Our hearts’ sense of comfort and happiness may feel some relief starting today, as Venus moves from sidereal Aries into Taurus. Venus rules our relationships, sense of art and beauty, and how we go about seeking happiness and pleasure. In Taurus, Venus can relax into the earthy comfort of this feminine earth-sign it rules. Since March 12th, Venus was in Aries, the masculine, “get-up-and-go,” fire-sign ruled by impulsive and aggressive Mars. That put some “me-first” drive behind the planet of compromise, love & happiness, which may have put some strain on our relationships and ability to work things out with others. Venus was also paired with Mars during most of that time, adding more obstruction to its goals of happy mediums, loving service and devotion. Before its stint in Aries, this graha was transiting Pisces alongside Mars in a planetary war, as well as hampered by its conjunction with critical Ketu. All that fire and pressure did not do much to help our inner sense of peace and love, nor did the intensity and illusion brought on by the eclipses that occurred simultaneously over the last few weeks.
We’re now moving out of the eclipse cycle, and Venus will be in Taurus for the next month, orienting us towards contentment and connecting to devotion through the earth-element. Planets are generally strong in their own signs and better able to express their goals. Taurus is a place related to comfortable and beautiful physical surroundings. The feminine expression of Venus, as well as a fixed-earth sign, planets here are able to relax, ground, and enjoy the simple and sweet fruits of the earth. The Moon is exalted here in Taurus, relaxing and expanding our hearts in the quality of contentment. Venus is opposite Saturn here, getting a direct aspect, so we may even feel a bit of pressure to really ground into Taurean satisfaction. The extreme of planets here is the potential to be stubborn about our desires for comfort and luxury, or sensual desires in general. There will still be more willingness to compromise than we found with Venus in Aries, however, but watch for sensual indulgence or attachment to certain ideas about security.
Earth-element relates to the sense of smell, so augmenting your happiness through fragrant flowers and essential oils will be especially potent now. Simple pleasures can be found in food, crystals, scents, and connecting to the warm soft ground. Adding some new art or beautiful objects to your home or altar will also be gratifying. Fostering this sense of comfort and beauty around us can be a step in our spiritual process, if we make it an offering to the divine, and a practice of reflecting what we are also doing inwardly to beautify our hearts. This is Venus’s higher capacity. Make a beautiful painting of your mind and adorn your inner vision with love, compassion and devotion, things that will bring joy and comfort to you and those around you.
Jupiter will turn direct later this week, giving us a renewed sense of inspiration and connection to our teachers and belief systems.