THE PLANET VENUS

Except for the Sun and Moon, Venus is the brightest in-
habitant of our solar system -- brightest and most beautiful"
shining with a soft glowing light, as Phosphorus in the rooming
or as Hesperus in the evening --

Hesper, whom the poet called the bringer home of all good things.
as Tennyson wrote in Locksley Hall Sixty years After.

Were it not that, being between us and the Sun, its dark side
is turned towards the earth when it is nearest to it, the light
of Venus would at its perigee be far brighter than actually it
ever appears to us.

In size Venus is but slightly smaller than the earth; it has
no moon; and its surface is covered with such dense clouds that
no telescope can tell us anything about it. Whether life exists
or will in the future exist on it we do not know. The climate
would be extremely hot and damp.

Beautiful as it is to the eye, Venus has also always enjoyed
a pleasant reputation as the symbol of beauty, love and happi-
ness. We call it the Lesser Benefic, but many astrologers are
inclined to prefer its helpful influences to that of Jupiter,
especially in illness. We British have good reason to be pro-
foundly grateful to Venus, for, exactly rising at London in the
figure for the first conjunction' of Jupiter and Saturn on
August 8, 1940, she presaged, the glorious Battle of Britain
which saved us, and perhaps the whole world, from the German
menace. Indeed she seems, in wartime, to be as much a planet
of victory as of peace, and her exact culmination at Tokyo in
the figure for the winter ingress of I941 preceded the astounding
successes that Japan won during the next two or three months.
Relying on the ancient belief that Venus was the planet of peace
I hoped that the autumn of I940 might show a cessation of the
war with Germany, and that the winter of 1941 might bring
Japan to a less aggressive frame of mind. This was a complete
misjudgment; thus we all live and learn!

I remember reading an article that appeared before the war
in a German periodical in which the writer argued that Venus
was in fact the planet of war rather than peace and it is a fact
that the 7th house is not only concerned with alliances and
partnerships, but, under affliction, is the zodiacal sector ruling
open enemies, and many famous soldiers have had Sun in
Libra, as well as well-known controversialists and public
debaters.

Venus is, in fact, the planet of relationship. both friendly and
hostile.

And, as such, one might make a good case for arguing that
it is the most important body, after the Sun, in our system.

For harmonious relationships are essential to life in any form.
Adaptation, that is the key-word. Neither plant, animal nor
human can persist unless the organism can establish some
degree of harmonious affinity with it's'environment: that is
self evident.

All such adjustment, in every sphere of our lives, is under
Venus.

Hence it is not at all surprising that horoscopes of very long-
lived people commonly exhibit a favourable Venus-element, in
some form or another. Here is a life that has persisted for
eighty or ninety years or more because friction between the
body and its surroundings-and between the soul and its sur-
roundings too -- was reduced to a minimum. Perhaps the native
was mentally philosophical (in the popular sense) and emo-
tionally adaptable and easily pleased, whilst in bodily matters
he probably followed the golden mean and was neither very
lazy nor yet one who ran the risk of overstrain. Do not read
more into this than is intended or suppose that your terrestrial
sojourn will necessarily be, short if you have nothing in Libra
and your Venus is badly situated; but it does seem that a good
Venus and bodies in Libra are helpful, and that is what one
would expect.

However, a person may be long-lived through sheer toughness
and in spite of being constantly at variance with his or her
entourage. Or, again, through excessive prudence. The Venus
kind of longevity is founded on the Italian principle: "Chi va
lento va lontano."

Why is it that Venus cannot be well configurated with the
Sun? Even the conjunction is not entirely desirable, for Sol is
debilitated in Libra and therefore the two are not altogether
congenial. The answer is, I think, that the Sun is essentially
robust and self-reliant, and the very nature of Venus, as we
have said, is interdependence and mutuality. The Sun is Life,
and, as it were, insists upon itself, whereas Venus rather prefers
what that ancient and attractive philosopher Lao-Tze meant
by his doctrine of Wu-wei, "not striving." Paradoxically your
Venus man or woman likes to get his or her way by giving way,
or seeming to give way. They seem to be in retreat, yet, when
the enemy has exhausted himself, they are still there and
comparatively fresh!

But a conjunction of the Sun and Venus seems to make for
a happy life and even a successful one, though there will
probably be a good deal of struggle in it.

With Mercury Venus is very helpful. The nature is commonly
artistic and literary and much pleasure results from these
interests.

