Aquarius pendant 3D print model

What Is the Aquarius? If you're a late-January or early-to-mid-February baby, then your zodiac sign is Aquarius, the Water Bearer who is represented by the planet Uranus and the element air. Aquarius is known for being progressive, idealistic, intelligent, and highly creative—not to mention a little quirky! But there's a lot more to the Aquarius personality than just this, of course.

Read on to learn what this sign means and what the best and worst Aquarius traits are. We'll also go over how Aquarius fares in love and other relationships, what to do if you're an Aquarius, and how to relate to an Aquarius if you're not one.

What Is the Aquarius Sign in Astrology? Dates: January 20 to February 18 or January 21 to February 19 Symbol: Water Bearer Planet: Uranus (originally Saturn) Element: Air Color: Light Blue The 11th sign of the zodiac, Aquarius is represented by the Water Bearer, a symbol of the Gods bringing nourishment to Earth. People born under the Aquarius sign are said to be progressive, independent, intelligent, unique, and idealistic. Their elemental sign is air, the same as that for Gemini and Libra.

Like air, Aquarians don't have a single, clear shape and seem to defy categorization. While some Aquarians are quiet and gentle, others are exuberant and energetic. That said, even these two different types of people share many of the same inner qualities.

For one, Aquarius loves to spend time deep in thought, especially when it pertains to matters of society. The world is their oyster, and they want to do whatever they can to improve it and help others within it. This is where their humanitarian side comes into play; they long to initiate positive change, an essential quality of Uranus, the ruling planet of Aquarius.

Mental stimulation is one of the main keys to happiness for Aquarians. Without it, they quickly become bored and uninterested. They also need plenty of alone time to think and recharge.

Finally, being an Aquarius usually means being original and a little eccentric. It's not uncommon for Aquarians to embrace their creativity and uniqueness, even if it makes them stand out from others in a slightly odd or unconventional way. This quality tends to draw them toward anything new, interesting, or out there, such as edgy fashion, sci-fi/fantasy, the avant-garde, and the latest technology.

Aquarians' idiosyncratic tastes and interests are perfectly encapsulated in the variety of colors and uses of the most common birthstone for Aquarians, the garnet (January's gemstone).

The 7 Best and Worst Aquarius Traits It's hard to define the Aquarius personality because of how much this sign can vary. For the most part, though, Aquarians share certain key traits, some of which are good and some of which are not so good.

Here are the seven best and worst Aquarius characteristics.

Positive Aquarius Traits Aquarians are future-oriented people, often described as visionaries. They're also very intelligent and proudly original.

#1: Visionary Perhaps the most prominent Aquarius trait is their ambitious vision, both for their future and the future of society. Aquarians are extremely progressive and seek to enact positive change in the world, often through generous humanitarian efforts, such as helping with the fight against climate change or figuring out ways to solve the world hunger crisis.

Though they can be a bit dogmatic in their beliefs sometimes, they really will do whatever it takes to see that the world becomes a better place.

Their compassion and strong sense of justice is what guides their actions and views. They also cherish freedom and aim to extend it to everyone.

If you've ever wondered who's going to change the world, my best guess would be an Aquarius!

#2: Intelligent Aquarius is a highly intelligent, cerebral sign that has a tendency to get lost in thought while analyzing something or trying to identify potential solutions to problems. They see possibility in everything and love to dissect it for as long as they can; this, in turn, makes them especially tolerant of other viewpoints.

Indeed, Aquarians are by and large big-picture thinkers and some of the best problem solvers. Sometimes they can get a bit distracted by their own thoughts, but overall they're great people to turn to if you want an unbiased, well-researched answer to an issue or question.

#3: Original Those born under the Aquarius sign are typically some of the most unique and original people you'll ever meet—and they're proud to be, too!

Aquarians are famously innovative and aren't afraid to think outside the box when it comes to creative projects, business solutions, and so on. In fact, they pride themselves on being able to identify revolutionary ideas and approaches for making things—including society—better.

