Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Aquarius Uncluttered

 David Palladini's depiction of Aquarius
I'm as guilty as anyone else of being drawn into astrological cook-book expectations in relation to people with Sun in Aquarius. I've called Aquarius quirky, avant garde, rebellious, unpredictable, cold and aloof....y'all know the rest.

Humanitarian, another commonly stated characteristic of Aquarius can be apt, but fits more nearly with Pisces in reality. People with Sun in Aquarius often have a planet in neighbouring Pisces.

Intelligent? I'll go along with that one, it's the only description common to all Sun Aquarians I've ever met. Intelligent, mind you, not genius or even highly intelligent. They simply possess an innate cleverness irrespective of schooling or higher education, which, in some instances when applied can bring out inventive talent. Aquarius is Fixed Air. Air relates to mental processes, so it's reasonable to expect that all Air signs (Aquarius, Gemini and Libra) will share natural intelligence, honed to sophistication by education, or not, as the case may be.

"Love of groups"? Where did that oft recited keyword for Aquarius come from? It contradicts another Aquarius motif: "aloof, detached and cold". I haven't yet met a Sun Aquarian who loves to join groups. I run from them, as did my Dad, and other Sun Aquarians I've known. We can, arguably, appear a tad aloof and detached/reserved. I prefer to think of that as independence or an intense need for freedom - and those are certainly keywords for Airy Aquarius.

I think many commonly used Aquarius keywords (quirky, avant garde, eccentric, radical, rebel etc) belong more properly with planet Uranus, delegated to replace Saturn as ruler of Aquarius in modern astrology. I continue to suspect that Saturn was more appropriate as ruler of Aquarius; a Saturn in Airy mode, lighter and less tied down; Capricorn hosts a heavier, Earthy Saturn.

Where does Uranus truly belong among the signs? Its accepted characteristics can invade and infect any sign with its presence. The rush to provide outer planets (Uranus, Neptune, Pluto)with a zodiac signs to "rule" seems strange to me. Why was it so necessary? Weren't things working satisfactorily in personal astrology beforehand? The outer planets do seem to relate more to mundane and generational issues.

My old and fragile copy of Llewellyn George's Student Chart Reader (1934), has this to say about Sun in Aquarius:

"In Aquarius the Sun gives a quiet, patient, determined, unobtrisive and faithful nature, as a rule. The Aquarian is refined, pleasant, friendly, generous, charitable, dignified and humanitarian; fond of art, music, scenery and literature; cautious, steady, intelligent, intuitive, discriminative, concentrative, studious, thoughtful and philosophical. Good reasoner, practical as well as theoretical; strong likes and dislikes and often with very radical and advanced ideas; is cheerful, sincere and honest, easily influenced by kindness, slow to anger, but will not be driven; loves liberty and is fond of occult research."

I like that description, even though parts of it are too general to be identifiable as pure Aquarius - eg. pleasant, fond of art, music, scenery. I especially like the the last few phrases (easily influenced by kindness, slow to anger, will not be driven; loves liberty). Interest in the occult applies to this particular inmate of the Sun in Aquarius camp, but I haven't personally met any others with the same leaning. Perhaps this is another facet belonging more properly to Pisces, although there are two Fixed Stars in Aquarius with traditional connection to astrology.

So my own, stripped down, bunch of keywords for Aquarius:
freedom lover, independent, naturally intelligent, quietly determined, loyal, faithful, studious, practical but also theoretical, stubborn, slow to anger, will not be driven.

Radicalism, avant garde, rebellion and quirkiness will, in my view, be a part of the Sun Aquarius-type, or any other sign's makeup only if Uranus is in close aspect, or on a sensitive point in the natal chart. That's my story and I'm sticking to it -'cos I definitely will not be driven!

17 comments:

slaveLuvsMaster said...

Well done and I do share an interest in the occult and mysterious is a word that I find often describes Aquarius Sun Signs...

mike said...

I've known a couple of Sun and ascendant Aquarians over the years and I can generalize by saying I find them eccentric, independent, and not bound by traditions or time. The "purer" Aquarians with personal planets in Aquarius have a struggle with schedules and appointments, which is peculiar for a sign with a Saturn co-ruler...perhaps it's the Uranian (higher octave of Mercury) influence.

It's easier for me to visualize the sign of Aquarius, if I see it as the polar reflection of Leo. I'm more familiar with Leo Suns and their need for an adoring audience. Aquarius is a good muse to Leo and Leo is a good muse to Aquarius. Leo has personal needs fulfilled with individualized feedback, while Aquarius has social-cultural requirements fulfilled with expanded and shared group consciousness.

I have natal Jupiter in Aquarius in the 10th house...it's my most elevated planet and not far from my midheaven. I share many of the Aquarian attributes, pluses and minuses, when it comes to the public's perception of me and how I present myself. I have a Gemini ascendant, which contributes to the airy-fairy presentation, and camouflages the stellium in Scorpio...LOL. I love a good cause to immerse myself.

