‘Venus at her Mirror (The Rokeby Venus)’ By Diego Velázquez 1644 {{PD}}
On the 22nd, mid-afternoon Pacific time, Venus and the Sun perfect their conjunction, offering us a preview of what the eclipse may shake loose, shake up, or deliver an answer to. The question is, will you be asking questions about Love, Money, partnership, aesthetics, Art, or some other relationship or asset type? They conjoin in Libra, at 29 stressful degrees–this issue isn’t new, and may be at a breaking point, one we likely are just now recognizing–and we are faced with a single, telling aspect, a Finger of God that will, in slightly different form, be part of the eclipse picture in a few days.
Venus in Superior Conjunction to the Sun (that is, conjoined when Venus is direct) is symbolically brightly illuminated–even to herself. Our Venusian energies will be visible to our inner vision in stark detail; take advantage of that, in spite of the way Venus might lobby to be seen in a more flattering light. Venus-Sun receives as Finger apex the energy of Jupiter fresh in Aries (at 00) sextile Sedna at 29 Taurus. That’s a potentially volatile mix, probably out of naivety (the 00 placement in the sign of the ‘I Am’ with the significator of knowledge/ belief or the social sphere) combining with stressed instincts (so likely to be warped by other factors, such as want and wish, or what in Taurus probably feels like need) or an insistence on operating in an area where we carry a significant blind spot. The result is a statement about Love, Money, et al, that will be reiterated, possibly in a more stunning form, at the eclipse. Just after the eclipse, the Moon will catch up with Venus, giving us a look at how it all feels, what emotional conclusions we’ve reached–and that may be the point when we understand things, at least in the sense of how we feel, most fully.
Love is central–or is that a money, asset, or credit situation that takes center stage right now? Either relationships are in focus, or our currency status is, at this Full Moon, which perfects at 11:48 AM PDT on the 28th at 8 Libra 18. All the strongest flow for this lunar event is across the Libra-Aries axis, imbuing the episode with an ‘I/ Other’ dynamic. With Venus so closely opposed the Full Moon, we are likely to frame the Full Moon in terms of what we have versus what others have, and this may be about intangibles like Love or tangibles like property or resources, but in any case brings examination of the balance between the ‘I Am/ I Have’ and ‘They Are/ They Have’. Chiron, also opposed, brings in the consciousness of what we don’t have, or makes it clear what unique skills we possess that can help us get what we want. We may get a new, mature perspective on a number of issues or relationships, and a new attitude born of Full Moon conclusions or culminations, especially in reference to the way injuries, past and current, may be at play in either our emotional or asset situations.
Some things that may be answered: Do we feel unity with others, or are our thoughts focused on the solitary nature of our existence? Do we allow others to hurt us, and then hold those injuries tight for our own reasons? Or do we reject the one who hurt us, and is doing so healthy, or filled with rage (and so taking up our energy when it shouldn’t)? Do we actually believe that others have it easier than we do for no reason? Are we feeling less than rewarded for being who we are? Do we avoid cooperation or forming relationships (especially those centered on romantic love) because we believe it will ‘cost’ us? Have we been withholding use of our skills due to past injury? Do we like cheese? Well, maybe not that last one.
The Full Moon is apex to a Finger of God, with base of Pallas sextile Uranus. This suggests that Full Moon events or revelations (something the Full Moon is known for, bringing complete enlightenment, particularly in matters of the House in the natal chart where this occurs) come about either through a meeting of the practical or skills and the unique viewpoint, or via wisdom applied to the spontaneous or chaotic. What is original to us as individuals combines with either what we can do, or what we know (in the form of a profound Truth), and delivers to us the outcome of an event at this time, or a realization that can illuminate our immediate way forward.
A semi-sextile to Vesta and a sesquiquadrate to Jupiter tells us that hopes to get ‘more’ of what we value, or attempts to honor our beliefs, especially beliefs about what’s sacred, what’s important, will have a rough go of it; it’s likely we’ll have to face certain beliefs, facts, or ways in which we dedicate our energies that are causing problems or are difficult to implement, with the Full Moon requiring us to adjust those beliefs, or modify what we dedicate our time and energy to.
There’s also a loose Air Grand Trine involving the Full Moon, Saturn, and the North Node-Mars (we’re stretching, here). It’s worth noting, though, as in the next hours and days both Earth and the Moon will be perfecting that Trine–and this implies recognition of the energies as working together even at the time of the event gives us a little glimpse into the future. We’re talking about emotional understanding or intuitive perceptions that balance out the mental perceptions and then act as foundation for forward moving actions and choices that will have an effect on the reality picture.
The Sabian for this Full Moon is, ‘Three “Old Masters” Hanging On The Wall Of A Special Room In An Art Gallery’. I think this is a clear reference to Venus; the suggestion may be that we must acknowledge what we treasure, what talents we possess, what we hold dear, our assets, but the issue may be this: if this asset or talent is segregated, off in its own room in a special construct (the gallery), does that mean we are treating it as rarefied, not using it or appreciating what it can do for us? Are we viewing our talents or assets as precious museum pieces, as passive, rather than incorporating their potentials (for earning, for sharing beauty, for generosity, for what they can bring us) into our daily life? Do we keep them in special circumstances because we are in some way saving or ‘hoarding’ them, or does keeping them separate allow us to believe there’s more value in them than we might find should we employ them in the real world? These are Old Masters, after all, possibly a salute to the Chirotic skill each individual possesses that is extraordinary in its uniqueness–so, something we shouldn’t hesitate to share or test, as no one can do ‘it’ quite like we can.
