Beginning May 15th and running through June 27th, Venus will be in
retrograde.
Retrograde, the apparent reverse position of a planet from Earth’s view, is
a phenomenon we are just beginning to understand and use in a productive
way. With each planet, the retrograde means something a little different.
For instance, when Mercury, the messenger planet  is retrograde, people seem
to “know” it intuitively, because that’s usually when communication and
transportation break-downs occur more frequently.

When Venus turns retrograde, we take a closer look and may reverse our
feelings on things that once were pleasing to us — our core values.  This
may point to relationships, investments and possessions. Do they still mean
the same to us as they once did? Do we still need them, and if so, do we
need to make adjustments in order to preserve them? Are we paying a higher
price to have them than we know? So, if the things we value most in life are
under microscopic scrutiny during the Venus retrograde period, we might even
adopt an ancient practice that was in place for the Venus retrograde period
and try to live without those “things” or live in a much simpler way during
this time period. As to relationships — it’s not necessary to live without
them — but it might be helpful to spend more time in solitary, in a place
that allows us to listen to the heart’s promptings, without too much outside
distraction or interference.

Venus goes retrograde once every 1.6 years
…(a mathematical value known as “phi”). At a fixed position in the sky,
Venus will begin to slow its speed, appear to stop and reverse direction
before she turns back around and picks up normal speed again. This year it
happens for 44 days. Most of the time it occurs between 40-42 days. If we
were to mimic the pattern of Venus, we too might do likewise. The 2012 Venus
retrograde cycle is more important one than we’ve had for more than a
century, since incorporated into it is the Transit of Venus (see
www.transitofvenus.org).

The “Transit of Venus” — June 5-6, 2012
In 2004 we witnessed the first transit of Venus in our lifetimes. This is
the second, as they always transit in pairs. What is the transit of Venus?
It’s akin to an eclipse. When we view an eclipse of the Sun by the Moon, we
are used to seeing the solar disk partially or entirely in shadow because of
their relative size. With Venus, we will observe a small black dot moving
across the solar disk, similar to the image below, taken by NASA during the
2004 Transit.

Venus Transit 2004

Venus changes phases and changes signs
At the occurrence of the Venus transit in June, Venus will move from an Evening Star where it has been shining ever so brightly for these last eight months, to a Morning Star. That means that you will not be seeing it shining brightly after sunset in the western sky for awhile. Now, look for it in the east, before sunrise, about a week to ten days after the June 5th cazimi,  when Venus, moving in retrograde motion, “kisses” the Sun, moving in direct
motion. This is a conjunction and for a few hours will be a “cazimi” at which point the Gemini Star Point will occur. The Venus Star Point (R) is what is produced from this kiss of Venus by the Sun. It is one of five Morning Star cazimis that will, over an eight year period, trace an almost perfect pentagram – five pointed star – around the zodiac. The last Morning Star cazimi occurred 1.6 years ago — October 28, 2010 — when the Scorpio
Venus Star Point was initiated. In observing the effects of the cazimi, it is clear that they are powerfully energized, sensitive points which will respond to transits by other planets passing over the point. For an indepth analysis of this point, see _Venus Star Rising: A New Cosmology for the 21st Century (2011, Sophia Venus Productions).

If you know the sensitive degrees of your own chart, check out the table
below to see how Venus and her Star have been orbiting in your own personal
world for these past eight years. Keep in mind that the Venus Star Points
referred to in this way are usually NOT your natal Venus position, though in
rare cases they can be, when you are born very close to the Venus Star Point
date. If you know the zodiac, draw a circle with the twelve signs and
connect the dots between these degrees. A beautiful five pointed star
appears. This is unique to Venus — and though the other planets have their
own beautiful patterns, none other than Venus creates this five-pointed star
in its orbital cycle.  MS=Morning Star; ES=Evening Star:

