana tends to shield her private life, keeping the details to herself. But the emotional core of her experiences, Cancerian in its receptive tenderness, is laced into her music. 

Leo [July 23rd – August 22nd] – Charli xcx.

As Leo is already ruled by the Sun, those with this Sun sign placement are blessed with a natural self-confidence and vitality, the kind that inspires lyrics such as ‘I’m everywhere, I’m so Julia.’ Charli seems to be circled in an ever-present spotlight; adoration flocks to the singer as though it were fated. Her bold magnetism and fearless creativity give her a natural Lioness dominance that shines with Leo’s expressive star quality.

Virgo [August 23rd – September 22nd] – Beyonce.

Beyonce is no stranger to her astrological Sun sign. In fact, two of her songs have ‘Virgo’ in the title. Grounded, analytical Virgos are notorious for perfectionism; they accept nothing less than flawless, holding themselves to meticulously high standards in all they do. Beyonce is renowned for her work ethic – with the singer being the most-awarded artist in Grammy history – and crafts both her music and her brand with a detailed, rigorous ingenuity. 

Libra [September 23rd – October 23rd] – Childish Gambino/ Donald Glover.

The multi-talented Donald Glover is known for his range of artistic ventures. From his acting and writing skills to the majestic, atmospheric sounds of his 2016 LP Awaken, My Love!, Glover’s expressive labour carries an unequivocally Libran attention to detail. Symbolised by the scales, these intellectual air sings thrive on balance, so it’s no 

Scorpio [October 24th – November 21st] – Jeff Buckley

Scorpio is ruled by Pluto, the most intense planet in astrology, associated with transformation and the psychological depths of our subconscious. Sun in Scorpio natives are people of extremes, people who write soul-shattering, life-altering lyrics like those of Lover, You Should’ve Come Over. The cherished late Buckley bore a magnetic, mystical creativity, expressing a Scorpio-adjacent plethora of deep, complex emotions through his music.  

Sagittarius [November 22nd – December 21st] – Tina Turner.

The late Tina Turner demonstrated the key qualities of Jupiter-ruled Sagittarius – growth, abundance, expansion and higher learning. The rock star had an inspiring level of optimism and perseverance despite the personal hardships she faced, with a bold enthusiasm for life that is so often associated with the Sagittarius sign. Just as Jupiter burns brightly as the largest planet in our solar system, so too did Turner’s stage presence ignite a blazing, fearless energy. 

Capricorn [December 22nd – January 19th] – Dolly Parton.

Yes, it’s true – Dolly Parton, who wrote an entire song about tirelessly working 9-5, is a Capricorn. The sign of the Goat is renowned for its resilience, with pragmatic Capricorns possessing an unrelenting capability to plough through even the most adverse of circumstances. Capricorn’s ruler is the karmic planet Saturn, which governs tasks, responsibilities, and time. Parton’s decade-long career is testament to Capricorn’s diligent longevity. 

Aquarius [January 20th – February 18th] – Dr. Dre. 

Aquarius are often hailed as the visionaries of the zodiac, brazen and spectacular in their unconventionality. Producer and rapper Dr. Dre embodies the rebellious spirit of Aquarius, as expressed in the 90s rap group N.W.A., with tracks like ‘Fuck tha Police’ protesting police brutality and racial profiling. He is unflagging in his innovation, from his popularisation of the iconic G-funk sound on debut album The Chronic to his launch of the best-selling Beats headphones

Pisces [February 19th – March 20th] – Kurt Cobain.

Many famous musicians have Pisces Suns, with the intuitive Water sign having a natural connection to art and music. Kurt Cobain, however, has four Pisces placements in his birth chart, as expressed through the late musician’s deep sensitivity to the world around him. As the last sign of the zodiac, Pisceans are the most empathetic of the 12, absorbing all that came before them with open-armed compassion. Cobain’s lyrics flow with an artistic introspection that mirrors the Piscean quality of pure emotional understanding.  

Words by Charlotte Trenbath

Building Healthy Habits in 2023

Jessica George on 22 February 2023

At the start of the New Year, it is typical for most people to create New Year’s resolutions in the hope of making the new year better than the old. These News Year’s resolutions are often overly complicated, and it is always disappointing when inevitably you fail at keeping them. Rather than create these resolutions, I would like to offer a few simple healthy habits that you could introduce into your life to build a better 2023.

1.Creating a good sleep pattern

The first healthy habit to introduce into 2023 is a healthy sleeping pattern. Sleep is one of the most important things to keep your mind well and to encourage good habits during your day. While getting the full 8 hours of sleep is not typical for a university student, there are a few good habits you can introduce to your life to get the right amount of sleep, to be both rested enough but also in the right mindset to start your day. Setting an alarm every morning is a good first step to take. Waking up at the same time each morning gets your body into a good routine and helps create that healthy sleeping pattern.

