Often considered the most enigmatic of the zodiac children, Aquarians are fiercely individualistic and independent intellectuals who rarely form permanent relationships with anyone. Nevertheless, they are also noted for being friendly, kind, helpful, and caring; and they are possessed of deep humanitarian instincts. Still, they always remain quintessentially private people. Aquarians are gifted with inventiveness, originality, and creativity, and they are equally comfortable working in such disparate worlds as social work science.

It is not that you aren’t friendly. On the contrary, you are the kind of person to whom people can turn in any emergency, because you are always ready with sympathy, advice, and practical assistance. Typically, however, this approachability isn’t the result of any great emotional empathy on your part, but because you tend to assess situations calmly and logically and thus know just the right thing to do at just the right time.

Expect the unexpected is Aquarius’ motto, especially when it comes to romance. With mutable Mercury guiding your love life through Gemini, your romantic experiences are unique. Cupid often finds you in out-of-the-way places or under unusual conditions.

You’re an independent person, but a devoted and faithful lover. And while you hate jealousy, you expect fidelity.

While one never knows how a love affair will end, minimize the chance of an unpleasant outcome by letting romance develop gradually from friendship. Yours is universal sign of friends, so you’re most comfortable relating to your sweetheart as a pal first. And since both Aquarius and Gemini are mentally oriented air signs, a meeting of the minds is at least as important as sexual attraction.

Although your lover may also be your best friend, there are differences between sweetheart and pal. Your honey has right to expect a certain amount of time with you one-on-one. Being part of a couple doesn’t mean you can’t spend time with your friends. But your pals can’t expect to come along on your dates or drop in anytime without calling first to see if it’s okay.

Water Bearers often feel more in their hearts than they know how to express. But it’s important to communicate your tender feelings with words and gestures. Don’t assume your sweetheart knows how much you care. Say “I love you” frequently where your honey would like to go and what he or she would like to do on dates. Be sympathetic when he or she has a problem. Also be affectionate and bestow your lover with unexpected gifts.

When it comes to love, you must try to show your emotions more openly than you normally do-or feel you can. Aquarians tend to throttle back on emotions. This makes it difficult to throw you into a physical relationship with the enjoyment and enthusiasm your lover needs. And you have a hard time letting your true emotions rise to the surface, so beware of sending mixed signals: you may lose out on finding the love of your life!

Aquarians often feel as if they were born a century or two too soon, especially when it comes to technology. At least now that we are in the computer age, the world seems to be catching up to you. People often think Aquarius is water sign because your symbol is the Water Bearer. But air is your element and it is connected with many fields that make excellent career choices.

Aviation appeals to the adventurous spirit of many Aquarians who make a living as pilots, flight attendants and travel agents. The airwaves of radio and television beckon many more members of your sign who excel as talk show hosts, newscasters, actors, producers, directors and sound effects technicians. The fields of electricity and electronics attract many Aquarians. You might make your mark as an electrician or appliance repair person, or in the computer-related fields of programming and hardware maintenance, software and web design. The liquid your Water Bearer pours symbolizes knowledge, and motivational speakers. Known for your intelligence and problem solving ability, you have a flair for invention. Members of your sign are fantastic fix-it people who enjoy working as auto mechanics, carpenters or computer gurus.

Aquarius is also the sign of friendship. Your outgoing personality makes you well suited to jobs in the hospitality industry. Pluto, which guides your work life through mysterious Scorpio, gives you even more career options, like detective work, investigative reporting and medical research.

Your career planet is currently making a long transit of Sagittarius, encouraging inventiveness and opening doors to adventure and personal growth. Since Sagittarius is Aquarius’ sign of friendship, you buddies can aid your career over the next six years. Some of you will go into business with your pals. Others will benefit from friends’ tips and introductions.

You’d rather bounce ideas around than struggle to balance a checkbook. But finances will pay an increasingly important role in your life as this decade goes on. If you want to control your money-instead of letting bills control you-learn how to maximize your earning power, minimize debts and invest in the future. Don’t think that focusing on finances makes you a greedy materialist. With Neptune guiding your fortunes through spiritual Pisces, that won’t happen. In fact, if you learn to be a better money manager, you’ll have more cash to donate to favorite causes.

If you are a typical Aquarian, surfing the Internet is one of your favorite hobbies. So make the most of online resources that can help with budgeting, bill-paying, saving and investing. Have your paychecks deposited directly to your bank account so you won’t have too much cash on hand to spend. Pay your bills electronically every month so you won’t have to worry about mailing checks to creditors on time. Use the Internet to comparison-shop for the best rates on insurance, credit cards and loans.

If you have extra cash, study the stock market online and pick a discount broker to handle your trades. Investments that can be profitable for Water Bearers include aviation, computers, the hospitality industry, ecological enterprises and ocean-oriented companies, from fisheries and swimsuit manufacturers to seaweed products.

Aquarius and its ruling planet, Uranus, are strongly associated with the circulatory system. Take good care of yours, or you may experience a variety of related problems: Varicose veins and hardening of the arteries, to mention just two. Your polar zodiac sign also has a certain effect on your health, and in your case, your opposite sign has particular significance.

And always wrap up well in cold weather, which isn’t good for you-no matter how much you may like it. To keep your circulatory system moving freely, it’s important that you keep moving too. Aerobics and dance classes will suit you, but watch out for those Aquarian ankles, which can be damaged easily. You also enjoy swimming, and in fact are drawn to most sports, especially when you’re young, which favor individual performance over team playing.

Aquarians are almost always drawn to holistic medicine and alternative health regimens, particularly in the area of natural alternatives to conventional drugs. Though you have a deep respect for traditional science, you may have an equally deep mistrust for prescription medications, and you may have an equally deep mistrust for prescription medications, and you may well have used natural remedies, including herbs, for years. As for food, a light diet is best for you. You won’t find it easy to regulate your diet, but do it. And when you manage to shake off surplus pounds, resist celebrating with a giant binge.

Aquarians need and insist on variety. If you don’t get it at work, you will certainly seek it out in your spare time. You probably enjoy entertaining others, and with your innate dramatic flair and glamour you will be an asset to any amateur dramatic or operatic society. You enjoy big occasions, so celebrity concerts, first nights, and other celebratory occasions will attract you. And your good nature and desire to help others can be well expressed by working on charity committees. You are especially drawn to ecology campaigns and the green movement in general.

You take great pleasure in giving hospitality to others, and with the help of Leo, your polar sign, you provide some lavish dinners and nights out. As a cook, you enjoy experimenting far more than slavishly following printed recipes, and though the results may often best be described as…well…unusual, they will certainly be enjoyable. All these pastimes can be extended into retirement, and there is no reason why they can’t be carried on for as long as you wish. Your instinct to stay active and not get tied down to routine is not only natural but also very good for you.

Do remember, however, to keep some time free. Not only do you need to unwind regularly, but you also love to do things on the spur of the moment. So always leave some “just-in-case” space in your busy schedules.