The Temple of Venus | Temple of the Cosmic Spheres

Archive for the The Temple of Venus Category

But, I Thought You Were My Friend? Venus Stations Direct

Posted in Astrology, Auspicious Days, The Temple of Venus, Venus on September 6, 2015 by themagickalpen

Venus in Leo
Stations Direct
4:29am (EDT)

In the early hours of this morning, Venus, the planet of relationships and refinement, moved from its retrograde pattern and began its movement forward once again. The retrograde began July 25th and the dynamic of its focused intention caused a deeper than usual scrutiny of our relationships at all levels of interaction.

Venus is the ruling planet of Taurus and Libra which in and of itself gives insight to the way in which Venusian energy flows and changes its quality. Astrological Taurus is typified by its solid anchoring (Earth sign), stability of purpose (Fixed) and immoveable determination to secure anything it acquires. There is a deep emotional connection to those manifest things it assumes responsibility for and so deep attachment is fostered in guarding and standing ground in maintaining a safe and secure environment for those things or people.

Libra’s approach is also one of safeguarding, but because of the mental (Air sign) nature of this sign, it naturally seeks to refine and harmonize those relationships and attachments. It mentally takes inventory of all that is of beauty and quality and all that is lackluster in appearance and form and then weighs and deliberates how it will interact and forge a relationship with each aspect. In considering both of these approaches that Venus presents, it is no wonder that she is enigmatic and selective in who and what she offers her time, attention and gifts of engagement towards.

Venus began her retrograde in the very beginning degrees of the astrological sign of Virgo, sorter and analyzer extraordinaire. The focus on relationships took on the mantle of dissection and calculation; the first steps towards breaking down who and what were worthy of your time, affection and attention. As Venus transited into the later degrees of astrological Leo (Fixed Fire and electromagnetic attraction), this attention to the relationships, loves and beauty that was until then acceptable in your life was brought fully into Leo’s spotlight. Some of what was revealed in this light was the truth surrounding who you have attracted into your life that no longer meets the tests of greater discernment.

And, because this action was taking place when Leo was at its strongest and most developed degrees of energy, the wisdom and ability to release the illusion of old loves raised the intensity of your desire for change and perhaps, even higher standards around those who would receive the beauty of your affection.

The release of this intensity of Venus’ call to acknowledge and realize your own power to choose wisely and fully embrace those who will share your love and gifts of relationship and interaction may have caused you to second guess those in your life. Powerful change has been at play and you now have a different sensibility about what love and friendship, relationship and harmony, balance in all things and the freedom to choose your companions mean to you. How others will react to this change is of no matter and those who try to manipulate you into unhealthy relationships will have to go.

Venus is very good at allowing us to deceive ourselves by the glamour of what we idealize as beauty and love. She is also very good at showing us the truth of our own beauty and the value of ourselves, first in the manner in which we love ourselves and then as the organic flow of that love towards others. Being open to these lessons and heeding her wisdom in all of our affairs will dramatically lesson the times we will be called to say- “But, I thought you were my friend!”.

Read More about Venus:

Retrogrades:
Stop, in the Name of Love!

The Temple of Venus (Asstd Posts)
Learning to Love

4 Comments »

Destiny Calling, Again! The Blue Moon of July

Posted in Astrology, Auspicious Days, Full Moon, Neptune, Pluto, Retrogrades, Saturn, The Temple of Pluto, The Temple of Venus, Uranus with tags #templeofcosmicspheres, aquarius, astrology, Blue MOon, cancer, earth, Full moon, Retrograde Planets on July 30, 2015 by themagickalpen

Full Moon in Aquarius (Blue Moon)
July 31.2015
6:43am (EDT)

Sun in Leo

The Blue Moon of July waxes full tomorrow morning at 6:43a.m. This is the second full moon to occur this month. The first punctuating the first day of July and this one underscoring the last. And, these two full moons were held in Father Sun’s mantles of polarity calling forth the power of Nurture (Sun in Cancer) and Nature (Sun in Leo).

The Full Moon of July 1 set the stage for healing at both the emotional and the levels of will. The foundations and earthiness of Capricorn provided the structure for those lunar waters to flow strongly and productively. Father Sun gently warmed those Cancerian waters to bolster, strengthen and nurture what lay within and provide just enough electromagnetic stream to attract what would serve.

Curtain up and lights full blaze as this Full Moon steps into the spotlight calling to itself what it requires-what it demands and what it will claim as its own to ensure success. Father Sun now wearing the brilliance of Leo’s power sets the waters of an Aquarian Full Moon ablaze as the emotional landscape opens itself to uncharted streams and rivers that lead out to a sea of new vision. The will to survive and to create is fueled by the desire to know and the instinctual actions taken to sustain.

This Full Moon offers a date with destiny as solar will attracts to itself the tools and emotional adjustments required to allow the revelation and truth of your power at all levels of your being. We, as a collective whole have been changing and evolving just as surely as the planets and stars have been moving into dialogue and positioning themselves just so in their orbital paths. Individually, the increased dynamics of cosmic energy we have experienced, this year alone, has affected even the most stable and grounded of persons; taking them outside of their comfort zones.

As we embrace the fullness of this moon’s dynamic, remember to reach back into the space of nurturing and honoring oneself that has been established. Then, allow yourself to be open to the experience of seeing beyond the horizon of what you believed yourself to be capable of achieving.

The Fantastic Four (FIVE)

There have been some very interesting events over the past few months that have stirred the underpinnings of life as we know it. Potent Solar flare activity electrified our planet’s energy fields at multiple levels and those sensitive to the solar fires felt the amplification up of neurological function.

And, with the retrograde of Venus last week on the 25th and Uranus the next day, we currently have five planets in “pause”. Saturn will station direct on August 1st., but the Lord of Time’s impact has been felt as boundaries of linear time and the resultant shattering of an outdated structure have re-assembled and reconfigured to maximize our greatest potential for growth.
Read more …..Saturn Retrograde- Time to Clean House

As Saturn loosens its point of focus, four planets will remain in retrograde:

Venus in Capricorn- July 25 through September 6
Venus Retrograde- Stop in the Name of Love!

Pluto in Capricorn April 16 through Sept. 25
Pluto Retrograde- You’ve Been Served!

Neptune in Pisces June 12 through November 18
Neptune Retrograde- Lifting the Veil

Uranus in Aries July 26 through December 25
Uranus Retrograde- Deflecting Light

As we move through the next several months the place of emphasis and potential for reshaping these areas will relate strongly to what we have crafted as our foundations of past effort and the relationships cultivated in our current world of manifestation (Pluto and Venus in Capricorn), boundaries of compassionate and healing flow (Neptune in its natural ruler of Pisces) and stimulating enough disruption to the status quo to create the fires of will that are undaunted by challenge (Uranus in Aries).

Being mindful that these dynamics are at play and spurring us on towards healing our past and accepting accountability for our future will add the component of intention to each challenge we face. Intention that knows when to surrender to our Higher Will and nurture all that is the best and the worst in us. And, intention that realizes the need to act and follow our natural and instinctual drives that make us uniquely human and connected to all of life on this planet.

Time to Simply Be…

In the fullness of this Moon of Aquarius. I will simply “Be”
I will not script out a ritual or working. I will simply “Be”
I will allow the energy of the day to move through me. I will simply “Be”
I will sit in the evening’s light looking up to the fullness of my Lady. I will simply “Be”

And, in this space of quiet, surrender and communion
I will simply “Become”

Join me in the Temple of Uranus
Beginning August 2015

Sun in Libra – The Tree of Grace

Posted in Qabalah, The Temple of the Sun, The Temple of Venus, Venus with tags Air, astrology, cardinal, esoteric writings, Libra, Qabalah, Temple of the Sun, Temple of Venus on September 29, 2014 by themagickalpen

Image: Josephine Wall

In the early morning light
My beauty is graced by
Song bird’s beating wing
And awakening of leaf and life.

The noon-day sun cascades
Over my upstretched limbs
Heating and refining the
Visage of my furrowed bough.

Dusk descends and I strain
And stretch reaching up
Towards last Sun’s light.

And as darkness falls the
Memory of the day’s renewal
Weighs the measure of growth
In my aspiration towards
Heaven’s brilliant Gate.

As we enter the Temple of the Sun, Qabalistically we are entering into connection with the central sphere on the Tree of Life, Tiphareth. The name given this sphere is Beauty and the energy is one of synthesis through sacrifice and integration through refinement of the sum of all of its parts. This is much the same energy that we experience in the course of a Solar year. The energy of each of the Zodiacal signs, their element and modality are modified and expressed through the brilliance of the Sun. And, in keeping with the evolutionary process of movement from one sign to the next, each is informed by the previous sign’s energy and contributes a part of its dynamic into the sign that follows. Please see the end of this post for recommendations about learning more about the Tree of Life.

Libra and Venus on the Tree

Astrologically, we have learned that Libra is ruled by the planet of nature’s beauty and refined grace, Venus. We experienced the energy of each interaction we have, every thought and idea, and every act of creative expression as a form of the planet Mercury’s endeavors to inform, share and interconnect. Now, within the harmonious balance of Libra, the feminine aspect of these qualities is transformed as mind is replaced by heart and the feelings evoked and responses chosen are honed by Venus’ hand of creation’s beauty.

Within the Qabalistic Tree, Libra and Venus hold sway in the Sphere of Netzach and the Paths of the Tree – 14th and 22nd. When we speak of the energy of Libra as offering the space of refinement and grace within the energy of the Tree, we are considering the natural tendency of Libra to offer up its exquisite sense of balance and creative efforts spawned by the desire to give expression to the emotion that is flowing. This energy is expressed in the seeking of balance within each of the spheres and the wild beauty of their expression as a source of transformation. This desire to create and express is found in the fires of the Qabalistic sphere of Netzach.

Netzach (Venus) and Tiphareth (Sun)

Tiphareth and the Sun

Each of the Sephiroth and connecting Paths of the Tree of Life holds correspondence with a planetary and/or zodiacal energy. The physical Sun stands centrally within our solar system, providing light and heat. Tiphareth provides the space of transformation and the full force generator that distributes what is processed so it may be utilized and transmuted by whatever it emanates its energy into. This is the sacrificial aspect of this sphere. This is the action of enlivening within its own source to ensure the continuation of the creative process begun within the other components of the Tree. So we begin in this central hub of universal energy and move out towards the flow of energy represented by the essence of Victorious Creative Fires that is the sphere of Netzach.

Netzach: The Sphere of Refined Creation

Deep within the heart
Of the emerald jewel
Lay the great mysteries
Of time and love.

The lamp is lit
And glows within
Edges sharp where
Line and point
Intersect poignantly
At the place of equilibrium.

From the wellspring rises
Form of beauty and
Intelligence refined
As Pleiades dance
In response to the
Sound of planets’
Symphony.

And, all is held gently
Contained in beauty’s grace
As she unites with clarity of
Mind and focus of heart.

Netzach is the Seventh (7) Sphere. Within the energy of the number 7 lay the many paths of higher expression and development. Seven is the number of the Pleiades, the number of the Elder Planets of Astrology, the Seven Sacred Vowels and the Seven Major Chakras within the subtle bodies. This is also the number of synthesis, having moved from the harmonious balance of the number six to a point of gathering all of those experiences into a place of multiple options and outcomes for further expression and exploration. Netzach’s English name is “Victory”. There are many ways in which we may become Victorious in our expression, but in all circumstances the vital ingredient is that of continually weighing and measuring the worth and effect of what we set out to conquer.

