SPIRITUAL GROWTH OF AQUARIUS
"The wisest and best of men is he who has gathered and learned to manifest within himself the lessons found in all signs."
Swami Kriyananda
Aquarians feel a deep desire to connect with expansive realities and universal law. They possess an inner drive that can lead them to tune into these realities, discovering their fundamental accuracy.
Closely related to this aspiration are the qualities of Uranus, the planet that modern astrologers associate with the sign, imbuing it with initiative and originality. Uranus is the planet of intelligence, originality, expansion, exploration, and imagination. However, Aquarius is traditionally also ruled by the stern Saturn, Lord of Karma, symbolizing authority, sacrifice, respect for laws and institutions (only as long as they serve personal goals), and, positively, Dharma—the subtle, eternal, and universal law and the spiritual duty of humanity to attune to this law.
Indeed, Aquarius's gift is to inspire the understanding that humanity's highest duty is to serve as a vessel for higher truths, harmonizing everything with universal law. The symbol of Aquarius is a water bearer—an individual pouring water. The reason for using water as a representation of an air sign is that, in ancient times, water symbolized life and spiritual baptism. Thus, Aquarius is a bearer of a blessing, which can only be the divine Law, Dharma. In another interpretation, not excluding the first, Aquarius releases water—earthly passions—to ascend to the heavens (referring to Ganymede, linked to the Aquarius constellation in Greek mythology, symbolizing pure, elevated love among men according to the ancient Greeks).
For all air signs, including Aquarius, balance is crucial for their spiritual growth. Balancing earthly and spiritual life is fundamental for Aquarians, who may find a natural path to this equilibrium in detachment from the present and disinterest in worldly matters. The dual nature of the two dominant planets can be a gift or a curse, making it challenging to achieve the desired balance: Aquarians may be very sociable (Uranus) while internally solitary (Saturn), determined and consistent yet visionary and innovative. They are individualists, perhaps more than any other zodiac sign, as they detest wasting time on their journey toward their goal (Saturn is also the Lord of Time) but are inclined to spend time understanding the world and seeking to improve things for everyone.
A perfect balance between Saturn's contraction and the inner drive toward the infinite, although challenging to attain, along with the wisdom that accompanies the sign, could place Aquarians among the greatest figures in humanity. However, it will always be difficult for them to be fully understood by those around them and to meet the high expectations others place on them. Aquarius deeply believes in friendship as an ideal, but for those who are friends with an Aquarius, it's challenging to understand and accept that they are friends because they believe in friendship, not because they believe in them. Aquarius's sociability arises more from the conviction that it is right to be sociable than from a desire for intimate connection with others. Thus, Aquarius tends to feel internally quite alone in the world.
What truly guides Aquarius is duty, and they seek to exercise authority over others by imposing their vision of Dharma.
However, the significant risk for this sign is that its field of vision may sometimes narrow, embracing only a limited part of the entire Universe. Since tact is a virtue Aquarius rarely possesses, the result of their efforts to harmonize people with their ideals may sometimes be intrusive interference in others' affairs, with a view that may not extend beyond better organization of a condominium. There is an unpleasant tendency to talk only and always about this, annoying anyone they encounter. An imbalance between inner vision and external action can lead to real contradictions. Internally, Aquarius may feel full of universal love and faith in divine law, but externally, this can translate into perpetual concern and the perception of people only as threats to that ideal, suspecting even the best friends of infidelity. The aphorism "I love humanity; it's people I can't stand" perfectly expresses the abyss into which Aquarius might fall. They may find themselves paralyzed and lethargic, closing in on themselves, condemning their own idealism as negative, losing any sense of personal mission in life, and becoming a lost soul.
On the opposite side, Aquarius's elevation to a higher level can express their inner grace in the purest manifestations of humanitarian love. Few Aquarians succumb to pettiness because it arises from the sense of ego limitation—the essence of every human illusion. With their consciously broad view of life, Aquarius can inspire and lead the redemption from the suffocating limitation of selfish interest, elevating those around them and guiding them toward liberation from their own ego. An authentically Aquarian Sanskrit proverb in spirit is:
“Vato dharma, tato jaya”
where there is Dharma, there is victory.
