Venus

Language of Energy, Poetry of Life: Season 2, Episode 7

On this episode of the Star Love Podcast, we welcome astrologer, writer, and teacher Rebecca Gordon. Rebecca calls astrology “the language of energy” and “the poetry of all life”, and she lives out these maxims, taking an empathic, deeply emotive approach to her work that embodies the feel of astronomy for astrological purposes. Possessing a musical and artistic background, Rebecca consults with individuals, businesses, and has a passion for teaching with her Astrology School having run for 15 years. I was moved by this interview because the creative spirit Rebecca brings to her work is where I feel astrology should go. Please rate us on Apple Podcasts, and if you’re interested in sponsoring the Star Love Podcast, email Inner Makeup business manager James.

Recorded Mid-Day October 8, 2020 Central Time.

Time Stamps for Time Keepers

0 Introduction

2:32 Interplay Between Astrology and Astronomy

10:17 Rebecca’s Artistry 

15:29 Getting into a Poetic Mindset

24:10 Astrology and Music

27:35 Astrology and the Humanities

33:20 Medical Astrology

43:06 Astrology in the Business World

48:00 Number 5 and Chanel No. 5

51:35 Transits of 2020 and 2021

57:22 Closing

Link to Rebecca’s Website

Sign Up for Rebecca’s Astrology for Entrepreneurs Course, her most popular course. Launches soon: January 27, 2021. Rebecca’s Astrology School has been running for 15 years and on the podcast we talk extensively about her style of teaching that inspires creativity.

This is fun: Receive Your Complimentary Download of Sync Your Calendar To Cosmos, a moon sign guide that will sync your daily calendar to the lunar signs each week.

Star Love Podcast Season 1 Episode 11 Featuring Astrologer and Artist Anne Beversdorf

On episode 11 of the Star Love Podcast we welcome astrologer and artist Anne Beversdorf. Anne possesses a diverse background in education, library science, and is an accomplished artist, along with her considerable astrological career. We discuss Anne’s drive to succeed in her career life, her and her family’s creative background, and her unique approach towards the use of both Western and Vedic Astrology. Please rate us on apple podcasts, and if you’re interested in sponsoring a future podcast, e-mail james@innermakeup.net. To support the continued production of the Star Love Podcast go to the Leave a Tip Make a Wish Section and make a wish for yourself as well.

Star Love Podcast Season 1 Episode 9 Featuring Astrologer and Marketing Guru Lori Randall Stradtman

Lori Randall Stradtman

Lori Randall Stradtman

On episode 9 of the Star Love podcast we welcome astrologer Lori Randall Stradtman. Lori and I met in an online forum under an auspicious Pisces moon and lucky degree (12) of Gemini Rising (to research this further, and maybe use for yourself, purchase this book and go to page 165-166). We discuss Lori’s early interest in mythology, her impressive background in marketing, and her move to use astrology as a tool to guide people to their evolutionary purpose and ultimately, happiness. To support the production of the Star Love Podcast, leave a donation in the Leave A Tip, Make a Wish section. Please rate us on apple podcasts, and if you’d like to sponsor a future podcast, e-mail james@innermakeup.net.

This episode was recorded in late March 2020.

Time Stamps for Time Keepers

0-3:29  Intro and Lori’s background 

3:30-8:52 Lori’s early fascination with mythology

8:53-12:27 Story of Chiron exchanging places with Prometheus 

12:28-16:57 Long term cycles from 2020 onward

16:58-20:20 Lori’s Christian background and moving in a different spiritual direction

20:21-25:29 Lori’s harrowing experience that moved her to pursue astrology

25:30-34:39 Defining happiness 

34:40-36:20 Strategies towards orienting the mind towards happiness

36:21-40:00 Astrology and happiness

40:01-41:00 Fate and free will 

41:01-49:12 Ecstatic happiness and feeling blue

49:13-56:58 Digitizing what you love to do

56:59-the end 

Book Recommendations That Cover Topics Discussed

The Happiness Myth is a great book that deconstructs common assumptions about what it means to be happy. Purchase below.

