Aspects of Life

Maritha Pottenger

We continue aspects this issue with Venus. Again, I must remind readers that my discussion cannot cover all the possibilities. I try to delineate major themes and offer a few examples to help clarify. I obviously have neither room nor ability to include every detail which MIGHT occur. I depend upon readers to extrapolate from the basics I present to the unique outcomes of each case.

VENUS IN ASPECT TO VENUS

Venus must be considered in terms of both its Taurean and its Libran role. Venus conjunctions to natal Venus put a focus on pleasure and comfort—what the person enjoys. This may be money and material possessions. It may be sensual pleasures: food, drink, smoking and/or other appetite indulgences. It may be the creation of beauty, especially in tangible form. It may be a focus on relationships—pleasure from others, love and affection. Security (physical and emotional) and comfort may be issues at stake. Concern regarding harmony and equality is possible. With such a focus, we cannot say these things WILL BE present. It may be the native is especially aware during a Venusian period of a LACK in these areas. Whether there is too much, or too little, or just enough, the individual is paying attention to these areas.

Often there is a physical focus. Practicality may be an issue, or making something real. Inertia and refusal to change are possibilities. There may be materialism or over-indulgence on a number of fronts. Or there may be under-enjoyment. The individual may feel deprived and be seeking more pleasure, beauty, comfort, love, etc.

Harmony aspects from Venus to itself suggest inner harmony where pleasure is concerned. Individuals may still over-indulge (food, drink, sex, money, relationships, beauty) if that is their view of pleasure and comfort. Artistic ability may be a focus. People are likely to emphasize comfort, pleasure and security in their current life. They are more inclined to keep stability in their lives, not changing the accustomed flow. It is likely that they will easily blend relationships and love needs with their desires for physical and material comforts and pleasures.

Conflicts aspects suggest that a person’s differing drives for pleasure are in conflict with one another. A person’s need for love and affection (Libran Venus) may be set in opposition to her needs for comfort and material security (Taurean Venus). Her artistic talent and desire to create beauty may have to be integrated with her desire for money and possessions. Her yearning for security and status quo may not be easy to blend with her desire for a relationship. Her indulgence of the appetites may lead to less money, beauty and comfort. Her desire for equality may conflict with her enjoyment of comfort. And a myriad of other possibilities exist.

The need with harmony aspects is to be sure the pleasure principle is being expressed positively and not over-done. With conflict aspects, people need to be sure they can seek different drives for pleasure and harmony in appropriate ways in their lives. They must stay moderate, not over-doing any one approach, and have different times and places in life to seek beauty, comfort, love, harmony, equality, security, physical pleasures and possessions.

VENUS IN ASPECT TO MERCURY

Conjunctions between Venus and Mercury combine pleasure and the mind. Mental processes (thinking, learning, communicating) are often a source of pleasure. Individuals may enjoy good relationships with collateral relatives and neighbors. People often depend on their minds, viewing their intellectual capacity as a form of basic security and comfort. Some people earn their living as communicators or thinkers, or make money with family and neighbors.

The intellectual style tends to be concrete and practical. People want to bring their minds down to earth. They tend to be pragmatic and are not inclined toward abstractions. They are capable of being charming, and showing their affection more with words than physical demonstration. They may create beauty with their minds (language, poetry, etc.)

If projected, a sibling or relative may live out the artistic talent, comfort, equality, harmony, indulgence, practicality, beauty, or affection needs. They could do so positively—an artist, easy-going, a peer, tactful, able to enjoy life, pragmatic, attractive and loving. Or, they could express the energy negatively: too concerned with beauty, harmony, appearance, self-indulgent and selfish, too eager to appease and please people, etc. Or, a sibling (relative) may be a role-model (positive or negative) for a partner. Unfinished business with early relatives is faced in later love relationships. Some people pick partners to express the intellect, communicate, be lighthearted and detached for them. (“My wife is the smart one in the family. ... My husband talks for both of us. ... My partner is so rational and objective, I cannot stand it!”)

Harmony aspects suggest the individual is able to easily pursue both pleasure and mental activities. They can think, communicate and also earn money and indulge the appetites. They can relate to family and neighbors and also to equal partners and other love relationships. They can have a variety of interests and be curious, but also be comfortable, secure and at ease. They can earn money and enjoy possessions as well as learning and communicating. They can be both practical and theoretical.

