Venus Conjunct the Sun in Scorpio

Dear Friend and Reader:

This week, Venus makes its interior conjunction to the Sun in Scorpio. Said in plain terms, Venus is passing between the Earth and the Sun, and Friday, all three bodies align and form a conjunction.

We'll be at the peak of Venus retrograde, in a year dominated by the retrogrades of personal planets. Sex and gender being such focused issues this year makes a good case for the validity of astrology. 

Digital illustration by Charlie Lemay.

What we have with Venus in Scorpio is Venus in a condition known as detriment. This is an ancient term, one of the "essential dignities" of classical astrology (which include rulership, exaltation, triplicity rulership, term, face, detriment and fall). Just about all astrology fans have heard of the first two (the Moon rules Cancer and is exalted in Taurus, for example). Most astrology students have heard of a few others.

Detriment is often thought of as a debility. I think of it as a special condition that can act as a stimulant or irritant, which brings out some of the deeper qualities. I think of detriment and fall as working like Chiron: as an inconvenient benefic (borrowing a phrase from Al Morrison, one of the early Chiron pioneers).

Anything emerging now (whether in the news or our personal experience) is a potential candidate for such a property. Yet there is also a psychological or emotional potential to this condition, which involves taking responsibility for what you feel.

Here's how I described it in this week's Scorpio horoscope:

The essence is taking ownership of something you thought belonged to someone else. There are different ways to describe this -- such as "calling in a projection." This is not an easy concept to understand, though the simplest way to say it is being accountable for feelings that you thought belonged to someone else, or that you assigned to someone else when they were really yours. It's about doing something that is most definitely not in style right now, which is being fully responsible for what you feel, for how you perceive the world, and for understanding your own motives. 

This is not necessarily "comfortable." It's also not a major psychological feat to use what used to be called "I statements," such as "I feel," "I think," "I believe," "I observe," and so on; however, today this is on the level of the triathlon. 

We live in the age when the popular thing to do is blame everyone and everything for how one feels. We are all supposed to be a walking comfort zone for everyone else. Call me old-fashioned, but I don't get it. 

Yes, we all get moody and feel disappointed, about some things, some of the time. I get holding people responsible for what they actually do, such as intentionally provoking someone, or ditching an important commitment.

Yet we've been carried well past that, drawn out to sea by some strange emotional riptide. Unlike the 1970s, when there were solid self-help books coming out, and a lot of people were in therapy and group therapy and EST, reasoning directed toward a sense of personal accountability seems to be nonexistent.

Digital illustration by Charlie Lemay.

There are times when someone is "made to feel" something, but not most of the time, and certainly not all of the time. Part of our problem is that we exist in an inside-out reality of the digital age, which is like living in a home where all the walls are mirrors reflecting other mirrors.

Actually that would be more helpful, because at least when you're looking at a mirror, you know what it is.

When a person says someone "made them feel" a certain way, it's a bit subtler. Yet this is doomed to fail, if only because nothing can "make you feel" better except for you. 

The challenge of this process, though, is indicated by an unusual feature in the Venus-Sun conjunction, which is at 3+ Scorpio: it's exactly opposite the Chiron discovery degree, 3+ Taurus. This degree is like a permanently situated Chiron (discovered, by the way, on Nov. 1, 1977, a time which has some unusual distinction for most people).

Venus opposite Chiron hints at a kind of "catastrophobia," which seems understandable enough for our moment in history. Yet we do a lot to provoke it.

Sun opposite Chiron suggests a power struggle over injuries typical to men and fathers: the sense of emasculation, lack of fulfillment, or a struggle to be self-expressive (which is often the essence of what drives someone to be an artist).

Retrograde Venus-Sun in Scorpio opposite symbolic Chiron is anything but a comfort zone. And I would argue that the particular kind of comfort implied ("safe space," being coddled, expecting the world to move over without a discussion, being told you're right when you're wrong, and many other manifestations) is the very last kind that we need.

Growth is often uncomfortable, which keeps us moving through the process. Right now, we could do a lot of growing by admitting to what we feel, and claiming responsibility for it. That will work, especially if you want to feel better. Anyone who has succeeded at coming out the other end of a challenging transit knows that this is a singularly beautiful experience.

