Venus in Aquarius

An ice block on the beach near Jökulsárlón, Iceland

(photo credit: Andreas Tille, February 2003)

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As Venus moves into Aquarius on January 3rd (at 14:49 - 2:49 p.m. - UT/+0) time few will be looking up and shouting ‘whoopee!’ as if some gift had been given.

But in a sense, that could be what’s happening - depending, of course, on what you’ve been doing (or preparing to do) prior to now. Venus is, after all, the symbol not of ‘cause-effect’ as a system but that magical, sometimes longed for and sometimes dreaded moment when cause turns into effect.

Yes, Venus represents the ‘having,’ which we associate with Taurus (one of Venus’ two signs of rulership). But considering that Taurus is not merely the ‘having’ but the ‘using’ or even the ‘consuming’ - Taurus does rule food, restaurants, groceries, chefs and all which goes with that.

But why Taurus rules that is the point: food preserves life. Having food, knowing how to feed ourselves, even the simple act of eating - they’re all intrinsically and biologically linked to a primal feeling of inner security which comes from knowing you’re not going to starve.

So as Venus moves through Aquarius, this question or ‘quest’ for security and to bring things into a position where cause does turn into the effect we want - that becomes a generalized aim. Yes, the Uranus-Pluto square and Saturn squaring Neptune - all those inner recalculations and outer reconciliation processes being thrust upon us by our times and life - all those things continue (see previous post). But within that, the Venus part of our daily life - the search to make things ‘happen’ - that moves from the Capricorn structuring phase about what’s what and what got us where we find ourselves, what needs doing and why our values are as they are ... all the subtly past tense ‘how we got here’ themes which have been much a part of our past several weeks melt away.

And in their place we are faced with today: what it takes to survive today, whether we integrate that ‘past’ into today - or whether we simply accept today as its own thing and something we need to learn about and participate in. In adapting, might we become as functional as others? Might we be able to either ‘fit in’ or utilize some ability or talent that we have (all such things being Leo and Leo being the polarity sign to Aquarius) ... have we something in our ‘bag of tricks’ which will allow us to stand out?

More over ... if we (or what we do) does stand out, will that ‘cause’ turn into an ‘effect’ which is universally well received or only well received in the mind of a particular faction?

That’s the Aquarian part. Aquarius is the sign of the social, societal and human collective. Aquarius is the marketplace of thought, of ideas. In being the third of the zodiac’s theoretical airy signs Aquarius is also not the individual mind-and-mindset of Gemini. Nor does it embody or promote interactive communication or conversations good and bad between factions and collectives as Libra does.

Venus in Aquarius (glyph chart)

January 3, 2015 - 14:49 (2:49 p.m.) UT+0 - Aries Wheel (Location Not Specific)

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 Venus in Aquarius (text chart)

January 3, 2015 - 14:49 (2:49 p.m.) UT+0 - Aries Wheel (Location Not Specific)

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Zodiac signs all come in threes. The first is personal, the second is interactive and the third is global. So where Venus in Gemini is ‘what I like’ (or choose to pursue) and Venus in Libra is ‘what we like/don’t like’ (or choose to focus on), Venus in Aquarius is ‘what is liked’ ... or ‘what works’ or ‘that which is successful’ - the “proof” of which is the response, be that applause, accolades, ‘likes,’ popularity, money or the fact that when you flip the switch, the lights go on.

When the Aquarian system ‘works’ - the proverbial light goes on. And when an Aquarian system doesn’t ‘work’? Then we are in the dark - sometimes literally (Aquarius does rule energy and energy systems) and sometimes figuratively.

And all of this can be about others ... and then can be about us: sometimes Venus in Aquarius is all about feedback, the “results” of what we’ve done. Venus in Aquarius isn’t the Venus in Capricorn world of  bottom lines and ‘consequences,’ but rather is more about sizing up what’s working and what isn’t - and why. With it’s emphasis on functionality and a ‘system’ which works universally and across-the-board, this January 1st through January 27th Venus in Aquarius period will let us know where things don’t work, leaving us to sort through what needs updating against what needs an overhaul and (Pluto square Uranus) changing, whether that’s of some attitude or about the thing itself.

There’s a note of showiness to Venus in Aquarius which given our day and age lends itself to technology, gadgets and any of a number of means by which we entertain ourselves through some electronic or digital means. Venus in Aquarius will also point to the positives and negatives of money being operated on any theoretical level, whether that’s a reference to an economy, economics in general, wages, how money is spent, accounted for or moved - or any of the facets which pertain to  entirely basic questions of having “enough money to survive” ... or how much of anything (money, effort, time, loyalty) is “enough.”

