The Wheel of Light
Monthly Newsletter - May 2009
Most people are interested in personal relationships. This month a conjunction between Venus and Mars brings that focus in high priority. This is not a particularly rare aspect as it recurs approximately every 12-18 months. What is unusual about the alignment this time is that lasts for two months instead of the week to ten days that is the norm. With that much time to work with we can take greater advantage of the potential to improve and enjoy our relationships.
Another factor that increases the significance of this aspect is that it comes two weeks after Venus turned direct after having been retrograde since early March. As noted in this column last month, when Venus is retrograde we are challenged to review both our needs and behaviors in any relationship to ensure that what we are doing is conducive to satisfaction and fulfillment. Since any conjunction provides the opportunity for a new beginning, this one offers the energy to implement the new patterns that we assume will increase our degree of happiness.
New beginnings are also furthered since Venus and Mars are in the sign Aries, the sign of new beginnings. Aries represents the spontaneous impulse to express oneself in a dynamic, creative and authentic way. This is especially supportive of Mars, the ruling planet of Aries. One of the challenges of this conjunction is that we integrate in a balanced way, the energy of the two planets. The challenge is greater for Venus, the energy of harmony. Venus tends to be thoughtful and diplomatic. It tends to see things from others’ points of view and enjoys making others feel comfortable. Mars, on the other hand, is focused on being true to self. It is direct, straightforward and assertive. We could easily combine these energies in ways that make us appear arrogant or pushy. We want what we want and anyone who tries to prevent us from getting it could get blasted by a display of Martian anger. In this scenario Venus gets lost. It can seem to hide behind Mars to the extent that the social graces are absent from our interactions with others.
Venus was retrograde in Aries a fact that challenged both men and women, but in different ways. As the energy of femininity, Venus retrograde can cause women to feel unattractive or unfeminine. The point of growth is for women to use the retrograde period to analyze the difference between their style of expressing or embodying the feminine principle as opposed to how our culture defines and what it expects from women. Since Aries tends to be confident and courageous, growth for women when Venus was retrograde in Aries is to be yourself. It’s more important to be the woman that you are rather than the women society wants you to be.
For men the challenge of Venus retrograde is to explore and develop their receptivity. Men who have Venus retrograde in their natal charts tend to be more in touch with and comfortable expressing the feminine side of their nature. So the conjunction of Venus with Mars in Aries offers both men and women the opportunity to further explore themselves within the context of personal relationship. The point of focus is to create ways of relating that enable us to become more integrated in our feminine and masculine qualities.
What this aspect is stimulating us to do is step outside the behavioral boundaries that we have previously conformed to. In previous columns I have discussed the consciousness changes taking place as a result of the mutual reception between Jupiter, Neptune and Uranus. One way that awareness can be altered at this time is in terms of how we function in our most important relationships. Instead of conforming to sex-role stereotypic patterns of behavior that have been evolving since the Stone Age, we can create our own social identities and social behaviors. These new patterns should be an expression of who we are as unique beings rather than who we are as men or women. In the process we can feel confident in taking a relationship in directions that promote personal liberation and growth, rather than supporting culturally based patterns that are limiting and archaic.
One way to avoid the disappearance of the feminine within the masculine qualities of Aries is to be pro-active in expressing our receptivity in ways that are dynamic and creative. Therein lies the main challenge of the aspect. How can we be true to the feminine principles of nurturing, softness and accommodation within a sign that is inherently self-oriented, physical and assertive? One way is to find the place within ourselves that contains the essence of who we are as people. Being true to that primal sense of self will immediately improve our relationship to ourselves and by extension improve our relationships to others.
Aries (March 21-April 20)
This is a period to work on your social skills. Being thoughtful and considerate of others can bring a sense of satisfaction as well as more attention and affection from partner. Growth for you comes from being assertively diplomatic and harmoniously self-expressive. Attention to personal appearance can bring interest from others.
Taurus (April 21-May 21)
The new beginnings that is implied by the Venus-Mars conjunction in Aries can be utilized by you in a creative, artistic context. You may find that you crave time alone this month and that your activity of choice in your alone time is being expressive. Visual art might appeal. Growth for you comes from exploring and developing your artistic nature with confidence.
Gemini (May 22-June 21)
This is a time to review your communication patterns, interests and tendencies. The goal is clarity of expression. Experiment with friends as you explore new patterns of both socialization and communication. Mid-late month could prove challenging in terms of being clear and centered in sharing ideas and information. Growth comes from working to develop intuitive awareness of others and integrating the ensuing into conversations, especially with friends and colleagues.
Cancer (June 22-July 22)
This is a month to focus on discipline, structure and individuation. Setting limits and boundaries with others is part of this dynamic. Working to integrate your enjoyment of the immediate experience with satisfaction in achieving goals is another. Growth for you comes from being clear about how you feel in the now with where you are going in the future.
Leo (July 23-August 23)
A sense of security and stability in early month could give way to feelings of confusion from mid to late month. You could feel confused about who you are, how others perceive you or how to relate to them. One way out of the confusion is being willing to surrender attachment to self. See yourself from the inside out, striving to be true to yourself emotionally and spiritually. How others perceive you is, ultimately, none of your business.
Virgo (August 24-Sept 22)
Two primary patterns emerge for you this month. In relationship, strive to deepen the emotional bond between you and your partner. Take some risks and open up in new ways or in ways that enable you to share new parts of yourself. The second pattern is to review career issues. What are your goals? Are you on track to achieve them? Is your job right for you? Do you have a job at all? Answers to these questions can be found by looking within the self at this time.
Libra (Sept 23-Oct 23)
This month it’s all about relationship for you. Growth comes from balancing your usual focus on harmony and consideration with a clear, authentic expression of self. Balance your relationship by making sure both you and your partner feel seen and heard by the other. Be direct and assertive even as you also express the willingness to negotiate and compromise.
Scorpio (Oct 24-Nov 22)
The full Moon in Scorpio on the 8th could bring deep feelings or even cathartic emotional experiences. Growth comes from working to develop techniques of emotional self-nurturing. Feeling more comfortable expressing what you feel than you usually do is another benefit of this transit. Developing a discerning mind that enables you to discriminate about who to open up to and when is another growth point for you this month.
Sagittarius (Nov 23-Dec 21)
This is a time to work on developing a receptive mind that enables you to be aware of information that you may normally tend to overlook or undervalue. The best time and place to do this is right here and right now. Any social activity, from the most structured to the most spontaneous, and from the most casual to the most intimate offers opportunities to grow.
Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 20)
Begin new projects this month that you have been planning or researching for the past few months. Caution and attention to detail may slow down your progress initially, but is the best strategy for ultimate achievement and success.
Aquarius (Jan 21 to Feb 19)
This month offers the possibility of major shifts in consciousness. Since this process tends to be subtle, you may have to take some time to tune in so that you can feel and take advantage of the new awareness. Growth for you this month comes developing your intuition and being in synch with the mystery of life.
Pisces (Feb 20-March 20)
This is the second of what ultimately will be 6 months of spiritual growth and consciousness development. Most Pisceans crave alone time. Make sure when you satisfy this desire it is in ways that will enhance that expansion. Daily activities such a meditation, yoga, prayer or chi gung can be useful to that end. Paying attention to your dreams and working with them can be another activity that can be beneficial at this time.