Aquarius is the sixth sign in the zodiac. It is part of a bigger story in the stars that shows us the results of the Savior’s victory. Aquarius looks like a man pouring water from a jar. The name “Aquarius” means “water bearer” in Latin.
Today, if you are born between January 21 and February 19, horoscopes say your sign is Aquarius. These modern horoscopes give advice on love, luck, health, and personality.
But the ancient meaning of Aquarius is different and deeper. It teaches that we all have a thirst—not just for water, but for something more in life. And only the Man in Aquarius can give the true water that satisfies.
This message is for everyone, not just people born under Aquarius.
Be Warned! Learning the true meaning of Aquarius might surprise you – leading you on a new journey, different from simply checking your daily horoscope…
Constellation Aquarius in the Stars
Look at the stars that make up the Aquarius constellation. Can you see anything resembling a man pouring out water from a container in this photo of stars?
Even if we connect the stars with lines, it’s hard to see a man pouring water. So where did this image come from?
This sign goes back as far as we know in human history. Here is the zodiac in the Dendera Temple of Egypt, more than 2000 years old, with the image of the water-bearer Aquarius circled in red. You can also see in the sketch on the side that the water flows to a fish.
Here is a National Geographic poster of the zodiac showing Aquarius as seen in the Southern Hemisphere.
Even though the shape is not clear in the stars, the idea came first. People used the stars to remember this story. But what does it mean?
Aquarius and Rivers of Water
Why does Aquarius always pour water to a fish (called The Southern Fish in the zodiac)? What does this mean?
As with the other zodiac constellations, the image of the Water-Bearer is not obvious from the constellation itself. This means the idea of the Water-Bearer came first. The first astrologers then places this idea onto the stars to be a recurring sign.
But why?
This question opens a door to a spiritual journey. It connects to a much bigger story written by God in the stars, which began with Virgo, the virgin Mother.
The ancient Zodiac Story
We saw with Virgo that the Bible says that God created the stars and constellations as signs to tell a story before the Bible was written down.
The signs in the stars were taught from Adam to his children to help them understand God’s plan.
Virgo told of the virgin’s Son—Jesus Christ. Other signs told of a great battle, explaining the Great Conflict. Now, in this second part of the zodiac, we see the blessings we receive from Jesus’ victory.
The Original Meaning of Aquarius
Aquarius told the ancients two great truths of wisdom:
- We are spiritually thirsty—like the fish receiving water.
- Only the Man in Aquarius gives water that satisfies.
These two truths were also taught by ancient Prophets.
We Are Thirsty
ancient Prophets wrote about our thirst in many ways. The Bible (Psalms) talks about our deep thirst:
As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
Psalm 42:1-2
You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.
Psalm 63:1
The prophet Jeremiah warned that people try to satisfy this thirst with the wrong things. This was the root of our sin.
My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
Jeremiah 2:13
We try to fill our thirst with money, sex, pleasure, work, family, marriage, status, and more. But these never truly satisfy. We always want more.
This is what Solomon, the great King known for his wisdom, wrote about. But what can we do to quench our thirst?
Lasting Water to Quench our Thirst
The Bible also promises that one day our thirst will be satisfied. As far back as Moses, they looked forward to this day.
“Water will flow from his buckets, And his seed will be by many waters, And his king shall be higher than Agag, And his kingdom shall be exalted.
Numbers 24:7
The Prophet Isaiah followed these prophecies:
Behold, a king will reign righteously And princes will rule justly. 2 Each will be like a refuge from the wind And a shelter from the storm, Like streams of water in a dry country, Like the shade of a huge rock in a parched land.
Isaiah 32:1-2
He also said:
‘The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the Lord will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
Isaiah 41:17
Quenching the Thirst – Jesus Gives Living Water
How would the thirst be quenched? Isaiah continued.
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.
Isaiah 44:3
In the New Testament, Jesus says He is the one who gives this water:
On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.’39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
John 7: 37-39
He says that ‘water’ is the Spirit. Jesus was talking about the Holy Spirit, who would live in the hearts of those who believe in Him. This started at Pentecost, and it continues today.
This was partial fulfilment, which would later be completed in the Kingdom of God. Later, the Bible tells of a future when:
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
Revelation 22:1
Coming to Drink
Who needs water more than fish? In the zodiac, Aquarius pours water into the mouth of The Southern Fish (Piscis Australis), showing that the victory and gifts won by Jesus – the Seed of the virgin – is for anyone who wants it (thirsts for it).
To receive this we need to:
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. 3 Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.
Isaiah 55:1-3
The fishes of Pisces expands on this picture, giving more detail. The gift of His Water is available to all – you and me included.
Aquarius Horoscope in the ancient Writings
The word “horoscope” comes from the Greek word “horo”, meaning “hour” or “time”.
Jesus spoke of the special hour of Aquarius:
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
“Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
John 4:13-14, 21-23
This is the hour of Aquarius—a long period of time that started when Jesus spoke and continues now. In this hour, Jesus offers us His water.
Your Aquarius Horoscope Reading from the ancient Zodiac
What does Aquarius say to you today? You and I can apply the Aquarius horoscope reading today in the following way.
Aquarius says ‘know thyself’. What is it deep inside you that you thirst after? How does this thirst show itself as the traits that those around you see? Perhaps you are just aware of a vague thirst for ‘something more’, whether that be money, longer life, sex, marriage, romantic relationships, or better food and drink. That thirst could make you incompatible with those that are already close to you, causing frustration in any of your deeper relationships, whether that be co-workers, family members or lovers. Be careful that your thirst does not cause you to lose what you do have.
Now is a good time to ask yourself what is meant by ‘living water’. What are its characteristics? Words like ‘eternal life’, ‘spring’, ‘spirit’ and ‘truth’ were used to describe the Aquarius offer. They bring to mind traits like ‘abundance’, ‘satisfaction’, ‘refreshing’. This can turn around your relationships so that you are a ‘giver’ rather than just a ‘taker’.
But it all starts with knowing your thirst and being honest about what drives you. So follow the example of the woman in this conversation and see if you can learn how she took up the offer. A life worth living comes as you examine your heart.
In Summary:
Know yourself. What are you really thirsty for? Is it money, love, success, or happiness? Are these desires hurting your relationships with others? Maybe with family, friends, or coworkers? Be careful that this thirst doesn’t make you lose the people you love.
Now is a good time to ask, what is “living water”? It’s described with words like eternal life, spirit, truth, refreshment, and satisfaction.
When you receive this water from Jesus, you can start giving instead of always needing. It can change your heart and make your life better. But first, be honest about what is inside you. Like the woman Jesus spoke to, you can choose to drink this water and start a new life.
Deeper into Aquarius and Through the ancient Zodiac Story
The sign of Aquarius is not only for people born between January 21 and February 19. It’s a sign in the stars for everyone to remember that we are all thirsty for something more.
Aquarius promises that the Son of the virgin (Jesus) will quench that thirst. To begin the Zodiac story from the start, see Virgo. The story continues with Pisces
To go deeper in the written story of Aquarius see:
- The Wisdom of the filty-rich playboy Solomon
- Living Water by the Dead Sea
- Kingdom of God: Many Invited but…
- The Spirit comes at Pentecost
- Understand & receive the Gift of Life