Jun 8 2004       MS       17 Gemini 54‘
Mar 30 2005    ES         10 Aries 31‘
Jan 13 2006     MS       23 Capricorn 39‘
Oct 27 2006     ES        04 Scorpio 11‘
Aug 17 2007    MS       24 Leo 50‘
Jun 8 2008      ES        18 Gemini 43‘
Mar 27 2009    MS       07 Aries 15‘
Jan 11 2010    ES         21 Capricorn 32‘
Oct 28 2010    MS       05 Scorpio 30‘
Aug 16 2011   ES         23 Leo 18‘
Jun 5 2012     MS       15 Gemini 45′
Mar 28 2013   ES        08 Aries 10′
Jan 11 2014   MS       21 Capricorn 11′
Oct 25 2014   ES        01 Scorpio 49

Other Planetary Activity accompanying the Venus Retrograde Cycle
There are some other very unusual planetary occurrences operating during the
Venus retrograde cycle, including:
May 15        Venus turns retrograde
May 20        An Annular Solar Eclipse at 0 Gemini
June 4         A Partial Lunar Eclipse at 14 Sagittarius
June 5         The Venus Transit
June 20       The Summer Solstice
June 24       Uranus squares Pluto (1 of 7) — or — The First Drum Beat of
Change
June 27       Venus turns direct
All of these times are worthy of taking a ceremonial stance. Honor and pay
respect to them as if they were a holiday. One practice that is helpful
during amplified Venus periods such as this, is the Venus Mudra, as given on
pages 346-347 of Venus Star Rising. A short video appears here to help guide
you through it.

For more information on how the Venus Star Point is operating in the world
and in your personal life, check out the blogs at:
www.VenusStarRising.com

For personal appearances on the Venus Star Point, follow us on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/VenusStarRising

For more viewing about the Venus Star Point, check out YouTube — Venus Star
Rising channel.
To purchase a copy of Venus Star Rising, go
to:http://www.mirasmartshop.com/Venus-Star-Rising-A-New-Cosmology-for-the-21
st-Century_p_123.html

Venus Star Rising: A New Cosmology for the 21st Century

Arielle Guttman will be in St. Louis on March 23rd and 24th to present two of her well-known topics to an astrological audience there. On the 23rd she will present material from her new book “Venus Star Rising: A New Cosmology for the 21st Century”, published in 2011.  On the 24th she will be giving an all-day workshop on Locational Astrology, the subject of her 2nd book, published in 1989 with Jim Lewis, called “The Astro*Carto*Graphy Book of Maps”.  For more information, go to AASTL’s website: http://www.aastl.net/

KANSAS CITY ASTROLOGY PRESENTATIONS IN MARCH

Arielle Guttman will be addressing topics from two of her books in Kansas City on March 16th and 17th. On the 16th, she will present a power point slide show on “Mythic Astrology” and on the 17th, she will present an all-day workshop on “Venus Star Rising: A New Cosmology for the 21st Century”.  Follow the link to learn more.http://www.astrologykansascity.com/

VENUS STAR RISING:

A New Cosmology for the 21st Century

Presentation, Film & Book Signing – Santa Fe Astrologer Arielle Guttman will present a program about 2012, Venus and the other cosmic alignments that contribute to making 2012 the year of the Big Shift. The information about Venus is from her latest book, “Venus Star Rising: A New Cosmology for the 21st Century”, a breakthrough book, both for its astrological content and the information it contains about just how important Venus is in the historical annals of planet Earth.

“What will happen in 2012?”

A definitive answer to this question will be presented by a film director from White Buffalo Calf Productions. Based on original research correlating the cycle of rare Venus transits (aspects of the Venus Star) with significant volcanoes or quakes on planet Earth, we can expect a momentous eruption sometime in the latter half of next year.

A book signing will follow the presentation.

