Selfless Love, Polished Perfection
Venus in Virgo and You

By Art Ofner

Venus—the planet of love, beauty, art, cooperation, harmony, and generosity—is in Virgo from August 5-30, 2008. Venus shows how we express affection, how we feel appreciation, and how we give of ourselves. When Venus transits any planet, she brings out the need to meet people, join organizations, and generally relate to others. Social interactions are emphasized via meetings, gatherings, parties, consultations, and partner-related events. People typically feel a need to get involved with others when Venus is active, so even shy stay-at-home types will make efforts to get out and about. Creativity is also enhanced, so those affected by Venus pursue artistic activities more vigorously than usual.

Virgo, a Mutable Earth sign ruled by Mercury, emphasizes a thorough approach to work, including a need for detail and precision, with an emphasis on efficient technique, perfection, and fine discrimination. Materialism is also a Virgo concern, though this usually is combined with a spontaneous helpfulness and a need to serve. When Venus transits Virgo, you and those around you have a tendency to express affection and appreciation in a modest or matter-of-fact way, and to gain emotional satisfaction and contentment through helping or serving others. However, though everyone may be more willing than usual to be of use to others, they are less interested in taking on all responsibilities in a helping situation, but rather want to share them.

No matter what the task may be, comfort and satisfaction are most likely to be found when you can use a practical, logical, and analytical approach to resolving the problems you encounter during Venus’ stay in this sign. You'll bring a higher level of brain power to whatever ventures you undertake, and your need to bring every task to completion will lead to more success and more satisfaction in most everything you do. This will especially be true when you're involved in any type of artistic endeavor. At times, however, your efforts could be stymied if you let a tendency to be overly critical of yourself and others get out of hand, in which case you could find yourself nitpicking at unimportant details instead of concentrating on the big picture.

Read the comments for your Sun sign below to find out the prominent themes with which all members of your sign will be dealing during this transit. If you're familiar with your timed birth chart, then find the description that matches Venus' personal house placement for you. This can help you to better understand Venus in Virgo's meaning to you on a more individual basis.

ARIES

With Venus in your 6th solar house, your job may seem to be more appealing than usual as you and colleagues and employees get along better, due to enhanced communication. Your willingness to help members of your staff recognize their value to you and to the company will go a long way toward inspiring their loyalty, which in turn will probably lead to an increase in productivity. New ideas on how to set and accomplish personal and departmental goals come to you more readily, especially since you are more willing than usual to seek information from a variety of sources, as well as to get feedback from people whose opinions you trust. With summer about to end, you're already making definite decisions about scheduling and workflow issues for the upcoming months, particularly if you or your employees have children who'll be returning to school soon. If you're in a field that requires some artistic ability, you'll find that your presentations are more polished than usual and thus your ideas on what to do and how to do it are likely to be accepted with fewer revisions than usual. If you have nagging health issues that you’ve been tolerating, you'll be prepared now to address them in a timely manner rather than waiting until these small problems develop into larger ones. Your work environment gets the same kind of hands-on attention. Time to perk up the looks of your workspace!

TAURUS

Venus in your 5th solar house means that your affections, though no less sincere than usual, are expressed in a less romantic fashion. This doesn’t mean, though, that your romantic feelings are less in any way. If you're attracted to a man or woman with whom you'd like to be romantically entangled, it's likely that you'll use your charm and appeal with almost military precision in order to ensure that the object of your affection becomes aware of your existence. Doing some research on his or her tastes or interests could be at the center of your love campaign, but it’s important to make sure that you have something in common that will ultimately lead to a lasting bond. Don’t just match your tastes to suit the other person’s. While your social calendar is likely to be full now, you're only prepared to engage in leisure activities that stimulate both your intellect and your sense of fun. Mindless entertainment holds no appeal for you whatsoever. Because you're more attentive to details and analytical methods, speculative ventures could bring you rewards, but don’t overdo it, and definitely be wary of any deal that your instincts tell you is faulty. Turning a hobby into a part-time business could be successful now, as you have both luck and innate skills that will increase your chances.

GEMINI

With Venus in your 4th solar house, your sense of emotional safety is rooted in the home, so you may want to take stock of your security, perhaps deciding to install extra deadbolts on your doors, or opting for an in-home security system. You have a need to care and cherish those around you, but you'll be especially attentive to the things you can do to make life easier for family members. Your solutions to domestic problems are insightful and practical and your normal tendency to change your mind from minute to minute is a little more under control. Thus, you're able to decide what's important and what's not, and to make decisions decisively. If something in your life ends, such as a job or a love affair, you're less affected emotionally than you might otherwise be, because you're able to understand that the change will ultimately lead to something better. You may suddenly be able to recognize the way in which an experience you had as a child still upsets you, and this in turn could lead to finally being able to put it behind you. If you're involved in a serious romance now, you could well begin to consider the possibility of making it permanent, so you can establish your own home and family. If you bring up this idea with your lover, even if he or she is opposed to the idea, you will have the ability to present the practical considerations in a competent, but loving way.

