Saving Aquarius: How I Went from Avoiding to Embodying

The Aquarius Dilemma: A Sign I Never Quite Trusted

For years, I had a strange, almost irrational reaction whenever I saw strong Aquarius placements or heavy 11th house energy in someone’s chart. Unlike other signs I “didn’t have” much of in my own chart—like Taurus, Leo, Libra, or Aries—Aquarius made me nervous.

It wasn’t just that I didn’t relate to it. It was that I had actively avoided it.

Maybe it was my experiences with Aquarius men in my early 20s (no offense, Aquarians—this is a redemption story, I promise). Those guys always seemed to have a paradoxical mix of ego and detachment—the classic “I’m more spiritually evolved than you” energy. One, in particular, was into astrology (a rare trait in men of that time!), and let me test out my early attempts at natal chart synthesis and interpretations from my 1989 copy of “The Astrologer’s Handbook” likely purchased from Waldenbooks way back in the day.  Yet he’d lob these infuriating little comments at me, like, “You really need to have your own original thoughts.”

At the time, I was insulted. Did he think I was just regurgitating ideas instead of forming my own opinions? I dismissed it as his way of asserting intellectual superiority—something I had encountered before with Aquarian types.

But now, with the benefit of time, perspective, and about a thousand astrological deep-dives later, I’m starting to think he was actually onto something.

The Irony: I Had Aquarius in My Chart All Along

For someone who avoided Aquarius energy, you’d think it wouldn’t be so present in my own chart.

And yet, it is.

✔ Uranus in the 1st house—literally shaping my identity with Aquarian innovation, rebellion, and out-of-the-box thinking. But in Virgo? Let’s just say it’s less ‘mad scientist’ and more ‘precision-focused iconoclast’—rebellious but with a to-do list.

✔ Part of Fortune in Aquarius in the 5th house—suggesting my greatest joy and flow comes from original creative expression.

Looking back, how did I miss this?!

Maybe because I had only ever seen (or recognized) one version of Aquarius energy—the detached, intellectual, emotionally aloof kind. The kind that made me feel dismissed rather than engaged.

But then, at a recent event, something happened that changed my entire relationship with Aquarius energy.

The Unexpected Aquarius Revelation at Sass n’ Soul

During a panel discussion at a Sass n’ Soul networking event, the final question was:

"If you could have dinner with anyone, past or present, who would it be?"

Without hesitation, I answered: My grandfather Carl.

And then it hit me—Grandpa Carl was an Aquarius.

The same sign I had spent years avoiding, dismissing, and side-eyeing in natal charts? That Aquarius?

Yes. And suddenly, everything made sense.

Grandpa Snazzy: The Aquarius I Didn’t Recognize

We sometimes called him Grandpa Snazzy—because even in 1970s-era sweaters and plaid pants, the man had flair.  He was of that era of men (born in 1912) who often wore a hat at a jaunty angle, just so.

✨ His signature phrase? “Beautiful action.”

✨ His humor? Silly, warm, and full of life. He loved making his grandkids laugh, and who could forget his “Spring Dance”?

✨ His passions?  The Oakland A’s, his trusty transistor radio, and, quite possibly, dodging my Grandma’s crossword puzzles and National Enquirers. We all gathered for Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom—and I endured Lawrence Welk like a champ.

✨ His quirk? When he was deep in thought, he’d roll his tongue in his mouth—a habit certain people in my family STILL do to this day.

And suddenly, Aquarius didn’t feel distant anymore. It wasn’t detached, cold, or dismissive. It was clever, kind, deeply thoughtful, and uniquely expressive.

Maybe I had misunderstood Aquarius energy all along.

Reframing Aquarius: The Missing Saturn Piece

For most of my astrology journey, I associated Aquarius with Uranus. I saw it as the eccentric, rebellious, future-forward sign—the sign of tech geniuses, social revolutionaries, and, well, maybe even the guys I dated in my early-ish 20s.

But this year, something shifted.

For the first time, I started seeing Aquarius through Saturn’s lens—as its traditional ruler.

💡 Saturn in Aquarius isn’t rebellious just for the sake of it—it’s about building something lasting, meaningful, and visionary.

💡 Grandpa embodied this version of Aquarius. He wasn’t detached; he was deeply present. He wasn’t cold; he was thoughtful and deliberate.

💡 His phrase “beautiful action” was a perfect balance of Saturn (action, discipline) and Aquarius (beauty, vision).

Maybe I didn’t need to “save” Aquarius—maybe I just needed to see it for what it really was.

Full Circle: The Aquarius Energy I Now Embrace

So here I am, decades later, finally embracing the energy I once resisted.

✨ I am synthesizing ideas in a way that feels original, expansive, and exciting.

✨ I am creating from a place of joyful flow (5th house Part of Fortune in Aquarius!).

✨ I am moving forward with both structure (Saturn) and fluidity (Pisces).

✨ I am embodying the best parts of Grandpa's wisdom, kindness, and originality.

In the end, Aquarius never needed saving—it was waiting for me to catch up.

Final Thought: What Part of Your Chart Are You Resisting?

I resisted Aquarius energy for years—only to realize it was already woven into my lineage, my work, and my creative process.

✨ What part of your chart have you struggled to embrace?

✨ What placements make you uncomfortable?

✨ And is it possible that they hold a hidden wisdom you just haven’t recognized yet?

Your natal chart is a journey, not a fixed fate. Sometimes, the things we resist are the things we’re meant to integrate.

So, what’s your “Aquarius”? And are you ready to save it?