Aquarius

January 20 – February 17

Your foundations are about to explode and expand. This is good news for those of you who have been planning this for a while; it could be a rude surprise to those who will be caught unawares. It is probably good news for those Aquarians born between January 20 and February 1, for you have already experienced Saturn conjoining the birth position of your Sun, an influence that squeezes you into a more responsible attitude. This aspect tends to limit your options until you give in and switch to more adult behavior, in order to move the scales in your favor. 

For those born between February 2 and February 18, some have been oblivious to Saturn’s stern, disapproving gaze, while others are vaguely aware that maybe it’s they themselves who must have a change of attitude, not the authority who is represented by Saturn. If you fall into this latter camp, this Venus retrograde period constitutes a wake-up call. You won’t like the manipulative machinations of others that you experience at this time, but then it dawns on you that you walked right into this by naively assuming that everyone would acknowledge your genius and the Red Sea would part for you. 

The worst you could do is pull some backstage punches against your so-called adversary. No, no, no: that which is restricting you is more powerful than you, and you must work from that realization. The only way to deal with this is to get real, get out of victim mode (which, fortunately, is not really Aquarian style in the first place), and deal with this “adversary” directly, which is to say, by being the more mature and responsible adult in the room. Pluto in Capricorn is in your sector of unconscious tendencies, generating its power there, and as it is conjoined with Venus, they are a potent power source upon which you can draw to make some big things happen in your life – BUT – you have to pass scrutiny by Saturn first. 

So adult up, OK? It’s not as boring as it seems. Yea, this astrologer knows that Aquarians give no credence to hierarchies of authority, but they are a reality when you’re incarnated in a physical body that needs food and shelter – what a drag! Is there some way to change this? If there is, only an Aquarian could invent it!

Those born between January 20 and February 1 are lucky, in a way, for they’ve already gotten wise to Saturn’s part in this and have accepted it. In other words, they are living up to the saying “Creativity is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.” They have already been working hard, with focus, and now their goals are within reach. 

This explosion and expansion theme applies to your home and family, but even more so to your subconscious underpinnings. Deep, transformative change is brewing throughout this Venus retrograde period. You are ready to take on more responsibility in order to have more control over your basic security. This is true independence, and Uranus in Taurus, in your sector of foundations and security, is determined that you will obtain full independence. You just have to control your stubbornness and cooperate with Saturn for a while.

And as Jupiter will move into Pisces, the sign of your sector of income and finances, where it joins dreamy Neptune, you might be willing to put a lot of money on the line to achieve this. For a number of Aquarians, this means the purchase of a home or a business, or a significant revamping of an existing business or form of self-employment. Regardless of which it is, your career and status are involved in a big way. Not only are you ready to take on more responsibility in terms of assets, you are willing to accept the added responsibility that comes with a higher position with more authority.

Near December 27, 2021, you may face a decision about spending money. Jupiter squares the Moon’s Nodes, and the North Node and Ceres are in your sector of security, foundations, home, and family. You feel squeezed by the dilemma of doing your own thing and conforming to restrictions in order to have what you want. Just don’t succumb to magical thinking about your financial position (as Mars makes a rough angle with Neptune). It’s possible one or two of you could win the lottery, but not all of you. Frankly, as Venus is retrograde, it is NOT a time to lay out money on a big purchase, or negotiate a raise, or your compensation for a new position. Do what you can to postpone such actions until after Venus goes direct and is moving forward again, in February. 

Aquarians with committed partners will find this Venus retrograde fraught with miscommunications. Or, more likely, you elicit sharp words from your partner that you find hurtful, due to Mercury’s square to Chiron and Mars trine to Chiron in mid-December 2021. This could apply to your boss, too. Their remarks seem to be aimed at undermining your self-confidence; they may even make sarcastic, critical remarks to you in front of others. You can’t understand why they suddenly feel the way they do towards you. 

Your partner is in a mood to pick a fight with you. It’s not that they now see you as inferior, it’s that they now are fearful of what you’re becoming, and they want to put you back in your box. In short, they are jealous of you – not that you are interested in someone else, but that your foresight and hard work that are now bringing you rewards. You are upsetting the balance of power in the relationship – how dare you! This applies especially to business or career partnerships.

Your partner wants to make sure that you don’t go anywhere, as they realize that you are on the verge of being seen as sexy for your accomplishments. If they are emotionally invested in the idea that they are more poised, well-known and/or better looking than you, their nerdy Aquarian partner, they will be thrown out of whack by your evolving self. They are only half conscious of their true motivations. Yes, it feels as they are putting you down, because they are. Their words cut like a knife. They want to “keep you in your place,” having to endure them. 

This is particularly intense between December 26 and January 1 – the holiday season, of goodwill towards men! You will have to be the one pouring out the goodwill from your urn, dear Aquarius. Just think of the Tarot card associated with your sign, which is The Star, and emulate that beautiful woman pouring out loving waters from the two urns she holds – one for them, and one for you. Take the high road and maintain your friendly, detached demeanor which Aquarians are famous for, and which drives more emotional types to foam at the mouth with rage because they can’t conceive how you eluded falling into their trap. Rack up those good karma points!

It’s OK if you want to spend some time alone over the holidays. It’s not like you’re a masochist who enjoys their sarcastic, snarky remarks. You don’t have to continually suck it up and take this treatment (aka abuse). 

If your partner is a Scorpio, be especially protective of your space. Let them sulk over it – but don’t make the mistake of telling them they look so cute when they’re pouting. No Scorpio likes to be called “cute,” especially when they’re pouting. This will throw them into a rage. It will take more than celestial waters to put out that fire.

For those Aquarians who’ve used the past year to pour their efforts into creative or money-making endeavors, Venus’s return to direct motion on January 29, 2022 will bring a major achievement, with resulting opportunities being presented to them over the course of the following months. Venus goes direct at 11° Capricorn, and is trine Uranus 11° Taurus. The Sun at 11° Aquarius is square Uranus on the same day. The achievement is reached at this time, but the rewards are still forming, as Venus is in your twelfth house of the hidden and unformed. If you are involved in occult matters in any way, this could be a breakthrough period for you.

And if you haven’t been pushing yourself to achieve your Magnum Opus? Then get a move on, Aquarius!