This originality extends to Aquarians' creative minds as well: many are devoutly artistic and love expressing themselves through pursuits such as painting and writing.

In their personal lives, Aquarians are often described as a little (or very) eccentric, but it's a label many, if not most, are willing to embrace. After all, ordinary is boring! Negative Aquarius Traits Now that we've gone over the best Aquarius traits, it's time to look at some of the worst.

#1: Cold Aquarians can come across as cold and insensitive due to their more pragmatic and less emotional way of looking at things. Their tendency to overanalyze detaches them from the world and those around them, causing others to feel uncomfortable with the Aquarian's rigid thought process.

For Aquarius, appearing impersonal or aloof can pose a large problem if the situation is serious or heavily emotions-bound. You don't want to accidentally distance important people from you!

#2: Condescending Aquarius might be one of the more intelligent signs, but this proclivity for deep thinking can lead to condescension in some cases. Aquarians are often convinced that what they think must be right and that therefore everyone else is wrong.

Usually, an Aquarius is completely unaware that they're talking down to someone because they truly believe their opinion is fact. And once they've made up their mind, it can be difficult to change it.

Naturally, this trait can be a big source of frustration for people who are trying to propose solutions or exchange ideas with an Aquarius, as it makes them feel intellectually inferior and like less of an equal.

#3: Overly Idealistic Though being a visionary is one of the best Aquarius characteristics, it's also one of their downfalls. Why? When Aquarians become too idealistic, they often find themselves believing that nothing less than perfect will do—and this can lead to dissatisfaction, frustration, and even depression when they fail to reach this lofty, at times impossible standard.

In many cases, this idealism causes Aquarians to be self-righteous and even a little delusional when it comes to what they can practically do.

#4: Unpredictable The Aquarius sign is all about change, usually change for the better—but occasionally this quality can manifest as unpredictability. Aquarians might generally come across emotionless, but this is because they tend to release their emotions (read: anger) in quick, sudden bursts that seemingly come out of nowhere.

This bad temper is a problem for many Aquarians, especially those who face a lot of pressure in their lives, including from themselves. Aquarius doesn't like to be emotionally vulnerable, so when something really riles them up, it's typically a result of several different things compiled over time. Aquarius Characteristics in Love, Friendship, and Business Aquarians might seem insensitive at times, but they're actually quite compassionate and sympathetic toward others, mainly the people closest to them. Here, we look at how Aquarius fares in love, family and friendship, and business.

Aquarius in Love In a romantic relationship, Aquarius is all about intellectual stimulation. You need to be able to engage in complex, interesting conversations with an Aquarius in order to get them romantically interested in you. While for some the way to the heart is through the stomach, for Aquarius it's through the brain!

Aquarians long for relationships that value not only a mental connection, but also honesty and independence. As the Aquarius sign can be a bit of a loner, they will give their partner the same sense of independence, always treating them as their equal and respecting their boundaries. When it comes to love, Aquarians are generally committed for life and willing to make sacrifices for the sake of their relationship.

One thing to look out for is Aquarius's unrelenting anger should they be betrayed. Cross them, and the relationship will likely end right then and there! Don't expect forgiveness from an Aquarius.

Aquarius in Family and Friendship Aquarians are extremely devoted to family and friends and cherish, above all, honesty, intellect, and creativity in those dear to them. They are often willing to risk everything for the sake of their family.

In terms of friendship, Aquarians are usually quite popular, with lots of friends and acquaintances, due to their collaborative way of viewing the world. Sometimes their slightly condescending, self-righteous attitude can make people uncomfortable, but for the most part, Aquarians are fun, quirky, and easy to get along with.

Because Aquarians dislike being emotionally vulnerable, it can be challenging for them to make close friends. It takes time for Aquarius to feel truly connected to somebody on an emotional and intellectual level. However, once you've successfully befriended an Aquarius, they'll be one of your most reliable pals.