Venus is the planet of Love, manifestation and relationships, and it is connected to both Anahata and the Sacred Heart (Hrit Padma) chakras. In Vedic astrology it is referred to as Shukra, a Sanskrit word that translates to “clear” or “bright.”
Since ancient times and throughout all astrological systems and traditions, Venus has been worshiped as the beautiful goddess of love. Venusian characteristics include femaleness, gentleness, love, diplomacy, art, creativity, and sensitivity. Venus governs the feminine side of the human mind just as Mars governs the masculine side. ‘What Venus desires, Mars obtains (for her),’ according to an old astrological saying. This brings us to the subject of relationships, which is ruled by Venus, a planet with a special affinity for close interactions and relationships, including marriage.
Our ability to enjoy life and be happy is surprisingly determined by our intrinsic nature rather than our life experiences or circumstances. The Venus principle reveals a lot about our ability to appreciate beauty, both in the outside world and within ourselves. Venus represents where and how we get affection in life, as well as, to a large extent, what we enjoy doing. A well-placed Venus in the natal will help us to accept what others have given us and the cards that life has dealt us. A balanced Venus fosters a sense of trust in life, allowing us to manifest our desires with ease and the winds to blow in our favor in relationships. However, when this planet is afflicted in our birth chart, the opposite may occur. The astrologer can predict how Venus’s position in the chart will impact partnerships and whether or not they will be easy to form.
Venus reminds us that none of us live alone: we all need others to survive and share with them all that life has to offer. When this truth is realized as we grow up we start to show more acceptance for others and life as they come and the lower emotions like anger, expectations or mistrust begins to vanish. Venus rules everything pleasant, lovely, delightful, elegant, and appealing, aside from relationships and love. The position of Venus in the chart also indicates the area of life in which we prefer to pamper ourselves or others, as well as how we give and accept affection from others. This placement will also demonstrate how we go out of our way to make people happy. As a result, Venus represents not just the female spirit, but also enjoyment, pleasure, happiness, and love.
Our natal Venus describes those attributes that others find attractive or admirable about us, usually without any effort by our part. Birds sing and other animals make noises to attract a mate (Venus is co-significator of music); other species uses other attributes such as size, color or pheromones to attract. Venus shows our own particular human equivalent of birdsong or plumage. And in the same way that Venus shows how we attract others, the planet has rulership over magnetism in a physical sense, too. Venus concerns itself with the principle of attraction, and therefore, it also describes, what we are attracted to.
Venus is also known as the cosmic peacemaker. The astrological Venus points out the urge for harmony and peace and our ability (or not) to achieve this. In Venus mode we find points of agreement and similarity, in this mode we are ready to give in. In this mode we want to equalize and balance and are willing to yield. There is an urge to reciprocate and co-operate with others. Actually, the principle of co-operation is also key to the planet and also to the success of all relationships. Moreover, greater potential for peace comes with equality as, arguably, so does happiness.
Being the planet of love and relationships, Venus has a civilizing effect. The more civilized an individual or a society is, the less likely they are to engage in war or other kinds of dispute. Manners and courtesy are distinctly Venusian attributes and are characteristic of civilized behavior. The need to be liked and loved civilizes people by knocking off the raw edges in their behavior. Coarse and discourteous behavior is decidedly anti-Venusian. Polite, civil behavior increases good feelings between people, minimizes discord and maximizes the chances for agreements to be made.
Venus says much also about our values and therefore can also be associated with money. What we find beautiful, or for some other reason value highly, we will be willing to pay for. When we are in love, we value the other person and find them beautiful and enchanting, which leads to marriage where resources are shared for stability and sealing the bond. When we are well paid, we also feel valued and we tend to value ourselves more. A good placed Venus in the birth chart increases our ability to materialize everything we desire.
It is in the Hindu pantheon of gods and goddesses where we can find the probably best embodiment of Venusian energies, which is Goddess Lakshmi, the shakti or energy behind Lord Vishnu, the presiding deity of Anahata chakra.