If you read anything about astrology, you know that June is a powerful month. We are seeing some rare patterns in the Heavens, and this indicates transformation here on earth- from world affairs to your personal life.
At the core of this astrologically intense time, we see the prominence of Venus. Venus is the planet of love and harmony, and it rules relationships, values, priorities, personal resources, beauty, and money. Venus is forming a very rare transit that happens once every 121 years. This is the great Venus Occultation, and it happens when Venus forms a conjunction with the Sun. During this month, the heart has to rule over the ego, and that can lead to realizations about your current relationships. Are you hanging on to an expired relationship because it’s easy and comfortable? Are you afraid to express your love to someone for fear of hurt? Now is the time when your intellect, that voice of reason, has to take the back seat. As a result, we are going to see shifts happening in our personal relationships. You might see a surge of break-ups or profound new beginnings.
These realizations may arise as a product of some sort of conflict because the Lunar Eclipse forms a stressful pattern with the planet Mars on June 4, the day prior to the Venus Occultation on June 5. Stress within significant relationships culminates, particularly if you have any conscious or subconscious resentment, anger, hurt, or sense of betrayal. Grief may surface as well, as you reflect on past relationships that have not worked out as you would have liked or expected. When these emotions surface, remember that the past is completely frozen. You cannot change what you said (or didn’t say). You have to stay present, considering what you want and what you can change about your current situation. Otherwise, you’ll drive yourself crazy!
Once every 18 months, the planet Venus goes retrograde, which means that she appears to be moving backwards in the Heavens. For everyone, this is going to have significance in finishing past business with relationships. You may find breakups happen during this time or divorce processes finalizing. Also, you may reconnect with significant friends or partners from your past. This phenomenon happens on May 15. Venus stations direct on June 27.
I have a very positive outlook on times of retrograde. I once heard the incredible astrologer Caroline Casey say that Mercury retrograde times are like a bow an arrow. The further back you go and the deeper you go, the further forward in your life you can shoot when the planet stations direct. I think it is safe to apply that idea to other retrograde placements as well. I love that imagery because it helps us to really seek ways to make the most of this period.
So, with that in mind, I want to focus on how you, personally, can make the most of this Venus in retrograde period. First of all, look at your chart (or if you’ve never had your chart constructed, email me and I’ll send you a copy). Look for the symbol for Gemini. (it looks like this: C) through each house in a natal chart, specifically the retrograde stations in each house. Venus stations retrograde at 23 degrees Gemini, so find where that is in your chart.
It never fails. I make a choice to go in an expansive direction, align with my higher self, and enter a higher level of success or personal fulfillment. How wonderful! This is my future!
Then, all of a sudden, my ego, totally uncomfortable with the notion of taking flight, unrestricted and free, decides to contract. It pulls in so tight and asks, “hey, don’t you remember the feeling of safety and security you had in that past situation/job/relationship?” Then, the comparisons start. I think, All of my friends on Facebook are doing this…and I’m moving in the opposite direction. Contract. Expand. Contract.
In planetary terms, I find that conservative Saturn, the planet of limitation and restriction, and Jupiter, the planet of luck and expansion, dance with one another in a person’s chart, and this dance heats up when a big decision has to be made.
Yes, the planets do promise love. There are marked transits, minor or secondary progressions that verifiably indicate that love is about to rock someone’s world, if that someone is ready, willing, and emotionally able.
I have a number of single clients who ache for that long-term romantic relationship. It seems as if all of our consultations focus on that theme. When I see a series of planetary patterns that all add up to love, I get giddy for my client. “It’s TIME,” I say, “Love is coming!”
But it doesn’t always happen as indicated on a chart. Sometimes, one of these ideal transits or progressions goes by without any romantic activity.
Why would someone who so badly wants true love, be denied that deepest need?
Here are the ways in which some my clients rationalize this quandary:
Even if all of the above are true for you (because you believe them to be so), we are here to learn, grow, and evolve, and so we can heal. We are constantly in a process of co-creation with the Divine and with one another. If one of the above is your story, you can choose to change it! That’s the good news.
OK, I admit it. I have a sort of love-hate thing going on with Neptune. Some of the most challenging periods of my life occurred during Neptune transits. Breakups. Breakdowns. BUT! There were also major breakthroughs. These were prolific periods when I threw myself into big creative projects, experienced major healing, and had powerful spiritual insights.
Neptune:
When you are a grounded, practical person, i.e. a Taurus Ascendant or Capricorn Sun, and Neptune touches one of your personal planets in a transit or progression, watch out! Its electromagnetic energy shakes things up. Neptune dissolves the ego and the structures you work so hard to create. And as a slow-moving planet, a Neptune transit could last up to two years!
I recently consulted with a client who was going through a particularly interesting Neptune/Venus transit. She had been a client of mine for years and had always had a stable, solid marriage.
(Cue ominous music.) Enter Neptune.
Here are horoscopes for December, 2011.