Humor me

I have been thinking a lot lately about the four humors, those classic liquids that control our health and personality. I think I started on this around my birthday, when thinking of whether I "fit" my zodiac sign, and it got me to thinking why we like to categorize people by these arbitrary methods. There are the twelve signs of the Greek zodiac (categorized by month of birth), the twelve Chinese astrology signs (categorized by year of birth, clearly incompatible with the Greek version), the three aryuvedic types (pitta, vata and kapha), the Jung Meyers-Briggs personality test (extraversion-introversion; sensing-intuition; thinking-feeling; judging-perceiving), numerology, and the classical four humors. These latter are described below.

Sanguine

Sanguine indicates the personality of an individual with the temperament of blood, the season of spring (wet and hot), and the element of air. A person who is sanguine is generally optimistic, cheerful, even-tempered, confident, rational, popular, and fun-loving. They can be daydreamy to the point of not accomplishing anything and impulsive, acting on whims in an unpredictable fashion. They are courageous, amorous, hedonistic, changeable, innovative, artistic, hypomanic, exploitative, artisan.

Choleric

Choleric corresponds to the fluid of yellow bile, the season of summer (dry and hot), and the element of fire. A person who is choleric is a doer and a leader. Many great charismatic, military and political figures were cholerics. On the negative side, they are easily angered or bad tempered. They have moral virtue, are inspired, doctrinaire, religious, hyperesthetic, receptive, idealist, violent, vengeful.

Melancholic

Melancholic is the personality of an individual characterized by black bile; a person who was a thoughtful ponderer had a melancholic disposition. It also indicates the season of autumn (dry and cold) and the element of earth. Often very kind and considerate, melancholics can be highly creative - as in poets and artists - but also can become overly obsessed on the tragedy and cruelty in the world, thus becoming depressed. A melancholy is also often a perfectionist, being very particular about what they want and how they want it in some cases. This often results in being unsatisfied with one's own artistic or creative works, always pointing out to themselves what could and should be improved. They can be despondent, sleepless, acquisitve, industrious, traditional, depressive, hoarding, guardian, gluttonous, lazy, sentimental.

Phlegmatic

A phlegmatic person is calm and unemotional. Phlegmatic means pertaining to phlegm, corresponds to the season of winter (wet and cold), and connotes the element of water. While phlegmatics are generally self-content and kind, their shy personality can often inhibit enthusiasm in others and make themselves lazy and resistant to change. They are very consistent, relaxed, and observant, making them good administrators and diplomats. They are calm, unemotional, logical, curious, skeptical, theoretic, rational, dull, pale, cowardly.

I never felt that I fit my Greek Zodiac - Libra- since we are supposed to be social and balanced. I feel balanced, almost to the point of indecision on many things, but I never felt social. I also don't feel I fit into my Chinese zodiac year - the sheep. They are: " thought to be the most feminine sign of the zodiac. The Sheep is artistically talented and has a great sense of fashion. These people are considerate creatures. This side of their character helps them maintain a healthy social life as well as enabling them to deal with life's ups and downs. Sympathy is very important as is the approval of people they respect. Sometimes they are too sensitive for the real world; they often misinterpret situations. People born in this year are insecure. They need to feel loved and protected. "

But I do feel that the melancholic personality fits me best. I wonder why we like to read these things, typecast ourselves. Aren't we supposed to want to be unique, and not like millions of others who share our sign? I remember in college everyone taking the Jung Meyers-Briggs test and proclaiming themselves an ISTP or something. I remember resisting taking the test, thinking it was stupid. I don't think I ever took it. Now I know why, I am a four humors girl.