Aquarius: Rewriting the Rules

The sun moves into Aquarius on January 20th, and Aquarius season begins. As an Aquarius myself, with both my Sun and Mercury there, I am partial to Aquarius season even though it’s pretty much objectively the worst time of the year, at least in the Northern Hemisphere. 

Aquarius is the rarest sign, which is appropriate because uniqueness is one of the Aquarian signatures. Aquarius is a sign that is associated with being non-conformist, eccentric, rebellious, and anti-authoritarian, despite its traditional ruler of Saturn. The modern ruler of Aquarius is Uranus. I use both interchangeably. Both are fitting. I think of Aquarius as leaning into the Saturnian values of hard work, responsibility, and thriving through structure and systems. But whereas Capricorn, also ruled by Saturn, is about enforcing the rules, Aquarius, with the Uranian rulership, is about rewriting the rules. And the responsibility felt by Aquarius is on a macro, rather than a micro level; it is a responsibility to what’s right and what is the best for the most people. So if the structures are unjust, those need to be overthrown. 

Aquarius, as an air sign, is also associated with intelligence, but the intelligence manifests itself differently than it does with Gemini and Libra. Gemini and Libra are much more likely to engage. Aquarius hangs back and marvels at how dumb people can be. But those same people deserve more! Judging the individuals but advocating for the group is an Aquarian thing.

There’s a coldness, or at least a coolness, associated with Aquarians. Many come off as detached. Personally, as a Cancer rising with an Aries moon, I don’t really embody this trait so much, but I have noticed it in others with Aquarius placements. For Bravo watchers, think of Ariana from Vanderpump Rules, who is an Aquarius rising. In the early seasons, she confounded Stassi and others because she seemingly didn’t care about being friends with them and kept them at arm’s length. Big Aquarian energy. 

Technology is another primary association with Aquarius, and again, another one that I don’t really relate to that much, but definitely see it when it comes to others. I feel like an analog woman living in a digital world. I’m still using an iPhone 7. But many Aquarians or those with Aquarius placements are tech enthusiasts. Technology can serve as a democratizer and as a progress accelerator, so it makes sense that many Aquarians are early adopters of new technology. 

Taking it back to VPR (always), on the flip side of Ariana, there’s Kristen, who is an Aquarius sun and has some major Aquarian energy too but in a totally different way. I think of Kristen’s pursuit of truth to an unhinged level, literally flying out Miami Girl to prove that Tom Sandoval had committed wrongdoings. Flying someone out is big time Aquarius energy; Kristen literally used air technology to prove someone wrong in a quest for justice and vindication. 

This Aquarius season starts off with a New Moon at 1 degree Aquarius, which also marks the Lunar New Year. More to come on that in a few days.