For more information contact: maka@the beegoddess.com or phone 605-430-7139

Event will take place at: 2 Wolves Center (across from Tazza Cafe) 129 Kit Carson Road, Suite E, Bond Court

The Santa Fe Astrology Circle presents…

“2012 The Big Shift” a discussion of important astrological issues of 2012

Don’t miss an exciting program of  The Santa Fe Astrology Circle featuring presentations by three renowned astrologers. The event takes place: Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 6:30 pm at The Lucky Bean Cafe, San Busco Center, Santa Fe.

Astrologers Arielle Guttman, Heather Roan Robbins and Azlan White will address: “2012: The Big Shift”.  Topics include the 2012 Eclipse Cycle, the 2012 Venus Transit and the 2012-2015 Uranus-Pluto square.  After intermission, a panel of astrologers will be present to answer audience questions about 2012. Tickets are $17/advance and $20/door. You may purchase tickets on line at this site, or locally in Santa Fe at The Ark and at the Lucky Bean Cafe.

Preceding the program you are encouraged to try  delicious salads, soups, sandwiches and exciting array of teas from around the world, along with great coffee drinks and desserts that The Lucky Bean has to offer.  Come early and enjoy. Following the program, stay for music and dancing. It’s holiday time. Let’s celebrate the spirit of it!

Venus Transit/Mayan Tour – June 2012

Serpent Vision Quest IV – The Return of K’uKuulKaan: a ten-day journey to connect with the spiritual energy of the planet Venus, who is K’uKuulKaan.  One of the most important Cosmic Events to occur in 2012 is the Venus Transit which is interpreted by the Maya as the return of K’uKuulKaan (Venus) our twin planet who is returning to support us (Earth) through to the end of the Mayan Calendar date of December 21, 2012.

Follow us in the footsteps of K’ulKuulKaan, the revered Maya Teacher and witness The 2012 Venus Transit from Chichen Itza. Journey includes Maya ceremonies, workshops and visits to powerful ancient sites with guides: Maya Priest Angel Vergara, Astrologer/Author Arielle Guttman, Author/Priestess Cynthia Walker. June 1-10 in the Yucatan. For details: www.casakin.org or email: trudy@illuminado-tours.com

Wednesday, October 19th – 7 pm – Malaprops Bookstore and Cafe, 55 Haywood Street, Asheville, NC

Arielle will be doing a presentation of Venus Star Rising, followed by a book signing.

For more details, visit www.malaprops.com or call:  800-441-9829 or 828-254-6734

Friday, October 21st – 7 pm – Friends of Asheville Astrology Group – Venus Star Rising Power Point Show
http://www.ashevillefriendsofastrology.org/

At Earth Fare Westgate, 66 Westgate Parkway, Asheville, NC 28806. (In the Westgate Shopping Center. Join us in the Community Room. Contact Kim at 828-628-4007
Discover what the Venus Star tells us about the current time-period we are experiencing in history – an extraordinarily unique time in our lives – due to the important transits of Venus occurring in the 2004-2012 time corridor and the relationship of those transits to the Galactic Center. Learn how you can  “be a part of this change” by identifying your Venus Star Point (TM)  and how you can use it to enhance your life.

Contact: ashevillefriendsofastrology.org or KimMannine@aol.com

Saturday, October 22nd – 1 to 5 pm

Arielle will be doing a workshop on Venus Star Rising, location TBA

For the next few weeks four planets (the Sun, Moon, Venus and Mercury) will grace the sign of Virgo. Millions of jobs, large and small, are performed daily that for the most part go unnoticed and unrecognized. During this Virgo period, it is time to appreciate every bit of help from the people who have contributed their part to the daily business of keeping the cogs in the wheels of life turning. After all, Virgo is the sign of the Earth Goddess, and sits in the sector of the sky that glorifies the goddess of industry and the harvest.

