2021: A Venusian YEar

The new year starts on a Friday.  It’s a Venusian year.  We are called to love–love ourselves, love our partner, love our neighbor.

Venus  rules all things related to beauty. Beauty and fashion will make big headlines.  If by the second part of the year social-distancing relaxes, I predict a fashion boom.  People want to be seen again.  Luxury fashion and goods do exceptionally well under this kind of energy.  Cosmetics, cosmetology, massage therapists, et al, bounce back big. 

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The fine art market thrives under the influence of Venus. Venus is one of the most painted figures in all of art.   

Taurus and Libra will have an amplified year, especially those born on a Friday.  Friday the 13th in 2021 might have extra oomph.  

Matters of the heart, love and sex all get a boost for better or worse under Venus.  If we can get COVID under control, it will be a banner year for the wedding industry.  

The Card of The Year–The Knight of Pentacles, Reversed, clarified by the Chariot

Money will come very slowly.  The recovery will be slow. After a warp pace 2020, things will seem at a snail’s pace for the first six months of the year.  New thinking has to be implemented.  After July, things move much faster under the influence of the Chariot.  Patience wins the day in the first six months of the year. 2021 is not a time to get emotionally hung up on the past.  Stay present as you move ever so slowly towards the future.   

Banking processes and money transfers may be slow for the first part of the year.  There will be stalls in funding.  

Car sales are up in the second part of the year.  Home sales, mortgage lenders, real estate and their ancillaries also see a boom in the second part of the year.  It seems that equilibrium is re-established and that there’s a predictable trajectory most people can rely on. Our psycho-emotional GPS is back.

Now, for the individual signs:

Aries–The Emperor–The card of 2021 for you is The Emperor, which is your tarot card!  You’re in your element.  You’re thinking and building big and stepping into higher levels of leadership and mastery this year.  Be careful to build teams while building your empire.  Your leadership skills, courage and can-do attitude will be highly prized in 2021.  Your best time of year will be when the sun is in your sign, so celebrate your birthday to the max and start new ventures around your birthday.

Taurus–7 of Pentacles–The seeds you planted in 2020, probably fertilized with blood, sweat, tears and a good dash of poo are starting to sprout, but continue to keep patient.  Prune away what’s blocking these seedling ideas and ventures from getting the time and attention they deserve.  Keep your feet firmly on the ground.  You will continue to have great seedling ideas, but ask yourself “How can I ground this into reality?”.  Your best seasons are when the sun is in Taurus, Virgo or Capricorn this year.  Grow your visions into reality during these times. Waning moons in Capricorn, Virgo and Taurus are watershed times for you. Use them.

Gemini–Queen of Cups, Reversed–In 2021, it’s time to ask yourself the big head-versus-heart questions, Gemini.  Are you pouring precious energy into people and situations that aren’t filling your cup?  Reciprocity is your big challenge in 2021.  Don’t let others drain you dry emotionally.  It’s time to balance how you are giving and receiving.  Chances are you are giving way too much to people that have too little to offer you.  Give some of that love and care to yourself in 2021.  This will become really clear when the sun or moon is in Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces.  Keep a lunar journal!

Cancer–2 of Wands–You’re re-envisioning a bigger, better, bolder future for yourself, dear Cancer.  What you desire has global reach and impact.  Go for it, but be sure to also look at what’s happening right in front of you too.  Think globally and act locally this year.  You have a tremendous need for stability.  Don’t lean on others too hard for support as you transform.  Part of this journey is learning how to lean on yourself more.  You’ll have the most momentum when the sun is Aries, Leo or Sagittarius.  The second half of the year, you’ll be moving so fast you’re head will spin. Hope you like race car driving!

Leo–8 of Pentacles–You’ll be working hard in 2021, but the good news is that you’ll be making a mint for yourself in the process.  You’re perfecting the details of your process.  Your stamina and tenacity inspire others.  Keep up the good work and the good work you’re doing will keep you flush in 2021.  New doors open for you throughout the year.  Keep a dry cleaned suit or dress ready in your closet at all times “just in case”.  Opportunity opens up when you least expect it.  You’ll feel this energy most when the sun is in Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn.

Virgo–9 of Pentacles, Reversed–This is a card full of native Virgo energy.  The new year may not have you feeling quite yourself.  You want to be partnered, as a opposed to going it alone.  The old maxim “Wealth is empty when it is not shared” may be ringing too true for you.  You long to share your abundance.  You’re being called to do some intense self-love this year.  Yes, even more.  Scout out new directions and possibilities.  The tried and true has become the boring and blah.  Experiment.  You’ll have clarity when the sun is Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn.

