Uranus is the closest of the planets that can not be seen with the naked eye. It was not discovered until 1781, so its role in astrology is rather recent, compared to the closer planets that have been observed for ages.
     In the horoscope, Uranus represents the higher intellect, like sort of a bigger sibling to Mercury. A good word for it is insight. Profound thought, things that take a lifetime to learn fully. Whereas Mercury deals with the everyday conscious intellect of communication and such, Uranus is the analytical process going on inside our minds, making us come to an understanding of life as a whole. The bystanding observer we all have somewhere in our minds.
     What we learn from our lives.

Keywords
Here are the twelve Zodiac signs, and keywords for the character they give to Uranus, i.e. your insight and revelations:
    Aries   eager
    Taurus   reluctant
    Gemini   quick
    Cancer   careful
    Leo   doubtless
    Virgo   reasoning
    Libra   logical
    Scorpio   diffuse
    Sagittarius   distanced
    Capricorn   dsiciplined
    Aquarius   contemplative
    Pisces   searching

And here are examples of fields of life where you are the most likely to reach insight, through the workings of Uranus:
    Aries   competition
    Taurus   nature
    Gemini   discussion
    Cancer   emotions
    Leo   self-analysis
    Virgo   work
    Libra   debate
    Scorpio   imagination
    Sagittarius   change
    Capricorn   strife
    Aquarius   study
    Pisces   religion

Ruler
Uranus rules over Aquarius, the sign of wisdom, which means that it tends to be the most obvious and enforced in this sign. It exalts in Sagittarius, the sign of distant perspectives. It fits the best in air signs, which stand for thought. It is less stimulated in water signs, but there is really no sign where it gets restrained - with the possible exception of Aries.


The castration of the god Uranus by his son Saturn. Painting by Giorgio Vasari, 16th century.

Planet age
Each of the heavenly bodies represents a period in your life of about seven years. In the case of Uranus it is the period before retirement, when we are the wisest and know our ways as well as can be achieved. That would be approximately from your late 50's to your early 60's. What you have learned from your life so far. It is time to find that out, and to contemplate it.


© Stefan Stenudd, 2008