Netzach is assigned the element of Fire. Within the energy of Netzach we can identity this Fire as that of longing, desire and the impetus that coerces the creative urge towards manifestation. Creativity in all of its forms, most particularly the arts and nature’s beauties flow from the refined efforts of Netzach. These fire flow strongly through the Natural world and Netzach reaches deeply into Gaia’s womb of creation to draw inspiration from Her living body.

The Sphere of Self-Awareness

The energy of Netzach is one of Consciousness that has come to a place of awareness of its own inherent nature or state of being. Balance or living the place of the middle way can only be achieved when we acknowledge the areas where we over indulge and those areas where effort is lacking. To formulate this discernment requires being fully apprised of our own basic nature. Once this has been established the necessary fine tuning, balancing and bringing to a state of equilibrium can occur. Netzach is the sphere of love, beauty and refinement. It is through the process of refining the parts of self that we can finally acknowledge and truly love the beauty of the resultant outcome. And, that conscious awareness of the newly found self is our place of greatest Victory.

The 22nd Path: Libra and Venus

My fires will burn away what
You have aggressively sought.

I will give way to your power
I will seek your healing
I will come to understand
Your necessary action.

And the Soul that will emerge
Will have steadfastly persevered
Having claimed its victory and
Triumphed over its personal inequity.

The 22nd Path is one of equalizing. The energy of the spheres of connection provides the means to clearly and concisely remove what is excess before it reaches the central core of harmony and synthesis. The second phase of sacrificial release will be imposed by the energy of Tiphareth in its distribution back towards Geburah as the process begins anew. The midpoint of coalescence of the combined energies functions to calibrate what is set forth on flow of offering.

The Planetary/Zodiacal Energy

Venus/Libra

Venus is the ruling planet of the astrological sign of Libra (and Taurus). As we have seen, Venus as ruler of astrological Taurus provides the incentive(why/who) for creating a solid and stable manifest foundation. Wanting a place of security and home for those you love and care for are the primary focus of Taurean energy.

The planet Venus was called Phosphorus by the Greeks, which translates to “Lightbearer” and Nogah in Hebrew and means “The Shiner”. Venus shines most brightly in the sky in the morning. Within the energy of the Tree and acting through the sphere of Netzach, Venus is the light that illuminates and refines what the mind would keep devoid of emotional connection. Its action is one of stimulating the flow of passion and the desire to create in a productive way, by infusing each inventive thought with the fires of carefully applied will.

To read more about Venus’ energies, review the posts in:
The Temple of Venus

Libra is of the element Air and approaches each new task giving first attention to the architectural thought that will provide the blue prints for completion. As Venus’ energy emerges, the fires of creative inspiration fueled by emotional response take hold and the strivings are now that of producing something of rare and lasting beauty. The same approach of balance and beauty is applied in creating the beautiful mind that balances intellect and logic, rational and inventive thought. If all is successful what issues from this skillful juggling will be the finest representation of what is being expressed and each part will harmoniously be balanced by and with the other.

These energies placed upon the 22nd Path ensure that what is drawn into the synthesized core of Tiphareth has received justifiable cutting away within Geburah. The exacting balance of Libra’s energies work to maintain conscious awareness and preserve what will prove useful as it enters the burner’s of Tiphareth’s Sun.

Another Path of Expression: Venus on the 14th Path

The 14th Path: A Supernal of Communication

Remain strong as upholder of the polarity
That is birthed from the seed of force
And held in the womb of endless form.

This is the fire of creation and the
Breath of life that expands and fills
The dark waters where life is held
Waiting for its birthing tides to begin.

The 14th Path holds the honor of providing the base of the spheres of primordial creation (the Supernal Triangle). This path is the space of polarization through the actions of Binah (Feminine) and Chokmah’s (Masculine) energies as the conception of what will be brought into manifestation in the energetic birthing from the Great Mother, Binah. This flow of energetic exchange is directed towards a singular goal of unifying what lay in opposition to produce the space of neutrality where positive and negative give pause and ultimately produce the spark of creative outpour.

The Planetary Energy
Venus

Cool soft lavender,
Blending and merging
Into a sea of powder blue caress
Loving faces with arms outstretched
The butterfly kiss of a child’s soft lips
On rosy red cheeks flushed with love.
Soft, silky panels enfolding gently
Like a lover’s embrace
And vibrant color of passion and
Scent of Sandalwood of soft skin of ecstasy.

The heart yearns to unite with another
And the sweet intoxication
Of a moonlight tryst
Beckons and awaits the paramours.

Kiss, caress, transcendence and
Heart-felt love spilling forth
To all humanity declaring itself
As a magnet of attraction
Desiring nothing but the Beloved.

And who is the “Beloved”
It is the harmonizing energy that
Surrounds it is what captures the
Spirit and carries it aloft
Poised on wings of breath.

The Beloved we all yearn for
Is the shimmering reflection of
Our Higher Self bathed in
The light of Divine embrace
Transformed in the Womb of the Mother
And revealed only when we surrender
To our heartfelt longing.

Read the poem above and allow the images to flow of your own making. This is the energy of the 14th Path in its action as creators.

Tarot Key III – The Empress

Image: Dreamscape Tarot by Stephanie Law

Note: Each of the Paths of the Qabalistic Tree has the assignation of a Tarot key placed upon it as further correspondence to its energy. The Paths 11-32 are represented using the Major Arcana cards.

Tarot Key III – The Empress is the Mother of all life. She sits in quiet repose and strength in the verdant landscape of her own domain. She is the sexual energy that is ripe being both pregnant in her fertility and exquisite in the afterglow of promised union. Placed upon the 14th Path, the Empress offers the vision of what will become and will bear fruit from her union with Chokmah and the manifest and spiritual fruits this union will yield. She is the promise of continued life and expression of that life in all of the elemental worlds over which she reigns supreme.

When we consider the nature of Venus’ energies and Her intended goal of creation, the Empress embodies the wisdom that arises from experience and maturity. She is no longer the flattered ingénue who is easily flattered and anxious to begin the courtship of a romanticized physical journey. She has the composure of selectively and carefully weighing all of the suitor’s gifts before choosing the appropriate vessel to receive the fires of her passionate embrace.

In Conclusion:
As we consider the attributes of Libra and its ruling planet Venus and their impact on the Tree of Life the prominent focus is one of awareness and appreciation of all aspects of the Tree as it seeks to balance its varied nature. The key lay in the responsiveness of desire’s will and the reaction to that desire with catalytic intent. As we come to know more of our wild beauty and connection to nature in all of its permutations, we find the grace of being able to see the beauty in the imperfections.

The ability to apply the finely honed process of carefully weighing the possibilities and stripping away the glamour of unbalanced potential is the gift of discriminating mind that is found in Libra. Its desire to refine through balanced harmony flows through the Tree seeking the source of its inception and the Fires of union that gave it life.

As the light of Tiphareth (Sun) shines brightly and radiates its vision of magnetic attraction throughout the multilayered branches of a tree that reaches far and wide in its expanse and impact we are reminded that in this vision of creation’s most exquisite form and its desire to share the gift of that expression, we are the manifest product of its own loving nature.

Resources:

If you are not familiar with the Qabalistic Tree of Life, I would recommend reading through the article posted in my other blog, The Magickal Pen entitled “Geburah’s Might” to give you the necessary overview for an introductory base of working knowledge about the Tree. It can be found here:

WitchVox: 13 Keys- The Victory of Netzach

The Magickal Pen: Geburah’s Might

13 Keys to the Qabalistic Tree of Life

Reading:
The Inner Chamber Series. R. Fennelly
Volume One: It’s Written in the Stars (2013)
Volume Two: Poetry of the Spheres (2013)
Volume Three: Awakening the Paths (2014)
Order at author’s website: Robin Fennelly

Next Post

Full Moon in Aries- Back to the Beginning

October 8.2014

It is Truly Beautiful – The Sun in Libra

Posted in The Temple of the Sun, The Temple of Venus with tags Air, Cardinal Modality, esoteric writings, Libra, Temple of the Sun, Temple of Venus on September 21, 2014 by themagickalpen

Sun in Libra
9.22.2014
10:29 pm (EDT)

The Autumnal Equinox

Planetary Ruler: Venus

It Is Truly Beautiful

It is truly beautiful!
There is a certain
Refinement and grace.

The craftsmanship is expertise
And one can tell that
Great skill and thought
Went into its creation.

You know, they say
That the finest of gold
Was used and each pan
Was polished and leveled
Its inner workings were
Calibrated to the most
Exact measure.

As I think on it- if, I pause
Too long on either extreme
Of matters the agility of my
Mind usually steps in to set
The course straight and bring
The tangential stream back
To center point.

Although, if I linger too long
In the comfort of my mental
Landscape that brings its own
Downpour of disequilibrium.

Yes, it is beautiful this state
Of affairs and the rarest and
Most refined of thought
Is poised and balanced
On the luminescent
Polished scales of mind’s
Elegantly created obelisk.

The Sun transits into the astrological sign of Libra late on the evening of September 22. The balance of the day was spent in the last outpourings of Virgo. The advent of Libra “after hours” begins the process of finishing touches on the work that overzealous Virgo stayed late to prepare.

The astrological sign of Libra is one of the Element of Air and the Cardinal Modality. Its planetary ruler is Venus, planet of refinement, grace, relationships and love in all forms. The natural energy of the Sun, that of shedding great light on whatever is in its spectrum, is now amped up to become the spotlight that shines fully on what needs to be communicated about what deeper information is revealed when one seeks the balance of harmonious and pleasing aesthetic, both physically and spiritually.

This solar month has maximum potential for refining what was more clearly defined in the energy of Virgo. The Libran influence is one of showing us the true beauty held within and the light of the Sun’s outpouring brings attention to the inner and the outer beauty that is held within every action, thought and emotion.

The caution is one of adopting a judgmental attitude and swaying the scales in favor of what has not being carefully weighed for its usefulness or lack of, despite appearances. Because Libra operates from the mental levels, there can be a certain detachment in the formulation of opinions that have rational excuses in support of the final determination. There is also often the compulsion to set very higher standards that may be un-achievable without the support of emotional encouragement and the understanding that the imperfect process can be just as beautiful as the finished product.

Venus is the Ruling Planet of both Taurus and Libra. The energy of Venus is that of beauty, harmony and awakening the emotional self. Venus’ energy upon astrological Taurus was one of providing the motivation for the natural quality of Taurus to provide, protect and establish strong foundations. Its effects on Libra are those of softening and bridging the connection behind mind and heart. Venus’ natural love of beauty and great sense of aesthetic style are enhanced in the energy of Libra. The refinement that is typical of Libran energy is the result of the careful weighing and measuring of all the suitable options. The final choice lies in whichever option will have the most aesthetic impact and appeal. Love, passion and beauty are key words here.

For Libra, the ability to actively tap into the collaborative nature of Venus, as its Planetary ruler, insures that the dynamics of balanced relationship (at all levels) will be sought out as the process of making the world a more beautiful experience is crafted by Libra’s will.