Potential dangers include being too comfortable and settled in one’s thinking. Natives may take people for granted. They may expect to learn easily and have grave difficulties when all does not just flow smoothly. They may get stuck in mental ruts or lack variety in their communications. They may expect more harmony than is reasonable in their relationships with family. They may give in more than is necessary, to keep the appearance of niceness and agreement. Or, people may be scattered in their approaches to earning money, and have little security. They may be flippant about their pleasures and casual about their handling of money, possessions and security.

Conflict aspects indicate a need to integrate the two sides of life. A person’s abstract intellect may conflict with her need for a practical focus. A person’s desire to learn, study and communicate may be at odds with her desire to earn money and be materially secure. One’s desire for variety and change may fight one’s desire for stability and security.

There may be conflicts with siblings or other relatives over issues of comfort, pleasure, beauty, money and possessions. The native may just spend a lot of time thinking and talking about equality, harmony, money, indulgences, beauty, etc.

VENUS IN ASPECT TO THE MOON

Venus/Moon conjunctions tend to value sensual pleasures, comfort and security. This is a very physical combination, with people usually needing to touch and be touched. Home and family are often sources of enjoyment. Natives may collect possessions—both for pleasure and emotional security. Over-indulgence in food, drink or other hedonistic pursuits is possible. (Severe overweight generally has a Moon, Cancer or Fourth House component, not just Venus. Venus alone stops when eating is no longer pleasurable or comfortable. Venus alone is aware of appearance and will generally not become gross. With a Letter Four involvement, food is tied to safety and emotional security. The individual eats for reassurance, to feel safe, to ward off the frightening world, etc. Extremes in overweight are possible here.) People may enjoy emotional closeness—-both nurturance and dependency. There is a strong desire for security.

The mother or mother figure is a role model for handling the material world, beauty and pleasure. Often, the individual has a great deal of liking and affection for the mother and vice versa. Mother may be artistic, beautiful, stodgy, stubborn, materialistic, rich, loving, affectionate, indulgent, unchanging, self-indulgent, and easy going. The individual learns from the mother or mother figure what to do and/or what NOT to do in handling material pleasures, possessions and beauty. Whether we get a positive or a negative role model, we have something to learn.

Harmony aspects suggest a comfortable flow between one’s emotional needs and capacity for pleasure—an enhancement of the natural sextile between Moon and Venus. Basic security (physical and emotional) is likely. People are able to be dependent and nurturing as well as enjoying life. The emotional desire for closeness blends easily with the search for pleasure in the material world. One’s ability to relax and enjoy life is likely to be in harmony with one’s capacity to be a mother as well as one’s own mother or mother figure. One’s capacity for pleasure from people and love relationships combines easily with one’s need to cherish, protect, look after and be protected and cared for.

Conflict aspects suggest these two sides of life are at odds with each other. There is a natural square between the Libran Venus and the Moon. This conflict revolves around closeness issues. The Moon wants absorption and assimilation in relationships, while the Libran Venus wants some space between. This may show overtly as conflicts between mother (or mother figure) and partners (loved ones). Because both sides (Moon and Venus) do want closeness (just a differences in degree), this natural square is usually one of the easier ones to resolve. We can meet at a middle ground or have some equalitarian relationships and some which involve nurturance and dependency.

Where the Taurean Venus in involved, there is a natural sextile, but conflicts are still possible. The individual may feel that taking care of her mother will mean less pleasure and enjoyment, or less money, comfort, security, etc. in her own life. The person may feel compelled to choose between emotional and physical security. People may feel they cannot relax and enjoy life when they are dependent. Nor, are they able to feel good when taking care of others. Their sources of pleasure do not combine easily with close, emotional involvements with other people. Home and family may be viewed as separating the native from sources of enjoyment. One’s heredity or family background or expectations may prevent full enjoyment of life and its indulgences. Generally, however, emotional and physical security needs tend to reinforce and support one another, so the natural sextile aids in integrating such conflicts.

VENUS IN ASPECT TO THE SUN

Venus/Sun conjunctions tend to be very charming. People are ego-involved with the need to be “nice,” to appear attractive and lovable. They often shine by means of personal appearance or beauty. They may seek center stage through love and affection. They may be highly creative at making themselves and those around them comfortable and at ease. Artistic talent is likely. They may insist on playing the Star in their love relationships. They may also project, and choose overly dramatic, charismatic partners to live out the magnetism the natives fear to express. There is often a strong sensual/ sexual focus. Natives may over-indulge in any number of sensual areas. The individual must balance the security needs of Venus with the gambling instincts of the Sun. They may live out this push pull of comfort, security, same-old-thing versus excitement, drama, and something-new-and-different in a variety of arenas: love relationships, work, children, etc.

