AQUARIUS   JANUARY 21 – FEBRUARY 18

“It is easier to live through someone else than to become complete yourself.”

Betty Friedan

You don’t need to be an Aquarius to be Aquarian. I’m generalizing, but I’ve noticed pure types have lower set thumbs, stiffer fingers, and more rounded and spatulate fingertips than Libras or Geminis (all have square palms and long fingers). I’ve seen many head and life lines closely intertwined at their beginnings and bulging knots on several finger joints. I’ve also observed many thumbs and ring fingers with whorl fingerprints. Most other tips are loops. The dialogue between hand reader and client reveals the degree to which the person is fulfilling their innate potentials.

Everyone has Uranus and Aquarius in their symbolism. Uranus gives Aquarian energy to circumstances and relationships depending on its location in the horoscope and its relationship with other celestial bodies. Many modern palmists see Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto in specific locations in the hands. I’m not one of them. In astrology, the outer planets represent collective unconscious and symbolize karmic generational challenges. The outer planets affect the individual, but are best interpreted not as individual details, but through the lens of time, space, and major patterns. In my experience, they must be observed and interpreted in the overall qualities of hands and not in specific locations.

Many people think Aquarius is a water sign. They see a water bearer and a symbol that looks like waves. Aquarius is fixed air. Air symbolizes thinking. Air waves are sharp and precise. Water embodies the personal and collective unconscious, emotion, and feeling. The water bearer is discarding feelings in favor of thinking by pouring them from a jug.

Aquarians are famous for brotherhood, community, friendships, and avoiding intimacy. Much of their time is spent in a world of their own ideas and inventions. They overvalue their freedom, cherish their opinions, and secretly believe they can solve problems better than anyone else. They’re progressive, original, and independent thinkers who pride themselves on their unconventionality, originality, and uniqueness. They must learn to value their individuality for what it is and not for the sake of being different. They relish revolution when a cause is righteous, but must remember that just because they’re revolting doesn’t make them revolutionary. Uranians attract unconventional and unusual friends. They like sharing ideas, but stick to their opinions. The only way to convince an Aquarian to change his mind is to be logical and make great sense.Encourage innovation. They’ll be happier.

Uranus, ruler of the Sky and Father of the Titans in Greek myth, was first son of Gaea and Chaos. A keyword of Uranus is sudden change. Uranian types can be erratic and unpredictable. Aquarians love tech. They’re visionary blue-sky thinkers. Jules Verne ~ Buzz Aldrin ~ Helen Gurley Brown ~ James Dean ~ Charles Dickens ~ Michael Jordan Franklin Roosevelt ~ Charles Lindbergh ~ Bill Maher ~ Mozart ~ Paul Newman

Uranus takes 84 years to return to its natal position. Betty Friedan (2/4/21 – 2/4/06) died on her 85^th birthday. Betty transformed women’s rights with The Feminine Mystique and catalyzed the women’s movement. Founder of the National Organization for Women (NOW), Betty organized the first International Feminist Congress in 1973.Betty’s Aquarian war cry was “Make policy not coffee”.

Tarin Chaplin (Dec. 4, 1941 – May 30, 2009)

An “eco-choreographer,” activist, writer and dancer, Tarin sought to connect people to the earth, the elements, and the sentient and non-sentient beings that share this universe with us (Burlington Free Press).

 

Tarin has no planets in Aquarius. Her Aquarian personality reveals itself in her widely inventively spread long fingers on square palms. A bundle of creative expression, Tarin had an overly developed sense of responsibility, obligation, and guilt.  Her crooked middle fingers tell a tale of too many worthy causes that delayed her from living in her ideal world. Tarin’s The Intimate Act of Choreography is one of Joanna’s favorite books.

Pattie Canova is a Taurus and the Queen of Pentacles. She behaves like the Queen of Swords with her square palms, long straight fingers, and stiff thumbs. A strong head and life line connection reveals an Aquarian type. Pattie is my all-time favorite tarot teacher. I had studied with other experts, but never really connected to the archetypes until I met Pattie. Her knowledge and understanding of the myths and her grasp of archetypal psychology is awesome. A genuine passion and desire to share what she knows puts Pattie way ahead of her competition. Notice how her fingers lean toward her strong index fingers that project outward. Pattie’s a Giver.

