October-November 2018: retrograde Venus, the light of Earendil

Light of Earendil: remember the White Witch Galadriel, in the Lord of the Ring? How she gave Frodo a crystal phial containing “the light of Earendil our most beloved star. May it be a light to you in dark places when all other lights go out.”? She is another embodiment of Persephone, dubbing in dangerous powers throughout the tale, to finally overcome the Super-Ego’s temptations of the Ring and sail to the West (the Isle of the Blessed).

***

A shorter version of this post has been published in the issue 102 of the Uki Village News community paper

The Retrogradation of Venus
(October 6 to November 16)

In Scorpio since September 9, peace loving Venus will continue to explore the depths of this emotional Sign in October, returning to Libra on November 1, and finally back into Scorpio on December 3. Only on January 9 2019 Venus will finally leave Scorpio to enter Sagittarius.

You will be aligned to this Venus ‘event if you happen to have the Sun, Moon or any Planet/ Angle on the first ten, eleven degrees of the Fixed Signs (0-11° of Scorpio-Taurus-Leo-Aquarius), or the last five, six degrees of the Cardinal Signs (25-30° of Libra-Aries-Cancer-Capricorn).*

I know it may sound complicated to beginners but accuracy is the only way to avoid useless generalizations, a common fault with astrological writings. Being born under the Sign of Scorpio, for instance, doesn’t make this retrogradation a personal experience for you, unless, of course, the position of your Sun, Moon, Angle/s, Planet/s at birth align with the transits of Venus during this Retro period.

At the Sun-Venus Conjunction, on October 27, Venus’ orbit will carry her between the Sun and Earth, closer to our planet as she can ever be. This occurs once in every 584 days cycle, marking the end of Venus’s apparition in the evening sky and the beginning of her predawn rising.

It is a common belief that Venus is exclusively the planet of sensuality, love, relationships, art and creativity.  She exerts in fact also great influence on self image, aesthetic tastes, likes and dislikes, finances, assets and all things contributing to comfort and joy in our lives. Venus’ retrogradation can then offer significant insights into all these areas of experience, according to age and circumstances.

Scorpio, Sign traditionally ‘ruled’ by macho Mars and the all powerful masculine Pluto, is a strange dwelling place for feminine Venus, alluring and dangerous at one and the same time. We may be tempted to explore areas of experience and relationships we felt were taboo before but now prove irresistible. This can indeed be true not only of actual relationships but of the way we relate with our creativity and the way we choose to interact in our social life, in a deeper and more honest way, investing more energy and feelings in whatever we do, seeking real intimacy, emotional, physical, intellectual with others, meaningful not superficial experiences.

At this time Venus will also dance a strange dance with Mars in Aquarius: at first an intense tango (the recurring square between Fixed Signs, whose crucial days will be September 10 and October 11/12), then a romantic waltz (the harmonious Air Signs trine, whose crucial day will be November 10). With the emphasis on Venus-Mars and Scorpio-Libra many relationships, romantic, sexual, financial, legal, could take a beating during this period or, positively, find new levels of connection and honesty.

We could dig out some disagreeable truths about ourselves and/or meaningful others, but also realize the potential for transformation and redemption. With Venus moving inward, so to speak, the first relationship in the line of fire will be that with our own selves, our self image, the confidence or lack of confidence defining our social interactions. How comfortable do we really feel about our public persona, our physical appearance, mode of dress, the way others may perceive us? Retro Venus has the power to lay bare lots of submerged unconscious stuff that secretly affect our lives.

Perhaps we may learn the hard way whom we can trust and who will be willing to truly support us emotionally, financially, legally through hard times. We will be putting on the detective goggles when it comes to emotions, discerning things from ours and people actions/words to which we may have been blind before.

