Venus, Pluto, and Jupiter: Real Joy, Real Enthusiasm

Some mornings while meditating prior to writing the horoscope of the day, I will consult with the I Ching and ask for further clarification regarding the previous day’s I Ching reading. The I Ching readings are always geared toward better understanding a particular planetary transit or set of transits. This morning I asked for clarification about yesterday’s reading, which was all about hexagram 58, called “Joy” (see yesterday’s horoscope for more). This morning, asking for clarification on yesterday’s reading, I received hexagram 17, transforming into hexagram 58, which is obviously no coincidence.

* Hexagram 17 is called “following.” It depicts a situation where a person is tempted to move forward or to lead the way but is advised to stop and listen for advice, seek advice, or choose to follow someone wiser than one’s self, rather than continuing to move forward alone or without some needed period of reflection or contemplation.

* Hexagram 17 is also about the spirit of the times, and the way in which we tend to get swept up or seized by popular sentiments, mob mentalities, trends, fads, cliches, exciting narratives, attractive glimmers, bells and whistles, and so forth.

* Hexagram 17 is also about the cheerfulness, good spirit, and enthusiasm that comes when we follow or listen to the proper guidance. When you just know that what you’re doing is the right thing to do, when you know you’ve found the appropriate strategy, the virtuous choice, then you feel happy by following it.

* Hexagram 17 is about the music that leads us through the streets, either deluding or intoxicating us, or leading the right and virtuous way to the center of a heavenly city.

* Hexagram 17 is about movements and counter-movements, about getting called to some larger vision or group effort or being deluded by the call to action, the call to arms.

* Venus opposite Pluto and square to Jupiter suggest that we might feel called to engage, to get involved, to participate or invest ourselves in some particular social situation, vision, mission, or effort. It could be purely social or it could be deeply political or maybe even romantic or creative…the call generates enthusiasm.

* Venus opposite Pluto and square to Jupiter also show us the potential to be led down the primrose path by a wolf in sheep’s clothing. It shows us the potential to follow an immature impulse, to be deluded by enthusiasm, to chase a phantom of joy and excitement or even righteousness or romance.

* The second line of hexagram 17 reads, “Indulging the child, you lose the adult.”

* Who we surround ourselves with matters. What we indulge ourselves in matters. Who we choose to be associated with matters. What we choose to do with our time matters.

* If the impulses we follow are essentially immature, if we get excited about things that ultimately lead us nowhere, then we become fair-weather activists, friends, leaders, thinkers, sages, philosophers, healers, etc.

* On the other hand, if we recognize where and how to place our enthusiasm, if we see the rhythm or pulse or guiding virtue within any activity, then any and every activity has the potential to generate lasting spiritual value in our lives.

* There is a difference between the immature child and the virtue of a child-like heart. Knowing the difference is important.

* When line two changes it leads us back to hexagram 58, two lakes conjoined, the “joyous,” which is a hexagram that teaches us about what we allow to flourish and grow, what we desire and what gives joy versus what fosters dis-ease, especially within all different kinds of relationships.

* Put Venus, Pluto and Jupiter together right now and we see a warning, written in the heavens, to listen for the true pulse of joy, the true richness of spirit, and the lasting bonds of love, rather than following the fleeting impulses of sense gratification, the false images of richness, or the shallow promises of great depth.

* Seeing false enthusiasm, ironically, gives us tremendous enthusiasm because it sets out the correct path for us to follow. The correct path to follow, separated out from the false, immediately produces joy…even if the journey “appears” dry, adult-like, serious, sober, or difficult.