About Mercury - directly below
What does Venus in Gemini mean for the Signs
About the Morning Star and Evening Star
-------------------------------------
• Mercury remains Retrograde in Aries through March 30, 2003
• The standing advisory is: Avoid: Signing contracts, entering into partnerships, and buying equipment with wiring.
Quick Advise: Think twice and say once and even then stick to tones and words that cannot be misconstrued. Read more about Mercury's travel plans.
• This period is good for going back to review, revise and repair. Pull things out from the bottom of the pile of things to do and attend to things you normally like to ignore and neglect.
• This one occurs during tax season in Canada, so finding those papers is a tad frustrating, but while you are digging for that donation receipt for $17 to get a couple off your taxes you are likely to find papers you thought you'd lost forever.
• Items that have been safely tucked away, permanently it seems are uncovered.
• An excellent time to rummage through the house and clean up clutter.
• Mostly Mercury is in Aries this go-around, so snide comments laced with I am right can be the source of irritation:
• with family for Capricorn (4th house) and with the boss for Cancer (10th house)
• partner and others for Libra (7th house) and for Aries it involves self, but the repercussions can be felt by others, if the Aries clammes up 1st house
• with co-workers for Scorpio (6th house) and for Taurus it might be - what are others saying behind my back (12th house)
• with Virgo more about how the partner handles money (8th house) and for Pisces it might not be people that irritate, other than those who somehow have control of their money or purse strings, such as bankers and creditors (2nd house)
• Quite personal for Gemini - friends and colleagues might be tough to cope with and Sagittarius might have issues with kids and lovers, those people we open our heart to
• with in-laws, publishers, the priest or congration member for Leo and Aquarius might have issues with neighbours and people they have to deal with on a day to day basis, and siblings, cousins, neighbours, etc.
These are just quick notes, so I'll leave Mercury here and we can watch him play his tricks and teach us to do things better, and his ways are sometimes irritating, but then a pearl grows out of irritation. Mercury is the planet of knowledge - and here is a quote about that: "Be curious always! For knowledge will not acquire you: you must acquire it." - Sudie Back. Just try to be curious without being nosey!
Mercury stays in Aries through mid May as a morning star. His evening star phase begins June 18.
Want to read more:
• Mercury Notes for 2004 with time lines
• The extended article on Mercury for 2003-04.
Venus will spend an extended period of time in Gemini - four months compared to the average of approximately 25 days. The longer a planetary influence is present, the more likely we are to truly feel it. In order to understand the future we need to understand and reflect on the past. To understand the force of this transit, lets compare it to the six month transit of Mars through Pisces last year (2003), that is mid June through mid December. We are likely to remember events and shifts that occurred at that time relating to the house with Pisces on the cusp. Incidentally, Mars is now in his evening star phase*. The last Venus transit of four months took place October 2002-January 2003 in the zodiacal sign of Scorpio. The previous long Venus transit in Gemini took place in 1996, the same time frame as this year.
Until May 17 Venus is a brilliant evening star brimming with wisdom, and offering insights into what is of value and importance to us. Do you still love what you are doing and being? Look at the Gemini area of your chart, and naturally any planets with which transit Venus forms aspects. Her phase as an evening star lasts nine months. That is the duration of human pregnancy. Timing wise look to what you took seed in your life mid-August. Think in terms of heart-desire, did you discover that you passionately want something in your life or back in your life. The Venus cycles, there are five, shift our priorities, drum in what we truly love and desire, and make us question whether something is worth it. While Venus rules our money, these are the times, when we typically discover that monetary gains aren't the form of reward, payment or acknowledgment we yearn for.
The strength of Gemini is its ability to communicate. The lack of language skills is not an obstacle merely a challenge for Gemini. Gemini will find a way to communicate - signing, drawing pictures, or with a dictionary in hand. I think the web at its best and at its worst is Gemini. It won't point out what is good or bad information merely expose that information! The job of pointing out the difference between good and bad belongs to our individual Venus. It isn't right or wrong, simply right or wrong for each individual.
