Aquarius, the eleventh sign of the zodiac, is ruled by the planet Uranus and symbolized by the Water Bearer or Man Pouring Water. True to this symbolism, Aquarians flow out to the world, imparting their life-giving refreshment to the thirsty, needing masses. The waters which they pour out are not those which satisfy physical thirst or any bodily need, but rather which serve to cleanse men's souls of the ills of racism, prejudice and greed. As the conduit of Uranian energy, Aquarian waters bring refreshment of a finer type, a sustenance of the mind which seeks to elevate and expand Man's thinking to greater breadth of perspective. Aquarian consciousness is that universal understanding which acknowledges the whole of Mankind as one human family, within which each of its members is embraced as brother or sister. The Aquarian dream of universal brotherhood might be considered too idealistic or impractical to actually materialize in our world, but these natives hold onto it nonetheless. As water makes the earth yield abundantly, so does the Aquarian have the ability to stir men's souls, wakening the dormant seed into spiritual activity. As the water bearer, he is the possessor of truths yet unfathomable to the majority of people, and in this respect he is actually ahead of his time. The urn he wields is the fount of social idealism, universal understanding and humanitarianism, and the refreshment he pours forth are the waters of enlightenment, inspiration and ingenious discovery. These he imparts freely, without reserve, to all who seek the higher truths and whose hearts are ready to accept them.
You may be reluctant to credit the Aquarian you know with having such high-minded ideals, but don't let his appearance or even his behavior, fool you. Behind that somewhat aloof expression is a deep mind capable of analyzing the deepest problems and bringing to light some of life's greatest mysteries. Aquarians quite literally live for humanity. They have an innate understanding and appreciation of the many differences in race, culture, morality and individual personalities within the human family, but realize that these are superficial trappings which only tend to blind from recognition the common human heritage shared by all. Consequently, they do not understand the barriers of prejudice, racism, religious belief, or territorialism, which in their estimation only serve as vehicles for Man's inhumanity to Man. The forces of Uranus, which constantly vibrate within them, keep their minds focused on the Aquarian ideals of social harmony, world peace and brotherhood, and no amount of fame, power or worldly gain will ever deter them completely from these altruistic leanings.
As it is natural for them to live on a slightly higher plane, Aquarians will tend to reflect this in their physical appearance by projecting a look of remoteness. This is especially evidenced in the eyes, which will often be dreamy or other-worldly in appearance. The eyes, in fact, may convey the peculiar Aquarian trademark of appearing to not belong to the native or of somehow seeming to not go along with the rest of the features. Consider how the crystal-clear blue eyes of Aquarian Paul Newman stand out strikingly from the rest of his features. His faraway eyes, full of an undefinable compassion, have long been his trademark, but would one expect them to go along with his otherwise rugged features and impulsive manner? Even if their appearance, behavior or mannerisms do not always show it, Aquarians' eyes will never fail to convey their true humanitarian natures.
As for the rest of the features, the hair is unusual in that it almost always possesses a peculiar glint or variance of tone, suggesting the play of sunshine upon it; it will tend to be wavy or curly and often becomes grey even in youth. The face is usually long and oval with flat planes, and there is a look of nobility suggestive of the classic Greek or Roman models. The forehead is broad, intimating an intellectual nature and the power of profound thought. The nose is regular, being neither too long or too short, neither too thin or too broad, and the way its angles meet precisely at the tip conveys a look of inquisitiveness. The mouth is of medium size and regular, with the lips being somewhat thin at the edges and gradually tending to fullness toward the middle. The body presents little opportunity for description, being moderate in every way, and, as is the case with Libra, everything is well proportioned.
There's a little bit of rebellion in every Aquarian. Once they find that changing people's attitudes to a more tolerant, humanitarian perspective is more of a task than they first realized, these natives may rebel against the rigidity and stubbornness they find about them. Their dress or grooming is often unconventional. At a formal dinner party, they'll show up wearing a plaid jacket, a loud tie, an unusual hat or tennis shoes, not so much to get your attention, but to break up the stuffiness of the affair. Even if the Aquarian should cop to convention and wear the suit and tie or formal evening gown, the tie, shirt, shoes, jewelry or hairstyle will probably be an eye-catching color or a little off-beat. Even the more sedate February-born you know who normally do wear conventional dress will put on their subtle display of rebellion by giving the appearance of being haphazardly attired or carelessly strewn together. The clothes may be ill-fitting, too loose, too tight or out of style. The shirt may not go with the trousers; the tie may be off to one side or hanging loosely about the neck with open collar. Most male Aquarians will not feel or look comfortable in a suit and tie, and female Uranians likewise will not feel comfortable in a formal dress. They may further show their break from convention by taking off their shoes, acting in an off-handed or erratic manner or in general doing things to raise a few eyebrows among the more conservative of the group.
