What is auspicious? The word itself is associated with luck, prosperity and a good chance of success. Venus is known as the lesser benefic, while Jupiter being the masculine energy is considered the greater benefic. (Open printable PDF file)
I had this e-mail tonight: "Dear Anne, I recently discovered your fine column and enjoy the insightful commentary provided therein. Since you indicated Venus was a favorite subject of yours, I hope you will consider addressing the following question--perhaps at least in a future column, if not in a direct reply.
Regarding the above-captioned event, many commentators, including yourself, have indicated it is of a highly auspicious nature. In that vein, per my rather limited reference materials, it seems the upcoming Venus/Sun conjunction will aspect the August 1999 solar eclipse, and that Mars will conjunct the June 2002 solar eclipse point on that same day (i.e., 6-08-04), as well.
Consequently, I was wondering whether or not those previous eclipse points are too far in the past to be of effect currently, and would appreciate reading any thoughts you have on the matter, such as, e.g., how those prior eclipses might "blend" with the Venus/Sun conjunction. Thanks for your consideration, ST"
It prompted my to respond with this quick column, that may be full of typos as it only took an hour of birthing, pregnancy is a Venus function, after all.
We sometimes forget that what is actually good for us might not be what we desire. We consider certain turns in our lives great in hindsight but in turmoil of the moment it may not have felt that way.
The inferior conjunction of Venus occurs while she is retrograde. That is she is moving backward from our earth bound perspective, retracing her steps about half a sign - 15 degrees. The June 8, 2004 conjunction of the Sun and Venus takes place at 26°Gemini opposite the galactic centre at approx. 27°Sagittarius. This conjunction is unique as we see Venus at a time she is usually invisible, and the transit event is similar to a Solar Eclipse. Venus is too small to block the rays of the Sun, and a shadow of an eclipse will not be cast.
This rare transit occurs near the nodes of Venus in Gemini, and has for centuries at 243-intervals. The north Node of Venus is in Gemini and the South Node in Sagittarius. There are two transits at eight year intervals, which repeat in these two zodiacal signs at 121.5 year intervals. In the 1760's, the 1510's and so on we have had two transits spanning eight years. During all the time frames when the transits take place in Gemini big changes have taken place with information and knowledge. People have gained access to religion, wisdom, knowledge and with the World at large. We had Martin Luther bring religion to the common man, Jean-Jacques Rousseau published the Social Contract. In the last year we are already seeing sign of new knowledge in novels about spirituality. Da Vinci code by Dan Brown has the divine feminine mythology woven into the story, and we also have several political exposes about the American presidency. The sweeping sociological changes over the next eight years will be harder to recognize while they are right under our eyes, we tend to see history unfold more clearly in hindsight. History as it is written is the compilation of the best consensus of opinion. The Sagittarius transits, which occurred in the 1870's were different, more about the rights of Man and Woman.
We need to remember that these transits take place while Venus is retrograde. In mythologies and various religious texts this forty day and forty night period is always associated with Venus vanishing into the underworld, which we from a metaphysical sense associate with our subconscious. Venus is about our values and priorities both on a personal and collective level. In the past few decades most of us, especially those of us who are older and have lived a few decades as adults, are becoming discontent with the state of the affairs of the world, the man made inequality and injustice. This Venus decade of approximately eight years, is likely to bring changes in how we collectively treat each other. Throughout time when Man learns more he becomes more involved in his destiny, not as much a pawn of fate. Collectively we are in for lessons in humanity, and about to learn not to hoard what we feel is rightfully only ours.
On a personal level, the Venus journey in to the realm of the subconscious or unconscious brings our own personal values and priorities to the forefront. As this year and in 2012 these stellar events are more potent in the rarity this is likely a very intense period for people who have planets or points in mutable signs between 13-26°. Venus retrograde does tend to signify a period when we acknowledge of discontent, imbalance and lack of harmony. Principally Venus represents two primary concepts in our lives love and money. Naturally there is more but typically it boils down to these two words. The main lesson Venus has to teach us is of love, but we tend to confuse this with mortal love and the appreciation of the good things in life. It is easier to neglect the fact that we are all connected as one great big whole, and when one part ails the whole entity suffers.
In hindsight this is a wonderful, auspicious period and we gain new appreciation for life and all things living. We are more ready to share what we know to help others reach new levels of awareness. Just imagine how much more accessible religion became when people were finally allowed to understand what was being preached from the pulpit or the advent of dictionaries and encyclopedias which also took place during the Venus decades.