Read more about the dynamics of Venus in:
The Temple of Venus
Learning to Love

The Element of Air

The energy of Air is that of the Mind and the expression of thoughts and ideas through the vehicle of the mental process. All of the Air signs hold great potential for either being the visionary or the tyrant in how they express what naturally inspired creative invention of mind is conceptualized. The tendency towards being compulsive about what is imagined runs high, much like the winds that seek to keep in a state of movement whatever is caught in their grasp. In the case of Gemini, we saw this compulsion was one of sharing and communication.

In the airiness of Libra, the compulsion is one of final refinement and balanced workings. And, as we will see with Aquarius, the compulsion is one of demanding that all keep pace as the future is revealed by inventive mind. Libra brings this mental energy to a place of synthesis, eloquence and expression in a way that engages the senses. The creativity that flows from the balanced Libran perspective continually weighs the merits of any endeavor. All, being accomplished with an agile mind that has the ability to extract from both points of extreme and rework it into something that inspires greater creativity at all levels.

A Cardinal Modality

As we have already experienced with the Cardinal signs their primary directive is that of catalyzing and initiating new beginnings. The first Cardinal sign we encountered was appropriately one of Fire and served to begin the cycle of the Zodiacal wheel and Solar Year. The initiating quality of this sign was one similar to that of striking a match, setting fire to the will to create and providing the fuel to carry that intent forward.

The second of the Cardinal signs was expressed through a Water sign, Cancer and served to stimulate the emotions in a way of pushing the boundaries of these waters out beyond what would hold them hidden in the subconscious. This energy was expressed in the yearning and need to identify what is defined as home and family and that which supports loving and loyal relationships.

We now have arrived at the third of the Cardinal signs, Libra, whose goal is one of stimulating mind and creating new visions of what is possible to be made manifest in the world, when grace and beauty stand at the helm.

Creative mind flows
Like turbulent winds
Seeking only a point
Of balance.

Breath moves and the creation
Of art and music flows from
Inspired mind and spills
Freely onto paper.

Delicate hands reach out
Longingly to balance scales
That strive to reveal the
True value of what
They tenuously contain.

And I stand enraptured
By what you have crafted
From gentle mind and
Loving heart that is
Not bound by minds
Rigid laws.

The Next Step

Knowing how each sign moves to the next and the interaction between each as they evolve towards completion (and threshold of renewal) of the wheel in Pisces tells its own unique story of the astrological wheel. Libra is the seventh sign of the Zodiac. Numerologically, the number Seven (7) relates to the wisdom of accumulated experience that emerges from the harmonious interaction of the Six. Seven speaks to higher learning, the wisdom of the Cosmos and the many paths now available because we have finally the clarity of mind to recognize that they are there. Libra requires an open and broad perspective to do its work of balancing.

If we look at the dynamics of energy thus far, beginning with the cardinal sign of Aries, we could think of the three signs that begin the astrological wheel as the quickening Fires (Aries- Fire) within the body of manifestation (Taurus- Earth) that gives rise to aspiring towards the heavens (Gemini- Air). Now enlivened by the desire to “know”, the healing and nurturing (Cancer- Water) of what no longer serves this goal is brought front and center into the Light of Day (Leo-Fire) to be strengthened as it is readied for the detailed analysis of Virgo (Earth) that seeks to create a new form for its manifestation. Libra (Air) applies the finishing touches to what Virgo has reduced to the most essential components. Using the adaptability and deftness of a mind that can easily calculate and mentally weigh both benefits and detriments, Libra moves with grace to accomplish the work at hand.

At this time of the year, we see the potency of Libra expressed as the space of balance and opportunity for equal effort being expressed. This marks the time of the Equinoxes, Autumnal and Spring, in Northern and Southern Hemispheres respectively. The common denominator is that of equal light and day. One striving towards refining what is needed as further descent into the waning year and introspective action takes hold at the time of the Autumnal equinox. And, the other awakening to the Waxing of the year’s light, and the anticipation of fertile and abundant growth.

It Truly is Beautiful:

This solar month is one of focus on refining what we brought to a deeper level of analysis in Virgo. This month typically marks a settling back into the routine of school, work and memories of summer vacation and spending time outside.

In the chronology of the Zodiac, this is the space of time to set to the task of holding accountability for what has occurred up to this point and what will flow from the tweaking of its expression. This is the energy of the mature man or woman who is ready to assess the measure of their growth thus far. The strengthening and scrutiny exacted by Virgo has paved the way for Libra’s final measure.

The stability and firm foundations that Taurus provided for the adolescent as they learned of the space of testing their impact on the physical world that surrounded them acts as the underpinning s of the now mature adult who has the knowledge of previous relationships and actions to draw upon. This was Venus’ companion expression we experienced in Taurus. The truths that were established as part of that growing process are now ready to be put to further testing and the outcome will be nothing short of spectacular if Venus’ energy is called upon to harmonize and support.

And, so in the spirit of creative Libra, we call forth the energy of the Sun as it continues its zodiacal cycle. Once again we repeat the invocation that opened the Gate to this Temple. As you read through it think back to the first time you experienced something that touched you to the very core of your being. Something you found so exquisite in its beauty, that the effect was one of overall calm, centeredness and the desire to know more of the creation of this thing.

As you read through the invocation, think about what each line of reference evokes within you and stimulates your own desire to create, refine and harmonize. What inspired vision of RA’s power is expressed within the words put to paper. This is the power of creativity and its ability to bring about a state of grace and refinement. Use this gift wisely this solar month as we invoke the Solar month in Libra and awaken those fires of RA to enliven each foundation you choose to re-form.

Hymn to RA

All Hail to Thee, Mighty RA
Blaze of noon day sun.
Your fiery orb high in the
Sky above as we kneel
Beneath the heat of
Your radiance.

All the Gods bow to your radiance
All the Goddesses sing hymns of praise
To Your glory and man
Lays prostrate in humility
And devotion at the altar of
Your making.

Sweet music of adoration and offerings
Brought forth from the Black Land
Rise up in praise and thanks for
Your Sustaining Light.

All darkness flees at the touch of Your hand
All ceases its movement as Your expansive
Rays stretch across the morning sky.

The lotus opens to receive Your Touch
And the sands glisten as rare jewels
As You gaze upon each grain washed
Clean in the boundless ocean that
Reflects the brilliance of your face.

All Hail to Thee
Amun-RA
All Hail to Thee
Who sits high
Above the world.

Khepra in the East
Atum in the West
Whose eye holds the
Point of Life and the
Trifold Arc of Power.

Your eyes see all and
You are the place of return
Within the glowing blackness
Of the Midnight Sun.

All Hail to Thee
All Hail to Thee
Amun, Amun, Amen!

Next Posting: Wednesday, September 24
New Moon in Libra

3 Comments »

The Speed of Light!

Posted in Lunar, New Moon, The Temple of Venus with tags Air, aquarius, astrology, Esbat, esoteric writings, fixed modality, gemini, Magick, new moon, Temple of Venus on January 30, 2014 by themagickalpen

New Moon in Aquarius
January 30.2014
4:30 p.m. (EST)

Sun in Aquarius

The Moon is New in the astrological Fixed Air sign of Aquarius today at 4:30 p.m. (EST). At the point of the New Moon in any given month the Sun is generally mid-way in its progression through the same astrological sign. We could think of this as Male (Sun) and Female (Moon), Strength and Ease, Action and Flow dancing in harmony with one another. These are but a few of the polarities that could be used, but the basic action is that of illuminating the depths of our intuitive selves. When we consider the Sun we think of dynamic and catalytic and combustible energy. The Moon we sense as flowing and flexible in its expansion and contraction. When Sun and Moon are in the same astrological sign at the time of the New Moon the Sun’s expression of that energy will be one of that holds the wisdom of the parent in its mid-cycle maturity. Lady Moon is just beginning her flow of the astrological sign’s energy and opens her floodgates of possibility knowing that it will be brought into the light of day to be strengthened and supported.

In this case the floodgates to be opened are ones of electrically charged and innovative Aquarian outpour. The mental prowess of Gemini, also a chatty air sign, slows in comparison to that of the mentally agile and attuned Aquarian. Although there is often the tendency to have what is stated get lost in translation, because of unintentional omission. The primary directive of the Aquarius energy is to see far and see wide, enabling the perception, assimilation and understanding of multiple streams of information and their varied outcomes. The omission comes as by product of the ability to process that information very quickly moving from A-Z at the speed of light and confidently arriving at a singular conclusion; deeming what came in between irrelevant, the only goal being to arrive at a productive and viable end.

Now, my writing may seem very mechanical, almost sterile and robotic in its approach and I am intentionally doing this to give you a feel for what it is like to be in the mind of a strongly aspected Aquarian. Information comes as streams of breezy download with barely a moment’s pause between. And, yes, I have a natal Aquarius Sun, which often makes it hard for me to understand why others do not see, what to me is the obvious and very logical conclusion. There is additionally, what is perceived as detached coldness about the decision making process. Aquarius has been given the distinction of being considered the humanitarian; but quite frankly that humanitarian label expresses itself in the ability to sacrifice the one for the greater good of the many. Again, this is formulated from seeing a bigger picture and potential outcome. And, although this does not necessarily make for an endearing individual, the need to know more to better serve trumps the usual pleasantries of social interaction.

Using the energy of an Aquarian Moon offers the ability to finely scrutinize while retaining the “heart” of the matter. The ability to apply a broader perspective to an emotional situation can often move those waters in a more productive way, albeit not always arriving at the same stream. The New Moon offers the impetus to get things going and to return to the beginning once again for a fresh look. Think of an Aquarius New Moon as an opportunity to upgrade your computer (Mind and thoughts- Airy Aquarius) to a quicker and more efficient processor that will ultimately make your work much easier and much more enjoyable (emotional engagement and Feelings- The Moon). Aquarius is of the Fixed modality, so whatever is upgraded, improved upon or given a jolt of fresh juice is going to be stable after multiple stages of synthesis, tweaking and modification. This is an optimal time to jump ahead in trying a new piece of technology that would ultimatly save you time and energy that could be directed elsewhere. Learning how to use a new device or online tool can be taken in the spirit of the New Moon and baby steps of beginning with the intent of giving it a go, and knowing that you can always go back to the status quo if you wish.

These are just a few of the general workings making use of an Aquarius New Moon:

Brainstorming ideas that would be of benefit to groups of people. Starting a new initiative or new charity.

Reaching out to others in a dynamic way to inspire them to take concrete and active steps towards a goal.

Formulating the plans that will underpin a new project.

Any magick that involves, science, creative problem solving, resolution of social conflicts, initializing action in what has become stagnant and archaic.

The social component to Aquarius has nothing to do with the feelings that being social brings. It is a means to an end in the quest to find out more about the world around us and the people in it. That is not to say that no emotional attachments are formed. Quite the contrary, it is usually because of the ability of being able to connect to another deeply and seeing that individual in the light of different perspectives that keeps Aquarius at arms length on the surface. New Moon energy makes use of this in deepening the understanding you have of why and how another acts and thinks, and then anchoring your feelings on the deeper knowledge of what makes that person tick. In this way you are seeing a more expansive and broader view and able to love (or despise) that person more deeply for who they truly are while acknowledging the potential of who they could become.

