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Aquarius tarot cards

20 Jan – 18 Feb (approximately) · Fixed air · ruled by Saturn (modern: Uranus) · suit of Swords

vision · community · independence · ideals · detachment

Aquarius is fixed air in midwinter, the water-bearer pouring for everyone. The Star is its trump: hope after the storm, a figure renewing the land and the waters at once. Its decans are the Five, Six and Seven of Swords, from a hollow victory, to a quiet passage to calmer water, to someone slipping away with what they took. Saturn rules it traditionally, Uranus in modern astrology, so it is both principled and unconventional.

The cards of Aquarius

The StarMajor ArcanaThe Starhope, renewal, faith restoredFive of SwordsDecan 1Five of SwordsVenus in Aquarius · 20 Jan – 29 Janhollow victory, conflict, egoSix of SwordsDecan 2Six of SwordsMercury in Aquarius · 30 Jan – 8 Febtransition, passage, moving onSeven of SwordsDecan 3Seven of SwordsMoon in Aquarius · 9 Feb – 18 Febstrategy, stealth, acting aloneKing of SwordsCourt card (modern scheme)King of SwordsFixed airreason, authority, fair judgement

Aquarius cards in a reading

Aquarius cards bring ideals, groups and the future. The Star promises renewal through honesty and openness; the middle Swords look at conflict won at a cost, moving on, and where cleverness has slid into evasion.

Reading for an Aquarius

Reading for an Aquarius, offer ideas rather than instructions and respect their independence. The Six of Swords often appears for them as a move away from conflict towards something calmer.

A Aquarius season spread

Aquarius season (about 20 January to 18 February) suits fresh ideas and community. Draw this when you want to renew your hopes.

  1. 1. My hope: What do I hope for most?
  2. 2. My people: Who shares this vision?
  3. 3. What I am leaving: What am I moving away from?
  4. 4. What I should not dodge: What am I tempted to avoid?
  5. 5. The renewal: What can be renewed this season?
Draw the Aquarius season spread

Questions

What tarot card is Aquarius?
In the Golden Dawn system used by the Rider–Waite–Smith deck, Aquarius is The Star. Its three decans are the Five of Swords (Venus in Aquarius, 20 Jan – 29 Jan), the Six of Swords (Mercury in Aquarius, 30 Jan – 8 Feb), the Seven of Swords (Moon in Aquarius, 9 Feb – 18 Feb).
What court card is Aquarius?
In the modern scheme that gives cardinal signs to Queens, fixed signs to Kings and mutable signs to Knights, Aquarius (fixed air) is the King of Swords. Older Golden Dawn tables split each court card across two signs, so you will see other answers.
What planet rules Aquarius?
Saturn rules Aquarius in classical astrology, whose tarot card is The World. Modern astrologers often add Uranus.
Can I use tarot without knowing astrology?
Yes. The astrology is one layer of meaning built into the cards; every card can be read from its picture and its written meaning alone. The correspondences help when you want another angle, or when several cards of one sign or planet turn up together.

Correspondences follow the Golden Dawn system the Rider–Waite–Smith deck was made within (tropical zodiac, dates approximate; they shift by a day in some years). Other traditions assign some cards differently. See the full table for all 78 cards.