Your Astrological “Bling”
“All that glitters is not gold.”
~ Willilam Shakespeare
By Marguerite Manning
As the second planet from our Sun (and the third brightest object in our sky), Venus has been attracting our attention and capturing our imagination for centuries. So compellingly beautiful, it’s the one planet we never seem to have any difficulty finding in the heavens and the only one we ever have difficulty remembering is a planet after we do. But then, when it comes to the Roman Goddess of Love’s celestial namesake, charming unsuspecting skywatchers seems to be par for the cosmic course.
That’s because way back in the beginning, Venus actually had ancient civilizations (and their astrologers) believing she was a star. Two different stars to be exact. Their morning star, on those days when she was orbiting ahead of the Sun and would appear twinkling up over the eastern horizon just before dawn; and their evening star, on those other days when she was orbiting behind the Sun and would emerge glimmering just above the western horizon in the dusk of sunset.
Fortunately, however (and despite all the Venusian charm), it didn’t take professional astrologers very long to figure out that Venus wasn’t a star at all. Even more fortunately for us, it took them even less time to realize that the key to her universal significance was directly related to why she was up there acting like one. After all, before they could determine her influence in the horoscope, they knew they would have to define her role in the heavens and for that they were going to have to answer one burning question: What made Venus glow? Sure, she had all that close proximity to high-powered solar energy but, with Mercury, (a planet even closer to the Sun) not even close to charming anyone, there had to be something else. Something Venus had that twinkle-free Mercury didn’t. There was, and thanks to these early scientists we now know what it is: a very thick, very dense and very permanent cloud cover. One that not only magnetically and continuously attracts the Sun’s most brilliant rays, but immediately captures them before they reach Venus’ surface and (then, even more immediately) bounces them right back out into the Universe before they do. Not just occasionally and not just intermittently but over and over again. Repeatedly. Continuously. Perpetually. Like all the time people.
Needless to say, in those days this was breaking astrological news for sure because to this day it’s the discovery that not only explained Venus’ twinkle, it defined her universal purpose. Not because it revealed that a cloud-cover’s never-ending game of “attract, capture and bounce the best sunlight” was the only thing making this planet appear to be so beautiful. But because by doing just that, this planet was the only one up there universally personifying both the magnetic force of attraction and the satisfying power of receptivity. And it was doing it beautifully. Case closed and planet defined: as the only celestial energy that actually celebrated the Sun’s best light in the heavens, Venus had to be the astrological influence that enhanced the Sun’s life force in the horoscope.
So that’s what she officially became: the astrological planet of love, beauty and pleasure. Which pretty much covers all the charming things that really do enhance our human existence in each incarnation. All the same good, rewarding and worthy stuff within our souls that, according to the ancients, others just can’t see until Venus draws them away from the blinding glare of our natal Sun and into her aesthetically pleasing cloud-cover. That’s why they fall under her happy astrological jurisdiction. Without question and without rival. Yes, the Moon included. Why? Because celestially speaking, the Moon mirrors all of the Sun’s powerful light back to the earth, but Venus is the one that captures only the Sun’s most brilliant rays and reflects them out to everyone. Therefore, astrologically speaking, the Moon supports the Sun by reminding the soul of its vital essence, while Venus enhances the Sun by celebrating the soul’s distinct beauty. Then glows like a star herself because of it.
No wonder Venus was acknowledged as the birth influence that instills our individual capacity to attract and receive anything we love, everything we find beautiful and all things that give us pleasure in this lifetime. Her presence in our natal sky was not only capturing all the things our soul loved most about our natal Sun, it was bouncing them back to the very world that we were coming into. That’s right, our natal Sun’s very own celestial “mini-me”–without the ego, needs and, of course, mother issues. Just the good stuff.
This is the universal significance of Venus: it’s a spiritual reminder of our individual star’s brilliant worth in this lifetime because it’s a celestial reflection of our soul’s brilliant best.
Natal Venus: The Contract
With that being the cosmic case, your natal Venus has only one particular purpose in your particular horoscope: to make sure your Sun’s “best” stuff continues to be enhanced in this incarnation by continually bringing the best people, things and circumstances with the same kind of stuff into your life to enhance it. Or, just bling it up a little. Whatever that happens to require. As long as it’s your kind of “best” (or bling) it really doesn’t matter because there’s really only one cosmic criteria when it comes to your natal Venus: if your soul values it your Venus will attract it. Or twinkle to death trying. Always. End of discussion.
