The Moon vs Venus

[FlorencedeZ.]

Jun 13, 2013

In another post Jim talked about certain 'female' diseases linked to Venus. Illnesses of 'female organs' can be an affliction to Venus and also to the Moon, even more often so.
This got me thinking again as I really tend to mix up the Moon and Venus. Another forum member gave some great examples of how to differentiate these two planets. They both seem to be about caring, sensitivity, nurturing, giving and receiving love, the maternal instinct and desire however the latter more so with the Moon and Mars if I understand correctly. Socializing, beauty and deep compassion more of a Venus matter however it seems so related to the Moon as well such as the emotions, sympathies and tenderness for example.
Is there a clearer way of how to look at these two planets seperately and for example if desire is a Venus or Moon matter. There seem to be many overlaps. Also the natal aspect between the Moon and Venus seem a bit puzzling to me, what the meaning is exactly. Thanks in advance,
Florence

[FlorencedeZ.]

Actually, there are even more surprises. Despite stereotypes, Venus sponsors the behavior usually called "maternal," while the Moon is one of the most critical factors in relationships - so there you go.

Maybe you could look at the statements here and start some particular discussion points:
http://solunars.net/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=18

PS - One of the key differences, of course, is that the Moon is luminary!

A few years ago I settled on a very satisfying distinction: that the Sun and Moon are archetypal masculinity and femininity, whereas Mars and Venus are biological masculinity and femininity.

[FlorencedeZ.]

...while the Moon is one of the most critical factors in relationships - so there you go.

So, is the Moon equally as important as Venus in synastry? Well, of course the Moon is important—since it's a luminary —but does the Moon feel love like Venus does?
I've always thought that the Moon in synastry acts somewhat like an angle, receiving the full energy of the other planet and responding accordingly.

[FlorencedeZ.]

...while the Moon is one of the most critical factors in relationships - so there you go.

So, is the Moon equally as important as Venus in synastry+?

Probably more so. Of the aspects Jung found most common between married couples, there were more Moon aspects than anything else, and convention confirms that Moon-Sun, Moon-Venus, Moon-Moon, Moon on angle, etc. are of major importance between romantic couples ad life partners.

I always thought that the Moon in synastry acts somewhat like an angle, receiving the full energy of the other planet and responding accordingly.

In romantic language, we might Moon shows who you feel most at home with - who you feel is your home. Pragmatically, Moon, which reflects the field of subconsciousness among other things, dissolves barriers that appear to separate one person from another.

[FlorencedeZ.]

A few years ago I settled on a very satisfying distinction: that the Sun and Moon are archetypal masculinity and femininity, whereas Mars and Venus are biological masculinity and femininity.

This makes a lot of sense.
Would you say that the Moon represents the Anima (Image of Internalized Feminity) Vs. Animus (Image of Internalized Masculinity). Marylin Monroe would be a great example; Psychotherapists often use her as a great example of an Anima figure because she turned herself into an archetype of femininity, who quite vague, waspish, and alone (probably due to being hypercritical and demanding). Monroe's close Moon/Neptune opposition describes her quite nicely in this sense.
Venus on the MC just reinforced her physical reality as an attractive woman.

[Jim Eshelman]

Can sidereal astrology bring any light onto the question of why Venus is the only planet in our solar system which spins clockwise on its axis?

This is a question or astronomy - or, more specifically, for physics and mechanics - not for astrology.

The most widely held view among scientists is that Venus' unusually dense atmosphere creates extreme drag on its rotation and eventually reversed its spin.

[Jim Eshelman]

Venus embodies our affection needs: needs to be loving and being loved, giving and receiving nurturing, affiliation, including such things as sex, shared play. Broadly thing of love, social connection, pleasure.

Biologically, Venus signifies the hormonal system in general and especially the hypothalamus (perhaps the entire limbic system), sugar metabolism, the parasympathetic nervous system, and biological femininity.

[Jim Eshelman]

Have you heard the theory that the planets are actually the Gods? Saturn for example is Satan? What do you think the text on comparative mythology called Hamlets Mill and the idea that archaeoastronomy is encoded in mythology?

I think those comparisons to injustice both to astrology and to mythology.

There are many places where the same label used in astrology and mythology (or other symbol systems) mismatch. For example, the planet Jupiter has a few things in common with the god Jupiter (like kindliness) but, in temperament, is drastically different - very close to an embodiment of Mars and quite unlike astrological Jupiter.

Each framework is entitled to its own symbols. Their use in one place might suggest avenues of inquiry in another place, but can't be taken a priori as the same thing. Doing that forces you to distort one of the other.

If you want to pair Greek or Roman gods to astrological matters, perhaps the best way to do it is the place ancient Greek and Roman astrologers did it: They assigned gods (quite pointedly the gods, and not the planets of the same names) as patrons of the zodiacal constellations. For example, Jupiter-Zeus (as a mythological or deity idea) was the patron of Leo, as Juno-Hera was of Aquarius.

For the rest, I'm really not interested in fringe theories that go against everything science has been able to learn so far. I was fascinated with them as a teenager (weren't we all?) but actually knowing the science is a whole lot better

[SteveS]

Phosphate asked:

What do you think the text on comparative mythology called Hamlets Mill and the idea that archaeoastronomy is encoded in mythology?

I have no opinions for your other questions phosphate. But for Hamlets Mill, it proved to me that in ancient times Precession was a big deal. It was one of my most important books for allowing me to understand and change my mind on many things pertaining to ancient astronomy. One of the best scholarly books I have ever studied, but it’s a tough difficult read, IMO.