Venus Transit to Aries (23rd May -- 18th June 2022): Love/ War/ Confusion?

 


There is confusion among astrologers between tropical Venus and sidereal Shukra. The shiniest of all celestial entities in the evening or morning sky, Shukra is represented by shades of sparkling/ resplendent white (diamond). However, the attributes of Venus and Shukra have been in a flux, with both tropical and sidereal attributes becoming merged within contemporary astrological predictions. While tropical (Western) astrologers consider Venus to be the source of positive femininity that brings abundance, fertility, money, luxury, and pleasure (both food and sex); Shukra in sidereal, Indian astrology is more complicated. The experience of Shukra is not always positive, as Shukra is the chief mediator of relationships -- and he can mediate in both ways -- love and war. His role is hence limited and akin to technology, though he (unlike Mercury) is not interested in technology per se. Shukra is masculine but passive, and is an advisor to the asuras, who are also passive and sluggish. Using an LOTR metaphor, Saruman, who was also known as the white wizard and wore sparkling robes is reminiscent of Shukra. Again, he was the god of Orcs, who were somewhat like asuras too, intimately associated with weaponry, fuel, and the use of machines and instruments. Perhaps the difference between Venus and Shukra lies in the fact that, while the West considers materialism positive, Indian astrology, traditionally-speaking, considers gross materialism negative -- something that results in lower and even lower rebirths, and consequent suffering. 

From the Indian astrological perspective, therefore, Shukra does not really bestow abundance. Instead, his influence brings bottomless and undifferentiated excess -- like the mountains of gold that Smaug the dragon slept upon in the Hobbit. And indeed, Rahu (Shukra's best friend) is exactly like that eternally controlling serpent Smaug, addicted to the power of gold. Speaking of Smaug, addiction to the power of gold and battling for it -- Shukra-Rahu yuti is also reminiscent of the temptations of the great dwarf king Thorin Oakenshield in the Hobbit, moved as he was by hubris, greed, aggression, strategy, and self-serving justice. But he was also greatly redeemed by his dedication to the cause of Durin's folk. This aim and journey took him to all, any, and every length, and his dedication was rewarded, as he was redeemed by his death in the end, as a martyr and hero. Shukra's abundance does not give rise to happiness or fullness. Neither Thorin, nor his father Thrain, and nor Smaug for that matter, were happy with gold. Instead, it turned them a little mad.
 
Shukra bolsters quantitative numbers, mass production, and the accompanying paranoia of loss, theft, loneliness, suspicion, over-taxation, bad investments, and punishment for unlawful hoarding. Those under a Shukra-Rahu yuti (conjunction) feel increasingly certain that they are unloved, despite power, and material gain. Shukra does not really bring fertility either. Instead, he represents fecundity, especially when in yuti with Rahu -- materials like petroleum cache, extensive mines of metal ore and diamonds -- precious stones, underground treasures that have curses attached (think mummies here)/ archaeology, darkness, bogs, mud, slush, soggy marsh, effluvial, and even waste material that through association with manure, is an enabler of fertility. Vegetation growth associated with Shukra cannot be imagined as a beautiful garden of sweet-smelling roses. Shukra is instead associated with wild plants and weeds, and with the rough undergrowth of prickly and scratchy leaves, thick, raw stalks and pulpy, fleshy flowers of bright colours that have a strong, sappy odour, reminiscent of stagnant waters (Lotus). Shukra does not actually bring about auspicious security either, but instead, brings avarice, acquisition, expenditure, investment, transactions, rare art/ manuscript/ sculpture/ artifact collections, bullion/ metal hoarding/ gizmo and gadget collections (especially swanky cars), acquired expediently through nefarious/ exploitative means. The love of Shukra is tinged too, with jealousy, suspicion, and a possessive control over resources and relationships. Most importantly, and especially when in yuti with Rahu, Shukra gives rise to a proclivity of transacting 'informally', by evading laws, rules, and taxes. 

