Venus turns direct after 6 weeks of retrograde motion. For the first time in 40 days, she begins moving in forwarding motion.
After spending “40 days in the desert” in introspection, Venus has seen in all – and has finally decided to “move on” and catch on speed.
The direct station of Venus is about manifesting a new feminine identity. Irrespective of gender, the YIN part of your psyche will experience an awakening.
If in the inception phase, the seed has been planted at the time Venus met the Sun in the sky, this time, when Venus turns direct, the seed is blooming into a beautiful flower, just like Venus grows brighter and brighter in the morning sky.
From now until Venus reaches her greatest morning elongation, you will feel at ease with your Feminine Self. During the next 50 days, this urge of feminine individuation will make you take full responsibility for your feelings and choices.
You are now brave and you know what you want – as you had enough time to ponder on matters of the heart or personal values during the retrograde period, you now feel that after all that introspection, it’s time to act upon your values and your feelings.
The only danger during this Venus phase is the danger of entitlement. You may have a tendency to think that all you need to do is “show up” and expect things from others just because “you are you”.
On the other hand, just like Venus is catching up on speed, you are also open to change, open to “do the work” and move to the next thing with confidence.
But just before the Sleeping Beauty awakens, you have one more trial. As Venus turns direct at 26 degrees in Pisces, she has to face for the last time the Pain of Separation (the last Venus square to Saturn in a series of 3) and the Wound of the Heart (Venus conjunct Chiron). The aspect will last for up to one week because of the slow motion of both Venus and Saturn.
Before she turned retrograde on March 25th, Venus, just like princess Aurora pricked her finger on the spinning wheel and fell asleep, Venus let her heart get stung by Chiron.
Now, when she finally awakens, we have the same scenario, as Chiron in wandering in the sky around the same mathematical degree as Venus. Or, do we?
The last weeks have been painful. We were asked to revisit our Wounds and go deep into the pain. And, “thanks” to Saturn, we’ve been asked to go as deep as we can, until there is no more place to go.
But this time, as Venus awakens and lets herself get stung for one last time, things are quite different.
You’ve already opened your heart to the pain, and as a result of confronting those almost forgotten, but now exposed – wounds, you are now a different person. You’ve made peace with those parts of you – the guilt, the shame, the inadequacy – and you’ve learned to live with them. And by learning to live with them, you are now ready to live without them. You are now clear about what you truly value and about what you really need.
Sun Conjunct Chiron – the Deeper Meaning of This Aspect
Sun conjunct Chiron represents the instinct of the human spirit seeking to manifest itself and leave something immaterial behind. Our spirit seeking manifestation represents our “gift to the world”.
Often called “the wounded healer”, Chiron expresses itself at its fullest when linked to the Sun. The Sun is our individuality, what makes us unique, what separates us from the others.
Sun conjunct Chiron stands for authenticity, for the utmost expression of our uniqueness. Because the Sun when touched by Chiron cannot hide his wound, this process – if handled well – ultimately leads to undying beauty and authenticity.
The process of learning about your true self, the process of becoming what you are meant to be, cannot be an easy one. Hence the wound.
Let’s take the example of pearls. Do you know how they are made? A parasite tries to work its way into the oyster. As a defense mechanism, a fluid is used to stop the intruder. Layer upon layer of coating is deposited, until a lustrous pearl is formed.
The process takes years. For years and years, the mussel has to fight an endangering force. And after years of struggling, something amazingly beautiful emerges.
So many times we fail to see that it is our shadow, our “handicap”, that is the keeper of our greatest power. But for this, you must find the strength to open the wound and pull out the core of the pain that is buried inside. You need to bring the pain out!
The path to self-mastery is about recognizing our inner pain and bringing it to the “next level”. Chiron triggers our deepest wounds and pains. But it is through our pain, that we have the opportunity to hold a larger perspective.
Chiron – the Link Between Heaven and Hell, the Conscious and the Unconscious
Ultimately, Chiron’s purpose is to restore wholeness – that’s why Chiron is the symbol of the shaman. Sun conjunct Chiron will re-actualize all the Chironic themes in your life, asking you to (re)connect with the inner shaman inside.
The shaman’s role is to travel to hell, to heaven, and then back to earth.
