Today is Shukravaar per Vedic astrology which is the Day of Venus, symbol of love, peace, and gentleness. Venus is a planet of vitality and resourcefulness which lifts our spirits! The Aries New Moon today also falls in the nakshatra of Venus called Bharani, which represents death and rebirth in the process of creation. This is an important topic now especially in the season of springtime in the northern hemisphere and more importantly, as Venus is undergoing its own process of death and rebirth right now as it transitions from Morning Star to Evening Star in the coming months.

Having passed from the morning to the evening sky in late April, Venus will now remain out of view, hidden in the solar glare, for about two months, as it makes its slow passage on the far side of its orbit from the Earth. From around July 13, 2016, Venus will become visible in certain latitudes shortly after sunset. It will then remain as the Evening Star for about 263 days (until March 2017);  after that, it will become invisible for a little more than a week; then it will reappear as the Morning Star and remain in that apparition for about 263 days, and then disappear again behind the Sun for almost two months once again.

When Venus is invisible, the mythic goddess has descended to the underworld and this emblematically reflects a period of spiritual renewal when our planetary and individual life force is necessarily rejuvenated. This also manifests as a cycle when we can become more aware of and transform our psychological shadow in the search for wholeness. Some of this shadow material is related to the qualities of a “combust Venus” which is what we have here when Venus is too close to the Sun and invisible. This occurs when Venus has a 10- degree orb when going direct (as now), and an 8-degree orb when retrograde (which happens around its Morning Star apparition).

In a Venus combust cycle (or when Venus is combust in the natal chart), we are prompted to really examine our sense of personal value. There can be some frustration in expressing or fulfilling our emotional needs and feeling appreciated in relation to others. Relationship needs of Venus may be overshadowed by the Sun’s need for individual expression. We can feel more frustrated and self-critical than usual at this time. It is thus a very important cycle in which to explore and cultivate self-value and self-love, and to root out the inner enemies of hatred, fear, obsession, and alienation by developing a stronger inner connection with Spirit.

Combustion in Vedic astrology is called astangata. In the Vedic calendar (panchanga), the period of Venus combustion from late April to July 13, 2016 is considered to be an inauspicious, stressful, or ineffective period for starting new commercial ventures, partnerships, speculation, and marriage. I feel that the time when Venus is Cazimi, within 17 minutes of the Sun, is actually a time when the negative qualities of combustion are overridden and when the highest qualities of Venus are made manifest. Cazimi is a Medieval astrological term that is used to refer to planets that are so close to a conjunction with the Sun that they are “in the heart” of the Sun and become wholly lustrous and auspicious. These dates are June 4-6, 2016.

Overall the entire Venus combust cycle is a time when our karmic curriculum revolves around strengthening the power of love. And this starts and ends within.