The First Venus Gate of Ascent – The Gate of Saturn

The journey of Venus travelling through our sky mirrors the myth of the Descent of Inanna. Now as Venus appears again, just above the horizon, as an evening star you are invited to begin her journey of ascent, Inanna’s return to her queendom.

At each gate of descent 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). Now as she ascends back through these gates, she reclaims an item each time.

·       On 13th August Venus joined the Sun at 20°28’ Leo. Beginning a new 19-month synodic cycle at her pentagram point.

·       On 4th June, Venus meets the Sun at 14°29’ Gemini to form underworld Venus Star Point or Venus Rose Point, creating the halfway point in her cycle.

·       On 6th August, Venus meets the waxing Moon at 1°04’ Virgo to form the first Venus Gate of ascent, the Gate of Saturn.

Following Inanna’s journey, from her life of beauty, adored and worshiped as queen of heaven and earth, has taken you to the depths of the underworld and even to death. She is no longer the radiant queen of light you first met last August when we began this cycle in Leo. She brings with her all that she has learned and experienced on this journey.

Meeting Venus is always magical, she radiates a magnetic beauty that takes your breath away, but also feels like you are breathing in all of the sweetness of life in a new way. She is a goddess of love, of beauty, of indulgence. Yet for this encounter to truly re shape your life in her image, for you to truly experience the depth of beauty and love and indulgence, you must face all of the shadows that stand between you and her shining light.

Unworthiness, lack of self-compassion and self-acceptance, harshness, striving, control, apathy, anger, injustice, fear, grief. Anything that allowed you to drop to the bottom of your priorities. Anything that has caused you to make yourself small. Each must be faced with love; each must be brought into harmonious balance. Every part of you is valuable and Venus is all about values!

Gazing out to the early evening sky, Venus, brightest and most beautiful star in the sky is becoming visible again. It is time to begin the journey home, Inanna is no longer in the underworld, she is revived, ready to reclaim what is rightfully hers. The shadows have been faced, this is a journey of integration, healing and reclamation. She is returning to her queendom. The descent took you to your shadow, the ascent will take you to your highest self.

The first gate that Inanna comes to is the one she entered last on her journey of descent, the Gate of Saturn, The Gate of Calcination. On the journey of descent, she left her robe here. All was burned away; all was lost so that she could enter the underworld on Ereshkigal’s terms. Now she knows Ereshkigal, she is Ereshkigal! She picks up her robe and considers how she wants her journey to look.

Saturn is not bound by time, she is the infinite resource of time, the past and future are all accessible from here. You gaze at the infinite possibilities of not just this lifetime but each of your incarnations, each of your immortal souls’ dreams for this lifetime. It is time to reflect on your values, your identity, your foundations. Who do you need to be in this next chapter? Who do you need to be to join your highest self?

Ascent in this story is a return, a homecoming, a reclamation. You are taking these steps to reclaim your queendom, all that came before was to bring you to this moment. The meeting with your highest self, becoming your highest self, she is you, just as your shadow is you.

The gate of Saturn crystalises your vision, your dreams, your identity. Brings form and limits and structure to the next phase. What is manifested at this gate will take time and work, patience and endurance but when it is built it will stand the test of time. So, take the time to make it worth it. What you build here is not about the house or the car or the job (although it may be), here is where you build the identity, the values, the capacity, the foundation. This is the container, the boundaries, the routines, the investments.

If you are ready to reclaim your robe, make sure it’s the one you want to wear when you enter your throne room. Let it be worthy of the highest possible version of yourself. There are those who didn’t think you had it in you, don’t let their voices reach you here. You are drawing back your magic, clothing yourself in protection and preparing to shine like a goddess!

This Gate is at 1° Virgo, with Saturn sitting opposite in Pisces, the axis of healing. This brings support from the summer garden full of herbs and flowers and fresh vegetables to heal the body and soul. Venus draws us to the sweet and the beautiful.

Consider the ways that you can honour your body with sweet, beautiful foods, nourishing herbs and spending time in beautiful spaces.

Create regular rituals that heal your relationship with your body, shower her with love and gestures of kindness.

Reflect on your values and they ways that they can support you. Your health and wellness should absolutely be up there on your list, if it isn’t, your spark will be dimmed. Look after yourself well, you are important. You are the goddess queen of the world you are creating, do not let your light be dimmed!

At this first gate you set the tone, take a deep breath, take this step with intention and hold your head high. What happens next will be grounded in this moment, these intentions, make them worthy of Venus.

A Simple Ritual for the Venus Gate of Saturn

Make a list of your core values, take time to refine this list until it feels complete and accurate to you.

Refining this list is important, spending time and effort will be rewarded by Saturn, really reflect on how each of your values is shaping your life and think about where they create spaciousness and where they create boundaries.

Write each of your values on a stone or an item that feels solid and indestructible to you.

Keep these stones to remind you of the foundations that hold you steady or burry them somewhere close to your home to symbolise the foundations on which your home and life are built.

Journal/Tarot Prompts

What are your values?

How are your values shaping your life?

Where do they create spaciousness and boundaries?

Are your current values serving you? Do they need to change?

If you would like to be guided on this journey with a beautiful community, the doors are open to join The Ascent of Inanna, Sign up here. Ascent of Inanna — Jema Killala-Barnard (jemakillalabarnard.com)