Tag: venus

How to Work with Venus in Aquarius

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This past Friday, Venus began a quick journey through Saturn’s diurnal sign of Aquarius. In 2019, she’ll be in Aquarius from March 1st to March 26th. So, how do we work with Venus in Aquarius? How do we understand it?

Often people with Venus in Aquarius placements get stereotyped as being “aloof” in matters of relationships and love. I’d like to pop that bubble, and to do it, I’m going to use vaporwave.

But first, hit play on this to get into the mood:

If vaporwave is an a e s t h e t i c, Venus in Aquarius was a s c e t i c, which is a vaporwave joke as much as it is a wordplay joke.

Fans of vaporwave (myself included) know that part of what makes vaporwave great is finding beauty in the basic, the banal, the old and weird. It just so happens that the basic, the banal, the old, and the weird are natural descriptors of all the people, places, and ideas ruled by the planet Saturn. That includes, of course, ascetics.

Because Aquarius is ruled by Saturn, we can import all of those ideas into understanding the way that planets in Aquarius behave. It’s quite a bit different than the way planets behave in Capricorn: we’re highlighting ideas here. The ideas and ideals that Aquarius signifies involve thresholds and marginalized people, folks and things who the world is ready to overlook, pass by, or throw away.

Vaporwave artists and fans love that stuff, though. While the world ignores Windows 95 sound effects, K-mart muzak tapes, Grecian statuary, and early 90s computer graphics as relics of bygone eras, vaporwave artists delight in the weird and the wonderful found therein. Then, using the magic of nostalgia, they turn it into delicious, lo-fi art.

(You can probably tell I’m an Aquarius rising because I’m using vaporwave, of all things, to talk about Venus in Aquarius.)

It comes down to this, though: because of its use of weird and banal bits of nostalgia, vaporwave is a polarizing a e s t h e t i c; you either love it or you hate it. I don’t know anyone who is really “ehh” when it comes to it.

And Venus in Aquarius is like this: she binds well with people who have clear understanding of what their tastes are. You either love Venus in Aquarius or you don’t. Or rather, she either loves you or she doesn’t. But it’s not about passions running hot or cold. Venus’ decisions in Aquarius are all in her head, and she knows what “works” based on theory.

If Venus in Leo loves effusively, Venus in Aquarius loves based on staid, rational decision-making; she loves based on your commitment to the ideas and values that you hold in common with her. It’s the difference between fixed fire and fixed air: one is fixed on the act of loving, while the other is fixed on the reason loving.

Which brings me back to vaporwave: the whole a e s t h e t i c is a conscious choice to subvert the norms of pop aesthetics and turn them into something that imports different influences from time and space into a calculated inversion of trends. It has a purpose.

Venus’ aesthetic in Aquarius is ascetic. Saying “no” to current conventions to massage beauty out of the ugly.

Just like someone makes a conscious choice to become an ascetic, everything vaporwave values is a conscious choice, and its power as an aesthetic movement is in its ability to make harmonized statements out of that which is gauche, garish, old, hacky, and extra. It’s a descendant of Dadaism in that sense: put a urinal in on a pedestal and now it’s a fountain.

“Nate, is this an astrology post or an art criticism post?”

Honestly it could be either at this point, sorry.

Anyway, back to Venus.

While Venus in Aquarius gets panned as being “aloof,” the reality is that she can love as powerfully as she loves in any of the other signs, but it’s based on different critera. Venus in Aquarius must have a reason to choose to love someone. That’s the takeaway here.

If your loved one has Venus in Aquarius in their birth chart, that means you must learn how to dig deep underneath the actions, the emotions, and the container of your relationship with them in order to get into the why of your relationship. Into the values that are most important to them. Into the foggy depths of their cloud formations.

You can get a sense of their values by looking at the houses ruled by Venus in their chart (wherever Taurus and Libra fall), and consequently the house where Aquarius falls; for example, if Venus in Aquarius is in the 2nd house, that means the person’s relationship values will be related to matters of career (Libra in 10) and creativity (Taurus in 5), playing out in their relationship to money.

In this instance, it would be good to make sure that you and your loved one have a conversation about the role finances play in your relationship and how you can help them reach heights of professional achievement and enjoyment through purposeful, deliberate, and well-thought-out ways.

It’s a great time to have these conversations. While Venus is transiting Aquarius for the better part of this month, use this opportunity for you and your loved ones to review your shared values, with questions like these:

  • What is important to you in your partnership?
  • What are your matters of ultimate concern?
  • And a big one: how do you as a couple, as a unit, relate to other individuals and communities outside your relational center of gravity?

If you & your boo are in in need of a define-the-relationship conversation (for good or for ill!) now’s the time to do it when love is in your head. Don’t let your relationships just e x i s t right now. Know where it is, where you are, where you’re going.

After all, to love someone is not an emotion at all. You’re thinking of limerence (Google it).

Love is a choice. And Venus in Aquarius knows how to make choices of the heart with her head fully in the game.

Featured image from KnowYourMeme

The Widow and the Judge

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What is it about Venus transits that freaks people out so much?

This week, on the 19th, we have a transit that has generated a modicum of consternation among those I’ve asked, and even beyond Mars’ entrance into Taurus and the Sun’s entrance into Pisces, this one is what’s occupying many people’s attention.