The Sun, Chiron, and Venus, this last ruler of the Full Moon-Earth combo, all share a Sabian: ‘A Crystal Gazer’. The future is written in who we are at core, who we are as a Soul (the Sun), how we respond to our wounds (and you’ll notice the kinds of wounds aren’t important–those are irrelevant, in this context–Chiron), and who, how, and what we love and value (Venus)–and at least symbolically, these matters ‘rule’ (via Venus) and contain the Full Moon ’cause’ (via the light generation of the Sun), so are instrumental to, and in fact inseparable from, the Lunar event.
Today we see and feel a rare confluence of energies perfectly suited to offer life and even Soul-changing opportunities. Relationships, finances, or our own ego or Will may be the catalyst (Sun-Venus-Pluto conj, all sxt Mars), or events/ evolution within or without may prompt change. Thoughts support desires, and suss out the most effective way for us to pursue opportunity, which springs either from potentials seeded in the past or from our own previous choices and actions (Mercury nov Jupiter and parallel Venus, Jupiter parallel SN). The way we become aware of all these energies is likely through the conflict between our current ambitions and desires and our resources or relationships; somehow these don’t support our goals, and this sparks the whole merry chase for shaping our lives and ourselves more to our liking (Sun-Venus-Pluto sq Zeus).
Today both Venus and Pluto begin a new cyclic period in relation to the Sun. The initiation of a new cycle always suggests we need to be on the lookout for new forms and patterns related to these bodies. These can come in the internal form of seeing these influences in a new light, or in external developments that show us these are no longer what we once believed them to be. Awareness that our relationship to matters of assets, interactions, Love, values, change, and destructive inclinations may all more or less find new forms; it’s up to us to note the shifts, and accept a ‘new reality’ in regard to the spectrums Venus and Pluto cover.
Today’s word image is: while sitting in your car, considering taking certain life steps, you see another car approach that presents as identical, seemingly right down to the passengers! Encountering the doppelgänger is something that happens to all of us–the question is whether we recognize ourselves in that other when it occurs. So, something like when the Groundhog looks for his shadow, if you’ve seen your doppelgänger of late, consider it a signal that your Self-awareness is ‘on’ and so accurate, but if you haven’t, consider that the answers you’re seeking are likely being reflected back to you in some way, with a change of focus necessary to perceive them.
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Will we take today’s influences and push ourselves, or will we simply shove others, waiting for them to make it happen? We enjoy a huge advantage in facing the day: we’re firing on all cylinders, swimming in the groove that magnifies the potential for benefits and rewards, and we take a smart and realistic stance (Mars sxt Pluto, Venus conj the Sun by Superior Conjunction and both sxt Jupiter, Merc parallel Saturn and trine Pallas). Thinking enjoys remarkable clarity and signifies harmony between Soul and mind (Sun parallel Mercury). Is there anything that could muck up so much positive juju? Why yes, there is: it’s that enthusiasm that might cause us to shove others rather than motivate ourselves, a failure to take assertive instincts and apply them to transforming circumstances or the Self, and instead to bully, darken, destroy (Mars sxt Pluto, Sun sxt Jupiter=magnifying the Self). Keeping an optimistic outlook in relation to the social sphere and where it’s going is not just the healthy thing, it’s the thing that could help channel assertive energies in a positive direction (Jupiter parallel and and Chiron semi-sq Hygeia)
Today’s word image is a dove mistaken for a pigeon. This struck me as if it were a dream image, where a symbol of peace is seen as a much more ordinary bird (who called them “rats with wings”?) So, what ideal or agent of peace in your life is being misidentified as something ordinary, and so likely being taken for granted? ‘Appreciation’ may be the keyword here.
‘Bees & Cardoon Flower’ Photo By Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic
First, I have a word image for the 5th: two bees push each other inside a flower, eager for nectar and pollen. This may be internal–two parts of the Self, especially the psyche, in conflict over which gets your active attention, which is ‘fed’–or external–you compete with someone else over a finite supply of energy or sustenance. In either case, we must recognize that, though the Universal ‘supply’ is limitless, our personal one may have its boundaries, and this is especially so if we’re talking about personal supplies of energy or resources. Don’t be distracted by struggle–instead simply make a choice, and don’t impose on yourself a judgment (that is, guilt) for choosing as you do–it’s your right to spend your energy as you want.
Venus and the Sun finally perfect their meeting in Gemini today, the 6th, marking their Superior (that is, direct motion of Venus) Conjunction, a once-every-18-months event. This can be seen as the inception point of a new cycle of Venus in relation to the energy that drives all life–and so marks a gentle shift, in this case, in the way we think about (Gemini) Venusian subjects like relationships, Love, diplomacy, and Money. In 9 months Venus will once again retrograde (in Aries), and what we might notice at that point is the way our thinking has changed in the life areas signified by the House in the natal chart where the turnaround occurs–but I digress (or is that pro-gress?)
What we see and realize today is heightened through the excessive harmony the Sun and Venus enjoy; they double up, and we find our consciousness is in perfect agreement with our values and our thinking, so that we may feel extremely confident, emboldened to make adjustments to the power matrix or to institute change, to pursue ambitions and desires, and to deal with, probably obliquely, matters too long ignored or denied (and though it likely won’t be pleasant, dealing with these matters will be more than worthwhile) (Venus conjoins and is parallel the Sun, and both are quincunx Pluto, trine Zeus, and sesquiquadrate Black Moon Lilith)
Word image for the 6th is a black tower standing in a grassy field. This brings to mind the Tower card of the Tarot, a highly Plutonian image associated with catastrophic change outside the reach of the individual. What it may suggest is that, in the midst of the confidence and energy we are likely to enjoy today, we may be wise to remember we’re not in control of the Universe, but only ourselves, and that means things unforeseen can still occur; remaining aware of this possibility may only be wise.
Julie Demboski's ASTROLOGY 