the aquarius sun
the water-bearer
Directly on the heels of Capricorn season comes another one of my most favorite signs: Aquarius. The water-bearer. The one who facilitates the flow of collective wisdom, growth, healing, and revolutionary new ideas. And while Capricorn and Aquarius are indeed both winter signs, that's where the similarities between these guys pretty much stops. One of the biggest and most obvious of the polarities is this: steady Capricorn loves to follow the rules, while rebellious Aquarius loves to break them.
Although I’ve named this post The Aquarius Sun, the following info is also highly relevant if you were born with an Aquarius Moon, or even Ascendant/rising sign—like myself. While the Sun and the Moon have very different roles within your birthchart, the infusion of Aquarius energy motivates them in much the same way. For a more detailed look at what the Sun represents in your psyche, you can take a peek at this blog post here: The Sun (astrologically speaking). The very short version of that post is this: the Sun represents your personality, and living true to the highest expression of your Sun is the way to ensure your sanity. The Moon, on the other hand, represents your inner emotional world, and living true to your Moon is the way to ensure your happiness. Again, this post will offer helpful tips and guidance for both.
I think it’s also important to stress that even if you’re not an Aquarius yourself, this post may still be applicable to your life. If you have a spouse, child, partner, or parent who’s heavily spiced with Aquarius energy, then I encourage you to read on. Having an awareness of what each sign needs to truly thrive can make a world of difference within your relationships by fostering greater understanding and acceptance. Just like with my Capricorn Moon, so many things became clear—to both myself and my family—when I realized the strong Aquarian influence in my birthchart. This new knowledge was able to effortlessly explain why I always felt pressed to make the unconventional choices. I wasn't being difficult simply to be difficult as others probably suspected; I was "simply" following my own path, and that path quite frequently differs from the norm. Thanks to astrology, my family (and I) began to understand me a whole lot better, and it made marching to the beat of my own drummer a helluva lot more fun.
the evolutionary goal
Being born with your Sun in the airy sign of Aquarius, your evolutionary goal for this lifetime is to cultivate your individuality by living an independent, honest, and authentic life.
Maybe you think that sounds easy; I know I did. Initially, anyway. But the task of individuating won’t always be a cake-walk, especially when we live in a world where it's far less problematic to blend in with the crowd than it is to stick out like a sore and wacky thumb. Let’s face it, embracing your inner black sheep can be tough. Sometimes overwhelming. Scary even, all thanks to the unpleasant repercussions which often accompany such a brave and bold feat. Aquarius screams dare to be different, while nearly everyone else is demanding that you blend in. Slight differences may be deemed acceptable, but beyond that? Well, things get dicey. And sometimes downright dangerous.
We’ll talk more about those repercussions later because before we can tackle them, you’ll need to first do some unraveling. This initial step will require that you begin the sticky business of disentangling yourself from the influence of others to discover who you truly are underneath all of the conditioning. Like I said, on the surface maybe you think you've already done that. You've already differentiated yourself from the crowd and are living your own wildly wonderful and unique life as your own wildly wonderful and unique self. But is that truly true? Because if we pause even briefly and ponder this, it becomes quickly obvious in all the areas where it might not be so.
berries, birds & lilacs
While it's clear that we all start out individual enough, that original state doesn't last much beyond our first breath. Initially free from external conditioning, it must seem as if we’re begging to be programmed—and who's to say we're not? To be told where and how we fit into this big, bright, and busy world. And so it begins—immediately—before we know enough to give (or withhold) our consent. We're told when we can cry and when we can't. What we can eat and what we can't. How girls “shouldn’t” behave and how boys “should.” What we can wear and what we should never. Who our friends should be and who we should avoid. Which religion is best. Which hairstyle most suitable. Which career to pursue. Which college to attend. Which political party to affiliate with. Which phone to use. The list is endless, and what makes this all so insidious is that it’s often done simply out of love. Generally, the programming isn't a malicious thing or one done with evil intent; our people simply care and want what’s best for us. According to them, anyway.
So they mold us and shape us, filling us to the brim with their ideas of how we should be, live, think, and behave. Our parents, teachers, family, friends, and/or religions instill in us the values that they cherish, hoping we’ll take the road that they consider most appropriate. This is all well and good, right? Until you realize the glaringly obvious problem that life isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation. So that wee little baby (you) grows up with ideas of who you are based on what others have told you or led you to believe. Sure, you’ve probably formed some opinions of your own along the way, but even those were likely flavored by the media, an idolized musician, or your favorite YouTuber.
But you go merrily along, living your best life as "you," until one day a something or two starts to chafe and begins to feel like a shoe that no longer fits. Certain ideas stop resonating, if they ever resonated at all. Things you've always believed to be true seem less so—even if you're not yet willing to fully admit that to yourself. Maybe this happens at age 10 or at age 50, but the longer you try and live your life within the confines of this false you, the more restricting everything begins to seem. The more suffocating and stifling life begins to feel. The more ornery, depressed, angry, and/or tired you become.
