Second Venus Gate of Descent in Virgo – The gate of perception

The journey Venus travelling through our sky mirrors the myth of the Descent of Inanna. At this time, we are beginning 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.

As Inanna reaches the second gate, she is aware that to pass through she must surrender one of her sacred powers. She is not surprised as the gatekeeper takes her lapis beads from around her neck. They represent her power of sight and at the gate of perception she must allow this power to be taken, so that she can know a sight beyond what she has known before.

On this journey, each gate takes you further inwards, closer to the truth of who you really are. At the last gate your desire to rely on external mechanisms of authority was exposed. You faced the responsibility and the cost of complete sovereignty. And you were shown the ways that you have outsourced your own authority.

Crossing the threshold of this gate you are asked to question your own perception. What is pulling your focus? And what do you see when you look at things differently? How about when you don’t look? Just feel!

Virgo is an earth sign, she is the healer of the body. This gate at 1° Virgo asks you to stop looking outside of yourself. Instead ask where can I feel this in my body? The answer may not satisfy your mind, but I’m pretty sure it will spark curiosity to know the deep unfathomable wisdom that resides within every cell your body.

Drawing from the deep mysteries of the earth, here you are invited to unlock the blood codes. Passed from mother to child since the beginning of time we have access to a wordless, embodied wisdom and the only way to de code its message is to feel. Allow it to move and change and unlock things without needing to understand and articulate. So much of this life exists to be felt rather than analysed.

Opposing this Venus gate, we see Saturn, father time, the god of restriction, limitations and pressure. This heavy weight slows us down, demands that we do the work thoroughly before moving on. Spending time in the presence of Saturn can feel like a burden, but it is always an opportunity to develop resiliency and to hold ourselves accountable. When you cannot see the whole picture it is easy to feel lost. It slows you down if you can’t jump straight to the end. But there is so much value in slowing down. Chasing a quick clear vision may be the very thing that is holding you back from depth of understanding.

Holding the keys wisdom we see Pallas Athene illuminated by the Sun. She is a master strategist, a wise warrior goddess. Aligned with the Sun she opposes Chiron, the wounded healer. Chiron has been taking up space in Aries, exposing wounds around leadership, individuation, and anger. He is teaching, and raising up teachers who have deeply integrated these experiences. Pallas and the Sun shine a light in Libra calling you to something more than yourself. Individuation within relationship, through relationship. There is a call to be the relentless fire of Aries, but don’t ignore the call to be connected. The call to be the fire that warms, as well as the fire that destroys. It is important to draw wisdom from these wise teachers on both sides, embodying the highest expression of both.

In removing her lapis beads and losing her powers of perception Inanna steps into the darkness. But the darkness holds a deep ancient knowing, wise and old as time. This is not the loss of perception, its stepping into a whole new language, the language of the earth, of blood and bones.

Prompts for Journaling or a Tarot Spread:

What answers am I looking for?

When I ask these questions what do I feel in my body?

How does it feel to have an answer from my body even if I cant fully articulate it yet?

Can I sit with these feelings until I gain a deeper understanding?