{"id":3855,"date":"2016-01-24T11:39:57","date_gmt":"2016-01-24T11:39:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/?p=3855"},"modified":"2016-01-24T11:59:42","modified_gmt":"2016-01-24T11:59:42","slug":"aspects-for-the-week-beginning-24-january-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/?p=3855","title":{"rendered":"Aspects for the week beginning 24 January 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"

Aquarian Animal Totems and Archetypes<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Sun entered Aquarius last Wednesday 20th January 2016 at 15.27 Hrs. in the U.K.\u00a0 This is the ninth in the series where I look at some of the animal totems and Archetypes for the various signs (sad to think the series is almost completed!\u00a0 I have enjoyed writing it, but it will be there for reference). Do you, or someone close to you, have Sun, Ascendant or Moon in Aquarius?<\/p>\n

The traditional symbols for the Air signs are all non-animal (Twins for Gemini, Scales for Libra, and Water Carrier for Aquarius).\u00a0 I am almost tempted to include the Camel for Aquarius as it carries water in its one hump or two.\u00a0 But it doesn’t have an Aquarian feel…<\/p>\n

But, like the other Air signs, there is an emphasis on bird totems, of which I have found many.\u00a0 I have had to limit these to a sample of just a few, but birds are undoubtedly important for Aquarius.<\/p>\n

Giraffe<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Giraffe is the perfect animal for Aquarius.\u00a0 It has the unusualness of Aquarius – it really is like no other animal.\u00a0 It is long-limbed in the Aquarian way.\u00a0 People with Aquarian Ascendants usually have unusually long arms and legs, but not of course the long necks.\u00a0 The neck is ruled by Taurus, but Taureans tend to have thicker necks rather than unusually long necks.<\/p>\n

Ted Andrews has the perfect keyword for Giraffe as Aquarius: Farsightedness.\u00a0 Aquarians are known for future vision and telepathy.<\/p>\n

He writes: “The long neck, in combination with the giraffe’s exceptionally keen eyesight, makes it a powerful totem for farsightedness and for seeing what lies on the horizon for you!”<\/p>\n

He also highlights the sociable side of the Giraffe, which reflects the Aquarian association with friendships and groups:<\/p>\n

“Giraffes like each other’s company…Giraffe people usually have strong family relationships and friendships as well.”<\/p>\n

Aquarius is also associated, through its ruling planet Uranus, with the higher mind and the intuition.\u00a0 In this, Ted Andrews also enlightens us:<\/p>\n

“On the head of the giraffe are horns that are unlike any other animals.\u00a0 These blunt, long stubs are never shed, and they are covered with skin…horns and antlers are symbols of antennae for higher mental faculties and perceptions.\u00a0 With the giraffe, there are actually three horns.\u00a0 The third actually looks more like a lump under the skin, but it is located just above the eyes.\u00a0 This placement is very significant as this is the area of the body associated with the third or inner eye.”<\/p>\n

I have known couples with significant Aquarian placings who took as their joint symbol two giraffes with intertwined necks.<\/p>\n

Hedgehogs and Porcupines<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Hedgehog is shared with the sign of Cancer.\u00a0 Cancerians and Virgoans protect their privacy, but Aquarians are sociable and friendly.\u00a0 However, unless they have a strong Scorpio streak, they don’t like people to get too close as they need plenty of air to breathe.\u00a0 Here, the prickles, quills or spines of the hedgehog and porcupine come in handy!\u00a0 Spiky forms and patterns are Aquarian too, because they symbolize the Aquarian quality of processing electricity and information, and may also symbolize an extra form of sensing.<\/p>\n

The hedgehog and the porcupine are entirely different creatures, although both spiky and punk looking!\u00a0 Drawing again from Ted Andrews, he sees the following qualities for Porcupines:<\/p>\n

“It has a strong sense of curiosity, and seems amazed and filled with wonder at most things it encounters…Porcupines can show you how to resist the barbs of others.\u00a0 They can teach you how to enjoy life and maintain a sense of wonder about it, in spite of negative conditions.”<\/p>\n

