Aquarius, the Electric: Caring for the body naturally during the 11th Earth season

We are officially in the MID-WINTER time: when our Sun enters the sign of Aquarius. Aquarius - the sign of "creative thinking" - is considered our coldest zodiac sign which causes this cosmic energy to direct very particular, chilling and electric effects on the human body and mind. Let's explore the health considerations, superpowers, sensitivities and holistic remedies that we can learn from this sign to better care for our bodies and maintain balance within ourselves and outwardly with Nature during this season.

**To give context before we dive in: our aim here is to learn about the zodiac seasons in relation to the human body and how the cyclical/circular rhythm of the 12 zodiac signs is interconnected with the 12 seasons of Earth, the 12 divisions of each annual year and 12 sections of the human body and form. From this viewpoint, the zodiac signs and planetary bodies can be seen and experienced as celestial spirits that are apart of us and have something to teach us about how to care for and nourish ourselves naturally and holistically as we revolve and spiral around together here on Earth.

Throughout each year, we are given guidance from the zodiac about which parts of the human body are emphasized and worth paying a little more attention to, while also being taught how to care for that part of our health/body that is most sensitized using natural supports such as: movement, sound, herbs/diet, lifestyle practices and different types of body/energy work. In these seasonal posts, I will be sharing about the zodiac season and the natural health tools I most love to use to explore the Earth season we are in and the way our human bodies work in cycle with these greater cycles and Cosmic Spirits.

This is just one of Nature and Spirits many gifts to us.

We discussed in our last post that each of the 4 earth seasons are made up of 3 parts (or 3 signs). In terms of Winter : Capricorn initiates the winter season (we remember the Winter Solstice) and now we arrive at Aquarius, a "fixed" sign, that marks the middle of Winter and expresses the power of this season not only in the changes we see externally in nature, but internally in our physical and mental bodies as well - as within, so without they say. This change to mid-winter draws our consciousness to become more aware of certain Aquarian-esque energies, characteristics, temperatures, and bodily sensitivities, specialties and superpowers that connect us to Nature and this time of Her year and that can often be highlighted more significantly throughout the life of those natives that were born under this sign/season.

AQUARIAN ENERGETICS and ELEMENTS

AQUARIUS IS CONSIDERED "FIXED" ENERGY - and Fixed energy "consolidates," centralizes and builds up force. It gives staying power (some may say stubborn power). All of the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio & Aquarius) mark the middle part of the 4 main Earth seasons. For example: mid summer, mid spring, mid fall , & in this case, Aquarius is the sign of Mid-Winter. These are periods when the power, stability and intensity of the season is undeniable. It is neither the beginning of the season nor is it a time of transition, as there is no other season yet on the horizon of our minds or shown in Nature. Aquarius certainly represents the energy of the dead of winter - hence the cold energy and power it can bring to the body and mind.

All of our fixed signs -Taurus, Leo, Scorpio & Aquarius- are signs having to do with meanings, expressions, lessons and evolution in power (*from my mentor Judith Hill). While in the other fixed signs we are learning about the power of self expression, cultivating resources of power and then how to manipulate power for creation or destruction...In Aquarius, the energy expands (associated with the number 11) and this energy is concerned with power in terms of empowerment, power for the people & power to our communities.

This is why we often hear this sign as being related to characteristics of the visionary, the humanitarian, the wise or bigger picture thinker and the rebel.

AQUARIUS IS CLASSIFIED AS AN "AIR" ELEMENT SIGN (the 4 elements used in astrological medicine are: Fire, Water, Earth and Air) - Aquarius is an air element sign which means that its energy will have a deep relationship and correspondence with the human mind/mental body, thought, the nervous system, the breath, the hormonal communication system, transport systems (circulation), and the voltage/electric body of the human being. The energy of this sign pulls the life force up and primarily resides in the mind, which cools the body and gives more "cool-hearted" tendencies.

• Compare this with Aquarius's opposite zodiac partner: LEO, which rules the Sun, Mid-Summer and the heart. In Leo the energy pulls the life force energy to the heart center and gives a warm, passion forward presence.

The energy of this Aquarius pulls the vital force energy out of the body and into the mind. And while Leo energy gives "creative expression," Aquarius becomes the sign of creative thinking and is known to gift futuristic thinking, genius, inventiveness, eccentricity, electricity and all sorts of odd and peculiar interests (sometimes fixations) of the mind.

