Meeting of the Planetary Minds: Back to Business

Sun: Good morning, all! Welcome to our first meeting of 2025! 

Venus: Good morning, sir! 

Neptune: [SIGH] 

Pluto: Chin up, Nep…we talked about this! 

Neptune: I know, but [starts to cry]…I hate leaving my favorite sign for such a long time! 

Pluto: Change is inevitable, Nep, even for us. And you’ve still got a little while before you’re out of Pisces. Then it’s Aries, a whole new world you haven’t seen in several hundred years. Evolution, baby! 

Venus: He’s much more sensitive than you are, Pluto! 

Moon: Quite true, Lady Venus. The idea of being in a sign for so long is a lot. I can’t even imagine! 

Pluto: Been there, done that and I’ll agree. I went through it a number of years back when I left Scorpio, but I didn’t go all blubbering in a damn meeting. 

Saturn: This is definitely not the time or place for it. 

Sun: Neptune, I’m really sorry. Do you need to be excused? 

Neptune: [dabs at eyes] No, sir. I think I can make it. [takes a pull from his flask] 

[Pluto rolls his eyes] 

Sun: Allrighty then. Lady Moon, remind me who’s out on retrograde leave right now. 

Moon: At the moment, sir, we’ve got three planets out on business: Mars, Jupiter, and Uranus. Everyone else is here. 

Mercury: I concur with Lady Moon’s assessment. Her information is correct. 

Sun: Excellent. Thank you both for the update. 

Pluto: With Mr. “If you can’t be an athlete, be an athletic supporter” out of the way for at least another month our meetings will be free of bawdy jokes, which is a little disappointing. Not much, but a little. 

Venus: I’d agree with you, Pluto, but I still miss him from time to time. 

Pluto: [scoffs] You’ll get over it. 

Saturn: He’s not wrong, Lady Venus. 

Venus: Come on, you two. I’ve been working on him about his…how to say this in a nice way…ummm…his oversharing during meetings. Cut him some slack, please! 

Sun: That’s enough, Pluto. And you’re not helping either, Old Man. You both know better. Even though it’s only our first meeting of the year I’d like to make it through the entire agenda once without us falling apart like usual. [Saturn glowers] There are tons of transitions involving the outer planets this year, although one has already begun. Pluto, why don’t we start with you. 

Pluto: I mean, no big secret, boss. I moved into Aquarius on November 20, and I’m still adjusting. Another long period under the Old Man’s influence, although Urnie being involved will certainly make it interesting. 

Sun: I can imagine that’s true, Pluto. You’ll need some time to readjust to Aquarius, but you’ll get there. Neptune, I’d like you go next. I know it’s not easy…do you need us to table your update for next time? 

Saturn: With all due respect, sir… 

Pluto: Oh, here we go with Doug Downer! 

Saturn: [shoots daggers at Pluto] As I was saying, sir, before the grossly inappropriate and downright egregious boundary violation, I think Nep should brief out what he has. 

Sun: As insensitive as this may seem, Nep, I would like to hear from you today. You’re here and you say you’re OK, so… 

Neptune: I guess, sir. I move into Aries on March 30 beginning my shift out of Pisces. As you can see, I’m a little overwhelmed by it. I was enjoying my long sojourn in Pisces more than I can ever say and I lost track of how late it was. But I’ll be ready. 

Saturn: I’m also moving into Aries this year, sir, and no offense to Mars when I say it, but I am NOT looking forward to the next two and a half years in that sign. Just awful. 

Sun: I get that, Saturn. It may well be a challenging time for both of you. 

Saturn: I’ll hunker down and manage it, sir. 

Sun: I expect nothing less of you, Old Man. [to the Moon] Urnie’s also changing signs, right? 

Moon: Yes, sir. I’ll have him brief when he’s back. 

Sun: Very good, Luna. What’s left? 

Moon: For today, the only thing left is the upcoming Venus retrograde. 

Sun: Oh yes! That’s a big one. Lady Venus, are you prepared to brief us today? 

Venus: Well, I...I...

Moon: [holds up hand] Sir, as I think about it, we may need a larger meeting to focus on Venus’ upcoming trip. 

Mercury: I didn’t see any documentation on your upcoming retrograde on the network, Venus. There was nothing in the shared folder. Are you sure you’re prepared? 

Venus: [ignores Mercury and turns toward the Sun] To answer your question, sir, I am prepared to brief today but happy to wait. 

Mercury: Sir, there’s been no reporting on this at all. 