Coyote<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Coyote, as the Trickster of North American Indian medicine, correlates with the planet Uranus, ruler of Aquarius, the Spanner in the Works, the element of the unexpected.<\/p>\n

Nicky Scully says of Coyote: “He shows us aspects of ourselves that are often surprising.\u00a0 His numerous feats and outrageous behaviour as creator, teacher, shape-shifter, and prankster are recorded in myths and legends of many tribes and cultures all over the world.” Sound like any Aquarians you know?<\/p>\n

Jamie Sams and David Carson provide the helpful thought: “Contained within trickster medicine is the humour of the ages.\u00a0 The cosmic joke is not just on ourselves but on everyone else.”.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bird Totems<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Hummingbird<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Hummingbirds in the rapid vibration of their wings give that sensation of hovering into another dimension, rather like the Aquarian ability to travel to the future, and communicate telepathically with other dimensions.\u00a0 There is something otherworldly about the Hummingbird.<\/p>\n

According to Sams and Carson “Hummer sings a vibration of pure joy”\u00a0 In my mind, this is the joy of spiritual freedom, another province of Aquarius.<\/p>\n

They continue “…Hummingbird will no doubt give you a flash of ths spirit, darting here, there and everywhere.\u00a0 Get ready for a strange new burst of energy which may send your senses reeling.”<\/p>\n

Aquarius is associated with lightning speed, and Ted Andrews writes: “The hummingbird can reach high speed at its take off.\u00a0 It can also stop immediately in flight from a high speed.\u00a0 It is such a skilful flyer and it is not afraid of any predator.”<\/p>\n

They also share some of the social characteristics of the Aquarian, according to him: “Hummingbirds are fiercely independent.\u00a0 Except when mating, they like to be alone and free, seeming to revel in that freedom.”<\/p>\n

Geese<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Geese are more than most seen as group creatures, think of the gaggle of chattering geese, and the inspiring sight of a formation of snow geese high in the sky.<\/p>\n

Andrea Wansbury sees them as messengers of Truth.\u00a0 If Goose is your totem animal or comes into your orbit, she comments:<\/p>\n

“<\/em><\/strong>Where in your life are you holding onto a perception instead of seeing what is the actual truth?\u00a0 Human beings love jumping to conclusions, looking at something based on assumptions rather than at the real truth of the matter.\u00a0 A goose is asking, where have you recently jumped to a conclusion without knowing all the facts.”<\/p>\n

Ted Andrews contributes the angle of communication, an attribute of air signs: “The goose can also be a totem to aid you in communication especially through the use of stories…Individuals wishing to write – be it stories or anything – can facilitate the process by working with the goose as a totem. It will stimulate the imagination and help move you through creative blocks.”<\/p>\n

He also highlights the co-operative flight patterns of geese: “They constantly shift formation, creating wind drafts and easier flights for those behind them in the formation.”\u00a0 Aquarians are team workers.<\/p>\n

Albatross<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/strong>This may seem an odd choice, given the role of the Albatross in the rhyme of the Ancient Mariner in Coleridge’s poem, but according to Andrea Wansbury the Albatross represents Intuition, which is the province of Aquarian ruler Uranus:<\/p>\n

“An albatross is saying you must start listening to your intuition and trust your instincts…Are you listening to those intuitive hunches?\u00a0 What is stopping you from acting on your intuition?”<\/p>\n

I like the idea of redeeming the reputation of this bird, and countering the superstitious element.<\/p>\n

Jay<\/em><\/strong><\/span>
\n<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Andrea Wansbury’s book is a mine of information about birds, and her interpretation of the Jay as bringing the message of Opportunity, and representing the Archetype of the Trickster (which we have already seen in the Coyote, and will re-meet under Archetypes) seems very fitting for Aquarius.<\/p>\n

Nicky Scully on the other hand equates the Jay (specifically the Blue Jay) with Masks.\u00a0 She takes you on a journey:<\/p>\n

“As you look into the eye of the blue jay, you see yourself reflected, wearing the mask you display to the wrold.\u00a0 Blue Jay mimics your character…You may be shown several of the masks that are your most common disguises…If you are ready and willing, Blue Jay may give you a glimpse of your true face, the one under all the masks.”
\n<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Waxwing<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

