Medical Star Gazing 🌟

Jul 21Venus Underworld Phase 2024 (Retrospect)

DISCLAIMER: THIS TEXT IS STRICTLY FOR THE PURPOSES OF ASTROLOGICAL EDUCATION AND STUDY. NOTHING WRITTEN BY THE AUTHOR IS INTENDED FOR RECOMMENDING OR DIAGNOSING ANY MEDICAL CONDITIONS OR SERVING AS A TREATMENT OF ANY MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS. ALL PERSONS ARE EXPRESSLY ENCOURAGED TO CONSULT WITH A HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL REGARDING THEIR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTHCARE NEEDS.**

Back in March of 2024, the planet Venus made its initial descent into its underworld phase. Being the planet of beauty, love, luxury, harmony, and comfort has its perks, but even a goddess needs her occasional existential crisis now and then. During this “cosmic midlife crisis”, lol, Venus’ energy may be experienced as being heavy, misunderstood in matters of the heart, and completely in your feelings for seemingly no “rational” reason. This descent ended July 10, 2024, as Venus transitioned from Eveningstar to Morningstar once again. During her time underground, you likely also unearthed, traversed and, hopefully, purged feelings of guilt, shame, inadequacy, unworthiness, depression, lack of desire, and the complete dismantling of your ego. Not to sound contrite… but GOOD! EVEN A DIVINE BEING MUST BE REMINDED OF THE FLESH IT OCCUPIES AT TIMES! The intended dissolution was from a space of unconditional and radical love of self, to call in healthier forms of community, sustainable standards of living for yourself, and healthier self-talk all so you can better call forth and TRUST divine guidance as it appears on your path. If you leaned into the feels and allowed yourself the space to plunge into the unknowns of your psyche during this time, your heart space should feel a bit lighter and full of self-compassion, self-awareness, and acceptance. 

On the other side of this shift, you may have experienced a series of break-ups: romantic, familial, financial, karmic… you get the picture. The underworld phase forced you to see who truly are and what core values you will rest upon henceforth. Be very clear here; moving forward, you are being called to accept nothing less than the best versions of anything that will occupy space and time in your orbit! Anything else would not only be uncivilized, but unhealthy and unsustainable. If you chose to push through and go against these purgative energies, well… GOOD LUCK, and may the odds be ever in your favor! While Venusian energy loves a good time and all the luxuries available in this life (and the next), it is no slouch! Venusian energy works best when moving in flow with the cosmic tides, not going against them. Think about it; if you insist upon going against the current, there’s more force acting upon you and therefore more work to be done to stay afloat and course correct… and is the planet of luxuries truly a fan of EXTRA WORK?! 

As we progress into the latter parts of the year, you may very well experience physical manifestations of these cosmic forces. It is also likely that some physical expressions have already landed in your lap. From a medical stargazing perspective, keep these things in mind:

Voice

Venus co-rules the vocal cords and tongue with Mercury, ruler of communication. Depending on placements in your natal chart as well as personal transits, you may have found yourself more vocal with your emotional needs, advocating for yourself or loved ones more in as a caregiver, or swung in the opposite direction and chose silence because you realized you've been wasting energy by speaking to the wrong people. Think back to any issues around laryngitis, pharyngitis, swelling or irritation of the tongue, or (for speakers and singers especially) differences in the texture and tone of your voice. The more we purge emotionally, we make room for our truest selves to speak and be heard. At times, this shedding of emotional weight can often lighten the voice. Plant allies that may support injury and recovery in this area are mint plants (spearmint, wintergreen, peppermint), licorice (be mindful if you’re on a diuretic), and Isatis root (ban lan gen in TCM). Mint family allies can be taken as teas or the essential oils can be used in an oil diffuser. Also, consider using a humidifier and air purifier if you live in dryer climates. 

Thyroid

Speaking of weight, the thyroid gland also falls under Venus’ purview (shared with Mercury and Uranus). Your thyroid is, among other things, responsible for your body’s metabolism, energy levels, digestive function, and other bodily functions. This period could have been a time of stress eating, or no appetite at all, brain fog, fatigue, lethargy (like you’re just floating/just here), changes in your menstrual cycle, thinning hair, mood swings, rapid weight loss of adding on pounds despite maintaining workouts and eating well, and changes in muscle strength. These likely also happened rather sporadically and without warning. If any of these things sound familiar, asking your doctor to run blood work to test your thyroid function may not be a bad place to start. The thyroid, like Venus, is a delicate gland and requires the proper balance of trace minerals to function optimally. Iodine, Selenium, calcium, and phosphorus levels in the blood should be carefully monitored and taken into consideration before making any drastic alterations in diet. Simply put, overindulgence can be just as dangerous here as underindulging. Also, be mindful of any medications you may have started during this period, and chat with your provider if you feel they may be contributing to these symptoms. The best way to support the thyroid is to make rest a top priority in your life, low-impact exercise as tolerated, grazing rather than bulking for meals; this means eating 5 small plates of food throughout the day with small snacks rather than 3 large, heavy meals. Avoid greasy, over-processed foods, and pay attention to what you crave. Intuitive eating may be a great ally here.

Veins

The great saphenous vein is also governed by Venus as well as Aquarius. This vein boasts being the largest in the human body, running from the top of the thigh to the foot. For all my yogis out there, be mindful of this blood vessel and its corresponding nerve as they can cause issues if not respected. Signs that something’s up include heaviness, dulled or loss of sensation upon touch, redness, swelling, chills/fever, dizziness, or trouble breathing, and you should SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY! Supports include proper hydration, massage, moderate to low-impact exercise to avoid inflammation, and regular check-ups with your healthcare provider if there’s a history of cardiovascular issues. Foods and plant allies include rosemary, green leafy veggies, olives and cold pressed olive oil, hawthorne and tart cherry. 

In short, flow is EVERYTHING HERE, and your new mission is to chart your new course with YOUU at the helm. You are now the priority, and your inner divinity will neither accept nor allow anything less. Be mindful of where energy and resources may have been draining and wasteful. While that may seem to be more fitting for a Saturn discussion, Venus knows a thing or two about the need for the conservation of resources as well. Lean into the freedom your heart is now afforded, but be mindful to be a good steward of the blessing being bestowed upon you for while Venus giveth, Venus snatcheth tf away just as fast, lol.

Love to the lovers of self and others.

As always, #keepyourgazesforward