So that’s what natal Venus does. Without consulting you, without advising you, and in most cases without even letting you in on the fact that you’re about to be enhanced. Not because you don’t have any choices when it comes to what’s hot and who’s not, but because your soul has already made them and your natal Venus is now “working” them so that, in one way or another, you will now be drawn to them. All of them. The good, the bad and the “what was I thinking?” Explains a lot about those high-school hairstyles, doesn’t it? But hey, that’s what Venus does, remember? It simply attracts the people and things your soul has already determined to be, well, attractive. Whether or not they end up going home with you (or you with them) is totally your call. Nope, can’t blame Venus for that one. You see, she attracts, you make the conscious decision to embrace and that’s where things can get a little confusing. This brings us to why Venus reflects everything you have in your possession including everything you have in your closet and everyone you have in your life, but is not responsible for you having them. You see, while it’s her duty to help you physically manifest your values, that’s only because her real universal purpose is to bring you real personal enhancement. The kind that only comes from being constantly (and physically) forced to re-evaluate those values. Over and over again. Repeatedly. Continuously. Like all the time people.
Granted, it’s not a flawless enhancement program (did I mention old hair-styles?), but it’s still a pretty good one because Venus is actually forcing you to take control of the things you have in your life by forcing you to accept responsibility for how they got there. By, of course, being faced with the consequences of them being there. Therefore, the astrological fact of the matter is, despite how much we protest (or would like our friends to believe otherwise), if something is in our world, under our roof or on our playlist, there’s no getting around it. We value it. Just ask your own natal Venus. Or better yet, look in your closet.
This is the astrological significance of Venus: it’s the birth influence that represents your inner star’s very own set of guiding principles. The values that enable your soul to attract on a physical level what it has already deemed worthwhile on the spiritual one. Therefore, in your Contract with the Universe, it represents your close personal relationships in general, the people you love in particular and the personal assets you inherently possess and, even more inherently, respond to in others (bling obviously included).
Natal Venus’s Sign: The Code
I know what you’re thinking: what’s so charming about me? The better question however, is what (or who) do you love enough to attract into your life and why? Well for both answers all you have to do is look up to the stars and into your soul’s past because that’s where they are. Embedded in the reflection of your Venus sign.
To begin with, like every natal influence there’s only one reason you were born under the very specific energies of your very specific Venus sign: those are the very energies that reflect all those star-like qualities you now have available to you in this lifetime. Why? Because those energies represent all the talents and characteristics your soul valued enough to attract and “capture” as your own in the last one. That’s right, your Venus sign is a universal documentation of exactly what “your kind” of love, beauty and pleasure actually is now, based on what your soul previously defined joy, happiness and prosperity to be. Interesting, huh? It’s also why this particular sign is such an accurate depiction of all the things you’re so good at doing, getting and being today. It’s a celestial revelation of all the things your soul did, got and “worked” till they twinkled yesterday. Is it any wonder then that the energies of this sign (it’s ruler and aspects to your natal Venus) reflect just how you’re now equipped to look lucky, act blessed and be favored as you make your way in this world? Not when you consider they’re highlighting your greatest personal successes the last time you were here. Astrologically speaking, a celestial reflection of your previously earned gifts, talents and good fortune. Spiritually speaking, a universal validation of your eye-catching, crowd-pleasing, karmic ka-ching. Just like yesterday.
That’s because karmically speaking, your Venus sign is actually yesterday’s language of love. The one your soul learned to speak (with great success) and then learned to use (with even greater success) to enhance life, create harmony and attract romantic partners in your last lifetime. That’s exactly why it’s your instinctive language for expressing love, conveying talent and oozing charm in this one. It’s also why you’re not only fluent in the language of your Venus sign; you’re truly gifted with its energies and, therefore, nothing less than charming every time you use them. Through these energies you will always sparkle and sizzle today, because it’s the way your soul learned to charm, entice and persuade others into giving anything to you (or up for you) yesterday. The very same personal wiles and manipulative ways that (like Venus herself) you now have at your disposal to be so compellingly beautiful yourself, you can’t help but be charmingly irresistible to everyone else. So much so that through the energies of this sign people fall in love with you and yes, fall victim to you. They can’t help it. Everything this sign represents comes easily to you. Sometimes a little too easily and that’s the only real danger zone of your Venus sign: laziness. The complacent kind that comes from resting on your comfy Venusian laurels expecting the irresistible glow to last forever. Until it doesn’t. Not necessarily the end of the world, but definitely as far as your natal Sun is concerned, the end of real joy. The kind that comes from not having your best stuff celebrated simply because it stopped being bounced out into the world.