Unsurprisingly, therefore, Shukra is a paap-graha of a potent, subtle, and insidious nature. He does not automatically confer positive results, even if he is vargottama in the birth chart -- inhabiting the same zodiac in both lagna/ rashi chart, as well as divisional Navamansh/ Dashamsh or other Hora charts. Shukra's result simply gets intensified, not bettered. Whereas the Moon (though also masculine) in Indian astrology represents auspicious feminine, and deeply fulfilling emotional love and understanding-accommodating relationships, Shukra brings intercourse (shukranu -- sperm/ semen) that has a robotic, mechanical, brittle, and even an androgynous quality to it. While a well placed Shukra (a chart where Jupiter, the Luminaries -- Sun and Moon, and Mars are strong) steers constructive and a positive life-balance, an aggressive Shukra, especially with strong Rahu yuti can be destructive. An aggressive and all-predominant Shukra-Rahu yuti may bring about impotence (from excess), childlessness (again out of the greed of excess), double families (married multiply with spouses unbeknownst to each other, distributed over different parts of the country/ world), separation from children/ spouse, betting and gambling, and food-sex-sleep-alcohol addiction that encourages passivity, narcissism, and over-consumption. Shukra-Rahu yuti in Libra is sometimes called Lampata-Dosha by astrologers, indicating to criminal-like tendencies arising from insatiability. But this depends on the ascendant. 

Continuing with the imagery of LOTR, if Shukra is Saruman, then Rahu is exactly the obsessive and anxious figure of Sauron, desperate to own the power of ornamental instrumentation that will set him free (like the ring of power). Rahu is disconnected from appreciating the innate worth, value, or beauty of materiality that Shukra presides over. Instead, Rahu craves only the power and freedom promised by materiality. The experience of Shukra-Rahu yuti is somewhat like 'The Devil' card in Tarot (Rider Waite deck), the 15th card of the major arcana that depicts a man and woman in bondage of their own addictions and desires. See the grape wine that is her tail? And he is provoked (his tail set afire) by none other than the devil himself. The man and woman are both sad-looking creatures, and are not even friendly with each other. Though they are nude, indicating to what business they have with each other, they don't even hold hands. They seem to resent each other, and have a mechanical and materially addictive relationship. Yet, they both need this addictive, co-dependent relationship that is evident from the little horns on their heads. They justify this addiction by showing off the chains that bind them to everyone, in throes of narcissistic self pity. But this is part of the deception itself, as the chains are very lose and can be removed. 

The reason Indian astrology considers Shukra a paap graha also has other reasons. There is a good-bad divide in Indian astrology, where Jupiter, the Luminaries, Mars, and to some extent Ketu, are on the good side. The bad side has Venus, Rahu, and Saturn, with Mercury, who has friendships on both sides too. There are, however, other complications with Shukra, associated with the location of the houses he rules: Taurus, and Libra (Shukra's Mooltrikona) in the Kaal-Purush axiomatic chart that always starts with the first house in Aries. Now, according to Indian astrology, the 2nd and 7th house of a chart are the Marak-sthanas, and the rulers of these houses are called Marakesh, or Marana-Karaka planets. While the 6th, 8th, and the 12th houses are the classic Dushthanas in a chart that signify vulnerability to diseases, enmities, accidents, and loss, Marak-sthanas and its ruler(s), the Markesh, are said to be the cause of these losses of the 6th, 8th, and 12th. This cause-effect analysis is influenced by the principle of Bhavat-bhavam in Indian astrology. Bhavat-bhavam is a principle that analyses the influence of planets and houses, based on their mutual relationships with the houses (or bhavas) they rule. These relations are analyzed in addition to the values these houses signify in the native's chart. For example, a chart that has the Moon placed in the 8th house (chandrashtama), is considered negative. But if the same native has Mars (a great friend of the Moon's) in the 3rd house, placed in either his own sign of Aries/ Scorpio or exalted in Capricorn, this auspicious placement resolves the problems of chandrashtama, using the Bhavat-bhavam principle. For in this case, Mars is 8th from Moon, who is 8th from ascendant. 