The Venus Retrograde stations Direct on Friday, January 31st and the last call to harness what has percolated during this time is at hand. Aquarius loves to sort through the most complex material to unravel the threads that have delayed action. The bolstering of the New Moon energy serves to propel your revelations found during this Venus retrograde forward. What results may appear to be intermingled and interwoven threads, but there is specific structure and order to the way in which it has been woven. The relationships you have decided to continue or renew and the way in which you relate to yourself and your personal gifts have opportunity to move into a new state of being carried on the dynamic energies of Aquarius Sun and Moon.

Woven through time
The electrical current
Flashes its intent as
It lights the way.

All has changed from
The beginning of this
Mental discharge and
The end product is the
Summation of all
Possible solutions.

The changing of the Ages
The rhythmic beat of time
Has shifted its focus and
Un-relentless in its purpose
Man has no other choice
But to be carried on the wings
His own making or remain
Asleep in the eye of the
Lightning’s storm.

Check out these previous posts from Temple of the Moon to see how the energy of Aquarius plays out in the phases of Full and Waning Dark Moon:

On A Clear Day You Can See Forever- Full Moon in Aquarius

Looking Further- Waning Moon to Void in Aquarius

The Temple of Venus – Last Call for Love!

Posted in The Temple of Venus, Uncategorized, Venus with tags Aries, astrology, cardinal, celestial, cosmic, Esbat, esoteric writings, fixed modality, Libra, Lunar, new moon, planetary days, planetary hours, Temple of Venus, Tuarus, Waning Dark Moon on December 27, 2013 by themagickalpen

We end our exploration of Venus taking a look at ways to incorporate its energy into our magickal workings. The flexibility of this planet and its ability to transform through relationships and the building of stable foundations is a staple of the human and spiritual connections we forge. Acting from a heart-centered (Venus) place brings balance and integrity to all workings. There are many ways to utilize Venus’ energy for Magickal workings and access its power:

Anything requiring harmony, balance and compassion:

• Relationships

• Finances

• Jobs

• Health

Some keywords for consideration:

• Matters of the Heart

• Structure

• Refinement

• Stability

• Values

• Balance

• Creativity

• Inspiration

• Justice

• Fertility

Daily Magick:

We can use Venus’ energy for empowering its given planetary day- Friday– and any important tasks that require collaboration and refinement. And, if we wish to be more specific in use, we can access Venus’ planetary hour of any given day and focus our intent for that time period on strengthening our relationships, accessing deeper emotional levels and realigning how we interact. This could be used in preparation for a business meeting or in navigating a challenging appointment. For more information about the Planetary Days and Hours, check out the post below:

Day 23- Temple of the Moon- Go Quietly in the Night

One of the actions of Venusian energy is that is awakening love through refinement. Placed in action upon the emotional self, there is great potential to reveal what truly matters in your life and what is just superficial infatuation. As physical beings we have great capacity for love and have the means to express that love in all of its manifest forms. This is the energy of attraction, relationships, love and beauty. Love is the key word here and its application to all of your endeavors. Self-love conquers self-doubts and fears and allows you to be receptive to drawing love to yourself. Love for another person forms a bond of relationship and the lesson of acknowledgement that you are not a singular being unto yourself. Maintaining a focus of love in all your interactions insures that you will assume the best nature in all with whom you interact and then allow for adjustment to be made accordingly to the depth of that interaction. When you stand in the place of this beauty and truth the choices that are made and the process of refining, analyzing and restructuring is guided by an inner strength that becomes the foundation from which all of your experiences unfold.

Solar/Lunar Magick:

Aligning with the phases of the Moon and Solar astrological cycles that have Venus as planetary ruler calls upon a gentle and flexible energy that can be further refined by using the lens of the element and modality of that astrological sign. Venus is the ruler of Taurus and Libra, so the opportunity here is to access the qualities of manifest foundations and stability (the Earth Quality of Taurus) infused and balanced by the desire for an informed (the Air Quality of Libra) heart-centered outcome. The collaborative effort of a Fixed Modality and Cardinal Modality primes an intent that has the ability to create structure for what will be newly conceived.

Solar Magick

During the astrological solar months of Taurus (April-May) and Libra (September-October) we have several weeks of Venus’ energy to be drawn upon in a steady stream of balanced and informed compassion made manifest and enlivened by the solar dynamics. The emphasis will be different with each. Taurus is elemental Earth bringing solid and fertile ground upon which to build new foundations. Libra is elemental Air and hones in on the inspired flow and movement of what strives towards beauty, balance and perfection.

You could effectively use this energy for a month long working to improve the ways in which you create relationships with others and the foundations from which these are built. This is also an excellent time to bring to light those things that “feed your soul and spirit”. What inspires you? And, where do you find beauty and harmony? The energy of Taurus will serve to manifest what you desire and the Libran energy will harmonize and refine it to mold to the specifications that fit just right.

This is a good time to use Venus infused by the solar energy for any longstanding disagreements or disputes. Taurus will help you hold your ground towards right action and anchor your decisions in concrete reality. And, Libra adds the dynamic of merciful justice (remember the Scales) and provides the opportunity for weighing the pros and cons before making final decision about the outcome. The energy of the Sun serves to light up those places that may have been murky and perhaps contributed to less than clear thinking spurring on discord. Remember, that any interactions that are truly heart-centered generally have the most productive (which could be positive or negative) outcome that is in the best interest of all. The application of Venus and the electromagnetic quality of the Sun sets up a circuit of like attracting like and responding in accord with the cosmic laws to the product of that attraction.

Lunar Magick

Lunar Magick follows the cycles of the moon as it waxes and wanes and makes use of that energy to enhance workings. To get you started here are some Moon phase basics:

Waxing and Waning

The Waxing Moon is the time between the New Moon and the Full Moon

The Waning Moon is the time between the Full Moon and the last day of the last quarter– just prior to the New Moon

Although Magickal working can be done at any time, there are specific times during the lunar cycle when your workings can be enhanced. One of the first considerations is what type of New Moon energy is used for beginning a working. It is the initial and quickening stage of what will become. What is planted here will determine the outcome at the time of fullness.

The Waxing of the moon, from New to Full, provides a crescendo or building effect

Full Moon energy is used to strengthen and support the apex of the working having reached a space of ripeness, maturity and readiness to be fully acted upon.

The Waning of the moon from peak of Full to the subsequent New Moon allows for release and diminishing of energetic effect

Dark Waning Moon energy is used as a time to release, cut away and make ready the soil for the planting of new seeds.

Venus’ energy can be applied when the lunar phase is in one of the astrological signs its rules – Taurus or Libra. Because the Moon cycles through each of the astrological signs in the course of a month, you can access both of these signs qualities. A working for setting up the fertile foundations of the working may be started during a Taurus Moon and balancing and refining those foundations could be emphasized when the moon moves into Libra. These are some of the types of workings that could be considered.

New Moon in Taurus/Libra – Venus Planetary Ruler – Workings may include:

Restructuring your values and taking concrete action towards maintaining and preserving them.
Reassessing what you consider home, family and those individuals that fill this space.
Work towards manifesting a sustainable relationship*

* Note: I am not talking about love spells or any working that has the intent of manipulating another to your will. That is unethical and not good practice. Instead, this work could take the form of acknowledging what is lovable within yourself, and then doing the appropriate work to bring these positive attributes to a place where you set forth the intent of attracting to yourself another.

Take a look at the posts below for the Waxing Moon in Libra for an idea of Venus’ influence through the filter of Libra.

Waxing Moon in Libra- Day 7 – Temple of the Moon – It All Balances Out

Waxing Moon in Libra- Day 8 – Temple of the Moon – Refining and Polishing

Full Moon in Taurus/Libra – Venus Planetary Ruler – Workings may include:

Bolstering and acknowledgement of the continued progress of any workings begun at the new Moon.
Acknowledging the aspects of yourself that have remained strong of purpose and mindful of balance in all things.
Strengthening the intent of harmonious interactions in all relationships.
Restoring harmony within a place of discontent or discord.

Take a look at the post below for the Full Moon in Taurus for an idea of Venus’ influence through the filter of Taurus.

Full Moon in Taurus – Stand By Me

Dark Waning Moon in Taurus/Libra- Venus Planetary Ruler – Workings may include:

Release of negative commentary about the self.
Release of what is not in harmony with continued growth of any workings begun at New Moon or weaknesses revealed at Full Moon.
Release of any stagnant or unproductive relationships.
Release of material hold that keeps you tied to unfulfilling relationships.

Take a look at the Post below for Waning Moon in Taurus and an idea of Venus’ Energy through the filter of Taurus.

Day 22 of Temple of the Moon- Holding Ground

To read more about Lunar and Solar Magick check out Lesson Nine from A Year and A Day on the Wiccan Path

Tarot:

The energy of Venus can be called upon to enhance a reading or as a tool for meditation and deeper reflection on the archetypal energy of the planet. The Key aligned with Venus is that of The Empress.

Key 3- The Empress

My children are many and I tend them

with loving care.

My wisdom born in the belly of the earth.

Within its mantle I sit in gentle repose.

I am fertility and creation

and through all that you see

I exert my natural will.

I am harmony and within nine stellar gates will

I open the radiance of light

held in my mental abode

I hold the key to love’s radiance and beauty

moves like water through

the verdant splendor

of my domain.

The Rider-Waite Deck depicts the Empress as one who has gained mastery over herself; emitting confidence and the abundance and beauty of true grace. She sits in calm repose- a beatific smile of promise and mystery gracing her countenance and all around her is the splendor and ripeness of the Earth. She is the expression of the High Priestess in the form of the Great Earth Mother. Where the High Priestess commands the Spiritual realms, the Empress is the Supreme Mother of the physical, earthly plane of manifestation. The Empress represents those instinctual and intellectual parts of self that are the Creatrix- not in the manner of destruction and tearing away to rebuild, but with the quiet assurance that all she creates will be borne of great patience and guidance from a Higher Power, and governed by the stability and foundation of Earth. The tablet at her feet bears the symbol of the planet Venus and feminine energy. She is at once Virgin, Lover and Mother. And within her womb is contained the promise of creation formed by the merging of Divine Love and Divine Wisdom.

In the Legacy of the Divine Tarot by Ciro Marchetti, The Empress is depicted as the fullness of feminine form and energy, pregnant and guarding all of life that she has overseen in birth previously. She holds the mystery of seasons and wields her energy through the elements. This is the balance and refinement of nature in a harmonious state of flow. This is the seductive energy that draws us towards those who can master the energy of the Empress.

imgres

Energetic and Healing Practice:

In energetic and healing practice each of the planets aligns with specific areas of our subtle and physical anatomy. Each of the fingers on the hands is assigned a planet. Chakras and the Seven Sisters (Endocrine System) are each assigned a planetary energy. The implication here is affirmation of The Universal Law of Correspondence– As Above , So Below, As Within, So Without and the cosmic and celestial inter-connectedness of man and his world.

The Hands- Mudras

Within Eastern Practice, Mudras are described as hand positions. Each area of the hand has a reflex reaction in a specific part of the brain. A Mudra locks and guides energy flow and reflexes to the brain. The Mudras redirect the energy flow, linking the individual pranic energy with universal force. Each finger represents the energy of a planet, a determinate quality, and emotions. The thumbs represent the ego. (1)

Below is a picture of the Venus Lock Mudra. The mounds at the base of the thumbs represent Venus; sensuality and sexuality. (2)

VENUS LOCK MUDRA (2)

How:

For Men: Interlace the fingers with the left little finger on the bottom. Place the left thumb in the webbing between the thumb and index finger of the right hand. The right thumb presses the fleshy mound at the base of the left thumb.

