Saturday Mercury and the Sun arrived in Aquarius, the 11th sign of the zodiac. Aquarius is not a water sign despite beginning with the root ‘aqua’; it is an air sign, depicted by one who carries a jug of water, or who measures the depth of the Nile, or sometimes by the goddess Nut (Nuit).
The Sun and Mercury passing through this sign for the next few weeks will open up the space to consider what it’s about. [Read the sign description of Aquarius here.] I used to think of Aquarius as the sign of ‘all of us here’. It’s the sign of groups, which are subsections of the whole, and once I figured that out I started treating Aquarius as ‘some of us here’.
Whether we’re talking about the caste system, cliquish people or all former members of The Rockettes, society tends to divide itself into exclusive groups and subgroups. A lot is accomplished through these groups and many problems are created. Mentalities and philosophies are perpetuated and strengthened, and some last long past their useful time because some small group of people somewhere thinks they should.
Aquarius accesses a layer of psychic architecture where patterns crystallize, and these patterns are developed into living archetypes as more people focus on them. This sign and the kind of power that it represents are inherently neutral; they respond to whatever they’re infused with. It really is a matter of create what you want or what you can, though Aquarius in part helps explain why, if possible, you want several people getting their minds together to create something.
Even the most inventive, pure idea come up with by an individual mind at 4 am will improve from revision and rethinking, often bringing in collaborators and specialists (for example, in materials). People born under Aquarius tend toward individualism, or at least perceive themselves that way and often act that way. There is enough individualism, at least, that many inventors are capable of bucking the trend of prevailing thought. That requires a kind of self-assertion.
Aquarius also ends up being the sign of conformism, from the relatively benign, annoying kind, to the really seriously problematic ones when political or state power is invoked. It’s the sign of groupthink — a phenomenon of people thinking along the same lines, no matter how disastrously. When something goes viral, becomes a meme, is really ridiculous and also wildly popular, or is wrong but everyone does it, that’s the neutral quality of Aquarius picking up the energy and focusing it. That focusing power is revealed through the idea that Aquarius is one of the fixed signs of the zodiac, along with Taurus, Leo and Scorpio.
This can work with helpful, brilliant and beautiful ideas, and sometimes it does. There are various phenomena of the group ‘letting in’ a vibration or struggling to do so — or the message/image maker struggling to have something be noticed and then finally breaking through; this dynamic is included in Aquarius as well.
In terms of current astrology, Mars has been keeping Aquarius hot for a while (Mars arrived on Dec. 25). A small, meaningful planet named Nessus is also there — that’s a longterm visitor (10-year trip or so) and Mars is about to form a conjunction with Nessus on Jan. 26, a few hours before the Leo Full Moon. So we may see the emergence of the dark heart of groupthink. Mars conjunct Nessus has a violent, rebellious feeling, yet it might also represent the drive to break away from any group mentality that is not working for you, or that has hurt you in the past.
If material comes up, on any level (some might be deeply personal) this is a fine opportunity to seek healing.
Speaking of — last week we published the LISTEN website, which provides all of our readers with affordably priced astrological readings. Each sign gets a extended written report and two audio sections at 40 minutes each. You also get the charts, theme music for your sign and many other features — though the sign readings are the heart of the matter. This is in-depth, extraordinarily well-informed astrology, delivered with nuance and clarity. Take a look at the LISTEN website for more information about ordering (and the articles and resources areas of the site are open to all readers).
Thank you, Eric. Aquarius has been overdue for a restart, and you are just the person who could do it best.
Soooo much here, extremely helpful. Thank you.
Patty your observation was also very helpful and made me relate to a similar pattern at work for me seems I am continually defogging my mirror. Sara, ‘trail by fire’ is also definitely a work in progress in letting go.
“…if possible, you want several people getting their minds together to create something.”
Ahem…that would be rebuilding new patterns of responsibility in our family. So much of what you speak of is playing out big time in claiming personal needs v/s my finally ‘letting go’ of old warn out family dynamics. Couple weeks ago I made it know to my siblings that it was finally time for them to step up and help out with Mom in supporting her and my Dad in coping with her progressing Dementia. More difficult to deal with is the resulting, rapidly advancing anxiety and anger she is expressing at my Dad due to her loss and his increasing impatience with her. It is a very sad situation of course. I love my Mom and want to be there for her, but at the same time have understood for a long time (and at a high cost) that putting my life on hold to be the buffer in their relationship is not healthy for me.
“So we may see the emergence of the dark heart of groupthink. Mars conjunct Nessus has a violent, rebellious feeling, yet it might also represent the drive to break away from any group mentality that is not working for you, or that has hurt you in the past.”
Then my brother today, (an Aqurarian incidentally) after he only offering more support in the last couple weeks, I could feel he felt an imposition as he started talking about ‘power of attorney, her quality of life…and not letting Mom suffer…etc.’ I have not fully responded to his direction in thought and intentions, but I am deeply saddened by the feeling and lack of respect and love in it.
It feels right and good to step back, but I am also diligently working in the space (most challenging with comments like my brothers) in it not letting get away from me and head to that familiar place of guilt. There is a way to remain supportive without fully jumping in and handing myself over emotionally. And I am leaning more along these lines daily.
“There are various phenomena of the group ‘letting in’ a vibration or struggling to do so — or the message/image maker struggling to have something be noticed and then finally breaking through; this dynamic is included in Aquarius as well.”
Thank you, thank you Eric and Amanda for continually to offering your astro-psycological instruction with PW’s ongoing community support!
Very helpful! It’s always so helpful to know that what’s happening in my life is connected to something bigger outside of me. It makes the pain and struggle a bit easier to bear and work with. Now, if only there were clear answers too for getting through the trial by fire with this particular group I’m involved with. And most likely there are…
I don’t know if this is relevant to the time or not, but has to do with jealousy. My daughter and I were at a garden show on Saturday and hoped to make a significant (to us) amount of money selling our soap, candles and a few other sundries.
At our farmers market and some other events, we noticed over the years that we do better if we look a little home-made and rustic, with baskets of soap for everyone to browse through. We also noticed that when we use plastic bags and soap covers, we didn’t do so well, so we stuck with baskets and oldish looking tablecloths that were clean.
At our event this week, we used a mix of soap laid out on tables on pretty floral paper, with a few plastic bags of candles, and some plastic bottles of lotion and bath salts, facials, etc. I used my pretty lace tablecloths and paper covered boxes that look springy with pretty flowers. It looked really pretty – but alas, too commercial. Most of the attendees looked like retiree aged women, or women in their 50s.
What I noticed specifically was the looks on their faces when they looked at my tables – raw jealousy followed by a frown. I told my daughter that it never pays to be jealous, because even people with a lot of money (especially people with a lot of money) seem to have as many or more issues of sadness and loss than the poorer people. Somehow we represented ourselves as something we truly are not, and the mass of women didn’t like it. We already knew it could be a mistake, so i don’t know why I went there. My next garden show will feature my tired old Indian paisley cotton tablecloth and little baskets of product to browse through. Everyone is truly put off by the Nordstrom look. As much as I enjoyed making the tables look like a department store counter, it doesn’t work for our crowd.
In fact, I have customers from the more well-to-do areas that are 30 miles away who drive down just to buy my product, because it looks ‘hand made’. That’s what they want, and they are willing to drive out of the way to buy it. There may be a caste system, but everyone is sick and tired of it. My perspective.
well, i don’t know about anybody else, but *i* definitely found this helpful to read!