Relationships, artistic or financial enterprises beginning at this time will prove challenging at first, but could eventually bloom into something really special. During a Venus Retrograde period people from the past often reconnect with us, allowing forgotten or repressed feelings to flood back into our lives. Negatively we could get obsessed and emotionally stuck about someone or something, experiencing emotional, financial or creative blocks, all generating some difficult and depressing feelings for a while: insightful or disturbing, depending how we look at them. How much are we repressing within and/or hiding from others? How many unresolved issues are still marring our relationships or relationship potential? Venus retrograde could be the ideal time to find out and face the consequences.

At its ideal level of expression Venus retrograde represents feminine empowerment and feminine wisdom, not gender but soul defined, acting as midwife to some profound transformation of consciousness. The time is ripe for some depth psychological work and truth seeking, shining the light of Earendil on our personal and collective psyche.

A peacemaker to the rescue: Venus in Libra, August 7 to September 9, and beyond

‘Le Tre Grazie’ (The Three Graces)’ by Sandro Botticelli

Venus is entering Libra on August 7, transiting this Cardinal Air Sign until September 9, a transit that could help us deal with the intensity, possible frustration and stress of the ongoing Mars-Uranus-Eclipses-Multiple Retrogrades’ mix.

Together with the upcoming harmonious Trine (120°) between Jupiter in Scorpio and Neptune in Pisces (exact August 19, but already active and extending its influence to early September) this transit of Venus could show us peaceful ways of facing the difficulties obstructing our path.

Hopefully Venus in Libra will play the role of peacemaker, restoring some of the harmony and cooperation that many conflicting transits are threatening at present. Traditionally the Sign of Libra is the home of Venus, meaning that in this Sign the Goddess is able to express the more pure and unbiased traits of the Sign, its ability to see two sides of any stories, two facets to every opinion etc.
The more poetical aspects of life come into focus under this transit, enhancing the beauty and love all around us. Attuning ourselves to this new vibration doesn’t mean just putting a pink veneer on a dark and stark reality, but actually becoming more aware of the essential beauty and perfection in everything, the potentially happy outcome of every situation, the silver lining in the storm clouds that have gathered on the world.  Ideals of Love and Beauty may shine more brightly in our consciousness, finding expression into a more loving and cooperative attitude toward others, as well as a keener sensitivity to loving feelings and beauty in art and all forms of creativity.

Here is a timeline of the major transits formed by Venus in Libra, in August and early September 2018.

Venus in Libra Timeline

• August 7 to September 9: Venus in Libra.
• August 9 (active from August 8 to 10): Venus in Libra opposes Chiron Retro in Aries.
  These few days would be ideal for gentle healing sessions: Venus, with her feminine empathy and grace, can now be put to the service of healing, working as a gentle balm on old physical and psychological wounds. Because the aspect is an opposition we are given the chance to see two sides of any issue, providing greater objectivity on the situation or symptoms we need to address. Being gentle is the key here; acknowledging your emotional needs before you tackle your physical problems; not rushing into anything.
• August 10 (active from August 9 to 11): Venus in Libra square Saturn in Capricorn.
  Graceful acceptance of duties and responsibilities would be the key to put this potentially challenging transit to good use. We could enjoy being productive and work a bit harder if we give ourselves a chance. Trying to avoid stuff we need to do would instead cause more frustration and unhappiness. Emotionally this could be an isolating transiting leading to few depressing days, of feeling unloved or just over-burdened by family and work expectations. Our close relationships may suffer, competing with business or professional duties. Financial difficulties could bother us more than usual because of a generally negative take on things. Concentrating on the practical the best thing.
• August 23 (active from August 22 to 24): Venus in Libra In-conjunct Neptune in Pisces and Semi-Sextile Jupiter in Scorpio.
  Here Venus becomes entangled with both Jupiter and Neptune, at the moment in harmonious aspect to each other, a chance to open our psyche to a more inclusive view of life and love, stepping out of our ego needs and desires to feel a more unconditional and non judgemental type of love. Ideal would be to enjoy close connection with nature especially near water where this configuration of aspect could help us to release tension, in body, mind, soul. Going with the flow.
• August 27 (active from August 26 to 28): Venus in Libra Square Pluto in Capricorn.
  With the previous angle to Saturn in Capricorn (exact August 10) this is the most difficult aspect for Venus this month. Also, potentially, the most fruitful. Pluto has often to do with the unveiling of hidden stuff. When Venus is involved with Pluto relationships go through a reality check when honesty the only way to restore trust and real intimacy. Negatively we may feel like we have done or said enough and all we want now is to cut hurtful ties. Dumping our own darkness onto others could be easy now, blaming them for our unhappiness. Let’s not forget that these are just passing moods unless some other significant transit points in the same direction for you.
• September 9 (active from September 8 to 10): as Venus hits the last degree of Libra she will be at 90 degrees angle to Mars on the last degree of Capricorn, an aspect that will repeat on October 11, due to Venus’ upcoming Retrogradation.
  Here the feminine and masculine find themselves at odd with each other. The desire to cooperate (Venus) is stuck against the desire to do one own thing irrespective of other people’s wishes. Are we going to yield a bit in order to include other people in our lives, or are we going to put ourselves first and resent all forms of compromise?