For Women: The thumb positions are reversed and the right little finger goes on the bottom.

Effect: Channels sexual energy, promotes glandular balance, ability to concentrate easily.

Planet: Venus; sexuality, sensuality and balance.

Healing Work

Venus resonates with the heart chakra – the center of compassion and love. As you do your daily chakra clearing or meditation, engage the heart chakra with gentle focus and intent. Envision it filled with the energy of Venus and the ability to give and receive love, understanding and great compassion. Imagine the glyph of Venus placed at your heart center. Breathe into this space and fill it with the color vibration of emerald green. Breathe into this space and feel the expansion and opening of that center. Right action, mercy, justice, inter-connectedness and harmony all flow from this central space.

There is an interesting concept about the Intelligence of the Heart (3.) that refers to the concept that was explored by scientist and metaphysician, R.A Schwaller DeLubicz during his studies of Egyptian spiritual and alchemical practices. He speaks to the innate wisdom of the heart and its power towards mastery and synthesis of all parts of self in collaboration with the inspiration of creative pure mind.

When we attune to the energy of Venus we are calling upon the healing waters that refine and restore a sense of peace and balance to whatever has entered a state of dis-ease. These are the basic energies of the healer and the energy called upon to bring balance to the energetic systems. If we think of the fertility aspect of Venus, it is easy to conclude that the productive flow of its energy is always with intent of producing something of, yet separate from itself. Something more that is perfected. It is this fertility that dispels what ails and replaces it with what nurtures and inspires growth.

The glyph itself incorporates the circle of eternity, wholeness and the Cross of descent into matter, or as above so below (vertical line) and as within so without (horizontal line). From this center sphere of wholeness stable and structured energy flows to co-mingle with the upwards energy of matter and spirit. This is the ultimate expression of Venus; the ability to bring into the physical realm the downpour of all loving compassion, resilience and beauty in an eternal cycle of flow and receipt.

Auspicious Occasions:

Call on Venus to infuse romantic encounters with powerful seductive and attractive energy. Call upon Venus when love is most needed to quiet and soothe the heart that has hardened. Call on Venus to be present each day and to bless all of your interactions that they may be fruitful and all of your actions that they may be guided by a balanced desire and anchored in foundations which are infused to sustain and remain steadfast. Call upon Venus as you set out on this journey of humanity and life and let her supreme wisdom of the heart light your way.

These are but a few of the many ways to access and engage with the harmonious and healing energy of Venus. Be creative in your approach, allow your mind and thoughts to open to the possibilities and see how effortlessly you can attune to staying in communication.

I hope you have enjoyed our journey through the Temple of Venus and as always, I welcome comments and your experiences with these amazing Temples! I finish this post with a poem I wrote while attending a concert of Philadelphia Sinfonia that my daughter was playing in:

The music is held closely to my heart
It reverberates through the passages
And corridors passage of what lay within.

The vibration pushes against
Each door and the scared sound
Once being heard unlocks the
Most secret and secure of chambers.

Notes of breathless beauty
Flood my senses filling all of my
Being with arpeggios of light
That dance delicately into
The furthest and darkest corners.

Music fills my mind
The geometric visions unraveling and
Opening the currents of flow
Crystalline webs spun.
Each intent upon catching
Within its center the cosmic
Sustenance of the Soul.

Each note hangs as though
Suspended in mid-air
The point within the field
Of Divine Creation.

Each note in harmony
With the other creating
The urge of impulse that
Forms the threshold to the unknown.

The door to the great unseen
Flung open wide
As the key turns the lock
Sound, rhythm and vibration of
Energetic seed in consummate union
With the womb of sacred intelligence.

Music and mortal embrace
Resonance and harmonics
The essence of genetic and celestial being
And in the symphony of silence
Life becomes the progeny
Of creative emanation.

Resources:

1. The Secrets of Yoga

2.The Healer’s Journal

3. The Intelligence of the Heart posted on The Magickal Pen

Upcoming:

Wednesday – January 1.2014 – New Moon in Capricorn

February 2014- Sun in Aries – Join me in the Temple of the Sun

1 Comment »

The Temple of Venus-Stop! In the Name of Love!

Posted in The Temple of Venus, Uncategorized, Venus with tags astrology, capricorn, cardinal, celestial, cosmic, esoteric writings, fixed modality, Libra, Taurus on December 23, 2013 by themagickalpen

Venus began her cycle of Retrograde on Saturday the 21st at 4:53pm (EST). This is was also the day of the Winter Solstice and the longest night of the year to herald in the waxing of the Light from here forward until the Summer Solstice. Venus stations direct on January 31.2014 allowing plenty of time for her energy to be felt and acted upon. Although a Venus Retrograde does not take center stage in the same way that a Mercury retrograde does, the areas ruled by Venus gain in intensity and the call for reaching back is at hand. Primarily this will be in the areas of relationships and re-connection or disconnection through reevaluation.

Venus stationed in the astrological Earth sign of Capricorn which gives breadth and scope to the areas she shines her light brightest upon. If we take into consideration what we know about Venus so far and the elements of strength (Taurus) and refinement towards balance (Libra) we can use these attributes to bolster whatever areas of disruption and change that Venus reaches out towards. Her energy is feminine in nature and with that is a depth of intensity and introspection that brings great insights to the foreground regarding those people and things in our lives to whom we have given our hearts and our trust.

* See The Personal Note at the end of this post!

A Venus retrograde often brings the opportunity to reconnect with those who had in the past been part of our lives and enables us to reevaluate what they brought to nourish our sensibilities in the first place. This allows space to reassess their current value in potentially reintroducing their energy into our lives now.

Every 18 months or so a Venus retrograde will occur and will last approximately six – seven weeks. Astronomically, Venus us the brightest light in the heavens taking third place only to the Sun and the Moon. It is also the planet which is easiest to see with the naked eye and has an orbital path that varies very little (by approx. 2-4 degrees) in the movement along of its eliptical path. Let’s begin by taking a look at the scientific definition of a retrograde.

Astronomy 101: What is a Retrograde Motion?

An animation showing the retrograde motion of Mars in summer of 2003.
Credit: Eugene Alvin Villar

“Typically, the planets shift slightly eastward from night-to-night, drifting slowly against the backdrop of stars. From time to time, however, they change direction. For a few months, they’ll head west before turning back around and resuming their easterly course. This is “retrograde motion”. Though it baffled ancient astronomers, we know now that retrograde planets are an illusion caused by the motion of Earth.” Astronomer: Christopher Crokett (1.)

The Stations of Activity and the Zodiac

Astrologically, when a planet changes direction in its normal path of progression through the zodiac, this is called a “station”. The planet’s progress slows down in is orbit until it appears to pause in its motion giving the appearance of moving backwards. The Retrograde Station occurs when the planet begins this slowing down and seeming movement backwards. The Direct Station occurs when the forward motion of the planet begins again. Whatever astrological sign the planet retrogrades in gives added emphasis and more intensity to how the planet expresses its own energy now given a full and prolonged dose of the sign’s own specificities. These highly potent effects can be building or waning (depending on which end of the station you find yourself) for days prior or after. Much like, the concentrated effort needed in slowing down to come to a traffic light, pausing, and then having to carefully and incrementally apply enough gas to reach your top speed again.

Stop!

Hedonistic Pleasures and the Pursuit of Happiness

In previous posts I’ve talked about the dynamics of Venus and the natural strivings towards achieving beauty and pleasure from relationships and every facet of physical life and expression. Looking at this retrograde energy from the perspective of hedonistic philosophy, the “no holds barred” intent becomes prime directive. It is often from this place of pursuing the delights of sensorial gratification that the aspiration and pursuit of happiness is hoped to be found. For many, enthusiasm is replaced by disillusionment and boredom takes hold in the space of what is not truly satisfying at all levels. The happiness quotient dwindles and new ways of reviving that happiness have to be continually explored. This is the energy of Venus in full expression of her beguiling and seductive nature. The vacillation between boredom and excitement is just the tipping of the scales in the effort to achieve a place of balance where pleasure and happiness are co-creators of forming the life we wish to have. Retrograding Venus stirs the pot and forces a closer look at what gives us true joy and where we find balanced gratification. This exploration provides the new foundations that become the bar of measure and value of what fulfills until the next space of scrutiny.

Revamp and Refine Relationships

Venusian energy is one that allows deeper insight into the basic nature of the emotions and the foundations that we structure them upon. When Venus retrogrades this is the prime time to take a look at those emotional foundations and see if they have been built upon faulty ground. The house may have been constructed in accord with the owner’s specifications, but shifting ground will ever so slightly begin to erode away what keeps it in balance. This is the action of Venus retrograding. Shifting emotions and the addition and release of those relationships that we have created as our space of home and comfort may take on decidedly different functions and begin to shift ever so slightly either in the direction of ultimate release or a deepening of commitment. The results may be a complete overhaul and revamping of all our relationships so that the new structure becomes a different type of architectural support, complete with new venue and supportive resources.

Focus On The Self; So You Can Give Freely To The Other

The same energy of intense evaluation regarding emotions and things of the heart that guides a Venus retrograde is the foundational energy we can use to redefine our definition of the love we offer ourselves. If we cannot see ourselves as being loved and loveable, we can never truly feel the balance and anchoring of sharing our love completely and fully with others. The Venus retrograde provides the space to reinvent ourselves, the way in which we see ourselves and ultimately how we use this persona in our interactions with others. Shifting this focus of unconditional love, insight, understanding and compassion towards our own development causes a reinvention of who and what we value within our own being. As we refine these definitions of who we are we can learn to fall in love with that person we have become. We can see the beauty in that transformation and appreciate the refinement that has occurred from this balanced and cohesive method of self-introspection.

In the Name of Love!

Here’s another thought! The Sun moved into the astrological sign of Capricorn on the 21st and the Winter Solstice occurred on this date as well. Capricorn is another Earth astrological sign of the Zodiac. This is the Earth of Cardinal modality; the initial catalyst and flow that move towards stability. This is the first layer of soil that with time and weathering becomes the fertile mound. Venus rules the Earth sign of Taurus; a Fixed sign (re-read last week’s post about astrological Venus) that takes the initial outpouring of the Cardinal energy and gathers it to itself to provide structure and container for what has flowed into it. This is the warm mound of fertile soil that is the incubator that produces greenery.

So, using this information, consider the potential held with the added bolster of Sun in Earthy Capricorn as Venus, ruler of Fixed Earth Taurus stations retrograde (reaches backwards). The Sun offers the electromagnetic power of strength, renewal and life giving properties. The Sun is the electrical impulse that flows through the all of the foundations we have created. In this case, the foundations are of the Earth (Capricorn/Taurus) or manifest realm. Those things and people that we concretely wish to attract to our lives.

With Venus (or heart) stationing its outpouring towards what we have established as our foundation of compassion and interaction occurring as the Sun (life force) lights the way for the manifestation of stability and strength (Earth), there is great opportunity to shine in the brilliance of Venus’ light.

