Meet Aquarius, the Zodiac's unique thinker: The sign's personality traits, dates

The latter half of January and the majority of February are ruled by a Zodiac sign known for its intelligence and unpredictability. Represented by the water bearer, Aquarius is the eleventh sign of the Zodiac. It is the last air sign, despite the elemental queue from its symbol.

Unique, clever and creative − those born under Aquarius can be an enigma to others but never to themselves. Aquarians are forward thinkers, yet can be distant and struggle to express emotion.

Astrologer Kesaine Walker explores the sign's key traits, plus its approach to relationships, career and more.

Aquarius dates

Aquarius season runs from Jan. 20 to Feb. 18.

Aquarius personality, traits

Aquarians are highly intellectual and creative, Walker shares. Others often perceive the air signs as unique individuals influenced by originality and imagination.

Aquarians are idea-driven and never lack sources of inspiration, Walker explains.

"They are known to be progressive thinkers who can see patterns in things others might not notice," she adds.

Marked by independence, those born under Aquarius don't take instruction well. While they can be social, they often only engage in interactions when they genuinely want to.

Aquarians can sometimes be unpredictable at times, which often translates to moodiness.

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Aquarius career horoscope

Walker says social work, journalism, humanitarianism and other "helping professions" are the right fit for Aquarians. They also make great medical workers due to an innate ability to think outside of the box, she adds.

"These careers can require a lot of travel, but this is a good match as (Aquarians) enjoy meeting new people and exploring different cultures," Walker expands.

Aquarius compatibility

Walker describes Aquarians as loyal friends and romantic partners. Their inner circle tends to be small but lasts them a lifetime.

"Aquarians are open-minded, sensitive and passionate lovers who appreciate spontaneity," she says. "They will give up anything if it means staying together." However, it may take an Aquarius some time to navigate relationship dynamics, such as how to apologize or show affection.

Aquarians also tend to get hung up on their work life and leave interpersonal relationships to the wayside.

Aquarius is compatible with the other air signs: Gemini and Libra. But they also pair well with fire signs: Aries, Leo and Sagittarius.

Fire, water, earth and air signs: Understanding the Zodiac elements

Strengths

Walker says Aquarius' key strengths are outside-of-the-box thinking, adaptability and love for collaboration.

Those born under Aquarius are unafraid of change and do not dwell on decision-making. They try to learn from their actions.

"In Aquarius' world, it is more valuable to be different rather than to blend in with the crowd," Walker reveals, praising their unconventional thinking patterns.

Aquarians are also excellent team players, viewing collaboration as essential. "They see their own unique skills as integral parts of a greater whole," Walker adds.

Weaknesses

While Aquarians regulate their emotions well internally, they struggle to effectively communicate them to others, Walker says. They tend to be the least expressive Zodiac sign and have difficulty finding the right words to match their feelings.

This can hurt some relationships for Aquarians, especially those that demand emotional vulnerability and effective communication to build intimacy.

Contributing: Anna Kaufman

Learn more about each Zodiac sign

Aries | Taurus | Gemini | Cancer | Leo | Virgo | Libra | Scorpio | Sagittarius | Capricorn | Aquarius | Pisces

New to Astrology? We've got you covered. Explore more Zodiac coverage and find out what the stars say about you with USA TODAY's astrological sign series.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aquarius Zodiac sign: Personality traits, dates and compatibility