Venus in Gemini — June 23, 2014 — July 18, 2014

Venus in Gemini -- Naomi Campbell

Venus enters Gemini on June 23, 2014 at 12:33 UT (8:33 am EDT). Venus is the esoteric ruler of Gemini, as the catalyst through which the concept of “Love” first emerges — through connecting, interacting and most importantly communicating with others.

Venus in Gemini people are charming and flirtatious. They’re playful, light-hearted and charismatic with a natural appreciation for the give-and-take that goes hand-in-hand in any relationship. They’re insatiably curious, wanting to know everything there is to know about the people they’re interested in, and as long as there’s always something left to learn that interest doesn’t wane.

But since Gemini is a mutable sign, there’s also a tendency toward restlessness and boredom. They like to keep things moving and to not get bogged down in tedium or routine. They’re easily distracted and require a lot of mental and verbal stimulation in order to maintain their interest.

When it comes to romance, Venus in Gemini people are said to run hot and cold. They’re notorious for ardently pursuing whatever they have their hearts set on one moment and detaching from it completely the next.

Venus in Taurus — May 28, 2014 – June 23, 2014

Venus enters Taurus May 29, 2014 at 1:45 am UT (May 28, 2014 at 9:45 pm EDT).  Venus is exalted in Taurus, meaning that it is in its own ruling sign, that it’s comfortable in that sign, and that it is likely to express its highest most powerful vibration there.

If you were lucky enough to have been born with this placement, you probably have a natural appreciation for the beauty and the arts, for love and romance, and for anything that stimulates the 5 senses: a breath-taking sunset for example, a soft ocean breeze, a haunting melody, fine wine, gourmet foods, exotic spices, fragrant flowers, etc. The list goes on and on.

While they do appreciate luxury, Venus in Taurus people prefer comfort over extravagance and natural over synthetic.

They’re earthy, practical and sensuous. They long for stability and consistency and will shy away from drama in relationships.They’re better at balancing head and heart than most signs, most often leaning toward sensible choices that don’t involve risk.

Venus in Aries — May 2, 2014 – May 28, 2014

http://www.ladygaga.com/artrave-the-artpop-ball

Venus enters Aries May 2, 2014 at 9:21pm UT.  Venus is said to be in detriment in Aries, as it is the sign that opposes Venus’ natural ruler, Libra. Traditional or Classical astrology places a lot more emphasis on planetary detriments as they are seen as significant in Classical practices. There are some disadvantages to having a planet in detriment, usually due to societal norms and expectations rather than any deficit in the archetype itself.

There are a lot of wonderfully unique attributes associated with this placement and if you happened to have been born with Venus in Aries, you’re probably known as someone who is exceptionally passionate and ardent when it comes to matters of the heart.

You probably fall in (and out) of love quickly. You consider yourself a bit of a maverick where love and relationships are concerned. You wear your heart on your sleeve, express your feelings openly, and are not afraid of a little competition.

Venus in Pisces — April 5, 2014 – May 2, 2014

Kurt Cobain - Venus in Pisces

Venus enters Pisces on April 5th, 2014. Venus is exalted in Pisces, meaning that it is an honored or revered placement. As Neptune, the modern ruler of Pisces, is the higher octave of Venus, this placement is said to be in essential dignity.

If you happened to have been born with this Venus, you’re probably very sensitive, loving, compassionate and empathetic. You’re conscious of (and affected by) the suffering of others.

You like to see yourself as part of a greater gestalt and not any better than (or any worse than) anyone else. You want to believe that people are inherently good, and for this reason you can be seen as gullible or naive.

Venus in Pisces people tend to be romantic and idealistic. They’re dreamers and visionaries who see the word through rose colored glasses. They’re poets and prophets and philosophers. 

April 2014 Solar and Lunar Eclipses

eclipse

April is a big month and if you’re not careful will not be forgotten without a headache!

Not least of all because of the squares and oppositions between Mars, Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto but also because of the two eclipses which are also coming into this mix and possibly complicating matters.

So if forewarned is forearmed here are the dates you need to watch out for and a few hints on how you might like to navigate your way through this period.

The first eclipse occurs on April 15 at 3:42 am (Eastern time). This will be a Total Lunar Eclipse and occurs at 26 degrees Libra and may force you to look at the “me” and “us” in a relationship.

In other words where you stand and where the other person stands.

Venus in Aquarius — Mar 5, 2014 – Apr 5, 2014

Rashida Jones

Venus enters Aquarius on March 5th at 8:02pm UT (4:02pm EST). Aquarius is the natural ruler of astrology’s 11 house — the area associated with friendships, group involvements and humanity in general.

If you were born with Venus in Aquarius, you probably consider yourself a bit of a rebel when it comes to love. You enjoy your independence and like to maintain a large circle of friends from all walks of life. You’re drawn to intelligent, independent and open-minded partners who test the boundaries of conventional mores.

You may be a bit eccentric, especially regarding matters of the heart. You see yourself as impervious to social expectations and may even like to shock others with your relationship choices.

