Aquarius coincides with the depths of winter, when the Sun’s path crosses the ancient Water-Bearer constellation. For ancient Romans, this was a time of ritual cleansing, where citizens would walk through streets to be struck with purifying whips called februa – and this festival gave us the month name “February.” That theme of purification and renewal persists in our modern New Year’s traditions and resolutions.
Aquarius, Bearer of Waters
Despite its airy nature, Aquarius maintains deep ties to water (aqua is in the name!) – particularly in its heated forms. Ancient texts emphasize this sign’s unique relationship with water infrastructure, a sign which inspired and celebrated humanity’s advancement in harnessing this element through aqueducts and sisterns. Those born under Aquarius’s auspices often find restoration in heated waters, whether through therapeutic baths, hot springs, or steam rooms, supporting both physical and mental wellbeing.
The Water-Bearer’s urn, catching the starry waters from the river constellation Eridanus, speaks to this sign’s essential role in dispensing aid to the needy. The urn could only hold so much, and its limited capacity was thought to reflect a fundamental truth: one must give to receive anew. This image crystallizes Aquarius’s connection to human welfare and progress, and warns against the futility of excess and extremes in human outcomes. The urn serves as a metaphor for sustainable distribution – taking only what can be properly utilized and shared.
Winter’s austerity shapes Aquarian judgment, sometimes erring toward excessive caution even when more liberal attitudes might serve. Yet this sign carries remarkable intellectual capacity – Aquarians possess an innate ability to self-teach, absorbing knowledge through curiosity and independent study. Their tendency toward prudence, while occasionally overzealous, stems from a deep appreciation for resource management and human need.
Aquarius’ Relationship with the Seasons
As with the other signs, it’s important to note that the sign of Aquarius and the constellation of Aquarius are not the same thing. Constellations are groups of stars visible in the night sky, while zodiacal signs are equal divisions of the Sun’s apparent path throughout the year, known as the ecliptic. The zodiacal signs are linked to the seasons, not the stars themselves.
The twelve zodiacal signs can be grouped into three categories based on their relationship to the seasons. The cardinal signs mark the beginning of each season and are associated with change and new beginnings. The fixed signs fall in the middle of each season and are known for their stability, determination, and resolute nature. Lastly, the mutable signs stand between the close of one season and the start of the next. These signs are associated with adaptability, flexibility, and the ability to navigate change with ease.
Aquarius and the Winter
As a fixed sign, Aquarius stands in the heart of winter, where the season’s grip is most unyielding and nature seems frozen in contemplation. This enduring quality is fundamental to your nature, dear Water-Bearer. You thrive in environments that allow you to develop your unique ideas and maintain your chosen principles with unwavering conviction. Setting and pursuing personal betterment goals is where you truly excel. Your ability to remain committed to your ideals, even when they challenge conventional wisdom, is both your strength and your signature.
This fixed nature grants you exceptional intellectual persistence and ideological resilience. However, you may find it challenging to compromise on your vision or to adapt your methods once you’ve determined your course. This steadfast quality influences various aspects of your life, from your social causes to your personal philosophy, where your commitment to certain ideals remains unshakeable. Like the winter season that holds the world in its crystalline clarity, you excel at maintaining your perspective with cool rationality and determined focus.
New Goals for Aquarius
- Celebrate your relationship with water: Create intentional rituals around heated water experiences – regular hot baths, steam rooms, or hot springs visits. Use these moments not just for physical restoration but as opportunities for mental clarity and problem-solving.
- Re-think your tendency toward austerity: Notice where excessive caution might be holding you back from growth or joy. While prudence serves you well, practice distinguishing between necessary restraint and habitual restriction. Consider areas where measured abundance might better serve your goals.
- Strengthen your natural teaching abilities: Your gift for self-directed learning can benefit others. Document your learning processes and share your knowledge systematically. Consider mentoring or creating educational content in areas where you’ve developed expertise, focusing on empowering others to learn independently.
What Qualities Does Aquarius Have?
As an air sign, Aquarius exhibits the intellectual qualities common to this element – rationality, abstract thinking, and social awareness. However, Aquarius uniquely combines this airy nature with the symbolism directing the flow of water, suggesting a capacity to channel and distribute intellectual resources rather than merely accumulating them.
Among air signs, Aquarius is distinguished by its fixed quality, manifesting as unwavering dedication to principles and ideas. This fixity, combined with the air element, often results in strong ideological convictions and innovative thinking that can seem ahead of its time (or, in more interesting cases, can seem decidedly fixed in the past).
The sanguine temperament of Aquarius manifests in an energetic approach to both physical and mental activities. This hot and moist constitution thrives on movement and circulation, explaining the traditional emphasis on heated waters and their therapeutic effects. Regular immersion in warm waters – whether through baths, hot springs, or steam rooms – helps maintain the optimal balance of these qualities.
