Thoughts on Aquarius
(an extract fromTeach Yourself Meditation revised redited and expanded as Beat Stress with Meditation published November2009 by Hodder and Stoughton)
The symbolism of Aquarius has much to show us. The astrological sign for Aquarius is drawn as two zig-zag lines, one above the other. It is the eleventh sign of the zodiac and one of the Air signs. The constellation of Aquarius is depicted as a kneeling figure carrying an urn upon one shoulder. These symbols are ancient, but as pertinent as ever. Symbolic language is never silent, only forgotten when the rational mind becomes too strident. Symbolic language simply speaks for itself. The astrological sign for Aquarius, the two zig-zag lines one above the other, is reminiscent both of water and of electrical power, which alerts us to the technological and rejuvenating potency of Aquarius.The two lines mirror one another: ‘As Above, so Below,’ says the ancient Hermetic axiom.
This ancient clarion still powerfully cries out for a holistic approach to life. It is a call being answered in so many ways. As the seasonal markers of solstice and equinox are increasingly celebrated, the connections between the great above and the great below are reforged, for it is the heavens that set the calendar of our lives. When we remember the one, we acknowledge the other.
In our times the phrase, ‘As Above, so Below’ may carry a new and quite literal meaning. The damage we have wrought to the ozone layer is reflected here on earth. Ecological awareness has never been sharper or more needed. Rediscovering Gaia is a vital thread in the great seamless garment of the Aquarian current. Casting our full attention to the earth at our feet is an excellent starting place for the spiritual journey. The earth is our shared home; we have no other. Casting our full attention to the heavens is also a jumping off point for the birth of spiritual awareness.
Contemplating the vastness and infinite majesty of space brings an awesome reverence for the fullness and complexity of the greater world in which we travel. As a sign composed of two parts, Aquarius speaks of both duality and unity. A secular outer life and a sacred inner life combine to build a rich and meaningful integrated whole life. There is no longer any need to choose between either a secular or a sacred path. Both can now interweave and overlap as part of the one life. Integration is the way forward. Holism is the new philosophy that speaks of both unity and diversity, not separation and boundaries.
The constellation of Aquarius is symbolized as a human figure carrying water. This image encompasses all that it means to be human. Nakedness strips away all pretension and posturing, all are equal, simply human. As the ruler of the eleventh house of the zodiac, Aquarius brings group activity, shared goals and the essential human endeavours that bring a transpersonal identity and expand our sense of belonging.
The Waters of Aquarius
Aquarian consciousness will lead to a fully integrated sense of humanity as family. This concept is still in its infancy. The naked figure kneels with an urn perched on one shoulder, its contents spill out in a continuous stream from the Above to the Below. What are these waters? The revitalizing waters of life, the renewing currents of a fresh source, the purifying waters of mass baptism, thirst-quenching water for that which is parched, life-giving water for that which is dormant. Cast your mind around. Where do you recognize the rejuvenating effects of a new wave? Perhaps in medicine, areas of health and well-being, perhaps in the appearance of new values in education or business, perhaps in matters of equality in racial and gender issues, perhaps in the appearance of the women’s movement, perhaps in the appearance of the men’s movement, perhaps in the appearance of New Age networks of holistic counsellors, therapists and spiritual practitioners of every variety and tradition.
If you are able to cast your mind back to the very different social and cultural atmosphere of recent decades you will find just how much has been swept away by these incoming waters. Although Aquarius is rich in water symbolism it is one of the Air signs. Air is invisible but everywhere, essential to life and shared by all; it cannot be owned but it can be focused and applied. The element of Air represents the quality of Mind. We are immersed in a revolution of ideas. New influences will be registered mentally as ideas and inspirations. The idea whose time has come has the potential to revolutionize the world as the vision is translated into actuality. The sign of Aquarius is ruled by both Saturn and Uranus, a difficult partnership of total opposites. Saturn imposes limitation, Uranus seeks freedom. Saturn seeks structure, Uranus destroys structure. Saturn establishes boundaries in form, Uranus establishes communication without form. This powerful marriage of opposites is being played out wherever the traditional meets the new, the conservative encounters the radical, and the hierarchy faces the chaotic. Saturnian characteristics, including resistance to change, adherence to old values and norms, security of the known, an unwillingness to move on and fear of the new, can only be dissolved from within.
These places of refuge offer the collective bolt hole when the new becomes too rapid or too dramatic, but even these security blankets will fall for the new always supersedes the old. Uranian characteristics have immense potency too. This is the power for forward motion, for invention and discovery, for challenge and radical solution. It is a sign of revolution, not evolution, of upheaval and sudden change, of dramatic shift and revelation. It does not bring comfort or ease, but the spirit of adventure, challenge and excitement. As the higher octave of Mercury representing the rational mind, Uranus represents the largely unexplored potencies of the higher non-rational mind. We have not experienced the impact of either transpersonal mind or radical creativity in society at large, except perhaps through handfuls of artistic genius or spiritual visionaries, but Uranus will bring us the inspired, the wildly exuberant and the magnificent on a grand scale. Uranian energies have already made themselves known through the revolution that we all love, namely the technological revolution. When the technical and the mentally intuitive aspects of Uranus meet, we might expect devices that measure thought patterns and undiscovered brain activity or devices that are controlled and operated by focused thought! Training the mind may become a new discipline and if so, it will incorporate many of the psycho-spiritual techniques developed by the meditative traditions, for this is how the mind is trained and transformed. Here, then, are the Aquarian seeds: the quest for holism, the ecological imperative, the humanitarian impulse, the marriage of secular and sacred, the awakening of the higher mind, mass initiation and grassroots spirituality. You can assist the Aquarian lotus to flower by planting the seed deep in the infinite space of the heart, where it will be nurtured in the mysterious and wonderful setting of your own journey towards wisdom.
The Blessings of Aquarius