 A look at Venus beyond September 2018

In October Venus will slow her pace considerably, preparing for her cyclical Retro period, beginning on October 6, Scorpio 10°50′, and ending on November 16, Libra 25°14′. Due to this, Venus will re-enter and transit Libra again between November 1 and December 3 2018 (only Libra’s last five degrees).

Like all Retrogradation this event will serve the purpose of reviewing our attitude and re-living past experiences, not only of love and relationships, but also in the area of finance, affecting our feelings of comfort, pleasure, security, creativity. It could manifest as a rediscovering or rekindling of past relationships or unraveling old patterns in new relationships, when perhaps we will be given the chance to finish unfinished business or begin again with greater awareness and less unrealistic expectations.

From the time of the Scorpio Sun-Venus Inferior Conjunction, on October 27, this Retro period of Venus will mark the end of her evening appearances and the beginning of her Morning Star incarnation, the start of a whole new Venus-Sun’ 584 days long synodic cycle.

August 2018 Astrology: The longest Lunar Eclipse of the century, multiple retrogrades and the ongoing risky dance of Mars-Uranus

A slightly shorter version of this post was published in early August 2918 in the Uki Village News.

Last Eclipse Season for 2018

Spanning the months of July and August 2018 the Eclipse season will be intensified in its effect and extended in its duration by the fact that many planets are going retrograde, including our closest brothers, Mercury and Mars, with Saturn, Chiron, Neptune, Pluto and, from August 7, Uranus also. Mercury’s retro period in Leo will go from July 25 to August 19, while Mars’ current retrogradation, between Aquarius and Capricorn, will last until August 27. On top of this Mars has been closest to our planet for a number of years, fact that tends to make his war-like nature more evident; while, between July 7 and September 24, Mars will also be ‘out of bounds’ (beyond the usual 23° declination), another factor that could make the martial energy more erratic and unpredictable .

The Cancer Solar Eclipse of July 13 began the cycle and the August 11 Leo Solar Eclipse will end it. The July 28 Total Lunar Eclipse represents the culmination of the whole period, right in the middle of it, and it is indeed a very special event, not only to astrologers but astronomers as well, because of its length, a whopping one hour and 42 minutes, the longest lasting of the whole 21^st century.

Many Retrogrades

In August and September the July 28 Total Lunar Eclipse in Aquarius will still dominate. The reason for this is that during the eclipse Mars is closely conjunct the Moon and thus the difficult ongoing 90° between Mars and Uranus (active at least until October) will also involve the Moon, the Sun and the Lunar Nodes (T Square). This is a combination of energies that could sorely try our collective patience.

This transit acquires strength due to the Lunar Eclipse, thus extending its influence beyond the month of August, but it started having an effect already in May 2018, when the first pass of the Mars-Uranus’ Square took place, just as both planets were entering Aquarius and Taurus respectively (exact on May 16).