We’ve got Venus encountering Saturn on the Old Man’s own turf. It’s interesting considering that most of the transits that begin this week, except for Mars’ entrance into Taurus, are events that happen once a year.

My hunch is that collective attention fell on Venus because, especially around Valentine’s Day, relationships are one of the most significant pinch points in our common life.

Whether we are aromantic or polyamorous or celibate or just ain’t got time for that, we are still social creatures, and so Saturn’s looming contact with our social starlet is not something that we want to countenance.

We love beauty, fun, and love. Don’t harsh our mellow, Saturn.

But is Venus in Capricorn that mellow to begin with? I want to assure everyone reading this that, first off, Venus’ conjunction to Saturn is not anything before which to cower. You’re going to be fine. We’re all going to be fine. “But it’s Venus!” Yeah? “Conjoining Saturn!!” Yeah, so what? “AAAGH”

Get the image of Venus’ contact to Saturn in your head. Let whatever dread you have about it fill you. Now, think about this parable, from Luke’s gospel, chapter 18:

Jesus said, ‘In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people.’ (Saturn in Capricorn much?) ‘In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, “Grant me justice against my opponent.” For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, “Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.”’

The reason that the Venus transit to Saturn this time around is not anything to be overly concerned about is because of something called “reception.” When a faster planet applies to the aspect or conjunction of a slower planet from that other planet’s home turf, the slower planet is obligated by celestial ethics to give the faster planet a hearing.

The slower planet may not be predisposed to being helpful, but the faster planet is coming to the slower planet in a style that agrees with the slower planet’s personality. So, hear the story anew. Venus in Capricorn, boss-ass lady that she is, is coming to Saturn demanding justice.

Saturn’s no philanthropist, we all know that. He’s the unjust judge; his M.O. is maintaining his own status quo and not bothering with the petty concerns of the unwashed masses. But Venus demands a hearing. She fights for it. She marches her ass into the courtroom day after day until she can wheedle a judgment out of this crap judge.

Venus at 16° Capricorn has the powers of triplicity and term. She’s among friends. She sets her own agenda for how she’s getting Saturn stuff done. She has zero time for Saturn’s nonsense—even though she knows that Saturn is the one who can get her the solution that she needs.

Venus needs Saturn to help her say no to something here. Think back to the parable: the widow needs justice against her opponent. In the ancient world, widows had no safety nets unless they had kids to take care of them. This is a woman who is not satisfied with her situation and is trying to do something about it.

Think of the healthy Capricorns that you know in your life, especially the Capricorn women. Do you know them as people who just sit there and let life happen to them? Not in the least, right?

Think of Dolly Parton, a Capricorn woman. That’s Venus in Capricorn.

Do you think Dolly Parton is going to let Saturn boss her around? Not at all. She came to prominence amid the patriarchal nonsense of the music industry and did so by playing the game in her favor. She made the resources of the gatekeepers her own. She did it on her own terms.

So as Venus conjoins Capricorn this week, keep an eye out for the way beautiful opportunities help you to game the system. Pay special attention if you’re in a Venus- or Saturn-ruled year (you’ve got to know your rising sign for that—count forward one sign for every year of age to tell you the ruler of your year).

Aries

If you need to ask an old friend to pay you back the money they owe you or approach your crummy boss for a raise at work, this is the week to do it. Get your money.

Taurus

Put yourself in the sights of an older mentor who can connect you with professional opportunities—and ask them to do it!

Gemini

If you need funding for a creative endeavor, figure out who it is that you need to ask and get in their face, but be careful that your approach doesn’t burn any bridges.

Cancer

A friend or family member will probably be asking your loved one for help with a home matter, so be attentive to the needs of loved ones and stand at the ready to help with whatever is asked.

Leo

Your boss is looking for some help from your coworkers but resist the urge to put yourself in the limelight because you might discover that what’s needed is grunt work, nothing that heightens your image.

Virgo

Don’t be afraid to spend a little bit of money on something fun for yourself this week; the return on investment will be worth it. But stay under budget.

Libra

If you need to approach your folks for financial help, feel free to do so this week. They’re not going to like it but plead your case well and you’ll have what you need.

Scorpio

Keep an eye on anyone who has it in for you for they may be working to create tripping hazards. Cross your T’s, dot your I’s, stay in your lane and you’ll be good to go.

Sagittarius

Looks like a friend will be coming to you to ask for a help. Define the terms of what you can do and set clear expectations; don’t just trust that they’ll honor their end of the agreement. Don’t let your good nature get taken advantage of.

Capricorn

Higher-ups will ask you for a favor, even if you’re not interested in what they’ve got to offer in return. Negotiate; you’ve got the upper hand here.

Aquarius

Less practical, more theoretical for you (which shouldn’t be a problem): meeting the needs of family and philosophy can help you maintain a sense of purpose during this long season of feeling apart from yourself.

Pisces

Ride the wave this week to get your day-to-day tasks done with support from old friends while you’re in the middle of a confusing fog. Get it done!

Thank you so much for your support of my work! If this was helpful to you, book a session with me today! I’ve got an audacious goal of ten consultations a week because that’s ten people who are getting insight into becoming who they’re supposed to be. https://bit.ly/2AAF2QL