New Moon in Gemini — June 3, 2008, 19:23 UT
By Kirsti Melto and Eric Francis
The New Moon in Gemini is in close conjunction with Venus. Soon, on June 9, 2008, we will experience the exact conjunction of Venus to the Sun, a Full Venus, which marks the midpoint between the 2004 and 2012 Venus transits of the Sun.
The orbit of Venus lies closer to the Sun than the orbit of the Earth. Because of this, Venus is always somewhere in vicinity of the Sun. The only major aspect possible between Venus and the Sun is the conjunction.
A Full Venus is a phase of Venus corresponding to a Full Moon. Venus is fully lit by the Sun. The Full Venus in the same sign repeats every eight years. Venus is then in direct motion and conjunct the Sun; this is also called an exterior conjunction. An interior conjunction is when Venus is retrograde and conjunct the Sun.
Conjunctions happen all the time, and during a typical conjunction between Venus and the Sun, Venus will pass a little above or below the Sun. During a transit, Venus will cross the disk of the Sun. A transit is a kind of eclipse. Transits of Venus are among the most rare of planetary alignments.
Transits of Venus are currently only possible in June or December when Venus’ orbital nodes pass across the Sun. If Venus reaches inferior conjunction at this time, a transit will occur. They occur in pairs: on nearly the same date eight years apart, in roughly the same zodiac degrees. The pattern repeats every 243 years, with pairs of transits eight years apart separated by long gaps of 121.5 years and 105.5 years.
Venus is known as the lesser benefic (Jupiter is the greater one). Peace, harmony and balance are positive attributes of Venus. The Peace symbol turns 50 this year; Gerald Holtom designed the forked symbol for the Direct Action Committee Against Nuclear War in 1958.
In Mysteries of Venus by Mark Lerner, the author draws a connection between the shape of the peace symbol and position of the Venusian signs in the zodiac. He writes:
The peace banner is nothing more than an astrological symbol showing the primacy of three key Venusian signs — Taurus and Libra (where Venus rules) and Pisces (where Venus is exalted and most powerful). We might say that the true Venusian flag of our world is the peace banner with its unusual trident-like figure (creativity) within a circle (unity and wholeness).
Venus is the esoteric ruler of Gemini. Alice A. Bailey in Esoteric Astrology proposes a system of planetary rulership alternate to the one traditionally used by astrologers. In this system, Venus rather than Mercury is the ruler of Gemini. She describes Venus as the Earth’s soul: “The planet Venus is to the planet Earth what the higher Self is to the Personality.” Venus is about intelligence: notably, emotional intelligence.
Both exoteric and esoteric rulers of Gemini, Mercury and Venus, respectively, are conjunct the New Moon of June. Retrograding Mercury in this conjunction feels like taking an introspective erotic journey, perhaps a meeting with someone from the past. Passing encounters can lead to some truly unusual places. Mercury is square Logos in Virgo, so something truly intelligent may be in the works.
The Sun, Moon and Venus are exactly opposite Ixion on the Great Attractor in Sagittarius. Mercury is opposite Quaoar.
The Great Attractor is like some kind of huge magnet, a mass of dark matter pulling everything toward it. The point has a polarizing effect, sometimes pushing emotions, opinions and ideas to extremes. With Venus opposite the Great Attractor, our values are in some way tested, as is our collective sense of protection of what we value.
A prior lunation to the Venus transit of 2004 (a New Venus) was a Full Moon in Sagittarius on June 3, 2004. The Moon was then on the Great Attractor conjunct Quaoar. It is quite possible that events or feelings that we were living through four years ago may surface again, especially thinking that Mercury is now retrograde.
Quaoar deals with family patterns and how they influence our consciousness. These are patterns that existed before we were born and into which, as members of a family system, we were integrated without really noticing. Ixion is the dark side of human nature and that which we are all capable of. Together, these two planets represent the darkest face of the abuse that takes place in families. The most important thing necessary for healing seems to be the awareness that something was actually wrong.
Venus’s cycle through the zodiac forms a five-pointed star; a pentagram. Venus is very punctual in her cycle. The distance between each New and Full Venus is 72 degrees, or a quintile aspect (a circle divided in five). The Sun, Moon and Venus in this New Moon chart are forming a quintile to the Aries Point, a point associated with big events linking the public and private orders of reality.
Asteroid Urania is also conjunct the New Moon. In Greek mythology, Urania, which means heavenly, is one of the nine Muses, who with their graces inspire arts and all creative work. Urania is the muse of astronomy, astrology and mathematics. Urania’s position adds some extra meaning to this moment. Urania is saying, “Pay attention: Note this event!”