Love itself is a Venus function - "Love allows a person to see the true angelic nature of another person, the halo, the aureole of divinity." - Thomas Moore. Perhaps that is why we say - beauty is in the eye of the beholder. We each have a unique perception of what is beautiful. Technically it is to do with Venusian proportions, but we tend to see beyond the physical when we fall in love.
Some of the issues associated with love and values are screaming for our attention.
Venus represents our values and priorities. At 18-month intervals she spends four months in a zodiacal sign. There are five cycles each touching a different area of our lives, with the intent of getting us to take a good, honest look at whether we are happy with that part of our lives. If we are not, she asks us to look at why not. Typically everything resonates within us, but it is always easier to lay the blame elsewhere. At the deepest level Venus is associated with divinity, the feminine wisdom.
During the retrograde cycle Venus vanishes as the evening star and re-emerges as the morning star. This year during the transit, however, she is visible. The forty day retrograde period is magical, dark and still partly shrouded in mystery. It takes us deep within our psyche into an inner realm. This time the inner issues are on the forefront in a very pronounced fashion.
When Venus crosses the Sun in the sky, it is a black spot on the surface of the Sun. During this event Venus is retrograde. I typically use the barber's mirror to illustrate the retrograde influence. One side of this mirror reflects the image back in its normal proportion, the other side magnifies. When we gaze into the magnifying mirror we instantly become aware of the flaws, and think about how to fix that flaw. While Venus is retrograde we will be considering if something or someone is worth it, as well as consider what we are worth ourselves and what is it we feel we deserve. We will be aware of the blemish or imperfection in an area of our lives or within us.
The morning star is linked with right brain motivated action and impulse. The right brain is associated with analytical, linear, rational, objective and logical thinking, and we consider it masculine in essence. The evening star phase is associated with the left brain thinking, which is holistic, intuitive, able to synthesize randomly, subjectively and able to see the bigger picture not merely parts. This type of thinking is associated with the feminine. This time the shift from an evening star phase to the morning star phase takes place in full view. Which in itself will be interesting to observe, will logic and intuition blend or make the contrast even more pronounced.
We need to remember that Venus is a beneficial influence, and not ever really the harbinger of bad news! The events and things associated with Venus are personal, and much of what is going on, is dealt with quietly behind the scenes. We don't typically blurt out our weaknesses to strangers (other than counsellors) or cleverly weave these into chit-chat.
•The Venus in Gemini Story for 2004
•Cycle Notes on the Venus Transit and Retrograde in Gemini
• Check out the fact sheet about the rare Venus transit.
Let's run quickly through some of the concepts the various Sun signs or Ascendant signs might need to contend with during this four month stretch.
Aries has Gemini on the third house cusp. The people represented by this sector of the chart are siblings, cousins, neighbours, and the people we chat with on a daily basis. The issues are communication, travel, transportation, gathering knowledge and daily schedules. You may find yourself without means of transportation, needing to connect with others in order to get where you need to be. There is a strong need to find common ground, and learn to accept each other through open communication - no excuses. As this is the knowledge gathering section of our lives - "Be curious always! For knowledge will not acquire you: you must acquire it." - Sudie Back. Perhaps you desire to learn something new. This transit is strong enough to prompt educational pursuits. When this period subsides mid-July you will have a different perception of self, and hopefully you have also taken care of any health issues and are now leading a healthier life-style. Plus you'll have learned how to express your intimate thoughts more effectively, making this an excellent time to form stronger bonds with people you care about.
Taurus has Gemini on the Money house cusp (the 2nd house) - this translates to a need to deal with money, material security, priorities, values and personal assessment of one's own worth, both figurative and literal. Anything found wanting will be made better, by force or persuasion, in order for you to feel content and comfortable once again. Comfort and contentment are Venus concepts after all. Any source of discontentment did not arrive over night, you have likely just pushed it back away from your thoughts, promising yourself to address the issues one of these days. It doesn't really even need to be now, but this repeats at eight year intervals, with a reminder every four years, although any issues will be more difficult to ignore now. After the period passes you should find yourself in a more solid financial position and with a stronger appreciation of self, and what your core values are.
