Photo: weheartit
They say one thing and then do another.
By Christine Schoenwald — Written on Dec 11, 2017
Wouldn’t it be much simpler if people were always direct and honest? What is it with people and their mixed signals?
How are we supposed to understand someone’s meaning when their words, vocal inflections and body movements say something entirely different? Even a horoscope can't indicate if someone is being truthful. For example, if someone says they’re glad to see you, but their facial expression and closed arms tell you that they’re extremely angry with you and wouldn’t care if they never saw you again.
There are times when it can feel as if someone is sending mixed signals deliberately as if they like keeping people feeling unsure and confused. They like toying with people, even if it means hurting them on some level.
Mixed signals can be especially frustrating when you’re dating someone. They tell you they want you to be their plus one for their sister’s wedding and then never bring it up again, only to later share with you pictures from the event. They didn’t have to invite you, but shouldn’t they have at least explained that plans had changed?
We can always look to astrology to tell us all about the zodiac signs who send mixed signals, ranked most to least.
1. AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18)
Aquarius' reluctance to be entirely straightforward may be due to their uncomfortable relationship with emotions, especially other people's emotions. They may avoid telling you something straight out because they fear an emotional reaction they won't be able to handle or contain.
You're more likely to find out how an Aquarius really feels by their social media posts or what they tell their friends. The Aquarius individual would prefer not hurting you, but they don't seem to realize that by sending mixed signals, they are not only causing confusion but pain as well.
2. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 21)
It can be incredibly challenging trying to figure out what a Sagittarius is telling you. While they can be brutal with their criticism, they can be evasive when it comes to important questions such as where you stand with them or where they see your relationship going.
Commitment can be challenging for a Sagittarius, so they tend to do whatever they can to not make any commits if they can possibly help it, so while it seems as if they've fallen for you, they'll still say they have no intention of having a real relationship with you. Sagittarians can unintentionally mess with your head.
3. LIBRA (September 23 - October 22)
Libras don't want to send mixed signals, but they do it anyway. They don't want to get involved in an argument or big conflict if they don't have to, so many times they stop themselves from saying what they want to say. They don't want to get people mad at them or upset, so they'll suck down any negative opinions or feelings they have.
However, those feelings don't go away and will make their presence known, often in inopportune and inappropriate ways. Libras aren't the best flirters and embarrass easily, so you might wonder why they are acting so stupid when they really like you.
4. GEMINI (May 21 - June 20)
Geminis tend to thrive in a social situation, so much so that if you're their date, you may feel completely ignored and unappreciated by them. However, when it's just the two of you, they'll be as sweet as pie and just as attentive. You wouldn't think that someone who is interested in you would ever ignore you, but Geminis can't help themselves when they get caught up in the social scene.
Then there are the times when Geminis get so wrapped up in their heads that they fail to text or message you back. It's easy to get confused about what a Gemini's intentions are in regard to you.
5. PISCES (February 19 - March 20)
There are times when a Pisces individual is afraid of messing things up, so they send mixed messages. There are also other times when they're too focused on their creative work to remember that it's polite to respond to someone when they reach out to you.
Pisces tend to have social anxiety and can be awkward. When they try to monitor their own behavior, it usually stifles them and causes them to behave in counterproductive ways. Pisces often get in the way of their own happiness and goals, and it can be hard trying to figure out exactly where they're coming from.
6. VIRGO (August 23 - September 22)
Virgos don't want to hurt people and they don't like confrontation which is why they're so good at ghosting. Rather than tell you they're no longer interested in you or don't want to be friends any longer, they'd prefer to do a slow fade, not realizing how frustrating and ultimately painful ghosting is.
Virgos don't think they're sending mixed signals, they think they're handling a difficult situation in the kindest way possible. You have to wonder: whose feelings are they really trying to spare?
7. SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21)
Scorpios pride themselves on being honest, but that doesn't mean that they don't send mixed signals from time to time. They can be secretive, and withholding information can cause confusion too.
When a Scorpio is being sneaky, you may not know what's going on nor how to interpret their behavior. They can be purposely manipulative and make you think one thing, while their intention is completely different.
If a Scorpio loves you, they'll do everything they can to show it, but if they feel that you've done them harm, they'll plot your demise so secretly that you'll never see it coming.
8. ARIES (March 21 - April 19)
Aries are less about sending mixed signals and more about being impatient. They can't wait until you come up to speed. They may already be onto a new relationship before their bae understands that Aries is done with them.
Another thing about Aries is that if they're really into you, it can scare the crap out of them (it's one of the few things that really terrifies them), so they will distance themselves from you and hide that you mean the world to them. Aries individuals sometimes act like second graders — they'd rather tease and taunt you than tell you how they really feel.
9. CANCER (June 21 - July 22)
It's hard for Cancers to send mixed signals because their emotions are written all over their face. If a Cancer tries to play it cool, they usually fail at it. They don't want to hold back, so it's important for them to feel all their feels and express them.
Cancers can be pessimistic at times and when that happens, they may act irrationally which can be difficult to understand. They've been known to abandon everything if they feel that they're failing at something, and their concession may seem as if it's coming from out of the blue, but it's just the way Cancer acts sometimes.
10. LEO (July 23 - August 22)
Leos will act in many different ways if it benefits them, especially if it gets them attention. Leos are major flirters, so it can be hard to tell if they're really interested in you or just want you to pay attention to them.
If they feel like they're not getting enough of an ego boost at home, they'll go out looking for someone to praise and compliment them. However, since there are usually plenty of people who worship them, Leo individuals can afford to be fairly straightforward in their communication — unless they're flirting, then who knows what their end goal is.
11. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20)
Taurus give everything a lot of thought and they tend to be very straightforward. They don't want to take a misstep or lead anyone on. You could accuse them of being uncommunicative, but they're just very careful about what they say and do. They take their time trusting people, but when they do, they're rock solid.
When they get jealous, it's very clear that they're dealing with the green-eyed monster. Taurus won't say things they don't mean, nor will they pretend to be a certain way just to get people to like them. Taureans are extremely transparent and what you see is what you get with them. If you misinterpret the signals that they're sending out, that's on you.
12. CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19)
There's no one as good with follow through as Capricorn — if they say they're going to do something, they'll do it, and they always try to mean what they say. Capricorns can be shy or awkward at times, unsure of social protocols, but their hearts are huge, and they are extremely conscientious.
They pride themselves on being straightforward and not playing games, and they want their messages to be clear and easy to understand. If they're sending mixed signals, it's not something they're doing on purpose.
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.