With love,

There's no turning back -- and we need just one thing

Dear Friend and Reader:

Life would be easier if more people used the full capacity of their minds. That goes for all of us. As we go deeper into this most unusual, challenging and potentially troubling phase of history, intelligence is the thing we need the most.

That is the theme of the 2019-2020 annual edition of Planet Waves. How can we tap into our ability to find creative solutions to problems? How can we envision, design and create a better future than the one we seem to be heading for? How can we handle our personal growth in a way that is sensitive and efficient?

I'm getting ready to record and write the 21st annual edition of Planet Waves. I will be setting aside all but the most essential other work to write what amounts to an astrological adventure novel.

The answer is intelligence.

For the past 20 years, I've been offering annual readings that bring top-quality astrology direct to you for an affordable price. Recent editions, THE ART OF BECOMING and THE BOOK OF YOUR LIFE, have been remarkable bestsellers and helpful to my clients.

Tonight is the initial purchase offer for INTELLIGENCE, my 21st annual reading, published by Planet Waves. This letter contains important information about the discounted pre-order phase, which will be relatively brief compared to previous years. This is in part to avoid excessive email, to save staff effort, and to allow us to focus on what promises to be a truly exceptional annual edition.

Tonight we are offering a discounted purchase for all 12 signs, for Backstage Pass holders, Core Community members, and Horoscope Lover subscribers. For Galaxy Pass holders, the annual edition is included. Full price for all 12 signs, once the written portion is complete, will be $222. We are currently offering INTELLIGENCE at a substantial discount to our most dedicated customers: only $99.

Unlike in previous years, I plan to deliver RESET 2019, the first section of the reading, by New Year's Eve. Additional sections will follow in January and February, and there will be updates throughout the year. I will use written, audio and video formats, and the reading will feature an original soundtrack by Vision Quest.

Continue reading on the INTELLIGENCE homepage Listen to Vision Quest on Live Stream

Planet Waves has an in-house music ensemble, called Vision Quest. We have a 38-hour loop of our music, which you can listen to any time. Included are finished pieces, rehearsals, live concerts, drum grooves, and spoken word recordings. I consider it a kind of musical divination. Click in randomly at different times of day and see what you discover.

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Our Gifts to You: A Little Something Extra

Dear Friend and Reader:

It took me a long time to figure out what kind of gift to offer for new and returning subscribers. Tee shirts seemed too complicated; you need at least six sizes to get started, and not everyone wants a shirt. Tote bags are useful but kind of boring.

So I thought: journals. I love notebooks, and just about everything I write starts scribbled down on paper. I know my readers are a little old-fashioned, so this seemed like the perfect thing.

Black smaller, pink larger, embossed with the Planet Waves logo. There are a few hand-painted sketchbooks left, with heavy, acid-free paper.

Then...I researched embossed journals for about six months. That's how long it took. I requested or purchased samples of the best that suppliers had, and all kinds of stuff came floating in the door. It was more challenging than I imagined to find a nice one, though finally I did.

Everything had to be right: the paper, the lines, and how the book feels in your hands.

However, the one I selected was being discontinued. I ordered as many as we could reasonably afford. We now have two main options: small black ones, and larger pink ones (these are new).

Together, they are the approximate color of Good & Plenty candy. I am one of these people who loves anything pink (sweatshirts, nail polish, headbands, a hot pink Squier guitar that I gave to Zosha a few years ago). We also have a few hand-painted notebooks left, which are acid-free sketchbooks.

You can get an embossed notebook with any monthly, quarterly or yearly membership to Planet Waves. If, by the way, there's a calling for hand-painted ones, I will make one more-or-less to your preferences (for those who sign up for a full-year Backstage Pass).

Continue reading this letter here.
Monthly Horoscopes and Publishing Schedule Notes