Venus in Aquarius can reward. It can also deny rewards, which in some cases denotes being ‘cut off from’ (being ill-informed, being in denial) something.

Why that would happen is variable. But it can happen - and for some (those who are averse to life being other than how they want it to be) Venus in Aquarius is often a time where things get ‘bypassed’ or ignored simply because there’s an inner terseness and tenseness which translates roughly as ‘I don’t have to deal with that - so I won’t because I don’t want to.’

Let’s remember, after all ... Aquarius is a fixed sign: it isn’t easily ‘moved’ off it’s base or basis of anything. And if you’re saying ‘but then, neither are any of the fixed signs,’ I’ll agree but add that this particular sign in question (Aquarius) is the only one of the four (the others being Taurus, Leo and Scorpio) which is an air sign - which means it’s the idea which is at least initially captivating, not the reality. Like its Leo polar compliment, Aquarius functions in and as a world of possibilities: Leo is just the “me” part of that universal world of ‘the possible’ where Aquarius is the theoretical ‘entirety’ of possibilities - whether that range of possibilities is defined as some sort of communicative or interactive dialogue (human or otherwise), some sort of possible and/or powerful potential, or the quality of some global ‘whole’ - be that a society, a marketplace, a power grid or any sort of societal system (banking, media, transportation, educational, political, social, corporate, economic, infrastructural, etc.) or the hold-effect-influence any such system may have through its workings on a wider or broader population.

There is a definite plus of Venus in Aquarius in that it lends a pleasantly ‘airy’ quality to many a situation which might otherwise seem a bit leaden. Used effectively, understanding that people are ‘keyed’ or attuned to that which is presented in such a manner or phrased within the parameters of such a tone is useful, though any (read: all) of the fixed signs represent energies which can become ‘too much of a good thing’ too quickly - which in this case would be the sort of appearance or presentation which easily lapses over into the boorish, arrogant or even simply manipulatively friendly, often whether that’s the intent or not. With Venus in Aquarius there’s less of those free-floating moments when suspicions and questions about intent color the mental air than, say, one might encounter under Venus in Scorpio. But Venus in Aquarius has it’s own ‘darker vibe’ as this is a sign/planet combination which brings out not just the upstanding wheeler-dealer in many, but the underhanded con artist in some. This combination can bring out social turmoil as well as social (or economic) tendencies to ‘blackmail’ others in ways which have nothing to do with love or money.

And because we’re all on this frequency at the moment, we’re all primed to pick up on everything - good and back - that we have no idea we’re projecting.

Aquarius as pictured in a stained glass at the Chartres Cathedral in France

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So that’s the down side. The up side of Venus in Aquarius is the capacity for simple, uncomplicated fun - and often a willingness to allow a little ‘coloring outside the lines’ when it comes to issues of humor.

Why humor?

Probably because laughter lightens our load and in ways both physical and otherwise, serves to ease our heart, putting us at ease - at which point we can think to extend our hand ... and maybe even our Self ... in joining in conversation if not friendship, with others.

And if that happens globally, you never know - Venus in Aquarius just might serve our personal, worldly and greater purpose ... which in essence would be the whole of our being - and part of our meaning in the vastness of an incalculable and eternally all-encompassing, boundless Existence.
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Neptune: The Non-Look of the Thing

In the annals of things one shouldn’t say in a given manner, the title of today’s blog probably ranks high. After all, the ‘non-look’ of a thing is rather like saying ‘confused precision’ or ‘demonic goodness’…or one of my fave John Lennon lines of all time about someone getting gradually injured. (That comes from a great Lennon poem called ‘Arimenta Ditch’…which I may have spelled wrong, yes.)

Yet when you talk about Neptune, to say something has a non-look is actually vaguely apt. Neptune is the there/not-there precept which in positive mode represents elation and inspiration, and which in negative mode is delusion, lack of coherence – even deception (of self or others, Neptune doesn’t care!).

And why would all this be? Well to look at this in the science-astronomy light, that could be taken in two ways. For one, Neptune is the last ‘true planet’ out there as you move away from the Sun in our solar system.

Or at least it has been. If you’re up on your science news you know that there was some burbling going around a couple of weeks ago about some giant thing the size (even bigger) than Jupiter lurking out there…. waaaaayyyyy out there in the distant Kuiper Belt region, like maybe beyond Sedna-land.

(And trust me…that’s far. We aren’t going there for a quart of milk, not ever!)

But even if this ‘new giant planet’ thing is an actuality, Neptune still is what it is because Neptune still does what Neptune does – which is to say that it controls a huge swatch of space (including objects in that district) via something called ‘magnetic resonance.’ And among those objects ‘controlled’ by Neptune are Ixion (emotional entitlement), Pluto (emotional transformation) and Orcus (emotional experience of consequence).

