Venus; Do we really know her?

 

Venus is the planet of love, beauty, money and values. We all have Venus in our chart somewhere and the sign she is in often shows us how, what and who we are attracted to. The house she is in shows us where her influence will be strongest.

But, this is not the full story for Venus. Do we really know her?

During Venus’s cycle she shares two very different conjunctions with the Sun. The inferior conjunction occurs when Venus is halfway through her retrograde cycle. At this point she is nearest to the Earth and appears at dark. Venus appears in the pre-dawn sky about a week after the inferior conjunction when Venus and the Sun are roughly 10 degrees apart. At this point Venus is called Phosphorus and Lucifer, meaning ‘light bearer.’ Venus turns direct 3 weeks after the inferior conjunction and 36 days after the inferior conjunction she is at her brightest. 36 days later Venus reaches her maximum distance from the Sun, and is moving at the same speed and gaining.

216 days later Venus reaches her superior conjunction with the Sun. For several weeks before and after the superior conjunction Venus is so close to the Sun she is not visible. The superior conjunction of Venus is like the opposition aspect of the full moon lunation cycle. At this point Venus becomes the evening star and is called Hesperus which means ‘Western.’ 36 days after the superior conjunction Venus first appears in the evening sky, setting after the Sun.

216 days after the superior conjunction Venus again reaches its maximum distance from the Sun. 36 days later Venus is at its most brilliant. About 2 weeks after this Venus begins her every yr and a half 40 day retrograde. In the middle of this the inferior conjunction occurs once again and Venus begins her cycle anew. 12 days before the inferior conjunction Venus is not visible in the sky.

Venus rotates 180 degrees on its polar axis between inferior conjunctions. After 5 or more consecutive cycles occur, if they are plotted and put down on paper (or a computer screen) an amazing 5 pointed star emerges that can show us Venus’s path!

Morning star or Evening star

Venus as a morning star and Venus as an evening star represent different emotional temperaments, values and ideals. Each of these 2 types also carry a special retrograde subtype as well.

Which Venus are you?

Finding your Venus type; morning or evening is not difficult. If the Sun is further along the zodiac than Venus your Venus type is Lucifer, or Venus is a morning star. If Venus is further along than the Sun it is Hesperus, the evening star. For example, if your Sun was at 16 degrees of Cancer and Venus 23 degrees of Gemini,  Venus is behind the Sun which makes this Venus a morning star Venus.

Venus Lucifer

This individual typically has an impulsive, emotional, eager and spontaneous personality. If you were born during the first half of the Venus cycle, or under the morning star you typically let your heart lead the way before your head. These Venus’s are typically open to new experiences and are emotionally resilient.

If a Lucifer Venus was born during a retrograde Venus cycle, and experienced emotional pain or abuse early on in life they may completely shut down on an emotional level and take on a fearful or guarded stance toward relationships and life in general.

These people sometimes dedicate their life to work and new ideals rather than love. They are attracted to the arts but are often found to be too ahead of their time in their lifetime.

In a man’s chart Venus as the morning star (retrograde) suggests dedication to goals and ideals. Actor Jack Nicholson is born with this placement.

Women with this placement often lead pioneering lives, paving the way for other women, but their lives can be difficult and demanding and they are often misunderstood.

You may deeply question traditions and some morals and find yourself out of sync with others.

Venus Hesperus

 If you were born under Venus Hesperus or evening star Venus, you may easily fall into a goal oriented and deliberate make up and seek to understand the meaning of your many experiences. Your emotions are more controlled than morning Venus since you don't show  emotions as easily and are more privately involved with your own feelings than Venus Lucifer. Evening Venus may feel their emotions more intensely and it takes them longer to recover from emotional upsets. They are not as resilient and Venus as a morning star.

If Venus Hesperus is born in a retrograde period this suggests a higher than usual degree of self discipline and dedication to one’s art or ambitions. This is not the same type of dedication a Mars or Jupiter aspect would confer however, it is rather a lifelong purpose, and one often feels out of sync with others.

In 2023 Venus reached its inferior conjunction August 13^th and is now a morning star for the rest of the year. It will be at its brightest in the night sky mid September.

September 2023 astrology

 

This month Venus and Mercury turn direct while Jupiter and Saturn begin their yearly retrograde. The Sun transits through Virgo and then into Libra and the fall solstice occurs on the 22^nd, when the Sun enters Libra. Jupiter and Venus will play musical chairs when Jupiter turns retrograde September 4th, just as Venus, the other beneficial planet turns direct September 3^rd. Jupiter is conjunct Uranus with a wide orb, but nevertheless this aspect can be powerful and disruptive.  We will experience a Now Moon in Virgo September 15^th and a powerful full Moon in Aries September 29^th. Now, the details.