For Waxwing too, Andrea Wansbury highlights a quality of Aquarius, that of the Observer Archetype, and the message of Objectivity:<\/p>\n

“A waxwing is saying that in some area of your life you need to look at things more objectively…step out of the frame and view the situation from the outside to help clarify things.”<\/p>\n

Strangely enough, and you may do a double take here, Ted Andrews equates the Waxwing with Masks:<\/p>\n

“The mask-like appearance gives it an association with the art of mask making and ritual garb…The waxwing has knowledge of how to use masks for fun and for healing, especially when combined with colour healing.”\u00a0 I do not especially associate Aquarius with masks, however.<\/p>\n

Insect<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Stick Insect<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Although insects generally come under Virgo, what could be more light and airy than a stick insect, for this airiest of air signs?\u00a0 According to Wikipedia “the genus Phobaeticus includes the world’s longest insects.”<\/p>\n

Many species of this insect are parthenogenic, which means the females can lay eggs without the males – reflecting the Aquarian androgyny.<\/p>\n

It’s the perfect unusual pet for the Aquarian child!\u00a0 Though in this enlightened age, keeping anything in a cage seems cruel.<\/p>\n

Mythological Figures<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Hamsa<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Here fittingly to end the animal section is a mythological creature for the cusp of Aquarius and Pisces.\u00a0 Pisces rules swans, and Aquarius geese.<\/p>\n

Nicholas Saunders writes about the Hamsa: “The goose and the swan are mythically interchangeable in Hinduism, as in many cultures.\u00a0 The Hamsa is one bird made of two, Ham and Sa, and it can appear as either a goose or a swan.\u00a0 It represents the perfect union, the ‘balance of life’.”<\/p>\n

Archetypes<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Networker<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/strong>The Networker Archetype is one of the most prominent of Aquarian Archetypes.\u00a0 It is often found in a chart when the Sun and Mercury, which travel round the zodiac together, are in the 11th House of Friendships and Groups.<\/p>\n

Caroline Myss describes it as expanding “sphere of influence by forging alliances and making connections among vastly different groups of people”.<\/p>\n

Liberator<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Liberator (from Myss again) “helps to liberate us from the self-inflicted tyranny of negative thought patterns and beliefs, spiritual sluggishness, poor nutrition, destructive relationships, or addictive behaviour”.\u00a0 We all need that one.<\/p>\n

Engineer<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

This is an aspect of the Scientist.\u00a0 In Gemini, the Scientist as an Archetype is related to teaching, academia, writing and research.\u00a0 In Aquarius the Scientist is more dynamic, and with an association with Electricity.\u00a0 The conjunction of Mars and Uranus in a chart often denotes a talent for mechanical or electrical engineering.<\/p>\n

Trickster<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Can the Trickster Archetype add to our understanding of the Coyote animal totem, or the Jay?<\/p>\n

Caroline Myss has as its Light attribute “Transcending conventiion, stuffiness, and predictable behaviour” – all eminently Aquarian!\u00a0 It “can be a great ally in presenting alternatives to the straight and narrow path, to people and institutions who seek to hem you in through peer pressure and conformism”.<\/p>\n

Activist <\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

With Mars, in some capacity, Aquarius and Uranus produces the Activist.\u00a0 For example, Mars in Aquarius often produces someone who champions the underdog, or uses networking and pressure groups to engineer social justice.<\/p>\n

New Archetypes<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Caroline Myss introduces new Archetypes in her book of 2013.\u00a0 She originally wrote about Archetypes (which she sees in her inner vision) in “Sacred Contracts” in 2001.\u00a0 She produced her Archetype Cards two years later.\u00a0 She goes into more depth, and gives more guidance, about these newer archetypes.<\/p>\n

Famous Example: <\/em>David Bowie had both of these two Archetypes which follow, with his Aquarian Ascendant.<\/p>\n

Rebel<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Caroline identifies four types of Rebel, where the personality has grown into a more mature and cohesive expression of this Archetype: the Noble Rebel, the Anarchist Rebel, the Social\/Civil Rebel, and the Feminist Rebel.<\/p>\n