Venus: [blushing a little] Maybe I could use a little more time, sir, if it’s not too much trouble. [smiling] 

Sun: OK, Venus. Done and done. Lady Moon, please take this item: Once I receive Venus’ written report in the shared file, we’ll put it on the agenda. I expect to see it no later than 2/28. Is that clear? 

Moon: Crystal, sir. 

Venus: Yes, sir. You'll have it by then. 

Sun: Duly noted. In that case, that’s all for today. Are there any alibis? [pause] Hearing none, let’s adjourn. Thanks everyone! Let’s start this new year strong and have a great 2025. 

Venus: [leans over and whispers to Mercury] I did not appreciate that, Mercury. 

Mercury: [aloud] At least I don’t have to impress anyone. And the way to avoid the situation is simple: Just tell the damn truth and you won’t have to worry about what you said to people. [picks up his cell phone and walks off]. 

Venus: [puts hands on hips, mouth open] Well I never! [storms off]

Interview with Venus, Part 6

John: But you don’t retrograde often, right?

 

Venus: No! Hardly ever. But with everything I’ve got to do I also need a break.

 

John: “Hardly ever” is a little vague for us. Could we have a timeframe?

 

Venus: About every 19 months I go retrograde for forty days or so. Mercury told me it’s a mere 7.2% of my time is in retrograde.

 

John: That sounds about right. [consults iPad again] So what would you say about how you behave during your retrograde periods?

 

Venus: Well, coming up in a few short days—May 14 to be exact—I’ll turn retrograde in Gemini. So, this is an excellent time to talk about it.

 

John: Great! Let’s drill into the details.

 

Venus: Hilary Harley did a wonderful job describing it on this blog a few weeks ago. Shouldn’t people just read that one?

 

John: Of course! Hilary is extremely talented. But we want to hear it directly from you, too.  

 

Venus: [hesitates] Well…to be honest, I am not at my best when I’m retrograde. I tend to be more like…well, Mars.

 

John: Could you explain that for us?

 

Venus: I know how it sounds. I’m a pleasant planet, usually, but when I’m moving backwards there is a lot more emphasis on the conflict than the cooperation. In other words, problems linked to me tend to be much more…apparent.

 

John: I see. So, if I know a couple that is struggling, when you come along and turn retrograde, what could they experience?

 

Venus: All of these impacts are individual, but I can say that both of these people might start to see even more problems than usual. There may not actually be more of them, but they might be highlighted or magnified.

 

John: If I can rephrase, it’s almost like they’re re-evaluating the relationship?

 

Venus: YES. That’s perfect! My retrograde periods are a time of reconsidering anything under my purview. Relationships are big one, but of course spending is another topic that can come up with my association with money.

 

John: Any others that come to mind?

 

Venus: Friendships. Fashion choices. Decorating. Our hairstyle and makeup habits. What we enjoy. And our tastes and values. All of these can be called into question.

 

John: Wow. That’s a lot!

 

Venus: It certainly is.

 

John: As we go through this period, what advice do you give to people who end up feeling like something isn’t working for them anymore?

 

Venus: Remember how I said, ‘Work is a four-letter word’?

 

John: [smiles] Yes, I seem to recall that exchange.

 

Venus: My job is not to do stuff, like I said. It involves work and I’m not into that. If someone is feeling like something isn’t working for them anymore, then you do what I do: NOTHING!

 

John: Wait a minute. You’re saying that if I’m realizing that I don’t…I don’t know, want to eat pasta ever again…

 

Venus: OK, who is unrealistic NOW? [laughs]

 

John: [chuckles] Touché, Venus. Of course, THAT would never happen. Let’s try something else. So what if I say I hate the way my bedroom looks and I want to redo it?

 

Venus: Good example! My answer is still the same. While I’m retrograde, DO NOTHING. Take a nap. Eat some good food. Whatever. But do NOT make any big decisions. Don’t call a contractor or an interior designer. Don’t look at paint swatches. But DO remember what you don’t like.

 

John: Why shouldn’t I act on these feelings?

 

Venus: Because when I go direct, people tend to change their minds! Again! So, you tread carefully until I go direct. THEN you act. But not before.

 

John: You said earlier that people who are having relationship problems should do nothing, right?

 

Venus: Yes, unless there’s abuse or another similar situation. In that case, you do whatever you have to do to keep you and yours safe immediately! But generally, the problems I’m referring to can wait for a few weeks since they have likely sat unaddressed for a long time. Re-evaluate during my retrograde, and then decide what to do for certain when it’s over—which, incidentally, is on June 25.

 

John: I’m guessing I shouldn’t choose to buy my dream car or any other big-ticket items in the next few months.