With your mid-Cancer ascendant, you probably have your Sun in the 7th or 8th house...8th house by whole sign. Can you relate to your Sun's house position in either of these houses?

Twilight said...

slaveLuvsMaster ~ Hi there! Oh good - another Aqua Sun with interests in mystical things. I suspect generational trends have something to do with this - most of my ('War Baby') generation wasn't prone to interest in astrology and suchlike, I'm a bit of an oddity in that way I guess. I'd bet that you are of a younger generation. :-)

Twilight said...

mike ~ Hmmm and I've never met an eccentric-type Aquarius Sun person yet! Maybe I don't see them as eccentric because I am....?? LOL! I have been friends or acquainted with a variety of oddballs/eccentrics in my history - but they weren't Aquarius Sun types.

Your Aquarius and Gemini flavours and my Mars in Scorpio, possible 8th house Aquarius Sun & first house Pluto are probably what prevent us from descending into continuous bitter argument on certain topics where Scorpio and Aquarius would otherwise be at odds. :-)

My natal Sun would be in 8th house even if I were born around 30 mins later than the rectified, doubtful time. A wee bit later would put Sun on cusp of 7/8 houses. I could relate to either 7 or 8 house Sun, but I think 8th house most likely, time-wise.

mike (again) said...

As you indicate between points in our charts, I think the synastry between two charts, two individuals, greatly affects how each individual reacts to the others' generalized Sun sign characterization. I stated in your Virgo post that I had extremes with Virgo Suns, some very good and some not good. I have Moon, Saturn, and S Node in Virgo. It's MY reaction (or resonance with my natal chart) to Virgo Sun rather than the sign itself...in the eyes of the beholder. The placement and aspects of other planets enhances that effect.

BTW - on "Jimmy Kimmel" last night, JK wished Guillermo (his side-kick) a happy birthday...January 27, 1971.

Twilight said...

mike (again) ~ Yes, "the sign itself", in fact, all the signs themselves - though they have their individual significances, can't ever be safely taken strictly by keyword/cookbook, individually, as indicating compatiblity or incompatiblity ratings with one another. Too many variables will be at work just under the surface of a natal chart.

I've hardly ever watched Kimmel, took a look at Guillermo's photo at Wiki, and vaguely remember seeing him a couple of times. Nice to be aware of another 27 Jnauary inmate of the Aquarius asylum, in company with chief Justice Roberts, Keith Olbermann et al

http://twilightstarsong.blogspot.com/2008/01/hard-to-be-humble-birthdays.html ;-)

LB said...

Twilight ~ In spite of my Aquarius Moon, I haven't known that many Aquarius Suns ~ don't seem to attract them, maybe because of my chart's Aquarius-Scorpio squares. They always seem somewhat remote and a little cool, unreachable, which, ironically, is how a close friend once described me.

If I'm being honest, I always get the distinct impression they're secretly sizing me up for something, using their keen intelligence to measure those parts of me they find most valuable, (such as my intelligence, attractiveness or general usefulness) and overlooking or dismissing other essential aspects that make me and everyone else WHOLE.

Since I have an Aquarius Moon and Chiron, I've recognized my own tendencies to live in the mind (without actually DOING anything), and to sometimes be intellectually arrogant and dismissive of others' views and perspectives, proclivities I've tried to consciously work on. We ALL have shadows; I hope my membership in the Aquarius club (via my Moon) allows me to talk about them without offending anyone.

They say Aquarius loves humanity but hates people. In my experience, some do, some don't. I've known a couple of Aquarius Sun folks who were very concerned with social and environmental justice (also very creative and dedicated!) and one or two who've loved money and (politely and reasonably) discussing their economic theories about how to create more.

Whatever they love, their approach to realizing their values is always uniquely their own. They can be amazingly tuned-in, creative and kind when they choose to be!

Twilight said...

LB ~ Aquarius Sun people I've known best were my father, a cousin born a week before me, same year, and a school friend born a week after me, same year; an uncle born 31 January. I can recognise that sort of "remote" detached characteristic you describe in us all, I'd call it "reserved" and, in some cases, even an odd type of shyness.

I rather think that your Aqua-Sun acquaintances weren't sizing you up as much as deciding how best to approach you in an acceptably (to you) closer way. :-)

I feel sure there will be a tendency among Sun Aquarians to appear arrogant, immovable in their opinions - being a Fixed sign that's to be expected I guess.

Aquarius, in common with the other 11 zodiac signs, has many and varied faces, with just a few commonalities, fewer of these in each individual than astrological cookbooks would have us believe.