If we do look at the more recent times when this stretch of the zodiac was activate by an eclipse or slow planetary transit, we must firstly acknowledge that in 1996 we had a four month stretch of Venus in Gemini, when she moved retrograde from about 29° to 14° over approximately forty days and forty nights. I keep repeating the biblical phrase because it is significant in terms of tribes, who in biblical times wondered around looking for a their rightful place. Venus has two rightful places Taurus of money and security and Libra of relationships and justice. She is relatively happy in her sign of exaltation, Pisces, as she is about to climb to the upper sphere of the sky, this year when she reached 1°Aries. In personal experiences it is significant to look at what was going on in your life April - July 1996, particularly mid-May through the end of June. What new choices did you make, and how did your priorities change? In astrology we learn about the future by observing the past. Cannot divine the future without staying cognizant of the past.
Another point to remember is that while Venus is in Gemini she wonders out of the bounds of the Sun, climbing high into a Northern declination, which is beyond the boundaries of the Sun. She is a free agent starting April 2!! In 2001-02 Saturn transited through Gemini making us aware of the shortages in education, medicine, hospitals, access to information, etc. Closely on his tail the nodes of the Moon, i.e. the North Node in Gemini covered that span of the zodiac. The nodal axis of the Moon is like a compass guiding us toward our true north, both individually and collectively. During the nodal transit through Gemini-Sagittarius we naturally had the eclipses occur on that axis to drum home the message of the Sun and the Moon, whose paths intersect at the nodes.
People who are now pursuing things that they have learned during the brand new Millennium will likely experience an exhilarating four month period of inspiration and new ways of handling life. Those of us who haven't reached that point of actively participating in our own destiny, are more likely to handle mundane type issues. Whatever we have experienced wanting in our lives, be it our relationship, work, money matters, etc. will now be scrutinized for personal validity. That commercial slogan "I am worth it"or I am worth more, meaning that we learn to believe we have earned more. Once we believe that we can achieve it. That being said typically this is the time when we learn to improve our situation, not toss it aside.
What is truly interesting is the fact that Venus remains visible during this transit. Remember this event gave the astronomical unit of measurement so that we learnt to gauge the size of our Universe. So the blemishes or wrongs to be righted stay visible during this transit. We are talking about Gemini, the sign that can always find a way to relay knowledge and information. My Gemini mother had a friend who was mute and could not hear (we used to call them dumb, a word we should never assign to Gemini). This friend could not sign but together the two of them created an intricate signing system and had amazing conversations. Gemini will always find a way to communicate!
As we are talking about Gemini, we all need to learn to communicate more effectively without hiding the meaning of our thoughts into double talk or words that most of us have a hard time understanding. I am personally spending this time writing my Venus book, and I hope to be able to express my insights with the clarity of Gemini.
The e-mail at the beginning of the column points out that Mars comes to the 2002 eclipse point the same day, and wonders what it could be. Mars was incidentally in Gemini just prior to that eclipse. Eclipse points are generally said to be open and active until Saturn closes them by crossing over. The solar eclipse in 1999 eclipse was at 18°Leo, thus the aspect formed is a sextile — that of communication and ease with a little effort. From the aspect alone it does not sound too ominous. Perhaps more significant is the fact that Mars is covering the Gemini territory paving the way for Venus, so we may have some stroking and comforting to do in his wake. This aspect might actually mean that a new vehicle or means of transportation is needed, or a time for the launch of a unique vehicle. I have found that the quick direct transit across a point or planet typically results in a small mundane event. It is the build up of the slow methodical transits and progressions that results in a more significant event. If there is nothing in the natal chart that is actively transited, life goes on as usual.
In 2000 when we had the Taurus alignment, seven planets we anticipated so much from the event, and the computer Virus Love Bug was the biggest, by now we are so used to being bombarded by viruses and spam that we pay little attention to them. That path by the way is currently being transited by the North Node in Taurus. What did you personally start then that is coming to fruition all on its own?
The beauty of the cycles as they weave in and out with incredible predictability is that they bring rather predictable events, and other cycles have already prepared us for them. Venus is the most predictable of all, her beautiful cycles do not vary. We know by simple deduction or addition of eight years, that we will go there again. The house in your chart with Gemini on the cusp is the one most affected. For some of us it is our children, others creative work, for some it is the predictable tedium of work, and others yet our partners. We each get four months to work on those issues and come with diplomatic resolutions after discussion and thought. If we don't quite get it now it will be back in 2012, 2020, etc. There are four other cycles affecting four other areas working in harmony with our individual and collective lives.
This one is just more potent in terms of our collective consciousness. Hopefully, this gives, you my readers additional insights.
© Anne Massey March 29, 2004
•The Venus in Gemini Story for 2004 - Article posted Dec 16, 2003
• Cycle
Notes for April 2004 with a horoscope for
Venus in Gemini for each Sun/Ascendant Sign posted April 11, 2004. From
an e-mail by Sandy: "Your April notes are dense with truths. I'm reading
and rereading."
• Check out the fact sheet about the rare Venus transit. - Times and astronomy ...