How Each Zodiac Sign Reacts To Criticism
Do you seek it out or avoid it?
Because astrology is indicative of how the zodiac signs handle criticism, each sign reacts differently. Is it something that you seek out, or something you do everything to avoid?
For some, criticism gets under their skin and they tend to take it personally. The person giving criticism to another is sometimes genuinely trying to be helpful and their notes are merely suggestions in how to improve. But it’s hard enough to put one’s self out there, and it gets increasingly difficult when you risk rejection and judgment.
There are those who pretend to be fine with criticism, and will sit there and take it, but inside they’re burning up with rage. It’s probably best to be honest with the way you handle criticism — for everyone’s sake.
But if you’re the kind of person who thrives on criticism, evaluation and personal opinion, you are to be admired. If you can take what someone says and use it to improve yourself or what you’re doing, that’s a powerful skill to have.
ARIES (March 21 - April 19)
Aries has a love/hate relationship with criticism. They are competitive enough that they'll do anything to become the best at something, so if someone has constructive criticism for them, they'll listen.
Aries don't always see mistakes as bad, so they may just try to accept the criticism and view it as a learning opportunity. On the other hand, Aries can be arrogant and believe they know best, and they don't need to hear what anybody else has to say.
TAURUS (April 20 - May 20)
Taurus can get a little defensive when given negative feedback and decide that the person giving the feedback doesn't entirely know what they're talking about. The more Taurus thinks about the criticism, the more they'll start to believe they were right all along.
Taurus can be extremely stubborn, and once they've made up their mind, especially about something concerning themselves, it's very difficult for them to change it.
GEMINI (May 21 - June 20)
Geminis are very adept at dealing with criticism and will try to implement it as quickly as possible. Geminis seek out feedback and will actively engage with the person giving it.
The good thing is that Geminis try not to beat themselves up after a poor performance review or a fail; they simply find out what they did wrong and try to improve upon it.
CANCER (June 21 - July 22)
Being criticized can make Cancer individuals feel as if they're being picked on. It's hard for them to hear any kind of negative feedback and it makes them want to explain what happened so there's more understanding for Cancer and less negativity.
They can take criticism if they feel it's coming from a good place; if not, their critic can just keep their criticism to themselves.
LEO (July 23 - August 22)
If someone that Leo respects and admires gives them advice or feedback that is helpful, Leo is able to receive it. However, if the criticism is coming from someone Leo feels doesn't know what they're talking about, they will either ignore them or shut them down.
Leos admire honesty and prefer people to be straightforward, but if Leo doesn't respect them, they will act as if they didn't hear a word.
VIRGO (August 23 - September 22)
Virgos take most criticism with a grain of salt. If it's about something Virgo did, they will find it hard to believe they messed up. It's not as if Virgo impulsively attempted something without giving it a lot of thought and researching first.
Negative feedback surprises Virgo and hits them in a vulnerable place, so they may have to discount the critique in some way.
LIBRA (September 23 - October 22)
Libras will invite constructive criticism, accept it graciously, and then internalize it. When the issue comes up to the surface, Libra will chastise themselves and find more ways in which they failed.
The truth is, Libras don't love criticism, no matter how much they say they do. They would much rather get praise, even if it's not true, than be criticized.
SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21)
Scorpios don't shy away from confrontation, so if someone has something critical to say, they should be prepared to get an earful. They will argue with negative feedback to such an extent that the person giving it may change their position.
Scorpios can be extremely focused, so it's best not to get into an argument with them, even if you have their best interests at heart.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 21)
Sagittarians handle criticism just fine. In fact, they're able to take what they need from it and discard the rest. It's been said that Sagittarians are overconfident, and this is why they don't take negative feedback to heart.
They do enjoy giving their opinion or help even when it hasn't been requested. Sagittarians are going to do their thing, their way, no matter what anybody else has to say about it.
CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19)
Capricorns are good with getting criticism. Tthey want to do the best they can, so they'll ask a lot of questions: "How can I do better?" "Could you tell what you would do in this situation?"
This way, Capricorns not only seem like active listeners, but they also genuinely want to improve. They know they can learn from their mistakes and that it sometimes takes someone on the outside looking in to have the most helpful perspective.
AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18)
When Aquarians are given negative feedback, they tend not to get too emotional or take it too personally. Aquarians can distance themselves enough from the criticism so they're able to distill the information and figure out the best way to use it.
They see criticism as feedback about something they did, not the kind of person they are.
PISCES (February 19 - March 20)
Pisces can be oversensitive so one piece of criticism can morph into a huge comment on who they are. If the negative feedback is about something they've created such as a piece of art, it will devastate Pisces and they may decide they're talentless and incompetent.
It's best, when criticizing Pisces, to do so gently, perhaps sandwiched between compliments and praise.
Christine Schoenwald is a writer, performer, and astrology lover. She has written over 500 articles on the zodiac signs and how the stars influence us. She's had articles in The Los Angeles Times, Salon, Woman's Day, and is a contributing writer to Ravishly, I AM & CO, and YourTango. Check out her website, her Facebook writer's page, and her Instagram.