Gemini has Venus in close to the natal Sun for four months. That is our ego we are talking about, our very essence - that which we strive toward. So how do you take a close, honest look at who you have become? With small steps so as not to bruise that fragile concept of self-worth that has been bombarded by Pluto for several years now. It is both great and challenging at the same time. You get support and encouragement from sources you least expected it from and discouragement comes from similar opposing sources. These are the times we discover who our true friends are. This period rolls around for you at 8-year intervals, with a booster shot every four years, about the same time of the year as now. The renewed strength that comes from the current experiences will boost your self-confidence. We tend to get to a place, where we start thinking I am only.., this all I can expect, etc. Negative re-enforcement needs to be replaced with positive affirmation. A good exercise, is to stand in front of the mirror for a few seconds (and work toward longer periods) and give ourselves positive feedback - I am beautiful, I love myself, I am worthy of ____. Fill in your desire, the one you have given up on.
Cancer has Gemini on the 12th house cusp. This is the area, astrologically speaking, that represents all our fears, doubts, faith and our surrender. This is where we place enemies, and invisible forces. Many a Cancer Sun indivual naturally has personal planets in this sign - so do read the Gemini blurb as well. We outgrow things in our life, but letting go is easy to say but harder to do. This is an extended period of soul searching and perhaps a quest for spiritual truths. Faith is built up during times like these. This is the most private area of our lives, so chances are that there is little talk about the things that are on your mind. Dreams can get rather vivid now, unravelling the meaning behind the universal symbolism can assist in understanding these deep concepts better. This period is likely also about what changes you desire in your life. Count your blessings and don't think in terms of tossing aside, it is the inherent value we should seek with this influence. Often it only seems that we don't deserve or haven't earned, the reality may be quite different.
Leo has Gemini on the 11th house cusp. The people associated with this house are friends and colleagues, and members of groups we belong to. This house represents the rewards we gain from our career or avocation, and this is where we determine our wishes and aspirations and choose to pursue these. New friendships are formed, and old ones may fade away or move to a more intimate level. Is it all worth it? Does it give you a sense of satisfaction? No praise in the world, can make it feel worthwhile, if you personally don't feel so. This period may also prompt you to get involved with charitable organizations, to do for others less fortunate than yourself. If you choose to work through the issues, you'll find your life overall more rewarding in one or more of the concepts and with a few people.
Virgo has Gemini on the 10th house cusp. With Saturn in the 11th for the balance of the year, and Pluto in the 4th for several years yet, it is no wonder every astrologer talks about career changes, the balancing act between family and work obligations. Recognition and praise, not necessarily in current position but the one to be. Venus retrograde periods are when we start questioning is we still love what we are doing? A resounding yes now, before we get to that period in mid-May, then might be an indication that you are already making changes. If we don't act the beneficial themes are played outside our sphere, this for example might be our child's work and his issues with co-workers. That its them not me theme. You are also looking at the values of others, learning from these and gaining strength and resolve to move on. New opportunities present themselves when we are ready to work on them and/or accept them as valid and worthwhile.
Libra has Gemini on the 9th house cusp. There is a nice long-lasting trine aspect here to the natal Sun - ease and benefits. NICE. The 9th house represents long-distance travel, foreign connections, in-laws, religion, advanced studies and all those concepts that broaden our perspective. This is where opinions become convictions, hopefully with knowledge and information, particularly, with the strong Gemini penchant for acquiring information. So opinions will change, you may have an opportunity to travel more and explore the World from a new perspective. When people get involved, we do have to make an honest effort to find common ground, not chit-chat but real, meaningful conversations pave the way to good rapport. This house is also the planning house for our career - that is higher education is gained here - thus opportunities that died on the vine, or so it seems, may resurface in slightly different form. Maybe you'll even fall in love with someone from a totally different background or country. What a lovely time, despite having to dig deep into your convictions.