Your extended monthly horoscopes for October were published on Tuesday, Oct. 11. We published your extended monthly horoscopes for September on Thursday, Aug. 30. Please note: we normally publish the extended monthly horoscope after the Sun has entered a new sign. Aries (March 20-April 19) -- It will help if you're unusually open and conversant about things you usually keep quiet about. That would include all the taboo subjects, but particularly revealing the truth about your desire nature. A group of planets in Scorpio is about to be joined by the Sun on Tuesday morning, which will illuminate the angle of your solar chart where you have plenty to talk about, but might be least inclined to open up. What you may be sensing is that if you talk about what's on your mind, and what you're experiencing emotionally, you are inviting change. This would include change to some of what you think are your deeply held values, and a degree of rearrangement in the dynamics of your relationships. Yet this is movement that will come no matter what, whether you're secretive or coy or reluctant to share -- or whether you open up and reveal your innermost reality. It's just a matter of how much choice and influence you have, though that takes courage. Get your full Aries reading by Eric here.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) -- Close partners can meet you as you really are, if you let them. That will be the challenge: to allow them into the changes you're experiencing, your evolving perception of yourself, and your morphing role in the world. You are not shifting as radically as you think. Mostly, you are considering the possibilities of who you are, and who you want to become. This will be less like changing and more like revealing your personal qualities that were always present within you. You are more willing to take risks, and the people who care about you are more likely to meet you in that place, and to play along. Therefore, you can afford to be bold, and bring your experimentation to a conscious level. Consistency is important in the world, particularly in our rather unstable time in history, though you can afford to be a little less predictable. Every morning when you wake up, take some time to decide who you want to be and what you want to do. Get your full Taurus reading by Eric here.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) -- Consider the wisdom of your actions; that will be the issue, in hindsight. Did you use the knowledge that you had? Was your response to developments and events proportional to their relevance? Were you responding from an exclusively emotional frame of reference, or did you bring your reasoning abilities into the discussion? You have time to decide these things now, before events come to a peak. You do, in fact, know what you need to know, and you can discover any facts or perspectives that you might need. Be sensitive to "when you don't want to know" something, lest it somehow disrupt your plans. That's the very thing you want to know, and any mental shakeup you might experience will lead the way to more creative and strategic thoughts. Those could come at any time, by the way, as the peak of Venus retrograde approaches over the coming week. Ideas that may not seem to be worth much at first glance may turn out to be brilliant, so be alert. Get your full Gemini reading by Eric here.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Though life on the planet is way too chaotic for people such as yourself who genuinely value peace and quiet, good things are happening. And you will get the benefit as long as you remain open and available, which can be challenging in our particular moment. So you will need to keep your signals clear, and be sensitive to when you're being offered something, and when you're being asked for something. Even though those may seem like opposites, they do have one thing in common, which is the potential to get an exchange going. That will present you with an opportunity both to offer and to receive, and it will be helpful if you are able to do both as a conscious act. You have plenty to offer, and that's the side of the equation to focus on. Any creative enterprises you might involve yourself in over the next few weeks will thrive, so do what you can to give those space, time and love, i.e., tune your guitar, or carry your sketchbook. Get your full Cancer reading by Eric here.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) -- You seem to be in pursuit of a turning point that keeps eluding you. The closer you get to it, the less available it seems to be. This might be a decision, a break in your routines, a shift in your life pattern, or the need for some change in your environment that facilitates your progress. This will come in a form different from the one you were expecting, or developing. The real thing you're chasing is your idea of who you are. The first thing to remember is that -- add bold italics -- who you are is an idea! And so your self-concept is vitally meaningful. Does it align with the underlying truth, or are you struggling to live out some inaccurate, untrue, notion of your existence? The problem here is that towering castles of sand can be built up around false ideas, and fear-based identity structures can be built on sticks. These have no substance other than the attachment you invest. Let them go. Get your full Leo reading by Eric here.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) -- You have a lot to say, and I suggest you say it before you explode. Contrary to current popular mythology, this is not all about rage and disadvantage. You have many observations of the world, you have actual ideas, you have helpful knowledge to share. Don't be overly dramatic about this. Writing on a napkin is a good start; capture ideas from emails; if you post a reply to an article, capture the text, and begin to develop it. Most ideas seem small at first; as any successful writer will tell you, the craft is in the development and expression, and this is an organic process. I suggest you not chase the big payoff, but rather recognize how subtle true originality really is. Therefore, to engage your creativity and expressiveness, you will need to be patient. And you will need to be circumspect: look at your situation from many angles, from close to the ground, from above, from all around, and in different kinds of light. The truth is not a thing. It's a point of contact. Get your full Virgo reading by Eric here.