2.Eating well

Eating a balanced diet is important for both the health of your body and your mind. While eating five fruits and vegetables per day may seem daunting, introducing just a few healthier foods into your diet can make all the difference. Replacing just one snack per day with a fruit or vegetable is a good way to start and can make all the difference! Starting small and then building up is the best way to introduce healthy habits into your lifestyle. Another helpful step, to make food easier, is to meal prep and make multiple meals at once to help ensure that you always have dinner available even after long days of studying!

3.Planning

One habit that will make 2023 so much easier is to have a weekly plan. This includes writing down classes, study time, nights out with friends and meal plans. Having everything written down is a simple way to take the stress out of the week and make your life easier. It also means that you will not forget any important assignments or tasks because everything is written down. This is a healthy habit that can make life at university much less stressful. Producing a daily checklist means you can plan a reasonable amount of work to get done every day by setting achievable targets.

4.Taking time for yourself

The most important healthy habit to introduce into 2023 is taking time for yourself. Making sure you schedule time to do the things you love – whether it be reading, watching television, arts and crafts – is important to a healthy balance in your life. Carving out time during your busy schedule to just simply do something you love is a healthy habit that everyone should be introducing to 2023! In my opinion, taking care of yourself is the most important habit that you should keep this year.

A New Year’s Guide to Journaling

Amelia Averis on 9 January 2023

To reflect, remember, and be creative. Easy ways to ease yourself in journaling in 2023.

‘Journaling’ can sound pretentious, exclusionary, and convoluted, so forgive me. It does, however, seem the fitting word to combine a daily-happenings-and-routine-diary, with rants, song lyrics, and missing chunks – and it’s becoming popular.

Sometimes, all it need be is a list of memorable bits from the week prior, functioning simply to separate moments from monotony in retrospect. Each year, however, a journal will accidentally become more developed and complex as we do more and desperately want to remember it all. Nonetheless, starting the snowball can seem like work.

These are easy ways to ease yourself into full-blown, obnoxiously religious journalling.

Start with a sentence a day

What happened today that separated it from any other day? What is a weird memory you’ll pick out in a year? Not ‘I ate breakfast’ or ‘I went to the gym’. ‘Called mum and spoke about a specific job interview’, ate a meal you don’t usually eat, and someone’s dog came to stay.

Furnish memories

I still so clearly remember an economics lesson that I wrote about because I retold a joke one of the boys made. By writing down that joke, I captured the whole lesson in my memory. You can do this with anything. Pick bits out of conversations, or mental images you’ll want to remember, which table you sat at in the pub, outfits you wore, specific games you played at pres; you’ll be surprised what your brain can remember when it is told to.

Soundtrack

An easy way to journal and capture moments in time is to leave notes to yourself on the music you’re liking at the moment. Just let yourself know, jot it in the margin, it’s an easy time capsule.

‘Things I’ve thought about recently’ and ‘stuff I liked’

…and you don’t have to elaborate. If you don’t want to sit and ‘ponder’, don’t. Podcast wisdom that you liked, a TikTok quote, a realisation you had about your hobbies, ‘I’ve got so much closer with x recently’, I’ve been really liking 70’s music, eating so many olives. You’ve journaled without the faff.

Photos without photos

Capture where you are writing from by drawing your view, or just describe the moment in detail. ‘I can still really taste the garlic from the bruschetta I made, I can hear a house alarm and my incense smells nice’.

Everything goes in

Quotes you like, write it down, receipts, tea-bag packets, notes people left you, fleeting tattoo ideas. Stick in writing you did on other pieces of paper when you had the chance like on the train, copy out stuff you wrote in your notes and when you wrote them.

Let other people do it for you

On holiday I often give my diary to my friends. They write about the day or just say hey, but they sign it and write that they are excited or drunk or tired and it captures a moment without having to recall it the next day.

You can miss days out and then do or don’t binge-write. Don’t be afraid to have chunks missing. Using a blank notebook rather than a diary makes this easier. Just don’t stop! Bullet point the missing chunk in moments you can remember, and carry-on writing.

2021: Reflecting with Kindness II

Celina Tran on 14 January 2022

I spent the last new year’s celebration with my dog, Bear, and my other half in our quiet, small city apartment. Following the night, I wrote my first Reflecting with Kindness article, which was about taking a break and not being so harsh on yourself regarding new year’s resolutions, especially considering the pandemic that left us all locked up for months. 