Circe is a wonderful book that gets you in the spirit of magic when you go up against the Gods. There is a gripping description of the story of Prometheus, a mythological character that has played out prominently in Lori’s life. Purchase below.

Circe
By Miller, Madeline
Buy on Amazon

Star Love Podcast Season 1 Episode 8 Featuring Astrologer and Developer Henry Seltzer

Throw an apple, touch off a war. The story of Eris. Original Link.

Throw an apple, touch off a war. The story of Eris. Original Link.

On episode eight of the Star Love Podcast we welcomed astrologer Henry Seltzer. I’ve been a big fan of Henry’s for a long time, becoming introduced to his software TimePassages by Susan Miller of Astrology Zone fame. I started learning astrology through his iPhone app and later attended a summer 2013 lecture he and Susan gave at the Apple Store in Soho, under a full moon no less. In this podcast we discuss Henry’s book The Tenth Planet which delves into the astrological Eris. You can purchase it here. Our conversation centered around his research into the dwarf planet, Eris, and how she functions in astrology. People as wide ranging as D.H. Lawrence, Andrea Dworkin, and Carl Jung came up while we explored Henry’s findings that have lead him to classify Eris as a feminine warrior archetype for soul purpose.

This episode was recorded in early November 2019 after the new moon in Scorpio at the end of October. The transits mentioned cover November 2019 generally.

Time Stamps for Time Keepers

0-3:56 Introduction, Henry’s biography, how Henry got into astrology, how does astrology work? what is astrology?

3:57-5:24 Henry as a man of letters both in the English language and the language of computer science. (I’ve been moved many times over the years by Henry’s spontaneous recitations of poetry during lectures and broadcasts)

5:25-10:59 Henry’s book about Eris and the discovery and “birth” of Eris, defining the Western worldview, higher, non 3D dimensions, the significance of the number of planets, defining the planets and their classifications

11:00-14:40 Meaning of Eris astrologically vs her mythological origins

Henry mentions the famous astrologer Rick Tarnas who elucidates how a God’s origin, in this case Uranus, can reemerge as a different planetary archetype, just as Henry holds with Eris. Purchase his book Prometheus the Awakener below to explore this concept.

14:41-22:14 Shakespeare “what’s in a name?”, Romeo and Juliet, story of Eris and Henry’s interpretation of the myth astrologically vs. mythologically 

22:15-25:46 How Henry became attracted to Eris through astronomy and the symbolic interpretation of literal language

25:47-29:46 Numerology of the tenth planet, Kabbalah and Sephirot, the new millennium, the perilous times, and the numerology of the number 10 

Tarot of Dreams is a Great Tarot Deck that Uses Kabbalah. Purchase Below.

Tarot of Dreams
By Ciro Marchetti, Lee Bursten
Buy on Amazon

29:47-31:22 Henry’s design of the Eris glyph

31:23-39:46 Astrology chart examples involving Eris

39:47-44:06 Eris’s energy as do or die in the U.S. Chart and 9/11

44:07-47:46 Does Eris rule a sign? 

47:47-52:29 Jung’s dreams of Sigfried in Wagner’s Ring Cycle, trying to kill ideal beauty, the subconscious, societal expectations, and the Red Book

We briefly discussed Jung’s Red Book which was a culmination of a lifetime’s work and expresses Jung’s experience with dreams and their creative, spiritual, and collective material. Purchase below.

52:30-56:15 Expression of Eris by gender  

56:16-57:29 Difference between Pluto and Eris as far as their respective mysteries and compulsivities

57:30-1:00:39 Which sign, if any, does Eris rule? We speculate that she might rule the Via Combusta region of the zodiac, which spans from 15 Libra to 15 Scorpio

1:00:40-closing remarks

Extended Notes

Here is a link to the D.H. Lawrence poem mentioned, Give Us Gods
Here is a link to Henry’s website

Purchase Henry’s Eris Book Below

Star Love Podcast Season 1 Episode 5 Featuring Arielle Guttman

Credit: Karin Henseler

On episode 5 of the Star Love Podcast we welcomed astrologer Arielle Guttman. We discussed Arielle’s unique work with the Venus Star Point, how the Venus Star Point plays out in one’s life, and how you can learn to use the loving energy of this special astronomical phenomenon. Please rate this podcast on Apple Podcasts, and if you’re interested in sponsoring a future podcast, email Inner Makeup business manager at james@innermakeup.net.