NOTE: In Venus Star Rising: A New Cosmology for the 21^st Century, we learn how the planet Venus weaves a five-pointed star in the sky in its relationship to the Earth’s orbit. Each point of the star is associated with a particular Sun sign, which creates a Venus Star Point (VSP) that is strongly influenced by the Sun sign’s characteristics. Therefore, your VSP can have nearly as much influence over your life as your Sun sign. The Venus Pentagram passed through Virgo from 1875 to 1984. Because the Venus Star touches down on five signs at a time in creating its star, the population born during that century is comprised of about 20% Virgo Venus Star Point (VSP) individuals. That’s a lot of people, so chances are, you might be one of them.

(c) July 16, 2011

Long after the 75 chairs were put away and the lights dimmed, Star Talk was still going strong, streaming in my head into the following day. So I’ve attempted to gather up some resonant fragments of stated and yet unstated topics that were circulating around my cosmos, for consideration here.

August 15: The Venus Star is changing phases, signs and positions

We’ve been in the Scorpio Morning Star Phase of Venus since last October 28 and as of August 15, 2011 we will move into the Leo Evening Star Phase. Venus is currently invisible to us as she is at that crossroads between shining upon us in our morning skies and eventually gracing us in our evening skies. Now she resides within the beams of the sun — or combust. When she moves into the heart of the Sun and they kiss one another in what is known as cazimi on August 15, they will be joined by Mercury in a 3-planet love fest. During this period of invisibility, as Venus moves closer to the Sun, we are entering a Venus period, a time to celebrate Venus coming out of her warrior phase and into her lover phase — and a time to engage in Venus practices.  In Leo we can anticipate the celebration of the feminine,  of nature’s beauty, of artistic creations, love, of marriage, of childbirth, of our existing children, our creations, our playfulness and the sensuality with which Venus engages in any practice.

August 2011 marks the seventh passage of the Venus Star through the sign of Leo since it began transiting that sign 24 years ago in August 1987. The birth of the Leo Star at that time brought us the Harmonic Convergence, the period that was identified by the Mayan Factor as the doorway to a twenty-five year passage concluding in 2012 – of earth’s transition to a new dimensional portal – one that would allow the needed shift from a populace governed by a sacral center to a community of humanity becoming centered in the heart.  It is not an easy shift, but this forthcoming Leo Star period (August 2011 – June 2012) reminds us of the necessity of following a mind whose control center is housed in the heart rather than giving into the mind’s reflexes located in the cerebral cortex of the brain. The cerebral cortex of the brain is a more easily manipulated and seduced mechanism that allows us to think that lies are truth and thus begin to believe them. Contrarily, the heart was given one essential full-proof component that cannot be altered or tampered with: it doesn’t know how to lie. The mind may have taught it how to trick itself into covering up the lie, but the consequent suffering of that is certainly not worth the effort of attempting it. Want to pay your fair share of taxes? Offer them up to the heart.

What can we anticipate from the coming Leo Star? The 2011 Leo Star Evening Star constitutes the FULL phase of the 8 year Leo star that began four years ago  in August 2007 as the NEW phase and which will culminate in August 2015. We are now at the important midpoint, the turning the wheel of the full period into a new direction. The inception of the current eight year Leo Star period in August 2007 identified the actual implications of the dire economic conditions that would beleaguer the U.S. housing market, rippling around the world and spreading like an infectious disease to every other sector of the economy to the point of now, a near bankruptcy for the U.S. as the full phase of Venus rapidly approaches.  This full phase of the Venus Star Point, as in any full phase, depicts the most inflated build-up to the crisis, followed by a  subsequent release and reorientation. The good news? Something’s got to break – it must release and change direction on its way to the completion of its journey four years from now.

Mercury Retrograde –  August 2 to 26

Coincidentally in what is sure to be no coincidence is that Mercury turns retrograde in the earliest degrees of Virgo opposite to Neptune in Pisces on the day the government is asked to resolve the debt crisis.  A stationary Mercury about to move retrograde is in itself a time when misunderstanding, misdirection and confusion can abound. But add that to Neptune and Pisces and what emerges is a tangled cobweb of truth based on belief, unsupported facts and rhetoric which makes me believe that not one single person in Washington actually knows the bigger picture of this economic maze we’re attempting to navigate through – something like a DaVinci style puzzle box that once open, one finds many other layers to unlock with very little clues as to who holds the key. That, punctuated by Neptune itself all over the U.S. chart right now (natal Moon, progressed ASC, progressed Sun) will produce political proclamations, statements, resolutions and writs that may not make sense to anyone.

