When I started learning about astrology, I was astounded by the way holidays corresponds with astrological seasons. Halloween is during Scorpio season, highlighting the hidden, the scary, the mysterious, the taboo. Thanksgiving is during the optimistic and idealistic energy of Sagittarius season in denial of the darker elements behind the holiday (genocide!). Christmas during Capricorn season focuses on organization and efficiency of capitalism as we buy gifts and get our house in order. Besides the fact that Valentine’s Day happens during the winter for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, the holiday taking place in Aquarius season has always felt a bit off to me. Aquarius is the sign of the collective, not the individual. Aquarius rules the eleventh house which is concerned with friends, colleagues, social circles, and one’s relationship to society at large.
Ruled by the planet Uranus, Aquarius has to do with revolution and rebellion. St. Valentine is a mysterious historical figure that embodied these uranian ideals by sacrificing himself for the greater good. The Catholic Church recognizes different saints baring the name, two of whom were martyred for revolutionary acts in service of mankind as a collective. One saint married young lovers in secret against Emperor Claudius II’s wishes for bachelors to remain single in order to be better soldiers. The second saint helped Roman prisoners escape their torture and in the process fell in love with a jailer’s daughter. In both of these stories, the emphasis is on the altruistic in service of others—romantic love is secondary.
Gallantine’s Day, or a focus on friendship, is much better alignment with Aquarian energy. Even if you have a romantic partner, the focus may be more on the kind of partnership you have and the friendship that makes a solid foundation for all other aspects of your relationship, including romance. Given the cerebral nature of fixed air Aquarian energy, you might find yourself to be in a more analytical headspace reflecting on what you love about your relationships and what you don’t. Since Aquarius is highly intellectual, idiosyncratic, altruistic, and thinks out side the box, this may be a good time to do some problem solving around what’s not working in your relationships.
The opposite sign of Aquarius is Leo. Ruler of the fifth house, Leo is all about the heart, passion projects, sex, romance, and children. The energy is much more centered on the individual. The sun is the ruler of Leo. It’s fixed fire in the peak of summer when things get spicy—bikinis, parties, causal flings… need I say more? So if you have a weird relationship with Valentine’s Day and the romantic emphasis does not resonate with you, you’re not alone. You’re probably tapping into the larger collective energy.
Image Description: Wooden stars assembled in the shape of a heart against a black background.
Nadia Naomi Mbonde 