How You Handle Awkward Situations, Based On Your Zodiac Sign
Things can get awkward fast. How do you react?
getty You may think that once you become an adult you’ll no longer have to suffer through awkward situations, but that’s not true. Those moments where you wish that the earth would open up and swallow you whole still exist no matter how old you are.
The zodiac signs all handle awkwardness in their own way. And thanks to astrology, we can gague our reactions based on when we were born. While some may pretend it’s not happening or call attention to it in a funny way, others will still feel uncomfortable.
Have you ever gone to shake someone’s hand only to have them keep their hand on their side, or waved at someone who turned out to be a stranger? Life is full of awkward moments, and no matter how great you are at thinking on your feet, an awkward situation never feels good. If you’re an overthinker, it can haunt you for a long time.
The best thing you can do when some interaction — or lack of interaction — has gone wrong is move on and not beat yourself up about it. You don’t want to compound the awkwardness by making it an even bigger deal! If it makes you feel any better, you may find yourself in the exact same moment, and even though you’ve been there before, at least you know how to handle those awkward situations.
ARIES (March 21 - April 19)
You might think that Aries would slay an awkward situation the way they do almost every other kind of situation, but you'd be wrong. The truth is underneath all that bravado and energy, there's still some awkwardness in them.
In an awkward situation, Aries will suddenly become very conscious of their body and won't know what to do with it, so they'll get very fidgety and all their nervous tics will come out. Their throat will become very dry and they'll have trouble speaking.
If the situation escalates and there's no immediate relief for Aries, they may act on a bad idea like breaking a glass in their hand or throwing a fork in the air.
TAURUS (April 20 - May 20)
Taurus are solid, and while they may not enjoy an awkward situation, they're fairly competent at handling them. Taurus will keep their voice even, take slow breaths, and try to change the subject in the subtlest way possible.
If that doesn't work, Taurus may comment on something in the room like a lovely flower arrangement or the deliciousness of the dinner. Inside they may be praying that the situation rectifies itself, but they'll be very cool and stoic on the outside.
GEMINI (May 21 - June 20)
Geminis pride themselves on their ability to manage a variety of social situations; however, handling awkward situations easily isn't on the list of Gemini's special talents. If they're in an awkward situation, they go back to feeling just the way they did in middle school and that freaks them out.
They tend to get angry with themselves for their inability to deal with an uncomfortable situation, and then they may get sad that they're still having feelings of embarrassment and shame.
CANCER (June 21 - July 22)
Cancers work at not being in an awkward situation, but even they can't control everything. If Cancer finds themselves in an awkward situation, they will try to draw attention away from themselves, usually by bringing in a family member or friend.
For example, if a Cancer woman is speaking to someone and they get the wrong idea that she's hitting on them, she will try to discreetly mention her partner or bring him/her over to meet them. Later, after the embarrassing situation has occurred, the Cancer individual will go over it in their head and try to figure out how to avoid it in the future.
LEO (July 23 - August 22)
Leos have a talent for coming out of awkward situations and looking like a star. They'll make a joke or do something that takes the attention off of the awkwardness and onto them. They may even change the awkward situation into a teaching moment.
It's actually very impressive the way that they can manipulate a potentially humiliating situation and turn it into something that celebrates them. Sometimes just by acknowledging the awkwardness, it takes the sting out of it.
VIRGO (August 23 - September 22)
Virgos tend to think the best way to alleviate awkwardness is to admit to it. Sometimes this works and sometimes it just makes everything even more awkward. The good thing about Virgos and their awkwardness is that they don't let it stop them from doing anything.
They recognize the inevitability that some situations are awkward and they may not know how to handle it, but they go ahead and go to that party where they don't know anyone, or they'll inappropriately crush on their favorite author at a book signing.
LIBRA (September 23 - October 22)
Awkward situations and awkwardness, in general, make Libra feel very uncomfortable. If Libra is in an uncomfortable situation their first instinct is to leave, no matter how it might look or if it hurts the host of the event. Libra would rather remove themselves than stay in a torturous state a moment longer.
If they're aware that a situation has the potential for embarrassment, they will just send their apologies and not go. Libras have a reputation for being charming, kind, and socially adroit, so they're not going to jeopardize by being in an awkward position. If all else fails, they will just pretend to be sick.
SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21)
No one knows how to keep themselves in check better than Scorpio. They may be dying of embarrassment but they're not going to let it show. If they're in an awkward situation, Scorpio is going to play it cool and mysterious, just like they do most of the time.
Now, if someone goes out of their way to make Scorpio look like a fool or feel uncomfortable, they are going to make a note of it and will deal with that person when they least suspect it. However, to anyone watching, Scorpio will appear to be completely unperturbed.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 21)
Sagittarius tend to be extremely optimistic, so they may not see an awkward situation for what it is; they may see it as a means to get to know someone beyond what they want the world to see, or they may see it as an opportunity for breaking the ice. We're all humans and embarrassment happens.
It's much better for everyone to try not to let it bring you down, and to search for the humor and the humanity in the situation. There's no such thing as death by awkwardness but sharing in an experience of awkwardness can help people to relate to one another.
CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19)
Do Capricorns feel every second of their awkward moments and situations? Yes, they do. They try to avoid awkwardness but somehow they still manage to find themselves in them. Everything from a first date to a problem with a co-worker has the potential to get awkward.
Capricorns try to strategize before a potentially embarrassing situation, but once they're in the thick of it, it never goes smoothly. The problem is Capricorns care so much about how they appear and making a good impression that they tend to put even more pressure on themselves. They're great in an emergency or in tough negotiations, but not awkward situations.
AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18)
It doesn't matter how creative and brilliant Aquarians are, they still have a difficult time dealing with awkward situations. They try to hold back their frustration and/or anger, but it usually boils up to the surface anyway, making the situation even worse.
They might not admit that the cause is the awkwardness they're feeling, but their red face, clenching and unclenching jaws, and their sarcastic comments are sure indications that they're feeling helpless about what to do with their feelings. Aquarius will definitely react in an unpredictable and sometimes inappropriate way.
PISCES (February 19 - March 20)
Pisces are often in an awkward state so they're surprisingly good at handling their own awkwardness or an awkward situation. They may call attention to the awkwardness and make a joke about it, or they may try to distract people.
Sometimes their humor in the situation is lost on people and they don't get what Pisces is trying to do, and things will get even more awkward. One positive is that since Pisces are also very imaginative, they're able to think outside the box and come up with something unexpected to take everyone's mind off the uncomfortable atmosphere.
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.