August is the month to welcome the triple Sun, Venus and Mercury alignment to Earth as a personal celebration and relief to an otherwise very tense drama that is still operating in the planetary sphere. Mars in Cancer, Pluto in Capricorn, Uranus in Aries  and Saturn in Libra are involved in a giant cardinal cross that will be triggered by the Moon once a week during the month and will no doubt provide lots of drama, tension, explosion and release. Look to Mercury retrograde, along with Sun and Venus in Leo, as comic relief and be creative about solutions to problems. Elect to move out of a box of conditioned actions that finds the same old repetitive responses totally not doing the trick. And, seriously, look to theater, entertainment, the arts and the playfulness of children to remind us of the elegance of this Leo Star when the will is aligned to creatively, spontaneously (from the heart) and intentionally reflect and act out the beauty of life and nature with the flair and beauty that Leo possesses.

The U.S. is having a Saturn Return — through November 2011

Every 29 years it happens: a Saturn Return that some of us experience as a wise and stern, sometimes cynical old professor forcing us to finish an assignment that we dread having to undertake. Ultimately we’re supposed to learn some sort of responsibility from that test or assignment, and here it is, aspecting the U.S. 8th House Sun which points directly to fiscal responsibility and the use of other people’s resources. For the U.S. right now, the transit of Saturn to the U.S. 8th House Sun and the concurrent transit of Pluto to its 8th House Jupiter is a cruel blow to a greatly inflated wallet that has now been shriveled to small coins and stale crumbs.  You, the holder of that sad and shrunken wallet, says: “Please give me one more loan. I promise I’ll pay you back.” But there’s no one left to borrow from who doesn’t hold a price on your head if you don’t pay up and pay up soon. Time, the nemesis of a Saturn period, is running out.

Saturn, in a double whammy of a transit to both the U.S. Sun (squaring it) and the U.S. Saturn (returning to it) makes this period doubly fierce and seem doubly doomed. But wait, isn’t Saturn in Libra, the sign of compromise, of mediation and of giving equal time to both sides of the issue? If Saturn truly lives up to the wise teacher that the sages of old have claimed it to be, the really right solution in keeping with Saturn’s reputation as an exalted aspect of stern but conciliatory wisdom in Libra is its ability to negotiate fairly with both sides. In other words, this present government has got to find a way to cooperate or we shall all perish. The consequences of both sides not giving equally to this battle is that the victor who uses coercion and bullying tactics to win only finds his own head on the chopping block the next time it comes around.  Without getting Biblical, you could say that Old Man Saturn’s song is something akin to “as ye sow, so shall ye reap”. So, the Republican Congress, the Democratic Administration and everyone in between, needs to swallow their pride, yield even if ever so slightly to the cause and condition at hand and take care of business.

© Arielle Guttman

June 13, 2011

Summer in Santa Fe is a time when people love to gather outdoors in the cool evening air – and there is no shortage of opportunities to enjoy outdoor music festivals, dancing on the Plaza, the Opera, etc. But tonight, as I sit and look out at the almost full moon in the evening sky, one of the first things I contemplate is that I actually can sit outside this evening. And for this I am grateful.

That’s because tonight there is no wind. For nearly two months, the wind has been blowing like crazy and the state has been in severe drought. Which makes sitting outside as much fun as being downwind of a bunch of kids in a giant sandbox, hurling the sand in every direction as fast as they can. And, for the past three weeks, the wind has also been delivering —straight to our front doors—the hideous smoke and ash from the fires burning in Arizona, near the New Mexico border.

