Welcome to Aquarius season! The 11th and penultimate sign in the zodiac calendar, Aquarius is an air sign represented by the celestial water bearer.  

Aquarians are the most free-thinking of signs; the waves of water poured by the water bearer symbolize the Aquarians’ naturally flowing ideas. Ruled by the unpredictable planet of Uranus, Aquarius is characterized by a rebellious and unconventional nature. Aquarians’ lives are often a quest for truth, and those born under this sign are often devoted to the betterment of society, often through activism. 

Courtesy of Thameka Thompson.

Entering 2022 under this sign, we wondered whether those born under this independent sign were the zodiac’s natural artists—after all, Edouard Manet, Jackson Pollock, and Yoko Ono are all Aquarians. 

To divine advice for Aquarians artists, we reached out to our friend, New York-based astrologer, spiritual practitioner, and writer Thameka. Thameka has her B.A. from Yale University and her spiritual practice includes astrology, cartomancy, meditation, numerology, and tassology (the art of tea-leaf reading). For those looking for a little personalized guidance, she is currently accepting bookings for readings, too.

If you’re interested in finding out what Aquarians should and shouldn’t do this zodiac season, read on for more. 

What are the quintessential qualities of Aquarius artists and what are their strengths?

The most quintessential characteristic of an Aquarius artist is their strong individual nature. Of the entire zodiac, they are the most comfortable being individuated and different. They benefit from being very out-of-the-box thinkers. Aquarius don’t harbor any doubt or shame about tapping into any inspiration that flows to them and running with it. They are okay being a little quirky. As artists, they are best served by being really being confident in themselves and free-spirited and free-thinking.

What would Aquarians’ pitfalls as artists be?

I always refer to Aquarius as the aliens of the zodiac. While Aquarians’ unique thinking and different way of looking at the world is one of their strengths, it is a bit of a blessing and curse because they struggle with connecting to their audiences and making sure that people really “get” whatever they are trying to convey or say.

What type of media are Aquarians be best suited to?

Aquarians make great communicators, so they often thrive in areas related to writing, such as poetry or screenwriting, as well as public speaking  

Courtesy of Thameka.

Romantic advice: if an Aquarius were going to date someone in the art world, who would they be compatible with? 

Aquarius tend to be good matches with other air signs—Aquarius, Gemini, Libra. Geminis tend to be more visual artists, such as painters or filmmakers, or even curators. 

What should Aquarius artists expect this zodiac season? 

We start this Aquarius season in the midst of a mercury retrograde. Therefore, it’s not a particularly good time to initiate or start new projects. However, it is a good time to assess and review current plans and projects and make adjustments as needed (again, think in terms of seeing the bigger picture, and high-level thinking). It’s possible that past inspirations or projects may also be coming to the fore now. 

I also pulled a card from the Light Seer’s Tarot for the Aquarius collective (anyone with prominent Aquarius placements). Aquarians received the Four of Wands. I love this energy coming out for y’all, especially as, as a reader, I always pick up on an overlap between Aquarius and Aries, a fire sign and the wands in the tarot represent fire. This card, also known as the 1111 card, can speak to burgeoning or building stability and a strong foundations. It can speak to two people or parties (such as in business or in marriage) coming together, consolidating resources, and building something lasting and substantial together. This card can also have a celebratory energy to it, which I obviously love coming out during your birthday season, Aquas! Celebrate. Dance. Move! Especially if you’ve been feeling “stuck” lately. In ways literal and non, it will get the energy moving. ‘Tis your season after all!

What can everyone expect this season?

Off the top, I might suggest a lot of release around past emotional issues or matters. People may be drawn to tap back into past or previous passions or discover new passions or projects they want to pursue. Again, due to Mercury being in retrograde, it would not be advisable to necessarily start anything new; the caveat there being that if something such as an opportunity from the past resurfaces, then perhaps it would be more successful this time around.

I also pulled a card for this question. For the wider collective, we have the Seven of Cups. Again, with Mercury currently retrograding (in the sign of Aquarius no less), confusion can abound. You may be faced with several choices or options right now, and it’s not necessarily so clear or easy to see the way forward. Hold tight, go within, introspect, and listen to the dictates of your heart, as well as the voice of kind Spirit as that will help to illuminate the pathway forward. It’s possible that some of the choices or options you currently face or feel are viable, will naturally fall away or in other ways change over the next few weeks so as to make your decision-making easier. Gaining a deeper sense of grounding, as well as keeping on top of your mindful or spiritual routines such as journaling, meditation, yoga, etc., will also help. Some may also benefit from heart chakra healing and or meditation. Book a reading if so.

Curious which artists are Aquarians? Check out 10 of art history’s best below. 

Jeff Koons: January 21, 1955  

Jeff Koons poses in front of his creation entitled “Tulips bouquet” next to the Grand Palais on October 04, 2019, in Paris, France. Photo by Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)

Edouard Manet: January 23, 1832 

Drawing of Edouard Manet by Henri Fantin-Latour.
Image: Courtesy of Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Jackson Pollock: January 28, 1912 

Jackson Pollock sits with a black dog in his studio at  The Springs, East Hampton, New York, August 23, 1953. Photo by Tony Vaccaro/Getty Images.

Takashi Murakami: February 1, 1962

Takashi Murakami in Paris, France 2019. Photo by Victor Boyko/WireImage.

Norman Rockwell: February 3, 1894 

Norman Rockwell, c. 1921. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Nick Cave: February 9, 1959 

Nick Cave with his Heard Of Horses installation at Grand Central Terminal, 2013. Courtesy of Getty Images.

Max Beckmann: February 12, 1884

Max Beckmann, 1922. Photograph by Hans Möller.

Joan Mitchell: February 12, 1925

Joan Mitchell in France, 1991. Photograph by © David Turnley/Corbis.

Louis Comfort Tiffany: February 18, 1848

Louis Comfort Tiffany, circa 1908.

Yoko Ono: February 18, ​1933

Yoko Ono at Lisson Gallery in July 1968. Photograph by Roger Jones/Keystone Features/Getty Images.