Libra–Page of Swords, Reversed–Libra, you’re learning a new skill or a new process in 2021.  Stick with it.  It’s a bit of an uphill battle for you.  Don’t give up too soon.  Just when you want to give up and drop it, it comes to you.  Allow your process.  Every mistake is part of the process.  Get clear on your “why” this year in all areas of your life.  Why do you want this partner, that job, that car, etc?  You’ll find there’s much going on below the surface that needs unpacking.  Breakthroughs in insight come when the Sun, Moon or Mercury is in Aquarius, Gemini or Libra. 

Scorpio–10 of Wands–Time to drop some burdens.  You’re carrying too many people, projects, products, regrets.  Too much of a good thing even….It’s time to halve what isn’t yielding results or happiness.  Clinging to the past won’t bring the good feelings associated with it back.  Get clear on your priorities or you stand to wear yourself out in 2021.  Yes, you’re strong.  However, there’s no point in arriving to your personal version of success and happiness half dead.  It will be clearest to you when the sun is in Aries, Leo and Sagittarius what dross needs to be burned away.

Sagittarius–4 of Cups–Apathy and indecision may cloud your judgment this year.  Offers are coming to you, but you may not be able to give them a whole-hearted yes.  Cycles of four are important.  Give things four hours, four days, four weeks, four months before saying no or yes as appropriate.  There’s been a longstanding tension between having to do what perceived  you must do and what your heart truly, deeply wanted.  This year is the year to bridge that.  Add some orange to your life to restore your zest.  You’ll feel this when the moon is in Pisces, Scorpio and Cancer.  

Capricorn–King of Pentacles, Reversed–Capricorn, you start 2021 a little off.  After some major astrological energy in your sign in 2020, suddenly, it’s a ceasefire.  Its’ time to drop your defenses and re-invest in yourself a bit.  Most of your siege is over.  Let your passion come through.  Your reserve has been running your life for too long.  Capricorns walk their walk.  It’s time to talk and to advertise to monetize more.  Things are dropping out of your life like autumn leaves.  Allow nature to take it’s course.  You’re feeling this now, as the sun is in Capricorn, again when the sun is in Taurus and in Virgo and again in late December.  Allow this release so the new can come in gracefully.  

Aquarius–Ace of Wands, Reversed–In 2021, you’ll want to take action, Aquarius, but feel intimidated by the task at hand.  Take the first step, even if it’s scary.  Walk softly and carry that big wand and you’ll see big results.  You have to direct others at this time.  Be sure what you’re asking for is crystal clear and actionable and the results will be compelling.  Acting large and in charge is your calling in 2021.  Go big or go home when the sun is in Aries, Leo and Sagittarius.  You’ll see huge gains.  

Pisces–Temperance, Reversed–Pisces, 2021 is a balancing act.  Remember titration from high school chemistry class?  You’ll be titrating all year long.  Subtle, careful moves are called for, but you also need to know when to say “enough is enough”.  You’ll be shepherding a lot of transitions this year:  graduations, changing schools, moving and other life or business events in that vein.  The culmination of this will be when the sun is in Sagittarius, but you’ll feel it during the last week of every sun sign and at the equinoxes.  Embrace your inner alchemist in 2021.  

May your 2021, be safe, well, prosperous, happy and beautiful!

Book me now and get a personalized reading for 2021!

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Venus in Pisces: Love is a Glamorous Prison with Sea Monsters

So many folks are excited about Venus in Pisces.  Yes,  it’s an ideal time for love.  Venus is in exaltation with Pisces, but my Capricornian caution needs to air out some stuff about Venus in Pisces.

Full Disclosure:  I have Venus in Pisces in my natal 10th.

I know this placement.  I walk this placement.

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First things first, look around you and think about a Pisces you’ve known.  A bestie?  A challenging teacher?  A parent?  An ex? How do you feel about them?  Good, bad or indifferent? With Venus in Pisces, that Pisces that you may have never even thought about or would have considered now has a touch of Venusian glamour–and friends, glamour is fleeting.  Cupid may have struck you with his little arrow, but that love wound may hurt and bleed once Venus moves out of Pisces.  Use your common sense.  If you have a bad past with a Pisces ex now may not be the time to revisit that relationship unless you’ve both done some major inner work.

Pisces is linked to Neptune and the Twelfth House.  Neptune is the planet of illusions.  Neptune is the planet of movie-making, of myths and of sacrifice.   There’s definitely a “risking it all for love” vibe floating around.  Now that’s lovely, but your mythic, epic lover-hero may have need to pass a credit and background check first.  Attend to the practicals.  We’re more likely to feel spiritually attuned to a mate, but “as above, so below”, so be sure to attend to the below, real world stuff!  Don’t make excuses for bad behavior because the target of your infatuation is healing his or her core spiritual wound.  Keep it real, even if it feels like a dream-come-true.  That’s Neptune, causing that dreaminess.

