The musings of a HedgeWitch
Happy Re-Birthday to Venus!
On June 3rd, 2020 Venus retrograde is conjunct the Sun. This is when a new 584-day Venus cycle begins and it actually forms a pentagram in the sky. This is also when Venus transforms from an evening star into a morning star. Venus goes retrograde less than any other planet, but when it does, it touches us to the core of our heart. Venus retrograde is similar to a descent into the underworld: a part of us must die so that a new version of ourselves can be reborn.
This intrigues me as a Libra (governed by Venus/Aphrodite) as I’ve always been pulled towards dark goddess archetypes: Persephone, Hekate and the shadow side to humanity as if I was more like a scorpio. This new knowledge comes to light and it all makes sense. Also did you know, once upon a time Libra constellation was once called Scorpio’s claw? So whilst Libras are most often than not diplomatic and balanced and don’t have the Scorpio sting, we do nip if we have to, much like the season of Autumn (October being the month of Libra) feeling the first nip of winter’s cold weather. Straddling the earthy logic of Virgo and the intencity of Scorpio makes for Libras being both logical and emotionally charged- hence the attempt at balancing such a paradox like the scales.
Venus affects all of us deeply because next to the sun and the moon, it is the brightest celestial being in the sky. And Venus is associated with the heart & emotional love.
What is magical about the Venus cycle is that it has two distinct phases: Venus morning star, and Venus evening star. For 9 months (like human gestation period) Venus rises before the Sun. This is her morning star phase. She then disappears from the sky for approximately 2 months. After 2 months, she rises again, this time as an evening star- Again much like a Libra, she straddles two paradoxial paths- to and fro, ebbing & flowing like the waves Aphrodite rose from in her story.
Venus is all about metamorphosis from an evening star into a morning star. Which again you’d expect metamorphosis to be associated more with Scorpio and its so fascinating Venus (Libra) does this too.
“Venus changes her clothes and metamorphoses from an evening beauty into a morning warrior. When retrograde, Venus has to leave behind her beautiful evening gown (Venus evening star) and embrace the purity of nature (Venus morning star). Venus retrograde is nothing else but Venus’ rebirth. The transformation is a complete metamorphosis. No wonder Venus retrograde completely turns our life upside down, too. Venus retrograde is a process of transformation that is absolutely necessary.”
Venus retrograde myth is the Sumerian myth of Inanna’s (and Isis) descent into the underworld. Inanna was the Goddess of fertility and abundance and the most important deity of the times.
The myth starts with Inanna deciding to travel to the underworld to visit her sister Ereshkigal, the Goddess of the Underworld….
To begin afresh, a part of us must die. The goddess of the Underworld who strikes Inanna dead is a metaphor for our shadow side or aspects of our life that must die away, this usually happens in the most abrupt and soul destroying way, but this sudden death instantly removes what is not needed so you can create space for more love, to rescue Inanna and resurrect her and thus resurrect ourselves. I relate to this quite literally: As a Libra, governed by Aphrodite, I’ve quite literally experianced a sudden death by the hands of a goddess of the underworld (Scorpio).
Out of the ashes we are reborn anew globally and interally.
This Venus retrograde is about letting go, unfinished or festered things will come to light, it is a time when poison, toxic energy flows out of the underworld and if we are not careful it can flow into our hearts. This is a time for shedding old skin with grace and acceptance. You will have to let go of old values, relationships, or your attitude to these relationships. Surrendering and accepting will transform your life.
Finally, the death and rebirth cycle of Venus is really about learning to love ourselves and to find the truth within ourselves.
If a relationship has ended or if some painful truth has emerged know that it’s ok to let it sting and burn, but then also know that it is all to help awaken and deepen the truth & strength in your heart.
To soothe through this death-life cycle:
Tea: Pomegrante tea associated with Persephone who transformed into the queen of the underworld. Helping you endure loss/death. Also rose tea for self love and selfless love towards others.
Mantra: om namo bhagavate vasudevaya to free you from the cycle of rebirth. Also pray to Shiva for help to carry the poison erupting from the underworld. om namaha Shivaya!
Yoga: Shavasana (Corpse pose). Surrender to the earth as you lay on the floor in yoga Nidra (dream/sleep yoga). Journey to and fro from waking life to subconsious realms.
Altar/Ceremony: Small death ceremony of something you let go of with love and not bitterness. Include a manifestation board to bring new life, new friends, new desires and dreams. Ask Aphrodite’s waters to take the old out to sea and bring love back on the tide & into your heart space.
Crystals: Labradorite, known as the dark side of the moon and the sister stone to Moonstone. Looks like a frozen tear, the inuit believed it to be the tears of the Aurora Borealis and the night sky. Good for accepting what you can not control, useful companion through change, imparting strength and perseverance. It balances and protects the aura, raises consciousness and grounds spiritual energies.
As a Libra I accept the death of an emotional love with diplomacy, compassion, forgiveness and grace.