Venus turns direct

The planet of love, money and values finally turns stationary direct September 3^rd at 9:20PM, EDT. When Venus retrogrades we all reconsider our love lives, and we may question values as well as finances. The stationary direct phase is very powerful especially if it is aspecting something in your chart. This will last from September 3^rd through the 10^th. If it is making a negative aspect it will be more pronounced and is it is making a positive aspect you could see some benefit.

During this time energy may change again, something else may be revealed that was previously unknown, or there could be something or someone you change your mind about once again.

While Venus is retrograde its outward energy is weaker, or we could say it is asleep. During this time it is not uncommon for breakups to occur or a lot of contemplation can take place concerning love, and money or even our own personal as well as collective values. It is a perfect time to reassess what your real values are, and what you really need to be happy.

As Venus turns direct you may be contemplating a conversation or meeting with someone you have known from the past, or you could experience a rush of loving feelings toward someone you have met or been involved with Clarity in relationships can also increase when Venus turns direct.

Now will be the time to turn your focus toward love, money, beauty and fun as the planet of love comes out of its sleep once again and repeats its cycle in Leo. Venus retrogrades to allow us to rest, take some time and integrate and understand our feelings about loving others and living in the material world. When she wakes up she comes alive and allows us once again to revel being in the physical body and loving others, becoming the beacon of love, hope and beauty once again

The ‘direct shadow period’ for Venus occurs when Venus slowly returns to normal as it slowly picks up speed. This will take place between September 11^th and October 7^th.  Venus will remain in its shadow period until October 7^th when things return to normal.

Jupiter retrogrades

The planet of expansion and money turns retrograde in the sign of Taurus September 4^th until December 31^st when it turns direct once again. Astrologers refer to Jupiter as the ‘greater benefic’. Jupiter bestows abundance and material success, luck and good fortune, joy and positivity. Some of its qualities include a love of justice, kindness, gain and generosity. While Jupiter’s negative qualities are seldom mentioned they are typically associated with the belief luck and expansion can go on forever, expanding too fast, over indulging, overspending or blowing things out of proportion.

 Jupiter’s retrograde does not mean we will be without luck but during this time we will focus more on personal inner growth rather than those things that are outside of ourselves and material growth. Jupiter’s retrograde is not a negative aspect as it helps us work on issues concerning personal happiness, money and success which can be implemented when it turns direct again. Some may hardly notice the retrograde of Jupiter as it has a very subtle affect.

If you have been working at accomplishing something with no real structure or plan for getting there this will be the time to step back and look at the bigger picture. It does not mean loss, but is more akin to working smartly instead of hard, and directing your actions along the most profitable and fortuitous lines.

You may encounter some type of detour or correction during the four month retrograde depending on where Jupiter is transiting in your personal chart. You may question many things philosophically and your viewpoint on some things could change as you seek deeper truths and greater meaning in all you do at this time.

In addition to money and finances Jupiter rules courts/judiciaries lawyers, foreigners, and foreign places, education, religion, medicine, and spirituality. All of these things can shift in some way and we will see these matters play out in the world and our personal lives.

Jupiter is technically conjunct Uranus at 15/23 degrees of Taurus and it has a 10- degree orb. Jupiter-Uranus aspects lean toward unexpected change for better or worse. While it is possible to get good things from this aspect it may affect the financial markets at some point and we could see reversals in the markets and commodities in particular. These 2 planets are within their 10 degree orb until October23rd.

Mercury turns direct and a New Moon

This month’s New Moon falls in Virgo on September 14^th at 9:40PM, EDT. Virgo is the natural ruler of the 6^th house of work and health so for most of us, our interests will lie here.

Mercury ruled Virgo can also affect pets, kids and young people. Communication may be important at this time.

This moon will trine Jupiter and Uranus as well as Pluto forming a grand trine that utilizes the energy of all 4 planets involved. Now is the time to make solid plans to move forward soon and think outside the box. This is all positive energy geared toward accomplishment and Mercury will turn direct the following day.

The Sun’s trine to Uranus makes this an auspicious time for thinking outside the box, and coming up with a new way to deal with old problems. Give things a few days before you implement anything new, as Mercury will cooperate much better when it is direct.

Mercury changes direction

The planet of communication turns direct again September 15^th.

This is good news but when Mercury stations to go direct, things can go haywire once again before really straightening out, so it could get slightly more confusing before it gets better.

 Mercury stationing to turn retrograde or go direct are the two key times when we may experience Mercury’s changeable if not disruptive energy. It will take the planet of communication a few days before things start to really level out.

 A planet changing direction becomes very powerful, especially if it is aspecting something else in the sky, or in your personal chart and Mercury is no exception. If Mercury turned retrograde hitting a specific point in your chart you may have experienced delays, unexpected issues or other problems. By the same token, if Mercury turns direct and is hitting something in a positive angle in your chart as it turns direct you can expect to move forward in some significant way.

