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Number 79

 October is a quieter month - at least astrologically speaking – and appropriately dominated by Venus, The Goddess of Love and Beauty. In honour of the Goddess, this Newsletter is focused on Venus.  I encourage you to embrace Her Essence and reflect on what it means to think with your heart as well as your head.

 May the Goddess Bless You

Christine Rothwell

 ' 03 9584 6532

Email: christiner@netspace.net.au

Website: www.christinerothwell.com.au 

Contents

1. October Overview
2. Cycle of Venus
3. 2011 Astrology Classes.

·         Beginner’s / First Year on Thursday nights

·         Intermediate / Second Year on Monday nights

·         Advanced / Third Year one Saturday afternoon per month

4. Consultations and Gift Certificates 

1. October Overview

 The Goddess is all powerful in October and Her presence is a potent reminder to honour the Divine Feminine in ourselves and all life. Venus makes Her closest connection with Earth when She is retrograde and this peaks when She is conjunct the Sun on October 29. Adding to the Venusian flavour is the Libra New Moon [Libra is said to be ruled by Venus] and the conjunction of Venus and Mars in Scorpio on October 4. All this Venusian activity is challenging us to reconnect with our hearts, sort out what feels important and find some way to honour this in our lives.  

Venus conjunct Mars in Scorpio on October 4 at 12 degrees Scorpio, a perfect metaphor for the astrological flavour of the whole month. This conjunction heralds the beginning of a new Venus-Mars cycle and is the second of three ‘hits’. The three exact dates are:

1. August 21 2010 at 13 Libra
2. October 4 at 12 Scorpio
3. May 23 2011  at 8 Taurus 

Mythologically this conjunction evokes images of the Sacred Marriage or Hieros Gamos. This union of God and Goddess ensured balance and harmony in the world as opposites come into relationship. Psychologically this union is a calling to balance the masculine and feminine principles - Eros and Logos, thinking and feeling - and bring them into a constructive relationship internally and externally .This is a potent time to reflect on how you deal with this polarity and see where you may be leaning too far in one direction. 

October 8 sees Venus move retrograde and the New Moon in Libra. Whenever Venus is retrograde She is at her closet to Earth and undergoes the transition form Evening Star to Morning Star. If any of you have been watching Venus in the western sky at night you will notice Her sinking into the horizon and preparing to disappear around October 23 when She gets lost in the blaze of the Sun only to reappear around November 4 as the Morning Star.  

Venus is personified as the Goddess of Love and Beauty. She makes Her closest approach to Mother Earth when She is retrograde, inviting us to become more conscious of our values and think with our hearts as well as our heads. The Divine Feminine comes into focus, challenging us all to consciously re-examine our relationships and values and apply a feminine or soul centred perspective.  

Interestingly there are two quite literal manifestations of the calming influence of the Divine feminine when Venus makes Her closest approach to Earth. Astrologer Richard Nolle says there is often a boost to the financial markets around this time as Venus acts as a pacifier. This may offset some of the negative energy generated by the Cardinal Cross. 

An Australian meteorologist discovered that the Earth’s magnetic field actually quietens down when Venus is closest to Earth [i.e. - the geomagnetic storm index tends to be minimized] No-one has been able to explain this phenomenon scientifically so the discovery has been overlooked.

 [Reported by Nick Kollerstrom in his wonderful article on Venus, the Heart and the Rose at www.skyscript.co.uk/venusrose.html ] Follow the link for more information about how the cycle of Venus creates two beautiful patterns, the Rose and the Heart.

 See section 2 for a deeper explanation of the Cycle of Venus. 

The New Moon October 8 has a powerful line-up of planets in Libra including the Sun, Moon, Saturn and Mercury [plus a few asteroids] with the ruler of Libra, Venus, making her station retrograde. This New Moon intensifies the energy of Venus retrograde as the Goddess stands still, drawing our attention to all things Venusian including relationships [friends, family and lovers], finances, aesthetic awareness /tastes and our values. We may feel called on to retreat and review all our attachments, likes, dislikes. Mercury calls us to begin a dialogue and communicate our likes, dislikes and needs and Saturn challenges us to take responsibility for what we see and most importantly, FEEL. 

