I’m currently working on Rufus Opus’ Seven Spheres, going through the planetary rites in my attempt to connect with the planets better.

I’m an astrologer and a channeler, so working with planetary energies in an experiential way has always been something I’m interested in.

I’d previously done the rites for Jupiter, Mars and Sun in accordance to the sequence laid out by Rufus himself. I’ve decided to write about my learnings from the Venus rite in particular because I’ve got a lot from it and I feel inclined to share.

The specific angel I worked with happens to be Angel Anael (or Haniel). The energy was easy to work with but for some reason, she came in the young form of a naggy mother. Pretty sure it was because Venus is currently in Gemini and it’s blending with the placement of my natal Venus in Cancer.

This has got to be the most knowledgeable session I’ve had in the Planetary Magick series. My learnings are distilled below.

The Multi-Faceted Faces of Venus

I’ve read about the many faces of Venus in Seven Spheres but I didn’t quite understand it until Angel Anael illustrates to me.

1. Venus is Pleasure

When I was working with her, I had my the plans and steps to my ritual process all laid out. I wanted to follow it but she stopped me and basically asked me to ‘take a chill-pill’ and check-in,

“What gives you pleasure?”

Angel Anael

And this brings me to my first understanding of Venus: it is the pleasure principle. Venus doesn’t do what needs to be done, it does what gives her pleasure and fulfills her desire and has no guilt nor shame about enjoying pleasure. It holds no guilt over counting money and demanding value. It partakes in the enjoyment of what money and value can bring into one’s life.

Everything Venus is about enjoyment and she simply asks,

Are you enjoying the moment?

Angel Anael

2. Venus as Fertility and Creation

The Venus of Willendorf was one of the image I saw in my scrying crystal during the ritual. While I have never considered the Venusian energy to be mother-like, Venus is tied to fertility, sex, and creation and worshipped as such.

Of course, in this context, fertility, sex and creation is more than just about having a baby. It is about partaking in pleasure and produce what we care about: a creative endeavor, a business, a culinary conquest etcetera.

“We are all fertile to begin with. But we let obligations and responsibilities drown our crops. It’s important to strike a balance between discipline and desire. This is why Mars and Venus must come together. Don’t discipline for the sake of it. Discipline for the sake of enjoying the fruits of pleasure that come after.”

Angel Anael

3. Venus as Decadence

This is perhaps the most surprising understanding. Venus is pleasure, but when pleasure is overwhelming and left unchecked, it can become decadent.

I mean, most astrologers know and understand that a heavily Venusian person can get indulgent. It was only during the session with Angel Anael that I really got it.

At its most fertile and productive, luscious and wondrous, Venus is represented by a sweetness that is sticky and pleasurable to one’s senses. But when there’s too much of it, it can start to rot, breakdown and corrupt. Honey is Venus but so is ants infestation on food.

The Venus Glyph

A really important part of the Venus Ritual requires the practitioner to contemplate on the Venus Glyph. I felt like I understand what the glyph means after going through the rite.

This is my understanding and learning:

The circle holds desire in place. It rings and ‘scopes’ desire and pleasure in order to give it form. Without the ring to give form, Venus is like water that seeps and flows everywhere and nowhere, much like one who enjoys all the luxury and riches in life, but does not know how to invest. The cross below the circle holds desire down and pegs it to the ground, giving it a channel. When the energy and desire/pleasure of Venus is held in something tangible and is given a proper channel, it produces creation.

This is perhaps why Venus rules the sign of Taurus and Libra. In the tangible form of Taurus, Pleasure is given the form to produce and be productive. In the balance of Libra, Pleasure is moderated to prevent rot and decadence.

Leave me your comments and let me know what you think. I will be posting some messages from Angel Anael about the Venus Retrograde. Stay tuned!