Fourth Venus Gate of Descent in Scorpio

The journey of Venus travelling through our sky mirrors the myth of the Descent of Inanna. At this time, we are continuing the phase of her descent; meeting each of the seven gates of initiation that lead to the underworld.

At each gate Inanna must remove one of her mes, which are detailed in Sumerian mythology as divine orders that are essential in understanding a human-god relationship; the mes can be considered sacred powers that make civilisation possible, and each corresponds to a Venus Gate (a visible Venus-Moon conjunction). 

·       On 13th August Venus joined the Sun at 20°28’ Leo. Beginning a new 19 month synodic cycle at her pentagram point. Venus Pentagram Point in Leo — Jema Killala-Barnard (jemakillalabarnard.com)

·       On August 17th Venus became visible above the horizon in the morning sky, still retrograde at 18°07’ Leo.

·       On September 4th Venus stations direct at 12°12’.

·       On 11th September, Venus meets the waning Moon at 13°19’ Leo to form the first Venus Gate of descent. First Venus Gate of Descent in Leo — Jema Killala-Barnard (jemakillalabarnard.com)

·       On 10th October, Venus meets the waning Moon at 1°20’ Virgo to form the second Venus Gate of descent. Second Venus Gate of Descent in Virgo – The gate of perception — Jema Killala-Barnard (jemakillalabarnard.com)

·       On 9th November, Venus meets the waning Moon at 1°07’ Libra to form the third Venus Gate of descent. Third Venus Gate of Descent in Libra — Jema Killala-Barnard (jemakillalabarnard.com)

·       On 9th December, Venus meets the waning Moon at 5°40’ Scorpio to form the fourth Venus Gate of descent.

Meeting the Moon once again, Venus draws us into another portal. The fourth gate is aligned to the frequency of the heart chakra. The central chakra, joining the upper more masculine chakras to the lower more feminine chakras. Reminding us that at the centre is always love.

At the first 3 gates our focus was more external, how to relate to authority, perception, communication. These themes are more mind identified, but the heart is a different frequency. The cool, whites purples and blues of the crown, third eye and throat become greens and pinks associated with heart energy

As a child you heard stories of curses being broken by true loves kiss. Love, you were told, is stronger than death. Love is the greatest power of all. It will fight through any obstacle, travel any distance, hold hope through all circumstances. Love always wins. Even in death, love remains.

Following Inanna’s descent, at the fourth gate her breast plate is removed, her heart is exposed, her breast laid bare. She is vulnerable but still follows the call, drawn to her grieving sister through compassion. Motivated by love and a desire to be with her in her grief.

Scorpio has intimate knowledge of greif. Death is at the centre of its transformational power. The food of healthy fertile soil. Death is the destiny of all things and death is how we create life. Venus in Scorpio brings the antidote to Venus in Libra. If at the last gate Venus would have accepted compromise to keep the peace, here she would burn it all down to find the meaning. This is no time for pleasantries with Venus is in Scorpio, it is the time  for depth, and she is not afraid to pay the price.

Intensity, passion, death rebirth and death again, sex that reaches into your soul, the oroboros eating itself to fuel its transformation. The love of Scorpio can be deadly in its pursuit of intensity. What would be the point of harmony without intimacy after all? What is the point of compassion if it cant withstand grief?

You may have thought of the gate of compassion being surrounded by warm welcoming light but as you reach this gate, you become aware that the compassion of Scorpio is the kind of love that would cut away the superficial layers, draw you into the flames to burn away your vanity, call you into death so that you can know what it means to really live. Bare your soul, allow yourself to be truly seen, Scorpio will not rest until every shadow has been illuminated. But Scorpio can also handle you at your worst, she will sit right with you at your lowest.

Visiting this depth of compassion is an initiation rather than a destination. The shadow of Scorpio is obsession, compulsive desire, endless loops of death, rebirth, burning it all to the ground without ever letting yourself blossom. This is not where you are meant to stay, so if this feels like a familiar story to you, it is time to break free. Now is the time to lean into self compassion and trust that you are ready to let things be easy. Death is always followed by a new life and life is for living!

Oppositions bring balance and this Venus Gate is opposite Jupiter in Taurus. Taurus sees how you can touch and taste your desires and build them into your life. Jupiter asks if you want more. Maybe some things do need to be burned away, but in that space, something new can be cultivated. Your life is a garden, its worth making sure that you are growing plants that bring you joy. If you don’t cultivate what you do want, weeds will easily spring up and fuel  the necessary cycle of transformation rather than Jupitarian cycles of abundance. Jupiter in Taurus wants to work with Venus in Scorpio to create a healthy and balanced relationship with the heart; not complacent but not obsessive either, holding space for indulgent self love and also for self sacrificial devotion to your desires. There is space for the whole of you, for all of your beauty and all of your feelings!

Integration is found when we lean into this heart energy and Chiron and the Sun are connecting the fire signs of Aries and Sagittarius facilitating healing of those fiery wounds. Are there ways that you have been hiding your fire? Playing it small? Who is benefiting when you make your feelings palatable? Chiron is bringing those wounds to the surface so that you can bring compassion to them. Drawing them out like a poison. Venus is sextile Mercury in Capricorn too, providing tools to scaffold your healing. Your next level is waiting for you to be ready. How can you fully align with your heart if you are waiting for permission? You are the fire and love is always the centre.

As Inanna steps through the gate of compassion, her heart shines brighter than ever. Love is the most powerful thing in the world. Love reminds her why she began this journey and why she must continue.

Prompts for Journaling or a Tarot Spread:

How am I cultivating love in my life?

Do I live each day in the awareness that love is stronger than death?

Is it uncomfortable to be with grief? Why?

Am I afraid to express what is on my heart?

How can I cultivate a deeper level of intimacy within myself and my relationships?