If the Sun is projected, individuals will seek partners to be dramatic, exciting, vibrant, creative risk-takers for them. If the Venus is projected, individuals may choose lovers or have children who illustrate positive or negative sides of Venus: artistic, lovely, loving, indulgent, comfortable, stable, good natured, lazy, passive, self-indulgent, and so on. One danger here is spoiling the children—being too indulgent. There is a good potential for a relationship of mutual pleasure—from parent to child and vice versa, but it must not be over-done. Children of people with this placement are facing Venusian issues, and should be given enough discipline and a role-model of self-control so that their indulgent side is not over-emphasized.

People may turn children into partners (well and good if done appropriately in terms of age and behavior) and treat partners as children or be like children in their partnerships, or attract child-like partners. Child-like spontaneity, creativity, joyfulness, and thrusting full tilt into life can be quite positive. But a partnership designed to be between two equal adults which becomes an adult to child relationship is headed for difficulties. The power differential is a problem. Eventually the adult will resent having all the responsibility or seriousness or concerns. Or, the child partner will come to resent having none of the power, control, decision making. We are better off sharing a capacity for intense joy, courage, outpouring, and charisma with our partners, and sharing the capacity for pleasure, beauty, comfort and equality with our children. This combination is especially good for the performing arts—creating beauty in an active way, with an audience which notices and responds.

Harmony aspects suggest an easy blend between these two sides of life, but we must remember that the Taurus Venus is a natural square to the Sun. Where love relationships are concerned (Sun and the Libran Venus), there is a natural harmony (sextile). This suggests it is easy to find pleasure and a sense of joy, expression, pouring out with love in one’s commitments to partners and children. It is easy to be affectionate and creative, equalitarian and center stage in one’s relationships. Harmony aspects suggest the native can successfully integrate the security versus risk challenge. S/he can find ways in which to be a risk-taker, to do more than has been done before and still be comfortable and able to maintain physical security in the life.

Challenge aspects repeat the theme of dealing with stability versus change. The Sun always wants to do something grander, more majestic, more spectacular than has been done before. Venus wants a comfortable rut in which to hunker down and keep everything the same as it always was. This conflict may play out in saving versus investing or gambling or speculating with one’s money. It may show in decisions regarding spending money for one’s own pleasure, or for children and lovers. It may play out in choosing between a secure, boring job that brings in a steady income and an exciting, challenging job that could have erratic pay. It may be demonstrated in feeling torn between an exciting, dynamic, unstable lover and a comfortable, easy-going one who is easy to take for granted, and also tend to take us for granted. It may be the pull between a “settled” societally-approved relationship such as marriage versus a more open relationship such as live-in lovers. There are innumerable options, but the basic conflict revolves around one’s desire for comfort, the same-old-thing, security, easy flow, harmony versus one’s desire for excitement, something-new-and-different, risk-taking, gambling (on all levels), something grander than what has been.

VENUS IN ASPECT TO CERES AND VESTA

Venus aspects to Ceres carry similar messages regarding the mother or mother figure as Venus aspects to the Moon. The difference is that the mothering side of Ceres is more practical and grounded than the emotional, absorbing mother of the Moon. Venus conjunct Ceres indicates that mother or mother figure is again a role model for the handling of pleasure, affection, sensuality, possessions, equality, balance, harmony and comfort. As always, that role-model may be positive or negative. Generally, the tendency is towards mutual affection and the main danger is over-indulgence. But one must always consider the whole chart. No one piece stands by itself.

Venus conjuncting either Vesta or Ceres carries the same theme in regard to work. This is a work/pleasure blend. Several possibilities exist. The person may find great pleasure and enjoyment in working. Their job may involve providing beauty, comfort, money, possessions, or other physical pleasures to people. They may expect their work to be smooth, easy-going, and comfortable and be disappointed when it is not. They may work with partners. They may project, and pick partners who work for them (are practical, pragmatic, and grounded for them).

Their work may involve relating to people. They may make a partnership (e.g. marriage) their job. They may apply the work attitude (critical, discriminating, analytical, nitpicking) to their relationships and/or their capacity for physical pleasure. The last option is likely to have negative consequences in terms of relationships and the ability to enjoy the life.

People who do not comfortably blend work and pleasure drives may be unable to work because they expect it to always be easy. Or, they may be unable to enjoy life because they expect to always be working. Or, they may choose partners who are critical and judgmental of them. Or, they may choose partners whom they can criticize and find fault in. Some people are so concentrated on doing a good job that they never relax and enjoy the world. Excessive focus on what is wrong and needs fixing (a good Virgo trait) can be a problem in love relationships and one’s sensual self-expression. Such excessive denigration is more often a problem with Vesta than with Ceres.

