December 3-10, 2023

Venus has been taking the stage recently and will continue to be in the limelight this week. To remind you, Venus has to do with love, relationships, how we relate, how we love, how we connect, what we value, money, and issues around worth.

Venus has been traveling in Libra, a sign she rules. Libra reminds us about what is fair and just. It wants to weigh things out, symbolized by the scales of its glyph. It reminds us that being in a relationship sometimes takes a toll, especially if we are worried others may not love us or judge us if we rock the boat. Bottom line is that we humans want to be loved, so sometimes we ignore relationship dynamics to keep things peaceful and serene.

Coming into this week, Venus has interacted with the South Node and Pluto. The South Node can connote a place of depletion or emptying out. We may find that we can no longer keep quiet in relationships. After all, Libra is an air sign. It’s also a cardinal sign, so we may have been feeling this urge to start a conversation even with some trepidation. Pluto (in Capricorn) wants to dig deep. It’s uprooting everything that has expired. Think of cleaning out your refrigerator and finding some yogurt in the back that has become a science experiment. Since we are dealing with Venus, you may see this as a time to take note of things that no longer work in relationships (any relationship). Are you noticing a power dynamic that no longer feels fair? Do you value what the other person brings to the partnership? Do you feel valued? In our culture, we tend to equate value to money, but let’s broaden the terms to include what is worth your blood, sweat, and tears.

Venus has been through a lot. All connections and alliances could be feeling like it’s gone through the wringer. First Venus conjuncted the South Node which could’ve been draining and then squared Pluto which wants transformation.

Venus will move into Scorpio this week. In ancient astrology, Venus in Scorpio is considered in its detriment. When a planet is in a sign that is opposite of a sign it rules, it’s considered in detriment. So, for Venus, that means when she is in Aries (opposite Libra a sign she rules) and in Scorpio (opposite Taurus). Let’s take that with a grain of salt though. We read the definition of detriment and freak out. Instead, we can look at this energy by noticing how we may be feeling “extra” as Venus moves through Scorpio (December 4th-28th). We may not want to socialize (a Libran word) as much. We may need some more rest and downtime to integrate, especially if we have been navigating through rougher terrain in our partnerships.

Some help is on the way though, as Venus makes a trine with Saturn this week, which reminds us to connect with the people who make us feel a sense of security or with whom we have boundaries. Who do we crave quality time with? Which relationships are working?

Then by the weekend, Venus opposes Jupiter in Taurus, which may have us feeling jubilant or downright expansive. We may want to indulge in Venusian topics: money, sex, food, drink, etc. So, you can see that can go either way, we could luxuriate in something that makes us feel nourished and connected or we could go overboard. The great thing about astrology is you just got a heads-up, so take note of what occurs this weekend. What did you revel in? Where may you need to rein it in?

Moving on to Mercury. The lord of communication, thoughts, perceptions, observations, transport, and learning, recently moved into hard-working, resolute, Capricorn. Mercury will go retrograde (RX) on December 12th, so take note of how communications may slow down as the planet does. We may feel we have forgotten or missed some details and need to go back and review (which is a function of a retrograde). This time last year Mercury also went RX in Capricorn. Are there echoes from last December for you? Where is your Capricorn house? What topics are cropping up again? This year Mercury will dip back into Sagittarius, so where we may have been thinking of getting something started we may feel we lose some steam as December rolls on. If you have planets or angles in Capricorn (up to 8 degrees) or in Sag (from 22-29 degrees) you may be feeling this more than the rest of us. There’s no reason to fear a Mercury RX, even though you may hear you should. The energy is asking for you to pay attention and focus around Mercury topics. So, dot your i’s and cross your t’s. It’s time for all the -re words; review, reconsider, revise, reframe, rework, etc.

Mercury in Capricorn will have a trine with Jupiter in Taurus this week as well (around December 7th). This almost feels like the advice people give when you are starting a meditative process. Breathe. When thoughts disturb your peace of mind, focus back on your breath. Stay present. What mantras bring a sense of optimism and hope?

Finally, the Sun in Sagittarius will trine Chiron in Aries. This feels like a spotlight on healing. You may feel you have the will and strength to look at some of your own wounds. What do you find restorative? Is there a behavior or pattern that needs your compassion or some TLC? Is there a practitioner you’ve been meaning to schedule with who could help you?

Oh, and don’t forget that Neptune will be going direct this week as well. Perhaps it’ll get a little less foggy? Things may materialize that seemed to be on backorder forever. Maybe a new dream will emerge. You get the drift.

My intention with these weekly astrology reports is something like looking at a weather app. If you know it’s going to rain, you’ll bring an umbrella. Awareness can help us navigate the Astro “weather” too. I also hope to share this information in a way that is easily digestible (not too much jargon). Finally, a reminder that these energies can show up in higher or lower forms.