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The Twelfth House is also identified with the Latin word “carcer”, which means “prison”.  With Venus in Pisces, love is a prison–albeit a glamorous prison.  It’s very tempting with Venus in Pisces to create or consent to a little gilded cage for you and lovey.  This can be little rules and protocols that eventually become big co-dependency.  This can also feel like being taken hostage, especially if you’re in an unrequited love scenario, or waiting on someone to decide whether to commit or not.  There’s also some atonement here, or a debt that has to be repaid.  We go to prison because we owe a debt to society.  Spiritual debts become due and sometimes the repayment terms are not to our liking.  Unlike the Saturnian Tenth House, where we can clearly see the obstacles in our path, the Neptunian Twelfth House presents challenges that seem to surface seemingly from nowhere.  The truth is, the challenges were always there, we just were deluded into NOT acknowledging them, often because we failed to go deep enough.  When Venus is Pisces, it’s easy to mistake the charming Venusian surface for a deep, spiritual, transcendent connection if we are not present and aware.  Feel the love but keep those feet on the ground and your eyes and ears open!

The Twelfth House also rules our subconscious–and with Venus in Pisces, love is  like a deep ocean with some interesting sea monsters just floating around.  One minute, all is fine and well and the next minute you’ve discovered you’re in love with the Kraken.  The inner sea monster of bae becomes painfully visible, often without warning.  With Venus in Pisces happening while the sun is in Aries, be aware that the lover that may be charming and accommodating now may expect it to be all about them by late April.

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Venus in Pisces is a charmed time, in every sense.  Just because the stars have aligned though, doesn’t mean that you should lose yourself in love.  That’s exactly what the more toxic Venus in Pisces seems to want us to do–merge and enmesh completely with the beloved.  Look at the glyph for Pisces, though.  It’s two fish, close together, but not tethered, not caged, free to swim how they please, but choosing to swim together, and that’s what Venus in Pisces should be.  Now go find that swimming buddy!

Why “Stupid” Rhymes with “Cupid”

There’s a reason “Cupid” rhymes with “stupid”.

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Love and lust are in the air.  Has Cupid made you stupid?  Naturally as Valentine’s Day creeps up on us on the heels of dreamy Pisces, our thoughts naturally turn to love.  What is love?  Why are we so perplexed by it?

So often, I get asked “I am a ________, so would a Taurus be good for me?”  And the answer is “I don’t know.” We’re so accustomed to just looking at sun signs in pop astrology.  A chart is complex.  It has angles and conflicts–and that’s just one person’s chart.  When you look at two people’s charts, it gets vastly more complicated–the same way people themselves are complicated.  The relationship becomes an entity in and of itself.

There’s a lot of great astrology experts out there who really nail it with synastry in detail-the pesky angles and such.  Volumes have been written on this. Two of the best books out there about the down and dirty of love and sex are Sextrology and Cosmic Coupling, both by Starsky & Cox.  If you’re really wanting to know about that special Taurus and their kinks (or lack thereof), those are the tomes for you.   My discussion here is based on heterosexual relationships, but Starksky & Cox really illuminate LGBTQ astrology couplings in awesome ways and I recommend their books whatever your sexual preference is.

Here are some of my observations about synastry.

Venus–Yes, Venus is the planet of love.  You’ll want to really pay attention to Venusian aspects in the charts, but Venus is also a planet of glamour.  People often forget that glamour has it’s origins in magick, particularly deceit.  Venus had her “bag of tricks” and Venus can deceive you to get what she wants and make you enjoy it.  Venus is often how a woman deceives and/or how man is vulnerable to romantic deception in a heterosexual relationship.  Venus is not faithful.  She does not inspire or look for fealty.  Venus is not a wifely archetype.  True love may not be signaled by Venus aspects alone.

Mars–Mars is passion.  What would you fight for and what would you die for?  Mars also makes war and if you’re not sure someone is “The One”, this is the place to gauge what they’ll be like in a break-up or a divorce.  Mars is how we fight and what we weaponize.  The tension between Mars and Venus is often what most of our love and lust games are, the push/pull of attraction.

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If you really want to see Mars in action at the most basic, primal level, watch the NatGeo channel and watch two stags gore each other during mating season competing for a mate.  That’s Mars.  Crimes of passion come from Mars while Venus looks on reveling in what her glamour has caused.

The Moon and Saturn also lights the way here.  Of course, the moon is important in synastry.  The moon is our deep yin, our emotional well that waxes and wanes.  The moon is also attractive, like Venus, but it’s rhythmic, like the tides.  The moon in a chart is also talking about our mothers.  Who are we because of how we were mothered?

