By Len Wallick
It’s less than eight weeks since Venus entered Aries. Seems like a long time already. At the time of that ingress your faithful correspondent marked that planet as a trailblazer, a pace-setter, a pioneer. Preceding the Sun across the Aries Point, it started the new astrological year, keeping ahead of even speedy Mercury. First in transit, first in aspect. Leading the way as the sky gradually spreads itself out. Today’s astrology finds that trend in continuation, but the tone has changed.
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Speeding through Gemini with an apparent motion faster than the Sun, Venus is casting a jaundiced eye forward while also reminding us what did not quite play out. Leading the pack on a day of aversion.
The dictionary definitions of the word aversion are without comfort, pleasantry or relief. Alternatively expressed as dislike, repugnance, antipathy or distaste. Associated with the act of turning away, of avoidance, shunning or fending off. As far as the English language is concerned, there is no good to be found where that term is used. In astrology, when two or more planets or points are separated by either 30 degrees (called a semi-sextile) or 150 degrees (a quincunx) they are defined to be in aversion. For it is in such aspects that the signs they occupy have little or nothing in common, sharing neither element nor mode, nor gender nor rulership. This is not quite as severe as the where this epistemology takes us. It’s enough however, to suggest estrangement, alienation and separation at the very least.
Venus in Gemini begins the day exacting a restless and distracted quincunx with Pluto, retrograde in Capricorn. Pluto is at its coldest and most indifferent in return. Sounds depressing. Not such good start. It’s even less auspicious when one considers that this is but a prelude. In less than a month, Venus will be in the early degrees of Cancer, exacting an opposition (180 degrees apart) to Pluto. This even as both of them are squared to Saturn’s applying but functional opposition with Uranus and Jupiter along the Aries-Libra axis. Excepting the Moon’s monthly placement, this will be the first of a series of cardinal point grand crosses. All of a sudden the Venusian trending seems to have gotten a bit steep.
As if that were not enough, Venus is multi-tasking. After the quincunx with Pluto, it moves on, applying to a semi-sextile with retrograde Mercury in Taurus. This provides us with a disquieting demonstration of how two planets in aversion can marginalize the fact that they are also in mutual reception.
For the full impact, let’s break that down. The phenomenon of mutual reception in astrology is demonstrated when two planets are in each other’s sign of rulership or exaltation. Under optimum circumstances, there are symbiotic and synergistic results. The planets and signs involved strengthen each other, bringing out their mutual best.
Ah, but make that mutual reception in adjacent signs and things are not quite so smooth. Even if it were not backpedaling, Mercury in Taurus would find itself a tad bit confused in the role of being the feeling and devoted member of the pair. Add in the retrograde and it is conflicted by detachment and apathy. obsessed with and fixated on the past. Over in Gemini, Venus is literally running away. Compensating for having lost touch with her heart, she flees into her intellect, rationalizing a fickle flight, incapable of looking back. Unable to choose. Totally invested in the cause of change alone.
And so it goes all day in preface and refrain. From Scorpio Moon’s early quincunx with Eris to Saturn’s applying in same to Neptune. It’s get lost or worse. And as we contemplate what could have been with Uranus and Neptune we get a glimmer of hope from Chiron. Expressed through us. Accomplished, or not, depending on how we use our hands.
Yup, that’s how it seems to be stacking up. Chiron will be there for the big t-square. It will be there for us. It will be there feeling our pain, keeping us company, bearing witness to what goes down along the Aries-Libra axis. It is with Pluto, however, where the noble centaur will intercede most heroically, when transformation comes over us in the dark. When we lose touch with our own metamorphosis, Chiron will lend a hand and match our effort to emerge anew.
That’s our example. That’s how we get out of this. That’s what will allow us to compose a song that does not suck. Look at your hands. That’s where it’s going to come from. In moments of despair which are surely to come, when you are drooping with fatigue, when you are pressed down into paralysis. Where hope is long gone, faith but a memory and love is hard to come by, look at your hands. That’s where the answers will be. That’s where the solutions will be found. Start today. Last thing before you sleep. First thing when you wake up. Look at your hands. See our destiny there.
Offered In Service
Karma Dorje,
Good catch! Yup, my bad on the word choice. Gives a humorous twist to the old saying that “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing”. It appears that i now resemble that remark.
Thank you for being so tolerant as to compllement me in spite of the error.
In our hands. My hands have been formost in my mind of late. What I do, don’t do, make, not make, signal, not signal with them.
I have a gardening business and I am an artist; I’ve been working with my hands my whole life. Though its been confusing lately because I’m second guessing all that I do and why I do it. This is unusual for me as I’m very directed and have felt that I’m on the right path, the place I should and want to be. But perhaps everything has led to this: The moment of the crisis of my hands. This feeling is coinciding with so much that is happening in the big, complex sky that I’m at a bit a loss as to where to focus. Today I’ll meditate on Chiron (thanks Len), which has moved into my 10th, as I use my hands to plant the 10 river birch waiting for me to put them in bed.