In the cold air of winter, there is less moisture and more electric charge buildup. To understand how the energy of Aquarius works in the body- we can draw to our minds eye the image of a bolt of lightening, static electricity and flickering lightbulbs.

The Air Element is cold, light and in Aquarius governs the voltage/electric changes that occur in the body, the electromagnetic field that emanates from the heart, nerve conduction & oxygenation of the blood

AQUARIUS IS RULED BY THE PLANETS SATURN & URANUS - We discussed Saturn last season in relation to its rulership over the sign of Capricorn. While Saturn gives off a "blue ray" and creates the cold, restricting, disciplining, astringent, focused (sometimes lonely/depressing), gritty and hard working energy and nature attributed to this time of year and to these natives, the addition of the planet URANUS as a co-ruler is what gifts this sign not only the traditionalism of Saturn, but also the electric, eclectic, eccentric and creative, rebellious and genius minds that we often see in natives who are strongly Aquarian.

Aquarius is interested in taking traditional- Saturn- parts of our life (art, money, religion, healthcare, government, etc.) and radicalizing, reinventing or recreating these structures -Uranus- to better serve the people and our communities and propel us all into a better future. This sign can build power and then EMPOWER!

AQUARIAN PHYSICAL BODY RULERSHIPS:

These parts of the body are sensitized during this season and call for our love, attention and nourishment. Remember: if we follow the seasons and zodiac spiral in terms of body care - at the end of each year we will have tended to all 12 zones of the human body, and the Earth in all of her 12 seasons of the yearly cycle - that is HOLISM.

• If, individually, we discover any health imbalances or health concerns in these body parts/processes through the season, it means it is simply a time to make a deeper care plan or seek further guidance and assistance for our health.

>The Calves to ankles is the body zone of Aquarius - how this section of the body plays into the systems in the body that Aquarius has large emphasis in is described below.

>The veins and venous system of circulation - The system that returns blood from the body back to the heart : Aquarius rules the veins and teaches us the importance of walking, movement and how the ankle and the calf work as a muscle pump for the effective return of blood to the heart. The calf has been called the "heart of the periphery," because of its role as a muscle pump. Note that Leo, the polarity partner of Aquarius rules the actual heart (or central pump) : they are always working together as a team.

>The Oxygenation of the blood and body - this sign is known to be associated with sub-oxygenation, cramping and low energy/fatigue issues in the body when imbalanced or afflicted

>The Electric Body - this sign rules nerve conduction, the action potential, the electrical activity of the heart and heart rate variability (measured in an electrocardiogram ECG/EKG). We note the symbol of Aquarius and its relation to what we see in the EKG when we measure this electric activity. SALT becomes an important mineral and is ruled by the sign of Aquarius for this reason. And Aquarians typically need more salt than any other zodiac sign (Judith Hill)

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MOVEMENT AND EXERCISE CONSIDERATIONS FOR BALANCE IN AQUARIUS SEASON:

In upcoming posts - I'll be sharing movement flows in video format with you all that focus on the the parts/processes of the body that we are focused on during these 30 day seasons. For now, this will do:

In your workouts this season - I want to emphasize that Aquarius energetics teach us the importance and benefits of GOING UPSIDE DOWN regularly for our health, the health of our circulatory system, veins and mental wellbeing/balance.

Because Aquarius is a cold and fixed sign that emphasizes the mind, oxygenation and venous return of the blood back to the heart - there can be a tendency of the fixed/consolidating energy of this sign to become so fixed that it can tend towards stagnancy in the body and mind when untended.

And so this sign is related to imbalances of stagnancy in the blood/veins (think varicose veins, swelling, hemorrhoids, constipation, cold hands/feet, low energy, calf tightness/cramping) as well as stagnancy and coldness in the mind which can manifest as: fatigue (suboxygenation) and feelings of "stuckness," procrastination, depression or unbending fixation in the mind/mental faculties - something many of us are familiar with in the winter season.

In our current times, we often find ourselves sitting in prolonged, stagnant postures like sitting - this can be amplified in the winter season due to the cold and less outdoor time and activity for many. If we think about our blood and life force energy beginning to slow, get cold and get pulled down into the calves due to stagnancy in our energy, movement and postures - we can imagine how this pooling could also impact our creative mind - pulling all our energy out of the mind - leading to feelings of fatigue, lack of inspiration, lack of motivation, lack of electricity and creativity in the thought!

One simple strategy to balance and reverse stagnant postures and stagnant mind energy that can occur during this time of year can be to simply reverse ourselves! In other words - go upside down!

