It’s Saturday, November 14th. Astrologically, one day has passed since Mars went direct in Aries – a much anticipated change from the retrograde that has been grinding its gears for the past two months. Directly across the sky from revved-up Mars is his muse, the subject of his longing: Venus. Balancing effortlessly in Libra, she lacksadaisically glances over her shoulder at him, a lazy, seductive gesture; Mars cannot help but swoon, and his loins scream at the distance between them. He is gaining speed, but still disoriented, slow from the retrograde motion. “Embrace the longing”, he silently tells himself; “soon enough we will be together, if not again, then for the first time.” Though the wait may be long, the journey to intimacy has certainly begun.
I am enjoying an underground 24-hour party at a friend’s wooded property. Without even trying, I see the Mars-Venus planetary dynamic playing out in front of me as I scan the outdoor dance floor with my psychotropic eyes. Lights dance on the trees while water falls in the nearby river, and humans of all shapes and sizes play like faeries in this realm we’ve co-created. A party, in the woods, with a bunch of freaks and weirdos; humans, being humans, like – actually being humans. Dancing like lunatics or finding trance pockets in the smallest taps and shrugs; loquaciously traveling from one group to the next, or sitting on the hill donned secretly with mask and hood. All around are the breed I’ve been born into, doing what makes them feel happy, fulfilled, confident, complete.
And between us is this energy of dualistic fire; the Mars-Venus opposition made apparent in our synergies. Flirtatious and friendly, we are here to connect. Opposite sex? Yes. Same sex? Sure, why not. Heteroflexible, homosexual, polyamorous, multi-disciplinary in the realm of relationships: Welcome Home. The desire to mate is obvious, and the tension is strong; but not overwhelming. There exists in the air a definite pull on the heart strings, guiding people toward their version of sexy; they touch briefly, remain close, get a sense for each other, then back away gracefully. Not a perfect match, and not the right time; but a hint of what’s to come. It’s amazing how patient we all are. Mars is only getting started on his shadowy journey back through Aries; he may be a horny bull, but even horny bulls have to get their feet on the ground before turning their love loose.
I unwittingly came to this party with an obvious intention to meet new people, particularly of the romantic sort; without actually feeling obligated to connect more than felt right, in my heart, in my sex organs. For the past week I have been dreaming of ex-lovers, now-lovers, and those-I-hope-to-be-lovers. Planetary alignments are a welcoming portal into something new; never the same, but sometimes a similar dance, like an exact opposition between male and female archetypes on the Zodiacal Medicine Wheel. Without even trying we are thrust into wormholes and tunnels of experience that shape the adventure of our lives. The Earth, rotating round the Sun, in relationship with the other Fixed Stars; inextricably interconnected. Pay enough attention and you realize: we are all different points of perspective playing the same game, feeling the same forces, reacting differently to the complex patterns of coexistence. In this diversity there is no possibility of boredom; unless you fall asleep, oblivious to the magic that is life, to the miracles of the present moment.
In others, we find ourselves. Male or female, non-binary or self-identified Unicorn, who cares? We are all human: weird, messy, honest, incredible, terrible, hilarious. Thrown to pieces by universal forces far beyond our control, yet holding keys to the quanta switchboard of self-transformation. We are a paradox, living in paradox, experiencing paradox, all the time. Confused? You should be. There is nothing to understand. Only to experience. Only to be.
After the eventful evening, I awoke alone in my one-person tent, sleeping bag coated in condensation. I smiled inwardly at the cool, wet morning; the cloudy sky, the bumping music still lingering for late-night / early-morning dancers. Comfy in my oversized beaver onesie, I feel the love I have for myself. It shows in my willingness to go solo to a 24-hr festival four hours away. It shows in how I carry myself, how I heal myself and others on the dance floor. It shows in how I backed away from romantic energies I was not fully into, because the sanctity of my body and soul deserves only the best.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about this Mars-Venus transit is that, though Mars is usually the aggressor, it is actually Venus doing the chasing. She catches up with Mars in Leo in mid-July of 2021, ensuring a playful, romantic finale to this plodding performance. Letting the feminine take the lead can offer a much-needed break from the masculine predatorial paradigm. Females with men in mind, this is your time to shine; and if you are a straight male, trust in the law of attraction, and simply let your essence sing. For those in-between and far beyond on the spectrum of sexual preference, it is the perfect time to embrace our feminine power. This receptivity and grace will catch up and surpass the outspoken Martian assertion. Have faith in your ability to magnetize increased pleasure and deeper connections simply by opening your heart to these possibilities (and remember: a little bit of masturbation magic goes a long way.)
Truthfully, we all fall somewhere along a masculine-feminine spectrum, and these dynamics also play within us on the level of psyche. No one will be truly free from this influence, and why would we want to be? This transit offers a beautiful, lengthy time period to develop interest, to stir up romance and play with desire, or simply to permit oneself more opportunities for pleasure. Just remember: fulfillment does not come from outside of oneself, not in another human. It comes from the experience of loving, of being loved, and of discovering what love feels like. There is no need to get raptured by the subject of your endearment; the time will come for requited affection. For now, explore the possibility that it is enough to light that flame within your own heart and belly. Give yourself all the love you could ever require from another. It’s the simple act of participating in the dance that will draw you ever closer to your desires.
Ethereal Ecology 