I’ve been caught by the short hairs for the last several months too, but held a meditation with a co-workerk to let it go this week. Something amazing happens when you pray for the one who is causing pain. Have to let it go, ‘dispose’ of it as Mystes would say. Right now is not the time to sit on hands.
We received the feathers of a eagle from the Valdez oil spill shortly after the eagle died. Spouse and friend held a ceremony to bury the feathers instead of using them. They had been cleaned but you could still feel and smell the oil and the spirit of the bird was overwhelming.
Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine.
I felt it too aword. . .was washing the dishes and could barely stand up. A depression, I thought. Only I didn’t try to fight it much, just let it take me where it wanted. Think it’s associated with all the poor animals and birds whose lives are being destroyed by the spilling oil.
Thanks so much Len, and thanks PW regulars for all your amazing replies. Just read them this morning (in Europe, most of you are probably in bed on your side of the planet). Anyway, they really lifted me from my tired dejected grouchy state. Still feel tired and dejected, but can take it now that I’ve read all of you lot – and that’s what it’s all about isn’t it?
And thanks Fe for the coffee grounds tip – which I’d forgotten about. Think I’ll go and make myself another coffee…
Love
Liz
aword – not sure where you live but the “heavy” feeling you describe may have been a form of drag when one considers the territory being transited by the Moon at about that time (late degrees of Scorpio – in Sag as i’m writing this now).
hypnotic – you are too kind. Your words abundantly generous. Thank you.
wow — the planet wavers are just cracklin’ aren’t we? 🙂
victoria, thanks for chiming in. i really appreciate knowing i’m not the only one feeling a little alien to myself right now.
on to tomorrow…!
— amanda
be,
furniture, paint and canvas at the ready……!
I wish words would flow – I have a lot of writing to do (or so I thought) but they (words) are all stuck somewhere I can’t seem to tap into for now.
Well and seems like it’s allllll good since I’ve that ‘other stuff’ to keep me busy!
Thank you soooo much for the rundown…much easier to keep optimisim going with some understanding in my pocket.
……around 6pm this evening I got soooo heavy it was bizarre…anyone else get that? Heaviness or smallness or other interesting physical manifestation is not unique for me to experience – but this time it was like I was suddenly made of molten metal, I wasn’t hot, just made out of fluid metal.
Kinda cool, actually 🙂
I just read this again, printed it with the last of my black ink cartridge and lovingly placed it in my scrapbook which is very full, being this is end of month. Did I mention, Len, how brilliant this piece is? xoxo I love your writings.
And forgive me again. . .that should be Mars not Moon . . . Taurus sun square Leo Mars. It’s been like this all day. . merc rx.
Oh, word?
You should know too that transiting Jupiter is going to square your Saturn on the 4th, but transiting Vesta will trine it. Lots of paint too.
aword,
At the moment, I would think that transiting Mars almost conjunct your ascendant, and conjunct your Uranus a week and a half ago, and quincunx your Mars today and trine your Moon on the 19th is what you are experiencing. Along with all the other stuff going on that’s got all of us by the short hairs. It helps that you have Chiron conjunct your Sun, if you think positively that is. Be aware!
Everything looking “blurry and gritty” could be Neptune at the midpoint between your Mercury and Sun. The Sun is square your Uranus and since you have Leo rising, painting is a great outlet. (all that cleaning would confirm your Mars is a 6th house planet too)
This Tuesday, the 4th, very early in the morning in soCal., the Taurus Sun will square the Leo Moon, which will affect your ascendant, your Uranus, your Moon and your Mars. If it’s not raining, flying a kite could be a good release for the energy too, otherwise make sure you have plenty of canvases. . or furniture!
be
Thank you for the excellent post. I do think that you mean “etymology” rather than “epistemology” in the third paragraph, however.
omg friends earthlings countrypeople — something just occured to me – that this isn’t, perhaps, “anger” at all – but rather just suppressed ‘creativity’ (whatever that is – can it be an “emotion” – lots of quote marks going on here)….
I’m just sayin’ – I mean, I’m thinkin’ “anger” and “creative energy” got all mixed up when oh maybe when I was a kid and well, maybe this is some form of energy that I can finally harness – oh my – am I speaking Saturn and Uranus speak? or somesuch? LOL!!
I am soooo excited.
wow – this IS a crazy time. Yeeeeeha!
extra xoxoxo!!!! 😉
I’m cultivating something new: major (Mars?) anger welling up and wanting out. I have always maintained control of angry feelings and pushed them down down down, this time ’round I’m not pushing it back down inside — just letting myself feel it all (wow oh wow oh wow) and putting it into creative (3 paintings plus in the past 24 hours) and cleaning the remaining past out of my life (as represented by ‘stuff’ and old legal paperwork) and lots and lots (and lots, that’s 3) of walking ’cause i’m too exhausted to do much else (and the santa ana winds have kicked in here in SoCal – makes everything blurry and gritty.
–and somehow something is very different these days – there is no hangin’ on by a thread happening, as tumultuous as everything around me feels, I am on solid ground.
THAT is cool.
