Eighth Venus Gate of Descent in Aries

The journey of Venus travelling through our sky mirrors the myth of the Descent of Inanna. This gate completes her descent, meeting death at the final gate of initiation to the underworld.

At each gate Inanna has removed 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. Fourth Venus Gate of Descent in Scorpio — Jema Killala-Barnard (jemakillalabarnard.com)

·       On 8th January, Venus meets the waning Moon at 12°06’ Sagittarius to form the fifth Venus Gate of descent. Fifth Venus Gate of Descent in Sagittarius — Jema Killala-Barnard (jemakillalabarnard.com)

·       On 7th February, Venus meets the waning Moon at 19°05’ Capricorn to form the sixth Venus Gate of descent. Sixth Venus Gate of Descent in Capricorn — Jema Killala-Barnard (jemakillalabarnard.com)

·       On 8th March, Venus meets the waning Moon at 26°08’ Aquarius to form the seventh Venus Gate of descent. Seventh Venus Gate of Descent in Aquarius — Jema Killala-Barnard (jemakillalabarnard.com)

·       On 7th April, Venus meets the waning Moon at 3°06’ Aries to form the eighth Venus Gate of descent.

·       On 24th April, Venus will disappear below the horizon, into the underworld.

Ereshkigal was clear about how Inanna must enter the underworld “naked and on her knees”. Noone passes through the depths of hell unscathed and as Inanna enters, the radiant queen of heaven and earth, crawling naked on the floor, she faces her judgement. The Annuna (judges of the underworld) sentence her to death. Death by Ereshkigal’s word of wrath. Her primal scream of anguish.

Two sisters, two sides of the same coin, two ends of a spectrum. This part of the journey is a story of polarity. Every part of every story is about polarity really. But in this moment, as Inanna’s last breath leaves her body and Ereshkigal’s rage echoes through the underworld. Two sisters become one.

Inanna’s corpse hangs on the wall and Ereshkigal faces herself.

The truth is that you are the bright shining beautiful goddess, but you are also the dark, bitter, vengeful, lonely goddess. This story has always been one of shadow integration. At the start of our journey, in the light, you may have seen the crisp clear outline of your shadow, the separation, the comfort of living apart, allowing her to rule the underworld of your subconscious. But here in the depths, the lines are less clear, you see that separation has always been an illusion.

Dancing through this web of light and dark has given you a false perspective. You were never really separate, in fact the more separation that you try to create the more the dark feral goddess of your unconscious will influence your life.

You can fight her at every turn, try to break those habits with will power, try to change the that person, making them a projection of your shadow, try to shift people’s perception of you with a glow up, work harder, be better, put on a smile and pretend the darkness isn’t there. But the more you push her into the shadows the more powerful she grows.

Wild dark goddess, I hear your call, I know your grief, you have been abandoned, left only dust and decay. Wild dark goddess, Ereshkigal, I feel your pain, my sister, my shadow, myself. I invite you to reveal yourself to me.

She has shown you her rage, pulled you into her sorrow. The more you denied and suppressed her, the more she pulled you down to her level. She lit up your emotional triggers, undermined your confidence, reminded you of your failures. But now you come to her with an open heart.

You have journeyed through each Venus gate initiation, digging deeper, holding acceptance and compassion for every piece that is revealed. At this final Venus gate, Inanna enters the initiation of death. Now you join Ereshkigal. She holds the secrets to your power.

This shadow self has been calling you, calling from her pain and neglect. Hold space for her with compassion, the healing is in the softness, the acceptance, the wholeness. You can never go back to being half a person now. This is your chance to walk with her through the underworld, to understand her, love her and welcome her into your conscious awareness.

Allow the holy rage to flow through your veins.

Sink into the lonely ache in the pit of your stomach.

Scream until your throat hurts, you will be silenced no longer.

Allow your heart to break as it has never broken before.

Sit with the memories, the feelings, the aches and pains, the inner child, the ancestors, all of it.

Running from yourself will get you nowhere. And as you embrace your demons and listen to them you can collaborate to meet all of your needs and they lose their power to control you. The dark night of the soul is where you find yourself and realise you are braver, stronger, and more capable than you ever felt possible, and it is all made possible through love.

This Venus gate is in Aries is one of fire and brimstone. Aries rules war and the death bringing power of the blade but also rules the process of birthing, the pushing and screaming and crying, the final moment of labour becomes and the first moment of new life. Aries welcomes all of it with a fearless enthusiasm, wildly passionate for what comes next. This portal to the underworld is a kind of re birth, a transition into the darkest part of our story where Venus will align with the Sun again and we experience a different kind of pentagram point.

Gathering in Aries is a stellium illuminating Chiron and the north node, awakening archetypes of healing and destiny, ruled by Mars, the god of war who currently sits with Saturn in Pisces. There is a dissolving power, a deep watery re shaping.

For water to meet fire without extinguishing the flames, there must be a container, like a hot kettle of tea or a relaxing bath, the boundary is what holds the magic. Mars and Saturn in Pisces show us the container here is spiritual practice, meditation and prayer that will allow this healing to flow.

Following Ereshkigal queen of demons and dark through the underworld is an initiation through fire and water. In this dark womb space of death, you will be forever changed. You are the dark goddess now.

Prompts for Journaling or a Tarot Spread:

What does it feel like in your body to welcome the dark goddess?

Do you feel afraid of this part of yourself? Are you shocked by her?

What is she asking you to do to make her feel loved? Are there regular things you can commit to?

Do you feel more aligned with water or fire? What does this mean to you?

How can you contain your water to protect your fire?