In the same way, in his orbit, Chiron is the connecting link between the conscious archetypes represented by the planets visible to the naked eye (all planets up to Saturn), and the unconscious aspects represented by Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.
Chiron orbits between Saturn and Uranus and brings together these two worlds, connecting us with the universe.
Chiron and the Mythological Horse
Mythologically, Chiron is half horse, half human – a force of nature who has transcended his human limitations and brought his gifts to the Gods.
The horse represents the balance between the instinctive and tamed part of one’s personality. Horses represent our inner strength and driving force in life.
The horses have always played an important role all around the world. In ancient times, people used to be ritualistically buried with their horses.
The man and the horse, buried together. What a strong metaphor for Sun conjunct Chiron!
The culture of dual burials was so widespread across the world, from Scandinavia to China, that it can only be explained by an almost spiritual bond between these two entities – the human and the horse.
Chiron and Your Greatest Gift
I would like to tell you a story that beautifully describes what Sun conjunct Chiron stands for.
“Once upon a time there was a prince who wanted to stay forever young. Because no one in the court could help him figure out how, he made a decision to wander through the whole world to find that secret land where life was eternal.
The prince started to prepare for the journey. He went to his father’s stable to choose one fearless horse to help him in his initiatic journey. For days and nights, he tried to find the right horse… but, without exception, no horse was strong enough for such a demanding endeavor.
Finally, when the prince loses all hope, he sees a thin, sick looking, hungry horse, covered with sores. When he approaches it, the horse starts talking:
“If you want to fulfill your wish, you must ask your father for the sword, lance, bow, arrows, and garments he used to wear when he was young; AND you must take care of me and feed me with your own hands for six weeks and give me oats boiled in milk.”
So, the horse, the father’s clothes and prince’s desire to reach to “the other side” are the successful resources that bring eternal life.
The father’s clothes represent our genetic upbringing. We are who we are, with our unique genetic signature thanks to our parents. In astrology, Chiron is related to our genetic upbringing and DNA.
Feed the Hungry Horse
What about the hungry horse? The horse represents those resources we choose to cultivate, methodically, with faith, with perseverance, even when our progress is unnoticeable.
The man who takes care of the hungry horse and unleashes his greatness is a beautiful expression of Sun conjunct Chiron. The horse itself is Chiron.
The hungry horse may get overlooked, or even despised, but he is in your stable for a reason. He has survived time and hardship because he has something to offer, and he can offer something nobody else can, IF you take care of him.
The horse is a symbol for what you leave behind for eternity, your contribution to the world, your legacy.
Like any great piece of art, your skills and attributes will outlive you, to feed many more generations to come.
Who Wants to Live Forever?
Let’s get back to the story.
“After a long trip, the prince finds what he is looking for, and reaches the land of eternal youth. Over there he marries a beautiful princess and lives a life of bliss.
He does not know how much time has passed, as he stays forever young. But one day he remembers his parents and the house where he grew up, and the longing for his family, for his roots, overwhelms him.
He decides to go back to see his parents and the people he grew up with one more time. On his way back home, he notices that everything has changed.
The forests have turned into cities and he could not recognize anything anymore. When he finally reaches the place where he grew up, he notices with sorrow that everything is now a ruin, and everyone in the court has been dead for a long time.
And then the horse tells him:
“I brought you here master, but I will now go back from where I came”.
The man decides to stay there and lets nature take its course. Mortality finally catches up with him and he dies”
What does the fairy tale tell us? It was only the horse who had a chance to live forever. No human being is immortal, and sooner or later we will all turn to dust, but our gifts to the world will always stay.
Sun conjunct Chiron asks you to pay attention to the wounded, hungry horses.
They might be hard to notice somewhere in the corner of your stable full of beautiful and healthy horses.
Take care of them and feed them with your “own hand” because it is only through them that you have the chance of eternal life.
The next Venus Chiron conjunction will take place in Aries, on April 23rd 2019.
“How did you know that you were meant to be a healer?
“Because I kept falling in love with broken people.”
“Then why are you alone?”
“Because I’m broken too, so I am falling in love with myself to get a taste of my own medicine.”
Kwabena Foli
When Venus is conjunct Chiron, we are being tested. The test we are being put through is one of endurance and compassion.
Is your heart “strong enough”, “trained enough” and ultimately “healed enough” to give and receive love?
