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They'll use your pain against you.
By Ruby Miranda — Written on Dec 14, 2017
What is it about people who tend to be good at manipulating others? How do they do it, and why? What's the point of making another person feel bad — or good — about something, only for the purpose of somehow controlling them? And why does anyone want to control another?
Well, I don't think anyone sets out to control others intentionally, but people do tend to fall back on what they have found to work, and one thing that always works in relationships is the dynamic between people where one of the parties is in control, and the other is waiting for that person to make up their mind.
What is this thing called "emotional blackmail"? Emotional blackmail is what happens when one person holds the heart of another ransom by keeping them in check with emotional tie-ins.
For instance, a couple who has a child will usually share deep love for the child, which means that if the couple divorces, someone's going to get the child, which means that the other person is going to be in the position of being manipulated emotionally where that child is concerned. "If you want to see little Billy, you'll have to promise to take him to his favorite restaurant after." That's emotional blackmail.
Your emotions are on the line and they are being bargained around. What is important to you — that's what the emotional blackmailer will bargain with, and only that. Your pain or redemption is the only form of currency here.
Certain people are naturally gifted when it comes to manipulation, and yes, this may very well be related to your horoscope and astrology. Of all the signs in the zodiac, which tend to be the best (for lack of a better word) than others at emotional blackmail?
Here are the zodiac signs who are good at emotional blackmail and how much of a manipulator you are.
ARIES (March 21 - April 19)
Quite possibly the most manipulative sign of them all, these folks are proud to blackmail you. The only joke is, they lack subtlety, so by the time you realize what they're doing, you also realize that you're being taken on a wild Aries ride that will always end up biting the Aries on their own butt. Enjoy the turnover — it always happens.
TAURUS (April 20 - May 20)
They are not your best candidate for this practice, as they are by nature not very good at lying. Oh, they do try, but there's something about those Taurean eyes that just give away their every secret.
On the other hand, you could more than likely manipulate a Taurus rather well, as they like to be lead.
GEMINI (May 21 - June 20)
If Gemini could be manipulative, they would, but they can't and they know better. So, give a round of applause to the only sign of the zodiac that actually knows they suck when it comes to keeping someone else's heart on hold.
They can't manipulate, so you're basically safe and sound in the love department when it comes to romance with a Gemini.
CANCER (June 21 - July 22)
Ugh, another of the signs who tries hard to be the Svengali of your heart and soul and fails miserably, much like Gemini.
Only difference here is that Cancers are egomaniacal about believing in their own destructive manipulative powers, whereas Gemini knows all too well that it's best not to try. Cancer will try, fail, and chalk up the experience as a miss, and then they'll try again.
LEO (July 23 - August 22)
Leo is a great manipulator. Kill 'em with kindness they say, and nobody is kinder or more gracious than Leo.
This sign of the zodiac knows exactly what they want and they have all the talent in the world to back up whatever manipulation scenario they need to construct in order to get you to do what they want. And yes, they'll hit below the belt if need be.
VIRGO (August 23 - September 22)
Virgo would adore having the skills to manipulate, but unfortunately, their real talent is all about breaking hearts and leaving the damage for someone else to clean up. They don't have the patience to use emotional blackmail — that takes too long and it's too subtle.
Virgo likes to cut to the chase. If you don't give them what they want, it's over. They leave you.
LIBRA (September 23 - October 22)
Libra won't every really get to the point, so if you're involved with one, you're probably on a nonstop loop of "So, do we have a future?" Because Libra is so passive-aggressive, you DO get a sense of them being expert manipulators.
They avoid saying anything caustic, leaving whomever they're talking to thinking that everything is OK, all the time, when it isn't. Libra is a great emotional blackmailer because all they say are nice things... and we all know things aren't nice 24/7, every damned day of the year.
Libra's got the power always because when they don't say what's on their minds, you fill in the blanks with your own imagination, and that could lead to hell. In other words, Libra is always in control.
SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21)
Here we have another of the ego-driven personalities that tends to think they're adorable no matter what they do. They will walk in to your life like gangbusters — you'll be overthrown, amazed and dazzled... until you realize that this show, it's got nothing to do with you.
They want your reaction, not your heart. Don't worry about emotional blackmail with a Scorpio, because in truth they don't care about your heart so they don't include it in their dealings.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 21)
A slow burner, this one. Oh yes, highly manipulative and talented at emotional blackmail, Sagittarians are almost too confident in their belief in themselves. They simply figure you're probably so smitten with their greatness that you're close to becoming their willing slave.
Sag is happy when they have people doting on them, and if playing with your heart is what makes that happen, then play they will.
CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19)
You like to take your time and get prepared before you go in for the kill, and kill you do — and not with kindness. You are a high-end manipulator, but you're crafty and careful; you know what you want, and that is total control of the person you're involved with.
Capricorn, you'll wait for the right moment, though you never move without a plan. And the interesting thing is, those who you blackmail emotionally? They want more.
AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18)
One wouldn't automatically assume Aquarius has much manipulative power to them, but shocker time: Aquarians make the most manipulative and cruel emotional sadists on earth.
The thing is, if you're in the way of them getting what they want, even if it's YOU that they want, they'll hurt you. They'll cut you up with their emotional knives and you'll bleed your heart out, wondering how anyone could be THAT conscience-free.
PISCES (February 19 - March 20)
Because Pisces tend to be the saddest and weepiest sign of the zodiac, they also tend to overcompensate for all that weepiness by being master manipulators — call it a survival mechanism. They fear rejection, so they will create as many distractions as possible so that you don't realize that you need to run far, far away from them.
If you're sad, Pisces will make you feel sadder because they have to feel superior to someone. They will bend your emotions so far that you'll believe only they can help you. Once that occurs, it's just a matter of time before the spider eats the fly.
Ruby Miranda is a New Yorker who learned astrology, I Ching and all types of cartomancy and numerology from her crazy, gypsy mother. She currently writes for a wide range of esoteric publications.