Chapter IX. VENUS THE PLANET OF LOVE

IN THE 13th Chapter of Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians we find a eulogy of 'love.' The word used in the authorized version is 'charity,' but it ought to be read as ' love. ' ' ' Love suff ereth long and is kind, love vaunteth not herself, is not puffed up, believeth all things, endureth all things . . . Whether there be prophecies they shall fail, whether there be knowledge it shall vanish away." He concludes that in time faith and hope will pass away because we shall know the things in which we now have faith and our hopes will have been realized, but love, he contends, remains forever. The keynote of Venus is 'love,' 'harmony,' and 'rhythm,' and if we want to know her nature we may profitably read that chapter and substitute 'Venus' for 'Love'. Venus vaunteth not herself, is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, rejoices not in iniquity but in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, endureth all things. These sayings are all true when applied to Venus for she furnishes the unifying bond between all members of the human family in whatever relationship they may be placed. It is the love-ray of Venus piercing deeply the heart of the mother which breeds in her the tender care wherewith she nourishes her offspring

through helpless infancy. Venus sounds the love call of the youth and the maiden, gives and takes, smoothing out all the difficulties in the conjugal career. She is ever burning incense upon the altar of affection and from her garden of love come the flowers which scent even the most sordid souls with celestial perfume and raise them for the time being to the stature of gods.

But when Venus is afflicted, all these sublime qualities become tainted and take a hideous aspect according to the nature of their affliction. Squares and oppositions turn to lust which makes the person revel in sensual gratification, the perception of beauty which expresses itself as art becomes slovenliness, the tendency to self-sacrifice, the giving of oneself for others is turned to selfishness and the person will then seem to use others to escape any task or effort not to his or her liking, laziness is one of the most prominent characteristics of an afflicted Venus.

Being feminine, Venus never reaches out toward others, but exerts a magnetic energy which draws them to her. Therefore she represents in the male horoscope those of the opposite sex to whom the person is drawn, but in a female horoscope Venus describes the person's own attraction for the opposite sex and Mars the male planet shows who will be attracted by her charms.

Venus is essentially dignified in Taurus and Li-

bra. She is exalted in Pisces and therefore her influence is most powerfully felt when she is placed in those signs. She is weak and afflicted when placed in either of the martial signs Aries or Scorpio where she is in her fall, or when she is in the mercurial sign, Virgo. The best House position i,s in the Seventh where her influence will make the marriage serene and blissful.

9 1 Venus in the First House has a tendency to spread sunshine over the child's home and make the early life happy. It gives an amiable character so that the person is well liked because of his social nature and friendly disposition. It brings out the love of music, art and a desire for pleasure. That is what may be called "a lucky position" for it makes the person very attractive to all with whom he or she comes in contact and in that way it tends to give general succes.8 in life. It is also very good for the general health.

$ 2 Venus in the Second House is an indication of financial success in life. People with Venus in this position are usually very popular and are thus helped by their friends to lucrative positions. At the same time this position makes the person very wasteful and prodigal so that it tends to make him spend more than he earns.

The money is usually squandered on pleasure, dress and ornaments for self by a woman and for an amour by a man, and not infrequently leads to abuses which undermine the health. This position also shows gain by dealing in things ruled by Venus, such as dress goods, jewelry, music, etc.

$ 3 Venus in the Third House has a particularly beneficial effect upon the mind, making the person cheerful, optimistic and inclined to look at everything from the bright side of life. It gives a love of music, art, literature and everything that has a refining influence, an unusual facility to express oneself in a happy and appropriate manner, either in speech or writing. It gives love of travel ; the person will enjoy himself on his journeys and benefit by them. It also makes relations with brothers and sisters and neighbors and the people in one's immediate environment congenial.

$ 4 Venus in the Fourth House shows happy conditions in the home, particularly in the latter part of life. It also indicates that an inheritance will be left to the person and that if he owns houses or lands he will gain much by them.

$ 5 Venus in the Fifth House makes the person unusually affectionate and as a result he or she

usually experiences a number of love affairs all of which run their courses smoothly. It indicates that the marriage will be fruitful and productive of lovely and loving children. It is a fortunate position for teachers and people connected with educational institutions, also for those engaged in publication of literature and for gain by speculation in stocks or similar securities.

9 6 Venus in the Sixth House gives the person faithful servants who will work for his interest if he is an employer. If he is an employee, it will make him well liked by his employers and fellow- workers. It is a fairly good position for health provided the person does not abuse it. That is to say, the constitution is harmonious, but not very strong. If the health is guarded with care it will remain in this condition for life, but a very little abuse may turn the scales the other way and make the person an invalid.

9 7 Venus in the Seventh House is one of the surest signs of domestic felicity. It signifies an early marriage and an increase of prosperity after that event. If the person finds it expedient to enter into partnership on a business basis the presence of Venus tends to make this relationship harmonious and beneficial. It is also a good sign that if litigation seems necessary some

way will be found to settle the matter without actual rupture. This position is good for actors, singers, and others whose calling brings them before the public in a vocal capacity for it ensures a kind and sympathetic reception on the part of their audience.

$ 8 Venus in the Eighth House will bring gain by marriage, partnership or legacy if it is well aspected, but if it is afflicted it brings loss and disappointment in love, or an extravagant marriage partner, and legal trouble over a will.

9 9 Venus in the Ninth House is a very fortunate position if Venus is well aspected, for being so highly elevated here it exercises considerable influence on the life and makes the disposition exceedingly kind, sympathetic and helpful so that by these qualities the person becomes much esteemed and sought after, particularly in charitable or religious work, for this position also brings out the devotional side of the nature. It gives a love of music, art and drama as well as everything that has an influence for soul upliftment. Whenever the person journeys from one place to another for gain or for pleasure, Venus in the Ninth House will smooth the path before him and make his trip thoroughly enjoyable. If Venus is afflicted in the Ninth House the person will long to do or to be all the fore-

going things, but will find it exceedingly difficult, if not impossible to accomplish his desire.

$ 10 Venus in the Tenth House is one of the best signs of general success in the life when wellaspected. The person who has this position becomes very popular, particularly with the opposite sex, and will rise in the social scale through marriage. It gives an ability to avoid trouble in life and extract from it all the pleasure there is in every situation. Comfortable financial circumstances attend upon the person all through life and foster a general attitude of optimism. When Venus is afflicted in the Tenth House the person is looked down on by those in his social' environment and though he tries to ingratiate himself with those who are in the charmed circles, he will find himself left with snubs and insults. A hasty or ill-considered marriage is apt to make matters worse and bring him farther into disrepute, as a scapegrace.