Boo! Get ready for thrills and chills. This Halloween Venus costumes herself in her spookiest raiment to guide us on a journey through our inner haunted realms.
Venus is the ancient goddess of love, attraction, sensuality and pleasure. Usually civilized and refined, Venus is like the Muses – the inspiration of music, art, and genteel culture. But she also has a dark side: if her desires are unfulfilled, she can seethe with the wild rage of the Furies. From October 8 to November 18 Venus retrogrades through Scorpio, calling us to face our own darkness, the places where we hold on to anger, jealousy and blame.
Anger can tell us when something is wrong and motivate us to take steps to change the situation. However, studies have also shown that dwelling on our anger can lead to illness and depression. When we allow anger to simmer, we are slower to heal and less able to adapt to stress.
Fortunately, the Dark Goddess also brings the gift of healing by slicing away that which no longer serves us. If we are willing to journey with her into the Underworld to understand the roots of our anger, we can give it a name and begin the healing process.
When Venus is retrograde, it’s also time to take a compassionate, yet dispassionate, look at what we attract to ourselves. Says astrologer Joanne Wickenburg: Venus “knows what’s good for you and what will bring you happiness.” When she retrogrades, it’s time to turn our backs on social norms; we can only find what we truly want by personal trial and error. Dare yourself to explore your desires.