The Full Moon on October 23 is at the potent anaretic [final] degree of the Aries / Libra polarity and sees the Sun conjunct Mercury and Venus, all opposing the Moon. It is the second full moon in a row in the sign of Aries, - the full moon on September 23 was at the beginning of Aries - this one is at the final [or anaretic] degree and picks up the thread of the Venus / Mars conjunction that took place earlier in the month. This lunation is reminding us to balance our needs for partnership and co-operation [Sun in Libra] with our needs to be true to our self [Moon in Aries]. With both the planet of communication [Mercury] and the planet of Love [Venus] conjunct the Sun, it may be possible to verbalize issues in relationship and reach a compromise that feels good for all concerned. 

2. Cycle of Venus

• Venus retrograde: October 8 to November 19
• Sensitive degrees: 27 Libra to 13 Scorpio
• Retrograde loop: September 5 to December 21
• Venus conjunct the Sun: New Cycle: October 29 at 5 Scorpio
• Venus invisible from around October 23 to November 4
• Venus reappears as the Morning Star on November 4 at 2 Scorpio 

The 584 day cycle of Venus charts our likes and dislikes, our attractions and repulsions and most importantly – OUR VALUES.

Venus goes retrograde [appears to move backwards] once every 19 months for about 40 days. At the beginning of this period Venus is the Evening Star, visible in the western sky for a few hours after sunset. She then slowly dips lower in the sky and disappears into the blaze of the Sun to reappear as the Morning Star. A new Venus cycle will begin on October 29 when Venus conjuncts the Sun at 5 degrees Scorpio.

Whenever a planet goes retrograde it offers us a new perspective. A doorway opens and we have the opportunity to develop a more objective viewpoint. It suggests a time of reflection on the past, and a need to refocus. The house position where this retrograde motion is occurring suggests the area of your life that will need to be reviewed. 

Whenever Venus is retrograde we are challenged to develop more objectivity and consciousness about our personal values, relationships, finances, desires and self worth.  Sometimes we realize the need to develop a new set of values and attitudes based on current personal beliefs and let go out-dated values based on habits and attitudes that come from the collective and our conditioning. This may crystallize around the beginning of the new cycle – October 29.  

Venus is at her closest to Earth at this point, calling us to reflect on whether who and what we find closest to us is a true reflection of our values. Tastes, relationships and values may undergo a process of change during the retrograde process.  

Traditional astrology says that this is not the time to make a major purchase or begin a new relationship as it may be an over- reaction to old patterns. This is a potent time to:

• Step back from your relationships and engage in a process of review. This is a time when you can gain greater clarity here.
• Reflect on your self worth and how you are honouring this in your relationships with both yourself and others.
• Reflect on your current financial situation.
• Contemplate a change of image or how you can beautify your home or personal environment. 

Sit with any shifts while Venus is still retrograde. The time after Venus moves direct and re-covers the degrees of the zodiac that She has moved backwards over – November 19 to December 21 – is the time to take action. 

Every 8 years Venus goes retrograde around the same degrees. Can you remember what was happening for you around 2002, 1994, 1986… etc?  

Some useful questions for reflection while Venus is retrograde, especially regards the house where Venus is retrograding.

1.     What is important to me IN THIS AREA OF MY LIFE?

2.     What do I value? Does my life reflect this?

3.     Do my values reflect my reality?

4.     What resources do I have in this area of my life?

5.      Do I need to add to my skill base here?

 

And more generally speaking…

6.     How do I feel about myself? Is there anything I want to change?

7.     Am I happy with my relationships? Do I feel valued and respected by the people close to me? What do I need to change? Do I give too much / not enough?

8.     How can I manage my money better? Do I need advice here?

9.     Am I paid enough for what I do? Is it time to move on?

10.          Do I value / honour my body? What gives me pleasure? Is there enough fun and pleasure in my life?  

May the Goddess Bless You

Christine 

Workshops and Classes

 Contact Christine on 9584 6532 or christiner@netspace.net.au for a brochure. 

 

Blessings

Christine Rothwell