The Planet Venus

The Planet Venus has been given many names throughout history. It has been called the evening and the morning star, the dawn star, Eosphorus, Hesperus and Lucifer. It is the planet closest to Earth and has been called Earth's sister planet, even her twin. It is easily seen in the sky in the evening and morning and is the brightest "star" in the heavens. It was second only to the sun and the moon in significance by the reckoning of many ancient cultures.

Sumerian hymn to Innana addressing the planet Venus:

''To her who appears in the sky, to her who appears in the sky, I want to address my greeting, to the hierodule who appears in the sky, I want to address my greeting, to the great queen of heaven, Inanna, I want to address my greeting, to her who fills the sky with her pure blaze, to the luminous one, to Inanna, as bright as the sun, to the great queen of heaven.''

Planet Venus; bringer of disaster?

In ancient times, Venus was associated with disaster and people offered human sacrifices to Venus in order to calm its fury.

''You make the heavens tremble and the earth quake. Great Priestess, who can soothe your troubled heart? You flash like lightning over the highlands; you throw your firebrands across the earth. Your deafening command … splits apart great mountains.'' (Sumerian)

''And when it [Venus] newly emerged, much fear came over them; all were frightened. Everywhere the outlets and openings of [houses] were closed up. It was said that perchance [the light] might bring a cause of sickness, something evil when it came to emerge.'' (Aztec, as reported by Franciscan Monk Bernardino de Sahagún,

The planet has also been associated with the Goddess Eos, as the morning star, and the two torches of Hecate, as it appears in the morning and evening.

Venus in Astrology

Venus is the ruling planet of Taurus and Libra. In Roman mythology Venus, was the goddess of love and beauty, famous for the passions she could stir among the Gods. Likewise, the calm, beautiful surface of white clouds that the planet Venus presents hides its hot, dense atmosphere and intense volcanic activity! Venus orbits the sun in 225 days, spending about 18.75 days in each sign of the zodiac. Venus is the second brightest object in the night sky, the moon being the brightest.

Astrologically Venus is associated with the principles of harmony, beauty, balance; the feelings and affections, and the urge to sympathize and unite with others. It is involved with the desire for pleasure, sensuality, personal possessions, comfort and ease. It governs romantic relations, marriage and business partnerships, sex (the origin of the words 'venery' and 'venereal'), the arts, fashion and social life. The first-century poet Marcus Manilius,described Venus as generous and fecund, and the lesser benefic.

In medicine Venus is associated with the lumbar region, the veins, parathyroids, throat and kidneys. Venus was thought to be moderately warm and moist, and was associated with the phlegmatic humour. Venus is the modern ruler of the 2nd and 7th houses, but traditionally ruled the 5th and 12th houses - the 5th house of play and the 12th house of self-undoing! Unsurprisingly, Venus was said to have 'joy' in the 5th.

Venus is the planet of Friday. In languages deriving from Latin, such as Spanish and French, the word for Friday often resembles the word Venus (viernes and vendredi respectively). Dante Alighieri associated Venus with the liberal art of rhetoric.

In Chinese astrology, Venus is associated with the element metal (or gold), which is unyielding, strong and persistent. In Indian astrology, Venus is known as Shukra and represents wealth, pleasure and reproduction.

Planetary Energies

Venus is associated with love, passion, beauty, grace, charm, aesthetics and also our personal tastes, pleasures, artistic inclinations and those things that bring us joy and pleasure. It is looked at in the natal chart regarding both relationships and leisure activities.

As Venus is often the first light that appears in the evening sky, it is often referred to as the "wishing star".

Symbols and Associations

The symbol for Venus is a circle with a cross below, similar to an ankh but the circle is more rounded. It is also the symbol for female. Venus is associated with the feminine in opposition, or cooperation, with Mars.

Animals associated with Venus include the sparrow, dove and swan.

Friday is Venus's day.

Alchemy & Magick

Venus energies are often utilized in love potions and spells and those related to healing, garden magic, immortality, relationships, harmony, artistic talent, the creation of art and performances.

Herbs associated with Venus often have fragrant red flowers or fruit. Healing herbs that have astringent qualities, that are toning to the skin and/or affect the kidneys and urinary system are often associated with Venus as are any with aphrodisiac qualities and those that help balance the female system.

Venus plants include Alkenet, American Alder, Persimmon, American Styrax, Almond, Ambrosia, Angle's Trumpet, Angelica, Apple/Crabapple, Apricot, Artichoke, Asparagus, Pea, Baby's Breath, Beans, Bergamot, Birch, Birthwort, Bishop's Weed, Bitter Melon, Bramble, Blackberry, Blue Vervain, Broccoli, Brugmansia, Brush Box, Buckbush, Bugleweed, Burdock, Cabbage, Gooseberry, Cardamom, Cashew, Catsfoot, Lesser Celandine, Cherry, Cinquefoil, Clover, Coconut, Collard, Coltsfoot, Columbine, Cowslip, Cucumber, Daisy, Damiana, Datura, Desert Four O'Clock, Dianthus, Dropwort, Sumac, Elder, Filbert, Garden Sorrel, Geranium, Gobo Root, Goldenrod, Gooseberry, Great Blue Lobelia, Groundsel, Gypsophila, Herb Robert, Heartsease, Hickory, Hollyhock, Honeysuckle, Jasmine, Jerusalem Artichoke, Jimsonweed, Kidneywort, Lady's Bedstraw, Lady's Mantle, Lambsear, Larkspur, Lettuce, Lily, Lotus, Mallow, Meadowsweet, Mescal, Mint, Moneywort, Monkshood, Motherwort, Mugwort, Myrtle, Olive, Passionflower, Peach, Pear, Periwinkle, Pistachio, Plantago, Plum, Pomegranate, Oak, Primrose, Pumpkin, Quince, Ragwort, Raspberry, Mangrove, Rose, Sanicle, Sassafras, Sea Holly, Selfheal, Sesame, Sicklepod, Silverweed, Soapwort, Sorrel, Spider Flower, Strawberry, Sweet Breath of Spring, Sweetgum, Sycamore, Tansy, Thyme, Toloache, Tomato, Tonka, Venus Flytrap, Venus Looking Glass, Verbena, Vervain, Violet, Visnaga, Willow, Witch's Butter, Woodbine, Yarrow

Gods Associated with the Planet Venus

Akka, Aphrodite, Astarte, Estsanatlehi, Freya, Frigg, Ilmatcuhtli, Quetzalcoatl, Innana, Ishtar, isis, Lalita, Lucifer, Medb, Qetesh, Renpet, Sukra, Selket, Tauret, Yolkai Estsan, Oshun

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