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Aquarius: The Astrological Sign of Community, Clan, and Individuals

Aquarius. Winter. The time of long nights. Interdependence.

Aquarius. Group process and community. Our need for each other. Social order, personal politics, and group dynamics.

Aquarius. The urge to individuate. Independence.

Aquarius, the water-bearer, the bringer of life-giving waters.

The sign of Aquarius is from January 22-February 21. It is the time in the winter when the clan has gathered together in the warmth of the cave. But we've been imprisoned in that communal cave for a long time by winter's cold; in such close quarters, and with resources beginning to grow scarce, this is where politics, group dynamics, and community processes are born.

In this season, we observe the others like us, fascinated by human nature. If not free from the confines of society, then let me express my individuality within that society. Aquarius is the desire to understand human nature and to develop social-political structures. It is the yearning to weave un-compromised uniqueness into a harmonious tapestry. Freedom, individuality, friendship, society—these are the fixations of the Aquarian mind."
--Cynthia Jones, MoonShadows

This also is the point of winter that is the quickening, the first turning towards spring. It's the time when we, individuals, are called out by the increasing daylight. We desire to leave the confinement of that communal cave. We awaken.

"The sign for Aquarius has always been a human figure holding a large urn, or vessel of water, from which the waters flow forth freely. In ancient minds what this symbolises was also seen in a humble well - a source of life-giving water for the living."
--Akkadia Ford

Imbolc and Candlemas, the festivals sacred to Brigid, occur within the astrological sign of Aquarius. Aquarius is an air sign, though it is often called the water-bearer. These are the waters which herald spring for the land. They are also the wellspring within each of us, the source waters that flow from the divine and fill us with vital essence and life-force. Brigid was a goddess of the triple flames, but also of the well-waters that blessed people with healing, knowledge, artistic inspiration, and vital life force.

"Imbolc falls under the auspices of a celestial vessel and stellar waters. These are the waters of wisdom and a key to the connection of Imbolc to this sign, is that what the individual receives through the tutelage of Brighid is to be given forth freely to others."
--Akkadia Ford

Aquarius is the paradox of individual and community...the place where we seek to find a communities of others like us. We seek to be ourselves, unique. In Aquarius we find our uniqueness, our individuality, our gifts. The name we hold for ourselves in the depth of our soul.

What are the gifts you hold in your heart of hearts? What is the light of your inspiration?

You hold the ancient pull of magic inside you. What magic do you yearn to share with others, to make available to the world?

What is the song your soul sings?

What is your uniqueness? What qualities do you hold?

What kind of friends do you choose? When you imagine the community of your dreams, who is there?

*questions adapted from MoonShadows, by Cynthia Jones