Harmony aspects between Venus and/or Ceres and Vesta suggest good potential for earning money and work success. It is particularly the earth factors in a chart (and planets are the strongest form) that indicate the capacity to earn a living and be successful in the material world. Favorable aspects suggest that these people are able to work, concentrate, do what needs to be done and also earn money and enjoy the physical world. Each supports the other. They also indicate a good possibility of being able to be serious, dedicated, responsible and also have a good time, indulge and enjoy life. The Libran side of Venus suggests the potential of integrating equalitarian partnerships with work in the world.

Challenge aspects suggest a need to blend these two areas. It could be that the work attitude (critical, flaw-finding) is adversely affecting relationships or the physical enjoyment of the world. Few things are more dampening to sensual pleasure than severe self-criticism or harsh judgments by others. Spontaneity dries up rapidly, and the nerves curl up in self- protection. It could be that one’s desire for pleasure and ease are adversely affecting the work accomplishments. Some people, to put it bluntly, are just lazy. They do not want to do the dirty, boring little details that are necessary to be a good craftsperson. They would rather float easily along on charm or “niceness.” Conflict aspects focus on the need to be both an efficient, productive, careful worker and able to enjoy the physical sense world and other people. Both are important parts of life. (Indeed, according to Freud, love and work, are the CENTRAL issues in people’s lives.) But we need to blend them in appropriate ways and times.

VENUS IN ASPECT TO PALLAS OR JUNO

Conjunctions between Venus and Pallas or Venus and Juno emphasize the Libran side of Venus. Partnership can be a focus—equalitarian peer relationships. Cooperation or competition may emerge as the operating mode, but the desire is to share the life with someone else at the same level as we are. Beauty is often a focus. There may be artistic talent— especially the visual arts, e.g. graphic design, architecture, interior decorating, painting, fashion, sewing clothes, sketching, etc. Sometimes the balance and harmony of mathematics appeals. Photography is also possible. The person may put importance on appearance—either physical in terms of attractiveness or social in terms of “keeping up with the Joneses” or “What will the neighbors think!” Tact and diplomacy are likely, but “niceness” may be overdone.

Generally, the individual enjoys other people and relationships are a source of comfort and pleasure. If too much security is invested in others, however, excessive vulnerability can result. The native tends to expect social relationships to flow smoothly and easily. Such people are often adept at soothing ruffled feathers. However, they may expect more harmony or balance or equality than is reasonable. Or, they may enjoy highly competitive relationships. Whether the sweetness and light side of Libra or the cutthroat, competitive nature emerges will be influenced by house and sign placement of the conjunction.

If Pallas or Juno is projected, the individual may pick a partner who is much more marriage or partnership oriented. The partner is continually pushing for a long-term commitment. Or, the partner may be beautiful or extremely attractive physically. Or the partner may expect the native to keep a certain level of attractiveness. Or, the partner may be artistic and talented. Or, the partner may overdo “little white lies” and have difficulty dealing with confrontations. Or the partner may be highly competitive.

If Venus is projected, the person may pick a partner who is indulgent, passive, lazy, stubborn, materialistic, beautiful, sensual, rich, easy-going, comfortable and stable. (We can choose negative or positive extremes—or a combination.) Since Juno is the traditional marriage asteroid, it is always possible that we will experience planets conjunct Juno as pertaining to a partner rather than ourselves.

The individual may make money through beauty pursuits. Or, the individual may earn their resources by working with others: in personnel, consulting, counseling, etc. They may look to a partner to provide money and material resources. They are likely to expect money to flow easily and comfortably with stability in the life. If they take too much for granted, they may be disappointed. Often the individual has expensive tastes. The may spend money on jewelry, fine clothes, expensive art objects, etc. Luxury can be a temptation.

Harmony aspects suggest that the individual has blended the natural quincunx between the two sides of Venus (Libra and Taurus). They find it easy to earn money and enjoy the physical, material, sensual world along with loving, being affectionate and maintaining an interpersonal commitment. They are able to be stable, comfortable, settled materially and also relate on a social level with others. They are able to earn a living and carry on an important emotional partnership. They are able to enjoy their appetites and also share time and space with another human being.

