WE ARE ENTERING a
new phase in this experience of transformation that we call the year
2020. The inner fears and outer restrictions have eased just a bit,
leaving the emotional space for us to ponder developments over the last
few months, and to reflect on how our values may have shifted.
Holding
the space for us in this regard is the planet Venus, which goes
retrograde on Tuesday, May 12, at 11:44 p.m. PDT. Currently several
degrees ahead of the Taurus Sun, Venus is in Gemini and appears in the
sky as our evening star. During this period of backward motion, it will
cross paths with the Sun (on June 3), rising and setting with the solar
orb for a few days. After that, Venus will
become our morning star and will return to forward motion on June 24.
MOST OF US are
familiar with Mercury's retrograde effect, which occurs three times a
year. We are less acquainted with what
happens when Venus goes backward, which happens only every two years. In
essence, the themes are similar: review, reassessment, reprioritizing;
but since we're working with Venus, we'll be applying this awareness
to areas that the planet rules: relationships and alliances, finances
and values, amusements and the arts.
It's
not hard to imagine the kinds of issues that we will be reevaluating
over the next six weeks as social realms begin to be more available.
Recent circumstances have put heightened pressure on relationships, on
resources, and on the availability of entertainments and artistic
offerings.
As we weave our way through this Venus retrograde period, we of course will be considering ways to rejoin these areas of life – but the
more important questions to answer are, do we want to reengage, and if
so, how fully? Do we want to reconnect with a certain person, job, or
activity in the ways that we had become accustomed to? Or
have our values changed at such a deep level that some of these prior
manifestations are no longer a vibrational match with us?
OUR ANSWERS to these questions cannot be forced, but must slowly reveal themselves through introspection. On a cosmic timing level, we are
advised to wait until Venus is once again moving
direct before we make concrete decisions in these areas. We also need
to take into account that for the first three weeks of its retrograde
period, Venus is in square aspect to Neptune.
Venus
is the planetary representative of the human heart and its capacity for
love. Neptune symbolizes the higher heart of oneness and compassion.
Even when the two planets are in hard aspect, they provide opportunities
for growth in both of these areas. We are more likely to see the good
in people, and less likely to focus on their flaws.
HOWEVER,
there are also hazards involved with a Venus-Neptune square. We may not
see another person clearly, and can over-romanticize, over-value, or
take on martyr or rescuer roles. Common symptoms of this problem would
be excusing abusive behavior because
the person was "under a lot of stress," or stepping in to save someone
who really would benefit most from learning how to save themselves. In
the material realms, a Venus-Neptune square corresponds with spending
too much on an item or making an investment without checking on its
actual value.
In
other words, it's a good idea to be intentional during Venus
retrograde. It is time best used by going inward, by listening to the
voice of our true heart. Every day, we can sense into our answers to
these questions: "What fills me with aliveness and vitality?" "What
interests me?" "What can I truthfully say that I love, as compared to
what is merely habit?"
And,
with the Venus-Neptune square active, we will also be asking ourselves:
"How can I best express compassion in the world?" "How can I use my
mind and my heart to make a difference?" "How can I open my heart so
that I am a better channel for unconditional love?"
THIS IS a
good time to remember the "new" definition of unconditional love, as
brought into our collective awareness by Abraham-Hicks. In the past, we
may have defined unconditional love as the capacity to deny our own
needs and to live solely to support
others – even at best, an unattainable and inadvisable goal. This kind of self-denial is usually not unconditional love, since it tends to leave self-love completely out of the equation.
According
to Abraham, unconditional love is "feeling in alignment with Source
regardless of what’s going on around you." When we are in that state, we
cannot harm others or ourselves. We can only express love, because to
do otherwise would disconnect us from Source.
A lofty goal! We have our marching (dancing?) orders ...
ASSISTING US with this directive, Mars enters compassionate Pisces on May 12 at 9:17 p.m. PDT – the
very same day that Venus goes retrograde. Since Mars is named for the
god of War, and Pisces is a sign of non-aggression, this journey can be a
bit complicated.
At
its highest frequency, Mars in Pisces awakens our capacity to act on
our ideals. We find it easier to align our actions with our spiritual
principles, to go with the flow, to let go of anger, and to be inspired
by our creative Muse.
BUT there are cautions about this placement of Mars, too. Mars is a fiery planet, while Pisces is a water sign – and as we know, water
extinguishes fire. The assertiveness of Mars is dampened in Pisces,
resulting in a tendency to not face issues directly, or to be
passive-aggressive. And, the impulse of energy we usually associate with
Mars can come and go like the tides, leaving us feeling moody and
inconsistent.
As
the twelfth sign of the zodiac, Pisces relates to a process of
completion and spiritual realignment, in preparation for a new
beginning. Mars in Pisces is a time for releasing old desires and old
angers so that we can start anew with a clean slate when the planet
enters Aries in late June.
It's
intriguing to see that Mars is in Pisces until June 27, almost exactly
the same period that Venus is retrograde. Methinks the Cosmos has a
plan.
BUILDING on these themes, Jupiter also goes retrograde this week. Astrologer Bil Tierney writes that Jupiter's retrograde phase can be:
"...a
marvelous time for gaining insights into spiritual or philosophical
matters, as wisdom can flow easier from the superconscious and make
contact with the conscious self ... We may find it easier to develop
inner faith and a more hopeful outlook due to self-inspired
contemplation ... We may feel detached from what is socially expected of
us during this period and may reject such pressures in
favor of listening to our own inner calling ..."
While
Jupiter is retrograde, we will benefit from maintaining many of the new
habits we've developed during this quarantine time, especially if we've
allowed ourselves to spend more time in contemplation. Our priorities
are to meditate on our beliefs about reality and on our dreams for a
more meaningful and spiritually fulfilling future. Jupiter will be
moving backward until
September 12, at which time it will become easier to then take action
"while remaining true to the needs of our spirit." (Tierney)
FOR THE DAY-TO-DAY influences we're working with this week, here's a quick list of the most notable aspects:
- Mercury square Mars (Monday): Disagreements, stubborn resistance, rebelling against the rules.
- Mercury
enters Gemini (Monday): With Mercury in Gemini until May 28, we enter a
two-week period of increased information exchange and social activity.
- Mercury
trine Saturn (Tuesday): A better day for communications and
intellectual pursuits, as Saturn in Aquarius provides both stability and
the determination to make progress.
- Sun trine Pluto (Thursday): A stronger sense of empowerment, as we direct our energies in productive ways.
- Mercury
square Ceres, sextile Chiron, sesquiquadrate Pluto, and sesquiquadrate
Jupiter (Thursday-Sunday): Differences of opinion that challenge our
perspectives and push us to be more clear in our communications, while
also keeping an open mind.
- Sun trine Jupiter (Sunday): A day to enjoy nature and new adventures, as we are able!
FOR THOSE
who are tracking important lunar aspects, here is this week's watch list, in Pacific Daylight Time:
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