Aquarius
Egyptian culture. The Nile god named Hapi was loved, respected and most waited god in Egypt. Life depended on him because it was he who brought inundations with him. The water arrived and everything was good: there was harvest, earth was again full of power and life. He was depicted as a bearded man with enlarged breasts and belly to stress his fertility function. His body was green to show the connection to Nile inhabitants and plants. The most common icon was a man holding an amphora or other vessel from which he poured water on the ground. Annual floods of the great River were considered the gift of Hapi. He can be named the first god who was slightly scientific and corresponding to Aquarius innovative nature: to predict the level of the floods the priests were using their invention of measurement, nilometer. Though the god didn’t have separate temple or cult he was honoured everywhere. Always flowing, always in motion, as running river. The long and full of admiration hymn to Hapi, the Nile contains such words.
“No one knows the place he's in, his cavern is not found in books.
He has no shrines, no portions, no service of his choice;
But youths, his children, hail him, one greets him like a king.
Lawful, timely, he comes forth, filling Egypt, South and North;
As one drinks, all eyes are on him, Who makes his bounty overflow…â€
Ancient Greece. In Greece there is also the image of the deity who can be referred to Aquarius sign. Zeus and Hera gave birth to Hebe, who was eternally young maiden and was responsible for nectar. Her images are always of the young and gracious tender youth holding a jar on her shoulder or leaning it over a cup to fill. In the mount Olympus she served the guests with nectar until her marriage with Hercules who received the right to be among the gods after his death. She was worshipped by those who were obsessed by remaining young and healthy as she was believed to be able to grant with regeneration functions and restore the body from diseases. She was replaced by another youth, this time male one – Hanimed, whose beauty caused Zeus’ passion. The supreme god decided to bring him to Olympus and make his new cupbearer.
Tarot Arcana. Seventeenth Arcana The Star which key word is hope, relates to the sign of future-oriented Aquarius. The brightest star seems to be the main image on the card. It is bold and confident and even a bit overwhelming. Perhaps this shows the best of Aquarius nature – brave following higher ideals, aspiration to explorations and new discoveries, inventions and innovations. Being the navigating instrument throughout centuries the star calls to adventures but those with purpose. Stars are believed to be the dwelling of other worlds and thus point us to expand our communication further into different unknown realms. In medieval times it was new lands which attracted people but today it is new spheres of human mind and possibilities of human brain and sense which can serve a vast territory for explorations. Don’t be afraid to show your enthusiasm and knowledge, let it be like the star on the card: the brighter it shines, the more areas it illuminates. The night on the card seems really bright. The girl on the card looks concentrated and focused. Though it is not so clear for a viewer to distinguish what she does but she is confident and seems very determined to accomplish her task.
Be life-bringer and refresher as ancient Hapi, keep yourself always in motion, young and health as Hebe, the holder of sacred healing nectar; and don’t forget to share your knowledge and insights as the girl from The Star so that your shining energy will allure others to follow. I hope my short suggestion will help you to invent your own way of opening the potential energy of your signs.
