Aquarius: The Water Bearer
Greek legend tells of a very handsome young man named Ganymedes, Prince of Troy. While tending sheep on Mount Ida, Zeus spotted the youth and fell in love, yet again. Leaving beautiful horses as a compensation to his father, King Laomedon of Troy, Zeus sent his eagle Aquila (or he assumed the form of an eagle) and flew Ganymede to Mount Olympus. Hera, was not amused.
Ganymede often flew on Aquilla while accompanying Zeus on his travels. He became known as a god of youth and the cup-bearer of the gods. Ganymede would pour nectar from his jug, also becoming a god of rain when he asked Zeus for water on behalf of the people during a drought. As a kind hearted and attractive youth, he was a god of homosexual love enjoying the company of both Eros and Hymenaeus. Ganymede was placed in the heavens as the constellation Aquarius, where he is joined by his ambrosial cup (the constellation Crater) as well as the eagle as Aquila.
House of Aquarius
The eleventh house is the House of Friends. We need our friends and the strength that comes with numbers. In the group, we have the ablility to collaborate and pool our skills and resources. What one cannot accomplish alone, in the company of our friends we may be able to manage. We are richer, stronger, and more capable of larger change.
Friends give us opportunities and possibilities that may have alluded us alone. These collectives also reinforce our priorities and values, helping us move toward the greater good. This is how we can make the world a better place. Through our friends we add substance and meaning to both our lives and to society. What do we do for others? How does that shape who we are and who we wish to be? We are reminded by the Beatles that we all get by “With a little help from our friends”.
The Magic of Aquarius
Correspondences
Order: Eleventh
Dates: January 20 – February 18
Element: Air
Season: Winter
Quality: Fixed (Steady)
Ruling Planet: Uranus
Exalted Planet: Saturn
Principle: Humanity
House: Friends
Governs: Ankles
Tarot: Star
Science of Aries
Astronomy
Degrees of Sky: 980
Total Stars: 97
Stars with Planets: 12
Main Stars: 10-22
Brightest Star: Sadalsuud (magnitude of 2.87)
Sun Passes Through: February 16 – March 11
The Personality of Aquarius
Strengths
Creative
Witty
Tolerant
Inquisitive
Original
Spontaneous
Accepting
Weaknesses
Rigid
Obstinate
Sarcastic
Aloof
Rebellious
Uncompromising
Hot tempered
Likes
Entertainment
Helping others
Diversified interests
Dreaming
Loyalty
Privacy
Surprises
Dislikes
Limited choices
Egotistical people
Lending/Borrowing money
Routine
Disharmony
Waste
Extravagance
These, and far more than these,
The Poet sees!
He can behold
Aquarius old
Walking the fenceless fields of air;
And from each ample fold
Of the clouds about him rolled
Scattering everywhere
The showery rain,
As the farmer scatters his grain.
He can behold
Things manifold
That have not yet been wholly told,–
Have not been wholly sung nor said.
For his thought, that never stops,
Follows the water-drops