11. Aquarius (21st January - 18th February)
Aquarians are the eccentrics of the Zodiac - they have a quirky off beat nature and they are almost always up to the elbows in good works and kindly needs. Mercury is exalted in Aquarius which gives people with the star sign a powerful intellect that frequently flashes into genius. They have strange and idiosyncratic beliefs and they march to the beat of their own drum. Aquarians speak the truth without offending people (unlike Sagittarius with its foot in mouth approach) and are great friends. They are very attuned to future trends and they love electronic products and their gadgets. Ruled by the mighty Uranus (planet of the criminally insane) - Aquarians can be unpredictable and diverse in many ways. They are never snobby people and they would talk to a street tramp as soon as they would speak to Prince Charles. This is what is so endearing about Aquarius - their authenticity and kind treatment of their fellow human beings. They also have a mischievous intent - to stir things up and to be bold and provocative. On the negative side, Aquarius may be so odd that they cannot relate to other people. Their shocking views alarm people and alienate them. The famous Aquarian detachment can cause problems with the Aquarian coming across as aloof and distant. The problem behind that lies in the fact that while being THE humanitarian sign, Aquarians are not comfortable in the world of human emotions. They are intensely cerebral people who prefer to communicate in the mental realm where they feel safe - not the dirty world of raw human feelings. Cerebral detachment is common in Aquarians and is used as a coping mechanism to avoid emotional pain. As a fixed sign, Aquarians are set in their ways - and if you try to change this characteristic, you will have a rebellion on your hands. Aquarius is most compatible with Gemini and Libra.