In part 1 of a two-part article from the LCM Archive Soul Astrologer Ruth Hadikin explores the deeper meaning of the Aquarius Leo axis for our spiritual journey…
The sign of Aquarius is associated with humanitarianism, science, individuality, uniqueness, technology, the future and groups. Gather a group of Aquarians together and the one thing that they will all have in common is their desire to be unique: to be different from each other, and everyone else. Yet, somewhat ironically, the highest octave of Aquarius is group consciousness and the highest purpose of the integrated Aquarian Soul is that of World Server. The secret to the future of humanity lies hidden deep within the mysteries of Aquarius, but before he can unlock them Aquarius has to access the heart-centered energy of his opposite sign Leo by fully integrating the qualities of the Aquarius Leo axis. Welcome to the mysterious and complex sign of the water carrier.
Aquarius is often commonly mistaken for a water sign because of it’s symbolism of the water carrier – but the key here is in the word ‘carrier’. The key to the deeper secrets of Aquarius lies in his ability to be a vessel – a vehicle for the ‘dual waters’ of Love and Life. Does this mean every Aquarian we meet continuously flows love and life? Not quite yet. It is Aquarius’ job to channel these vital life force energies for the good of the whole: to dedicate personal energy for the benefit of the collective, but before he can do this he must have a storehouse of spiritual energy, and must become a Master at flowing it.
“The single flame must light the other forty-nine”1
As we continue our Soul’s Journey around the Zodiac: having tamed the mind in Sagittarius, then cultivated and focused our Soul-Light in Capricorn, the mature Soul is ready to flow a steady stream of Love and Life in Aquarius. With the possible exception of Pisces, the Aquarian individual just might have the biggest challenge of all. It is as though the further we travel in our Soul Journey around the Zodiac, the bigger the gap between personality and Soul. To cross this great divide Aquarius needs to have the courage of his opposite sign Leo, to navigate the unfamiliar and unpredictable terrain of the human heart.
Air signs are all about Mastery of the Mind, and Fixed energy is all about stability. So, as the Fixed Air sign, Aquarius brings structure and stability not only to our mental processes, but to the whole experience of our heart-mind. Only in the West do we think of heart and mind as separate: as if our mental processes were something distinct and separate from our heart and feelings. The true path of Aquarius depends upon fusion and stability in the use of heart-mind energy. The fully integrated Aquarian Soul knows that the way to flow the energy of Love and Life is through skillful use of the mind: that mental energy is not meant to be ‘wasted’ as we currently do in petty conflicts or the pursuit of ‘mental games’ to amuse the ego, but that our mind is meant to be a focused ‘vehicle’ for the influx of spiritual energy.
Once Mutable Air sign Gemini dissolves old, outmoded heart-mind patterns that are no longer working, Cardinal Air sign Libra restores right relationship between thought and feeling, thus bringing coherent harmony. Then it is the job of Fixed Air sign Aquarius to stabilize heart-mind patterns, building etheric structures and neural pathways for the transmission of vital energies as we enter the ‘New Age’ of Aquarius.
These are indeed challenging energies to Master, and it is why Aquarius has the often unfair reputation of being aloof, emotionally cool, detached and distant, for the first thing the Aquarian personality has to Master is the use of mental energy. With his brilliant and innovative laser-like mind, combined with the mental dexterity of a brain surgeon, Aquarius has a tendency to divide and separate.
The ability to label all incoming information and place it into categories earns Aquarius the distinction of scientist, and many distinguished medical doctors are born under this sign because it allows them to ‘marry’ their humanitarian ideals with a love of science. Unfortunately it can also make our Aquarian friend the ultimate materialist, reducing the value of everything to that which can be seen, observed, studied, researched, dissected, …and labelled!
One of the ego traps for Aquarius lies in believing his own labels. Such divisions may help us when communicating and learning, but we would be wise to remember they have no basis in reality. Nature has only one season: the eternal NOW. It is the human mind which divides it into Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, purely for descriptive purposes. Our Aquarian friends would be wise to remember this point.
