Spice up your life! Aquarius Season thunders in from January 19 to February 18, offering the zodiac a crash course in belonging to a community and finding the courage to stand alone. When I think of Aquarius, I think of what it means to shine both as a single star and as part of a constellation. That’s why you’ve likely encountered contrasting descriptions of Aquarius as both the outlier and the organizer. This duality exists because Aquarius reminds us there’s a time to be our own unique spice and a time to join the Spice Girls.

This “both/and” approach to Aquarius is truly radical when it comes to reimagining community. According to LGBT Hero, an U.K.-based health organization, LGBTQ+ people more likely to experience loneliness than cishet folks. This struggle for connection is where Aquarius Season offers guidance, helping us navigate both the longing for belonging and the bravery to step apart when we dare to challenge groupthink or echo chambers. Aquarius teaches us about community and friendship by showing us which friends support our individuality while offering the incredible, ineffable experience of losing ourselves in something greater and more communal.

Let’s explore the fundamentals of this eleventh sign. Ruled by Uranus in modern astrology and Saturn in traditional astrology, Aquarius is the one and only fixed air sign. As we settle into the peak of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, this fixed energy encourages us to get decisive and committed (fixed) about our ideas and ideals (air), especially in the realm of community. In this spirit, bell hooks offers a powerful definition of the “beloved community,” describing it as “formed not by the eradication of difference but by its affirmation, by each of us claiming the identities and cultural legacies that shape who we are and how we live in the world.” This vision of community is particularly relevant during Aquarius Season, which challenges us to embrace both individuality and collective care.

With Mars Retrograde in Cancer throughout Aquarius Season, there’s an added emphasis on how we handle conflict and repair within our relationships. To truly build the beloved community, we must develop the skills to address and heal inevitable moments of disharmony. Belonging and loving deeply come with the risk of disappointment. Mars Retrograde offers a chance to tune into our emotional world and practice attunement with others. This transit encourages us to see conflict as an opportunity for growth, helping us contextualize disagreements without resorting to character assassination. It’s a powerful reminder that the strength of any community lies in its ability to navigate and repair the inevitable fractures.