| The Venus Occultations
of 2004 and 2012 Inside Astrology | by Bill Herbst This monthÕs column concerns an astrological event thatÕs already transpired (another topic took precedence last month). So, like someone who was out of town for a dear friendÕs birthday and must now send a belated present, I offer this with apologies. Better late than never, however, as will become obvious. On Tuesday, June 8, an extremely rare Venus occultation occurred, during which that planet retrograded into perfect alignment between the Sun and Earth (essentially forming an eclipse). From our vantage point, the visual disk of Venus passed right over the disk of the Sun. The astronomy here was not only spectacular, but special. These Venusian occultations occur in pairs almost exactly eight years apart, with each pair separated by more than a century. The last time such a pair occurred was in 1874 and 1882. The follow-up partner to the one on June 8 will take place on June 6, 2012. Venus eclipses were carefully noted throughout the 25 centuries of the Mayan Calendar, which is a favorite pet timeline for many occultists and New Agers. The ÒendingÓ of the Mayan Calendar (about which there is ample discussion in many articles on the internet) roughly coincides with the second of this pair of Venus-Sun eclipses in 2012. This particular occultation in 2004 featured an impressive array of symbolic energies, lining up the Sun, Venus, Earth and Pluto in an arrow pointing directly toward the center of the galaxy, which is impressive, to say the least. Therefore, the event was felt by some to hold great spiritual significance in a supremely positive way, as our solar power source was infused with Venusian vibrations of peace, love and harmony, intensified by Pluto, and amplified by the unimaginable power of galactic central. As usual, I had some reservations. Though IÕve worked in the spiritual realm for much of my life and am fluent in the various languages of metaphysics, my role is often that of Òthe loyal opposition.Ó While I, too, long for a more graceful state of affairs within and between human beings, I remain skeptical of miraculous or magical transformations of mass consciousness. The illusions of Maya come in all forms, including the glamour of spirituality. My personal observation is that authentic spiritual development is essentially quiet work and not glamorous at all, as in the Zen dictate to Òchop wood and carry water.Ó More importantly, this work is almost always individual and usually private. My earliest spiritual mentor was the Sufi mystic G.I. Gurdjieff, who admonished his students to avoid the passions of politics or movements for social progress. Most human beings, Gurdjieff claimed, were merely Òfodder for the earth,Ó and the effort toward acquiring the magnetic center of an immortal soul required oneÕs full attention. Those teachings were a significant part of my adolescence, and they still resonate for me 40 years later. Even so, I could not wholly accept them then, nor can I now. Something about the idea that only the few are likely to achieve enlightenment just rubs me the wrong way, despite ample evidence that the Òreal worldÓ remains pretty much insane. However unrealistic the sentiment may be, I would like all of us to reach nirvana together, and ø fool that I am ø I want that loving goodness to manifest on this earth, in these bodies, by treating ourselves, each other, and all life on the planet with more reverence, kindness, and respect. So the rare Venus occultation gives me another chance to try to reconcile the contradictions I feel between the gentle aspirations of spirituality and the harsher realities of the ordinary world. If the just-passed Venus eclipse did not, in fact, herald the dawn of a golden age of peace and harmony flooding over our planet, as I suspect it didnÕt, what then might its spiritual implications be? While this rare astronomical configuration certainly may have functioned for some individuals as an instant doorway to higher consciousness, I think its collective function was more likely to have been a reminder, like a telegram from Cosmic Central containing instructions for those who could decipher the message. This was a treasure map, pointing the way to an essential value still too often buried within us. Luckily for us, the occultation spans an eight-year time period, from June of this year until its companion event in 2012. So, even though the opening eclipse occurred last month, we havenÕt really missed anything. The opportunity continues to unfold. Put very simply, itÕs a perfect time to express the love and gratitude you feel toward those you care for and those who care for you. Tell these people how much they mean to you, and donÕt mince words or shrink out of shyness. Open your heart and bathe your beloveds in that shimmering light. Sing it out, and sing it loud. The world is hard enough without love remaining hidden and secret. Tuesday, the 8th of June, marked the gala opening celebration of love. If you missed the Grand Opening party, donÕt worry. Simply repeat the celebration every day for the next eight years. Whatever nonsense or insanity happens in the regular world, just keep sharing the love in your heart. Bill Herbst is a Minneapolis astrologer who has done more than 10,000 sessions with clients over three decades in private practice. He is associate editor for the well-known journal The Mountain Astrologer, as well as a frequent contributor to that magazine. Go to BillÕs website at www.billherbst.com for further information about his work. Copyright © 2004 by Bill Herbst. All rights reserved. |
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July 2004 |
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