Astrologically Speaking

Venus in Gemini Story 2004

Venus Makes Headlines and Changes Society

2004 In 2003 Mars the planet that, for example, is descriptive of our temper and aggression, came closer to Earth than ever in our historical experience. We had fires, floods, wars, extreme weather and more. In 2004 we have a rare Venus occultation in Gemini. Occultations are like eclipses with the exception that Venus is too small to block the Sun. Astronomy calls these transits.

Occultations are like eclipses and occur at the Nodes of the planet. Each planet has a set of slow moving nodes, which are intersections of the path of the planet and the ecliptic. In the case of Venus the ‘eclipses' occur at 121.5 year intervals and at the same point at 243 year intervals. The Nodes of Venus move along at 32 seconds per year, which translates to approx. 8°30' per millennium. The Nodes are currently at 16°42' Gemini-Sagittarius. Thus they have been in these two zodiacal signs since the start of our modern calendar two thousand years ago.

These nodes are energy points rather than planets or astronomical bodies. The slow moving Nodes of Venus are through the Gemini-Sagittarius Axis. Thus the occultations can only occur in these two signs. These occultations occur in pairs at 8-year intervals. The time lapse between the 2004 and 2012 Venus event and the previous one in Gemini is 243 years - 1761 and 1769.

The Sagittarius occultations of Venus took place in 1874-1882. Thus the next time these will repeat is December 2117 and 2125.

This decade the Venus and Uranus-Neptune mutual reception phenomenon repeats from a similar pattern in the 1750's and 1760's. However, we now have an excellerated and condensed period where the two stellar events occur in the same time period - fast progress and social reform. This listing of the astrological phenomena of Venus is on a separate page - for those of you interested in the facts and figures.

Extended Stay of Venus in Gemini

Timeline: April 3 - August 7, 2004

Venus is one of my favourite research topics and quickly becoming a fascination as I am preparing to write a book on the Covenants of Venus. I wrote a lengthy description of the Scorpio cycle in 2002 in the Libra 2002 and Scorpio 2002 Edition of Astrologically Speaking.

Venus spends an extended period of time in Gemini - four months compared to the average of approximately 25 days. Venus is one of only two feminine planetary representatives in our astrological family. She has been known by numerous names in the varies mythologies of the world, and has two distinct natures. During the retrograde cycle she actually vanishes as the evening star and re-emerges as the morning star. The forty day retrograde period is magical, dark and still partly shrouded in mystery.

For the purposes of this astrological analysis of the year, let's take a brief look at the concepts astrology assigns to Venus. She governs our relationships - all of them. She is who we look to in order to understand our values, priorities and personal convictions. Venus is the planet that rules our money, time, possessions and our desires and yearnings. It rules our senses and sensibilities.

She is coming for a long visit. Even the nicest houseguest outwears her welcome after so long. But the other thing that happens when we spend a lot of time with one person (or planetary influence) is that we learn about their strengths and weakness. Over lunch we would simply note a few nice things and exchange a few pleasantries, but over the days, weeks and months we do ultimately end up reaching deeper. So we gain insights that perhaps we didn't even want, but there they'll be right under our noses.

Venus introduces us to our perceptions about our personal worth and value, not just in terms of things we own. She dangles a carrot in front of our eyes. Actually, in the case of Venus, it is probably more like a diamond ring. That diamond ring simply represents something that we think we have always wanted. Now we need to study our object of desire and ascertain if it is something we truly want and desire, as well as determine if we are worthy of the gift.

The Retrograde Period

Timeline: May 17 - June 29, 2004

Venus is retrograde and the quest for inner validation begins. I chose the second image of the waterfall running over some steps nature has formed for an image to help elucidate this magical time frame. Venus is not about emotions in the same manner as the Moon. The Moon remembers what happened and responds instinctively. Venus, however, rules our five senses. Is there a more powerful invoker of memories than music or scents? We are transported back in time to when we first took notice of that particular scent or tune. These are Venus' domain. The process of contemplating our priorities and values is intrinsically linked to emotions and our feelings. We tend to value things that have memories attached more than things money can buy. The natural steps in the image lead both up and down depending on our perception.

The inner quest to understand our personal values and our worth is a process to help us let go of things that no longer satisfy us. Not to be confused with the Scorpionic elimination process, which is more prolonged. Venus does not allow us to eliminate things that have value and help us on our path. We may try, rocky relationships, as an example, need tender loving care during this time. We may at first want to throw it all away. However, it is about improving, making better and learning to communicate about our desires. If we don't share our innermost desires with the love of our life, we are not in a sound relationship. We can't get something out of a relationship if we have yet to identify what we want. If we don't feel worthy of love, attention, praise, money, etc. then it is challenging to get that need met. First we always need to work on ourselves. We know that we cannot change others to our liking, but we can freely work on our attitude.

During this time it is advisable not to make major purchases. We may find that we paid too much for it or regret having made the choice. Relationships started during this time are a typically short-lived Summer romance. When the autumn arrives we realize that we learned to understand our needs and discover that the other person has no room in that equation. While Venus is retrograde we aren't tuned into what we truly desire we are working through that, and consequently tend to get into relationships for all the wrong reasons.

I often use the imagery of the Barber's mirror to explain the retrograde phenomenon. One side reflects life back in the normal proportion, albeit, the reverse view of what others see when they look at us. No wonder we typically don't like our mirror image as it is so different to the image we see in a photograph. The flip side of that mirror magnifies, so you can shave without donning your glasses. Looking into this reflective surface is disturbing to most of us - instantly our eyes are drawn to a flaw. Take a look for yourself. That is the essence of Venus retrograde we see what is wrong before we can see what is right. People born with Venus retrograde are more likely to have issues with self-esteem, relationships and personal power.

