To understand Aquarius properly, we can hardly do better than combine the other three cherubic signs. Aquarius possesses all their powers and qualities in some measure, but never to excess. He has the kindness of Taurus without its characteristic blind devotion, the courage of Leo without its combative and provocative qualities, and the scientific spirit of Scorpio without its passionate intensity. In essence, Aquarius is versatile. One cannot point to any particular flaw in his character, yet neither can one say that he excels in any single quality, except that he is equipped on every front.
This completeness of mind must be carefully distinguished from the superficial breadth of the mutable air sign Gemini, for the Aquarian mind is not so detached from heaven and earth as the Geminian. Aquarius feels at home on every plane and never separates one from another. This is also a weakness, however, for it makes him unable to specialise. He rarely becomes an expert in pure mathematics, since the dryness of the subject repels his humanity. Scorpio makes a much better surgeon, because Aquarius finds it difficult to regard an operation as mere “cutting and stitching”; he is always conscious that there is a human being on the table. We often find him distinguished as a physician, where he can combine the patience of Taurus, the courage of Leo and the insight of Scorpio.
Aquarius is often described as a revolutionary type, yet he always tries to make progress without disturbing existing conditions, revealing a distinctly Saturnian streak that remains dominant. He has a sound grasp of reality and does not shut his eyes to the facts, but his tendency is to transform what already exists through the application of wisdom, rather than to challenge the established order and create something new. There is nothing fanatical about this type. His tolerance is broad and deep. Aquarius never loses his balance. More extreme types, such as Scorpio, are irritated by the calmness and moderation of his approach. Aquarius is too practical to be a visionary. There is nothing people hate more than good advice. The natural human impulse is always to rush into action, to go to extremes. Indeed, only sensitive people, those with something Aquarian in their nature, have an instinctive appreciation of the quiet virtues of common sense.
People who do not understand Aquarians often describe them as ineffectual or lacking in concentration. Nothing could be further from the truth. This illusion arises because the native’s conclusions rest on such broad foundations. He leaves nothing out, and the superficial observer assumes that he has done nothing at all.
The weakness of the Aquarian temperament nevertheless lies in the difficulty it has in dealing with emergencies. There are situations in life when even the most violent action is necessary. The natural inclination of a man with a stomach ache is to resort to some drastic remedy that will make him feel worse. Were Aquarius to advise him, he would tell him to leave it alone: simply to watch his diet, rest and give it a little time. Even if the person had appendicitis, this course would serve him as well as any other; yet there are circumstances in which someone with that condition may die unless operated on within the next few hours, and it is doubtful whether Aquarius would ever offer such drastic advice. Much the same applies to almost every problem in life.
In less developed types, this weakness is a serious matter. Uneducated or barely literate people, with no knowledge of history or personal experience to draw upon, are almost helpless in emergencies, even when these involve domestic trivialities. As a rule, the Aquarian mind is not quick to act, and this may foster a tendency to retreat. The native is perfectly active and competent when he has the situation under control, but there is no doubt that unfamiliar circumstances can leave him bewildered.
This certainly does not mean that he opposes new ideas. On the contrary, he welcomes them, but does not embrace them as wholeheartedly as an enthusiast would. Ordinary people cannot appreciate anyone who fails to react immediately to an impression, without a moment’s thought. At the same time, it must be admitted that in many cases hasty, even foolish action may be better than wise deliberation. This is not the fault of wisdom, but of folly. We live in a world in which we must answer a fool according to his folly. The habit of reflection, good in itself, can easily become a habit of evading obligations or situations, which is wrong. Even when it does not, deliberation may look like procrastination, or even cowardice.
The breadth and balance of Aquarius, which distance him from other people’s petty concerns, bring him into close contact with the highest ideals of humanity. He is far more interested in a remedy for consumption than a remedy for the consumer, in alleviating economic hardship than in addressing an individual’s financial troubles. He is habitually kind, without question, but the general welfare is so firmly fixed in his mind that he finds it difficult to regard any individual case as anything more than another case. At times, an exaggeration or distortion of this quality can lead to moral catastrophes, as with Robespierre, whose Aquarius Ascendant was corrupted by Saturn in Pisces, square Mercury.