The ultimate question Venus and Chiron in Pisces are asking is “how deep is your love”?
The journey of digging deep into your heart is the journey of your consciousness towards greater wholeness, greater balance, greater harmony and, ultimately, greater love.
Exposing that sore spot in your heart is not easy. And Chiron won’t give you any “magic pill” to make the pain go away. Chiron looks for the root cause, for whatever is unresolved, unreconciled, unhealed, buried deep within your heart.
So yes, your heart will crack open, and in the process, you may shed some tears. But there is hope at the end of the tunnel. Chiron is not only the wounder, Chiron is also the gifted teacher, prophet, and mentor.
Chiron’s symbol is the KEY – the magic key that opens any door, unlocks any secret and heals any pain. And what is the key? Your Wound is the key.
Your Wound is your Gift.
It is only when you finally embrace the Wound which is, in fact, your Gift, when you heal. You cannot remove the Wound (Chiron is called the wounded healer for a reason – Chiron’s wounds never really heal) – because by removing your Wound, you would be amputating a part of yourself.
In truth, nothing needs fixing. Your Would is part of your personal history, it is part of You. Whatever you are experiencing right now, it makes absolute sense at a higher order of existence. Your life is in perfect order and balance, even if you might not see it that way. You were born for a reason, and your life IS unfolding as it should.
And if you are ready to embrace the idea that nothing is wrong with you, during this transit you can discover a skill, a talent for the first time. A blind spot can become a strength. A shadow can turn into light. Shame can turn into authentic vulnerability.
Chiron’s vulnerabilities can create an intense magnetism – you can find yourself drawn to the promise of healing.
Ultimately, it is LOVE and only love that heals all the wounds.
On 29-30 of December 2018 Mars is conjunct Chiron, giving us a full “taste” of the Chiron medicine.
We cannot understand Chiron without Saturn. Saturn represents the teacher that looks after us and makes sure we are going to survive in a harsh world. But Saturn also represents our boundaries, our “material”, human limitations.
Saturn is the last planet visible with the naked eye – everything beyond him is “invisible”. Starting with Uranus, we enter a less tangible and more abstract zone, that affects less the individual, and more generations of individuals.
And here it comes Chiron. What makes Chiron so special (Chiron symbol is the “Key” for a reason) is that he orbits between Saturn and Uranus, between “what is visible” and “what is ivisible”.
In this way Chiron is the connecting link between the conscious archetypes of all the planets known from the ancient times, and the subconscious aspects represented by Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.
Chiron represents the instinct of the human spirit seeking to manifest itself and leave something immaterial behind. Our spirit seeking manifestations represents our “gifts”. Chiron is also a symbol of the wounded healer, and his role is to prepare us for the journey to the unknown. Chiron brings pain because we need pain to experience the higher vibration of consciousness.
Mars is the planet of action and assertiveness. Mars is the first planet to go around the Sun, as seen from the Earth’s perspective. The planets closer to the Sun-Mercury and Venus – never make a full circle around the Sun. Mars is the Hero that breaks through the boundaries of the “Spirit” represented by the Sun to make its own creation. Mars is the divine light of the spirit individualized. That’s why Mars rules the first sign of the zodiac, Aries.
The way Mars will bring to the surface Chironic themes is by brutally exposing our pain. Mars with Chiron are associated with shame, because Chiron exposes our very first pain, the pain of our existence. Mars stands for assertiveness, for our desire to put ourselves “out there”.
With Chiron, we will find that our ability to assert ourselves, to BE ourselves is obstructed. We are ashamed of who we are, we are ashamed to act and “get out there”. And we feel unable to defend ourselves.
The deeper significance of this dynamic is the difficulty to separate ourselves from “the outside world” – and when we don’t know where the limit sits, the outcome is either a drive to set these necessarily boundaries by “being aggressive” or a tendency to see “the other” as the enemy, the intruder, the “boundary setter”.
How can we know what is our place in this world when we don’t know where we stand? We ultimate fear of Mars conjunct Chiron is that by only being ourselves, we will hurt others.
It does not help that in Pisces, Mars become even less assertive – and in his lower manifestations, he can become ambivalent and passive-aggressive. But Pisces is also the sign of Compassion – and the transit of Mars and Chiron in Pisces is a GIFT, an opportunity to exercise and release that inner aggression we all have.