 

Venus: [touches John on the shoulder] It’s better to hold off to make completely sure it is really what you want.

Guest Blogger Hilary Harley on Venus Retrograde: She's a Lady. Whoa, whoa, whoa.

A HUGE Metaphysical Meanderings welcome to astrologer Hilary Harley, who was gracious enough to provide her interpretation of Venus' upcoming retrograde next month!

Venus is one of two beneficent planets in our galaxy, the other being Jupiter.  She rules Taurus and Libra, one earth and the other an air sign.  Both cultivate beauty in all forms imaginable, whether the flowers you plant in your garden, songs you write and sing, or the table you set for a dinner party.  Venus is grace, style and elegance.  But most especially, Venus is Values.  She rules our skills and talents, how we earn money through the application of these, our relationships, self-esteem, possessions, our worth.

Next month, Venus turns retrograde motion.  Most of us are familiar with Mercury retrograde as it occurs three times a year.  However, once every eighteen months Venus turns retrograde as well. From Tuesday, May 12^th to Thursday, June 25^th, Venus reverses gear in the sign of Gemini. 

What does this mean for you? 

First let’s look at Gemini.  The air sign of intellect, Gemini rules the mental realm:  thoughts, language, communication, speech, cause and effect…no small thing.  It is the Information Gatherer in Chief, along with disseminator of said information.  Think of a radio, which Gemini rules, giving and receiving messages constantly.  Thus, Gemini rules our rational, conscious mind, what occupies our thoughts presently, in the now, at this very moment.  It is the great connector, so ground transportation:  cars, buses, trains and the rides we take via these modes.  This is also the arena of our immediate environment, our neighbors, neighborhood and community and the extent to which we are engaged in it.  Last, the sign of duality, Gemini the Twins, rules siblings and pairs of any kinds.

In Gemini, Venus has an intellectual bent.  She wants to know, engage, discuss, read, write, be informed and share information.  She attracts smart people and wants to be in the thick of their knowledge. Venus in Gemini encourages us to be conscious of our thoughts, words, and language. She understands the cause and effect of thoughts and speech:  that kind words sooth and inspire; that insults hurt or do worse; that our thoughts affect our emotions which affect our actions.

If you know where Gemini occurs in your natal chart, you will find Venus going back and forth across that sector of your life this Spring.  For 40 days and 40 nights, she reverses gear to mark her shift from super bright evening star to the first to rise before the Sun as morning star.   That bit about 40 days and 40 nights….sound familiar?  Hmmmm, yes it does. 

Jesus wandered through the desert for this length of time.  And the Sumerian goddess Inannna descended into hell to meet her wanton sister Ereshkigal.   As did Ishtar and Isis, the Babylonian and Egyptian versions of Inanna, all forerunners of Venus.   Each relates a dark night of the soul we do not associate with Venus.  Whether it is the story of Jesus’ confrontation by the devil in desert or Inanna crossing through seven gates of hell to redeem and own her shadow sister side, the mission remains the same:   We are invited to pause and dance with pieces of ourselves we either do not know or acknowledge.  Emerging on the other side of this period, we will know who we are better than we ever did before.  No matter the sign it occurs, Venus retrograde is reflective and thus deeply psychological.

Enter the “re-” words.  As with all interior planet retrograde phases, the Re words are ready for prime time and take precedence.   In the case of Venus, because she rules relationships, this really means relationship review, including and especially with our primary relationship:  our Self.  

Reflection:  Who are you?  Have you checked in with yourself lately?  Given the extraordinary time we are living through now, most of us have been forced to hit the pause button and consider exactly how we conduct our lives, who we’ve become and most importantly, do we want to continue living the way we did before Corona virus? 

Reflections of self-worth are as much about our wallet as they are how we feel about ourselves.  Between May 12 and June 25^th we take stock, conduct an in-depth inventory of our skills and talents, both those we acknowledge or barely acknowledge or even perhaps, have yet to be discovered.  The virus has sparked necessity, the mother of invention.  If you find your bank account rapidly dwindling, Venus retrograding through Gemini has us thinking on all cylinders about new ways to apply skills and talents to earn money.  Have you been working a dead end job (which maybe no longer exists) simply to make ends meet?  Venus retrograde has you considering more soulful pursuits.  In alignment with yourself, your purpose, your confidence lifts.