Conflict aspects can point to trouble handling this part of life. The person may be ambivalent in regard to long term relationships, and having trouble integrating her different desires and needs. The capacity to enjoy life is somehow in question—either on the physical sensual level or on the emotional, affectional level. People may be over-doing or under-doing in either area. There may be money hassles with partners. There may be sensuality conflicts with loved ones. The person may be expecting things to flow too easily, or s/he may have difficulties relaxing and letting life happen.

VENUS IN ASPECT TO PLUTO

Conjunctions between Venus and Pluto are natural oppositions, so there is an inner conflict to be resolved. The basic issue of Venus and Pluto is self-indulgence versus self-control. It is often worked out through close, committed, passionate relationships. That is, we pick a partner who will express one end of the indulgence versus control see-saw and we manifest the other end. The battleground can be money, sex, possessions, and pleasures of all kinds in the material world. We can fight over spending versus saving; who earns it and who spends it; what we spend it for; who enjoys what in bed (and elsewhere), etc. The outer conflicts occur because the individuals involved are still ambivalent within. Once we solve the inner tug-of-war, we no longer need the mirror of outer difficulties. Venus/Pluto conjunctions tend to be intensely sensual, passionate and security-oriented. We must find an inner balance between enjoying the material, physical, sense world and feeling a sense of mastery over our appetites. The particular balance will vary from person to person, whether more indulgent or more self-denying.

Since Pluto is one of the keys to a mate, we can project Venus onto a mate with this combination. We might pick a partner who is beautiful, artistic, loving, affectionate, rich, indulgent, accepting, and patient. Or s/he might be self-indulgent, stubborn, boring, overly invested in money and material security, passive, lazy, and hedonistic. Either way, we get on opportunity to work on the issues of self-indulgence versus self-control with that individual.

As a water-earth combination, the desire here is for a lot of emotional and material security. Collecting is a possibility. The tendency is for people to hang onto what they have. This can be a problem if negative emotions are saved, cherished and clung to along with other more physical possessions. The individual may earn a living partially through other people’s money. This can be in the fields of banking, finance, government work, royalties, inheritances, etc. We can choose a partner to be rich or make money for us. Etc.

With Venus and Pluto, the issues revolve around giving, receiving and sharing pleasure in the material world. Some people know how to give easily and have trouble receiving. Some take comfortably and have trouble giving. With Venus/Pluto involvements, we face these issues whether around sexuality and sensuality (food, drink, etc.) or money and material possessions. There is always the potential danger of swinging from one extreme to the other (the natural tendency of an opposition until it is integrated). We may diet severely and then eat too much. We may drink too much and then abstain for a time. We may spend too much and then pinch pennies. We may support a partner totally and then expect him/her to support us totally. Etc. Working out a balance that is satisfactory INTERNALLY is the first challenge. Then we can work out the sharing within the relationship.

Harmony aspects indicate the potential of easily integrating this challenge. We still must mesh the two parts of life, but it should be relatively simple to do.

Conflict aspects reiterate the challenge. We must work on blending together these two contradictory (and yet complementary) sides of life. It CAN be done. We just have to pay attention and apply a little discipline and effort.

VENUS IN ASPECT TO JUPITER

Venus conjunctions with Jupiter are fascinating in that they can have almost diametrically opposed results in the outer world. One form of Venus/Jupiter contacts is turning money and material possessions into an ultimate value (what we trust, pursue and always want more of in life). This can have completely opposite results. One variation is the individual who values money and constantly seeks more of it. Such people, if they work hard and get a little help may be exceedingly wealthy. The other extreme is the individual who has great expectations where money is concerned, but expects God to do it. Such people will generally be quite poor. They have delusions of grandeur, but are not doing anything realistic in the world to bring that great vision to fruition. (It is like that old joke about the perils of positive thinking. A man learned about positive thinking and visualization. He began spending all his time visualizing a Cadillac in his garage. Pretty soon, he lost his job. Then he lost his house. Sure enough, the new owner had a Cadillac in that garage!)

Where people turn sensuality into their greatest value, extremes of hedonism and over-indulgence in any variety of forms are likely. The person may just eat or drink or smoke much too much. S/he may over-indulge in making money and collecting possessions. S/he may believe that beauty, appearance, or art objects are the highest good in life. S/he may feel that security, comfort, and stability are the ultimate value. Jupiter is justifiably connected to excesses and exaggeration. If you set something up as an ultimate value, the greatest good, you are unlikely to ever get enough of it!