There is nevertheless an undeniable coolness about this type. The native seems to say to himself, “Most human troubles arise from selfishness and an exaggerated sense of the importance of one’s own feelings.” This is true enough, but humanity as a whole does not acknowledge it, nor will it for a long time to come. Aquarius instinctively recognises that humanity has not advanced to his level, yet he speaks and acts as though he were on the same footing as everyone else. Occasionally, this can lead to an error of judgement, for Aquarius is too optimistic for the average mind. It would not matter if this optimism sprang from enthusiasm, since people love fireworks. Yet it often happens that, in trying to show the greatest possible understanding towards someone in distress, the native is taken to be offering only superficial generalities—in short, to be speaking without heart. The truth is quite the reverse. Not only is his heart too large to confine itself to a single, trivial instance, but Aquarius also understands the deeper significance of sorrow and misfortune. He knows that the soul is often perfected through suffering, and hesitates to interfere where destiny is concerned.
In handling money, Aquarius is generally trustworthy. He regards it merely as a means to an end, valuing it chiefly for its usefulness in facilitating transactions that contribute to the welfare of the human race. He neither squanders nor hoards it, but is willing to spend when he believes he can accomplish something genuinely worthwhile. When he seems excessively cautious, it is because he wishes to preserve his ability to use it wisely.
On the whole, this sign fares well in domestic life. The devotion of Taurus is sometimes unwise and excessive. Aquarius develops an appropriate degree of independence. He respects himself and others, and expects the same in return. This is a far better foundation for home life than sentimentality. The native is neither particularly eager to leave home nor especially attached to it. He develops his independence quite early, but always tries to maintain the friendliest relations with his family.
The universality of this sign’s spiritual qualities makes it difficult for him to fall in love. He struggles to concentrate the meaning he finds in humanity upon a single individual: he is too advanced, too sensitive. Romanticism strikes him as rather absurd and unworthy of a more developed soul. He is far more inclined to fall in love with a school, an art, a hospital or a science than with another person. This is not to say that he is unresponsive to love in the ordinary sense, but we must note that his attitude in this matter depends greatly on the placement of Venus—much more so than with the other signs. He is likely to feel an equally strong attraction towards both sexes. When he loves, his generally friendly nature leads him to do everything he can to accommodate the other person’s feelings, and his efforts in this respect are far more sincere and satisfying than the somewhat similar quality found in Sagittarius.
Aquarius makes an excellent parent, although this sign is not particularly fertile. There is nevertheless no one better with children. His influence is gentle and reasonable, encouraging independence of thought and action while correcting mistakes with a kindly reasonableness and just the right degree of firmness.
The greatest strength of Aquarius lies in his friendly nature. He is much better suited to friendship than to marriage or love, for there is no limit to the number of things to which he can devote himself. Aquarius never forgets that friendship is not merely about enjoying time together. He understands its importance as a means of exchanging ideas, and never loses sight of its true purpose: to ease the passage through life by caring for others and being able to help those in need.
As a partner in marriage or business, Aquarius is everything one could wish for. He never creates trouble, and his reason and practical wisdom help him avoid it. The only difficulty may arise from his powerful intellect, which a partner can find hard to keep up with.
The native also shows an exceptional capacity for work, carrying it out intelligently and with a measured enthusiasm, though “making money” in itself holds little attraction for him. He always seems to rise above materialism. The more closely the nature of his work accords with his own, the greater his success will be. Nothing inspires him more than something of genuine value to humanity.
The subconscious mind works in harmony with the conscious, so that insights from the inner self may be said to be far more accessible to this native than to those of other signs. In religion, Aquarius is tolerant and sensitive, by no means indifferent, but inclined to free religion from its great impediments: atavism, superstition and fanaticism. A fanatical Christian or Islamist would call him a heretic, an infidel, an atheist, or any other name that came to mind, but Aquarius would only feel pity for such narrow-minded outbursts from his attacker.