Aquarius: dates, element, planet, symbolism and associated stones

Who is Aquarius?

Aquarius is the eleventh sign of the zodiac. Its glyph, two zigzag lines stacked on top of each other, evokes water or waves; the image is that of a water-bearer pouring the contents of a jar. A Greek account links it to Ganymede, a young Trojan prince carried off by Zeus to become his cupbearer. Other traditions connect it to a Mesopotamian water god or to regional figures.

Notice an amusing paradox: Aquarius is a sign of air, not water, even though its image is that of a man pouring water. In the tradition, the water being poured symbolises what is shared with others, not the emotional element.

The traditional sheet at a glance

Aquarius falls in the middle of winter, between the solstice and the March equinox. Dates in the "tropical" zodiac, the one used in most Western horoscopes, vary by a day from year to year (leap years, exact time and place of birth): if you were born on the day of transition between two signs, a birth chart calculated to the exact hour is needed to know which one applies.

The tropical zodiac starts at the spring equinox and divides the year into twelve equal segments of 30 degrees; it no longer matches the position of the constellations in the sky, because of the precession of the equinoxes, a slow movement of the Earth's axis that completes one turn in about 25,800 years. The "sidereal" zodiac, more used in India, follows the constellations instead and therefore gives dates shifted by about three weeks.

Element, modality and ruling planet

Air: the element of exchange, ideas and freedom of thought. Fixed: Aquarius sits in the middle of winter; it is associated with loyalty to one's convictions. Saturn: in the ancient tradition, Aquarius, like Capricorn, is ruled by Saturn. After the discovery of Uranus in 1781, many modern astrologers assigned this sign to Uranus, the planet of disruption, originality and invention. Some authors keep Saturn, others Uranus, and still others both: the traditions differ.

Symbolic qualities

Aquarius is associated with independence of mind, originality, humanism, interest in new ideas, solidarity with the group and sometimes a certain detachment. In traditional portraits, the flip side is distance, stubbornness about one's opinions or an apparent coldness.

These are symbolic tendencies, not measurable traits. There are Aquarians who are very attached to tradition, and great dreamers under other signs. Simply keep the image: that of a jar emptied so that everyone can draw from it.

Relationships with other signs

In astrology, the relationship between two signs is described by the angle separating them in the zodiac. Here is the common vocabulary, applied to Aquarius, with no compatibility prediction at all:

• Opposition (signs 180 degrees apart, six signs apart): Leo. Astrologers see a face-to-face that complements, a mirror.
• Trine (same element, air): Gemini and Libra. One speaks of a kinship of tone, an ease in understanding one another.
• Sextile (complementary elements): Aries and Sagittarius. A link described as stimulating and sociable.
• Square (same modality, different element): Taurus and Scorpio. Tradition sees a tension that either drives things forward or irritates.

These relationships are only reading conventions; a real understanding depends on two specific people.

Traditionally associated stones

For Aquarius, traditions differ. Twentieth-century jewellery lists mostly cite amethyst; esoteric authors add aquamarine, garnet or labradorite, sometimes by analogy with the sign's originality. The older lists inspired by Aaron's breastplate do not agree with one another.

Amethyst fades with prolonged sunlight; aquamarine is often heated to fix its colour. See each stone's page for care.

Mood tips

An "Aquarius" atmosphere is open and a little unexpected: glacier blue tones, original objects, unusual music, a corner for invention or tinkering. You might join a group activity, learn a software program, stargaze or write to someone who lives far away. Cool, clear light, or a blue candle, suits the spirit. These are ideas for atmosphere, never a forecast.

What science says

Scientifically, studies to date have not shown that a birth sign allows a character to be described or events to be predicted; astrology remains a symbolic and cultural language, which can be appreciated for its tradition and its poetry without considering it a science.

Frequently asked questions

Also read

The meanings mentioned belong to tradition and symbolism. They are neither promises of results nor medical advice. Back to Guide to the astrological signs.