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) -- You might have finances on your mind, which would be appropriate. The essence of your success is understanding your mutual needs with the people around you, and you're getting a lesson in that now. I explain this often: doing business means dependably providing something that people want or need, in exchange for money. It really is that simple, though of course you must be dependable, and maintain a structure that supports your enterprise. That is where most people fall short. They typically need the structure to already be there, and tend to neglect the necessary maintenance. In our time and in our society, we have many options available that did not exist recently. For example, 20 years ago, it was a big deal to accept credit cards; now anyone can. This and many other innovations have made it easier to do business. What has made it more difficult is a collapse of certain mental structures, ethical structures and motivation. These, you must supply. Get your full Libra reading by Eric here.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) -- Friday is the peak of Venus retrograde -- what's called the interior conjunction of Venus and the Sun. (Technically, the word is 'inferior' but I've amended that.) This looks like some kind of revelation, a discovery, or a breakthrough. The essence is taking ownership of something you thought belonged to someone else. There are different ways to describe this -- such as "calling in a projection." This is not an easy concept to understand, though the simplest way to say it is being accountable for feelings that you thought belonged to someone else, or that you assigned to someone else when they were really yours. It's about doing something that is most definitely not in style right now, which is being fully responsible for what you feel, for how you perceive the world, and for understanding your own motives. Essentially, you are looking for something you have not revealed to yourself, or admitted to yourself. It won't be hard to find. This is not about them; it's about you. Get your full Scorpio reading by Eric here.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) -- You will be able to unravel a mystery this week, something that may have puzzled or even vexed you for a long time. This has been brewing as if in the next room, though seemingly nowhere in sight. You will, therefore, need to look, listen and feel in the subtle dimensions of your awareness: your dreams, your intuition (which is never fearful), your fears (as separate from intuition), and something or someone that was lost that's now manifesting in some way, including as the ability to let go or some signal that it is time to let go. Notice how you feel upon awakening, as much as you might focus on the content of a dream. Consider the notion of "lost love," how you have responded to relationships changing in the past, and how you may have held on to your feelings. You are more sentimental than it may seem from the outside, though now is the time not for sentiment but rather for emotional honesty. That will give you some freedom to be yourself. Get your full Sagittarius reading here.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) -- What seems like a complex issue comes back to your family, and is not so complicated after all. Don't be deceived by the feeling that it is; rather, map out "what is so" -- your circumstances as you know them to exist -- and check that map against a schematic of your family of origin. One of the central questions is "how did things come to be the way they are?" You can apply this like a meditation to any topic, theme, question, circumstance or issue in your life, though an interesting and worthwhile place to start will be your family. Every family has its story of "how we came into being," although usually it's sketchy and in parts and, in a sense, mythologized. Through the holiday season, you may have several opportunities to speak with your older relatives. Get them to share stories about your family and the early days, so far as they understand and describe them; and remember, this is perception and lore, with some reality mixed in. Gently press for specific bits of history, with the details, names, dates and places -- and write it down as soon as you can. Get your full Capricorn reading here.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- You are struggling to let go of certain personality tendencies, and I suggest you give yourself credit for succeeding quite well so far. If you could go back in time and slip into your self-concept of 18 months ago, you would see what I mean. You have made much more room for you to be who you are; you're likely to feel more liberated and free to make choices as a result. Yet this has not exactly been a passive process, particularly this year. Part of how you learn who you are is to assert yourself. People who do not bump, scrape, grind and in some way make contact with one another do not find out who they are. Avoiding conflict is the surest way to avoid enlightenment, growth, maturity or this elusive thing known as adulthood. This does not mean whacking people on the head or picking needless fights. Rather, you've discovered that it's necessary for you to stand up to challenges, and to stand up for yourself. And that, in fact, has been enlightening. Get your full Aquarius reading here.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Where do you invest your faith? Think of it as a resource that you can use for a purpose. You can do anything you want with it. Faith is your fidelity: your trust. This is starting to sound like a bank ad. And it's true that plenty of faith is placed in money, such as investments that are supposed to make us prosper. Others say their faith is in God, but don't have a direct relationship or direct experience, so that would qualify more as belief. And there are some who have faith in God that's the result of experience. Others put their faith in magic: If I do this, I will get this result, though there may be no established cause and effect, or even known correlation. Some put their faith in the future. Others invest it in their fellow humans. So let's start with the question, which I would challenge you to answer through direct observation of yourself over the next seven days or so. Notice when you feel strong, and when you feel weak. That will tell you most of what you need to know. Get your full Pisces reading by Eric here.

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