The fact is that while Mars, in backward motion, implies that we are required to soften our stance, looking inward rather than outward for the causes of conflicts and misunderstanding, the strong involvement of Uranus could make it a lot more difficult to find the patience and calm needed to review the way we usually deal with conflicts. And retro Mercury will not help by aggravating any difficulty in communication.

Mars retro always represents an opportunity to avoid arguments by maintaining a calm and detached attitude, remaining centered in the eye of any storm that may come our way, avoiding unfruitful retaliation. The angle with Uranus, especially coinciding with such a full on eclipse, could make this task ever more difficult, because we are, at the same time, pulled toward a more antagonistic and rebellious way of dealing with confrontations, while our reactions could be exaggerated and compulsive. Uranus is in fact the least diplomatic, more radical and uncompromising planetary energy there is!

Again the Fixed Signs of Aquarius, Leo, Taurus and Scorpio are the ones that could be more directly affected by these events, especially if the 4^th, 5^th or 6^th degrees (Lunar Eclipse) or the 17^th, 18^th or 19^th degrees (Solar Eclipse) of these Signs are highlighted in your Birth Horoscope. Because the nature of these Signs is wilful and focussed there is here a need for everyone to be more flexible and tolerant.

The Lunar Node involved in the Lunar Eclipse is the South, indicating that whatever we need to face now, individually and collectively, has to do with negative patterns established long ago, and that this could be an ideal time to recognize and release them.

Positive Transits

To help dealing with the emotional extremes and frustration of the Mars-Uranus’ aspect, Jupiter in Scorpio, is forming a harmonious angle (120°) with Neptune in Pisces, exact on August 19, and active until early September. Here perhaps is one cosmic key to survive and thrive through this challenging and intense period: the cultivation of compassion, closeness to nature and any activities that can help you relax and unwind, thus reconnect to your emotional/spiritual source.

Another helpful transit, active between August 7 and September 9, is the passage of Venus through Libra, the Sign of cooperation and justice, showing us a way of reconciling differences and finding a middle ground from which to work out these differences in creative rather than disruptive ways.

September 2018

Past August the month of September looks mild in comparison, with a stronger accent on the Earth Signs, implying a more practical and realistic outlook that will help all of us to stay more grounded.

Mars will then be direct in motion too, encouraging the start or re-start of any enterprise and project we may have had to put on halt during retrogradation. The effect of all the aspects I discussed before will be still lingering though, if not as intense.

Second week of November: Last Astrological News

In this post I’m discussing the significance of the major transits active during the second week of November 2015.

November 9 = Venus enters Libra. November 12 = New Moon in Scorpio, while the Lunar Nodes are shifting into the Mutable Signs of Virgo and Pisces. November 13 = Mars enters Libra.

The Scorpio New Moon

At this yearly New Moon in Scorpio Sun and Moon will be conjunct Mercury, sextile Jupiter in Virgo and Pluto in Capricorn and trine Chiron in Pisces (still in opposition to Jupiter). A rich configuration, offering real opportunities for some in depth exploring and emotional healing this opening lunar month.

For an in depth look at this 2015 Scorpio New Moon please navigate to my post HERE.

Venus and Mars in Libra

After aligning for the third and last time in 2015 on November 3 in the Sign of Virgo, Venus and Mars remain close to each other for a while longer, Venus entering Libra on November 9 and Mars on November 13. The Libra transit of Venus will last until December 5, while the Libra transit of Mars will continue until January 4.

Libra is the archetypal Sign of relationships, expressing our innate urge to seek companionship and to share what we have in common with other human beings. Anyone with Libra, of course, but also Aries, Cancer and Capricorn highlighted in their Birth Chart will be more directly affected by these transits, the latter Signs in a more challenging way.