Returning to Shukra and his houses Taurus and Libra that are the Marak-sthana of the Kaal-Purush axiomatic chart, disasters waiting to happen in the Dushsthanas -- in the 6th, 8th, and 12th houses that are outside the native's control, nevertheless have a reason (like everything in life). These reasons are revealed by the position of the Marak-sthan and the placement of the Markesh in the chart. So, since the 7th house is 12th from the 8th house, it contains the seeds of the traumas in the 8th house, especially if the Markesh (7th lord) is placed in one of the Dushthanas, is retrograde, combust, or debilitated. The 2nd house is 8th from the 9th house, and hence, shows the nemesis of luck, manifested in the family where one is born -- one cannot change or choose one's family, or the circumstances of one's birth. In case the 2nd lord (Markesh) is debilitated, or conjoined with a functional malefic of the chart (planet unfriendly to the native's rashi or ascendant lord)/ ordinary malefic (Rahu/ Ketu/ Saturn), the native's helplessness becomes exacerbated. Now, as far as Shukra is concerned, Taurus and Libra are natural Marak-sthanas, and Shukra is a natural Markesh, who needs to be carefully treated, for he can easily torment -- even by giving excess. 

Let us move to Mars, since it is in Mars's Mooltrikona house -- Aries, where Shukra will transit and conjoin with Rahu. Rahu shifted to Aries for 18 months in mid-April 2022, and Shukra transits in Aries and becomes conjoined with Rahu between the 23rd May and 18th June 2022. Shukra in Aries will bring along his revolution of machine-mediation -- robotics, instrumentation, manipulation, technology, and strategy. Rahu loves all this for these are instruments of power, and soon Aries may become transformed into a war-planning room. Mars is naturally excited by the prospect of conflict and confrontation, and easily forgets reason and law, when lured by Rahu's provocation, convincing charm, and soft-spoken, urbane, rational-sounding insistence. Here, Shukra is ready, willing and waiting at hand, to provide the newest discovery of glistening guns and grenades, all packed in fresh straw and wooden cartons, ready for use -- screaming out to be used. This is too much provocation taking place in Aries, and for those with an already debilitated Mars in their chart, further in yuti with Ketu and/ or Rahu, they will witness/ be victimized by/ participate in gun/ explosion-related violence in the next two or three weeks. The good part in all this is, that Mars himself is with Jupiter right now, in Pisces. Mars and Jupiter were accompanied by a powerful Shukra till two days back, who has had plenty of time to plant seeds of conflict in his exalted state, despite Jupiter's presence. Mars, at this moment, is already travelling speedily away from Jupiter, following Shukra, and gathering speed, as he prepares to blaze into Aries to conjoin Rahu. He is looking forward to those shiny new guns, so lusciously smelling of machine-oil, fresh hay, and wood that Shukra has lovingly left there for him. This is a time, when some situations can seem like being between a rock and a hard place, where one can feel compelled and even blackmailed (putting nothing past Rahu here) into actions that one does not want to take. This may cause pain later.

Mars speeds towards the Gandanta crossover zone between Pisces and Aries and finally crosses over into Aries on 27th June, after Shukra has left for Taurus (18th June). There are three cosmic crossing-points in the zodiac between water and fire signs called Gandanta zones, where crossing planets feel the heat or the 'steam' of the fire as it contacts water. This steam generates enough power to make them change/ correct course. This space constitutes a precarious and liminal zone of transit, as we encounter and realize problems, resolve them/ or not, and/ or pay for them. What one exactly pays for, depends on the planet that is crossing Gandanta, where these transit points lie in one's personal chart, and the relationship between the planet in Gandanta with the lords of the houses specific to the crossing. These three Gandanta zones are located between Scorpio-Sagittarius, Pisces-Aries, and between Cancer-Leo. 

Well, Shukra after reaching exaltation in Pisces on the 20th and 21st of May, crossed the Gandanta between Pisces and Aries, and plunged into fireball, but innocent Aries, on the night of 23rd May. If anything, Aries reminds us of 'The Fool' (Rider Waite deck) that has been given the value of 0 among the 22 other major arcana cards. The Fool is childlike, naive, idealistic. He is a proverbial bull in the china shop, who is self-centred, hot-headed, playful, stubborn, optimistic, faithful (consider that Pomeranian), a believer in the future, and a terribly big risk-taker. Most importantly, he is both egoistic and trusting, and hence, extremely susceptible to bad advice, and the terrible provocation caused by Rahu in Aries (Angarak-Yoga). And we already know about those shining grenades planted in Aries by Shukra. This is a volatile situation.