2021 has been slightly different to its predecessor. As life began returning to normality, so did my expectations of myself, and I’m sure I’m not the only one. After a year of doing nothing but taking a break, I had every intention of making up for 2020’s laziness.

I’m probably not the only one who’s still harsh in my reflection upon the year, almost stupidly so. Last year, I found it reasonable to completely scrap my resolutions. This year, I’ve come to realize that there’s absolutely no point in moping about what I didn’t do when I can appreciate what I did do. 

Did you meet new people? Maintain old relationships?

Growing apart, breakups and fights are normal, sometimes even healthy. But those around you right now? Those whose presence makes you smile, whose presence you linger in? You fought for that.

I’ve had the realisation that my boyfriend and I actually need to keep doing romantic couple things to maintain our relationship. I’ve also realised that I need to call my cousins and friends to stay in touch with them. Maintaining a relationship is so much effort, so if you did, good on you.

Did you get to know yourself? Grown? 

To many of us, the world as we know it is fast-paced, never-ending. Don’t lose yourself in the crowd.  

I’ve gotten to know a lot of people this year, but the most important one is a girl who’s been with me all my life. I’ve not always been the kindest to her, but I’ve spent the year learning more about myself. Getting to know yourself is a never-ending learning curve, and remember, flowers only bloom in the right conditions. Treat yourself with kindness, always. 

What have you done for others?

Didn’t solve world hunger or the climate crisis this year? Don’t worry, I didn’t either. 

But I bet you comforted a friend in distress or picked up an item a stranger dropped in one of those thousands of Morrisons aisles. Perhaps you’re the person who always smiles awkwardly at strangers who pass you, or maybe you’re the one who always compliments your classmates’ handwriting. 

I always feel awkward complimenting people even though I really want to, and I bet I’m not the only one. But having been on the receiving end of when someone does or says something kind has improved the worst of days, so I say go for it. The feeling you leave them with is priceless, and you’ll be happy you did it.  

If your list of successes isn’t as long as your list of failures, I still bet you had a lot of tiny victories. It’s the small things that matter, so bask in your tiny glory (even if said glory takes form in a lampshade rather than sunlight). As I said last time, this year is just another small step in the marathon that is life. Try not to stress, you will do and experience amazing things, and after all, Rome wasn’t built in a day. There’s still a long way to go, so as we’re approaching the new year, reflect upon this one with kindness.

Why I’m Glad I Failed My New Year’s Resolutions

Amy Punchard on 14 January 2022

This year, I officially did not achieve any of my nine New Year’s resolutions.

I did hardly any exercise, I didn’t drink enough water, and I ate far too much sugar. My routine went out of the window, I had my five-a-day about twice, and I didn’t spend much time outside. I didn’t brush up on my German, and I didn’t read a single book.

So, why do I still consider 2021 as one of my best years yet?

I’ve always been an overthinker and a serial organiser. I spend so much of my time thinking about mortgages, imagining how my career will look in 10 years time, and even planning my retirement. But in 2021, I finally learned how to live in the present rather than the future. I shut these thoughts out of my mind, took time for mindfulness, and started to focus on just enjoying each day as it comes – and as a result, my mental health is the strongest it’s been in years.

I do feel guilty about not achieving some of my resolutions, but at the same time I’m immensely proud of other things I achieved; I let go of grudges, I became kinder, I smiled and laughed more, and I mastered lots of new knitting skills. After all, the real purpose of New Year’s resolutions is to make us happier in life, and I’m certainly happier with mine.

In spite of everything I’ve said, I still fully intend to sit down on New Year’s Eve and write another long list of resolutions that I probably won’t achieve. Because what I’m trying to say through this article is not that New Year’s resolutions are pointless or unachievable, but that they are only useful when you don’t put unhealthy pressure on yourself to achieve them, and when you also take time to appreciate all the other wonderful things you’ve done and felt during the year. 

Research has suggested that people are more likely to achieve their goals when they make them at this time of year – life doesn’t come with a pause button, so it’s an ideal time to reflect and refresh. 

2021 has been a difficult and strange year for all of us, so if you’re in the 50% of us who will be sitting down with a pen and paper on the 31st of December, I hope you’ll take a moment to feel proud of yourself first. Did you make someone smile? Did you cook a new meal? Did you spend some time doing something you love?

Finally, my advice for your 2022 New Year’s resolutions is this: be vague! 

Whilst most articles will tell you that goals need to be specific, I believe that’s more likely to leave you disappointed. Rather than pledging to exercise every day, I’m just going to put ‘do more exercise’ because that way, even if I only go to the gym once, instead of being disappointed that I failed 364 times, I’ll simply be proud that I went once more than I did this year.