People with this combination can also get tremendous pleasure out of their mind, travel, education, philosophy, and other forms of truth- seeking. They may enjoy the pursuit of knowledge and meaning in life. Their security may be placed in their ability to question. They may spend lots of money on books, education, travel and other forms of mind expansion. They may earn a living in any of these fields: education, travel, religion, philosophy—anything that seeks truth, knowledge, understanding about life and wider vistas.

In terms of a Libran Venus, the conjunction with Jupiter tells us of the perils of perfectionism in love relationships. We may search for the great ideal and never be satisfied. We may get involved, only to be disillusioned when partner turns out NOT to be God. We may fall into savior/victims relationships (playing either or both ends). We may attract partners who believe THEY are perfect, or believe we SHOULD BE perfect. If we integrate the two, we learn to share a dream with a partner. We may travel together, study together, seek knowledge, religion, or spiritual truths on the same or similar paths. We may share a quest to improve the world. We may share a reach for something more in life, but we learn NOT to demand inhuman perfection from ourselves, the partner, or the relationship.

Harmony aspects suggest the potential of integrating this natural quincunx (to the Taurean Venus). The individual can both earn money and enjoy the physical world as well as seeking for something higher, something more, a sense of ultimate meaning. This can be as simple as knowing when to stay in a secure position and when to take off traveling or go back to school. It can be as elementary as knowing when to accept the situation and be as comfortable as possible and when to reach for more, pursue one’s vision, go for the highest ideal.

In terms of relationships (the Libran Venus), it means the capacity to share and relate with another human being while still seeking something more in life. It means having ideals, but relating on the human level. It includes open communication and feedback to balance real people and all their foibles with a vision of what is possible in the world.

Conflict aspects suggest the need for integration in any of these areas. Our dreams, visions, philosophy, spiritual seeking may be taking us away from needed income or comfort or security or stability or love relationships. Our perfectionism may be making it difficult to enjoy life and people. Or, our self-satisfaction and total acceptance of things as they are may prevent us from reaching for achievable goals and values. The need is to bring the quest down to earth and do something practical and tangible with it.

VENUS IN ASPECT TO SATURN

The Taurean Venus is naturally trine Saturn, while the Libran Venus is naturally square. Conjunctions between Venus and Saturn can live out these differences. In terms of career, this includes the potential of enjoying one’s work. The career can be a source of comfort and pleasure. The individual may pursue artistic or beauty accomplishments. The individual may work in business fields, especially with money and material resources. There is a strong basic desire for security on the physical level. The individual may also choose personnel administration or some field where the work involves relating to others. They may seek business partnerships—shared efforts.

The work/pleasure blend is likely to be fairly positive in terms of the career (unless the person expects it to be TOO easy). Some people expect everything to flow smoothly with no effort where Venus is concerned. However, if the work attitude (critical, concerned with who is in control, responsible, etc.) spill over into the area of sensuality and enjoyment, there may be difficulties. Some people feel they cannot enjoy life UNTIL they have worked hard enough (and until never comes). Or, they feel so judgmental and self-critical, that they do not allow themselves to just relax and feel good. Or, they fear a loss of control, so cut back on potential sources of pleasure.

Initially Saturn tends to be experienced as the power of the world, and other people—including authority figures—to sit on us, judge us, control us, etc. As such, people may feel insecure in those areas. With Venus, people may fear losing money, and hang on all the tighter to what they have. (Saturn/Venus people are often super at saving money.) They may fear being hurt, judged, criticized or controlled in relationships and thus avoid them, get involved at an older age than their peers, etc. If they project Saturn, they seek father figures (of either sex) to live out the strength, dominance, control and responsibility for them. Initially father figures may seem safe and secure and protective. Generally they end up too controlling and dominating.

The goal with Saturn is to internalize the power, so that it becomes OUR ability to be responsible, work hard, and have a realistic impact in the world. Thus, we can work in practical ways to earn a living. We can seek tremendous power through our handling of the money/material world. We can be pragmatic in our approach to relationships: seeing what is there and working to build a firm foundation. We can have a working (business) as well as an emotional sharing with our partners.

Positive blends of Venus/Saturn tend to enjoy their work and experience their career as a source of pleasure. They may be in artistic, beauty or people fields. They often are very practical and careful where money and resources are concerned—thrifty and cautious. They apply themselves to their relationships, doing what needs to be done to improve them, taking responsibility to build something firm and lasting. They may work with partners as well as relating emotionally. They are able to take turns being responsible, hard-working, careful and strong with their partners. Neither plays father all the time. They can switch off.

