The Sacred Dance of Venus and Mars
by Michele Finey �
The polarity of Mars and Venus is seen in virtually every aspect of their astrological symbolism. Mars rules Aries while Venus rules the opposite sign Libra. Mars governs Scorpio and Venus rules opposing sign Taurus. Mars wants war; Venus wants peace. Venus fosters and creates beauty while Mars competes, conquers and destroys. Venus wants relationship; but Mars wants his independence. Venus takes her time to enjoy the sensual pleasure and ambiance of her experiences, but Mars is impulsive and impatient. He wants to compete and win, but Venus wants to share the love.
The desire for independence and autonomy (Mars) and the need for love and relationship (Venus) are not gender specific, but exist within every soul regardless of our sexual orientation.
Mars measures his outward success in terms of quantity; the highest, the biggest, the fastest and so on. Venus on the other hand prefers to evaluate her experiences in terms of quality.
Their cosmic choreography mirrors their archetypal journeys as described in myths and fairy tales, as well as our real life experiences.
As seen from the Earth, planet Venus is never more than 48 degrees away from the Sun. This suggests that she measures the merit and value of her experiences, more or less against a fixed reference point. Venus cannot go where Mars goes.
The Sun-Mars synodic cycle mirrors the journey of the hero. After his trials and challenges, he will return home to her. But he must venture out into the world on his hero's quest alone.
Since Venus cannot stray beyond 48 degrees of the Sun, when Venus and Mars are conjunct, Mars will always be in direct motion. Mars is a symbol of action and tends to take the initiative in relationships and in life. When they are together, Venus always experiences Mars this way. Venus however can be direct, stationary or retrograde when they rendezvous, and she can be a morning star, or an evening star. He never knows which Venu
s he is going to encounter.
When they oppose one another, they have an opportunity to walk in one another's shoes and learn from each other. Although technically Venus can be retrograde when she opposes Mars, she is almost always in direct motion. Mars however is almost always retrograde. If not then he will be virtually stationary. Their opposition aspect helps them to see one another more clearly and this aids the bonding process.
In relation to the Sun and the Earth, Mars stationary points and Venus greatest elongations oppose and square one another. (See diagram.) Mars will station somewhere between 130 and 145 degrees distant from the Sun, this averages to 138 degrees. Since Venus is at her greatest elongation from the Sun at 48 degrees, this means these points are 90 degrees apart. At these positions, Mars is more confined and restricted while Venus has more freedom than usual. This enables them to identify with one another.
This arrangement also suggests that Venus and Mars have a natural tendency to challenge one another. In a sense, difficult aspects between them are natural. They are used to seeing one another this way. In relationship
we may even seek out partners and connections where squares and oppositions between Venus and Mars are present. These aspects stimulate and challenge us, they are highly creative and action oriented and at the same time as far as Venus and Mars are concerned, these aspects are an integral part of their relationship to the Sun, the Earth and one another.
When Venus and Mars oppose and Venus is at her greatest western elongation as the morning star, then Mars will be close to his stationary direct point.
When Venus and Mars oppose and Venus is at her greatest eastern elongation as the evening star, then Mars will be close to station retrograde point.
The Alchemical Marriage
Venus and Mars are like powerful magnets. The compelling intensity of their interaction is also present in the actual physics of their relationship as metals copper (Venus) and iron (Mars).
In electro-magnetic theory, electricity and magnetism are bound together. Copper and iron have a dynamic relationship which is essential in both using and generating electricity, when neither metal on its own is effective. Copper conducts the electricity while the iron conducts the magnetism and they are bound together in the physics of their relationship. Electrical and magnetic fields interact in many ways. This energy exchange is found in light and the natural world and is the key energising force in life itself.
The energetic interaction between copper and iron has been harnessed to create electricity and drive the motors of our machines. It works in the same way that Venus and Mars do. For example, as the electricity tries to create a magnetic field, the magnetic field creates a force to oppose the changing electrical current. Thus their relationship is always oscillating, as are our earthly human relationships.
This electro-magnetic interaction is the identical force of nature that draws two people together. The same intense magnetic energy courses through us when we fall in love. No wonder that love is said to be the most powerful force in the universe.
The Venus-Mars "Saros"
My interest in the synodic cycle of Venus and Mars started one day when I happened to ask myself how often Venus-Mars conjunctions take place? There is no obvious pattern to this cycle. Conjunctions of Venus and Mars can happen anywhere from two weeks apart up to nearly two years apart. Like our relationships, it's all rather complicated! Their celestial dance mirrors the complexity of human interaction. We have to get up close and personal before its magic is revealed.
What started out as a simple question, became a vast research project. In my book I examine over 1500 years of their cycle. As I mapped their conjunctions, a beautiful pattern began to unfold.
Each Venus-Mars conjunction is part of a group or series of conjunctions that recur every 32 years. This cycle is similar in scope and pattern to the Saros cycle.
This vast scope and beauty of this cycle can teach us much about ourselves and the nature or relating. Venus-Mars conjunctions are incredibly powerful. They are in our blood. They have the capacity to create, or to destroy. They can foster love, and also hatred and not only in relationships. They stir our passions on every level.
The mystery of love is mirrored in the timeless paths these celestial lovers travel in the heavens. Their heavenly relationship, like love itself, is complex and mysterious, but its beauty and power is revealed to us when we take a closer look.
To learn more visit Michele's website. Or attend her free lecture on May 4, 2013. Details below.
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