I had a friend ask me the other day, why are women so involved with making themselves and their surroundings so ‘beautiful’? It didn’t take me long to answer, because as any astrologer worth his weight in salt knows, ‘women will, to a more or lesser degree, be influenced by Venus and the Moon, because they are the natural rulers of ‘being a woman’.

I say, to a more or lesser degree, because we are all influenced by the aspects in our charts.

Venus is the planet, which reveals how we like to relate to our environment and other people. Are we attracted to strong, sensual and intense relationships? Or do we prefer freedom and independence? It also indicates what we value, and therefore is linked with money and resources.

In the chart of a female client, Brittany (not her real name) is a young woman who is a normal child attending school and is also a model for clothing stores. Her Venus, at 7 Libra 50, is in the first house and in a ‘beautiful’ or very agreeable sign, Libra.

With Venus in the first house, Brittany will have a strong ability to express beauty and love, and will be, therefore, attractive to other people. This position will normally give here a calm and harmonious demeanor. Since Venus is in Libra, chances are she will have a strong need for relationships; especially relationships that tend to be harmonious, peaceful, and creative. Brittany will enjoy having beautiful possessions, and that will be above and beyond that of normal women, because of this particular placement for Venus. I would be willing to bet that Brittany enjoys shopping, as much as she must enjoy modeling clothes and looking beautiful (which she does).

Further, while this Venus is in the first house, its proximity to the cusp of the second, at 8 Libra 20 is important in that it strengthens how Venus, within the framework of the chart.

Venus is the ruler of Libra (and Taurus) and its placement here increases the likelihood that beauty and money (thru the second) will be important and abundant. It certainly is very promising that there is a Sun / Jupiter conjunction in the second house, increasing the likelihood of a life that will deal in finances, possibly expanded finances. Since the Sun is in the sign of its fall (weakens, the Moon too in Capricorn is in it’s detriment) it can be assumed that life will not be one ‘fed with a silver spoon’; things may be difficult on the way up and making good decisions will be important for success. Helpful will be that Venus is the dispositor (ruler) of both, meaning that as Venus goes, Jupiter and the Sun will probably follow.

Venus makes aspects to quite a few points. Let’s look at the more difficult ones first. Venus forms a sesquisquare to Saturn, the Moon’s ruler. It is important for Venus and the Moon to be able to work together to achieve the most positive qualities of each. If there is a problem in the aspect between the two, loving, social conditions and how she will see beauty will be altered in a way that may affect life (Sun), success and happiness (Jupiter) and more (the houses they rule). She will have to face issues that may deal with control, manipulation, and shyness within relationships, loving or social. This would be a weak point for Venus and an area to work on.

Venus forms a trine to her Midheaven and Pars Fortuna. Since the Midheaven is the cusp of the 10^th house, of career, ego, goals, and status with the public, it is a very positive energy and blends very well with its position in the second. The second, sixth and the tenth deal with money, accumulations, possessions, beauty, job, service to others, health / fitness and the above qualities of the 10^th. They work hand-in-hand and when there is a unity thru aspects, rulership, or other astrological natures, one can be blessed with increased likelihood of success. When Venus meets with the Part for Fortune, it increases the chances that the qualities of Venus and its rulership, blending well with ‘happiness, joy, success and fortune’. Since she has so many aspects that are working in her favor, concerning Venus (along with Jupiter and the Sun), it lends itself, ‘practically’ guarantees, to the fact that with dedication and hard work that beauty, love and success will be hers later in life.

With Venus forming a conjunction to Juno, the asteroid that is concerned with relationships, there is a positive energy here. Since both are in Libra, the loving and balanced sign, ruled by Venus, her relationships should be very loving and beautiful.

Examining her Mars, we can get an idea about the type of man she might be interested in and how she feels about action, energy and ‘getting her hands dirty’. Her Mars and Mercury at 17 and 22 respectively, indicate an ability to be a forthright and powerful speaker. You enjoy a thought-provoking discussion and will give all of yourself in the discussion because of the intensity brought to the table with both planets in Scorpio. Since Mars is the ruler of Scorpio and forms a (weak) conjunction to its other ruler. Pluto at 24 Scorpio, Brit probably is resourceful and has a pool of enormous energy available when needed. She also may have strong desires matched with a volcanic temper, which could get her into trouble as she gets older (if it hasn’t already)! So, Brittany will look for a man who has talents that either match these or possibly lacks ‘strength’ or ‘energy’ in these areas. She probably will enjoy a man who matches the energy she has for the excitement possibilities or if he lacks these she will enjoy giving him something he doesn’t have, either thru love to him or the chance to manipulate him.