Nelson Mandela
approach to life and appearances

The following is a description of Nelson's basic stance toward life, the way others see him, the way Nelson Mandela comes across, the face he shows to the world. In the page about motivation you will read about the inner Nelson Mandela - his real motivation, which describes the kind of person he is at heart and where his true priorities lie. Study this page and the next one and compare them - there may be significant differences between the two, in which case "the inner Nelson Mandela" may not shine through and others may be in for so a few surprises once they get to know Nelson a little better. This page describes the disguise Mandela wears, his role in life, while the page about motivation talks about the real person beneath the disguise.

High-spirited, enthusiastic, and exuberant, Nelson loves adventure, change and exploring new territory. He is not happy with being confined to the same safe, familiar, secure little world all the time. Nelson Mandela has a strong sense of restlessness and yearning for something greater than anything he has yet experienced, and he often lives in his dreams and visions for the future. Nelson Mandela tends to believe that the grass is greener somewhere else, and he likes to keep moving, either literally or figuratively. Idealistic and optimistic, he always expects something better ahead. Nelson Mandela loves to have a goal, something to aim for, but once he achieves it he is on to something else. He is ever on the lookout for new opportunities and he is a gambler, willing to take risks and to break new ground. The possibility of discovering something new is what makes life interesting for him. Nelson Mandela has great faith in life and he bounces back quickly from disappointment and failure.

Freedom loving and independent, Nelson Mandela cannot tolerate being caged in for very long, and friends and loved ones must respect his need for freedom of movement. Binding commitments, responsibilities and relationships often weigh heavily upon Nelson and he may resist "growing up" and assuming the limitations of adult life.

He is friendly and outgoing and has a great sense of fun and playfulness. He is also philosophically minded and often quite outspoken about his convictions and beliefs. Sometimes Nelson Mandela gets carried away with his enthusiasm of the moment and he tends to exaggerate. He is often a big talker, a big maker of promises, and he is usually pretty convincing. He does everything in a big way, a generous way. Mandela likes to have the best, and he heartily dislikes stinginess, small mindedness or pettiness. His vision is always large. He is able to perceive the big picture, general patterns and principles, and he is well suited to politics, business, higher education or religion.

Others see Nelson Mandela as a good sport and a good friend, but one who is not always consistent and dependable. He may also be seen as a wise person since he does not get bogged down in pettiness and trivialities, and is able to communicate a broader perspective that opens up new horizons. He is a person who believes in miracles, grace, or just plain good luck, someone who never gives up on life, and he inspires and encourages others to keep looking ahead.

His desire to love and to be loved is very much apparent, very much on the surface, and Nelson Mandela is known for his personal charm and affectionate nature. He may also seem overly dependent on others' approval and appreciation of him.

Nelson Mandela appears to be unusual, highly independent, and a free spirit. There is a touch of brilliance, of the creative genius, in his manner. He is also restless and easily distracted, tending to fly from one thing to another, which may give the impression that Mandela is unreliable.

The image that Nelson Mandela projects to the world and the person he really is inside, are considerably different. So much so that at times Nelson may feel that people do not see or know the real him. They respond to the face they see, and the initial impression Mandela makes may actually be misleading. Within him, also, there is much complexity and tension, and Nelson Mandela often feels that he needs to change himself in significant ways or that he continually holds back essential aspects of his.

Astrological factors in this Astro Profile section:

Sagittarius Rising

Venus Opposition Asc.

Uranus Sextile Asc.

Sun Quincunx Asc.