Aquarius is co-ruled by Saturn (traditional ruler) and Uranus (modern ruler). As such, there are some Venus in Aquarius individuals who are more “Saturnine” — conservative and traditional. A lot depends on the aspects Venus makes and the relative strengths of both Saturn and Uranus in the natal chart.

For the most part though, Venus in Aquarius people are more Uranian in nature. They tend to live in their heads rather than in their bodies (or their hearts) and can seem emotionally disconnected.

Mercury Retrograde — February, 2014

Mercury retrograde

Here we are gearing up for another Mercury Retrograde: and buckle your seat-belts; this one looks like it’s going to be a doozy — with Mercury not only debilitated by sign (it’s in its detriment in Pisces) but also within one degree of conjuncting Neptune — which is already associated with confusion, uncertainty, ambiguity and distraction.

If you’d like to read more about Mercury retrograde — including information on the mythology and astronomy associated with the retrograde phenomenon, this article is a good place to start:  Mercury Retrograde: Here we go Again!

But for particular cycle, let’s look at where Mercury crosses each of its shadow points (also outlined in the article mentioned above), where it turns retrograde, and then where it turns back around and starts moving forward (in direct motion) again.We’ll also look at the Sabian Symbols for each of these points.

Venus Retrograde — Turning Love Around

Scarlet Figments by Kate Rodrigues

Venus — the planet associated with love, romance, beauty, money, material possessions and personal values — will be retrograde from December 21st until January 31, 2014 (or February 1, 2014 in some parts of the world).

From an astrological perspective, retrogrades motivate us to review, revisit, refine and resolve challenges that are holding us back from progressing in the area related to the planet involved.

They may relate to unfinished business from past lives, or they may refer to repeating patterns in our present lifetimes. Either way, the presumption when that planet is Venus is that the challenges faced are love and relationship challenges. This includes the entire spectrum of “relationships”: romantic, familial, social, etc.

Mars in Libra — December 7, 2013-July 26, 2014

Mars moves into Libra on December 7, 2014 at 20:41 UT (3:41pm EST). Mars is in detriment in Libra, as the polarity point of the sign it naturally rules, Aries.

What this means is that it’s not comfortable in Libra, as the diplomatic, peace-loving Libran archetype is strained when filtered through the Martian natural aggressive, dynamic energy.

With that said, there are many Mars in Libra natives who handle this energy beautifully:  they epitomize grace and charm, like Nicole Kidman, Bill Clinton,  Anderson Cooper and Prince William; they know how to make people laugh, Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Fallon, Sarah Silverman, Fran Drescher, Seth Rogen, Jason Alexander and Will Ferrell; and they know how to use their unique talents, skills and voices to appeal to the masses, like J.K. Rowling, Elvis Presley, Arianna Huffington and Bill Gates.

If Mars represents what we’re compelled to “do” — what we are willing to fight for — Mars in Libra people strive for harmony, balance, fairness and most of all peace (think Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama).

Mercury in Sagittarius — Dec 4, 2013

mercury in sagittarius

Mercury, the planet that relates to thoughts, ideas, words and communications in general is now moving into Sagittarius. This is an upbeat, optimistic and expansive placement for any planet — but when it comes to Mercury, the expression of those qualities are most evident through the sharing of thoughts and ideas.

Mercury in Sagittarius people tend to be honest, direct and outspoken. They’re not known for tact or diplomacy: they generally say whatever’s on their mind without regard for the consequences.

They’re broad-minded and expressive: they have big (sometimes grandiose) ideas that they want to share with others. They tend to be interested in philosophy, spirituality (or religion), politics, social sciences, culture and foreign affairs.

They’re always looking to broaden their horizons — often through travel or the pursuit of a higher education. They’re life-long students and are usually voracious readers. They want to know about and learn about everything.

Jumping Jupiter! Another Planet Goes Retrograde!

Jupiter Retrograde

Jupiter — the largest planet in our solar system is now retrograde.

Astrologically Jupiter is said to relate to benefit, gain and fortune. It’s the planet of abundance and extravagance; of philosophy, spirituality, travel, foreign affairs, personal expansion and higher education.

Your natal Jupiter will describe where you do things in a big way or the area of your life where you might go overboard. It’s where you’re naturally confident and optimistic and where things tend to come more easily to you.

When it retrogrades by transit, depending on the sign and area of your natal chart it’s moving through, you can expect to go through a bit of a renaissance, as you review, revisit and refine your own personal belief systems.

Venus in Capricorn — November 5, 2013 – March 5, 2014

Greta Scacchi

Venus enters Capricorn on November 5th, 2013. If you were born with this Venus, you probably understand the value of hard work, dedication, perseverance and discipline.

You’re responsible and reliable — with money, in your career, in your relationships with loved ones, and especially when it comes to matters of the heart.

There’s usually a soulful quality about Venus in Capricorn people and a classic, timeless beauty: think Greta Scacchi, Scarlett Johansson or Faye Dunaway; or an ageless, sophisticated air, such as with Rock Hudson, Richard Burton and Paul Newman.

Venus in Capricorn people tend to be wise beyond their years and yet they’re also known to be late bloomers. Why? Because they know that good things come to those who wait, aw well as to those who take their time nurturing and developing their characters, rather than racing to the finish line.