One way of looking at it is that Mercury has been asleep at the wheel for three weeks and it will take a little time before it totally wakes up and gets back to normal.

As Mercury begins its direct motion on September 15th, called its ‘stationary direct’ phase things aren’t really clear yet, and there may be more surprises in store. Alternatively you may feel inspired, but keep your feet firmly planted on the ground and you know what they say if something seems too good to be true. Make sure you are dealing with facts.

Mercury comes back to life slowly and does not actually begin to move forward for another 5 days or September 20^th.

Its shadow period will last until September 30^th, when things finally return to normal.

The Sun enters Libra; Fall solstice!

September 22^nd, the Sun enters Libra ushering in the fall solstice which arrives at 11;50 PM, EDT as well as the Libra season! The Sun will be in this sign until October 23^rd when it enters Scorpio.

Libra is the sign that rules the 7^th house of marriage, partnerships and courts and Libra’s ruling planet is Venus. Venus is concerned with money, beauty, love and values and our energies will be focused on relationships and others during this time, or alternatively you could meet someone new that becomes significant. Either way we will all be thinking more about relationships over the next month.

Make plans to socialize this month to the extent you can but don’t overbook yourself and then flake out. This can be the downside of Libra along with procrastination and a difficult time making up your mind. Libra can get so caught up in the pursuit of fairness, justice and looking at things from a detached angle they sometimes never get where they want to go by over thinking every point of view they encounter.

Since Libra is a Cardinal Air sign thoughts and ideas at this time will be large, and somewhat detached. Air signs are the thinkers and don’t like to slow down most of the time. Cardinal signs are the leaders and initiators and like forward movement.

Libra does not like arguments, ugly comments, sordid situations or cruelty. The big clash you were expecting to have with your new boss or your best friend may no longer seem so important after all and you could find yourself taking a more peaceful approach. With Libra, people want to feel the love most of all.

You may find yourself getting more annoyed with anything that does not contribute to your own personal harmony, and may want to eliminate those who create drama or trauma in your life. The Libra season will be time to take a look at who is in your life, why they are there, and whether your own needs are being fulfilled in the most important relationships you have. The Libra season is a time to relax, socialize and spend time with those most important. Since Venus is Libra’s ruler, beauty and beautiful things may seem more important and desirable this month, along with art, jewelry, clothes and anything else that beautifies the environment you live in.

The Full Moon in Aries

This month’s Full Moon falls at 6 degrees of Aries on September 29^th in the early morning hours.

Aries is a Cardinal sign ruled by Mars, the planet of action an aggression. Aries represents the 1^st house of self, so this moon will represent the conflict that can occur between ourselves versus others.

Aries is an energetic sign and does not let grass grow under its feet. Mars likes to take action so in some respects it may be time for some new starts.

This Moon will oppose the Sun, amping up emotions as a full moon always does, and before it leaves Aries it will oppose Mars, the God of War creating some stressful energy September 16th.

Since Venus squares Uranus at this time we can look for unexpected events, changes of plans and new ideas and situations that may occur.

This transit can be fun, exciting and it may seem as though there is certain electricity in the air at this time. You may meet new people or take a brand new approach to something. This aspect previously occurred July 2^nd and August 9^th. If this aspect affected you then, it probably will again.

Typically, this aspect relates to unexpected change and fun, but in some cases it could coincide with a break up if the rest of the chart indicates it.

Other transits of interest this month:

September 4^th-Mercury trines Jupiter Happy Labor day! Mercury trines Jupiter making this a good day for social activities and communication.

September 6^th-Mercury conjuncts the Sun This can be a day when egos come into play and you may run across some individuals who act in a willful manner or agitation may occur.

September 8^th-The Sun trines Jupiter this may be compared to Mercury trine the Sun. The Sun deals with our core being so with its trine to the planet of expansion this could be a great day for dealing with any issue you consider important and is considered upbeat and positive.

August 16^th, Venus squares Jupiter this is typically pleasant, especially for social activities but you may not feel a great deal of drive or energy at this time

August 19^th, the Sun opposes Neptune this is an aspect of confusion and misinformation. You may not have all the facts and make sure you understand clearly what others are telling you. Not a good day for important decisions.

August 20^th, the Sun trines Pluto this is a day to make some waves in regard to others. Success can be yours, especially in terms of dealing with groups.

August 25^th, Mercury trines Jupiter This aspect occurs for the final time. If you enjoyed the energy of September 4^th, this time should be better since Mercury is direct.

September 30^th, Mercury trines Uranus Your mind may be on fire with ideas and new ways of accomplishing things. If this is the case, write your ideas down as when Uranus is involved, ideas can come suddenly and go just as suddenly. You could receive some unexpected news that would not be negative.

***RIP Astrologer Mitchell Lewis who left this world in August. You will be missed by the global astrological community.