Aquarius horoscope

Myth and constellation

The constellation of Aquarius lies in a region of the sky that the ancients called "the Sea", because several water-related figures are found there, such as Pisces or the Whale. Its stars are faint and need a dark sky. From the northern hemisphere, it can be seen in the south on autumn evenings. Its two brightest stars, Sadalsuud and Sadalmelik, bear Arabic names often translated as "luck of lucks" and "luck of the king".

The figure shows a character pouring water from a jar, a motif already present in Babylonian astronomy. The Greeks most often identified him with Ganymede, a very beautiful young Trojan prince, abducted by Zeus transformed into an eagle and carried off to Olympus to become the cupbearer of the gods. This link explains why the constellation of the Eagle lies nearby in the sky. Other authors saw in it Deucalion, the survivor of the flood in Greek mythology.

Element, modality and planet

Aquarius combines air, the element of ideas and exchange, with the fixed mode, which gives constancy to convictions. Its traditional ruling planet is Saturn, linked to structure and rigour; modern astrology also assigns it Uranus, discovered in 1781 and associated with the unexpected, disruption and invention. From this dual rulership, tradition draws a sign that thinks about change methodically and defends its ideals over the long term.

The eleventh sign of the cycle, it follows the achievement of Capricorn and widens the perspective to the group, friendships and collective projects. In the northern hemisphere, its season falls in the heart of winter, a cold, clear time when the renewal is already being prepared. Tradition associates it with the ankles, the calves and the circulation of the blood, which connects and carries from one point to another.

The three decans

From around 20 to 29 January, the first decan is ruled by the sign's own ruler, Saturn or Uranus depending on the school, following the modern triplicity division that assigns each decan to a ruler of the air signs. Tradition sees here the most assertive Aquarius: independent, thoughtful and full of original ideas.

From around 30 January to 8 February, the second decan falls under Mercury, ruler of Gemini. It is said to have a lively, communicative mind, curious about everything. The sign's idealism expresses itself here through speech, writing and a taste for debate, with a particular ease in connecting different people and fields of knowledge.

From around 9 to 18 February, the third decan is placed under Venus, ruler of Libra. Tradition attributes to it greater gentleness, a sense of harmony and an interest in justice. Aquarius's collective spirit is expressed here through diplomacy, artistic sensitivity and attention to the balance of relationships.

In friendship and family

Friendship holds a central place in the portrait that tradition paints of Aquarius, since the eleventh house, which corresponds to it, is the house of friends. It is described as open to people from all walks of life, loyal to its bonds despite distance or long absences, and committed to equality in a relationship. It would like to bring together people who would never otherwise have met and share projects or causes with them.

In the family, the Aquarius parent is associated with an upbringing that leaves room for autonomy: they treat their children as equals in conversation and respect their choices. The Aquarius child is described as inventive, asking unexpected questions and unwilling to follow a rule without understanding the reason for it. Among siblings, they would be the one who suggests new games and argues for a fair share for everyone.

The rising sign

The ascendant is the sign rising on the horizon at the exact moment of birth. It changes roughly every two hours, so calculating it requires knowing the time and place of birth. Astrology reads in it the way one approaches the world and the first impression left on others. According to tradition, an Aquarius ascendant would give a friendly but slightly detached manner, a distinctive bearing and a mind that is quickly noticed. It is associated with a need to keep one's freedom of thought, whatever the rest of the chart says.