Bright pink color on the heels of Pattie’s hands reveals her psychic ability. I’ve watched those lunar mounts glow like hot coals when her intuition is cranking. Pattie has an uncanny ability to remember everyone’s names. I’m unhappily afflicted with Alzheimer’s for names. Pattie performs feats of tarot magic on stage and radio. She shared some Aquarian thoughts and ideas with me in a letter that I’m sharing with you.

“My work on stage may seem frivolous and at times it can be. My audience can ask the most banal of questions, but it’s fear that keeps them from themselves. They’re a great reflection for my process; what I love about it and what I’ve just given myself to receive from it all is the experience of joining, of oneness, the giving up of judgments and quieting of my perception. We are all on the same journey. Doing what I’m doing has helped me take it out of my head and into my heart and practice. We all walk that hard road toward enlightenment. I so trust the outcome. I so trust the absoluteness and the power of spirit. I know that everyone in their own way ‘hears’ something, either through feeling or insight.”

My sister Jennifer is Taurus.   Her long straight knotty stiff fingers and thumbs are set on square palms. A fixed thinker, she can be incredibly logical, very practical, and extremely obstinate. I know better than to argue with her. Jennifer is a compelling story teller, gifted children’s librarian, loving parent, partner, daughter, sister, community member, good friend, and amazing natural cook. The tragic loss of Graham, Jenny and Brian’s 23 year old son has forever created sadness in their hearts. They cherish his memory by continuing to be their realest and healthiest selves.

It’s impossible not to like Kevin McGuire. A charismatic Capricorn, Kevin’s Aquarian hands blend a need for structure, discipline, and focus (Saturn) with his originality and creativity (Uranus). He’s acted and directed his way around the globe, performing lead roles in Les Mis, Phantom of the Opera, Jane Eyre, Secret Garden, Uncle Vanya, and recently, Kris in Miracle on 34^th Street. Kevin has sung for Presidents Clinton, Reagan, and Ford.

Oprah Winfrey is an Aquarian with lots of fire. Her intuitive type is seen in her rectangular palms and short fingers. Sagittarius rises in her natal chart, blending two virgin goddesses, Athena and Artemis. As an Alchemist, Oprah turned lead into gold when she transformed an abandoned poor black bastard girl from the south into the self-appointed Queen of mass media. Oprah truly wants to make a positive difference, but no matter what and how much she does, it’s a droplet in a sea of human suffering, misery, and tragedy. Oprah must balance responsibility with transparency by always being true to herself.

I love Uranus (conjunct my sun). Some of my favorite teachers have been Aquarians. When the all too familiar ‘shit was hitting the fan’ a quarter century ago, I hunted for a compatible psychotherapist. After interviewing Freudians, Jungians, Reichians, and Adlerians, I chose a Gestalt therapist. My needs were too immediate to be spending time combing for clues from my childhood to fix my current challenges.

I chose an Aquarian. I call him Ian, for the “ians”. I’d weave my web of melodrama for Ian, hoping to gain his approval and sympathy. When I’d finish, he’d ask, “So what else is new?”  He wouldn’t let me get away with anything. Ian noticed every expression and gesture. I’d say “but…”  He’d say “and…”  I’d say “can’t…”  He’d say “Don’t want to!” Ian often pissed me off by cleaning his nails or playing with his latest gadget. In the end, his unorthodox methods and clever techniques helped me change my stuck thinking.

As a thinking type, Ian’s hands were just like mine.  He had square palms and long fingers held widely apart. The difference was that my hands and fingers were very flexible while Ian’s were knotty and very stiff. He was strong willed, focused, and determined. I was a “jack of all trades, master of none”. Ian helped me focus, discipline myself, and clarify my thinking. I valued Ian’s friendship as well as his skills.