In Gemini, we review information, journal, reconnect with neighbors and our community in ways that harken to days gone by, in a simpler time.  Take car rides and let your imagination flow, to local destinations, state parks and recreation spots.  Watch the conversations unfold along the way.  Expect heightened involvement with siblings, perhaps those you’ve become distant or even estranged; at a minimum, ponder your sibling relationships.  Others from earlier in your life may also resurface:  old partners, friends, relatives. 

The caution of Venus retrograde is temptation.  Enter mythology or biblical parables:  this is where the Devil comes to entice us.  Hit the pause button:  do you really want to indulge in an affair with your ex boy/girlfriend?  In Gemini, there is also the temptation to misuse of language, either thought or spoken.  It is vital to understand the power of your words, both positive self-talk and the information you share.  Watch, in particular, your thoughts and where they lead.  Are you mentally spiraling into hollow pits of negativity?

Covid 19 has sparked fear mongering of the worst variety, triggering all manner of psychological hijacking.  The great news is that now is a perfect time to retrain your brain.  Use affirmations, mantras, meditations, positive people, books and conversations to redirect your thoughts. 

Along the same line, gossip is never a good idea but especially this May and June, your words may come back to haunt you.  Information exchanged and shared during this period must be based on proven facts, evidence, science and NOT magical thinking.   It is essential that you speak the truth as best you understand it.  The words you speak represent who you are, your character and your worth.

By the same measure, since Venus rules the stock market, our possessions and how we earn a living, May 12-June 25^th is not the time to invest in things we cannot afford, whether cars, luxury items, or pipe dreams.  Gemini is the salesman of the zodiac and its versatility with language is also its biggest vice:  avoid deals and situations that seem too good to be true.  Hit the pause button and sleep on it.  In the morning, check in with your gut.  What does it say?  Mid-May through June is not an optimal time to start a new job either, but for anyone receiving unemployment now, new work is best begun this summer.

To recap, some brief do’s and don’ts of Venus Retrograde in Gemini:

DO:

Reconnect with siblings, neighbors, community

Reflect on your relationship with yourself, your life, especially on a car drive

Review  information, messages, your spending habits, finances

DON’T:

Fall for temptation  

Be seduced into negative mental spirals, sexual affairs, purchasing luxury items, gossip

To read more about Venus, her cycles and connection to your life, I highly recommend the works of Ronnie Gale Dreyer and Arielle Guttman.

To book an astrological consultation with Hilary, please contact her: hilary@hilaryharley.com or www.hilaryharley.com

And a GREAT BIG THANK YOU to John Marani for inviting me to guest blog on his marvelous site!

Mercury Retrograde Update from Venus

Good day everyone! Venus here with an update on Mercury's retrograde.

First of all, I sincerely apologize if my own recent retrograde caused you any problems. Here's when I went direct.

I hate causing strife, but I also hate when people are unhappy. So hopefully my business trip allowed you to take a closer look at your own values and make better choices about the beautiful people and things in your lives right now. And if you indulged in some retail therapy, I hope you didn't regret your choices, or that you kept your receipts.

But do not fear...I'll be done with my shadow period--that place that I'm crossing for the second time moving forward between 25 Libra and 10 Scorpio--in a few short weeks so you can start making some decisions and moving your lives forward. And no retrograde again for me for nearly two years. So thanks so much for your patience; I really do hope my departure provides opportunities for re-evaluation and growth.

Speaking of retrogrades, my communicative colleague Mercury is out and about again. Honestly, he can't still for very long. Three times a year for three weeks is his usual schedule, so there's no real need to freak out. To be fair, you do know that he's going. He would suggest that you put those dates in those hand-held computers you adore so much so that you don't have to wonder. Less upset = better life!

Unfortunately, my fast-moving colleague is already making his presence felt. See the chart below!

 I got a very garbled voicemail from him that I couldn’t really make sense of. It’s unsettling! Word has reached me that one person got the week of Thanksgiving mixed up with the week after Thanksgiving when she made reservations to travel! It’s just terrible that the person had to give up some time with a special friend because of Mercury. Simply awful! And think of the money wasted in change fees.

And our favorite blogger is also not immune. He had to make a last-minute trip in the lead-up to Mercury’s departure as well, which forced him to cancel a number of his own appointments. You just never know where Merc’s influence will slow you down or cause chaos. I still adore him, but I accept him for who he is, you know? John’s traveling again soon so I know he’s making sure that there are no problems that he can correct.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the rest of what I hope has been a very pleasant weekend with your loved ones. See you again soon as I re-start my journey through Scorpio!

Warmly,

Venus

Letters from Saturn: Venus Retrograde Caution

Good morning, everyone, from the most dignified planet to grace this blog. 