This yearly transit of Venus offers opportunities for new or renewed relationships, pleasurable activities, creativity, aesthetic and sensual pleasures, holidaying, friendship, love, sharing, romance, beauty, business transactions, the pastel colours of life. Mars following Venus into Libra at a slower pace will add spice to the mix and deeper hues to the mild Venus’ colours, in the form of passion, competitiveness, even apparent antagonism. Relationships of all kind will have to include a healthy dose of selfishness, we and others on equal footing, so to speak. Also the tendency of Libra to compromise too much in order to achieve agreement, often at its own expense, could be balanced by the need to assert ourselves, expressing more openly what we want in our relationships, not just what we are prepared to give or compromise for them.

All in all this could be an exciting period for relationships, in particular to tackle issues of equality and fairness, not only in love but in any other form of one to one interaction.

Looking ahead the transits of Venus coming in contact with Pluto in Capricorn (square) and Uranus in Aries (opposition) on November 21 and 24, followed by the same transits of Mars in December, are proof that there will be more than love and romance in the air: Pluto and Uranus deepening our awareness of the psychological undercurrents in all our relationships, while stressing the need for honesty, mutual respect and independence.

The shift of the Lunar Nodes into Virgo and Pisces

On November 12 the Nodes of the Moon are shifting Signs, in retro motion as usual.  The North Node enters the end of Virgo, from Libra, and the South Node the end of Pisces, from Aries. These transits will last until early May 2017.

The Nodes’ positions have everything to do with the positions of Eclipses, especially Solar Eclipses. In fact from now, until the passage of the Nodes in Leo and Aquarius in 2017, four out of five Sun Eclipses will fall in Virgo and Pisces, preparing a fertile ground for major changes in the lives of people whose Sun, Moon, Planets or Angles happen to be aligned to these events’ degrees.

Anticipating next week here is a list of the transits becoming active from mid to end of November. I will discuss them in a next post.

Stay tuned.

November 18 = Mercury reaches Superior Conjunction to the Sun. After this phase Mercury will return to the morning sky, rising before the Sun, still hidden from view by the Sun’s glare until late December.

November 21 = Mercury enters Sagittarius. This transit will last until December 10.

November 21 = Venus in Libra reaches 90 degrees distance from Pluto in Capricorn, a difficult square aspect.

November 23 = the Sun enters Sagittarius today.

November 24 = Venus opposes Uranus in Aries.

November 25 = Mercury conjunct Saturn in Sagittarius and also square Neptune today.

November 26 = Saturn forms the first square to Neptune. This aspect will repeat on June 18, in retrogradation, and September 11 2016.

November 30 = today the Sagittarius Sun is conjunct Saturn and in also square Neptune in Pisces.

Saturn square Neptune for the collective

At the collective level (Mundane Astrology) this transit cannot begin to be understood unless we consider it within the context of the complex planetary pattern of which it is a part. This pattern involves also Jupiter, Chiron and the Lunar Nodes, not only Saturn and Neptune. In fact, as Jupiter opposes, on and off, Chiron and, previously, Neptune and aligns with the North Node, Saturn squares all of them, while in opposition to Jupiter. With the exception of Jupiter opposition Neptune, all the above transits will remain active until well into 2016 and some until September/October 2016.

These transits show the great difficulties we all face, now and in the coming months, trying to reconcile our material necessities and need for personal/national security with the call for a higher sense of humanity, for compassion, and also for a deeper awareness of the unity of people with the planet itself. It is not a surprise to astrologers that a transit like Saturn square Neptune (necessity, pragmatism, materialism, fear versus idealism, compassion, spiritual unity, non violence) becomes exact for the first time just three days before the Paris Conference on Climate Change.

More on this very significant transits in a future post.  Stay tuned.

The first half of October 2011, focus on Libra and Leo

Around the time of the Spring Equinox (September 23) we are seeing important changes taking place in the sky picture. Earth’s inner companions, Mercury and Venus, and her closest neighbor in outer space, Mars, have moved or are soon moving into new Signs. Venus entered Libra on September 15, Mars Leo on September 19, and Mercury will be in Libra from September 26.