*A Personal Note:

This posting was late as the result of a personal emergency that occurred. On Thursday, I took my mother to the Emergency Room thinking that her escalated confusion and discomfort in walking was the result of a UTI. She did have an infection, but what we didn’t know was that she also had bleeds on both sides of her brain. A CAT scan revealed this additional news. The next 48-hrs. forced me to face the mortality of my mother, the relationship we had and the overwhelming feelings of guilt and remorse that go hand in hand with the thought of suddenly losing a parent. Emotions rose to overflowing and I thought I couldn’t stop crying. I thought about all the experiences, negative and positive I have had with my mother and each one brought me to a place of thinking long and hard about how I would change some of the future interactions. She has had brain surgery and is doing well, but we are still not out of the woods. Of interest is the fact that my natal Venus is in the astrological sign of Pisces and my Mother’s natal Sun sign is Pisces. I can’t help but think that this was an opportunity to look back and readjust some of the feelings I’ve held about my Mother and refine the way our relationship flows moving forward.

Resources:

1. Earth Sky Blog by Christopher Crokett

Next Week:
We’ll conclude our time in the Temple with information about Venus and Planetary Magick.

2 Comments »

The Temple of Venus- The Victory of Netzach

Posted in The Temple of Venus, Venus with tags celestial, cosmic, esoteric writings, Qabalah, Temple of Venus on December 13, 2013 by themagickalpen

This week we will take a look at the expression of Venus through its attribution on the Qabalistic Tree of Life. Venus is the Planetary energy of the sphere of Netzach. In order to fully understand the nature of this sphere you must have a bit of knowledge about the Tree of Life, itself and the other spheres that form the greater whole. Although this broader information may not seem to directly relate to the Temple of Venus it is an important piece of this dynamic planets energetic signature. The lesson to be gained from this exploration is an affirmation of the expansive, yet stable quality of Venus’ outpouring of compassionate mind and heart. In other words, replace the name of Netzach with that of Venus wherever you see it used!

Applying this overlay of a mystical system that expands and easily maps in accord with its topic of application in much the same way Venus envelopes and enfolds all that enters its realms, opens new doors of experience and interconnectedness found within all of the planetary temples. The inherent wisdom of these energies permeates all levels of understanding, philosophy and teachings. The semantics may differ, but if you have the basics down, you can easily identify Venus’ (or any of the planets) place in the equation. So, as we open further to the beauty of Venus in all of its forms let’s begin our journey into the Tree of Life.

Note: The introductory QBL information below is a reprint of what was offered in the temple of Mercury. Although, it may seem redundant in nature, reinforcing and restating this preliminary information will begin to set into place a pattern of deeper understanding and the connection of the planetary energies with the tree of Life. Even, if you are familiar with the Tree of Life, rereading the basics will often reveal new layers of meaning that have developed as you have progressed in your understanding. With subject matter such as this, any opportunity to review is an opportunity to grow!

Qabalah Boot Camp – Just the Basics

The subject matter of the Qabalah is one that many people do not easily gravitate towards; either deterred by the sheer mass of its scope or feeling that this particular overlay of system has no reference to the purely magickal systems. Although, rooted in the Judaic mystical system the Kabbalah (spelling is Judaic form)/Qabalah (spelling used to distinguish as Western Hermetic overlay) this construct of energy, thought and working is a suitable companion to any magickal and spiritual system. The sheer fact that a statement such as that can be made offers testament to the enduring scope and permanence of its application over a broad and diverse

spectrum. Within the Tradition to which I belong, The Assembly of the Sacred Wheel, the principles of the Qabalah are strongly and consistently used throughout all of our covens and the enhancement to the magickal workings and rituals is undeniable and the change evoked through its deeper exploration is palpable among those who incorporate it into their lives.

The Qabalistic Tree of Life describes the descent of the divine into the manifest world, and methods by which divine union may be attained in this life. It can be viewed as a map of the human psyche and of the workings of creation, both manifest and un-manifest. Some of its components are:

10 Sephiroth (Spheres) each having their own specific energetic signature and action.

22 Paths that connect the spheres and act as the synthesizing conduits of connection

3 Pillars of Application of that energy. The Pillar of Severity (Hod-Geburah-Binah), The Pillar of Mercy (Netzach-Chesed-Chokmah)- The Middle Pillar (Malkuth-Yesod-Tiphareth-Kether)

4 Worlds of Action– Each of the spheres exists in each of the four worlds and has a slightly different emphasis of intent depending on which of the worlds is acting upon it.

The Qabalistic story of the creative action of manifestation from the Source of All/Godhead down to the realm of physical and manifest form can be described in this way:

In the beginning there was nothingness- the absence of substance and form (Ain); and as the nothing became aware of itself it also realized the limitlessness nature (Ain Soph) of its being. This realization expanded and with more awareness came the birthing of limitless light (Ain Soph Aur). This limitless light felt the urge to create- and from it emanated Divine Intelligence – Kether. All things needing balance- in its wisdom Kether split and from this source of being the remaining nine (9) spheres became emanations of the varied permutations of Wisdom, Understanding, Mercy, Severity, Beauty, Victory, Glory, Foundation and finally coming to rest in the Kingdom of Earth- Malkuth.

10 Sephiroth (Spheres) of Emanation

The Sephiroth are States of Being and act as vessels to contain the Divine energy that spills forth from the God-Head or Crown of Kether (being the highest expression of the Divine) down into Malkuth, the densest and manifest physical world of Man. The spheres at the top of the tree are more refined in energy – more transparent and expressive of pure Light. As we descend down the tree each sphere gains more density- less clarity of brilliance of light until we come to rest in the earth plane of Malkuth. Each sphere has both an English and Hebrew name and countless correspondences attributed to each. These are keywords only to a larger tome of mystery. The pictures below show the diagrams of:

Fig. 1– The Tree, the names of the spheres, the number in order on the Tree

Fig. 2- The Planetary Correspondences to Each Sphere

Sphere 1-Kether – The Crown- The Crown of Attainment- the ‘Cause of causes”- the unknowable- The Mystical Consciousness- (Modern- Uranus)

Sphere 2-Chokmah– Wisdom- The Word of God- true Will untainted by the material nature- The Radiant Consciousness- The Zodiac (Modern- Neptune)

Sphere 3-Binah– Understanding- The Great Sea- absolute belief- The Sanctified Consciousness- Saturn

Sphere 4-Chesed– Mercy- Majesty- The place of greater awareness and pure compassion-The Settled Consciousness- Jupiter

Sphere 5-Geburah– Might – Strength and Justice- excision and the necessary cutting away- The Rooted Consciousness – Mars

Sphere 6-Tiphareth– Beauty- Sacrifice- the receptive place of the flow of emanations from Kether- The Transcendental Influx Consciousness- The Sun

Sphere 7-Netzach– Victory- The Beauty of Nature- The Hidden Consciousness – Venus

Sphere 8-Hod– Glory- Splendor- the sphere of science and craft- the analytical nature and communicative learning- The Perfect Consciousness – This is the place of Mercury

Sphere 9-Yesod– The Foundation- sphere of the subconscious- the Lunar Gates- dreams and illusion – the astral – The Pure Consciousness – The Moon

Sphere 10-Malkuth– The Kingdom- the plane of physical existence and manifest reality- the elements and all of manifest Life- The Scintillating Consciousness – Earth

The Sphere of Compassion

Deep within the heart
Of the emerald jewel
Lay the great mysteries
Of time and love.

The lamp is lit
And glows within
Edges sharp where
Line and point intersect
Poignantly within the
Space of equilibrium.

From the wellspring rises
Form of beauty and
Intelligence refined;
As Pleiades’ dance
In response to
The sound of planets’
Harmonious symphony.

And, all is held gently
Contained in beauty’s grace
As she unites with clarity of
Mind and focus of heart
Birthing the perfected one
Whose victory mirrors
The beauty of the sun’s
Radiance streaming
Down from above.

The Planetary ruler of Netzach is Venus, so it is fitting that this sphere is considered the sphere of beauty, relationship and love. It is also the place of establishing the balance (Libra) of hedonistic and aesthetic ideals. Love is the primary focus, but not at the expense of over indulgence in physical pleasure. This is also the place of expression of Love of Nature (Taurus) in all of her forms. The connection between beauty and the energies that are contained within the force of Nature is a strong one. Even in the Natural world’s more disruptive expression, the order and intelligence in design applied in her shaking free from her mantle those disruptions of energy is done with a sense of order, intent and aestheticism.

Netzach is known as the sphere of Victory. The principle of victory here is not one of wanton take-over and infringement of another’s space, but rather victory that is found within the triumph over obstacles, whether perceived or real. This over coming is brought to a place of clarity and scrutiny primarily through the action of revealing the true nature of the experience. The resulting balance that occurs is the interaction between Hod and Netzach, academia and pleasure, science and art. This is the work of a polarizing effect. The balance of male and female principles, expansion and contraction, mercy and severity of nature are those obstacles which when brought to a place of control and exertion of will form the basis of foundation for creative outpour.

Netzach sits at the base of the Pillar of Mercy, being the closest sphere towards the manifest form of Malkuth on this pillar. This is the perfect vantage point for drawing down into itself the Higher expressions of Love held within the spheres above it (Chesed and Chokmah) and then setting to its work of harmonizing and refining (the scales of Libra) this energy to create a thing a beauty that inspires the emotions reach upwards in adoration. This is Mercy in its highest expression; the cultivating of what will inspire so that all may reach the pinnacle of their potential.

The Element of Fire

The sphere of Netzach is assigned to the element of Fire; despite the appearance that its should be a sphere of Water given the strong component of heart centered emotion and creative outpouring. Within the energy of Netzach we can identity this Fire as that of longing, desire and the impetus that coerces the creative urge towards manifestation. The nature of this Fire is to quicken and then spread and reach towards distribution through the flowing waters of Hod (Mercury and Mind). This is the Fire that initially burns very hot and very bright but if not tended carefully will spread out of control and consume that which created it.

The Intelligence of the Heart

Intelligence of the Heart refers to the concept that was explored by scientist and metaphysician, R.A Schwaller DeLubicz during his studies of Egyptian spiritual and alchemical practices. For most, the concept of intelligence is confined to the physiology of the mind and those senses that the mind effects. To the ancient Egyptians, the “heart” was the holder of these attributes of intelligence and deep gnosis.

This way of thinking is deeply reflective of the principles of heart centered Netzach and its force of impact upon the rational mind. Without this innate intelligence that serves to provide the deeper understanding (realized through expansion and issuance of those qualities of Divine Love) pure reason will never have the necessary glue to produce thoughts of substance and viability. They will always remain within the world of ephemeral and lofty ideals that never come to full fruition.

The Illusion of the Sphere: Lust, Promiscuity and Manipulation

The Illusion of Netzach is that of lust and promiscuity. The highly idealized and divinely infused love contained within the sphere of Netzach can readily be used as a means of only gratifying oneself under the guise of spiritual practice. Many an unscrupulous spiritual leader has seduced the unwitting practitioner into sexual servitude by promising a way to higher enlightenment through the energies of the sex act.

In reality, the sacred sexual practice of Tantric Yoga would fall within the sphere of Netzach. In contrast to the vice of the sphere, in this practice of Tantra, sexual union and the highly refined and potent energies it produces are solely used for the purpose of spiritual development and benefit with the practitioners receiving very specific trainings in technique and undergoing various levels of initiation.

Manipulation is most easily accomplished through matters of the heart. Where logic may have thwarted the efforts, when love and compassion come into the picture reason, logic and concern for one’s own well-being often go out the window. We see too often the scenario of the abused spouse remaining in the relationship despite the warning signs of safety and financial loss. The emotional bond is a strong one and the vice of Venus’ energy can be all pervasive and all consuming (remember the Fire attribution!) in leaving nothing in its wake but destruction and death.

