Aquarius – Fixed Air – the Water Bearer

Aquarius strengths and weaknesses:

The Water Carrier, but Not a Water Sign!

Aquarius is the fixed air sign. Fixed signs are the most persistent and unchanging. Air signs are the most mental and social.

Many beginners think being the “water bearer” makes Aquarius a water sign. But that isn’t true. Water symbolizes intuition, emotion. And the water bearer is objective by nature, keeping those mysterious “emotion things” in a container, at arms’ length!

Ruling planets

The modern ruler of Aquarius is Uranus, planet of eccentricity, rebellion, and change.

The traditional ruler (and modern co-ruler) of Aquarius is Saturn, planet of responsibility, conformity, and tradition. Aquarians are special in that they have a share of both. Every Aquarian must satisfy both the need to be kooky and different, on the one hand, and the need to honor tradition and have a set of rules to follow, on the other hand.

Aquarius characteristics

If you have planets in Aquarius, they indicate where you have a visionary gift. The greatest strength of Aquarius is the ability to step outside of the “drama” of a situation and see things objectively. Aquarians tend to be good with science, technology, and anything involving waves of energy— radio, TV, electricity, computers, Reiki, acupuncture, Feng Shui. Aquarius is also the sign that rules astrology.

Groups and teams, especially those that constellate around humanitarian causes, are also good for Aquarians to become involved in. Aquarius innately understands that when everyone in the community benefits, I benefit too.

Aquarius is the sign of friendship, and for the most part, Aquarians are easy to get along with. They are good listeners, but do not readily volunteer information about themselves. They have opinions, but they might not tell you what they are unless you ask them. (Some notable exceptions here, like Rush Limbaugh.)

The blind spot

Aquarius can get stuck in a mindset that there is only one way of doing things or one way of looking at the world. It can be hard to get Aquarius to really listen to you. Because they already know everything about everything.

Aquarius can get stuck in the air sign trap of approaching emotions through logic and reason. This works well only to an extent. When things get emotional the gut-level reaction from many Aquarians is to detach and retreat into logic. (Planets in water signs, or a strong Moon may mitigate this tendency.)