It is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius… or, at least Aquarius Season. Aquarius is a fixed air sign. It is in the nature of fixed signs to be steady, unchanging. As an air sign, Aquarius is concerned with ideas, how we express ourselves, and our place in the collective.
Aquarius Season.
Aquarius has two planetary rulers. Its ancient ruler is Saturn. Its modern ruler is Uranus. In astrology, Saturn and Uranus represent very different things. Saturn is concerned with creating structure, establishing boundaries, and accountability and responsibility to ourselves and others. Uranus, on the other hand, is the planet of individuality and challenging the status quo. When Saturn, or any other planet for that matter, asks, “Why?” Uranus promptly answers “Because I said so.”
One might imagine Saturn and Uranus to be at odds with one another. After all, Saturn likes order. Uranus likes to create chaos. Surely these two planets could never see eye-to-eye!
Perhaps Saturn and Uranus need each other. Saturn makes the rules, Uranus learns the rules so it can break them. When Uranus breaks the mold, Saturn examines the pieces for what is worth saving and integrating into a new order.
In Aquarius, Saturn and Uranus have an opportunity to come together and find resolution. Some keywords associated with Aquarius are originality, individualism, humanitarianism, and truth-telling. Balance, from an Aquarian perspective, means integrating past and future, conservatism and progress, and the greater good of the collective and honoring the needs and desires of the individual.
Goddess Guidance: Hekate.
Our work during Aquarius Season is to find balance as we integrate the Saturnian and Uranian aspects of ourselves. This journey requires Saturn’s maturity and integrity with Uranus’ deep self-knowledge. Hekate is the third figure in the ancient Greek’s understanding of the Triune Goddess as expressed as Maiden, Mother, Crone.
In our culture, most people are more comfortable with the Maiden and Mother archetypes. The Crone challenges us. She may even make us a bit uncomfortable. The Maiden is beautiful, youthful, and innocent. She is an eager student ready to be taught (or manipulated). The Mother is in her prime. She expresses herself through all she creates and loves unceasingly (at times even at her own expense).
The Crone has spent her lifetime cultivating a deep understanding of who she is and what she is here to do. Her experience has made her wise. No time for nonsense, the Crone challenges us to optimize Saturn and Uranus energy in ourselves by becoming good grown-ups.
Aquarius Season Questions for Reflection…
What does it mean to be a good grown-up? That is a question we must each ask and answer for ourselves. However, here are a few ideas worth considering:
· Know thyself. What does it mean for you to live in integrity? Deeply reflect on what you will and won’t stand for in your personal life and our collective experience.
· What did it mean to be a good grown-up in the past? What about that model needs to change? What is worth integrating into our world today?
· What are your limitations? Are they self, culturally, or societally imposed, or a combination? What would happen if you stretched beyond your limitations?
· Where do you set your boundaries and how do you honor the boundaries you’ve set?
Photo credit: "Hekate" by Shellie Crow.