Negative blends include people who are always anxious about money; they never have enough. Or, people who are too inhibited, anxious and fearful to enjoy sensual pleasures. And, people who pick father figures in relationships, or end up being father figures themselves: carrying the whole load. Or, people who expect the real world to be easy and effortless and are unwilling to be responsible and apply themselves in their work. Or, people who set up their careers in opposition to their relationships. (Love or work: choose!) Or, pitting fathers against partners. Or, avoiding relationships out of fear.

Harmony aspects suggest the individual will find it easier to tie into the natural trine and resolve the natural square, although the square must still be faced. (A part of the basic cardinal dilemma, the Libran Venus’ square to Saturn is dealing with the very real decisions about how to divide time and energy when we want BOTH a career and a committed relationship. Or, in another form, the need to integrate a drive for equality with a drive for control, to run the show.) Being able to love and work are essential parts of life.

Conflict aspects simply reiterate the basic challenges. With Saturn, we are always learning to be realistic, work within the limits of the law (internal and external). We are learning to take the power inside and be responsible for our own lives. With Venus, we are learning to enjoy the physical world and the world of other people. Doing both together takes some balancing, but is certainly a worthwhile pursuit.

VENUS IN ASPECT TO URANUS

Conjunctions between Uranus and Venus face either a natural square (to the Taurean Venus) or a natural trine (to the Libran Venus). The natural square picks up the theme of security versus risk from the fixed dilemma. Individuals must integrate their desire for money, comfort, pleasure and a settled sense of ease with their need for independence, rebellion, individuality, uniqueness and change. This conflict can manifest in a number of areas in the life. Some people must choose between a humdrum ordinary job that pays the rent and a challenging, new opportunity that will be original and have erratic hours and pay. Some people balance the world of sensual pleasures against the world of the intellect and new ideas. Some people choose how much to indulge themselves and how much to be involved with friends or the world in terms of social causes and humanitarian ideals. Individuals may try to determine how much of their life they want unvarying and predictable and how much they want in constant upheaval and change.

Integration involves some of both—either a middle ground compromise or each in different times and places in our lives. People may earn their resources through astrology or other avante-garde, unusual careers. They may spend money or make money with humanitarian ideals and social causes. They may give and receive much pleasure, comfort and security from friends. They may find being different and individualistic a source of considerable enjoyment. They may pursue very unusual or experimental and rebellious avenues of hedonism and sensual indulgence. They may ground their desire for equality and openness in very practical ways in the world—realistic revolutionaries. They may enjoy challenges—especially mental ones—and thrive on anything new, different, progressive and unusual.

In terms of the Libran Venus, the positive integration is a mixture of friendship and committed, equalitarian relationships. People are friends with their partners. They may turns friends into partners and former partners into friends. They enjoy communicating and sharing the mental world with others. They often have a wide circle of people with whom they relate. They can be comfortable and at ease with any representative of humanity. Their committed relationships are likely to be somewhat unusual and involve more independence, space, freedom, experimentation and openness than is the societal norm. There is generally a strong sense of justice, equality, fair play and the desire for everyone to have equal opportunity.

If not integrated, the conflict between Uranus and a Libran Venus is one corner of the endemic freedom versus closeness conflict. The Uranus side calls for independence, freedom, and individuality. The Venus side calls for an established relationship, a sharing of time and space. People may repress one end and get ill. Or, they may project one end and pick a partner to live it out (in exaggerated form). Or, they may bounce from one extreme to the other. The goal is to be able to be a unique human being who is developing and growing in new directions and also maintaining a close, committed relationship with love, affection and a willingness to communicate and share on an equal level with another human being.

Harmony aspects suggest the likelihood of the individual solving both the stability versus change challenge and the freedom versus closeness dilemma. Such challenges are a part of being human. We all want and need some inherent contradictions. The goal is for each individual to choose the balance that suits him/her best at each particular moment of time. There is no OPTIMUM amount of space versus commitment for people. There is no magic percentage of security versus risk. We each must make our own daily decisions as to how much of each and in what areas in our lives we want to incorporate these various drives. Favorable aspects suggest the process of integration is likely to flow relatively easily.

Conflict aspects repeat the message of a lesson to be learned. We must pay more attention. The balancing process is likely to require more discipline, effort, time, and caring on our parts. But, if we remember that life is a constant process and we are all working on something, the task does not seem so overwhelming; the burden is not unbearable. Both change and stability are a part of life. Neither is bad. We merely must choose when and how to incorporate each. Both freedom and commitment are important expressions; we merely must balance them in our own special ways.

