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They've got your back. Well, some of them.
By Christine Schoenwald — Written on Oct 23, 2017
Do you have someone in your life who is always there for you? It could be a friend, family member or a significant other — someone who has your back and is willing to do whatever you need them to do.
When someone is part of your support system, they’re willing to put you first before their own issues and needs. You are stronger because you know that they are there and are willing to fight for you or give you what you need, whether it’s a shoulder to cry on, an uplifting horoscope, an advocate, or money.
Not everybody is selfless enough to be supportive or responsible and dependable. They may want to be and have good intentions, but when it comes right down to it, they’re always going to choose themselves and what they need over someone else.
That’s not to say that you want someone who is a doormat for you, or who gives up living their own life so they can be there for you. You want a balanced advocate.
There are those people who are too self-centered to really be there for someone else. They may talk a good game and reassure you time and time again that they’ve got your back, but they’re never there when you need them.
If someone isn’t supportive, it doesn't mean that you need to cut them out of your life. They may be an asset to you in other ways; perhaps they inspire you with their drive or their fearlessness.
We all have many kinds of people in our lives who satisfy many different needs. The trick is not to expect someone who isn’t that caring or supportive to suddenly change and be there for you. Here are the most reliable zodiac signs that you can count on, ranked from most to least.
1. CANCER (June 21 - July 22)
Cancers are the most empathetic, caring, and compassionate signs of the zodiac. Everybody needs a Cancer individual in their life. You can count on them to always be there for you, with a shoulder to cry on, a hug, and anything else you might need.
If you need someone to take you to a doctor's appointment or the airport, they're the ones to call. Cancers are one of the most reliable zodiac signs, if not the most reliable, and there's no end to how much they care. They're also extremely creative, so you can expect their love and protection to come in an unexpected way.
2. VIRGO (August 23 - September 22)
Virgos sometimes get a bad reputation as being judgmental and perfectionistic. However, apart from their sometimes overcritical attitudes, they're always there for the people they love and will do anything in their power to fix something that's broken, even if it's someone's heart.
If a Virgo says they'll be there for you, they will be. Virgos will read the first draft of your novel and give you encouraging notes, they'll bring you chicken soup when you're sick, and they'll be the first in line to hug you at your wedding reception. Virgos have big brains AND big hearts.
3. LIBRA (September 23 - October 22)
Libras can seem kind of flighty and superficial but they keep their promises. If you ask a Libra for help, they're going to do whatever they can to help you. They're also very caring and giving and are interested in making sure that the people in their lives are happy and healthy.
A Libra will be able to see things from your perspective and will stand up for you. There's no better advocate than a Libra and they take their ties to other people seriously.
4. GEMINI (May 21 - June 20)
Geminis might be a little flaky but when it comes to crunch time, they'll come through for you. They're clever enough to come up with answers to problems that weigh on you and they prize communication enough to listen or advise you when you need it.
You can count on a Gemini to make you feel better and to be there (possibly late) when you really need them.
5. PISCES (February 19 - March 20)
Pisces are the friends that you can count on to be there when you need them and to tell you what you need to hear. They're intuitive and they know what you need, even if you don't.
Pisces are kind and compassionate and are all about giving second chances, so if you think you messed things up with them, they'll forgive you. They will definitely put you above their own needs, sometimes to their own detriment.
6. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20)
You can count on Taurus to go into full-on parent-mode when you need them. They'll patiently listen to you, take care of you when you're sick, and even bail you out of jail. A Taurus individual will help anyone in need but especially those they love.
You can count on them to be there; however, they are stubborn and when you disagree about what it is that you need, they'll tend not to listen to you and stubbornly go ahead with their original idea. But when you're on the same page, they can be amazing.
7. SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21)
Scorpios are fearless and intuitive, so they don't care if helping you puts them in danger. They're the heroes of the story as long as you don't do something they don't like, because if you do, all their compassion and caring shut down.
They can be somewhat self-centered, so as long as everything is good for them, they'll have the energy to spare for you. But if they're going through a tough time, you're better off going to someone else. You can count on Scorpio as long as it doesn't compete with their needs.
8. ARIES (March 21 - April 19)
You can definitely count on an Aries to be there when you need them and they're the ones who will make the toast at your wedding or take care of your pets while you're away. What you can't count on Aries for is always saying the right thing or being gentle in their advice. Aries can be blunt and will say the one thing you didn't need to hear.
They tend to lose their patience if they think that someone isn't helping themselves enough. They want you to change up the situation rather than wallow in your emotions. Jump out of a plane — you'll feel better.
9. CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19)
Capricorns are dependable and wise, so you know that not only will they be there for you, they'll have given your situation a lot of thought. They're patient and will listen to you; however, if you need them to lend you money or bail you out of a dire financial situation, don't count on them. They hold on to their money and aren't about to give it to someone else, no matter how desperate they might be.
Capricorns tend to be somewhat fatalistic, so they are going to give you the worst case scenarios and negative outcomes when you really just need someone to give you a hug and tell you it's going to be okay.
10. LEO (July 23 - August 22)
Leo wants to help. They want to make you feel better and to come through for you, but often, their needs take first priority and you get bumped back down on the list.
It isn't that you should never count on them to help you out in a tricky situation or to help you with a problem, it's just best not to assume that they'll be there as long as needed. Something will always come up when you need Leo to help you out, so it's best not to rely on them.
11. AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18)
If you're going through some big emotional upheaval, don't turn to an Aquarius because they just can't handle other people's messy emotions. You may need someone to listen to you vent but Aquarius isn't the person to contact when you're losing it because they'll just shut down.
You can count on them not to judge you but they're too inconsistent and detached to be there when you need them.
12. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 21)
It's not that Sagittarius doesn't care — they do — it's just that they get distracted by their own stuff. They want to help you and they think of themselves as always being there, but when the sh*t hits the fan, Sagittarius is gone. They don't do negative or unenjoyable well.
They're a bit too irresponsible to count on, but when your challenging time has passed, they're fun to hang out with. Another reason to stay clear of Sagittarius when you're going through a tough time is that they don't have a filter and can be extremely tactless and careless when it comes to your feelings.
Christine Schoenwald is a writer, performer, and teacher who loves writing and performing personal narratives. She's had pieces in The Los Angeles Times, Salon, Woman's Day, Purple Clover, Bustle, and is a regular contributor to Ravishly and YourTango. Check out her website or her Facebook page.