MAY THEME: CELEBRATE THE SENSUAL
by Simone Butler

Marriage is suddenly in the air. I can barely remember the last wedding I attended, yet I've recently been invited to four. Most of these marriages are of friends over 40 who've been around the block with relationships, and finally found their life mate. It stirs hope in my still-unwed soul.

These marital announcements foreshadowed the entry of Venus into Taurus, one of the signs she rules. Venus, planet of love and romance, sashays into sensual Taurus on the evening of April 30, and links up the next day, May 1, with two outer planets--powerful Pluto in Capricorn and stabilizing Saturn in Virgo. This creates an age- and death-defying Grand Earth Trine--a wonderful time to propose marriage, commit to a creative project or invoke for more financial abundance.

Auspiciously, May 1 is Beltane--the ancient fertility festival now known as May Day. In olden times, people gave free reign to their sensual impulses on Beltane, fertilizing the fields to appease Mother Nature. Any children born of these unions were considered holy, blessed by the Goddess.

With the Sun, Mercury and Venus in Taurus, we revel in the earthy side of life. The sensual touch of your lover's hand as it smoothes your body with scented oil, the softness of Egyptian cotton sheets, the richness of Haagen Dazs Dulce de Leche ice cream--all are Taurean pleasures. So are the scent of blooming roses and the sparkle in your cat's eye as she tosses her favorite toy around the house. For Queen Bess, the sparkle may be linked to her new suitor--a tiger-striped tomcat who calls for her ardently, day and night.

But what about those of us who don't have ardent suitors (or ones we can count on to really be there for us?) There's no need to despair if you're alone while everyone is hooking up. Besides the obvious pleasure-inducing tactics--hot tubs, massages, walks in nature--there is a magical way to make the most of this sensual time.

Why not create a special Venus talisman to capture the beneficent influence of the Love Goddess? This idea comes from an article in the Oct./Nov. 2007 issue of The Mountain Astrologer called "Astrology, Talismans, and the Spiritual Path of Hermeticism," by Christopher Warnock, Esq. A talisman, or power object, can be made for any planet to achieve a specific purpose (i.e. Jupiter for wealth, the Sun for health, Venus for love, Mars for victory in battle). There are, however, particular rules that must be followed. And, you're lucky if you find one day in the year that features your planet properly.

The only day this year that meets all the criteria is September 12. On that date, Venus joins Mars in Libra and both trine the Moon, culminating at 8:30 am (all dates noted are in Pacific time). I'm actually convinced that my four friends who've set fall wedding dates were subconsciously attracted to the magnetic force field set off by this coupling of Venus and Mars in Libra, sign of sacred marriage.

Luckily for those who don't want to wait that long to tap the powers of the Love Goddess, there are also several dates coming up that brim with potential. The first is Beltane, May 1, at 8:50 pm. For this one, I'll be crafting a necklace with a pink, heart-shaped pendant strung on matching rawhide (it's especially powerful to create a piece of jewelry, because wearing it keeps you in the loving vibration of that moment in time.)

The next Venus window of opportunity falls just a few days later. On May 4, the day before the New Moon, Venus joins the Moon in Taurus at 1:21 pm, triggering powerfully loving vibes. Then, the Sun joins the Moon the next morning, May 5, at 5:18 am. The New Moon's placement at 16 degrees of Taurus is harmonious with lucky Jupiter and most of the other planets. The Sun and Moon joining in Taurus represent a double dose of Venus energy, and the New Moon is always a potent seed-planting opportunity--especially in the sign that rules the Earth herself. Both of these windows of time offer fertile ground for planting seeds to manifest love, money or creativity.

You can create your Venus talisman anytime between 1:21 pm on the 4th and 5:18 am on the 5th, although the closer you get to either time, the better. Your power object should be in a Venus color like pink or burgundy. It could be an arrangement of silk flowers, a painting, a crystal amulet or piece of jewelry. If you're really ambitious, copy the ancients and have a jeweler cast a ring or pendant with rose quartz, ruby or another pinkish stone, at the appointed hour (maybe best to save this one for Sept. 12).

At whichever timeframe you have chosen, gather your materials and set your intention. Intention is everything in ritual, as in life, so decide whether you're aiming for creativity, financial abundance, self-love, to attract a new lover or rekindle the spark with an existing partner. As you create your talisman, send out a clear, loving signal that the Universe can relay back to you in the form you've requested. Then, place it on your altar where you can honor it daily, or wear it as often as possible. And, please report back to me with any results!

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