Saturn is an outer planet and mostly we talk about Saturn and career, obstacles, time and the infamous Saturn return.  Saturn also rules our fathers and fatherhood.  Any tensions or dissonance between parenting styles, any commitment baggage you have  because of your parents’ relationship will reveal itself when the Moon and Saturn have tense aspects.  So many people get hitched right around the first Saturn return near age 27 or divorced that Saturn needs to be paid attention to in synastry.  Saturn is also the lord of karma and so many relationships are veritable Russian nesting dolls of karmic baggage.  Both the moon and Saturn are keepers of time and when a relationship “clicks” or you feel in “the same place” it very well may be that moons and Saturns are manifesting positive aspects.

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To that end, if you’re meditating every damn day, cleansing those chakras regularly and still unlucky in love, it might be time to take a nice honest look at your lunar nodes.  This is not a medical procedure!  The North Node of the moon or the dragon’s head, is your true North–the direction you are supposed to go, what you need to learn.  The South Node, the dragon’s tail, is the skills and coping mechanisms from prior lives that you need to rely less on.  Some relationships are deeply karmic–for better or worse.  You’re either on the path together or pulling each other off the path.  Sometimes you’re exchanging gifts and teaching each other, in healthy enough relationships where the nodes are in opposition between the lovers.  Feel like you’re chasing your tail with bae?  The answer might be here in the Dragon’s tail.

If you thought that was heavy, let’s talk about Lilith.  Hellenic Zeus (Jupiter in the chart) and Judaic Adam have something in common–a wife they got in a power struggle with before they “settled” with their principal wives, Hera and Eve, respectively.  For Zeus, this starter wife was Metis, mother of Athena and for Adam, this was Lilith.  Metis was the mother of the son who was prophecied to overthrow Zeus.  Metis helped Zeus overthrow Cronus (Saturn) with her potion-making skills and then Zeus swallowed her whole.  Before Eve, there’s a tale that Adam’s first wife, Lilith, was also formed from clay.  She refused to have sex in missionary position and submit to him and she rebelled and fornicated with demons.  Fun! There’s a lot of back and forth about Lilith–whether to use the asteroid or do what’s called a Black Moon Lilith calculation.  I look at both.

For a man, Lilith is a threat to his autonomy and his status.  She is the one who got away most likely because he pushed her away.  She is the one he wasn’t quite mature enough to handle.  She’s also the type of woman he’d have an affair with but not commit to.  She’s powerful.  She’s forbidden and she’s totally necessary to his story, even if she’s not what he “settles” for.

In a woman’s chart, Lilith impels a woman to buck male authority when it doesn’t suit her.  Lilith starts her demon fornication binge when she feels used, treated like dirt, subjugated instead of cherished, when she feels like a stepping stone and when she’s hemmed in to the detriment of her own freedom and personal development.    For this reason, I’d argue that Jupiter and Lilith need to be looked at together too.  If a man’s Jupiter makes a tense aspect to a woman’s Lilith, it will probably start hot and end up heartbreaking.  Lilith is a woman’s capacity for vengeance when provoked.

The planets dance in and out of “houses”.  House placements are determined by your rising sign, the time of your birth, and the rising sign for me is the first impression or mask that you wear for the world. The first place most astrologers look for marriage compatibility at is the 7th house, the house of Marriage and Partnership. If you have many planets in a particular house, that house will probably need a lot of attention.  I have five planets in my natal 7th and it gets COMPLICATED.

For me, all houses may have info I need.The natal 4th house, how we make a home together is important.  I would also suggest a nice, long look in the natal 12th house, which elucidates illusions, fantasies, delusions and captivity.  Too often, we project our fantasies and fears on our partners.

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My last pro-tip is this:  How much of your natal sun and/or natal moon is reflected in your partner’s chart?  How much light are your bringing to their life and they to yours?  The sun lights and powers everything and the moon illuminates us through the darkest of times.  Conjunctions to the natal sun and moon bode well in synastry.  Look for the light.

I am usually very cocksure about my astrological opinions.  However, in the game or dance or drama of love, astrology is NOT destiny.  A perfect chart, with beautiful trines and conjunctions, does not guarantee an epic love story.  So often, we look for the good in a chart and a person and just ignore what doesn’t suit us or make excuses for it.  That’s when we have the heavy-hitting outer planets, Saturn, Neptune, Pluto and Uranus–limits, illusions, transformation and disruption, respectively, to shake our relationships up during their planetary transits.  The chart itself doesn’t speak to the spiritual or emotional maturity of the people either.  All the beautiful conjunctions and trines in the chart won’t make you a mature, self-aware, self-actualizing adult.  That’s on you.

My wish for you this Valentine’s Day is that you find the sync in synastry. If you want me to pull your chart, contact me here.