Aquarius ♒
The eleventh sign of the Western zodiac, Aquarius is represented by the ♒ symbol, two stacked wavy lines, and covers people born between January 20 and February 18. These lines are said to evoke water poured by the water-bearer that gives the sign its name.
Meaning of ♒
Aquarius belongs to the air element and the group of fixed signs, despite its name evoking water — a peculiarity often noted in astrological tradition. It is traditionally ruled by Saturn, and modern astrology also assigns it Uranus, a planet linked to originality and breaking with convention.
Aquarius is generally credited with an independent, humanist temperament drawn to new ideas, with a marked interest in collective causes and social issues. This sign would also be described as original, sometimes deliberately at odds with established norms, preferring its own path to that of the group. This independence of mind could, according to astrologers, translate into a certain emotional distance or difficulty conforming to conventional emotional expectations, with Aquarius valuing friendship and freedom at least as much as romantic closeness.
These traits remain interpretations drawn from astrological tradition, with no demonstrated scientific basis, but they continue to fuel much of the horoscopes and personality portraits linked to this sign.
Origin & history
The ♒ symbol is part of the repertoire of twelve traditional astrological signs used in the West for a very long time, well before the modern concept of emoji appeared. Its two wavy lines, representing water poured by the water-bearer, have appeared for centuries in astrology documents as a graphic abbreviation of the sign.
This character is natively available in the Unicode character set, alongside the eleven other zodiac symbols, allowing it to be typed directly in digital text without an image. It is an ancient symbol carried over as-is by digital technology, not an invention specific to contemporary emojis.
How to use it
♒ is mainly used to indicate one's astrological sign in a social media bio, a dating profile, or a story dedicated to one's personality. It allows quickly displaying identity information recognizable to anyone familiar with zodiac symbols.
Horoscope and astrology content also uses it to caption posts dedicated to this sign or to compare compatibility between two profiles. It remains a neutral, common usage, both in a personal setting and in editorial content about astrology and unconventional personalities, a theme often associated with Aquarius.
Popular combos
A reference to the water poured by the water-bearer, despite the sign's air element.
Evoking the originality and innovative spirit traditionally attributed to Aquarius.
A reminder of the air element actually associated with this sign.
Frequently asked questions
What are the exact dates of the Aquarius sign?
Aquarius corresponds to people born between January 20 and February 18, according to Western astrology.
What is Aquarius's element?
Aquarius belongs to the air element, even though its symbol evokes water poured by the water-bearer.
Which planet rules Aquarius?
Traditionally Saturn, and Uranus in modern astrology, the latter associated with originality and a spirit of independence.
Why is Aquarius associated with originality?
In astrological tradition, the influence attributed to Uranus would explain this sign's taste for new ideas and its need for independence from convention.