Famous Example: <\/em>The groundbreaking feminist writer Germaine Greer is of course an Aquarian.<\/p>\n

Visionary<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In her Archetypes book Myss advises: “The lesson for the Visionary is to experience the power of your creative vision, however large or small, and to realize its potential in the larger scope of your life.”<\/p>\n

Famous Example: quoting from Caroline Myss: <\/em>“Oprah Winfrey [Aquarius] built a media empire around her vision to transform people’s lives.” – my brackets.<\/p>\n

Bibliography:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cArchetype Cards\u201d <\/strong>by Caroline Myss<\/p>\n

“Archetypes” <\/strong>(book) <\/strong>by Caroline Myss<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cAnimal Speak\u201d<\/strong> by Ted Andrews<\/p>\n

\u201cAnimal Spirits\u201d <\/strong>by Nicholas J. Saunders<\/p>\n

\u201cBirds Divine Messengers\u201d <\/strong>by Andrea Wansbury<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Golden Cauldron\u201d<\/strong> by Nicky Scully<\/p>\n

“Medicine Cards” <\/strong>by Jamie Sams and David Carson<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Aspects<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Today is the Full Moon in Leo at 3 degrees.\u00a0 It occurred at 1.46 a.m., so that was Saturday in the snow hit U.S.\u00a0 I must admit it did wake me this morning, from a heavy sleep.<\/p>\n

Whatever were the issues for you last night, they will be starting to ebb away now.\u00a0 The Leo Moon opposed by the Aquarian Sun, is usually an issue of the individual balancing its needs within the group (which can be a family).\u00a0 If it fell in your Health Houses (6th and 12th) a health issue may have come to a peak.\u00a0 Now is the time for releasing, until the New Moon.<\/p>\n

Good news for Retrophobes tomorrow evening, as Mercury is stationary prior to turning direct again.\u00a0 If you have been struggling with your paperwork, appointments, travel and so forth, the path will become easier.\u00a0 If you make a breakthrough in these matters tomorrow, you will be able to thank Mercury.<\/p>\n

The middle of the week is quiet, aspect-wise.\u00a0 Thus it may literally be uneventful, humdrum, bread and butter…some like it that way.\u00a0 If you are bored, you can catch up on paperwork and filing from the newly turned Mercury boost, or contemplate the next aspect, which occurs on Friday.<\/p>\n

The True North Node can have an oscillating action, in that it can move slowly or even go slightly backwards.\u00a0 Thus it is that we have another conjunction between Jupiter and the True North Node in Virgo on Friday (29th), so soon after the last one (Saturday 23rd).\u00a0 It brings a karmic reward, so you may need to think back to see what it brought you, and what further yield that may bring.\u00a0 Where might you need to adjust your karma in Virgoan areas such as care of the planet (e.g. buying foods with less packaging) and health measures (e.g. cutting down on sugar)?\u00a0 Your next similar karmic reckoning will come towards the end of June.<\/p>\n

Another re-play from recent times occurs on Saturday (30th) when Mercury conjuncts Pluto again.\u00a0 This was last seen on Friday (22nd) and is recurring because of Mercury turning direct.\u00a0 This brings profound thought and reflection, and incisive speech.\u00a0 What people say will be coming from a deep place within them.\u00a0 Consider whether they are bringing through the wisdom of the ancients, or their own negative emotions.\u00a0 This aspect occurs early in the morning, around 6 a.m.\u00a0 If you are just getting up, you may have a strong idea or theme emerging from your dreams, guidance for the day ahead.<\/p>\n

Later, just before tea time, a more coherent aspect forms: Venus sextile Neptune.\u00a0 This can bring inspiration in the Arts, and spirituality in relating.\u00a0 If you are still working with the energy of the Mercury-Pluto aspect, what you do now can have a lasting value.\u00a0 There is a sweetness to Venus-Neptune, which can be surface, but can also be sublime.\u00a0 If you begin the day with the depth of the Pluto aspect, you can make more of the Neptune experience.<\/p>\n

The week in bullet points:<\/p>\n