This is the karmic significance of your Venus sign: it not only identifies the pure and flawless beauty of your natal Sun, but endorses all the beneficial elements in your life that you can now expect to enjoy while living it. A universal beacon that directs you to all the people, things and circumstances that have not only been celestially certified to make your soul glimmer, but also universally sanctioned to make you look like a star. All you have to do is use them for what they were intended: enhancing your spirit and celebrating life. Remembering, of course, the one cosmic caveat: no self-indulgent coasting. That’s because through the energies of this sign you have the astrological power and the universal license to tap into what no other universal energy can provide. A clear and brilliant supply of nothing but the best star-stuff available to you. Yours. Twinkle anyone?
Your Natal Venus Sign: The Past
So what does your natal Venus sign say about you now? Well, just for starters….
In ARIES, there’s a reason you can’t help but attract the kind of people and things that are fearless, exciting or physically challenging in this lifetime. You greatly valued all the ego-building qualities of things like personal ambition, independent accomplishment and physical involvement in your last one. This explains why you enjoy the hunt, appreciate courage and ooze sex appeal. It’s also why you’re magnetically drawn to romantic partners who are independent, assertive and somewhat demanding. Evidently, this impulsive and passionate Venus needs the hot challenge of pursuit to sizzle. Not surprisingly then, you express love physically and get turned on immediately by getting there first, saving the day or, in some way, “winning” whoever happens to be the object of your affection.
In TAURUS, there’s a reason you can’t help but attract the kind of people and things that are beautiful, comfortable and productive in this lifetime. You greatly valued all the tangible qualities of things like physical comfort, material possessions and concrete results in your last one. This explains why you enjoy ownership, appreciate value and ooze earthy sensuality. It’s also why you’re magnetically drawn to romantic partners who are talented, reliable and financially stable. Apparently, this value conscious, pleasure-seeking Venus needs a little taste (and “touch”) of the good life to sizzle. Romantically “hands on”, you express love physically and demand tangible proof of affection from your lovers.
In GEMINI, there’s a reason you can’t help but attract the kind of people and things that are mentally stimulating, intellectually diversified or multi-dimensional in this lifetime. You greatly valued all the networking facets of things like communication, education, commerce and transportation in your last one. This explains why you enjoy witty people, appreciate spontaneity and ooze mental agility. It’s also why you’re magnetically drawn to romantic partners who not only have keen intellects and agile minds but can carry on more than one conversation at a time. Evidently, this easily bored Venus needs a little intellectual dexterity and a lot of stimulating talk to sizzle. Playfully articulate in romance, you express love verbally and find words and language (at least for you) to be the most effective aphrodisiac known to man.
In CANCER, there’s a reason you can’t help but attract the kind of people and things that are warm, caring, protective and familiar in this lifetime. You greatly valued all the nostalgic qualities of things like home, family and the ancestral past in your last one.This explains why you enjoy comfort, appreciate affection and ooze intimacy. It’s also why you’re magnetically drawn to romantic partners who offer financial stability or provide any kind of emotional protection or domestic security. Evidently this warm and fuzzy Venus needs a little old fashioned “mothering” to sizzle. Not surprisingly then, you express love by nurturing (or nesting) and get instinctively turned on by any kind of genuine care and concern.
In LEO, there’s a reason you can’t help but attract the kind of people and things that are creative, dramatic, entertaining and devoted in this lifetime. You greatly valued all the powerful qualities of things like individual spirit, heroic leadership and creative brilliance in your last one. This explains why you enjoy life, appreciate love and ooze talent. It’s also why you’re magnetically drawn to romantic partners who are charismatic, confident or, in some way, attention-getting themselves. Evidently this glitzy and show-stopping Venus needs a little adoration (and a lot of romance) to sizzle. As a result, you express love dramatically and get immediately turned on by anything remotely resembling praise, worship or kudos for your efforts.
In VIRGO, there’s a reason you can’t help but attract the kind of people and things that are logical, analytical, and freakishly effective in this lifetime. You greatly valued all the practical and necessary qualities of things like public service, physical fitness and civic duty in your last one.This explains why you enjoy intellectual analysis, appreciate physical excellence and ooze personal efficiency. It’s also why you’re magnetically drawn to romantic partners who are articulate, bright and exacting. Evidently, this discriminating Venus needs a little perfection to sizzle. Not surprisingly then, you express love by taking on all those thankless tasks no one likes to do and burning all that midnight oil no one cares to burn.
