All I’m asking for is a little respect
-Otis Redding (1965)
This weekend, you may find yourself revisiting issues of relationship and respect, and the choice of harmony or acrimony, based on a pair of events working together. Venus in Capricorn will square Saturn in Libra for the second time this year. Concurrently, Mars in Virgo will enter the degree where Uranus conjoined Pluto in 1965.
The cardinal square from Venus to Saturn will recall the Leo Full Moon in February earlier this year. That is the last time Venus was in Capricorn making this aspect to Saturn in Libra, and it carried a similar theme of relationships. It may be worth thinking back to that time to recall what was going on in your relationships then. The Mars transit will take us back to the soul of a great songwriter confronting an issue for the ages.
In your life, those issues of relationship and respect, and the choice of harmony or acrimony, may provide an opportunity to do something differently this time. The result will depend on whether you truly want mutually receptive relationships, or whether you just want what you want.
In astrology, the term mutual reception means two planets each occupying the sign that the other rules. Twice this year, Venus has been in Capricorn, ruled by Saturn. For its part, Saturn has continuously been in Venus-ruled Libra since 2009. The arrangement is supposed to be symbiotic and synergistic as long as both the planets in question are not in a detrimental placement. Venus in Capricorn is not impaired. Saturn in Libra is not weak. Yet somehow, this particular case of mutual reception is more labor than love, symbolizing a dilemma. The reason is in the aspect and what it means.
With the the exception of a conjunction, any major aspect is a relationship between objects in different signs. A square aspect is always between objects located in separate signs sharing the same quality, either cardinal, fixed or mutable. Squares in general imply an internal tension to be addressed by personal action. When a square involves cardinal domains, like Capricorn and Libra, that internal conflict is often expressed as an impediment to initiative, such as fear or inhibition. The appearance of the planetary energy in a cardinal square is influenced by the respective sign elements as well as the sign ruler.
The receptive archetype of Venus in earthy Capricorn is oriented towards the material world and grounded in subordination for the sake of harmony, expressing itself as mercenary at worst, pragmatic at best. Worn by Saturn, the airy raiment of Libra is detached, prioritizing the defined over the refined, inclined to make reciprocation a rule rather than an aspiration. The situation recalls W.H. Auden’s terse observation that “Almost all of our relationships begin and most of them continue as forms of mutual exploitation, a mental or physical barter to be terminated when one or both parties run out of goods.” In short, the tension of this weekend’s square of Venus to Saturn is more dour than dire, easily escaping the notice of those resigned to accept it as reality. Of course, that attitude is precisely what keeps us from aspiring to something better. That’s where Mars comes in.
Mars in Virgo aspires to something better. A long tenure of the energetic red planet in the mutable earth sign has access to the practical as well as to innovation and experiment. Include with that potential a transit over the spot where, nearly half a century ago, the Uranus-Pluto conjunction witnessed an unprecedented challenge to the status quo. Make that transit concurrent with a Venus-Saturn cardinal square probably unresolved since February, and we will have the opportunity to look at things as they could be and ask, why not?
Now that the relationship of Uranus and Pluto has opened like a flower into a cardinal square of its own, can we actually avail ourselves of Mars energizing the memory of their conjunction to build on its legacy? Why not open our minds to a different form of relationship beyond barter? How can we move beyond a desire to acquire goods and be pro-active to give what is good? Is there not a way that active compassion can replace an acquiescence to convention? Is there any better time to start asking these questions?
The world can change in a day, but it is unlikely that it will. This weekend’s astrology, however, gives us to chance to make a realistic start. We can do so if we consider asking and acting differently in the place where all far reaching changes begin, and at the very least, give each other a little respect when we get home.
Offered In Service
Hey Len, as Eric wrote in description of Scorpio: “…the passions of Scorpio are unparalleled, and people crave you as much as you crave them. Give them the space to desire you.”
I’m going to chillax now…. 😉
Thank you Len 🙂
Bkoehler: love your words
Len: you just keep on giving..
Thanks so much Len, very well put. I will have a meditation on this this weekend.
Hugging Scorpio: Thank you for your comment. It would seem as though you are asking the right questions, but let’s take a cue from the repeat of the Venus-Saturn square to look at it differently. What if initiating and receiving were the same at some level? Would any question of balance then be moot? What if worthiness was not a consideration in reciprocation? What if opportunity were part of stillness? Seems as though things were indeed a bit forced in February. Perhaps now try another tack.
Kim: Thank you for your kind words. Your natal chart appears to have four major planets along with the Sun (and Moon? Depends on am or pm.) in Leo. Some may think that difficult, but don’t take that on too heavily. Please think of it as powerful, which is a different kind of burden, but one with potential to do a lot of good. Your blessings are gratefully accepted.
be: Thank you for invoking the asteroids. Very well put.
Well I agree Len, Mars can do something better than what Mr. Auden expects from a relationship. Here’s the plan: Panacea closely trines Mars and believes it takes a little love to cure the holiday stress so has brought some mistletoe to the party! Aphrodite, just a deep breath away from Saturn, is already sublimely trined to Neptune and giving the ringed-one a come-hither look. He, Saturn, is all about tradition, and Venus is all about kissing, so I think the ambient temperature is warming him up a bit. Can Mars pull it off with some unexpected opportunity? You betcha.
Why spoil the party Saturn? Respect the holiday traditions and put a little love in your heart.
be
Len, as always, gratitude for a word spoken in just the right way, at just this moment. So relevant for me, 8/18/55 1:14, a difficult Leo. Respect may just be the key, and mutual respect the lock. Hard to come by in these ‘sibling society’ times. Planetwaves is a home for we seekers, and you are a pervayor of wisdom, and beautiful weaver of words, as are all the gifted translators posted here. Blessings on and for you. kim
Thanks Len! These aspects and the way you describe them really makes sense.
Last Feb, I explored relationship experiences that were not mutual, that existed out of disparate needs rather than inspirit expressions between two loving and exploring people. It was not comfortable for me, but I needed to do it, perhaps to prove to myself that I contained initiative to go after certain things instead of just talking about them. I later found myself processing much deeper and sincerer aspirations. Today, I feel more aware of mutuality as a way to invite the convergence of energy as it exists naturally in the universe, rather than enforcing a method mixed with expectations or conditions, or even my hypersensitivity and impatience in not having something when I want it. I do this while facing an insecurity of “not acting”. Where is that balance between initiating and receiving? To genuine feeling worthy of reciprocation? To feel nourished between opportunity and stillness?
Thank you Len,
Hugging Scorpio
Alexander: Thank you. Once again, you are very kind and generous. To even include my name in the same sentence as Mr. Auden would be to some a blasphemy, to many an absurdity, such was his greatness. Your cross-dressing comparison, on the other hand, is an excellent and resonant expression of this case of mutual reception because it requires something more to overcome the inhibition and take the initiative.
The resigned Auden vs the resolute Wallick! 😉
Go go.. Len..
Saturn and Venus in a battle of values. Idealism thrives in a vacuum and we know Saturn detests those. Yet Venus is currently rooted in soil while Saturn has his head in the clouds..
So maybe wearing each other’s clothes can shift the identities somewhat, a little like the proverbial transvestite might. A kind of indulgence in guilty pleasure at the weekend.
Time limited but.. well.. From tiny acorns etc! 😀