 

Ian was fascinated by my ability to read hands. We shared our ideas and theories for hours after our sessions. As founding director of a Gestalt Psychology Institute, Ian suggested I participate in a twice weekly intermediate Gestalt study group. I joined for two years and loved the experience. I seamlessly integrated physical, psychological, philosophical, and spiritual archetypes with my knowledge of palmistry. My hand reading expertise brought fresh perspectives to our study group. Psychology compliments metaphysics by providing a foundation for counseling. Palmistry provides psychology with great diagnostic tools. Counseling skills are neglected in the practices of many self-appointed psychics. It’s much easier to see something than to know what to say about what you see. In the end, it’s what you say and how you say it that matters.

Uranus takes 7 years to change sign and 84 years to orbit our sun through twelve signs. In Aquarius, Uranus churned up the wild rapids of the early 20th century. It brought sudden and unexpected changes on a grand scale from 1912 to 1919.

1912 ~ the “unsinkable” Titanic sunk on its maiden voyage.

1913 ~ a series of tornadoes and floods devastated Middle America, killing over 3,000 people and costing over $100,000,000

1914 ~ World War I began.

1915 ~ a German submarine torpedoed the Lusitania.

The first transcontinental phone call was made by Alexander Graham Bell.

1916 ~ Pancho Villa, a Mexican revolutionary, invaded the USA.

President Woodrow Wilson retaliated by sending 6,000 troops into Mexico.

The Official Gazette of London published names of 80 United States firms suspected of trading with Germany.

1917 ~ USA declares war against Germany.

Worst race riot in American history occurs in Illinois.

Congress amends to prohibit alcohol.

1918 ~ Spanish Flu was the worst pandemic since the bubonic plague that wiped out one quarter of Europe’s population in the 14^th century. Daylight Savings Time began.

1919 ~ Prohibition is ratified as the 18^th amendment to the constitution. Congress failed to ratify the Treaty of Versailles. President Wilson opposed and unsuccessfully took his disagreement to the American people. He died on tour after having a massive stroke.

When Neptune began transiting the sign of Aquarius in 1996, people became even more divided, deceived, and demoralized by the powers that be. When Uranus entered Aquarius in 1996, it was home. Many people believed it launched the Age of Aquarius. Humanity would finally choose brotherhood over selfishness, convenience, and fashion.

President Bill Clinton’s first political act of 1996 was to sign a welfare reform bill that made life harder for the poor. Taiwan had its first democratic election. There were four major plane crashes. Madeline Albright became the first female Secretary of State. Ellen DeGeneres became the first outwardly gay star of an ABC sitcom. Body piercing and tattoos became more popular.

In 1998, Catholics and Protestants voted for peace in Ireland. We began bombing Iraq. Male virility became popular after Pfizer introduced Viagra. The stock market created a new form of gambling dubbed “internet day trading”. DVDs became the fastest growing consumer electronics product in history.  Bribes and drugs tarnished the Olympics. We lost our innocence, civil liberties, and illusion of private and social security and stability.

Neptune rules confusion, illusion, and delusion.  When Neptune entered Aquarius in 1998, the House of Representatives impeached President Clinton, who gave “perjuriously false and misleading” testimony in front of a grand jury. Bill is a Leo with hands to match.

 

 

Our government and twenty state attorney generals charged Microsoft with anti-trust practices for dominating the Internet access market. Bill is Scorpio with intuitive hands.

 

 

When Neptune left Aquarius in 2012, our greatest illusion and deception touched old, poor, sick people, and everyone else who can’t afford to have bad shit happening. Greedy visions are affecting billions of people aged 65 and over. We must understand what’s truly valuable before we can transform our inequities. Mid – 21^st Century will be an era of profits of false prophets intended to confuse, delude, and control the 99%. Tycoons will finance political campaigns, control partisan politics, manage health care, restrict social welfare, gamble with people’s pensions, and risk social security.

Since Neptune entered Pisces in 2012, old, poor, and sick people have been seeking security, stability, and spiritual answers and finding despair, fear, and terror.