Obviously Neptune represents Things Emotional. More precisely, it symbolizes (or is said to 'rule') those moments and experiences where we experience feelings which result from something we’ve done or committed to (Orcus being the former, and Pluto the latter as outcome ruler of Scorpio)....or which drive us to do something which in turn will create emotionally transformative (Pluto) or corrective (Ixion) moments.

And all this happens…why? Well, speaking from the philosophic base of it all, this all results from Neptune as the theoretical time/space marker (e.g., hands on the cosmic clock sort of marker) of things which we can get into on faith…or things which we end up disappointed by.

To put it another way, Neptune produces what you don’t believe can happen, and will often prove to you that the fantasy is far more appealing than the reality, which has ‘you asked for it – you got it!’ dollops of glitchy disappointment (Ixion), consequences (Orcus) and giant emotional challenges (Pluto).

Hopefully you've got all that, as (not to be too infinitely and finitely vague about this here) we’re all in for a seriously imprecise dose of Neptune over these next few weeks. You know – sort of like Things Uranus (change) has been in the air for the past few months?

With Neptune, the ‘operative’ rule is to allow yourself not to know. When Neptune is thus ‘an active imperative,’ you don’t know what will happen and you should try not to drive yourself nuts wanting to know what will happen.

Go with the flow! Practice your Neptuuuuunne….mantra! Allow yourself and your life and your everything to be in flux. Do, be and participate, but don’t try and nail anything down. Aim for the optimal but don’t focus on the reward – and don’t be surprised if goals, schedules, needs, priorities – all that stuff – changes here and there because of this and that.

In other words, be in the moment. Just do the Nike thing and do it. 

Neptune favors altruism. Neptune favors humility, modesty and being surprised at how much you’re appreciated, not the reveling in the limelight.

And yet (here we get into the Neptunian deep water)…Neptune is often – in the chart – and emblem of fame.

Why?

Because fame isn’t anything you control. You can’t bottle it (boy, would I be rich or what…!) ….you can’t even define, control or point to it. Fame is just….there. It’s just a nebulous something out there which is. Notoriously, when you revel in it (focus on it) it disappears…or it eats you alive. About the only thing you can do (successful) is ignore it.

That would be the humility part, capiche?

Charts of the famous often have Neptune in the 10th house – a house often associated with achievement. But such people are fascinated by what they do – not the fame itself. Charts of the rich often have Neptune in the 2nd – the house of resources. These are people who aren’t in it for the money (shocking, right?) but who are trying to do something of value. 

Are you beginning to get the Neptune factor? Neptune is often referred to as the ‘negator of ego’ because when you focus on something, that something is not what Neptune delivers…leading us to Neptune Slogan Number Two: where Neptune is concerned, the thing you want most is likely to fall through while the thing you think least likely will prove to be the truth. 

And this implies yet another important idea – namely that allowing yourself not to know is entirely, even dismally different than not wanting to know! The latter, in Neptunian terms, would seem to be the quintessential invitation to disaster – whether you achieve that aim through avoidance (which is very Neptunian, as avoidance’s cousin evasion)…or through intoxication, inebriation or out-and-out addiction (all three of which are related to the Neptunian concept of abandonment, which can be of a thing, a person, your morals or your mind!)…

…it would even seem highly Neptunian to want just to believe everything will be fine. While optimism is a fine, good and positive thing, there is some need in life to be realistic. And with Neptune, that seems to be part of the ticket: moderation and balance. 

So to go a bit Italian-idiomatic parlance here, what’sa my point? You know I have one – and no, it’s not just on my pencil (yes, I still use pencils).

My point is that come March 5th at 7:45 in the evening (UT/+0) Neptune will move into 29 Aquarius – the final degree of Aquarius, and allegedly where Aquarius should be most intense or at ‘critical mass.’

Except..uh…this is Neptune. Is anything Neptune ever felt to be critical?

Why heck yes! Neptune is not only the unknown and the vague and the ill-define, is it the definitely wonderful and the absolutely sorrowful.

And there is that Neptune association with the verb “to dissolve” to be duly contemplated as well.

A rainbow over Bristol, UK. Rainbows are a quintessentially Neptunian thing - they're there, but you can't touch them. Even try to approach them and you run the risk of having them vanish entirely, leaving you with your dream and the disappointment of its having apparently 'vanished.' The kinds of hopes we assign to rainbows...those are Neptunian dreams which may come to us if we chase after them, may happen to us where we are by just going about our business. And then again, if we get what we dream of, it may not make us all that happy while something we never dreamed possible, probable or even desirable, may make us happiest in the end. The lesson? That we do not know all...that we should allow ourselves not to know.

photo credit: Klafubra 

Society, economics, systems, acceptance, energy, things technological, corporations (not commerce – corporate entities), groups, societies, friendships, ideals and hopes, tyrants and elitists, anarchists and uniters…all such things are really, truly, highly Aquarian.

