This week, a pair of influences involving Venus and Mars is offering a distinct choice in how we respond to our desires. It’s also part of the ongoing grand cross in the cardinal signs.
Specifically, Mercury is making a conjunction to Venus (exact just before 5:02 pm EST Tuesday). Traditionally, this is said to confer a refined, optimistic, artistic mind. This sort of refined consciousness may be more of an option rather than a given, in light of the greater astrological context this week.
To recap, the grand cross is currently made up of Uranus in Aries, Jupiter in Cancer, Mars in Libra and the Sun and Pluto in Capricorn. On New Year’s Day, the Moon joined in through a conjunction to the Sun and Pluto (and, at the time, Mercury). But the Moon moves very quickly, and has not been part of the cardinal grand cross for several days.
That changes today, when the Moon enters Aries at 2:45 pm EST. It is heading for a square to the Sun tomorrow: the first quarter Moon. When the Moon squares the Sun, it will also be closely square Jupiter and opposite Mars.
All of this action on the cardinal cross translates to change and forward movement, both within us and in the wider world, both in ways we can feel and in ways we might not comprehend until we look back on this moment a few years hence. As part of that mix, Mars and Jupiter exact their own square to each other on Wednesday — but you are likely feeling their effect now, and have been for a few days.