Connecting to Venus Through Its Expression in Netzach

It has been said that spiritual growth occurs in accord with the flexibility and resilience of the heart working in conjunction with Higher Mind. We saw with Mercury that much of its intent is directed via an outpouring of communication. Taking what is within and modulating it in adaptation to whatever the desired goal is. Venus works from an opposing principle. Her goal is to gather into herself all of the outer experience of the world, turn the exploration within to the deepest chamber of the heart, transform and transmute it and then send it back out into the world in a form that will attract and engender similar action in all that are held within its loving embrace.

Love is what serves as bridge between disparate energy. Love is the great healer in times of greatest need. Love calls to the soul and brings it to its victory in what can be accomplished in a given lifetime. Heart begins the conversation that inspires those to the Great Work and its is the sustaining of the heart center in that work that allows false pride, selfish ego and personality to fall away revealing the mystery of the Divine within. We call upon the Fires of Netzach to quicken our resolve and it is within the core of their flames that we find the wisdom of the Heart.

An Exercise in Claiming Your Victory

This week’s exercise involves journaling. The tactile and kinesthetic quality of journaling is one that fuses the emotions with the thoughts flowing through the hands as word is set to paper. When we journal we are allowing ourselves to open deeply to what is held in our heart’s mind and capturing the essence of those feelings in safe space and private working. In this exercise you will be calling up a personal moment of Victory to be relived and recorded.

Journaling

Select a time in your life when you felt you had great insight and clarity into a situation. The word “victory” in this sense relates to moving through the illusion of what you think is true and seeing and sensing a deeper level of meaning and understanding from this newly opened perspective.
As you write about this experience, allow any additional insights that you may have to flow uncensored.
Then, after finishing, go back and take a look at what you have written. How much more clarity or definition can you add to this writing. What new insights arise as you red through what you have written?
Do this for several more rereads. Finally, go back to the beginning writing and make note of the differences, additions, and deletions you may have made after spending some time looking more deeply into the facets of this writing gem.

Next week: Venus stations Retrograde on the day of the Winter Solstice- December 21@ 4:53pm (EST). What does this mean and how to use its influence?

Resources

WitchVox:

13 Keys: The Victory of Netzach

Thirteen Keys to the Qabalistic Tree of Life: Overview

On-line course of study:

A Year Within the Tree of Life

Book:

The Inner Chamber Volume Two: Poetry of the Spheres-Qabalah
R. Fennelly.Serpent’s Gate.2012

1 Comment »

Temple of Venus- The Precarious Balance of the Bull in the China Shop

Posted in Magick, The Temple of Venus, Uncategorized with tags Air, astrology, Cardinal Modality, celestial, cosmic, earth, esoteric writings, fixed modality, Libra, scales of balance, Taurus, Temple of Venus, winged bull on December 6, 2013 by themagickalpen

Move a bit closer
Can you hear the rhythmic
Beating of my heart?
Can you see the beauty
That surrounds and the
Grace of all who walk
In its victorious light?

Friday, December 6.2013

As we discovered in the first post Venus is “the planet of refinement, compassion and beauty expressed through the emotions and the grace of forming relationships. In summary, Venus sets up the process of opening and guiding in a more loving way whatever its energy is applied to.” To those able to draw upon this energy there is a certain finesse that underscores all of their actions and this reverberates out into the larger world drawing like a magnet others to them.

We discovered in the Temple of Mercury that the astrological wheel and natal chart of an individual are the ultimate Mercury experience. Information is held in each planet, astrological sign and house in which it is placed and the resultant aspects they form. The Venusian experience of the natal wheel is all about how you use that information and what is held in that blueprint as a higher expression of your feeling nature. Venus primes the natural tools you have and refines them with the intent of developing your emotional spiritual self. These are the wiles of a planetary energy that is renowned for its brilliant and charming visage.

Astronomically, Venus is one of the brightest luminaries in the sky (other than Sun and Moon) and can be seen at specific points of its rising and setting shining like a brilliant and dainty diamond. I like to think of Venus as being a planet of synthesis. Its thread of establishing relationship is felt by all of its planetary cohorts. If we think of the energy we know of Mercury and its proximity in orbital path, when the two are working in perfect accord, we are communicating from a place of heart felt emotion that has been informed by Higher Mind. Heart and head are working collaboratively and the result is nothing less than spectacular in its effects. And, in collaboration with manifest earth, Venus works her magick in fueling our desire for beauty of form.

Astrological Venus

To begin this exploration of the Temple let’s take a look at the energy of the planet Venus and its Astrological persona. Venus is the ruling planet of two astrological signs- Taurus and Libra. These Astrological signs are of the Fixed (Taurus) and Cardinal (Libra) Modalities. The work of Venus is the intent to create by working co-creatively through the relationships that are formed. Venus brings a quality of modulating and tempering what could potentially tip the scales in a state of imbalance and disequilibrium. And, always with a diplomatic flair that reveals both sides of the possibilities. This is the feminine energy that can easily change its mind, simply because there is more to be done to refine what has begun.

Within the energy of the astrological sign of Taurus we find a stable and synthesizing fixed energy and the Element of Earth. Its symbol is the Bull and contained within that symbol is the primary function of Taurean energy- strength. This is the Path of Nature and the sheer power of determination to fully manifest the predetermined goals. The animal instinct comes strongly to the foreground and intensity and immovable stance are what create the foundations that are anchored deeply in the physical realm and secured by a stalwart and imposing presence if that security is threatened.

Venus as the Ruling Planet of Taurus brings a sense of beauty, harmony and a gentle awakening of the emotional self. This is the beauty that tamed the restless beast and made all of his endeavors more manageable and softer. It is the heart that yearns for romance and connection as a way of creating security. This energy supports social interaction and the overwhelming goal is to connect at a deep and often intimate level with those of our choosing. A natural love of beauty and great sense of aesthetic style enhance the home life and material endeavors of Taurus and the proverbial bull in the china shop does not seek to destroy, but rather comes to protect and admire.

In contrast, Venus also rules the astrological sign of Libra. Libra’s symbol is that of Scales of Balance. These scales are those that lead to a Path of Balance through the power of harmony and collaborative teamwork. All of the individual arts need not be equal in quality and effort but all will eventually come to a place of balancing each other’s weaknesses and strengths if the work is done in a syncretic way. This is the source of the great power that is wielded. Libra is an air sign and naturally relies on mental ability to bring about refinement. It is aware and knowledgeable enough to know just the right tactics of diplomacy to employ to achieve the desired results. This is the energy that we could liken to the first gentle and unassuming breeze that with the correct amount of power behind it develops into a windy and blustery day.

Venus as the Ruling Planet of Libra enhances the love of beauty and great sense of aesthetic style that typify Libra in bringing these ideals and thoughts into a beautiful form. The refinement of all things is pure Libran energy and is the anticipated result of the careful weighing and measuring of all the suitable options. The final choice lies in whichever option will have the most aesthetic impact and appeal. Love, passion and beauty are key words here.

Venus – The Foundational Expression of the Concept of Compassion, Love and Beauty

Element:	Earth/Air
House(s):	Two and Seven
Astrological Sign(s)of Rulership:	Taurus/Libra
Day of the Week:	Friday
Medical:	Venous blood, Larynx Throat

The basis of Venusian outpouring is found in its concept of what the ideal of compassion, love and beauty should be. The reality of what those words mean in physical experience is often just a veiling of what the deeper meaning and import of Venus’ energy is. True compassion is more about being able to place yourself empathetically in the place of those you show compassion to. True love has less to do with sexual preferences and compatibility and has its greatest reach in extending towards what and who you would not necessarily choose to be deserving of that love. And beauty is often found in the most unlikely of places and has the ability to transform what would be considered less than perfect in physical form into a rare and priceless treasure of ephemeral presence. Venus in its lesser form creates the template for the status quo and in its place of greatest gift raises that template to the heights of unimaginable potential that is the highest form of love.

The Astrological Houses

Venus is the ruling planet of the Second and Seventh Houses. Ruling two houses that are different (yet quite connected) in nature gives a multi-layered of meaning to the Venusian energies. We have the rock solid anchor of earthy fertility of form in the Second House and the airy flow of mind and balanced intellect expressed in the Seventh House.

HOUSE TWO Finances/Possessions

The place of anchoring, stability and manifest foundation

Ruling Sign:	Taurus
Ruling Planet:	Venus
Element	Earth
Modality	Fixed

The Second House is the place of acquisition of resources, material gain and all that contributes to a solid foundation made manifest. Its modality is Fixed and is neither static nor overly dynamic in its nature. It serves instead, to draw everything into a singular place of harmony and then reflect and distribute that energy back in a newly transformed way.

HOUSE SEVEN Relationships/Higher Learning

The product of collaborative effort. Paths of choice based on what has been learned from previous experience.

The Seventh House is one of Higher Learning, and application of those lessons that have been learned from prior and accumulated experience. This House is of the Cardinal Modality making the prime task one of starting things. These are the initial steps taken towards choosing a higher path of expression. The relationships that are forged are those that are carefully selected from the lessons of past experience and standing in a space of having more depth of information and inspiration to draw upon.

Ruling Sign:	Libra
Ruling Planet:	Venus
Element	Air
Modality	Cardinal

Venus, as the planetary ruler of these two houses infuses the strength of earthly experience with the necessary emotional connection to manifest those tools that will build solid foundations. It is the bridge that connects the physical experience of security that enables the mental and emotional gifts to meet on common ground.

The Archetypes

All Deities of love, beauty and relationships would fit into the scope of Venus’ qualities; the most well known of these being Venus, the Goddess of Love. In Greece she was known as Aphrodite and in Egypt she was Hathor. Regardless of the nomenclature, the energy is the same. Romance, love, sexuality, attraction and beauty as the final goals. The duality of her nature is shown in the mythos of her connection to the Bull (Taurus) and the need for balance of all things restoring a state of beauty.

“According to Babylonian myth, the creature was created on her orders to destroy the legendary hero Gilgamesh who had rejected her advances remarking that she all too quickly tired of her objects of desire. Gilgamesh defeated the Bull, but the victory of logic belonged to him, not Venus, who is never swayed by such concerns. The motto ‘all’s fair in love and war’ is created by her energies, aptly illustrating that self-interest is more than wrapping oneself up in luxuries or being surrounded by pleasant odours and tastes and sweet things. It is about feeling good inside, at the expense of others if necessary, of satisfying one’s cravings and desires in whatever form they take.” 1.

She is also associated with the Sea, the most famous of her depictions being the Painting by Sandro Boticelli entitled “The Birth of Venus”.

400px-Sandro_Botticelli_-_La_nascita_di_Venere_-_Google_Art_Project_-_edited

This is the chaste and virginal maiden that is the object of desire to claim as your own. Venus is the ideal of the perfect feminine form. She is the alluring and appealing softness that draws you in for closer inspection and challenges you to find flaw in her expression. Her nakedness expresses the vulnerability of physical form and the perfect love and perfect trust that are necessary to bare one’s soul and true emotional self in this manner. The connection and birthing from the sea make statement to power of desire fueled by the rhythm of ebb and flow of the tides that become the contraction and expansion of the womb in readying for bringing manifest life into being.