With the Moon the affections are happily directed, especially
in regard to things signified, in the particular horoscope, by
that luminary. So with the other planets; in each case a well-
configurated Venus shows harmony between the native and
whatever the planet, in each case, indicates.

On the other hand, Venus in affliction with Mars shows a
rough side to the affectional nature, unless, of course, there is
strong counter-indication. If the horoscope points to a refined
person, then it is he who will suffer from the crudeness of others.
This contact often denotes unhappy conditions in childhood.
It is separative; and when operating in terms of circumstance
rather than character, the native will be parted by distance,
sickness or death from the object of the affections.

In every planetary contact there is, of course, a dual action,
and in this case we are chiefly considering the action of an
affective Mars upon a relatively passive Venus. But Mars will
also suffer a loss of its usual energy and courage from the
Venus contact, though actually it will probably gain a certain
kindliness.

It is not necessary to stress the need for a most careful con-
sideration of the signs involved, especially if a planetary dignity
or debility is concerned.

Venus in affliction with Jupiter tends to a general restlessness.
Sometimes there is vanity and laziness; sometimes the Jupiter
element predominates in the character and leads to rebellious-
ness. He is the planet of law and respectability, and the Venus
affliction makes it difficult for the native to conform to the
social habits of his environment. This, of course, becomes much
exaggerated, even to the point of danger, if Mars and Uranus
lend a hand, yet even so I think the presence of Venus will tend
to diminish the tendency to violence.

Venus with Saturn is by no means an indication of happiness,
for the affections will seldom flow easily and naturally, though
there may be much devotion to a small number of objects,
especially within the family circle. But it tends to discontent
and disappointment in the affectional sphere, and even to
eventual separation and estrangement. Some have called Venus
square Saturn the saddest aspect, in itself, of all. It can be
self-righteous and, as the Scotch say, unco' guid, but it is likely
at least to be constant and consistent in its likes and dislikes.

The late Maud Margessori, in her series Aspects in Venus, gives
under this heading:
Steep me in poverty to the very lips.-Shakespeare.
The long pedigree of toil.-Longfellow.
The unconquerable pang of despised love.-Wordsworth.
There is no pleasure without a tincture of bitterness.-Hafiz.

So it is evident that this careful observer of planetary action
thought this contact a sorrowful one. Those with it have as a
role little of the gay or playful about them; they are prone to
take things very seriously.

Very different, at least in many cases, are those with Venus
in contact with Uranus.

Often this bestows a good deal of charm and allure, but even
when the aspects are technically harmonious, there is often
difficulty in conforming the emotional life to that of the world
in which one lives. I do not wish to refer to the graver forms
of sexual peculiarity that may occur when there are heavy
afflictions of this nature; but these positions do indicate an
eccentricity which will distort the emotional expression from a
normal course. If this does not appear, then perhaps the native
will be willful and capricious, despotic in attitude towards the
lover, and far too independent. Your true Venus man under-
stands that we are a gregarious race and that a too independent
ideal is really contrary to human nature; Diogenes was a freak
-a remarkable freak, if you like, but a freak nevertheless.
Uranus warps this understanding.

Certainly independence in love is a contradiction in terms.
It is, however, something that Venus afflicted by Uranus may
seek to realise.

Apart from this, it may show accidents and nefarious troubles
befalling not only the native but also perhaps the object of the
affections, according to the houses implicated.

It is often indicative of artistic tastes, but they will rarely
be exactly those of the times. Your Uranian will either hark
back to the remote past for his inspirations or else will be an
ultra-modernist. In no sense will he be usual.

Venus and Neptune in a sense blend well, both having some
affinity with Pisces. Aphrodite, the Greek Venus, sprang from
the sea according to Grecian mythology, and here the ocean
doubtless symbolises the emotions, of which Venus represents
the very flower, the aspiration of the soul after Beauty.

I have never found much difference, in point of pleasantness
or unpleasantness, between the so-called "good" and "bad"
aspects of Neptune, and this is particularly true of those he
may form with Venus: In any case there is likely to be much
sensitiveness, an inner restlessness or dissatisfaction with mun-
dane existence and, of course, always that unhappy tendency
to deceive (even unwittingly) and to be deceived that any con-
tact of Neptune, even the trines and sextiles, may bring. This
last tends to enter into two spheres - money and love.

