VelaraAir · Fixed · Ruled by Saturn
Aquarius
Aquarius thinks ahead of its time. Despite its name and its water glyph, it is an air sign — the sign of ideas, friendship and the future.
- Dates
- January 20 – February 18
- Symbol
- The Water-Bearer
- Element
- Air
- Modality
- Fixed
- Ruling planet
- Saturn (modern: Uranus)
- Exaltation
- None (traditional)
- Opposite sign
- Leo
- Body (classical)
- Shins and ankles
Personality
The Aquarius nature
Aquarius is fixed air: ideas held with conviction. Traditionally ruled by Saturn and, in modern astrology, by Uranus, it is associated with originality, independence and caring about people as a whole. It values friendship and freedom in equal measure. It can seem detached up close, and once it has decided something is right, it rarely changes its mind.
Growth edge: Letting feelings count as information.
Born on the cusp?
The dates move. Your chart doesn't.
The Sun is in exactly one sign at any moment, but the switch-over shifts by up to a day from year to year. If you were born near January 20 or February 18, only your exact birth time can say which side of the line you're on.
Aquarius shares its element with Gemini and Libra. Its opposite sign is Leo.
Sun-sign traits describe a twelfth of the world. Your Moon, Rising and planets make them yours.
The Big Three
There's more to you than Aquarius.
Your Sun sign comes from your birthday. Your Moon and Rising signs need the full date, time and place — and they change far faster.
Sun — your core self and identity. Changes sign about once a month.
Moon — your emotions and inner needs. Changes sign about every 2.3 days.
Rising — how you meet the world. Changes about every two hours on average.
The myth
The story of the water-bearer
The Water-Bearer is usually Ganymede, a Trojan prince carried off by Zeus's eagle to be cupbearer of the gods. The eagle became the constellation Aquila, and his cup became Crater.
The Babylonians saw “the Great One” here — the god Ea himself, pouring water from an overflowing vase.
The ♒︎ glyph is two ripples of water.
In the night sky
Aquarius among the stars
Its brightest star, Sadalsuud, is a rare yellow supergiant. Its Arabic name means “luck of lucks.”
Every May, the Eta Aquariid meteor shower appears to radiate from Aquarius — it's made of debris left behind by Halley's Comet.
FAQ
Aquarius, quickly
What are the Aquarius dates?
Aquarius season runs from about January 20 to February 18. The exact moment the Sun changes sign shifts by up to a day from year to year, so if you were born near either date, your birth chart settles it.
What element is Aquarius?
Aquarius is a fixed air sign. It shares its element with Gemini and Libra.
What planet rules Aquarius?
Aquarius is ruled by Saturn; modern astrologers also assign Uranus.
Sources
- Theoi Project — the myth of Aquarius
- Constellation Guide — Aquarius
- Wikipedia — Aquarius (constellation)
- Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos I (rulerships, exaltations) — LacusCurtius
- Wikipedia — Astrological sign
- Wikipedia — Astrological symbols
- Wikipedia — Zodiac Man (classical body associations)
Dates are given in UTC unless noted; local dates can differ by a day. Last checked 4 October 2026.
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