My take on the sign Aquarius

People say that all the signs have their good and bad qualities, and that one shouldn’t make qualitative statements about them. But I have to say that after studying, teaching and using Astrology as a tool for self-enquiry and development for nearly forty years, Aquarius is my favorite sign!  And here is why: Aquarius is the humanitarian revolutionary who keeps all the other signs awake and on their toes. The catch phrase for Aquarius is: “I know”. This is because knowledge is a tool for the betterment of humanity, and Aquarius has an innate knowing sense.
Ruled by the planet Uranus, the planet of revolution, innovation, futuristic vision, genius (and yes, ‘madness’) Aquarius is a fixed air sign, so even though it enlightens us with enthusiasm (from the Greek enthousiasmos, to be inspired by a God) and de-light, natural intelligence and sense of adventure, it is able to powerfully concentrate and focus its energy onto a goal or outcome for the greater good of all beings. In old Astrology, before Uranus was discovered in 1781 (the same time as electricity), Saturn was the ruler of Aquarius while it co-ruled Capricorn. I believe that the taciturn economic and disciplined ways of Saturn are still in play in Aquarius. This means that all the idealism and enthusiasm is grounded in practical down-to-earth action, that doesn’t get blown away by flamboyant ego displays or corrupted by expressions of pride.

Aquarius often finds itself the ‘right face, in the right place, at the right time.’ It seems to naturally gravitate to the best situations and circumstances.

Having said all of these wonderful things about Aquarius, I have to say, that Aquarius struggles with intimacy and one-to-one relationships. It is everybody’s best friend, but is out-on-a-limb when it comes to relating to a significant other. This is because it deeply cares about the brotherhood of all mankind more than the nearest and dearests.

Ofcourse in describing an Astrological sign in this way, I am not necessarily describing people who have their Sun in Aquarius, although mostly they will be able to identify with some, if not all of these qualities. We all have all the signs in us, some of them will dominate more that others. Aquarius represents a facet of expression I find the most developed and sustainable especially as we enter into the Age of Aquarius. (more about that in another article soon)

This is an important time for the Aquarian side of life, and this is because of the ongoing square between Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn, which we will go on being part of all this year and into 2015. This is the revolution of consciousness and the breaking down of the status quo as well as many outworn belief systems and modis operandi. The violent wars and turbulent natural disasters we are witnessing and participating in have a Uranus/Pluto 'feel' about them. The fires of transformation wielding great inroads into human consciousness, opening it up for the New Earth Eckhart Tolle talks about in his great book. The Aquarian Age of Enlightenment, where we all intrinsically know we are One, all part of the living breathing organism known as life on Earth.

Heralding February is the Super new Moon on January 30th in Aquarius which you can use to allow yourself to dream in and manifest goals or outcomes you feel the most enthusiastic about. 

Mercury will go retrograde on February 6th until 28th. It will go into Aquarius, a much more pragmatic place for it than the dreamy poetic Pisces, on February 14th.

The most important transit is Jupiter in Cancer opposing Pluto in Capricorn, with Venus within one degree of Pluto, on January 31st. We are still deeply questioning our values and beliefs, and there could be some secret uses and misuses of power which we become part of, or aware of in others. With our personal lives Venus is so close to this opposition, we will need to come from a place of love and receptivity, just listening quietly, instead of imposing what we think is correct through manipulation or domination. Under this transit there have to be some losses, so that gains can be made and the regeneration of the truth can be facilitated. After this Jupiter will sit on a square to Uranus until March 6th when it will also go direct and start moving through Cancer at its usual faster pace. This relationship between Jupiter and Uranus, can bring a lot of release and relief to the pressure which has been building up with the Uranus/Pluto square.  Surprising situations and innovative resolutions will bring movement and change.

Happy New Year! 
May all your dreams be manifested


We’re in for a rapidly shifting and turbulent or exciting 2014, which gets its catalyst to begin the roller coaster ride on 1st January with the Capricorn new moon, the year’s first Supermoon, and a trigger point for the revolutionary Uranus/Pluto trajectory we find ourselves part of until 2015.

The new moon in Capricorn is accompanied by Mercury and Pluto as one of the corners of a Cardinal grand cross of: Pluto in Capricorn, Uranus in Aries, Jupiter in Cancer and Mars in Aries. (very closely associated to each other until January 15th)

The Cardinal signs are about action and moving forward, and Capricorn being the Earth sign in this quadrant is about manifesting. Traditionally depicted as the goat with a fish’s tail, climbing one-step-at-a-time up the mountain, the fish’s tail keeping it immersed in the collective psyche and dreaming, the ‘ocean’ of our collective consciousness. Capricorns are not impulsive like Aries, they act out of their knowing, closely weaving their vision with practical realities.

This new moon is really about resetting your intentions, and following through with actions based on your core values. Venus, which is about our values, relationships to one another, as well as the creative process of bringing things together, went retrograde in Capricorn December 21st, heralding a time for us to go within and examine what our own values are, aside from how we’ve been conditioned or influenced by our peers and times. When re-setting your intentions take into account where you are now in your life, leave behind a self-image you may have constructed for yourself in the past, and look plainly and truthfully at your present life. Capricorn’s ruler, Saturn is in still Scorpio, paring back what is unnecessary or ephemeral. 

Saturn austere in his approach to reality, and with this powerful Cardinal grand cross in play for the first two weeks of 2014, when traditionally people are trying to keep to their New Year’s resolutions, is the time to be realistic about what you want, what role you can contribute to the New World which employs your greatest talents and skills. Add to this mix the Mercury and Pluto conjunction to the new moon, and you get the opportunity to get a mental picture of how things can be, when you discard the superfluous or non-functional, those ideas you had which are now maybe obsolete. Keep things simple and straight. Write a list of your priorities, so as to inform your values. Allow Pluto to help you face hidden belief systems you may have been living from which no longer serve you.

Let go to the massive shift in consciousness that is happening to life on Earth. Trust yourself, the voice of your instincts, Capricorn is straight and conservative, and will not suffer fools.

So many of the institutions and established protocols our civilization has relied on for thousands of years to prop up the infra-structure of the way we ‘do business’ are falling apart and losing credibility, we have to be able to trust ourselves, and that’s why an examination of your core values based on instinctive knowledge now, will support your intentions for 2014.