So as Neptune hits 29 Aquarius, we will propose that a good many of these things on this list will shift into maximal plus, minus or ‘disappeared’ mode. 

Or…they will appear and like some giant toxic boil, swell up and force us to deal with some sort of ick.

Now these things can be very real. Neptune as ‘outcome’ ruler of Pisces points to very real losses – sometimes of a loved one or a much-loved relationship (with someone or some thing). Neptune and Pisces are associated with such things as pensions, annuities, oil and pharmaceuticals…which given that Pisces is a water sign and water signs always imply ‘things fiscal’ could be extended to become a discussion of health plans – insurance and otherwise, though a plan to get healthy is more likely to be Pisces’ polarity sign of Virgo.

Speaking of polarities however, since 29 Aquarius is the polarity of 29 Leo which brings in the whole ‘fixed star Regulus vibe,’ there would seem to be an underlying what you want and what it takes to make that a functional reality which involves NOT “punishing” the other guy (or the Aquarian society or the ‘system’) if your dream appears to go ‘poof!’ now.

Two things to note: one, dreams which disappear now may not actually disappear for all time. Neptune – remember? Two, something which was an unrealistic dream all along may need to have a little encounter with reality now.

In the end what this period may stress for us is that there really is no nirvana. Good times are good times and lovely to look forward to and cherish, but there appears to be nothing more deadly in the human spirit than the thought that we shouldn’t have any responsibilities.

I know – it sounds good. But when you look at the actuarial tables (for instance), people actually seem to thrive on work – a lot of people don’t live well once retired, monetarily or in people terms. Wealth seems to play reasonably well for those who earn it but not so well for those who are born into it unless something along the way becomes their ‘personal imperative.’

Don’t like it? I can’t help that! The idea of responsibility, which is the astrological Saturn. Saturn’s list is daunting: dedication, responsibility, limits, rules, structure, fears, cost, pragmatism, reality, slow-and-lasting growth, durability…and time. 

And that last one is the kicker (all puns intended!) Take our responsibilities away and by astrological definition, we’re out of time.

Saturn partners with knowing/knowledge-based Jupiter rather as guardians of the inner solar system (Jupiter seems to be particularly good at that) but also in the idea that these two planets we can actually see as we stand outside at night here on Earth…these are about things we can ‘see to do’ or make of ourselves.

 Symbolic ruler of Capricorn achievements, the reality of the

Aquarian society we live in and our need to function in this

world, Saturn's present retrograde-in-Libra motion is asking all

of us who we are in this world and what we are going to make

of ourselves, our world and our times.

photo credit: NASA/JPL

Saturn has a whole other relationship with Neptune as that thing which teaches us boundaries and to try …not without fear of failing, but without fears of being a failure. 

If we can for these next few weeks hold onto this idea of experiencing but not pinning our own ‘judgment’ of self on what happens, we will probably be a whole lot better off for it. Against this, we may also find some boundaries melting away. That as Neptune has been pressing to the end of Aquarius while Mercury is in Pisces (Neptune's sign of rulership) and we've seen several public figures start dancing distinctly outside the lines of mental sensibility - even stability? That's very Neptune, and we shouldn't be surprised to see more of the same. Even the unreasonable extents to which such things can go. Neptune-Mercury is a traditional astrological marker of 'delusion' or 'the lie' as often as it marks extreme creativity - the problem is telling which is which!

And for those who are dubious about astrology, let's be clear here (this being a good moment to try for clarity!): planets don't "do" anything. Neptune isn't going to give you a call on the cell or tweet you with morning doings. But as planets move through space they do distort the space they move through. It creates a 'ripple' defined by distance, angle and planetary characteristics. Astrology is the study of using positions of planets to "clock" when effects reach Earth. Much as the Moon tugs on Earth's oceans to create tides, so planetary movements help us track the tides of influence in a global life on Earth which is after all, contiguous with the rest of the E=mc2'd universe.  

Neptune enters Pisces on April 4th (a whole other Neptunian saga!) and we won’t know what we don’t know – like as not – until then!

Can you wait?

What’s your option?

Maybe for the moment we should just enjoy the pluses and figure on a few ‘that’s life!’ minus moments?

Maybe so. And maybe…just maybe that’s what we’re meant to learn and should take with us – moving forward – out of this time.

Everything happens for a reason, right?