Aquarius
Sign of the Month: Scorpio
by Maya del Mar

Aquarius is a sign of "light workers," quite literally in the case of Thomas Edison. Now, during this time of Aquarius, we all become light workers. It is time.

There is a need for light, not only in California but throughout the nation and world, and we have much to do.

In Aquarius time we each open to our own light and let it shine for all. We learn that when we put light on any situation, we get light back. Emily and I experienced that with our inauguration ritual, just as the Sun entered Aquarius. We called in the help of the elements to bring in light, and after the ceremony we felt contented and healed. Our fear and misgivings were dissipated.

In Capricorn we built the life forms to contain spirit. Now, in Aquarius, we can let that light of spirit shine through everything we do. Like electricity, the cosmos flashes through us, and we become conductors of divine messages, each in our unique way.

As Aquarius enters, we feel the stirrings of individuality. Those stirrings can be symbolized by the groundhog, who emerges from his winter hibernation on Feb. 2 to check on his shadow. How do we cope with these new impulses for autonomy? Do we become aware that we cast our shadow wherever we go, and awaken to the world? Or do we remain oblivious of our impact and return to sleep?

Aquarius calls on us to awaken—to become conscious of our world, responsive to the needs of others, and open to our own self-expression. As we become more sensitive to those forces around us, our responsibilities increase. Our ideals of brotherhood and sisterhood are stimulated, and we desire to make the world a better place.

As a fixed sign, Aquarius demands commitment—commitment to our nobler aspirations, our higher selves, to that great light which radiates from the heart of each of us.

"Expressed poetically, the time of Aquarius might be called the month of the "flowering of consciousness," as though the service we perform now is like a rose blooming in midwinter, when no one expects it."

—Leichtman and Japiske

(In fact, in northern California our flowers DO begin to bloom during Aquarius time! The first delicate white toothworts appear in the woods at the end of January, and the bold yellow acacia blooms suddenly startle us in the first days of February. Pink buds enliven the leafless branches of flowering plums, and elegant while magnolias, like big tulips, spring like magic from leafless trees.)

Aquarius is an air sign, and it is important now to return to the greater grounding of the other fixed signs to help us to manifest Aquarius’ new consciousness. Scorpio gives us insight into our motivations and a grounding in our unconscious drives. Leo allows the flowering of creative self-expression, and Taurus, with its ear to the earth insists that we remain connected to reality. Aquarius can give objectivity and social relevance to all of these impulses.

Aquarius is the sign of freedom, because it is in Aquarius that spirit is freed. We have the opportunity to drop willfulness, fear and pettiness as we give ourselves up to the workings of spirit and allow wisdom to penetrate.

With this direct link to spiritual truth we can accomplish much during Aquarius time. We are wide open to inventions, new ideas, better ways to do things. Our convictions are strengthened, and if we can create an agenda through which to express them and use our group connections to mobilize force behind them, the sky’s the limit. Franklin Roosevelt is an example of an Aquarian who did just that.

The expression of goodwill and higher truth encouraged during the sun’s passage through Aquarius of course meets resistance—within ourselves, within groups, within nations. Conflict, inner and outer, is likely during Aquarius time. These conflicts are opportunities for increasing our understanding of the patterns of life, and for developing compassion for all of life.

Independence is a hallmark of Aquarius, as we struggle to become true to the spirit within us. Examples of independent people born during the Aquarius time are Colette, Gertrude Stein, Yoko Ono, and Abraham Lincoln.

Aquarius, as it emanates the light of the Spirit, has Star quality, Examples are Clark Gable, Paul Newman, Leontyne Price, and Ronald Reagan. We each have our personal star within us, and during Aquarius time we can let it shine.

Aquarius is the sign of friendship, and it was Aquarian songwriter Carole King who wrote:

Winter, spring, summer, or fall
All you have to do is call
And I’ll be there,
You’ve got a friend.

Perhaps most importantly, we can learn to treat one another, and ourselves, as friends.
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