In LIBRA, there’s a reason you can’t help but attract the kind of people and things that are beautiful, elegant and intellectually compatible in this lifetime. You greatly valued all the aesthetic qualities of things like mutual commitment, meaningful relationships and social collaboration in your last one. This explains why you enjoy romance, appreciate cooperation and ooze charm. It’s also why you’re magnetically drawn to romantic partners with artistic talent, social status or big bucks. Evidently, this highly social and deeply romantic Venus needs intellectual stimulation and rewarding companionship to sizzle. Not surprisingly then, you express love affectionately and require all the sentimental, opulent and luxurious gestures of romance to get turned on.
In SCORPIO, there’s a reason you can’t help but attract the kind of people and things that are intense, complex and powerful in this lifetime. You greatly valued all the transformative qualities of things like powerful intimacy, unknown forces and life and death experiences in your last one. This explains why you enjoy secrecy, appreciate intimacy and ooze intensity. It’s also why you’re magnetically drawn to romantic partners who are powerful, intriguing, passionate and yes, somewhat controlling. Apparently, this all-or-nothing Venus needs the heart-pounding intensity of gut-wrenching intimacy to sizzle. Socially instinctive and emotionally guarded you express love by making great sacrifices and providing unconditional protection.
In SAGITTARIUS, there’s a reason you can’t help but attract the kind of people and things that are educational, inspirational and thought provoking in this lifetime. You greatly valued all the unrestricted qualities of things like global communications, higher education and enlightened thinking in your last one. This explains why you enjoy philosophical discussions, appreciate intellectual freedom and ooze spontaneity. It’s also why you’re magnetically drawn to romantic partners who are mentally stimulating, physically adventurous and, quite often, exotic or foreign. Evidently, this globally conscious Venus needs the fun and exhilaration of unexplored horizons and distant time zones to sizzle. Starry-eyed and idealistic, you express love romantically and win partners easily.
In CAPRICORN, there’s a reason you can’t help but attract the kind of people and things that are ambitious, prestigious, accomplished and a little more mature in this lifetime. You greatly valued all the official qualities of things like parental authority, professional status and public reputation in your last one. This explains why you enjoy tradition, appreciate authority and ooze class and formality. It’s also why you’re magnetically drawn to romantic partners who are powerful, professional, discreet and often, just older. Evidently this somewhat less demonstrative Venus needs a little “experience” to sizzle. As a result, you express love by being “there” for your lover and (even more significantly to you) by being willing to spend your hard earned money on them.
In AQUARIUS, there’s a reason you can’t help but attract the kind of people and things that are unusual, unorthodox or intellectually ahead of their time in this lifetime. You greatly valued all the humanitarian qualities of things like universal brotherhood, scientific progress and social reform in your last one. This explains why you enjoy original thinking, appreciate personal freedom and ooze emotional ambivalence. It’s also why you can’t help but be magnetically drawn to romantic partners who are ingenious, exciting, rebellious or just plain weird. Evidently, this Venus needs an unexpected intellectual lighting bolt to sizzle. Not surprisingly then, you express love somewhat indifferently as brilliant thoughts, stimulating conversations and nonconformity are more important to you in romance than physical satisfaction.
In PISCES, there’s a reason you can’t help but attract the kind of people and things that are inspirational, helpful, healing and, quite often, deceptive in this lifetime. You greatly valued all the therapeutic (reality altering) qualities of things like unconditional faith, divine creativity and psychological health in your last one. This explains why you enjoy artistic illusion, appreciate emotional escapes and ooze hope. It’s also why you’re magnetically drawn to romantic partners who are sensitive, compassionate and creative. In fact, because your primary talent is your almost superhuman ability to attract and rescue anyone who happens to be suffering or ill, your romantic partners can (and often do) fall into that category as well. Unfortunately, all this Venus needs to sizzle is sympathy which is why you express love by “saving” anyone who (you believe) needs it.
Just the beginning….
Obviously, the Venus sign “highlights” above are just scratching the surface of what your natal Venus has to say about your karmic yesterday but if you’re ready to hear the rest of your Venus story, as well as what the Moon and all of your other natal planets have to say about your soul’s past, you’re going to have to take a deeper dive into your birth chart and start learning the karmic language they speak. Where to begin? Easy, just download your own copy of Sign Language today and start following the signs in your birth chart. All of them. Right back to yesterday.