Auntie Moon

Remember, George: no man is a failure who has friends. ~ It’s a Wonderful Life

Aquarius has earned the reputation of being the friend of the zodiac because of its concern for humanity in general, even though it might be a tough nut to crack when it gets right down to being your good close friend. Sometimes that don’t get too-close, let’s keep it cerebral attitude (otherwise known as detachment) can keep Aquarius from warming up. There’s a lot at stake in warming up ~ you have to invite vulnerability and closeness into your life.

Aquarius is the natural ruler of the 11th house. It’s our House of Friends and the sign on its cusp will give you a pretty good idea of what you expect from your friendships and what you’re willing to give in return. I have Sag there so I need a lot of freedom in the activities I plan with my friends, and I give that to my friends, too. Something better comes along that you’d rather do, I’m cool with that. I don’t want to make you do anything, you know? I don’t want to have to do something, either. It has to be done freely or it feels like a chore. (My Sun in the 6th House of Work has enough chores already, if you know what I mean.)

Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born. ~ Anais Nin

Have you ever done a synastry chart for your best friend and yourself? Run them at www.astro.com. They’re very telling.

My best friend is an Aquarian and I’m Cancer. That’s not supposed to work very well. Aquarius and Cancer are inconjunct signs which mean that they aren’t supposed to jibe all that well. The elements are at odds. The modes are at odds. Fixed Air meets Cardinal Water. A piece of advice: throw out your astro cookbooks and whip up your own recipes. Aquarius and Cancer can work well together. All the signs can. It’s about planetary integration.

• She’s an Aquarian with Moon in Cancer. I’m Cancer with Sun conjunct Uranus and Aquarius Rising.
• We both have 6th House Suns.
• Her Saturn conjuncts my Mars ~ she calms me when I’m in a dither and shows me the way toward reason. My Saturn trines her Cancer Moon giving credence to her feelings when waves of emotion overwhelm.
• Her Chiron and N. Node live in my 12th House ~ she knows how to heal my soul.
• Her Sun/Venus conjuncts my N. Node in Aquarius in the first ~ she’s a guiding star encouraging me to be me.
• Together we have a grand trine made up of Mercury, Uranus, and Mars/Saturn. We can always talk about the tough and nutty parts of life and understand one another.

We “get” each other, you know? She is, without question, a soul mate. Not my family, not my good-time buddy, but my dear, true friend who always points me toward the path of growth.

A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out. ~ Walter Winchell

A good friend is someone who, when you call them up in the middle of the night and tell them you’ve just killed someone, shows up in a hurry with a shovel. ~ Unknown

Who shows up for you when things are at their worst, the times when they have the least amount to gain? It’s not always who we  expect it to be. They don’t tell you what to do. If you ask for their advice, they’ll still love you if you don’t take it.

There’s another type of “friend,” the kind we feel sorry for. This is often the type of friendship where you’re always giving and they’re always taking. I hate to say this, but they’re not your friends. My experience with these folks is that when the going gets tough, they get going. They’re like vampires, so don’t invite them into your house. They’ll come in, suck you dry and then when you are in need, they disappear like shadows the midday sun. They don’t show up for you because they were never really there.

How do you see the sign on your 11th house reflected in your friendships?