Paul Verlaine
approach to life and appearances

The following is a description of Paul's basic stance toward life, the way others see him, the way Paul Verlaine comes across, the face he shows to the world. In the page about motivation you will read about the inner Paul Verlaine - 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 Paul Verlaine" may not shine through and others may be in for so a few surprises once they get to know Paul a little better. This page describes the disguise Verlaine wears, his role in life, while the page about motivation talks about the real person beneath the disguise.

He is very strong-willed and proud, but intensely private and not easy to know well. Behind Verlaine's quiet exterior lies a great deal of emotional depth, sensitivity, complexity, and also fierce determination. When Paul Verlaine wants something he goes after it rather quietly but insistently and wholeheartedly - and what Paul Verlaine wants, Paul Verlaine usually gets.

He is not a person who lives haphazardly or superficially. Paul wants to live passionately and intensely and is not averse to challenge, danger, or to facing the darker side of life - human pain and struggle. Paul Verlaine functions well in crisis situations and he often seeks them out, for he enjoys the feeling of living at full capacity.

He is very intuitive about other people and especially about their unspoken feelings and hidden motives. Paul Verlaine usually has strong, immediate gut reactions, either positive or negative, which prove to be correct. Verlaine approaches life very instinctively and is not always fully conscious of why he feels or acts the way he does. Paul Verlaine also has a very strong affinity with animals - an acute sensitivity and a nonverbal rapport with them.

In new relationships he is rather cautious, sometimes even suspicious, until he gets to know and trust someone - and trust does not come easily to Verlaine. When Paul Verlaine commits himself emotionally to someone, be it friend or lover, he is intensely loyal and devoted to them and he also expects the same kind of unwavering, undying loyalty in return. If he is ever betrayed by someone he cares deeply for, Paul Verlaine is capable of hating and retaliating with as much fervor as he once loved. Nothing is done halfway. In fact, he is intensely involved and often jealously attached to whatever he cares about, be it person, idea, or cause. There is definitely a streak of emotional fanaticism in him.

Because of his natural reserve, others may see Paul Verlaine as something of an enigma. He is quite self-protective and often defensive. Paul Verlaine also has a very magnetic quality, especially to members of the opposite sex.

Paul Verlaine comes across as contained, and perhaps wary or mistrustful as well. He watches his step, and frequently withdraws if his environment does not feel welcoming and safe. As a result, Verlaine may seem much more conservative than he actually is. Paul is wary of committing social blunders and is extremely sensitive to criticism or rejection. As he matures, Paul Verlaine's confidence is likely to grow because he will learn to depend more on his own self-assessment..

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

Astrological factors in this Astro Profile section:

Scorpio Rising

Saturn Square Asc.

Sun Quincunx Asc.