Scorpio has Gemini on the 8th house cusp. It is either shit or bliss - actually you'll find there is no 'or' in astrology but both. What motivates you, how comfortable are you with transitions between life and death, or transitions from one relationship to another, or change period. Time, once again, to visit these issues. Take any financial documents and reporting seriously now, you don't want to end up with a bigger price tag than necessary. This is where we deal with taxes as well as the septic tank. This house contains most of the concepts we'd rather not discuss in public - sex, death, surgery, elimination, etc. as well as the subjects that shed light on these - psychology, detective work, plumbing 101 or excavation 102. Heavy duty subjects for some, others might just remember spending more intimate time with partner or having to have the septic tank emptied as it backed into the house. Great time to research all kinds of things and an ideal opportunity to have some intimate conversations with self, learning from the priorities of others. The big question is why am I here?
Sagittarius has Gemini on the 7th house cusp. Is there a marriage happening, falling in love - madly, deeply, and with commitment. This is a freedom loving sign, so it takes a fair bit of push to Sagittarius to commit to a relationship. Regardless what of what the relationship issues are, these will emerge. The need to communicate with heart not just words is strong. While marriage is not ideally timed when it takes place with Venus retrograde. Successful marriages have begun under these circumstances. When it is brand new, not simply finalizing a long-standing relationship it might be prudent to wait until the Autumn. When something lasts a long period, we have plenty of time to reflect on things, and with Venus retrograde we may be tempted to settle. Venus doesn't want us to settle rather go after what we truly deserve. For Libra and Sagittarius both this is mostly a lovely blissful period, with limited issues.
Capricorn has Gemini on the 6th house cusp. The house represents how and where we hone our skills, practice what we have learned and are of assistance to others. It is also the house of sickness and health. If you have already made positive changes in these areas, you are looking after your health, doing physical exercise and have made strides at improving communication with co-workers and people in your daily life, then life can be absolutely wonderful, putting a smile on your face as you perform your tasks and chores. If, however, you have held on to old ways of doing things, out of obligation and necessity, then things are likely to start shaking up. This commenced a while back, now it merely intensifies. We are supposed to love what we do and be happy with the compensation, or learn to love what we do. We make strides in our lives to pursue way to eke out an income and to establish an avocation or calling that fills that innate need within us. Ideally these two are the same, but that is seldom the case. This is the house where we encounter the issue of been there, done that, got the T-shirt and now it is time to move on. Venus wants our heart to sing with joy, and if that isn't the case, then it is time to make it so. This particular Venus transit is the most potent in 243-years, and will likely be experienced twice now, it repeats with similar intensity in 2012. Anything that falls short of being worth it, needs change. When all is said and done, you'll be loving what you do.
Aquarius has Gemini on the 5th house cusp - isn't it lo-ve-ly, as in the song. If not, well, it needs to be. This is the house of Venus' Joy. Are you truly happy? Are you giving and receiving love and appreciation? Not just in words but in shows of affection. This is the house that represents love, the people in this area of the chart are those we open our hearts to. I have found that we do not give up on relationships easily with Venus retrograde, rather we work on making things better. This is the perfect time to fall in love again. Children also belong to this area, and the time period affords us the luxury of connecting with our children at a deeper level, and with our adult children it is learning to appreciate who they have become. There is a time when we have to accept that they are no longer like the little boy we cuddled or the little girl we consoled, but grown men and women with a unique set of priorities and values that we helped shape. The third component of this area of the chart is creativity, if you have been finding excuses as to why you cannot put pen to paper, brush to canvas, etc. then now is the time to start expressing your unique creative energies - no excuses. Creativity should be defined as what ever turns your crank or makes your heart sing.
Pisces has Gemini on the 4th house cusp. Home, roots and family as well as our subjective view of self. The themes can range from renovations to deep conversations with a counselor about what makes us tick. Once again it is about whether we love where we are, how we live within our family structure and how we view ourselves. This has little to do with how others see us, because no amount of praise means anything if we don't find it true within ourselves. At the end of a life we don't look back on the money or possession we accumulated but at the people who we loved and who loved us, and the difference we made in someone's life. It's not about doing good deeds because it is expected, but doing this naturally because we feel it is the right thing. So this period on an intimate level is about having a heart-to-heart with yourself. You need to see what others are seeing as well, to gain a new appreciation for yourself. When we love who we are, others see that radiate from us, and we receive what we put out there back ten-fold. Are you happy with the way life is going? Are you happy with who you have become? What is truly important to you to help you grow as content human being?