So for forty days this year you'll be viewing your life through a magnifying glass/mirror identifying what is wrong and no longer satisfying. Once that painful step is taken then we can move onto making it right, bringing it down to size and resolving the issue. What the issue is depends on your chart. On a personal level this is a time we try desperately recall 1996 and perhaps even 1988 to get a few hints. But we could simply think about what we went through on an inner level Sept 02 - Jan. 03. The area of our lives will be different that in 2002 but the feel is similar. It is issues to do with value, worth, appreciation, love, money, possessions, time and priorities.

Venus is in Gemini, which is the social, youthful and curious sign. Venus in Gemini loves information and talking. It is deeper than just that. Gemini is about words and Venus about the right words, imagine how a creative a writer that energy could produce. Many of the outspoken individuals who have made a huge difference in our global society were born during the Venus years listed above. Mark Twain, Uncle Sam, Gloria Steinham, and a number of US presidents. In the horoscopes I have briefly addressed this Venus cycle, but an astrologer can help elucidate this for you further.

The Societal Effects of Venus - Appreciation of Our World

Timeline: 2004-2012 repeating from 1761-68; 1518-26; 1275-1283

Concept: Improved access to information and knowledge by the common man.
Examples: "The Social Contract" by Jean-Jacques Rousseau was published on political philosophy. In a nutshell the concepts are like those in the American Declaration of Independence. In the 16th century we had Martin Luther made religion and reading available to people. Charles Dickens published the "Pickwick Papers" a few years later with the Uranus-Neptune cycle - see below, but here was born during this Venus period.

Concept: Taxation
Examples: The taxation of the colonialists by Britain. Jews in the 13th century.

Concept: Freedom of ownership
There were numerous seven year wars fought in these time periods that centred around whose land is it. Lands were gifted by nations who no longer found holding on worthwhile. Canada, for example, was ceded to Britain by France in 1761. The start of the industrial revolution is typically identified as 1760's. Note that many of the inventions date to the 1750's during the mutual reception between Uranus and Neptune. In the US the Mason-Dixon line was put in place during the period in the 18th century.

Concept: Liberty
Daughters of Liberty was formed. Slavery became an issue and the last witch hunts were going on in Sweden.

Gemini is the sign we liked to associate with ideas and words. There are numerous significant events that define the 1760's, but the gist of it is that people fought for rights for the common man and woman. Discoveries and books written made the information and concepts accessible to the masses.

So for the next eight years I expect we are in for a lot of social change. Our information age becomes the information speedway. Money and taxation has been a prominent issue during these periods. Globally this could result in the Euro becoming the comparative currency for the World ousting the US Greenback. Religions have altered significantly during these periods, split into two different groups. People have fought for their rights to equality and equity. Perhaps we have reached a period when science and religious beliefs come a little closer. In the previous periods the inventions of the strong Uranus periods became household items with the Venus period. Now these two celestial events are entwined.

The strong repeating themes are the plight of the people and gaining rights. Better access to information, religious conflicts divided churches into two sects throughout history during these time periods. The right to believe and to understand religious concepts took on a new meaning during Venus' rare occultation ‘decades'. The occultation in 1761 lead to the creation of the AU, astronomical unit. Astronomers could define the distances and the size of our Universe.

Rather than go on further here are a few predictions for the next ‘decade' based on historical events that echo the essence of Venus. All of these resonate with events in the past - for your own research check www.decades.com.

We know there are incredible inventions out there being discovered at light-speed and these will become household items in the next 8-10 years.

• Money becomes a debate - is it the US Greenback, the new Euro or something without a name yet.
• New weapons and weapons technology emerges
• Science and Religion blend in a new evolutionary concept
• Trade practices change dramatically
• Medical breakthroughs at a mind-boggling pace
• The information highway becomes light speed
• Science becomes more accessible to the masses
• Philosophy and occult knowledge written to the common Man
• Travel and methods of travel change rapidly
• Hybrid vehicles into mainstream
• Technological advances gain practical application quickly
• New Religions and debate over the freedom of faith
• The World learns to walk the walk of Diversity

The horoscopes for 2004 are on individual pages due to the length of this write up. Read your sign - Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces.

There are write up on this site about Mercury retrograde periods - What to Avoid and what is ideal activity for the period and well as general notes about the year.

More About Venus

Cycle Notes for April 2004 with a horoscope for Venus in Gemini for each Sun/Ascendant Sign posted April 11, 2004. - "Love allows a person to see the true angelic nature of another person, the halo, the aureole of divinity." - Thomas Moore.
Comments on the upcoming Venus Transit - written and posted March 29, 2004
Venus in Gemini Story, and the Occultations in 2004 and 2012 - posted Dec. 15, 2003
Venus Fact Sheet

If you are looking for more information about your year personally consider the Solar Return Report by Mary Shea - time line birthday to birthday. Or consult with an astrologer. To find more astrologers in British Columbia check out the listing at www.astrologyguild.com/resourcedirectory.htm.

Anne Massey, C.A.P. is a certified professional astrologer. For consultations with Anne call 604-888-9552 or e-mail - anne@astrologicallyspeaking.com.

Check out www.astrologyguild.com to find astrology talks, classes and several regular and 2004 columns.