Love Astrology: Going Beyond Venus
How planets and houses influence your love style
We all know that Venus is the planet of love, harmony, and affection. This is the planet that tells us about our powers of attraction. In a man's chart, it speaks volumes about the type of person he's physically attracted to, while in a woman's chart we look to Venus for key information about what qualities she has she'll use to attract a partner.
Yes, Venus is also connected to the 7th House of Committed Partnership and Marriage, but did you know that there's more to love than Venus? Way more.
Find dating clues in your 5th House of Romance
Love begins in the 5th House of Romance in your chart. This is the place of fun and pleasure. The 5th house rules romance and giving love. This is where we take a chance in life and gamble.
When it comes to love, wouldn't you agree that it might be the most speculative bet of all? We risk our hearts being broken and having our spirits crushed. And yet, we continue to keep our hearts open because we know if we "win" the jackpot is huge. Our hearts are filled with joy and love.
So yes, where you begin to date someone, fall in love, and have romantic and fun sex is a 5th house of Romance matter. Any planets that are in your 5th house will offer more details about your love potential. Don't have a planet in your 5th house? Not to worry -- you're not meant to be lonely. Your 5th house story just takes a bit more digging. You'll need to look to the planet that rules the sign on the cusp of your 5th house for more information.
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Mars rules your sex drive
Speaking of romantic love, invariably it will lead to sex. Before you have sex, however, you need to desire a person. That desire is where Mars enters the picture. This warrior planet is not only about action, it rules your libido. In a woman's chart, Mars symbolizes the type of person she's physically attracted to, whereas in a man's chart Mars will tell us all we need to know about how he shakes his tail feathers and attracts a potential paramour his way.
In either gender Mars will tell the story of how the person is aroused. Mars is what turns you on, pure and simple! Eventually, the love that begins in the 5th House of Romance might become more than a casual fling or dating fun. Love may blossom into commitment, and once it does it becomes a 7th House of Partnership matter. When love enters the domain of the 7th house, something interesting happens. Love gets deeper. Much deeper.
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Going deeper in the 8th House of Sex
In fact, a committed partnership no longer has the carefree 5th-house sex. They've graduated to the 8th House of Sex and Spirituality. The 8th house is all about intimacy and sharing your resources on a deep psychological level. You don't do this on a one-night stand or in the early dating stages of a relationship. Once you've become exclusive and decide to share a life together, however, a deep bond is forged and can intensify love. That's the job of the 8th house.
Fear of intimacy is conquered here. Interestingly enough, love that may be obsessive, jealous, and controlling might lurk its ugly head in the 8th house, as well. The 8th House of Intimacy is where we figure out the power behind the bonds of love and learn how to surrender to it in a psychologically healthy way. Occasionally, this is where we are betrayed or become destroyed by love.
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Neptune holds the key to unconditional love
Ideally, love is unconditional. For that, we look to Neptune, because this is the planet that is known as the higher octave of Venus, ruling unconditional and spiritual love.
If you want to know whether love can conquer all in your chart, look to see what Neptune is doing. If this planet makes an aspect to your Sun, Moon, Ascendant, or Venus, then you've got a natural ability to love unconditionally. The question is ... will you receive that in return?
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The Moon illuminates our emotional needs
The Moon is also quite important when we speak of love. The Moon rules our deepest need -- what we crave. We all crave love, but the Moon will tell us how we need to be nurtured.
In a woman's chart the Moon is an important indicator of what she needs in order to feel most attuned to her feminine self. In a man's chart, the Moon suggests qualities he needs emotionally more than anything else from a significant other.
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Mercury: The key to communication
Finally, what's love without communication? If you can't talk about love and express your feelings, well, love may have a more difficult time reaching you. Look to your Mercury placement for clues on what you think about most and how you best interconnect with others.
In the end, however, love is a universal language. Venus may be the key to love, but remember she's not the entire story.
