Venus: The Likeability Factor

Astronomical Characteristics:

Venus has some intriguing astronomical qualities. Venus takes approximately 4 weeks to move through each zodiac sign which tracks closely to the speed of the Sun as he moves through the signs. Unlike the Sun, who never turns retrograde, Venus turns retrograde every 18-19 months and stays retrograde for 40-43 days. This indicates that Venus retrogrades are less common than many other planets and usually doubles the time that Venus spends in an area of the sky. These factors indicate that we are likely to feel the Venus retrogrades deeply as they will impact our relationships and sense of creativity.

A day on Venus (one full rotation) lasts 5,832 hours or 243 Earth days. So, unlike Jupiter who completes a full rotation in 9 hours, Venus takes 8 Earth months to complete one day or one rotation. If we were to live on Venus, we would have 4 months of constant sunshine and 4 months of total darkness. These characteristics could indicate that areas of the chart influenced by Venus can be areas where our tendencies and patterns are slow to change.

Venus is often called our sister planet, and we can see why in the following statistics. Venus is only 5% smaller than the Earth and has about 82% of the mass of the Earth. Venus is also 5% less dense than the Earth. Therefore, we can see many common traits between the two planets.

Venus is also the closest planet to the Earth. At Venus's closest approach to Earth, she is about 23.7 million miles from Earth, where Mars at his closest point is 34.6 million miles from Earth. Venus' astronomical characteristics highlight her unique position in our solar system. Her movement through the zodiac and retrograde periods are essential to consider in our astrological analysis. In many ways she is like our planet yet different at the same time, perhaps this indicates that she can relate to us but see things in a different way, which we see as creativity.

Element: Water

Venus is associated with the element of Water. Water planets are characterized by the ability to connect and blend different elements and erode solid materials or areas in our life where we are stuck. This often manifests in the nurturing and the intuitive aspect of our personality. The Moon is also a water planet, but the Moon is related to the eternal cosmic ocean of creativity whereas Venus is related to terrestrial water. Water is vital for our survival but can also be a destructive force when it is not contained and its flow must be controlled. These same conditions apply to our emotions and desires.

Gender: Female (Reflective/Introverted)

Venus is considered to be a female planet which relates to Venus’ ability to connect to others on many levels including our intellectual, emotional and creative sides. Feminine planets are characterized by their ability to take in information and process the ideas before they share a response. Venus is associated with qualities of nurturing, intuition, and emotional balance. Venus can endow individuals with the ability to respond in a caring, thoughtful and intuitive manner.  

Guna: Rajas

Venus is characterized by the Rajas guna, which represents activity, passion and desire. We must not be taken in by Venus’ calm and reflective outer nature, underneath she has the strength of rushing water and the determination to achieve her ambition and desires.  Rajas is in a constant state of change and adjustment. Rajas never rests and is always seeking a better or different way. Rajas is connected to and driven by desire which is never satisfied and is always seeking ideas and experiences that are new and exciting. The Rajas guna associated with Venus underscores her dynamic and ambitious nature. This guna helps explain Venus's influence on that part of all of us who seek  activity, passion, and the satisfaction of our desires.

Personality Traits:

Venus is known for her charm, beauty, and artistic nature. People influenced by Venus are often affectionate, socially adept, and have a strong appreciation of aesthetics, how things look. They are creative and often enjoy the finer things in life. Venus is also a master in the art of subtle persuasion and unrelenting in pursuing her goals.

Common Careers:

Those influenced by Venus often excel in careers related to art, fashion, and beauty. They may also thrive in fields that require expertise in social interaction, such as public relations, hospitality, and entertainment.

Art, Fashion, and Beauty: People influenced by Venus seek out careers related to art, fashion, and beauty. These fields allow individuals to express their creativity and appreciation for aesthetics, which are key traits associated with Venus.

Public Relations: Venus's influence extends to careers that require social interaction. Public relations is a field where individuals can leverage their outgoing and diplomatic nature to build and maintain relationships with clients and the public. Venus gives the ability to maintain our position and persuade others to join our way of thinking, while the client never knows that  they have changed their mind. Venus's charm and ability to connect with others make her a valuable asset in this profession.

Hospitality: The hospitality industry benefits from Venus's nurturing and hospitable qualities. Individuals influenced by Venus are often drawn to careers in hospitality, where they can create welcoming and enjoyable experiences for guests. Venus's emphasis on emotional balance and intuition helps these individuals excel in providing exceptional service.

Entertainment: Venus's artistic flair and appreciation for beauty also make her influential in the entertainment industry. Those under Venus's influence may thrive in careers such as acting, music, dance, and other forms of entertainment where being personable and affable are essential qualities. Venus' ability to captivate and charm audiences is a significant advantage in these fields.

Putting It All Together:

When Venus is Strong: Quality over quantity

The native seeks to balance their desires and prioritize quality over quantity in personal, professional and creative endeavors. They lean into the depth of water and seek fulfillment from connection and intimacy in many forms. From this depth, the connection to universal themes is often expressed in creative expression through writing, painting, music, dance, sculpture, fashion as well as diplomatic and social programs.

When Venus is Weak: Quantity over quality.

When Venus is weak, the native will struggle to balance the powerful force of desire which will manifest turbulent emotions and chronic dissatisfaction.  When this happens, Venus will not be able to synthesize these factors into a larger understanding of the underlying motivations in a given situation. Their life can become a series of unsatisfying shallow relationships, and they may be forever chasing the next trend, belief system or miracle cure.

Summary of Venus the Likeability Factor:

At her Core, Venus’ placement in the chart indicates the likeability factor of the native. Venus reflects our ability to connect with others and understand their feelings and ideas. With this information we have the ability to put them at ease or put them on edge. Venus can give us the ability to persuade others to our way of thinking. This can lead to either positive or negative outcomes depending on our motivation. Venus can create great poets or great con-artists and seducers.  Venus influences many areas of life including friends, family, partners, lovers, colleagues, superiors and the public at large.