In order to understand phases and some of the concepts we derive from these, let's take a quick look at the first division of our astrological wheel. That would be into two. We have pairings as listed in the little diagram.
Venus as an evening star is in a sinister position to the Sun (to the left) . When she is a morning star she is in a dexter position to the Sun. Likewise Venus in Taurus is in a sinister position to the Sun and Venus in Libra is dexter to the Sun. The aspects formed in the natural zodiac are: Sun in Leo squares Venus in Taurus, and Sun in Leo is sextile Venus in Libra. The Sun is at more ease with the morning star phase of Venus, as the two energies have something in common, including the natural communication aspect (sextile) betweent the two. We, of naturally have more polarities through the division of the chart by the horizon (ASC-DESC). We have night and day, private and public, the inner and outer, receptive and giving, passive and active, etc.
We know from science that the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, and the left brain controls the right side of the body. When we divide our astrological wheel with the MC/IC axis, we note that the left or sinister side is feminine and the right or dexter side is masculine. Masculine is known for action and feminine for reflection. The feminine Moon reflects the light of the masculine Sun.
When we look at phases, The morning star is associated with left brain motivated action and impulse. The left brain is associated with analytical, linear, rational, objective and logical thinking, and we consider it masculine in essence. The evening star phase is associated with the right brain, which is holistic, intuitive, able to synthesize randomly, subjectively and able to see the bigger picture not merely parts. This type of thinking is associated with the feminine.
We associate thinking prominently with Mercury, but Mercury really is about gathering information, good, bad or indifferent. The judgement of which it is belongs to Venus. After May 17, both Mercury and Venus are in their morning star phase. So it will be a left-brain time: logical, analytical, and sequential. To determine whether you have an evening or morning star Mercury or Venus, determine if it follows the Sun in zodiacal position. Sun in Gemini and Venus in Cancer, makes Venus an evening star. Sun in Gemini and Venus in Aries, will make Venus a morning stars. Or rotate your astrological chart so that the Sun is placed on the Ascendant. If Venus or Mercury are below the horizon, they rise after the Sun, meaning an evening star. Conversely, if the planets are above the horizon, they are in the morning star phase.
Should you have one as an evening star and the other as a morning star you then have the best of both worlds, the ability to think both with your left and right brain, and work toward integration of the two. What an easy tool to help you delineate the thinking processes and how we integrate information into our experience.
Mars also has the two phases. His phases just begin a little differently. The Sun-Mars conjunction begins the morning star phase and the opposition, while Mars is retrograde at 26-month intervals, marks the beginning of the evening star phase. With Mercury and Venus it is the inferior and superior conjunctions that mark the beginning of the phases.
•The Venus in Gemini Story for 2004
•Cycle Notes on the Venus Transit and Retrograde in Gemini
• Check out the fact sheet about the rare Venus transit.
-------------------------------------
© Anne Massey April 2004
Banner Graphic by, Warwick J. Massey, www.silentw.com
Visit Anne's astrology site in Finnish, www.astrotieto.com
This page was archived August 2008
is a certified astrological professional. who has maintained an astrological practise since 1988. To learn more about Anne read her bio and to learn about consultations click here. To book a consultation with Anne call her office at 1.604.888-9552 or send an email.
Learn about your personal horoscope...what do the planets tell about who you are...
If you'd like a more detailed horoscope for your personal year, check out the Order Reports on line section. You can get birthday reports that cover your year in great detail.
Photograph: Ritva Sillanmäki August 2007
Anne is the the founding president of the Fraser Valley Astrological Guild, an International VP for ISAR in Western Canada (International Society for Astrological Research), a member of the Finnish Astrological Association, and a member of the Canadian Association for Astrological Education and of the National Council for Geocosmic Research