Going upside down reinvigorates the mind, draws the blood up towards the mental body (third eye and crown chakra) and relieves stagnancy that can cause congestion, swelling, slowness and back in the pelvis, lower body and calves.

Consider practicing going upside down daily this season and assess how it impacts your body and mind! Take note if you are feeling sluggish, heavy, uninspired, "fixed" or stuck on something and see if you can take a beat and a moment to get the energy flowing back up again.

On the advanced end - going upside down can look like practicing handstands, head stands, and bridges. **But you do not need to be an advanced mover to go upside down. Laying down with your feet elevated up the wall, walking feet up the wall (supported handstand) down dog, & forward leaning inversions are all simple ways to reverse the flow and relieve stagnancy and fatigue and encourage more creative and inspired thinking! Here is an image of a forward leaning inversion:

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS: implement a weekly breath-work practice/routine(Aquarius is an AIR sign) this season to build energy, encourage creative thinking and inspiration and as a strategy t0 move and heat up any cold physical/mental stagnation that can build up in our daily routines.

Extra emphasis on calf and ankle strengthening and mobility exercises are encouraged this season!!

Lastly - Because this is the coldest sign of the zodiac - many of the warming therapies discussed in Capricorn Season work wonderfully here too! Consider weekly sauna sessions (get warm to balance the cold!), red light / sun light lamp therapies (Aquarius is the sign of the darkest season of the year and it needs LIGHT/SUN therapies to stay balanced), SALT ROOM therapy (HALOTHERAPY) and mineral clay/detox baths for moving stagnancy out of the body.

SOUNDS OF AQUARIUS PLAYLIST :

* Enjoy this playlist, or if not your style, create your own. Whatever you enjoy listening to this time of year will teach you about how you uniquely experience this season and your own personal preferences, moods and energy during this time of year.

NATURAL HERBAL / SUPPLEMENTAL AQUARIUS SEASON REMEDIES & SUPPORTS:

-QUINTON WATER & Aquarius the "water-bearer)

Aquarius is the sign of salt and the importance of salt, especially for our hydration, voltage, electric system and energy, during our coldest season, cannot be understated.

QUINTON WATER is a sea plasma remedy from the extract of nutrient-rich seawater from a plankton rich bloom off the coast of Spain. By following strict protocols established in 1887, the ocean water is cold micro-filtered to the highest purity quality, to maintain healing properties innate to seawater.

Containing 78 ionic minerals Quinton water is used as part of a variety of healing protocols - but can be used generally to balance sympathetic (stress state) nervous system imbalances, inflammatory conditions, dehydration, fatigue and to aid detoxification and the lymphatic system in the drainage of stagnancy/toxin presence and disrupted cellular communication. It can also be applied nasally to hydrate, reduce inflammation and congestion and nourish and cleanse the mucous membranes.

**I do not travel or go to the mountains/altitude without the QUINTON Nasal Spray.

I recommend QUICKSILVER'S QUINTON GLASS VIALS only and/or the NASAL SPRAY if you are interested in this beautiful remedy and natural support which can be purchased directly through their website or through my fullscript portal for private clients.

***Please take radical responsibility for yourself when considering whether the incorporation of herbs/supplements into your life is right for you. Do your own research, talk with and consult your health practitioner if you have health projects, conditions or take other supplements or medications that should be considered before starting something new. I almost never support the use of many different herbs, vitamins and supplements at one time as I feel it can confuse the nervous system and body

To end, I'll share a quote that reflects the potential of the Aquarian mind as we move through the final seasons and sections of our 12 part-circular wheel. In the 11th and 12th seasons and signs, our view of the world of which we are apart has the ability to expand into the "beyond." It can contemplate more deeply realms beyond what the eye can see - what is the true nature and power of human beings?

These words have shaped my own mental focus and fixation this Aquarius Season:

"It requires a higher love to free oneself from a lower love.

By the same token, it takes a higher and vaster representation of the world to free oneself from a lower one...

...it is imperative that we find a less fragmented, more holistic vision of humankind than the ones dominant today if we are to evolve in a positive sense

for the world in which we human beings live is shaped by our own image of ourselves"

-Jean-Yves Leloup

I hope you've found something useful and interesting here - please let me know if you have any questions or comments!

Wishing you joy, courage to express your unique creative genius and full on weirdness in its highest expression - and lots and lots of warmth!

Jaz