The urge towards humanitarianism, and the tendency to have their attention on group activities, can also lead the Aquarian personality to miss the point of their own existence altogether: their own inner journey. The Aquarian personality can fall into the trap of busybody – telling others how they ‘should’ be living their lives, keeping themselves focused on the group agenda, while overruling the needs of the individual and conveniently neglecting to attend to their own back yard, in terms of their personal and spiritual development. Before he can ignite others, Aquarius must first ensure his own flame is burning brightly.
Although Aquarius has a great love of, and respect for, individuality it is actually in his opposite sign of Leo that he finds the gift of “opportunity through individuality”1 and finally manages to experience this for himself. The Aquarian personality, in his desire to please and remain loyal to his group, may actually keep himself stuck in group conformity. He will only access the highest octave of Aquarius (and thus Master the powerful spiritual energies that he is here to channel) when he allows himself to follow his heart, stand alone, and find his true individuality.
“The undeveloped Aquarian upon the Mutable Cross manifests through a superficial self-awareness. This matures in Leo and becomes a deep seated self-consciousness and a profound interest in self and its need and wishes. As the interplay goes on between Leo and Aquarius (for they are polar opposites) there comes a deepening of all qualities and the superficialities disappear until – upon the reversed wheel – the intensive self-consciousness of Leo expands into the group awareness of Aquarius. The individual becomes the universal.” 2
The group consciousness that is the highest octave of Aquarius is difficult to comprehend from our current level of consciousness. It is not misplaced loyalty to one’s own group or tribe, nor is it being swept along in mob consciousness. Rather it is a higher perception that comes from inner connection to one’s own Higher Mind.
It is a true realization, firmly rooted in personal experience, that Humanity is One Being. This dual awareness of ones own individuality while at the same time being attuned to the larger group awareness of Humanity, is the highest octave of Aquarius. The humanitarianism of Aquarius refers to a higher state of awareness: not as an idealized philosophy but as a realization of spiritual truth rooted in personal experience.
“Esoteric Astrology concerns itself primarily with the unfoldment of consciousness” 2
– Alice Bailey
At this level, specific attributes of Higher Mind begin to unfold: clairvoyance, clairaudience, omniscience and telepathy. It is a higher vibration, a higher frequency, than we can currently comprehend from this stage of our evolution. In Esoteric Astrology six ‘stages’ of consciousness are outlined:
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“Aries: subjective latent consciousness
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Gemini: the consciousness of duality
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Cancer: mass consciousness
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Leo: individual self-consciousness
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Libra: equilibrised consciousness and
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Aquarius: group consciousness”2
When we see mass riots and mob consciousness, that is clearly the influence of mass consciousness in Cancer. There is a clear distinction between this and the group consciousness that we are talking about in Aquarius. There is still an ‘us and them’ mentality in Cancer, whereas in Aquarius all polarity has resolved leaving only ‘us’ as one Humanity. The individual has ‘broken away from the herd’ in Leo, cultivated equanimity for all living things in Libra, and (as a fully realized individual) becomes aware of his group mind in Aquarius. The fully integrated Aquarian Soul is no longer personality-driven. He has fully integrated the Aquarius Leo axis, yet still experiences an individual spiritual identity which has integrated Christ Consciousness and is now ready to be of service. The personality is now in full service to the Soul.
This post is an excerpt from Ruth’s book “Soul Astrology: How Your Rising Sign Reveals Your Soul Path and Life Purpose” Click HERE to read more and/or order your copy.
Key Points:
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Aquarius is the sign of group consciousness: on the personality level this can be group participation and activity, at the Soul level this is a higher state of consciousness.
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The spiritual path of Aquarius is to flow a continuous stream of love and life for the benefit of humanity.
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The ego-trap for Aquarius is his own brilliant mind: in becoming too attached to, and limited by, his concrete mental conceptualizations, and neglecting to explore the limitless potential of his own heart.
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The solution is to journey deep within – embracing the warm, radiant, heart-centered energy of his polar opposite Leo, whereby he will discover for himself the brilliance of his own inner Sun.
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“The Labours of Hercules: An Astrological Interpretation” by Alice A. Bailey
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“Esoteric Astrology” The wisdom of the Tibetan (Master DK) as channelled through Alice A. Bailey.
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