Note: This thread’s my opinion. Take it if you like it. Leave it if you don’t. Thanks!
Aquarius is an air, fixed sign ruled by Saturn. The Sun’s in detriment in Aquarius. Air is an element that can be further broken down into two qualities: hotness and wetness. Hotness shows that the element tends to manifest externally while wetness shows a connective quality. Air tries to be relatable and can be a binding agent in between. A very simple way to think of air is to think of air as “external connections.” This is why air signs are tied to the rational and to communicating. When you communicate, you’re trying to externally connect with someone.
When you’re rational, you’re trying to connect pieces of the environment together to make sense. If you have a system of logic that fits the environment well, you can keep the connection with others. This is why air signs need things to make sense. Aquarius is no exception. But Aquarius isn’t just an air sign, Aquarius is fixed too. Aquarius wants to MAINTAIN and STABILIZE external connections with others so the connections are CONSISTENT. Unlike Gemini and Libra, it’s going to take more than a flirty wink or a fun fact to keep them interested.
This brings me to my first main point: 1. Aquarius wants longevity. Keep this point in mind as I make the rest of my argument.
Speaking of longevity, Saturn, planet of time and quality, rules over Aquarius. People talk about how Aquarius is “detached” all the time and how it’s hard to reach them. Blame Saturn. Saturn adds to my first point: Aquarius wants QUALITY longevity. Finally, the Sun’s in detriment with Aquarius. When a planet is in detriment, the planet struggles to achieve their objective because the archetype of the sign clashes with it. So, what’s the Sun’s objective? The Sun’s objective is this: Look at yourself. Identify yourself.
Now, let’s think about attention. Attention can be positive or negative, but attention will ALWAYS be fleeting. Attention varies in quality, and it doesn’t last long. Attention is everything an Aquarius doesn’t want when it comes to identity building. The case for Aquarius not liking attention is true. Aquarius finds attention to be unhelpful. How are you going to build and maintain long-lasting identity out of something as fleeting and perhaps trivial as attention? Aquarius would argue that you can’t.
However, if Aquarius doesn’t see utility in attention, how and where else will Aquarius construct an identity? If they choose to keep on being skeptical of attention, they won’t have any pieces regardless to build and maintain an identity.
The urgency to have an identity is debatable, but if one argues that one must have an identity to have a clear life path, then an Aquarius has to build an identity quick, as much as they don’t want to. You can’t achieve your dreams until you know who you are.
So the argument for Aquarius wanting and needing attention is true too. As much as Aquarius would like to argue how ineffective attention is, attention is an inevitable beginning to a social interaction. The inevitable beginning to something more. Which is what Aquarius wants.
Aquarius finds attention to be an ineffective building block for creating an identity, but Aquarius also realizes that attention may be the catalyst to find the long-lasting building blocks Aquarius requires to build a consistent identity at all. What IS this long-lasting building block Aquarius is longing for? Deep and meaningful social interactions with others. The witnessing of the other, rather than the other witnessing the self. Identity’s built between the solidarity between many others, rather than within one self.
Planets in detriment always find unconventional ways to defy or express a planet’s objective. The Sun’s objective is to look and identify yourself. Aquarius questions WHERE and HOW to look.
Does having your Sun in detriment make your identity building process harder? Sure. Aquarius is known to be withdrawn. They’re seen as an outcast, hard to reach. This is probably what Aquarius gets for not snatching every opportunity for attention. But that’s okay. At best, Aquarius builds an identity starting with attention that is unshakable and timeless. They are truly self-assured and will have deep social interactions on top of that. At worst, Aquarius doesn’t build an identity because they fool themselves into thinking they don’t need attention, depriving themselves of deep social interactions that eventually makes them arrogant and socially out of touch.
So, does Aquarius want attention? Here’s my answer: I hope they do. Let’s get rid of the narrative that you’re “cool and interesting” because you don’t need attention. Humans are SOCIAL beings, and social interactions start with attention. It’s okay to seek for attention until you rely on it to compensate for your lack of identity building skills. But... you’re not lame if you seek for attention. Honestly, you’re just being human. Aquarius. Let yourself be human.