Aquarius, the water-carrier of Altarnun

The sun is in this sign from 20^th January to 19^th February. An air sign.
Key words: clubs, revolutionary, waves, telepathy, eccentric, perverse, intuition, freedom, protest, reform, disruption.
Light or planet: Uranus.
Body parts: ankles, calves, circulation.

This constellation was known to the ancient Babylonians as a man carrying a jug containing water, the source of life. The jug is a group of stars that include Eta, Pi, Gamma and Zeta Aquari. Alpha Aquari – Sadalmelik of 3.0 Magnitude is 760 light years away from earth. Its name derives from the Arabic Al sad al Melik meaning “the lucky one of the king”. It is a yellow supergiant of spectral class G”. Beta Aquari also known as Sadalsuud “the lucky of the luckiest” is of 2.9 Magnitude and 610 light years away. It is another yellow supergiant of the spectral class G0. Zeta Aquari is a double star of 4.3 and 4.5 Magnitude, separated by 2.0”. After 2160 this distance will have grown to 6.0”. The period of revolution is 856 years and the system is 104 light years away. The constellation of Aquarius is formed by the area between St Clether and Laneast to the north, to Trewint in the south. The head of Aquarius lies over Trewint, beside Wesley Cottage and the body covers Altarnun. The feet of the figure lie on the holy wells of St Clether and Laneast. Sadalachbia lies over Treween. Sadalsuud is over Newhay. Ancha is near the phone-box at Lower Tregunnon. The Saturn nebula is near St Clether.

The sign of Aquarius the water-carrier coincides with the Celtic feast of Imbolc, also known as Candlemas, which is connected with wells and water. Imbolc is one of the four principal festivals of the Irish calendar, celebrated either at the beginning of February or at the first local signs of Spring. Originally dedicated to the goddess Brigid, in the Christian period it was adopted as St Brigid’s Day. In Scotland the festival is also known as Là Fhèill Brìghde, in Ireland as Lá Fhéile Bríde, and in Wales as Gwyl Ffraed. Imbolc is traditionally a time of weather prognostication, and the old tradition of watching to see if serpents or badgers came from their winter dens is perhaps a precursor to Groundhog Day. Fire and purification are considered by many to be important aspects of this festival. Brigid (also known as Brighid, Brigit,) is the goddess of poetry, healing and smithcraft. As both goddess and saint she is also associated with holy wells, sacred flames, and healing. To some, the lighting of candles and fires represents the return of warmth and the increasing power of the sun over the coming months.