CANCER

With Venus in your 3rd solar house, you're more interested than usual in communicating with others, and you particularly enjoy casual encounters with folks you meet while you're out and about running errands. You recognize that on some level every person with whom you interact has something to offer, whether it's a nugget of information that satisfies your curiosity, or an answer you’ve been seeking to a deeper and more personal question. Emotional ties to siblings, classmates, and neighbors are enhanced, so you're willing to offer advice, money, and whatever else it takes to ease any burdens they may be experiencing. When it comes to counseling others, your perceptions are typically acute, but you are able to communicate those perceptions in a way that makes sense without the need for further explanation. You experience a new appreciation for your surroundings, especially your neighborhood and the environment through which you pass on a daily basis. If you have ideas that will improve your community in some way, consider presenting these at the next neighborhood meeting. If your area is part of a larger community and thus requires more effort to handle local problems and issues, take the lead in bringing those issues to the attention of those who make the decisions. This is a good time to use social channels to gain a stronger foothold on a rung that will take you up the ladder to success, so speak out!

LEO

With Venus traveling through your 2nd solar house, you're more likely than usual to be drawn to expensive luxuries of every kind, as long as you feel they invest you with the trappings of success. Fortunately, your increased sense of practicality is likely to keep you from overspending in the pursuit of such items. It's possible that money will come in from an unexpected source while Venus is here, or that your finances will improve for other reasons, but despite that, you're prepared to budget your resources wisely. If you receive a lot of money, think about implementing some type of long-term strategy that will ensure your ability to manage your financial resources, both as a means of providing for the future and as a source from which you can draw funds in case of an emergency. Take that extra money and establish an IRA, invest in low-risk moderate-interest CDs, or perhaps buy a whole or universal life insurance policy that will accumulate cash value, something from which you can borrow once you've had it for a few years. You might also consider starting your own business, especially if you have a hobby that produces tangible, salable products. You could also take on a second job, so examine your skills and talents to determine not only what position would suit you but what kind of job would bring you the most personal pleasure. Your self-esteem is high, so be wary of overwhelming self-confidence, as this might lead others to suspect your motives.

VIRGO

With Venus in your 1st solar house, you're concerned about the impression you make on others, as well as everything concerning your physical body and its appearance. If you're a little overweight, you may suddenly come to accept that you're unlikely to reach your ideal dress or pants size without some effort. Use your analytical skills to determine your best course of action, which could include joining a health club, changing your diet, or getting a new hairstyle and wardrobe to solidify or alter your self-image. Self-improvement is very appealing now, so you may search online for books or articles that you feel will help you to enhance your talents as a way of making you more interesting to others. This is a good time to take care of personal matters you’ve been putting off, such as renewing your voter registration, balancing your checkbook, tracking down overdue bills, or even catching up on little on home repairs you've been letting slide for a while. Your emotional coping strategies are enhanced, enabling you to deal effectively with any problems that crop up, and you're well able to hold your own psychologically against any challenges to your ego, social identity, or personality. You're in a position to recognize possible undesirable habits or traits that have been reinforced since childhood and to do something about correcting them. More than anything, you want to be healthy, happy, and well adjusted, as well as to appear that way to others.

LIBRA

Venus in your 12th solar house, will encourage a tendency toward romantic dreaming, but at the same time those dreams will have an interesting analytical approach. That simply means that this is a good time to look within yourself and examine your long-held dreams in order to find specific ways to make them come true. This is particularly important if you're involved in an artistic field, as many members of your sign are. For example, if you're a painter or fashion or graphic designer and you've been working hard for someone else, consider the possibility of going freelance to work at home, or perhaps setting up shop somewhere to start your own business. You can even sell your finished products or services online on the Internet through an auction site, or by setting up your own web site. Although you can do well in marketing yourself in a straightforward manner, working behind the scenes during this transit is likely to bring you even greater rewards. You will feel more sure of yourself than usual, and services you perform for others can be a source of great satisfaction and happiness, as when you help others, you feel that you are helping yourself. Any roadblock or difficult task you encounter can be dealt with and resolved easily, because you have the beneficial influence of Venus working in your favor. Share that influence with others by offering your skills and talents to a charitable institution that can use them.

