I am the Alchemy of Community
Sláinte, Eau de Vie
Symbol – Water Carrier, Ruler – Uranus/Saturn, Metal – Uranium/Lead, House – 11th, Element – Air, Modality – Fixed, Humor – Sanguine, Body -Lower Legs, Polarity – Leo, Quality – Masculine
The name Aquarius comes from the Latin word for water bearer. The Aquarius glyph ♒️ depicts water flowing in two zigzag lines being blown by air. The Egyptian hieroglyphic for water is two wavy lines.
Aquarius is the eleventh sign of the zodiac: it presides over the eleventh house, the house of friendships, and is the fourth of the fixed signs. Fixed signs can be stubborn and inflexible, but they are reliable and steadfast. Aquarius starts at the end of January just before Imbolc, one of the eight Wiccan sabbats that mark a seasonal turning point. Imbolc celebrates the return of the light and February gives us St Valentine’s Day; thus, hope is restored after the bleak mid-winter. The Star (of hope) in the Tarot is associated with Aquarius.
Aquarius is ruled by the planet Uranus, the god of the sky, known for its uniqueness, quirkiness and rebellious nature. Uranus is associated with the unexpected, the strange and the different. The energy is yang and quintessentially masculine. Aquarius is an air sign which correlates to the sanguine humor, hot and wet.
The philosophy of the Aquarius archetype is essentially utilitarianism. Aquarius is determined to make a powerful difference in the world for the ‘greater good’.
As the humanitarian of the zodiac, Aquarius has a reputation for being cold, aloof, and somewhat detached. It is not interested in petty gossip. Aquarians have more important things to do, like creating utopia. The shadow side being extreme collectivism, groupthink, loss of the individual and dystopia.
Aquarians are clever, analytical, technical, logical, truthful, assertive, confident and visionary. They are activists and campaigners. Aquarius is true to its ideal; it is not motivated by greed or avarice; it is altruistic.
I would assert that there is a Causticum picture, a revolutionary fighting against injustice (Ross Poldark).
Whilst it may have a wide circle of friends and acquaintances, Aquarius cherishes its independence and may be a lone wolf.
Homeopath Luke Norland, associates Uranus with Sankaran’s tubercular miasm, “creative, revolutionary, erratic, sudden changes, idealism.”
Aquarius governs the blood circulation and the spine (alongside Leo). It also rules the calves and the ankles and has governance of the nervous system (alongside Gemini).
Aquarius may suffer from back pain, bad circulation, ankle sprains, muscle spasms and cramps in the legs. They may also be susceptible to hardening of the arteries and hypertension.
The remedy picture of Natrum Muriaticum has a strong correlation to the Aquarian archetype. Nat Mur helps with the electrolyte balance, reducing water retention and ameliorating the circulation, which may be compromised in Aquarius. They are, after all, a fixed sign and may hold onto unpleasant memories, and can be stubborn and inflexible. But their cool detachment does not allow them to weep like Ignatia or Pulsatilla.
In his writings about astrology and the periodic table, Luke Norland maps stages 7 to 12 of the periodic table to the fixed sign. He equates stages 7, 9 and 12 to Aquarius.
“Stage 7 can be mapped to the Sanguine temperament. The theme of Stage 7 is to expand; knowledge, training, skills etc.”
“The Leo – Aquarius opposition fits the themes of Stage 9 and epitomises the uppermost pole of the Mappa Mundi. Radiant leonine energy combines with Aquarian benevolence and innovation.”
Stage 12 – “Astrologically, Aquarius combines here with Scorpio to orchestrate themes of the ruthless revolutionary; vengeful, cold and detached but with penetrating insight.”
By planetary rulership, Uranium and indeed the Uranium series may match traits of the Aquarian archetype.
A theme of this series is that they feel part of the world and responsible for the universe.
“There are no enemies left as they feel one with everything and everyone.”, homeopath Jan Scholten
Aquarius can be a visionary; it is very connected to the collective consciousness and tunes into future knowledge.
“These people are a type of magus. They know how to reach their goals using pure intention. It is the shaman or the profit, who influences the course of history from behind the stage. They are people like Merlin or Rasputin.” – Jan Scholten
Aquarius is co ruled by Saturn (alongside Capricorn). The metal of Saturn is lead.
To paraphrase homeopath Peter Morrell on lead:
Persons with an excess of lead are dark and heavy, rather sombre or gloomy, rather depressed or maybe a control-freak. They like coffee, dark clothes, winter, night-time and gloomy or highly structured music. They tend to be rather conservative and love structure and strict time guidelines. They can be uptight and intolerant especially of interference from others. They fail to see how others can’t also lead a strict and orderly life. They tend to be very serious, to think too much and to dwell in the past. Jobs like architects, bankers, accountants, solicitors. They are interested in politics. The lead type needs to loosen up a bit and develop more spontaneous joy. It is chiefly mellowed and improved through Gold, Copper, Tin or Silver. Close remedies are Calc, Plumbum, Alumina and Lycopodium.
Natrum Muriaticum is the designated tissue salt for Aquarius. Nat Mur is common salt; it balances bodily fluids, reduces water retention, aids digestion and treats eczema.
By Uranus rulership, Aquarius is known for its quirkiness, but also by Saturn rulership, its conservatism with a small c. It can be very weird, but very fixed. Pathology may sometimes be sudden and unusual. There are, as with all the signs of the zodiac, many potentially suitable remedies that match the Aquarian temperament and constitution. Only a full homeopathic case and analysis of the birth chart would reveal the most suitable remedy for the individual.
Written by Galt MacDermot for the 1967 musical Hair.
“Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more falsehoods or derisions
Golden living dreams of visions
Mystic crystal revelation
And the mind’s true liberation
Aquarius! Aquarius!”