Here lies both the attraction and the frustration of astrology - in gradually discovering that all is not as we once thought it should be, and that the astro-alphabet is capable of so much variation, once all its letters are mixed together.

LB said...

Twilight ~ I can see how in mentioning Aquarius' uncanny ability to intellectually size people up, I was doing something similar, which is why I also mentioned my own Aquarius Moon and Chiron. To some extent, I don't think Aquarius can help it, especially if they haven't acknowledged the darker aspects of their psyches.

Like every other sign and sign-combination, there are variables. As humans, we all carry a range of possibilities within us and Aquarius is no exception.

Whereas some Aquarius folks might be trying to better understand others in order to befriend them or out of a genuine curiosity, there are others who use their insights and intelligence to size people up for lesser reasons ~ both things can be equally true.

And to be fair, anyone of any sign is capable of sizing people up, using different criteria and different sets of tools. Again, I agree with you, there are ALWAYS variables.

In the past few years, I've met one Aquarius man (Sun and Moon) whose extreme preoccupation with economic theories (money over people) has saddened me, but also several Aquarius women (casual acquaintances) whose kindness and intelligence I've greatly appreciated.

Then there are the great Aquarius thinkers ~ the authors, philosophers and mystics -people like Martin Buber and Thomas Merton- whose breaks with traditional thinking have influenced me and lots of other folks.

And of course, there's you, Twilight, who welcomed me, informed and challenged me and have kept it civil even when we've disagreed.:)

I also agree with you about Aquarius not necessarily being a group-joiner. The one characteristic I do think most Aquarians share though, is that they're generally drawn to and influenced by causes, ideas and *ideologies* bigger than themselves. For better or for worse (sometimes both), Aquarius can be motivated by a strong desire to gain the group's approval and/or support in relation to shared ideals. Even if they never join a group or leave their chairs.:)

mike (again) said...

Roberta Flack is a triple Aquarian, with Saturn in Pisces and Uranus in Taurus (note that her Moon is extremely balsamic and hours from a new Moon):
http://www.astro.com/astro-databank/Flack%2C_Roberta

And here's an interesting article about the major stellium in Aquarius February 5, 1962, (plus-minus a day) with a couple of famous examples born at that time. And a reiteration of your Jeanne Dixon post relating to her prediction about the important person born on that day:
www.beliefnet.com/columnists/astrologicalmusings/2007/08/aquarius-stellium-of-1962.html

Aquarian Digest has several pages related to this stellium. There is a sign-up for individuals born around that time period. Some of the comments are interesting:
http://aquariandigest.blogspot.com/2006/02/1962-stellium-in-aquarius-initial.html

LB said...

mike ~ That link to the Aquarian Digest post and comments about 1962's stellium in Aquarius is interesting. Now I'm wondering if I know anyone born during that time.

Twilight said...

LB ~ There are as many different kinds of Aquarius Suns as different shapes and sizes of blades of grass - or so I think anyway. It's really difficult for me to find many commonalities between those I've met and known well. This occasionally causes me to doubt astrology - and I do have certain doubts about certain aspects of the ancient art/tool/language/code - but not in general there's something there, I'm sure of that - but possibly not the something we've been taught to expect.

Twilight said...

mike ~ Yes the 1962's cluster in Aquarius is an interesting study - yet to be honest, it tells us not a lot. I've mentioned Garth Brooks, Clint Black, and a few other "celebs" who were born then - maybe even Sarah Palin? There's a post somewhere in my archives touching on this very topic. I found it a bit disappointing and something that underlined my general doubts.

I came to the conclusion that there could be an over-loading of - not just Aquarius, but a surfeit of planets in any sign, with the potential to smother and confuse any previously accepted "flavour" or significance

Just my tangled thoughts.

LB said...

"There are as many different kinds of Aquarius Suns as different shapes and sizes of blades of grass - or so I think anyway."

Yes, I think so too, Twilight.:) Plus, we all have Aquarius -along with all the other signs- somewhere in our charts. With my Moon, Chiron, Vertex (and a bunch of asteroids there), I'd like to better understand Aquarius' unique strengths and weaknesses in my own chart.

Twilight said...

LB ~ Yes - I think there's a danger, when someone becomes interested in astrology, for them to forget to see the zodiac signs and their keywords as simply zodiac signs. The temptation is to see them as people who happen to be born when the Sun transits that segment of the ecliptic. I've done it - we've all done it - its so easy and beguiling to do, and it can persist even when we know better.

As you've said, we all have all 12 signs within us, as planet Earth's human family.

James Higham said...

Birdy tells me it's yer birthday!

http://youtu.be/7WAphzIXlhY

Twilight said...

James Higham ~ 'Twas on Tuesday - yes - and thank you muchly James, also for the tune.

Your day and Rossa's will come up soon - can't recall exactly when - but good wishes in advance for a good Aquarius year for us all.