Quietly or loudly, a small voice begins to insistently prod you with the unavoidable question of: so what are you going to do about it? Take the admittedly “easier” route and keep on living as the you that others want you to be? Or take a deep and fortifying breath before… breaking free? Which might sound scary, I get that, but can you also feel the exhilaration pulsing beneath the surface? If you bravely choose curtain B, however, you might quickly realize that differentiating between what is truly you and what is not has become tricky business. How much of you can you really lay claim to? How does one go about untangling their true self from the person others believe and want them to be? Your job for this journey, like it or not, is to do just that. And if you have a heavy Aquarian influence, then being “normal” isn’t really an option. No matter how much you (or others) wish it were so.
With a strong Aquarian influence in your chart, it's a pretty safe bet that you've always felt at least a little bit different. Whether or not you’ve been comfortable with that degree of unconventional is another story altogether. If you’ve been able to embrace it, then bravo. Truly. Because believe it or not, you may be right on track. And that track—the one that leads to your personal happiness— doesn’t look like the same well-worn road that everyone else is traveling but maybe more like that knotty little path twisting through the woods. Sure, the main road is clear, paved, maintained, and unobstructed, but that grassy path has juicy berries. Fragrant lilac bushes. Mesmerizing bird song. And ends by a waterfall in the woods. You might break a sweat and acquire some scrapes getting there, but think of all the treasures (self-discoveries) you’ll collect along the way.
only you, aquarius
That first step—disentangling yourself from societal programming to discover your true and vibrant (and maybe slightly eccentric) self—will be work enough. But the fun doesn’t stop there, and the second step is where those aforementioned repercussions will likely come into play. Why? Because now you gotta actually live it, and the reality is that not everyone is going to be pleased. Following your personally authentic path isn’t for the fainthearted, and it could very well come at a cost. There will be at least some—and maybe many—who won't understand your choices. Fortunately for you, your success here doesn't hinge on their approval. in fact, should you attempt to mold yourself in such a way that guarantees their praise, you'll have sacrificed yourself. Your truth. Your authenticity. There is only one person here who needs to understand the why behind your choices, and that one person is you.
Astrology is very much an Aquarian craft and has the power to displease a great many people. That disapproval, however, doesn't negate the authenticity of it. What it does mean is that I earn some eyerolls. Some dismissal. Some scorn at my obvious lack of intelligence for believing in such 'nonsense." But here's what I know for a fact: every single person comes to me with a different birthchart, a different set of tools, and a different set of goals. What that translates to is that while we’re all built out of the same stuff, it’s always arranged in a slightly different way; we’re not meant to be carbon copies of each other (hallelujah) and that is especially true when it comes to those with strong Aquarian signatures.
So if you have strong Aquarian influences in your chart—as you do—then your path will at times diverge from the norm. You’ll see the same things that the rest of the world is seeing but come to a completely different conclusion. What feels right to another feels absolutely wrong to you, or vice versa. Where others see no way out, you find a door in the one place that no one thought to look—with consequences no one dared to dream. And that, my friends, is the potential for Aquarian genius.
A genius you'll never find by safely blending in.
So your test here is to choose and stick with your path, no matter the reaction. Out of love, concern, or even fear, you’ll often be assaulted with criticism and judgments, telling you not only where you’re going wrong but how to fix it. As a child, when we behave in a way that our parents or teachers disapprove of, our actions are often met with punishment and correction; unfortunately, by simply being your true Aquarian self, this pattern will likely continue to repeat itself throughout life. As an adult, I’ve been reprimanded, judged (and found sorely lacking), yelled at, dismissed, marginalized, and criticized for everything from how I live my life to how I raised my girls—and much of this came from my own family.
look at that shine
It’s in these pivotal times, when you’re being intensely pressed to conform, that the biggest opportunities lie. You can (a) take the easy route and fall into formation; after all, it’s the path that many are taking and they seem happy enough, or (b) find your personal, little waterfall path and live your truest and most authentic life. By taking that fragrant, little path of yours, you can bet that you’ll be sure to disappoint. Make some sad. Definitely anger others. But in these moments—the moments when you’re forced to make the choice between authenticity or conformity—is where you find the greatest accelerators of growth. Choosing to live boldly as yourself, even in the face of censure, is akin to the pressure that turns carbon into diamonds. Sure, it’s hot and it probably hurts like hell, but man oh man, are you ever gorgeously shiny on the other side.