What does this Gandanta crossover between Pisces-Aries (and between Jupiter and Rahu that currently inhabit Pisces and Aries) mean for Shukra? Aries is 12th from Shukra's own sign Taurus (a natural Maraka-Sthan), and Shukra entering Aries, will see a renewed spurt of social activity with new online friends, or with foreigners, and out-of-the-box friendships (both old and new), new localities, countries, communities, and neighbourhoods. There has obviously been some new piece of learning/ information/ association, that has emerged from last month's Solar and Lunar eclipse. These learnings (especially the Solar that coincided with the shift of Saturn into Aquarius) also took place in Aries, and tantalizingly hinted at a promise without really making it. Though not too thrilling a situation, the Gandanta crossed by Shukra will perhaps lead to the explicit materialization of such promises, and perhaps even illusions and confusions surrounding these learnings. But we will have to wait till Mars crosses the Gandanta into Aries on June 27th, to know what we really think or do. And even then, our decisions may be tentative, illusionary and uncomfortably confusing -- not the final word on the matter, due to Rahu's present placement in Aries. We will have to be cautious. Not everything we hear is information. A lot of what is peddled as information is actually perception, prejudice, and fear -- a false sense of injustice that keeps our anger and anxiety (adrenaline) beefed up and running. This confusion of feeling extremely triggered, without knowing the basis for it, may intensify between the 14th and 18th of June, that sees the exact conjunction between Shukra and Rahu. A resonating feeling of desperately wanting to act, may repeat itself, when Mars crosses exactly over Rahu in the last week of July and the first week of August.    

I don't usually make predictions. But maybe it would be important to make a few suggestions here -- both encouraging and precautionary, since from all that I have written, our life looks a bit doomed with this complicated transit. Well, it isn't. It all depends on your ascendant and on your own awareness of the limitations to expecting an idealistic outcome from personal relationships. We may get hurt if we are too idealistic at this point. I do believe (though I also hope I am wrong) that Putin's war in the Donbas is likely to rapidly intensify and reach an unprecedented scale. Remember, Putin is not fighting an ordinary war. This is also a war of love, fueled by his feeling of possessiveness about Ukraine's belonging to himself (and Russia), accompanied by his constant suspicion of the 'West' and jealousy of NATO. There are similarities between Putin's war in Ukraine and the confusion between war and love. We fight our hardest against those we love, so that we can rescue or retrieve our own love from their control, and from their rejection of our ego, that makes us feel vulnerable and angry. 

This Gandanta crossing and conjunction between Shukra and Rahu in Aries, with Mars rushing towards the same Gandanta and into yuti with Rahu (his enemy), that just hosted Shukra (also Mars's enemy), has the two additional control mechanisms of Saturn and Ketu affecting it. While Saturn might be good for us, Ketu may bring heartbreak, disappointment, and finally withdrawal and apathy. Saturn looking at Aries with his third aspect gaze from his own Mooltrikona sign of Aquarius, is himself hovering somewhere at 1 degree of Aquarius. Therefore, from there, he has more control over the Gandanta zone between Pisces and Aries (especially the first degree of Aries), that is exactly third from himself. Saturn will especially control the 'informal' and 'easy' negotiation aspect between Shukra and Rahu in Aries, forcing Shukra into conformity with the law, paperwork, and into following strictures and limitations (force Shukra to submit a list of those guns and grenades he bought, to the relevant authorities). Your sexual/ romantic partner may suddenly propose marriage in no-uncertain terms, and your hedging may lead to misunderstanding and/ or break/ break-up, or distancing (maybe for the better -- not every timeout is bad). 