The influence of gentle Libra will calm the impetuosity of Mars in fiery Leo, a great combination for all creative activities and loving, passionate relationships.

The dance of the planets close to Earth is always an important indicator of the pulse of life on our globe, generating the special focus that makes some periods best suited for certain activities and experiences, from week to week.

Mercury and Venus, in particular, moving as they do within Earth’s own orbit, have a very special link to the Sun, defining the solar expression in specific ways according to the Sign they transit at any given time, be the same as the Sun or different. Both planets will be in Libra for a while, the same Sign as the Sun: Mercury until October 13 and Venus until October 9. The Sun will remain in Libra until October 24. Libra then is coming to the fore in a big way during the first half of the month of October.

Libra is eminently a Sign of relationship, because through Libra we all seek to achieve a degree of harmony with the external world and other people. With Libra we experience loneliness and boredom when our lives are not socially active, or our love life not fulfilling.  The ideal for Libra is to share the world with others in the fairest possible way. Relationships are not the ‘merging with another’ emotional roller coasters characteristic of the Water Signs, or the passionate affairs and conquests of the Fire Signs. Libra strives constantly, like all the Air Signs, to keep its cool and maintain a degree of detachment, despite the terrible urge to interact. One’s sense of self depends however on Libra’s ability to relate without compromising its integrity and principles. So Librans, or people with Moon, planets, Ascendant in Libra, often walk a tight rope, constantly balancing their own needs and preferences with those of others, in the often vain attempt to find the perfect balance they so much aspire to.

Early October will be a great time for everyone to walk that rope, spending some extra energy to make our relationships come closer to our ideals, rather than accept or lament all the things that are not actually up to our standards.

Venus in Libra is in her own ambience, because Libra is one of the Signs over which the Goddess of Love exerts traditional rulership, bringing up the most desirable traits of this Sign, the gift of diplomacy and a special eye for beauty.  Because Mercury, planet of communication and all form of exchanges, is also in Libra, our reading, writing and conversations will also take on the colour of Venus, taking on a lighter tone, leaning toward the arts, while conversation will be stressing understanding and fair play rather than confrontation and heated debates.

On October 7 Mercury will make contact with Saturn in Libra, an aspect suitable for serious thinking, studying or any type of mental work that requires concentration and profundity. On the down side it could bring up some sadness especially if we concentrate too much on the past or on our real or imagined failings, stirring up feeling of inadequacy that could paralyze our efforts for a little while. Help is on its way though, with a gentle transit of Venus and then Mercury to Neptune.

As Venus ends her stay in Libra she will form a harmonious angle (trine) to Neptune in late Aquarius on October 8, a romantic, dreamy and imaginative contact, inspiring for artists, lovers and day-dreamers, especially if they had planets in the late Air Signs at birth, the last three degrees or so. A bit later on in the month, on October 12, Mercury will also form the same angle with Neptune, confirming the period between October 8 and 13 as one suited for romance, artistic expression, especially through music, spiritual encounters and magical trips.

In the meantime Mars will remain in Leo, until November 11, and then begin an eight months long journey through Virgo. Leo is a positive placement for Mars, providing the fiery passion the Red Planet feeds on, but also containing that passion and controlling it, enabling us to utilize the positive energy for creative and enterprising feats.

The most important of Mars’ transits during this period will be a challenging square to Jupiter in Taurus on October 3, an aspect that stresses the need for caution in order not to overstretch our resources or take too many risks. ‘Look before you leap’ should be the keyword at this time, in particular for some Leo (born between July 30 and August 1), Taurus (born April 27/29), Aquarius (born January 28/30), and Scorpio (born between October 31 and November 2); also for anyone with the Moon, planets or one of the Natal Chart’s Angles between the 7^th and 9^th degrees of the above Signs.

For a more in depth view of the major transits becoming exact between the Libra Equinox and Capricorn Solstice 2011 (September to December) please click HERE.