Obviously, being peppered with criticism will require that you develop a tough skin to withstand it—and perhaps you've already had to do so. Rising above the need for approval is critical, however, because if you’re following your own path, you’ll be guaranteed to meet with some—or even substantial—resistance. You’ll need to frequently think outside of the box and be brave enough to take the “road less traveled.” I personally have an Aquarius Ascendant, and I’ve found that this road has sometimes been loaded with thorns, strewn with boulders and fallen trees, unmown and unkempt. And yet, despite the obstacles, nothing feels more right or more freeing than a step taken on that path. (Plus, just over that crevasse lies the sweetest patch of blueberries you've ever tasted.) Your heart seems to sing on this path, and making the choice to live authentically becomes easier each time you do so. In fact, it begins to feel impossible to live any other way. And this is your goal, to cultivate your individuality and to follow your path no matter the consequences. This “road less traveled” is the very road that leads to your healing.
tools of the trade
Thankfully, you were abundantly blessed with an amazing set of Aquarian tools at the moment of your birth. I encourage you to use and develop them because at times they'll feel like lifesavers. Which is precisely what they're designed to be.
Naturally innovative and able to easily conceive of new ideas, you can frequently come up with solutions that no one else has thought of. Confronted with the same problem, you somehow brainstorm an original way out. Aquarius is one of the three air signs and as such, there tends to be a clarity of perception. A thirst for knowledge. Analytical thinking probably comes more easily to you. Curiosity abounds. Air is synonymous with intelligence, as water is to emotion, and fire is to passion. All of these energies are present in everyone—to varying degrees—but a strong Aquarius influence means that your mental functions are strong. Use this blessing of mental alertness, agility, and clarity to help you find and follow your special berry-laden path.
You may find yourself with company on this path, seeing as the Air signs tend to be the social butterflies and the communicators of the zodiac. Out of all the Air signs, however, Aquarians seem to be the most comfortable with solitude, or at least periods of it. Being somewhat of an oddball, your circle of soul friends maybe small, but if you persevere on your path, you’ll find others who value this degree of individuality just as much as you do.
Additionally, you’re not afraid to question authority or break some really bad rules. Just because we’ve always lived by certain rules doesn’t mean that they’re good or right. Aquarians are built to break these rules and thus break new ground. And lastly, you're aware that your self-worth isn’t dependent on fitting in or being liked. Consequently, you're hard to manipulate and you can’t be bought—two tools that will prove indispensable when standing your ground.
watch out for…
Personally, I shudder to think of a world without Aquarius energy. To me, it's like a breath of fresh air in a room full of stodgy old men smoking cigars. Why would anything ever change? Who would dare to break the rules when they desperately need breaking? We need to deliberately step away from the accepted norms and the various socially-constructed boxes to do this—sometimes we need to smash them to smithereens—and Aquarius is the energy capable of doing just that. But just like with any energy, we can use it wisely (as described throughout this post), or we can use it unwisely. What exactly does life look like if you direct this energy in a self-destructive way?
Often there will be pointless eccentricity or rebellion. Deep inside, you feel the same push as all Aquarians do to break free from outwardly imposed boundaries, but you’re lacking the self-knowledge or courage to do so in a healthy way. Consequently, you’ve actually made the move to stand out and apart from the crowd, but not about the things that truly matter to you.
In a similar vein, it's all too easy to find yourself behaving in a needlessly stubborn and/or contrary way, often simply because of the frustration you feel at not being able to live as your authentic self. No one can do this for you, however. And waiting for the green light of approval to present as your true self, or venture down your true path, isn't something that's likely to ever come. In fact, you'll hit more red lights than you probably ever will green ones, so it’s a brave move you’ll have to make on your own. Failure to do so generally makes for a deeply unlikable Aquarian.
There’s also a very real danger with this energy that you intentionally don the façade of normalcy simply to fit in. Fighting your inner need—the one that begs you to take your own, personal path—you instead choose to blend in. To nod yes. To make yourself disappear in the crowd. Doing so may seem appealing on the surface, but will eventually lead you to a state of disassociation from your own life. It no longer feels like your life because it isn’t. Prescribed by others, you’re simply playing a part while the real you watches from backstage. This, in turn, can make you feel as though you’re lost and drifting. And emotionally unavailable, you do so alone.
high & low
The higher expressions (or archetypes) of Aquarius that you want to strive for are the genius; the scientist; the rebel; the exile; the truth-sayer; or the revolutionary.
The lower expressions (and those to steer clear of) are the the kook; the sociopath; the criminal; or the iceberg
If you find yourself discouraged because those lower expressions resonate with your experience more than the higher ones do, please, please don’t beat yourself up. The Sun energies are very strong, and it’s often through voluminous trial and error that we stumble upon their best expression. I’d suggest using that discouragement intentionally as motivation to become the best You that you can imagine. Choose a higher expression that represents the most empowering vision of yourself that you can imagine and then move towards becoming that. Remembering that you already possess the energies and the tools, if you willfully move in the direction of a higher archetype, amazing doors often open ♥
Much love,
Melinda
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