The true key to happiness and elevation for Aquarius lies in becoming truly impersonal, applying detachment and abstraction to themselves, observing themselves in the same impersonal light in which they see the rest of the world.
There is another duality in Aquarius's nature: they can be impartial with everyone yet deeply hurt by any unintentional or imaginary affront they receive. They can tell others exactly how to live their lives but not apply their own good advice to themselves. "Do as I say, not as I do" is a motto that needs work.
If Aquarius can abandon even their OWN ego in the Infinite reality and open up to becoming a pure instrument of divine grace, the Law will work perfectly through them, elevating themselves and others without even a conscious effort on their part.
MEDITATION FOR AQUARIUS
Aquarius stones are typically clear, associated with the spiritual elevation of the higher chakras. They generally support Aquarians in organizing their naturally disorganized and chaotic thoughts, allowing them to focus on their projects.
These stones facilitate healing from stress and trauma, enhance communication, dissolve conflicts, and promote brotherhood. In general, they possess a powerful calming and rebalancing energy that aids Aquarians in their mission.
A mala made of aquamarine, rose quartz, or rhodonite can provide excellent support for Aquarius meditation.
Sit quietly in meditation and visualize yourself surrounded by infinite space. Mentally contemplate millions of kilometers to your left, right, front, back, above, and below.
Float lightly in this infinite empty space, freer than birds. Let yourself be carried away, expanding your gaze as far as it goes, let it go.
Then, slowly, bring your mind back to yourself and your center. Turn your gaze to the depths of your being and perceive the infinite space within you: in Japan, the infinite center of our energy is called Tanden, in China, Tandien. It is located three centimeters below the navel and three centimeters inward. Place your hands on it and listen to its silence, try to perceive its infinite depth.
In the Chandogya Upanishad, the sage Udyalak asks his son to cut a seed from a banyan tree fruit in half.
"Have you seen anything inside it?"
The son replies, "I don't see anything."
The sage observes: "What you call nothing is actually the source of everything." From this shunya, a huge banyan tree is born.
From shunya, from absolute zero, from non-existence, the entire Universe arises.
From this empty center of yours, now expand in all directions and towards infinity, a sense of universal love and joy that envelops all beings and floods them with your love and joy.
This, and only this, is the Law, the Supreme Reality.
"I have made my heart a wilderness so that the wildflowers of Your love can bloom there."
Paramhansa Yogananda
AQUARIUS BIRTHDAY RITUAL
On the day of your birthday, sit in silence holding your aquamarine, rose quartz, or rhodonite mala in your hand. Bringing your attention deep within yourself, listen to the infinite silence residing within your soul.
Now, gently blow on your mala to cleanse and purify it; place your mala above your head, envisioning a pyramid of light forming from the crystals above and below your feet. Feel the energy flowing down into the pyramid to create a protective cloak around your entire body, dissolving your concerns and granting you a calm center. Its potent energy ignites your creativity and manifestation power.
Now, imagine everything you desire for yourself flowing into the next year of your life.
When you're ready, bring your attention back to the room and place your mala where you can see it often.
SANKALPA FOR AQUARIUS
The biggest flaw of Aquarians is the tendency to think that everyone around them should adhere to their truth without question. Objectifying their values and ideals leaves no room for others' perspectives, alternative reasoning, and may lead to rejecting any opinion differing from their own, risking becoming wholly unreasonable and senselessly dogmatic. As part of their personal growth journey, Aquarius must understand that even absolute truths can be legitimately applied in different ways.
Wearing clear quartz around the neck or, better yet, on the wrist to keep it always close can stimulate impartiality, an open mind toward others, and an understanding of the various facets of reality.
Since a Sankalpa must always be in the positive, Aquarians can adopt these intentions:
"I open myself to others' perspectives."
"I listen attentively and openly."
"I understand and respect the different values of those around me."
"The universal Law operates differently in each person."
"My truth is broad."
"The universal Law acts through me."
"I see the presence of the Divine in all human beings, in all things."
"I see the Universal Reality pervading all things and am aware of it."