VENUS IN ASPECT TO NEPTUNE

In a conjunction, this is the strongest form of a feeling for beauty and the talent and ability to create it in the world. The two planets of beauty, in the strongest aspect, is the most intense variation of this ability. (Other aspects between Venus and Neptune repeat the beauty theme, as do the planets in each others’ signs and houses or the signs in each others’ houses.) We cannot specify the particular modality of artistic expression. We can say that the feeling is strong; the potential ability is great.

As well as an emphasis on beauty, this is a combination that tends to value comfort, security, ease, and a sense of smooth flowingness in life. The combination is the ultimate of pleasers. Such individuals have an intuitive knack for saying or doing what will give others pleasure. There is often, however, an excessive concern with keeping situations comfortable and “nice.” The individual may have difficulties handling confrontations. The temptation towards too much tact up to and including lying and evading issues is strong. The tendency is towards the path of least resistance. This combination is looking for ultimate beauty, but often in a very passive way. Laziness is quite possible.

In terms of money and possessions, we have similar potentials as with Jupiter. Some people will turn money into God, making it their ultimate value. They may seek (and find) it, especially if other aspects are positive as Neptune indicates the faith—on the unconscious level— that “God will provide.” However, it is also common to find such combinations with people who are totally unrealistic where money and possessions are concerned. They are waiting for God to balance the checkbook and their finances are in chaos.

We must remember the three major roles of Neptune: artist, savior and victim. This means individuals with Venus/Neptune conjunctions may enjoy all these roles. They are likely to have tremendous artistic talent and ability. They may also enjoy “saving” others, especially in terms of smoothing things out, creating beauty and ease. They may be very idealistic helpers and healers, working to build a more ideal, beautiful and loving environment. They may also over- value sensuality, pleasure and other forms of indulgence (turning physical pleasure into God). This can lead to being a victim in terms of food, money, alcohol, drugs and other difficulties. Or, they can be a victim in their passivity, or refusal to face the unpleasantness of life—running away from a sometimes ugly world into psychosis, fantasy, excessive sleep, etc.

If the Neptune is projected onto partners (through a Libran Venus), individuals may search for God forever and never find a satisfying human relationship. (This is more likely with Jupiter than Neptune, because Jupiter has a strong freedom urge which would just as soon NOT be tied down.) They may get involved, believing they have found the ideal partner, only to be disillusioned later when s/he turns out to be human and fallible. They may repeat this process of rose-colored glasses followed by disillusionment over and over. They may marry God literally by going into the church. They may find a partner who thinks s/he is God. They may play God in their relationships, attracting victims who need to be saved. They may project the beauty side of Neptune, attracting partners who are physically beautiful or expect them to be. Or, picking partners who are artistically talented and will manifest the ability to create beauty for them. Or, they may simply believe that “true love always runs smooth” and the ideal relationship has no fights, no waves, no disagreements, and no problems.

The alternative with the Libran Venus is for partners to share the Neptunian energy. They can seek and create beauty together in the world. They can share a mystical outlook, or seek for the ultimate in nature, psychic exploration, religion, spiritual quests or other paths of yearning to merge with something Higher. They can work together to create a more perfect, ideal, loving world. They merely have to avoid the trap of expecting themselves, each other, or the relationship to be ultimately perfect, ideal, good and beautiful.

Neptune forms a natural sextile to Venus in its Taurean nature, and that integration is usually easier. The individual must blend tangible beauty with spiritual or inspired beauty. They must bring their dreams down to earth. They must ground their ideals, or do something concrete with their inspirations. By contrast, Neptune forms a natural quincunx to Libran Venus. People looking for the ideal love relationship or the ideal lover generally have a more difficult time. But every dilemma is solvable; we merely have to work at it.

Harmony aspects again emphasize the need for beauty in the life, and the likelihood of integrating the ultimate and the mundane as well as being able to merge with the Infinite and maintain a human relationship. People who blend Venus and Neptune comfortably are often very attractive, loving, comfortable, pleasing people—to themselves and others.

Conflict aspects remind us to work on combining our differing needs. Perhaps we have to find a concrete expression for our great and beautiful dream. Perhaps we have to be able to earn money as well as fantasize. Perhaps we need to continually remind ourselves that human relationships are never totally ideal. Perhaps we need to alter our expectations of love, of ourselves, of our partners. Perhaps we need to learn to enjoy the physical as well as the spiritual in life. Whatever the challenge, we can meet it, using the inspiration, security, ability to enjoy, sense of beauty and harmony which Venus and Neptune symbolize within us.

Copyright © 1982 Los Angeles Community Church of Religious Science, Inc.

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