The Venus Mars Square Dance
2013-2015
A few days after the September equinox in 2013, Venus and Mars squared up, in the first of four square aspects.
Venus-Mars hard aspects are powerful and highly charged so these squares tense expose differences in how we make judgements and measure success.
In terms of our personal methods of evaluating, and those used by others, Mars measures success in terms of quantity; he thinks the biggest and fastest is the best. Because he is competitive he thinks that winning is everything. Venus however measures the value and worth of her experiences according to quality, and her innate personal standards. Mars is mostly focused on manifesting his own desires and short term gain, but Venus is patient and appreciates that beauty and worth is in the eye of the beholder.
These Venus–Mars squares see any underlying tension rise to the surface. These tests are not necessarily played out just in personal relationships, or with the opposite sex, but with any individuals, or in any circumstances where we have major differences in terms of our value judgements and desires.
Because of their natural oppositeness and their actual cycles in the heavens, Venus and Mars seem to almost enjoy being at odds with one another. Their tense aspects can be highly creative and equally they can be destructive, and the tough angles in
particular generate a vast amount of heat and tension.
At present Venus and Mars are travelling from their last conjunction on 7 April 2013 towards opposition on 11 May 2014. Along the way they make three exact squares, 28 September 2013, 17 January 2014 and 3 March 2014. Venus stationed retrograde on the December solstice 2013 and began retracing her steps. Then less than a month after Venus stations direct, Mars too stations retrograde, ensuring that this celestial square dance carries on. Later in 2014, after their May opposition, on August 28, 2014 they will form yet another square aspect.
The culmination of this cycle is the 11 May 2014 opposition, and when this happens, Mars will be deep in his retrograde cycle. Mars is almost always retrograde when he opposes Venus, and if not then he is virtually stationary. This particular opposition sees Mars in Libra and Venus in Aries, thus placing each in the other’s natural sign.
This presents an opportunity to see matters from another’s perspective. Venus and Mars being natural opposites and ruling opposing signs and houses, this opposition provides a way to resolve conflicts and tensions that have accumulated over previous months. However, this may not be an easy process.
What is also striking about the May 2014 opposition, is that it comes hard on the heels of the 5th exact square of Uranus and Pluto (April 22) when a cardinal grand cross will be activated by Jupiter in Cancer and Mars in Libra. In the 11 May opposition chart, this is further accentuated by the inclusion of the Moon in Libra within a degree of Mars, and by Saturn’s opposition to the Sun. This is an intense stellar configuration, and it could trigger powerful seismic forces deep within the Earth, potentially releasing pressure in volcanic eruptions and powerful earthquakes.
On a global scale the cardinal grand cross in April, followed by this Venus-Mars opposition, suggests a sustained period of unrest and volatility. Mars and Venus are extremely powerful especially when involved in hard aspects. Passions are stirred, for better or worse. The opposition does however offer a possible resolution, giving us a wider view and greater awareness of how others see things.
Venus |
Aspect |
Mars |
Date |
Venus |
Mars |
Ven |
Cnj |
Mar |
7 Apr 2013 |
19°Ar58′ D |
19°Ar58′ D |
Ven |
SSx |
Mar |
7 Jun 2013 |
04°Cn31′ D |
04°Ge31′ D |
Ven |
SSq |
Mar |
6 Jul 2013 |
09°Le36′ D |
24°Ge36′ D |
Ven |
Sxt |
Mar |
3 Aug 2013 |
13°Vi35′ D |
13°Cn35′ D |
Ven |
Qnt |
Mar |
25 Aug 2013 |
10°Li13′ D |
28°Cn13′ D |
Ven |
Sqr |
Mar |
28 Sep 2013 |
19°Sc46′ D |
19°Le46′ D |
Ven |
Sqr |
Mar |
17 Jan 2014 |
18°Cp06′ R |
18°Li06′ D |
Ven |
Sqr |
Mar |
3 Mar 2014 |
27°Cp31′ D |
27°Li31′ R |
Ven |
Tri |
Mar |
30 Mar 2014 |
22°Aq37′ D |
22°Li37′ R |
Ven |
Sqq |
Mar |
9 Apr 2014 |
03°Pi45′ D |
18°Li45′ R |
Ven |
Qnx |
Mar |
20 Apr 2014 |
14°Pi55′ D |
14°Li55′ R |
Ven |
Opp |
Mar |
11 May 2014 |
09°Ar31′ D |
09°Li31′ R |
Ven |
Qnx |
Mar |
7 Jun 2014 |
11°Ta04′ D |
11°Li04′ D |
Ven |
Sqq |
Mar |
24 Jun 2014 |
00°Ge49′ D |
15°Li49′ D |
Ven |
Tri |
Mar |
13 Jul 2014 |
23°Ge42′ D |
23°Li42′ D |
Ven |
Sqr |
Mar |
28 Aug 2014 |
18°Le50′ D |
18°Sc50′ D |
Ven |
Qnt |
Mar |
28 Sep 2014 |
27°Vi30′ D |
09°Sg30′ D |
Ven |
Sxt |
Mar |
20 Oct 2014 |
25°Li26′ D |
25°Sg26′ D |
Ven |
SSq |
Mar |
19 Nov 2014 |
02°Sg35′ D |
17°Cp35′ D |
Ven |
SSx |
Mar |
20 Dec 2014 |
11°Cp39′ D |
11°Aq39′ D |
Ven |
Cnj |
Mar |
22 Feb 2015 |
01°Ar42′ D |
01°Ar42′ D |
Ven |
SSx |
Mar |
1 May 2015 |
21°Ge50′ D |
21°Ta50′ D |
Ven |
SSq |
Mar |
14 Jun 2015 |
07°Le56′ D |
22°Ge56′ D |
Ven |
SSq |
Mar |
15 Jul 2015 |
29°Le02′ D |
14°Cn02′ D |
Ven |
SSx |
Mar |
6 Aug 2015 |
28°Le06′ R |
28°Cn06′ D |
Ven |
Cnj |
Mar |
1 Sep 2015 |
14°Le55′ D |
14°Le55′ D |
Ven |
Cnj |
Mar |
3 Nov 2015 |
24°Vi02′ D |
24°Vi02′ D |
Table 1. Venus Mars aspects 2013-15
After the May 2014 opposition, the waning half of the Venus-Mars synodic cycle will commence and they will move directly and quickly towards one another, until next they rendezvous. Their next conjunction happens on 22 February 2015 early in Aries. But from here, the two will only separate as far as making two semi-square aspects before the distance between them closes up again.
In 2015 there will be a total of three Venus-Mars conjunctions, in February, September and November. The last time there were three Venus-Mars conjunctions in just one calendar year was in 1985 and also two years before this in 1983.
I personally recall the intensity of these years, both in my life and also in a global sense. There was a euphoric feeling in the ether. A great deal of creative energy was unleashed and there were a lot of intense endings and beginnings.
In 1983 two new Venus-Mars cycles were born, and 32 years on, the September and November 2015 conjunctions are the second conjunctions in these cycles. (For a full explanation of the 32-year Venus-Mars cycle, refer to my book The Sacred Dance of Venus and Mars).
2015 is likely to be a powerhouse year of changing allegiances, creative highs and passionate exchanges. It also seems set to be a year when many people will forge new love relationships.
Before we get to that point however, the four squares and the May 2014 opposition will test us. The April-May period in particular seems set to be a rollercoaster ride, so hold on tight.