Many people have written regarding the very rare occultation between the Sun and Venus on June 8, 2004. As Venus crosses the face of the Sun and we observe it from our station here on Earth, we ask, "How will this affect me?" I venture to say, "How, in fact, does it affect the general trend and environment around our current economic as well as emotional situations?" First, however, here is a little history. The following history comes from an article written by Richard Monastersky entitled, "The Venus Hunters".¹

This rare occurrence, last took place in 1882! According to Monastersky’s article, he stated that this was a time 'when it created such a stir that spectators jammed Wall Street, and global powers opened their coffers in fits of patriotic frenzy to see which nation could beset observe the phenomenon from remote spots on Earth'. The article continues with several noted events in which explorers, astronomers and hunters of such phenomenon set out to see this magnificent event. It also explains how several of these explorations, plagued by difficulties, and unexpected events, failed or missed the event.

I think it is interesting that the author uses the word, hunters, in his title. Venus, long known for her relationship ability and collaborative spirit, doesn't seem to fit into any suggestion of a hunting model.... However, when Venus is in the position in which she currently finds herself, she becomes a hunter, as she shifts to a rising planet after June 8 and rises before the Sun! This is a far more aggressive Venus than the one described in traditional literature. When one thinks of Venus, we are reminded of the famous painting by Botticelli where Venus rises from the sea foam, riding on a seashell, and surrounded by all things elegant and delicate.

In this case, we don’t have anything delicate. In many ways, Venus, which represents such things as our values, our possessions, our needs, our relationship requirements is baptized and then purified by the fire of the Sun, thus purifying and cleansing that which we believed we could not live without before! This activity is far from delicate.

We have power, we have strength, as well as energy drains not because of illness or allergies or poor diet, but because our visions and our desires are clouded, burned, waiting for a moment of purification and cleansing so we can get on with it! The cost of keeping anything material is a hard won lesson right now as seasons change, jobs change, and costs go up, particularly in such areas as liquids, particularly that of oil and water. These difficulties, these challenges push us out of comfort zones and Venus is the planet that rules comfort! So, what shall we do?

Whew! That is some pretty intense energy. In addition, we see Venus at a precise opposition to the planet Pluto, which represents death, purging, and then, ultimately, resurrection of all of those things that its counterpart, Venus, represents. This action continues throughout June and then requires the remaining summer months for completion and forging new trailblazing directions in career and relationship. There are long overdue possibilities and as is always the case with any planet that dances with Pluto, we are required to make some pretty scary choices, or, as Duncan Nanney of South Bay Astrological Society states, "When we think we've done it all and something still seems missing in our spiritual path, it may be time to turn to the one thing we have avoided most in our lives in order to complete our journey. This is where Pluto comes into play, the mirror nobody wants to look in... and, thus, forces us to play our last card."²

This period, marked by June 8, 2004 in the early morning hours in the United States is a time for meditating on what works and what doesn't. The time prior to this is marked by an intense need to purge our environment and our belongings and those things that fill our lives with just one too many things! A good move, a good cleansing fast, a good housecleaning are all in order to set the stage for all things new.

As summer unfolds and Venus returns to the same degree of the zodiac around July 22, 2004 and Pluto begins to regain his motion around August 31, 2004, we see opportunities to make choices that involve risk, requiring courage and just plain old fashioned guts. Make those choices and return again to yourself and that part of which is, sweet, and, yes, delicate.

¹ http://www.scialli.org/newsPDF/venus.pdf The Chronicle, May 14, 2004.

² South Bay Astrological Society June 2004 newsletter, www.astrologyclub.org

© Georgia Stathis 2004