The key to healing is learning to turn the anger, the shame and the pain of being a mortal human into strength and compassion. The message is understanding that there is nothing to be ashamed of.
The theme of assertion becomes even more apparent if we think Chiron is also known as the “Maverick”. Chiron travels between Saturn (authority, rules), and Uranus (the rebel, the revolutionary) – and just like the maverick, Chiron follows HIS OWN course.
And now we come closer to a deeper truth. In his higher manifestation, Chiron does not stand for hurt, bully and shame. Chiron is a half horse, half human, a force of nature that has transcended his human limitations and has brought the gifts of nature to the Gods. Chiron is the sacred warrior.
But to reach these higher realms of Chiron, Mars conjunct Chiron will challenge us to heal the aggressive side of our nature. We need to learn now how to assert ourselves in a healthy way and stand our ground.
By expressing our inner aggression effectively and being firm but gracious, we can become teachers and mentor for other people dealing with the same issues.
Healing our aggression comes hand in hand with learning how to cultivate bravery. Because Chiron exposes Mars’ vulnerability, the tendency to cowardice, to punish ourselves for not trying harder, is very strong now.
Although painful, these difficulties can make our patterns of behavior more conscious and will ultimately lead to acceptance and healing.
In its highest expression, Mars – Chiron stands for energy and spirit coming together with a strong drive to take action, and leave something behind for those who will follow.
We won’t have this aspect in the next 60 years so this might be our very unique opportunity to learn about how to grow into a greater human being by taking a look a closer look at ourselves, and learning to accept ourselves with all our scars and imperfections.
The opposition takes place on the Virgo Pisces axis, the axis of self development and service. Because Jupiter is involved, the lesson we learn now is one of generosity and kindness. We can only give to others if we learn to give to ourselves.
Kindness ultimately is not a skill to be mastered, we all have it inside ourselves, but we can only cultivate it if we accept the idea of being without any expectations.
We have a Grand Water trine with Mercury in Cancer, Mars in Scorpio and Chiron in Pisces.
During this transit we feel more at ease to express our emotions, even those we kept buried inside for years and years. The energy is very healing and flows – literally – like water.
To get the best of this transit, tune into the healing powers of water. Go by the water if you have the possibility, and if not, try a meditation that is centered on water, or simply listen to the sound of a river steam of to the sound of the waves.
A meditation you can use to tune in:
Find a quiet space inside your home or outside in nature. Start by breathing deeply to calm down your mind. Then imagine you are next to a stream, or by the sea. Listen to the sound of the water, and let it fill the space in the head until there is nothing but that sound. And then, as you go into the water, feel it against your skin. How does it feel? Then picture yourself as water. This could be a drop of rain, an ocean, a river, a waterfall, even a teardrop. Imagine yourself merging with the water, and let it guide you. Reflect on the feeling of being one with the water until you feel relaxed and at peace.
Intimacy is the bond that grows when we learn to express our own thoughts and feelings, and in the same time carefully listen to the other.
The following days are some of the most intimate days of the year:
Sun is conjunct Mercury in Cancer
Venus in Cancer is trine Mars in Scorpio
Slowly Venus and Mars will approach Chiron to form a beautiful, intimate and healing
Water Grand Trine
Sun is our identity, and Mercury, Venus and Mars are personal planets. We don’t have very often all these bodies in sync in the same time, AND in water signs. The energy is very caring and intimate. We crave deep emotional connections with others, and because Mercury is in cazimi with the Sun, and Mars just turned direct and is more powerful than ever, we also dare to express our needs and desires.
In a relationship or single, these days make sure you have contact with other people, even at a platonic level, even only for handshake, because you need this human contact, and you are likely to benefit a lot from it. Being intimate can trigger feelings of vulnerability, but that’s ok. Stay with them and let your heart break open. Some hurtful things have to be let go so all that is left is pure love.
Sun is our identity, and Mercury, Venus and Mars are personal planets. We don’t have very often all these bodies in sync in the same time, AND in water signs. The energy is very caring and intimate. We crave deep emotional connections with others, and because Mercury is in cazimi with the Sun, and Mars just turned direct and is more powerful than ever, we also dare to express our needs and desires.