On January 9^th 2018 we have an extraordinary planetary alignment: Sun, Venus and Pluto all align at 19° Capricorn in a triple conjunction.

Triple conjunctions are pretty rare. When we do have triple conjunctions we usually have the Moon (the fastest moving planet) involved. But to have 3 planets – other than the Moon – aligned at the same zodiacal degree is very unique.

Needless to say that if you have planets or angles around 19° Capricorn (and also in Aries, Cancer or Libra) you are especially in the spotlight.

What is also very interesting is that Venus, one of the 3 planets involved, is now in the middle of her synodic cycle. Venus is in fact at the farthest possible distance from the Earth, on the other side of the Sun. When Venus is far away from the Earth we usually miss the earthy expression of Venusian gifts (love, attraction, relationships, money, personal values). On the other hand, on the other side of the Sun, Venus becomes more Goddess-like, more ethereal, more spiritualized.

If Venus close to the Earth is the meal we enjoy with our senses, Venus far away from the Earth is a beautiful painting displaying the same meal. If Venus close to the Earth is the love we consume, Venus far away from the Earth is the idealized, spiritualized, platonic love. Venus close to the Earth is similar to the Moon in nature, while Venus far away from the Earth is similar to Neptune in nature.

When Venus is far away from the Earth as she is now, she expresses herself in an abstract way. And because she is in a conjunction with the Sun, our Self, our personality (the Sun), gets infused with this abstract expression of Venus. Now is a time to approach love and relationships as an ideal concept. Ask yourself: what does love mean to me? What does beauty mean to me? What are my personal values? You can set your ideals as high as the heavens – there has never been a better moment to dream of the highest expression of what you are capable of.

To better understand the different expressions of Venus, have a look at your natal chart and see in which position is your Venus relative to the Sun.

Venus can be maximum 48° before the Sun, and maximum 48° after the Sun. Venus can only be in the two signs which precede, or follow your Sun sign. If your Sun sign is Virgo, your Venus can only be in one of the two signs before Virgo (Cancer, Leo), in Virgo, or in one of the two signs after Virgo (Libra, Scorpio).

If Venus was in direct motion, and within 10° before or after the Sun at the time of your birth, Venus was at the farthest possible distance from the Earth (just like now). You have a very idealized view of love and you can wait a lifetime for the price charming, even if you are in a happy marriage. There is a part of you who doesn’t belong to this world, who wants something that doesn’t exist. It is good to search for more spiritual type of partners who can understand you.

If your Venus is within 10° of your Sun, but it is retrograde, the opposite is true. At the time of your birth, Venus was at the closest possible distance from Earth. You have a more Earthy expression of Venus, you are likely more down to earth, more practical, you go for what makes sense to you, and if you stop liking something, or someone, you just change it and go for the next best thing.

Now coming back to the triple conjunction we have on the 9^th of January.

What is really, really interesting is that we have Pluto as the third planet in the triple conjunction. And Pluto contracts are always interesting. If Sun reigns over the visible world, Pluto reigns over the underworld. Sun and Pluto together are the shaman, representing the Soul that has traveled to heaven, has traveled to hell, and has understood the cycles of life and death.

Pluto is a generational, archetypal planet. Pluto’s transit in a sign defines the drives of a whole generation. Baby Boomers for example have been associated with the transit of Pluto in Leo, while nowadays Millennials are associated with Pluto in Scorpio.

Although we are all unique, we do share some traits – and this common traits, this underlying drivers of our personality are the domain of Pluto. When Pluto touches a personal planet, he gets to the very essence of that planet, for good and for bad. People with Sun conjunct Pluto can be very ego-driven and can misuse their personal power (the lower manifestation of the Sun) or on the contrary, they can use their power for good and become extremely generous and compassionate leaders.

Same with Venus. Pluto with Venus can bring Venusian themes to the extremes, for good and for bad. Pluto with Venus can bring extreme jealousy, addiction to love and sex, obsession with money, or, in the higher manifestation can bring deep, passionate love, extreme beauty or artistic sense, the ability to create value and abundance.

Pluto will distill the characteristics of Sun and Venus in Capricorn. Pluto will get to the core of the matter. Capricorn is the most ambitious sign of the zodiac, always reaching for the next version of himself, always aiming for the top. Sun and Venus in Capricorn will want to get to the heights of love, beauty, appreciation. Sun and Venus in Capricorn are interested in nothing but the best – the most beautiful piece of art, the most successful relationship, the best status.

Sun conjunct Venus conjunct Pluto is the best time to ask yourself what do you really, really, really want to achieve. What is the best possible expression of yourself? What is that one thing that defines the ideal you, the YOU of tomorrow?

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