As the Shukra-Rahu yuti is taking place in Aries, we also have Ketu aspecting Aries with his 7th gaze from Libra, Shukra's Mooltrikona sign. Ketu's control over Libra, seventh from Shukra himself, who is with Rahu in Aries, could lead to sudden squabbles that are to do with emotional expectations within old, longstanding family/ friendly/ love relationships. There is also a large chance of miscommunication here, since Mercury sitting in Taurus (also Shukra's sign) is both retrograde and combust. Please don't jump to hasty conclusions over miscommunication/ absence of communication here. Ketu always leads us to question our old/ past/ last birth relationships that are so much part of us by now that we take for granted, even as Rahu brings in new relationships from outside that may initially feel exciting, and distract us away from the pain of breaking with the past. And yet, in our alone moments, it is this past that haunts us. We feel confused about what broke, where, and why? And whether it was at all real, if it broke so easily! This feeling may become exacerbated as we nurse and harbour past resentments and grieve a bit. While grief is good, resentment is useless. Life, as the character of Irrfan in 'Life of Pie' perceptively said, is a long process of learning how to let go and give up. Like flowers, things bloom and then die. As do relationships. Everything and everyone has a shelf life. And everything that is worldly, and believe me, emotional relationships are a vibrant part of the worldly, will all die. But nothing is permanent in Indian astrology, and the world -- duniya -- is also transient. Love remains, and Mercury will soon turn direct (3rd of June) and transit quite happily into his own house of Gemini, unfettered by obstructions. There will still be time, by Mercury's grace, to put wrong communications right, explain misunderstandings away, and soothe old hurts.         

So, what if this combination is taking place in your Kendra houses: the 1st, 4th, 7th, and the 10th? I would say, balance relationships both at the work place and at home, with family -- especially with parents/ spouse. This is not an occasion for one-up-man-ship, power-games, manipulating, or taking personal credit for team work. Instead, especially if one is in the co-workers domain, treat everyone to sweetened milky liquids (milkshakes).  

What if this combination is taking place in your trikona houses: the 5th and the 9th? I would say, take care not to have too many idealistic expectations from relationship with your students, children, teachers, and longstanding old mentors -- however irritating they are! Oblige, say thank you, and cook milk pudding/ kheer. 

What if this combination is taking place in your upachaya houses: the 3rd, 6th, and the 11th, called so, because of their effects that become more positive with age? This is not the time to fight, or confront your neighbors, cousins, siblings, colleagues, old contenders, enemies -- both younger and older, as you perhaps become suddenly privy to new information. Did you just find out that your colleague submitted a bad review about your work, behind your back? You may think, that this was super sneaky of them. But they were trying to be unbiased, sincere, and truthful, despite their genuine friendship with you -- thank them for their valuable feedback instead, discuss their critique in a positive spirit, and treat them to kalakand, and barfi (or cheesecake)!  

What if this combination is taking place in your Maraka-sthana: the 2nd and the 7th? Again, no confrontation and one-up-man-ship or breakup with family and spouse, or business partners, born out of new (mis)information would help. Did you hear from others that a business partner/ romantic partner (past or present) got drunk at a party, and gossiped about you? It happens! And hey, you got feedback for something that was really going wrong -- something they did not say earlier, for fear of you, or for fear of hurting you. Now the way it has come out, has naturally led to misunderstandings. Don't slight or castigate them for this. Take it in your stride. They have been bottling stuff up for a while, only because they cared for you and the relationship. But keep your dignity as well -- as gently as possible. No further need to embarrass them by cooking/ offering sweet, milky treats. They are already awkward, vulnerable, and angry -- just as you are. Just let it go, and leave it be. Have no emotional expectations from them or the situation. Maybe they are going through a phase, and need time and space. And you can take your own time too. If you feel unloved and disrespected at this point, it is not the truth. Its a feeling, and a transit. They will zero back to you after Mercury turns direct and goes into Gemini.  

And finally, what if this combination is taking place in your Dushsthanas: the 6th, 8th, and the 12th? Well, contrary to what you fear, this is not so bad. The 6th is anyways an upachaya house, and if you are into your 40s, this is the time for diplomacy. Sometimes compromises are OK and productive, and being stubborn is not always righteous. Discretion is indeed the better part of valour! If the conjunction is taking place in your 8th house, then this is a time for a new research idea, or for a new project. Do you have the sudden idea of taking a sabbatical, and writing that book, you always wanted to write? Or is it about making a decision to reorganize your life, to finally have a baby? If this conjunction is taking place in the 12th: Did you want to go abroad for a business deal? An exhibition of your industrial products/ artistic work? Now is the time you can plan. Jump for it, if that great Art Gallery in New York asks you to come over for an exhibition, along with some of your works. Its a great chance with plenty of new contacts ready to be made. But at least till Mercury does not turn direct on the 3rd of June, check all your documents, bookings, and appointments! 

Best of luck! 

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