Focus on Sagittarius, Mercury and Mars

*******

While Mercury powers ahead into Sagittarius from November 9 to December 1, Venus has been slowly retracing her steps into Libra since November 8. Our close neighbours have thus both left Scorpio around the same time. They have entered, one in direct motion, the other in retrogradation, the Signs preceding and following Scorpio, Yang assertive Signs, less emotional and also less fixed than Scorpio, therefore less inclined to get stuck into sticky emotional issues or power struggles.

Mercury will spend longer than usual in Sagittarius, due to retrogradation. It will become Stationary Retrograde on 5/6 degrees Capricorn, on December 10, re-enter Sagittarius in retro motion on December 19 and leave this Sign only on January 13, 2011. Mercury’s retro period will end on December 30, on the 19th degree of Sagittarius.

Mars has also entered Sagittarius on October 28 and will leave this Sign on December 8.

A lot of focus is on Sagittarius at the moment, a boost of energy and a more eventful time for Sagittarius, of course, but also the other Fire Signs, Aries and Leo, and the Mutable Signs, Gemini, Virgo and Pisces; and anyone in whose Charts these same Signs are alighted by the presence of the Moon, the Ascendant or the visible planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn).

Collectively the fact that the Moon is now waxing, that Venus and Saturn are now Morning Stars, Mercury-Mars are transiting a Fire Sign, and Jupiter-Venus are close to the end of their retro period (both becoming Stationary Direct on November 19) are all symbols of a more active and confident period for many people, when initiative will pay off and goal oriented activities can be more successful. We can all feel more expansive and generous, more free of the shackles of convention. Braving the storms of life is natural to Sagittarius, after exploring the depth of Scorpio, if the exploration has unearthed the wealth of self-knowledge. That self-knowledge can now entitle us to move into a wider world, to participate in life with renewed optimism and hope.

It could be a great time to travel or to seek less personal outlooks and philosophies; or just to try our luck at anything that seems promising, with a vision of better things to come.

Venus in Libra

Some of the regular readers of my posts would have perhaps noticed that I didn’t write anything about the transit of  Venus through Virgo. In fact I didn’t write anything about much in the month of July. The reason is that, in good Saturn in Virgo fashion (my Birth Chart), while both Mars and Venus were also transiting this Earthy Sign, I found myself too busy with too many little but pressing  things: commitments I conveniently forgot I’ve made, long overdue cleaning up (of bookshop, house and computer) and many other menial and non menial tasks that, all of a sudden, couldn’t wait any longer!

If you too have found yourself lately frantically cleaning the garage or attic, or scrubbing your email box from all of last five years good wishes and cute slide shows, now you know why this was so for a while. The good news is that Venus left Virgo for Libra on August 7, while Mars also entered Libra on July 30. We could now find more time for such ‘frivolous’ things as writing and being creative, even perhaps to enjoy ourselves a little.

There is a catch, there is always a catch: entering Libra, the Air Sign traditionally associated with Venus, and with all that is pleasant, beautiful, harmonious and loving in life, Venus also enters the field of battle already occupied by the great destiny makers of the Zodiac.

The first is Uranus in Aries (Venus opposes Uranus on August 7 ): ‘love me but let me be’.

Then is Saturn in Libra’s turn (Venus meets Saturn on August 9): ‘love as commitment and duty, or loneliness and emotional isolation in relationships’.

On August 10 Venus squares Pluto in Capricorn: ‘love/hate’, a not so uncommon situation, or very intense and memorable love encounters, spiced by desire and jealousy.

On the same day Venus also opposes Jupiter: ‘I want more from love’.

On August 21 Venus will finally meet Mars in Libra, just in time for the Australian Federal Elections, a fit symbol for a ‘man versus woman’ public event.

All these powerful transits will prove challenging for peace-maker Venus. She will have to confront head on issues she usually prefer to gloss over or politely ignore. Only love and friendship that can withstand the tough scrutiny of these unlikely fellow travelers will cope well with this special transit of Venus in Libra, particularly in the first week or so of her passage.