We may be a little apt to forget the unquestionable relation-
ship between our gracious goddess of love and pounds, shillings
and pence -- but there it is! In order to live properly on this
earth emotional adjustment is not enough. It is true man
cannot live on bread alone, but neither can he live without
bread, or some form of substantial nourishment, and Venus is
not quite the planet to find its ideal in the poet starving in a
garret or in Love of the Dole. The old Latin proverb said that
Venus will not come unless Bacchus and Ceres - drink and food
are there also, and there is good astrological backing for this
unromantic opinion.

Therefore whenever we have spoken of the action of Venus
aspects in the emotional sphere, you can apply our remarks,
with such changes of language as may be necessary, to the
financial field. If Venus square Saturn is often emotionally
starved, so also is it often indicative of empty pockets.

To return: I have a notion that Venus-Neptune is the key to
something very wonderful-the key to unlock the casements
that open on faery seas. But it may call for bitter renunciations
-and sacrifice: Neptune often seems to give so much, and then
to spoil it by withholding just the one thing more that would
have made all the difference. And very often the sufferer has
to endure in silence and solitude a tragedy that none can share
or understand.

It is an indication of one who dreams beautiful dreams, and
this, of course, may lead to failure in the life of action. But
the most careful study of house-positions is necessary in order
to understand individual cases.

Venus itself I do not regard as an elusive planet or one hard
to understand, as Neptune is. It is, I think, above all an honest
a1td sincere planet, and, as such, it dislikes complications and
uncertain intangible things. Taurus is admittedly a sign often
heavily occupied in criminal maps; but it is rarely connected
with crimes of dishonesty. It has a natural probity and respect
for property. It is more frequently involved in crimes of hot
blood, for its anger, when roused, is proverbial amongst us. It
has strong prejudices and cherished habits of thinking and
feeling; it is hard to convince, except by the evidence of hard
facts. You won't find many Taurean astrologers; our science
is too elusive and inexact by their rule-and-thumb ways of
reckoning. Those who do come to, us are generally interested
in some practical aspect of astrology, such as the healing side.
But even in healing they like methods in which physical or
quasi-physical touch is used, as in massage or magnetic work;
Sun in Taurus is often extremely magnetic. They are very near
to Mother Nature. It does not express itself easily, as does
Libra, and its words are few and to the point. It is a sign that
produces people you must accept as they are, or avoid; you
will not alter them. Progress means nothing to them or defi-
nitely alarms them.

Taurus represents the principle of stability, which tends to
make things, even in the worlds of transiency, remain as long
as they can unchanged. From an abuse of this principle arise
such things as stubbornness, stupid conservatism and rigid
despotism.

A consideration of some of these points has caused misgivings
as to whether Venus really does rule Taurus. Some of them - for
example, the tendency to prejudice - suggest the Moon, its
exaltation-ruler, and others-for instance, its inflexibility and
obstinacy-are reminiscent of Saturn: However, it would not
be. wise to throw aside the practical experience of many cen-
turies without very good reasons indeed for doing so. At least,
so it strikes me-but, then I have the Moon in Taurus!

If you take the bodies of the solar system from the Sun out-
wards, ascribing them to the signs in due order, you will get
some valuable hints of affinity. The Moon, in this way, corre-
sponds with Taurus, with which it is connected in any case by
exaltation, but Venus corresponds with Cancer, and that is
interesting, for there is little doubt but that she is very well
placed in this sign, as Mars is assuredly strong in Leo. The
names of three of the first four Planetoids all suggest kinship
with Virgo-Ceres the goddess of corn, Pallas and Vesta, both
maiden-goddesses. Be that as it may, Venus is strong in Cancer,
and, unless badly afflicted, there is much love of and joy in the
home, and a simple affectionate nature.

That Venus rules Libra nearly all astrologers are agreed, and,
indeed, the planet is usually interpreted in terms of this
amiable and complaisant sign rather than of Taurus.

In the opinion of some, Libra has been overpraised and it
has been stated, on behalf of the prosecution, that Librans are
pleasant and harmless, but superficial in thought and emotion,
and, above all, prone to promise things they do not fulfil.

Certainly Librans do often say yes and regret it afterwards;
but whether they actually default on their engagements I do
not know. That they are not as a rule intense in their emotions
must be admitted; all three air-signs are very associative and
like company, but none of them forms violent attachments in
the sense that, say, Leo or Scorpio would do. Aquarius is a firm
and loyal friend-but it is friendship, not love. The wind, after
all, bloweth whithersoever it listeth. However, Libra is the
exaltation of Saturn, and I consider it is a loyal associate.
That Libra finds it difficult to say no is only too true and leads
to many of her troubles, which are rarely of her own making
but most often arise through relationships with others. Indeed,
if she sometimes let others down, so too is she not infrequently
betrayed by others.