The Planetary Glyph

Each of the planetary glyphs is composed of a combination of three basic geometric shapes; the Circle, Crescent or Equal arm Cross. Once you have the basic understanding of these symbols you can draw your own conclusions about the glyphs of the other planets.

The Circle:

Eternity – Cycles – Connectivity

The Crescent:

Eternity Parceled – The Moon – Involution

The Equilateral Cross:

The Four Quarters – Point of Intersection – Cross Polarity

The Planetary glyph of Venus is composed of the circle and an equal arm cross. We could interpret it as the eternal cycle drawn down into the four quarters of the elemental world. This is the place of connectivity between the timeless world and the manifest realm.

Much like Venus herself the ideals of beauty, grace and refinement are held aloft as points to aspire towards as we hold the steady and precarious balance of aligning all the polarities and cross points of interactions and relationships we attract to ourselves.

We conclude our astrological journey with a pathworking to call forth the foundational and manifest energies of Venus expressed through Taurus. You will find some basic suggestions below for getting the most from using the pathworking.

Good– Read through the pathworking each time you want to use it. Make note of pausing in the reading wherever it feels like more time would be spent in the specific train of thought.

Better- Read through the pathworking several times and as you do so, try to set up key points that are stored in the memory. In this way, you can create your own scenarios using the structure of the original pathworking without having to read through the text each time.

Best- Employ the physicality of recording the pathworking in your own voice (which produces an effective recognizable neurological imprint inducing physiological response and imprint) to listen to.

When you are ready to make the recording be sure to select a space where you will not be interrupted and has minimal background noise.

Be sure to speak slowly (more so, if you tend to speak quickly and do not annunciate well) and clearly and to give pause where it would naturally occur if you were reading aloud. There may be some points in the pathworking where you will want to spend several minutes in the locale that is being presented. Remember to give adequate time of silence for this. Do not stop the recording, simply pause and restart it. Allow the amount of time you wish to have to fill the space on the recording and then resume the reading of the pathworking.

Regardless of what method you use, remain open and receptive to what presents to you beyond what has been scripted through the pathworking. Having a journal to record your impressions can serve as a valuable tool if you plan to use the pathworking again.

A Pathworking in the Temple of Taurus

The Comfort of Foundation

Turn your focus and attention to your breath. Allow the space of your consciousness to move with the rise and fall of your chest and the filling and release of the lungs. Continue in this manner for several breaths; allowing each to become softer, smoother and slower. With each breath your physical body appears to become lighter and your center of consciousness floats upwards towards the inner eye. You feel enveloped by the mist of transition between the Physical and Astral. And as this veil thins you step through a veil of dark blue mist and find yourself standing centrally in a circular room. As you look around you see that this space opens out to a star lit night sky. The velvety blackness above holds a twinkling of starry light that fills the panoramic view above. The walls encircle you and are of a deep bluish purple. As your eyes adjust to this room you notice an archway just ahead of you. It glows a lush green in color and you are intrigued by what may lay through the archway.

As soon as you step into this room you notice the powerful glyph of Taurus. You also notice that it is a bit more difficult to move quickly in this space. It is as though you have become fixed or rooted in the spot on which you are standing and although you wish to move forward there is a bit of hesitancy as you stand your ground. The air has a heavy quality about it, and you surmise that this is more from inertia than density. It takes all your strength and energy to push through this density and you feel as though you are walking on a very windy day facing into the storm. Each step forward increases the feeling of agitation and frustration. Each step forward also makes you step with more grounded effort and with a weightiness of purpose and intent. You feel unyielding in your determination and with slow and steady progress you make your way towards the opposite end of the room. You see just ahead another archway, glowing with an orange hue. You stop for moment and now realize that in your efforts to make your way through this room, you did not take time to look at what may be contained within it.

As you relax into these thoughts, the atmosphere begins to lighten in density. There is a lessening of the pressure that surrounded you and you find you are able to move quite freely now. You look around and see that the room has been decorated with items that instill a sense of family, home and comfort. There are shades of soft earthy greens and reds throughout and the overall quality is one that invites you to linger and relax. The furniture is a bit oversized and to some, would be considered bulky, but you find it to be appropriate to the energy of the space. There is an understated opulence about the room and you have a sense that it has been decorated to stimulate all the senses in a very grounded way. You see a wooden desk against one of the walls and see that several piles of folders cover the top. You walk over to it, curious as to what these folders may be. You see that the labels on each refer to very mundane and concrete activities. Finances, home inventory, job search, investment funds and other similar categories hold papers and documents relevant to each. The wall above the desk is decorated with frames that contain pictures of family and children, a beach home and a boat readied for a fishing trip. You surmise that the occupant of this room is very attached to the material world and its offerings and takes great care and effort in organizing and managing to ensure all remains stable and solvent. You also have a sense that this attitude and care is not borne from greed, but more from a practical nature and one of wanting to provide the best and most secure world for those that are loved ones.

As you turn back towards the center of the room, you notice a large and inner lighted curio cabinet just opposite you. You walk towards it and see that there are a variety of small to medium sized glass figurines contained within. Each has been carefully bolstered by stand and/or case to keep the fragile contents from being upset and broken. You also take note that the cabinet itself has been braced clear through with a rod moving from the floor and clean up through the top of the ceiling to hold the cabinet securely and fixed to its spot. This extra effort at securing the contents, cabinet and all, gives rise to your imagining that it would survive just about any form of disruption or turbulence. It is so strongly and securely rooted to its spot, all would remain immovable within the beautifully reflective glass doors. And, those objects that are clearly treasured and perhaps very valuable, even if only from the perspective of the owner, have a loyal and protective caretaker.

As your eyes scan each of the delicately carved figures, you again feel a thickening and density of energy and atmosphere building in the room. You realize that in your musings you have remained inert. In this state of inertia, it is as though the longer you have remained still, the more rooted you have become to this space and the ground beneath you. You notice that the room smells of damp earth and tiny shoots of flower and grass line the edges of the walls. The strength and stability you felt contained with the furnishings has now given way to its manifest expression of fertility and growth. You realize that the care and protection you have seen given to those physical objects can also be harnessed to optimize growth with the natural world and within yourself. Cultivating stability of home, family and finances can be used to ensure the stability of the larger home and family that is earth and all humanity. Prosperity and accumulation of money and financial gain can be used to help the earth and natural world and its inhabitants prosper and draw from its the abundance. You stand firmly on the ground beneath you and take in the transformation of this space into that of the natural world clothed in all its strength, stability and beauty. Feelings of love and gratitude flood your being and at this very moment you feel the joy of moving collectively as one- a family enjoying all that the manifest world may offer and fully present in the moment.

As you deepen into these feelings, you close your eyes and breathe deeply drawing in the energy of this space. You take several more breaths and sense that the air about you is lightening and the aroma of earth is fading. You open your eyes and find that you are once again standing centrally in the circular room. You do not remember passing through the archway in which you entered, but realize that you have been standing in a space of fixed strength and great movement. Somehow you have a deep knowing that the return or flow of stability issues forth from this fixed anchor enabling you to move seamlessly and effortlessly in either direction simply by will. You look upwards towards the night sky and it seems as though a few of the stars are shining a bit more brightly now than when you first entered. You take a deep breath in and as you exhale, you feel enlivened and at peace in this space of celestial beauty. You know you will visit many times again as the solar months progress and the thought fills you with anticipation of what each of your journeys will reveal.

You gently close your eyes and when you open them you are surrounded by the blue veil of energy that carried you to this inner sky. As you take a few more deep breaths and fill the intent with awareness of your physical being and return to your physical space, the mist clears and the smells, sounds and sights of the room in which you began our journey floods your senses. You feel the floor beneath you and the chair on which you are sitting. Noises of the mundane world come back filling ear and mind with thoughts of going about the rest of your day or evening. You take a deep breath in, savoring the vestiges of your astral journey and the insight it provided, and strongly exhale out affirming your oneness with the present moment of physical time and space.

Pathworking Excerpted in part from: It’s Written in the Stars.R.Fennelly.2012

Recommended Reading:

Lyn Birkbeck. Divine Astrology-Enlisting the Aid of Planetary Powers
Linda Goodman: Star Signs
Linda Goodman: Sun Signs
Steven Forrest. The Inner Sky
Alan Oken. Soul Centered Astrology
Lindsey River and Sally Gillespie. The Knot of Time: Astrology and the Female Experience

Resource:

1. Encyclopedia Arcad.Harvard.

2 Comments »

The Temple of Venus- Learning to Love

Posted in Magick, The Temple of Venus with tags celestial, cosmic, esoteric writings, planetary days, Temple of Venus, Venus on December 1, 2013 by themagickalpen

Cool soft lavender,
Blending and merging
Into a sea of powder blue caress
Loving faces~ arms outstretched
The butterfly kiss of a child’s soft lips
On rosy red cheeks.

Soft, silky panels enfolding gently
Like a lover’s embrace
And vibrant color of passion and
Scent of Sandalwood of soft skin of ecstasy.

The heart yearns to unite with another
And the sweet intoxication
Of a moonlight tryst
Beckons and awaits the paramours.

Kiss, caress, transcendence and
Heartfelt love spilling forth
To all humanity~
Magnet of attraction
Desiring nothing but the Beloved.

And who is the “Beloved”
It is the harmonizing energy that
Surrounds it is what captures the
Spirit and carries it aloft
Poised on wings of breath.

Welcome to the Temple of Venus. This month we will be exploring the energies of the planet Venus and process that information through a variety of esoteric systems. This is the planet of refinement, compassion and beauty expressed through the emotions and the grace of forming relationships. In summary, Venus sets up the process of opening and guiding in a more loving way whatever its energy is applied to.

Each week during the month we’ll look at the gentle Venusian energy of this planet astrologically; the mythology and archetype of its Deity; its application in Lunar and Solar Magick, and through the lens of the hermetic Qabalah. And, Venus will take center stage this month on December 21st when it stations Retrograde, aligning with the powerful Winter Solstice.

I will be posting on Fridays – the planetary day of Venus. Reading recommendations, poetry and pathworkings will bring this Temple to life and your understanding of its energy will deepen your understanding of beauty and compassion in all of its forms.

So, to begin, read through the poem at the beginning of this post again. Let the words create the images of your understanding. Breathe deeply into these images, open your mind and your heart and step into the Temple of Venus.

Image: Fractal Heart Swirlyness(Deviant Art: timittytim)

3 Comments »

Temple of the Cosmic Spheres

Archive for the The Temple of Venus Category

But, I Thought You Were My Friend? Venus Stations Direct

Destiny Calling, Again! The Blue Moon of July

Sun in Libra – The Tree of Grace

Image: Josephine Wall

Image: Dreamscape Tarot by Stephanie Law

It is Truly Beautiful – The Sun in Libra

The Speed of Light!

The Temple of Venus – Last Call for Love!

The Temple of Venus-Stop! In the Name of Love!

The Temple of Venus- The Victory of Netzach

Temple of Venus- The Precarious Balance of the Bull in the China Shop

The Temple of Venus- Learning to Love

Image: Fractal Heart Swirlyness(Deviant Art: timittytim)

Recent Posts

Archives

Categories

Follow Blog via Email

Robin Fennelly

My Affiliations

My Other Blogs

Monthly Column

My Websites

The Magickal Pen- Esoteric Writings

Copyright

Blogs I Follow