Normally when I discuss retrogrades I'm here to talk about Mercury's, which, to be honest, are usually taken way too seriously by the general public. 

In this case, however, I feel that people do not take Venus retrograde seriously enough. I'm here to offer some warnings and advice, should you choose to heed them. 

Venus went on her retrograde business trip a few days ago, as she does once every 18 months or so. My esteemed colleague does need to get out of the office from time to time, so she'll be gone for about 6 weeks, until November 16. 

Once she returns to direct motion, her shadow period will continue through December 17 so her retrograde motion and its effects may be felt through then.

That shadow period is quite important, by the way, as it represents the area that she will travel over twice. 

Venus deals with both love and money, so I caution you to avoid making decisions in these areas while she is gone. I've listed some brief examples below of things to avoid:

• Purchases of big-ticket items (house, car, appliances, etc.)
• First dates, important relationship decisions, getting married or moving in together
• Extreme changes in decoration, either in a home or business or in a person's wardrobe or hair
• Starting a business

I urge Saturnian restraint in all of these areas, good people, as the Venus retrograde may cause you to regret those decisions if made during this period.

It's very important to understand that this is a time of re-evaluation in all personal and business relationships. What things, people, jobs, and styles are no longer serving you? Think carefully, but take no action immediately. 

Once Venus comes back to the office on November 16, you can solidify your plans, and if possible, wait until December 17 to implement them. If you can't wait that long, then at least Venus will be in direct motion after November 16.

One final important note: If you have any planets between 25 Libra and 10 Scorpio in your natal chart, these will be in the Venus retrograde zone. If you're not sure, ask your astrologer for some advice.

Our favorite astrology blogger has his natal Sun in that area, so I know he will be doing some careful consideration during this time. He's proven himself a worthy astrologer by passing his NCGR level one examination, so I have no doubt that he'll know what to do.

As always, I appreciate your attention. You will no doubt benefit from my sage wisdom. There is no reason to "freak out" as the youngsters say, but it is good to be aware of Venus retrograde's possible effects.

Very truly yours, 

Saturn

Letters from Venus: Red Tuesday and Retrogrades

Good evening, everyone! Venus here to wish you a very happy Valentine's Day season.

It's a great time of year, no doubt about that. People really outdo themselves showing others how much they care, and that always makes me truly happy. But one of the saddest parts of this season is when things don't go quite as planned and people's feelings get trampled. 

Anyway, I was surfing the 'Net the other day and saw that there was a phenomenon know as "Red Tuesday", and I had never heard of it before. But I thought it was an extension of the holiday, like, "This is the lead-up to Valentine's Day." It sure sounded good...until I started looking into it further. 

And then I was sad, because Red Tuesday is apparently the Tuesday you should be breaking up with someone before Valentine's Day if your relationship isn't going the way you want. I guess this is really a thing. Breakups are hard enough, but putting someone through that pain a week before Valentine's Day? That sounds like cruel and unusual punishment. It's like saying, "Sure, I'll be yours...until someone better comes along." There's a person with feelings in there, you jerk! Sorry...I got carried away, but you see what I mean, don't you?

And as an aside, John didn't know about Red Tuesday either until one of his Taurus friends told him about it. Good on you, sister, for keeping him informed at least. 

Anyway, being an astrological planet has its highs and lows, and I get to see people in the throes of love and passion, and then watch relationships crumble. That second part is the part I hate. Sometimes it's necessary for both people to grow, but that's my head talking and not my heart, trust me! 

Once you get through Valentine's Day, then, unfortunately for all of you, I'll be on vacation soon afterward. I go retrograde starting in early March for nearly six weeks. With people in the world exceptionally upset and angry now, I need the vacation. I've got the perfect place picked out: It's a gorgeous house outside of Reno, Nevada. Hopefully, I'll be able to actually get there; they've been getting record snows and I could use the time to myself. Mars has to stay and work and this gives me the opportunity to really see how I work on a more personal level.

While I'm away, I have a few tips:

1) Please do NOT ask Mars for relationship advice. His bedroom skills may reign supreme, but his brain generally is the one between his legs. Ask pretty much any of the other planets, but not him. PLEASE. 

2) Know that relationships that are under stress will face additional stressors while I'm gone. No decisions, though, until I get back. You don't want to make the wrong call in your romantic life.

3) Stick with your current wardrobe. You don't want to change brands right now or try to figure out your personal style.

I think that's it for now. But I'd like to wish John and his beloved Jen a very happy Valentine's Day! They have been valentines for 24 years this year. Hope you crazy kids have a fantastic time next week!