SCORPIO

With Venus in your 11th solar house, you're going to be busy with members of groups whose activities you participate in, such as those with whom you interact during business meetings or consultations, get-togethers with friends, parties, or other social events, and so forth. If you have goals you'd like to achieve, pet projects you'd like to implement, or big plans you'd like to put into action, now is a good time to find the support you need among the people around you. But if you truly want to achieve your heart's desires, you're going to have to set aside your natural reservations and suspicions about others, and allow yourself to believe in them without getting a sneak peek at their resumes. Close friends will probably support you in what you want to do, but if some of them will not, avoid giving in to peer pressure and abandoning your personal quest. Don’t allow yourself to be derailed from fulfilling your hopes and wishes. If you're inspired in some way to make the world a better place, go for it. If working on a smaller scale holds more appeal, volunteer to devote some of your time to a local charity. You may meet a man or woman whose soul is enlightened and who thus may be able to guide you in your efforts by offering practical, intellectual, and emotional aid. With or without such a person, obstacles you encounter are likely to seem less frustrating.

SAGITTARIUS

With Venus in your 10th solar house, your professional life should be both more active and more appealing than usual. Your ambitions seem to be achieved with less effort, and your interactions with higher-ups are likely to be more gratifying than usual. Your ideas, even those that seemed to receive little or no response, as well as your work for the company, may finally receive the attention they deserve. A promotion, bonus, or honor of some type may even be a possibility. It's probable that you're going to be involved in more meetings than usual during this transit and your enhanced sense of responsibility will make it easier than ever to fulfill your duties and obligations. If you’ve been feeling that your career has been on a downward slide lately, and that your job doesn’t meet your psychological and intellectual needs, a new opportunity, one that is less restrictive and more fulfilling, is likely to come your way. You may even discover your true calling in life. Your usual desire for fame, due to the sense of power that you think it would give you, is somewhat muted, and that may be a key to finally improving your position in social or business circles. Your relationship with a stern or overbearing parent could improve, particularly if you make an effort to discuss your feelings. Make the effort.

CAPRICORN

With Venus in your 9th solar house, you're sure to meet congenial people who are in a position to help you in your search for meaning in life. Although others may challenge your philosophy, beliefs, and spiritual leanings now, they will do it with altruism, benevolence, and loving kindness. One individual in particular who may cause you to reconsider your beliefs is a teacher or professor, either past or present. You're very keen on broadening your horizons, both physically and mentally, so that will make travel to faraway places and journeys into higher education very appealing. You may even take the time to enroll in a course of study at a local university or college. You do not have to pursue a serious subject or begin a program that requires commitment to a degree program. Instead select a course that you think will provide you with new experiences and perceptions. If you have an opportunity to travel, take it. Study other cultures to learn how other people live, and to what extent their outlook is similar or different from yours. You may gain valuable insights about your behavior and perhaps come to understand how much of it is a reflection of your own upbringing and surroundings. Sharing your thoughts on this with others could bring additional insights.

AQUARIUS

Venus in your 8th solar house enhances your creative urges and your love of life, as well as your ability to deal with psychological crises, including separations or losses of whatever kind. Any crisis you experience is likely to bring about a change in your emotional responses, but with Venus' influence, your feelings are likely to be more benevolent and forgiving than they might be under a different transit. A windfall may come your way due to an inheritance, grant, investment, tax refund, legacy, or even an increase in a spouse or live-in partner's salary. If something like this happens, make a concerted effort to use wisely whatever funds you receive. If your finances are shared with someone else, such as a partner or friend, be sure to include him or her in the discussion about how the money or benefit will be used. If difficulties arise in your talks, stop to consider whether or not you have a negative unconscious attitude not only toward your partner but also toward any joint venture. Then try to correct it. Your interactions with others have the power now to transform, so also make an effort to use time spent with other people in a positive and uplifting way.

PISCES

With Venus in your 7th solar house, your interactions with a spouse, live-in lover, business partner, or best friend will be greatly improved due to the charity, kindness, and love with which Venus endows you. If you're having difficulties with anyone who fits these categories, now is a good time to address any issues that are keeping you apart, even if you feel these have been dealt with in the past. If you're involved in a romantic relationship, your beloved may indicate that he or she is ready to embark on that lifelong journey called marriage. On the other hand, if you're in the process of ending a relationship, it's likely that matters will go more smoothly than you anticipated, especially when it comes to which of you gets certain joint possessions. Your need for harmony and beauty will more than likely be met under this transit, particularly when it comes to one-on-one relationships and dealings with others in general. You have a keen awareness of what others are feeling, and can thus be very persuasive when it comes to getting support you need for a pet project, or advancing yourself socially. A rival may have less of a chance now to disturb your serenity and you may even decide on the direct approach as the best way to put an end to the situation.