That is her main fault, very unlike anything we find in
Taurus.

More like Taurus is her physical indolence, which tends to
increase with the years.

That (again very unlike Taurus) she lacks backbone and self-
reliance is due to her essential nature, as being the sign of
mutuality, reciprocity and interdependence; but of course
natives of the sign can manifest these and still exhibit some
degree of individual strength-we are none of us all Libra or
"all" anything else. And it would be a grave error to suppose
that all who have Libra rising are likeable nonentities. Re-
member, for instance; Nurse Cavell.

It is also said that Libra dislikes dirty work and leaves it to
others. Well, I don't see anything virtuous in liking dirty work;
but Libra has a keen sense of justice and I question whether
she is often found to be a deliberate shirker.

Still, unquestionably the typical Libran job is either some
sort of brokerage, where the capacity to bring parties together
is valuable, or arbitration, where the same ability comes into
play, as also the sense of fair play and justice, or an occupation
that has to do v..with "nice" things, such as fine wines, pretty
dresses, jewelry, and so forth. Again, they have a natural
sense of proportion :and are good architects and designers; they
are fond of books, and are often found in libraries and book-
shops; and accountancy may appeal to them, with its precision
and need for exact balances.

They are not a very musical people; in fact, for a sign of
Venus, they are not outstandingly artistic. Perhaps sculpture
is their strongest tendency in this field, next to architecture.
But perhaps none of their qualities is so pronounced as their
powers of lucid exposition. Words, whether spoken or written,
come easily, and the confused and incoherent is abhorrent to
them. Their style is not ornate or florid, but plain, balanced
and to the point. They love making things clear to others.
Thus, they are born teachers, but of adults rather than children,
and it is ideas they seek to impart with the greatest pleasure
rather than facts. Put them on a platform before a sympathetic
audience, and they are at their happiest.

Their impartiality, which necessarily follows from their rela-
tion to the principles mentioned above, is a source of frequent
weariness in mundane affairs, for, seeing both sides, they seem
to others to wobble, or to lack conviction or even sincerity,
unless the cause they advocate is something about which, in
their minds, there can be no possible doubt. Failing this, they
do not find it possible to be a "red-hot Tory," a "red-hot
Socialist," or anything else red-hot.

This 'may degenerate into the fault of Indifferentism, the
attitude that all is much of a muchness, nothing matters a .lot,
and live and let live is all there is to it. To this condition their
natural indolence also tends, and it probably represents the
greatest danger to this sign, especially if Mars is weak.

Please bear in mind that I speak throughout of Libra rising;
Sun in Libra is another matter, but it scarcely falls within the
scope of this paper. Suffice it to point out here that it is, for
one thing, a very energetic position, ,witness such examples as
Lord Roberts. Hindenburg- and Annie Besant. There are many
more but these come first to my mind.

Before we leave Libra rising, however, it might be well to
mention a problem that must have occurred in recent years to
many of us. How comes it that Hitler, of all men, was born
under this usually amiable and easy-going sign?

Some of course have flatly rejected the fact and declared
that Hitler is a native of Scorpio, but this I cannot allow. It
would involve too great a departure from the stated time, and
we must not refashion horoscopes according to our own pre-
conceived notions.

I would rather say that it is difficult for us to judge how far
Hitler is, as an individual, responsible for the horrors of these
years. We have the evidence of his speeches, and know from
them that he is a wild, distraught man, and one, alas! who has
consistently appealed to the worst instincts of his hearers. But
I cannot be blind to the distinctly Libran features of his nature.
His love, for instance, of planning, especially architecturally.
The very phrase "New Order" seems to me just like Uranus
rising in Libra.

I would add that certain areas in Libra are markedly violent
in character; and there is also the question of his prenatal
epoch. In any case he has Venus afflicted by Mars and Saturn,
both in debility, and he has Mercury opposed to Uranus, an
aspect very indicative of mental peculiarity and, in my ex-
perience, often really dangerous. In his case it has, I
believe, very literally, "upset the balance."

Be this as it may, Venus and Libra present a pleasant
picture. They are very seldom anyone's enemies and rarely
harm anyone, and generally speaking it is not the fault of
either of them that the world is in the state it is in today.