In fact, when I reflect on Arizona, it makes me wonder what’s going on in  that great old state with the Grand Canyon and all those other fun places to visit (Sedona, Tucson, etc.). Because it seems like Arizona has had nothing but trouble for the past couple of years. So I turn to the locational maps and voila! There it is, right before my eyes.

Two years ago, in the summer of 2009, the planet Neptune crossed into Arizona. This was about the same time the new governor, Jan Brewer, came in. Neptune has been transiting the last few degrees of Aquarius for what seems like forever now, and Arizona sits smack into those last few Aquarian degrees on the geodetic map of the world. Now, Neptune is a planet of the sea—remember Poseidon and Pisces and all its watery associations? What’s it doing in the desert? Never mind that it’s hundreds of miles away from a sizeable body of water on the ground, there’s not even any water falling from the sky these days. How can the god of the sea possibly survive in the desert? Evidently, not very happily.

When Neptune entered Arizona two years ago, Jupiter was right beside it, with both of them moving through Aquarius. Seemed like it could be a propitious event, no? With the old and new ruler of Pisces aligned together. After all, isn’t Pisces a sign of compassion and humility and sensitivity?  But Jupiter, the faster moving body, didn’t stay long, leaving Neptune to fend for itself all this time. Neptune is associated with dissolution, such as the great power and force of water pounding against the rocky shore and slowly eroding its mighty cliffs. Could we then assume that Neptune is slowly eating away and eroding some facet of Arizona’s infrastructure?

The first thing to emerge was Governor Jan Brewer, who proclaimed open warfare on immigration. “Let’s build a great wall,” the governor said. Let’s show those illegals that they are not welcome here (even though they do all the jobs that the legal residents don’t care to do). From that came the Arizona boycott with several large conferences being cancelled, potentially driving Arizona’s economy right into the gutter.

Once that fire cooled down, the next thing you knew was that a deranged gunman shot nineteen people at an open political forum in Tucson. Six were killed, including Christina Taylor Green, age 9. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was the target, taking a severe gunshot wound in the head, but who is today recovering from what could have been a lifelong brain debilitation. Truly, a sad day for the nation, a very sad day for Arizona. That was January 2011, with Neptune still holding court in Arizona, but now joined by Chiron as well. Chiron is the gifted, wise healer/teacher whose lesson to humanity is that sometimes pain and suffering is the greatest teacher of all. It is what makes us human.

Now, we have fires raging out of control in Arizona and at last count, 469,000 acres have burned, fueled by heavy winds. Nearly 10,000 people have been evacuated from their homes and the smoke is blowing to neighboring states where we’ve been warned repeatedly not to go outside for very long if we are suffering from any kind of respiratory disease. Oh, and leave your swamp coolers on “OFF”. No problem, it’s only 105 in the southern part of the state and high 80s in the northern part of the state.

Neptune and Chiron will be dancing together, back and forth across the state of Arizona for another two years, until 2013. But wait, there’s more.

A very slow moving invisible planet named Transpluto has also been stuck in Arizona with no ability to leave for quite some time. Transpluto, as its name implies, lies beyond the orbit of Pluto (which is already far enough away) but seems to pack an even more powerful punch than Pluto does. Astrologers know Pluto to be a planet of power. Transpluto has been called a perfectionist, and has also been considered a planet of unstoppable power and force of transmutation. And, reflecting on the events going on in Arizona for the past few years, I’d have to conclude that there is certainly a very powerful force of transformation and transmutation going through Arizona now. Transpluto remains in Arizona until 2023.

As the planets travel from west to east on the geodetic map, all I can say to New Mexico is that the same grouping of planets is headed our way. Fortunately, by the time Transpluto gets to New Mexico (twelve years from now) Neptune and Chiron will be but a distant memory even if the wind is blowing them our way long before their due date. But tonight the moon outshines the smoke.

Geo Transits for Arizona - June 2011

Black Glyph: Transpluto

Purple Glyph: Chiron

Blue Glyph: Neptune