Aquarius’ Relationship to Food
In dietary terms, the sanguine temperament benefits from foods that support warmth without creating excess heat. Aquarians often do well with broths, soups, and foods prepared with moderate warming spices. However, as the water-bearer suggests, proper hydration is key – warm herbal teas (like rosemary, sage, and melissa) and naturally flavored waters can help make hydration an enjoyable ritual rather than a chore. Traditional medical astrology particularly emphasizes blood circulation for Aquarius – especially in heart, brain, and the extremities (both hands and feet). This points to the importance of cardiovascular support through circulation-enhancing foods and spices that promote healthy blood flow throughout the body.
Best Foods to Balance Aquarius
For most seasons, these foods are good for supporting the sanguine temperament associated with Aquarius:
- Land: Chicken, turkey, veal, rabbit, lean pork.
- Surf: Trout, cod, haddock, halibut, perch, sole, tilapia, and shellfish like shrimp and scallops.
- Grains: Wheat, rice (especially white rice), oats, quinoa, millet.
- Vegetation: Lettuce, cucumber, melon, grapes, apples, pumpkin, squash, ripened berries, pears, peaches, leafy greens like spinach and arugula.
- Dairy: Fresh cheese, milk, cream, yogurt and cottage cheese.
- Beverages: Still water, light herbal teas, fresh fruit juices.
- Alcohol: Light white wines, wheat beers, gin, vodka-based cocktails.
In the winter months, when the cold is greater and the sanguine temperament may need to consume more heat to stay in good health, it’s advisable to introduce more warming and substantial foods:
- Land: Beef, lamb, venison, duck, goose.
- Surf: Salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines, anchovies.
- Grains: Rye, barley, quinoa, buckwheat, spelt, corn, wild rice.
- Vegetation: Root vegetables (carrots, parsnips, beets), warming spices (ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg), leafy greens (kale, spinach) , onions, garlic, leeks, chili peppers, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, dates and figs.
- Dairy: Aged cheeses, full-fat yogurt, ghee and kefir.
- Beverages: Ginger tea, chai, bone broth, turmeric drinks, hot chocolate.
- Alcohol: Full-bodied red wines, dark beers, mulled wine, brandy, whiskey, port fortified wines.
A Menu for the Zodiac Sign Aquarius (January 20-February 18)
Mulled Wine
Warm up Aquarius’ soul with a Mulled Wine that’s made with a full-bodied red wine and fresh winter ingredients. The addition of cloves, allspice, and cinnamon are all great to increase this sign’s sanguine temperament. It’s a simple way to help you kick up your feet, relax, and feel like yourself again when times get hard. Plus, you can save the extra Mulled Wine for up to three days later in the fridge.
Creamy Kale Soup with Halloumi
Since the start of Aquarius aligns with the bitter cold of January, our Creamy Kale Soup with Halloumi is just the thing to keep your body full of nutrients when the sun seems to disappear. This soup takes advantage of lacinato kale which thrives in the wintertime. Once you toss in onion and garlic, this soup becomes a safe-haven for Aquarius’ wish for comfort.
Braised Duck Leg in Green Chile with Cumin-Infused Roasted Carrots
The healthy fat of duck legs make them the perfect accompaniment to Aquarius (not to mention ducks’ own connection to the water). We upgrade a juicy, braised leg with the heat of green chile and cumin spiced carrots which also adds in the root vegetable that this sign’s body desires. This meal helps sustain Aquarius throughout those snowy evenings with a focus on promoting healthy blood flow.
Gluten-Free Pound Cake with Stewed Fruit and Mascarpone
It cannot all be spices for Aquarius. In fact, this sign needs ripe berries and whole-grains just as much as it does the warming aspects. Our Gluten-Free Pound Cake uses a blend of brown rice flour, sorghum flour, and tapioca flour. Together this creates an earthy, nutty, mild, and sweet flavor you won’t be able to achieve otherwise. The topping of stewed or fresh berries and mascarpone add the perfect finishing touch to this indulgent dessert.
Bio
Wade Caves, based in Brooklyn, NY, is an astrological consultant and educator specializing in problem-solving applications of astrology. He teaches astrological divination and astronomy at the School of Traditional Astrology. Wade also publishes his work on world astrology through Skyscript’s In Mundo publishing desk and hosts the World Astrology Summit, a conference dedicated to the advancement of astrology for global problem-solving. Website: wadecaves.com • skyscript.co.uk/inmundo. Email: hello@wadecaves.com.
Story by Wade Caves
Subscribe to TABLE Magazine’s print edition.
