Today the Sun begins its journey through Aquarius, the sign of the zodiac assigned to The Star of the tarot. The sign Aquarius has both a traditional ruler, Saturn and a modern ruler, Uranus. The sun in the expansive Air sign of Aquarius brings innovative ideas that can inspire and uplift your life. As you stretch your point of view to this vast outlook, you can gain new ideas and insights to stimulate your life plan. If you were working with the timings during the Sun in Capricorn, you most likely created your solid plan for the year ahead. It is time to allow Aquarius to work its magic. The Sun in Aquarius will give you a big overview of your life and help you put more goals and dreams in writing. Aquarius encourages you to not only think outside the box, but to let go of the box completely and reach for the stars. Aquarius is often misunderstood for being aloof or detached, but it's more likely that they are distracted by their own thinking. This sign is considered the humanitarian of the zodiac, representing community and mankind. To paraphrase Spock of Star Trek fame, Aquarius is usually more concerned with the “good of all than the good of one”.
The ancient symbol for Aquarius was the image of a man, Ouranos pouring overturned urns of water from the heavens onto the Earth below. Ouranos was the original sky god who controlled all heavenly phenomena including the air, the winds and the rain-bearing clouds. Despite the connection of Aquarius with rain, ancient Greek astrologers regarded Aquarius as an air sign because of its symbolic connection with the winds as well as its geometric relationship with the other two air signs, Gemini and Libra.
The Sun reached its lowest point at the Winter Solstice on December 21, the start of Capricorn, and from there began its ascent back from the underworld. The re-emergence of the Sun from its dark night of the soul corresponds to the myth of Persephone’s release by Hades from the underworld to rejoin her mother above. Demeter was so delighted to regain her daughter that she put an end to the barrenness of ceaseless winter. The rains of Aquarius, the water bearer, are a gift from the gods that restore life to a dying planet and assure the continuance of the human race. In the ritual of baptism, both Judaism and Christianity adopted the symbolism of Aquarius, whose water brought forth the emergence of new life. The water of baptism frees believers from the darkness of original sin, puts an end to spiritual barrenness and initiates the faithful into a new life of the spirit. The connection between Aquarius, with its life-restoring water, and the tarot’s star trump makes this card one of tremendous optimism and hope for the future.
The Star card shows a naked woman kneeling at the edge of a small pool. The woman holds two containers of water. She pours the water out to nourish the earth and to continue the cycle of fertility, represented by the lush greenery around her. The other container pours the water onto dry land in five rivulets, representing the five senses. The woman has one foot on the ground, representing her practical abilities and good common sense, and the other foot in the water, representing her intuition and inner resources, and listening to her inner voice. Behind her, shines one large star and seven smaller stars, representing the chakras. This represents a need to open your chakras and cleanse your aura. Notice all the stars have eight points. The Star is associated with the number 17, which equals 8 (1+7=8). Eight is Strength, the quality needed to accept your faults and love yourself in spite of them. The bird in the tree in the background is the sacred ibis of thought, roosting in the tree of the mind.
Tarot Meditations while the Sun is in Aquarius
This period of time when the Sun transits through Aquarius is an excellent time to meditate on the tarot’s Star card. Do you need to rededicate yourself to your higher values? Perhaps increase your spiritual cultivation and meditation practices? Are we responding to humanitarian needs or do we only serve that which benefits ourselves?
To prepare for mediation, sit or lie in a comfortable place and allow your body to be free of tension and distractions. Pay attention to your breathing. Feel your breath go in and out as you inhale and exhale. If distracting thoughts enter your mind, simply observe them and allow them to float by as you gently return your attention to your breathing. When you have established a steady, comfortable rhythm of breathing rhythmically in and out, turn your focus to the tarot card. Observe the card and contemplate its images. Let your mind be open to the messages you receive from it. When you have completed your meditation, you may wish to record your observations in a notebook for review later on.