Sun Sign Identity Crisis

I grew up firmly grounded as a typical Virgo, and was taken by a complete surprise to find out that according to Indian astrology, I am actually a fiery Leo.  It was simply unbelievable for me - like a bird suddenly being told one day that it is actually a cat!  The characteristics of both these signs are as different as night and day - while one shuns all attention, the other craves it; while one is quiet and unassuming, the other is domineering and pretentious, etc..

The Indian system (also called Vedic in recent times) follows the 'sidereal' logic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidereal_and_tropical_astrology), which is followed by Thai astrologers as well.  According to this sidereal system, our sun signs would fall back by almost a month, or more specifically, around 24 days.  Thus, in Western or Tropical astrology, Aries begins around March 20, but in sidereal, Aries starts on April 14.  In other words, most Arians in the Western zodiac will be a Piscean in the sidereal plan.

Like a self-fulfilling prophecy, my mind was so conditioned to the characteristics of a true Virgo, that I was unknowingly conforming to all those qualities, believing that it was my natural personality.  Maybe if I hadn't read any of those sun sign personality books, I would be a different person?  Who knows?  The fact is that most of us subconsciously conform to what is expected of us.  There are very few rebels among us who grow up to be different from how they were brought up to be.

I slowly came to realise that I did have some latent Leo characteristics, which were subdued, probably due to my upbringing or due to the overpowering strengths of some other planets in my chart.