Wheel of Light

The two most significant astrological events this month are Venus turning retrograde on December 21, the same day as the Winter Solstice when the Sun enters Capricorn. The Winter Solstice was celebrated by many ancient cultures as the most important day of the year. It marked the time when the Sun had traveled as far south as it could go, turned around and was heading north. This symbolizes the return of the light; the promise that the growing season was coming back and that life would continue for another year. This could be used as a time to look deeply within, to define what we would like to achieve or accomplish when the warmth and promise of spring are renewed. This is probably the basis for making New Year’s resolutions based on the idea that we will have the time and resources to create new parts of our lives even as we maintain those that continue to have value.
This keys right into Venus going retrograde and how it will continue to move until January 31.  Venus pertains to three primary parts of our lives: values, relationships and money. Before we can affectively and accurately choose new directions or projects to begin in the New Year, it is helpful to re-examine these core issues. For example, in terms of values, what is important to us? What gives our lives meaning and a sense of well-being? If we don’t know the answers to those questions we are liable to create something that has outlived its usefulness or never had much meaning in the first place. Once our value systems have been re-defined and re-prioritized, we can allot a proper amount of our time and resources to implementing them in concrete ways.
Venus is primarily associated with relationships, especially in terms of what we need, what we offer and how we behave. When Venus is retrograde, it’s time to review those issues and patterns in our lives. If we are unhappy in a relationship, it can be easy to blame the other person. They aren’t doing it right or they are deliberately preventing me from getting what I need or appreciating what I offer. Sometimes we can be shocked by how much of this other person is unattractive or unacceptable. How could we have not known this after all these years?
The way out is to go within. Our primary focus needs to be our relationship to ourselves. It could be that our needs have changed or we have not effectively communicated the old ones. Maybe those needs are simply unrealistic in the relationship. When a planet is transiting retrograde we tend to experience its energy more subjectively than we do when it’s direct. Thus, instead of seeking the other person in a big-picture sense of who they are, we compartmentalize them. We don’t like this, even though we do like that, on and on. Very reductive and not very pleasant. Venus likes harmony; and when it’s retrograde, harmony can be difficult to feel or achieve.
Try not to make any major decisions about a relationship during this time. This isn’t a good time to decide to get married or to get divorced because of the limited, subjective way we may be observing the other person and our relationship to them. This is a good time, however, to allow the self to be completely honest about where we are in the experience. We may discover that there are real and serious issues that have been chronic problems but which we have not addressed with the other person. This is a time to at least bring them up for discussion, if not resolution. We should also be prepared for the other person doing the same thing. They might simply be dumping negative energy on us rather than doing their own homework. They might also, however, bring up chronic problems in our relationship seen from their point of view.
Obviously relationship problems are rarely easy to deal with as they often destroy harmony at least temporarily. They can also cause hurt feelings. Failing to address them, however, can lead to co-dependency and the stagnant toxicity that accompanies it.
So start this process by updating your self in the relationship. Then communicate the changes to your partner even as you suggest times and ways of at least defining things that you would like to see changed in the interaction between you. It will be important for the other person to come up to speed about the new you, let alone respond behaviorally to how you would like things to be different.
And of course, time must be spent contemplating what they are bringing up to you as well. This is a long process that will continue long after Venus turns direct.
Harmony also can pertain to the arts and aesthetics. With Venus retrograde, it’s not a good time for major purchases of luxury items or to make decisions about decorative changes to your home or wardrobe. Think about them, research possibilities, but don’t act.
Because Venus is concerned with money, this is also true about financial issues. Refocus your financial situation, especially in these difficult financial times. How are you earning money? How much do you need? Are you earning what you deserve?  Again, the value issue, this time in terms of self-value. This isn’t a good time to change jobs or even ask for a raise. It’s time for inner clarity, a time to make plans and define strategies for the future after Venus has gone direct. On the other side of the ledger, redefine your budget. Are you spending more than you can afford? Or are you spending money on things that you really don’t need or value? Sometimes we can bring our financial house in order more by cutting our spending rather than by adding more resources to spend.
Rio Olesky has been a professional astrologer since 1976. He is the author of “A Manual for the Modern Mystic” and “Astrology and Consciousness.” He offers both private readings as well as classes for both beginning and intermediate students. To make an appointment for a reading, call Rio at 707-887-1820. Check out his website: www.starwatcher.com.