Venus is now in Libra, arc minutes from a square to Pluto in Capricorn. The Virgo-Libra cusp is a busy place these days; Mercury just went into Libra (ending its retrograde two weeks ago, and its echo phase yesterday). Then at the end of the month, Saturn makes the same move as well. Each time a planet moves into Libra, it opposes the Aries Point, the first degree of the zodiac (said properly, the first degree of the tropical zodiac).
Libra is one of the home signs of Venus; it’s said to rule that sign (and also Taurus). So you can truly say this is a ‘good thing’, but as good as it is, it’s also made interesting by the aspect to Pluto and its presence opposite the Aries Point. As I have said here many times, the Aries Point in any astrological equation tells us that the big world (out there) and the little world (one’s private life) are intersecting. Yesterday’s conversation about where individual relationships meet society’s rules and expectations is a good for-instance, though the effect can get much larger. Yet the conscious attempt to reconcile where we actually fit into our culture is an excellent example of putting the Aries Point to work.
Venus square Pluto is a picture of one’s internal experience of a relationship; of one’s own relationship tendencies; and the role of erotic impulses in the quest for growth and personal evolution. The relational aspect comes from Venus in Libra; the societal attribute from Pluto in Capricorn. Pluto also brings in the concepts of growth and evolution. Venus and Pluto both bring in different aspects of sexuality, and add up to a lusty mix. Yet it manages to be something well beyond lust for its own sake; this is a drive to connect, and exploration of the motive to connect.
This is an aspect that feels meaningful, applicable and moreover, urgently calling for self-reflection. That square wants to start the conversation from the inside-out. It’s pointing to that significant piece of a relationship that exists within our individual psyche. We tend to think of a relationship as this thing that two people have; but really it’s two things that two people are having, with one thing assigned to each person.
Part of being a healthy relationship partner is being able to focus on both your experience and that of someone else. This would necessarily start with your own experience, and then embrace that of your partner. When we only focus on someone else and habitually forget our own needs, or act to our own detriment, that would be codependency. This aspect is saying start inside. Recognize how much of love, sexual attraction and obsession, acceptance, need, satisfaction, acceptance, guilt and fear are personal matters that we alone experience. Or said another way, the square is calling on us to call back our projections and take ownership of our experiences.
One last bit of astronomy. Venus is currently conjunct a fixed point; a galaxy called M87, which is parked in the first degree of Libra. The Aries Point is the place where the tropical zodiac begins, based on the position of the Sun, the day of the vernal equinox. There is no “thing” involved — except if we consider M87, an enormous galaxy that takes up the first degree of Libra and is part of an important cluster of galaxies known as the Virgo Group. Something in the first degree of Libra has a direct relationship to the Aries Point — an opposition, and I think that this galaxy may be a meaningful part of the ever-so-dependable effect that we see.
Libra is intense and nobody really wonders why. We think of it as the nice laid back sign of balance and things that work well aesthetically, but I describe Libras as the human blow torch. That flame, set to low, seems harmless and barely noticeable, but then when you turn the knob it jets out hot enough to burn through steel or compose the best rock music you’ve ever heard (Thom Yorke, for one wholesome example). Libra is conjunct M87 today and Pluto, occupying the first degree of Capricorn for the last time, is currently square M87.
All of this sounds like a meeting of people who have something to say.
Eric,
One other interesting thing about today’s astrology, no Moon void. Indeed almost true of tomorrow when the Moon is void for only eleven minutes between its sextile to Mars and its entry into Libra. My brief interpretation of this is: Don’t take anything for granted, especially with so with so much going on the anarectic degrees.
aword,
Amen! i will studying yesterday’s commentaries for a long time.
Jere,
i do not think of you as spacy at all. Your reply to yesterday’s blog about the phenomenon of attachment was absolutely brilliant. Your observations regarding your natal Venus-Pluto conjunction are profound and i thank you for your teaching. And, yes, equanimity is a fine word that has a lot to do with the houses as well as the planets.
Hey, speaking as one with pluto/venus conjunct in Libra, just inside the 4th house, (let’s not play with the mommy/daddy sheisse here, I’ve been here for a lifetime, and I’ve put in way too much thought for a response.) What I appreciate (venus) is that I’m able to go into myself, dissect my emotional reactions from my environment, and re-work my energy-patterns/habits (pluto), in the forming of Healthy, Balanced relationships with myself (4th). For years now, I haven’t required relationships (I’ll explain what I mean), I can go into any space with humans in it and siphon the energy through osmosis (bus stations kick-ass but, they’re a bit squirrely! All-night dives are better.), these have been my meditational centers (P.W.’s more of a therapy sesh). I’m finally (funny word!) getting to a place where I know myself well enough too want to engage reality within my environment, play with the folks around, see what they know (and help them to unfold it (cancer asc.), as well as me!).
What that all means is that I’m viewing others as equal, as I am god/goddess, so are they. In that, Respect (a VERY subjective term) is paramount, too me. Equanimity (a very fine word) has always been the albatross in my reality, as well as our shared global reality. (I’ve SO wanted to run into the woods and skip out on this whole entire society, and I’m quite capable, but I’ve always felt that I want to engage this human system). I WANT to play with everyone. The thing is, as I feel, is that I have to be so distant from all things, that it makes any one thing so tangible, it’s the edge of the world. (Really, It’s the Now space, and it’s terribly scary. But,… {I really don’t know what comes next, this’s where I’m at})
Maybe someone gleans something regarding the Pluto/Venus bit goin’ down, from my expression???? (Other than my own well being, it’s the only reason I toss shit out into the forum.)
(Yeah, I’m spacin’ right now and can’t continue… realized it was a book and just wanted to throw something down..)
Take care all,
Love ya,
Jere
This moment we are on feels like the moment I’ve been trying to stand upon since I can remember, but it just wasn’t there…the relationship stiff, “from the inside out”.
Everything is about relating – impossible to function without good relationship and finding (or recognizing!) mutual respect has been nearly (but not completely) impossible.
As yesterday’s conversation pointed out – the collective “we” now has a lot to say – and experience – on this!
As for me, I think I will soon find myself experiencing greater understanding about the imprint my mother (Libra) left me which to date has seemed so useless and wimpy like that blow-torch flame set to low.
Another day of appreciate for all you do, Eric – and all you have drawn here for sharing,
Linda