And so is the coffee grounds tip Fe – I don’t drink the stuff, but I’m willing to brew it up for the little family of plants on my patio.
xo
This is so beautiful and comforting and inspiring. My pain and discomfort have been great these days. Thank you. This helps me more than I can say.
Amanda- re: “OY VEH anyone else feeling daunted by the description of venus’s detachment? or is it just because i’m a taurus and already have been feeling like the traditional “beltane spirit” of spring isn’t emerging as per usual? (then again, amybe i’m just over-identifying/projecting here.)”
I am a Taurus too, and have been very suddenly shifted into low gear (as of last week) and definitely not feeling the normal “joie de vivre” that is usually oozing out of my pores at this time of year. Venus’ “detachment vibe” definitely affecting both love life and finances…ouch. Not volatile or crazy thankfully, just detached.
Hanging on to Chiron in Pisces for tender healing and the help I know it is there to provide….in my 12th no less….it’s pretty deep stuff. Oy veh is right.
victoria
Len,
Aversion as a definition of a quincunx? Perfect. Today especially. Dislike, repugnance, antipathy . . turning away. Description of listening to and watching on TV, the story of the BP oil slick off New Orleans. No doubt, Venus is the goddess to watch, as you said, ever since she entered Aries. She met up with Eris and forged a sisterhood with the intention to heal and inform, moved on to the conflict with Pallas and Vesta forcing us to think about values, ours and theirs, through the experience of Iceland’s volcanic ash cloud.
Now Venus quincunx Pluto reveals the ugliness of big business, greed and carelessness as the sludge moves toward the marshes and the homes of precious wildlife. But aversion is also described as “fending off” you said. Might that describe what the many workers in the Gulf right now are trying to do? Fending off the oil slick from sure destruction of much of what we value. A positive thing.
Venus does seem to be blazing a trail through the zodiac and will, as you told us, “in less than a month, oppose Pluto from early Cancer. This will also engage the big boys, Uranus, Jupiter and Saturn into the conflict, and for what purpose? Well, we shall see, but you say Chiron will be there too and be there for us. Forming a trine, Chiron will support the pioneering Venus too, for a while anyway, and then she will continue to move forward in the “cause of brotherhood that has fallen into such disarray.”
I can foresee hands washing the oil of off beleaguered birds and muskrats as a Piscean-influenced Chiron continues to raise the consciousness of man, one tragedy at a time.
be
Fe – blessings. Coffee grounds it is – we’ll give it a go.
You’d think the dog would keep the cats away, but they just come round to laugh at him, as he hides behind my legs. xx
Len:
This Full Moon was a real grouch of a bear, but I hung in there, largely in part of Chiron in the fish. Its not all so bad.
HazelF:
Two words: Coffee grounds.
High nitrogen which plants love, and snails can’t take (something about them is toxic to snails and slugs). Use coffee grounds as mulch and your plants will be delirious.
Just had a few days of rain here in Northern California and was worried for my newly planted zucchini, onions and collards — slug and snail heaven. But for now, it seems the coffee grounds are helping along just fine.
Just put in a much longed for herb garden Patty – heaven! Now to figure out how to prevent the cat wee and snail trails without resorting to heavy handedness (really, I put the bath mat over the bath just a little bit more so, just to help spiders climb out).
Nice work Len. Hx
Well this is surely an accurate description of how my day feels so far, and after such a beautiful full moon, too!
where I go with it:
in the morning, we take up the work of love
with our beautiful hands.
Each breath,
just now,
just now,
She gives birth to it.
oy veh —
anyone else feeling daunted by the description of venus’s detachment? or is it just because i’m a taurus and already have been feeling like the traditional “beltane spirit” of spring isn’t emerging as per usual? (then again, amybe i’m just over-identifying/projecting here.)
patty — maybe i’ll take some of your advice. my landlord just contructed a raised garden bed for each of the units in my building. time to plan my little garden and get my hands back in the dirt. even that i’ve felt more of an urge toward in past years. maybe all the more reason to touch mother earth soon.
— amanda
Half,
Thank you for the kind words. It’s amazing what a tolerant and talented editor can do with my alphabet soup.
Thanks, Len. I’ll be on the look out for Chiron lending “a hand to match (my) effort to emerge anew”.
Len, possibly the best piece of writing I’ve seen you put out there thus far (you’ve put out a lot). This is a very interesting analysis in its sophistication it paints an incredibly accurate picture of what *feels* to be at my door. I shall return to this a few times to consolidate and review progress. Many thanks.
HdW
The configuration has a purpose. If we are fat, happy and complacent like we generally are during trines, we tend to overlook anything wrong. It is indeed a time for action sir, on nearly every front. A hoe and a shovel can transform a yard, but a pen is mightier than a sword when it comes to initiating change.
It sort of reminds me of someone who explained the biorythm chart to me. The arc above the graph line is a period when you are strong, below the line is a weak period. In other words, if the mood line is above the graph line and the intellect line is below the graph line, you are in a period when you aren’t very smart but you don’t care because you feel good about yourself. We are in a period when reasoning skills are strong, and emotions are strong too. Write to your congressman, put in a garden, excercise, visit the library, limit your time on the internet. Lights, camera, action!