As demonstrative as these subtle forms of rebellion may be, Aquarians never seek to revolt. Unlike the social activism of Sagittarius or the forcible displeasure of Aries, they'll never advocate the more energetic types of dissent which actually seek to overthrow or change existing conditions or attitudes. Their revolt is a quiet, almost subconscious sarcasm, and they don't really believe they'll change anyone's thinking that much. These natives have learned the wisdom of not struggling against rigidity of minds if only to encounter more opposition. Part of the reason they have such an obvious disdain for the way things are is that they are actually ahead of their time, and can't understand at times how the rest of the world can be so far behind in spiritual awareness. They can have impressions of the future and may themselves exemplify, in consciousness at least, what the world will be like fifty years from now. In the meantime, they are content to work with conditions as they are, quietly and unobtrusively keeping their on-going crusade against the status quo well within acceptable confines. Every now and then, they'll offer glimpses to those less visionary, of a world less beleaguered by the ills of materialism, racism and prejudice. Their natural distaste for stuffy or overly conservative thinking, though, is held in check by a quiet optimism. They'll revel comfortably in the knowledge that the subtle promptings of Uranus will inevitably lead Man to his greater enlightenment.
Many Aquarians will have a strong scientific bend. They'll be up on all the latest scientific advancements, fascinated by astronomical discoveries, and probably well-versed in the various theories of physics, medicine or any of those sciences which are a direct benefit to Man. No matter which field is their particular interest, they can often find immense satisfaction in scientific experimentation. Most Aquarian children will want chemistry sets or electronic kits, but it might be well to lend a watchful eye toward these budding geniuses. Their natural flair for experimentation can quite often go beyond the parameters of the set or kit itself, leading to some pretty spectacular, if not dangerous results. I know of one Aquarian youngster who literally blew a hole in the roof of the family garage through one of his "extracurricular" chemistry experiments; luckily no one was hurt. Behind their scientific interest, of course, is the Aquarian dream of making a great scientific discovery which will be of benefit to Mankind. These natives could never be interested in any field from a purely intellectual perspective. Aquarians' humanitarian instinct must always be the prime motivator for them to be successful or to derive satisfaction from their work.
A natural offshoot of the Aquarian interest in electronics is their attraction to behind-the-scenes careers in radio or television. Mercury rules communication by wire; Venus rules that of personal interaction. Wireless communication, however, is typically Uranian, and the fields of radio and television provide a comfortable niche for the unique talents of many Aquarian-ruled. They have a natural affinity for dealing with anything that involves subtle vibrations or higher-frequency wave lengths, and these mediums serve as apt vehicles for their need to relate to society in a larger way. The Aquarian spirit, typically, is "out there," commingling sympathetically with the thoughts and feelings of the masses, and it is appropriate that these forms of mass communication hold a particular fascination for them. Many Uranians are gifted in other forms of 'wireless' communication such as mental telepathy, psychism or any of the occult sciences. Almost invariably with these natives there is an interest in astrology. As a study which is not a pure science, but which employs many aspects of mind, it is admirably suited to their temperaments. Whether they are casual followers, avid enthusiasts, students or professionals, Aquarians find the 'study of the stars' irresistible. There are few Uranians who don't know their birth sign and Ascendant, and you'll often find them browsing through the astrology section of the local bookstore or commenting that the reason they're suddenly forgetful is that the Moon must be in Pisces. Even the most conservative February-born (although there may be so few conservative ones as to be considered an astrological rarity) will regularly check out their horoscopes in the newspaper's astrology column.
Aquarius is called the sign of genius and not without cause. The Aquarian is equally at home on all mental planes whether intellectual, psychic, creative, analytical or spiritual, neither differentiating between them nor confusing one with another. He, more than any other sign, possesses totality of mind. Almost any mental pursuit is within his grasp. Aquarians understand the inadequacy of intellect alone to produce work of truly lasting importance. By the same token, profound spiritual wisdom or great analytical ability by themselves do not hit the mark with these natives. It is the combination of all these aspects of mind which constitute true genius, and Aquarians, subconsciously at least, understand this. The outpouring of these natives to humanity, combined with their scientific bend and fine intellects, can express itself in tireless commitments to finding the cure to diseases or to solving one of the many social, economic or spiritual ills of Mankind. Is it any wonder, then, that over eighty percent of the people honored in The Hall of Fame have been born under the influence of Aquarius? The ideals embodied in that institution parallel exactly the Aquarian spirit.