Time Stamps For Time Keepers

Introduction and brief overview of Arielle’s background 0-4:10

Arielle’s early experiences and her astrological journey 4:11-8:03

Addressing the issue of defining astrology 8:04-13:05

The astronomy and astrology of the Venus Star Point 13:06-17:48

The Golden Mean and Venus 17:49-20:42

The Venus Star Point in your life and the current Venus Star Point cycles 20:43-24:13

Oprah Winfrey’s Venus Starpoint 24:14-29:19

Star Mates 29:20-34:09

Who the Star Love Podcast is aimed at 34:10-35:45

Difference between Venus and Venus Star Point 35:46-38:30

Arielle’s Venus Star Point in Aries and how that has played out in her life 38:40-43:40

Current and Future Venus Star Point Transits, fun stories, and closing comments 43:45-end

Extended Notes, References, and Resources

Link to Arielle’s Website

Link to find your Venus Star Point

To further explore Carl Jung’s thoughts on why it’s difficult to conduct traditional science during individual moments i.e. in the course of a psychology or astrology session, explore the first few dozen pages of The Undiscovered Self.

To further explore the idea of cycles such as the Golden Mean, try Naseem Taleb’s book, The Black Swan

Link to Arielle’s book Venus Starpoint: Getting Straight to the Heart of Your Life with Venus

Link to Arielle’s book Venus Starpoint: A New Cosmology for the 21st Century

Link to Arielle’s other books

Bi-Weekly Moon Message Horoscopes May 17, 2020-May 31, 2020

Has the current state of affairs put a damper on your love life? If it hasn’t, shame on you! But seriously, the need for romance combined with a moment that requires unprecedented social separation is an abiding concern. Being trapped at home is probably magnifying your pent up physical desires leading to feelings of imprisonment. Every cloud has a silver lining, and astrology can supply that hopeful message from the sky. So what is that message? 

To understand messages in astrology one must first look to the planet Mercury, the Roman equivalent of Hermes the winged messenger. Though tricky, as Hermes is one of the great tricksters of mythology, he provides the key that unlocks the door to deeper insights. Mercury is in a good position through the end of May being in the communicative sign of Gemini, his home sign, but is said to dispose Venus who is not as much at home in the sign of Gemini where she currently finds herself. Remember planets occupy signs and the signs govern how the planets are operating. Putting it together, your mind is on love! So who can help? Eros. 

Eros was the son of Aphrodite, the Roman equivalents being Cupid and Venus. Eros can help you understand your erotic impulses by diving head first into what it is you’re truly desiring. Since these past couple of months have had you in chains at home, it’s a perfect time for some self-reflection, and a great opportunity to take care of business on your own. It’s critical to note that Eros truly is love, and love can mean physical pleasure, creativity, beauty, and/or affection. Over the next couple of weeks, Eros will be moving through Aries, sign of self-assertion, and Taurus, the sign of intractable earth. Take this chance over the next couple of weeks to analyze, express, and experiment with the nature of your personal erotic impulses. Then, like a sitting bull, collect the gains you’ve made. 

Aries: With Eros moving through your sign, Aries, and your sign of money, Taurus, you’re money! This is reflected in ancient astrology as the house of creativity and romance was where Venus found her joy. Venus is also money in astrology. Love doesn’t always have to be irrational, and when explore your own erotic self-expression, this opens up doors for you.

Taurus: Eros will be moving through your sector of spirituality and then your sector of self. The message is to let go of an old love. You can’t move forward in love and life without letting go of the old. The key is to value your own self-expression in areas of romance, and then you will experience a rebirth.

Gemini: You may be hit hardest by this transit as you desperately, like a child, want love. You’re looking towards social networks, but clearly that is not an option right now. You’re best bet is to wait, hope for brighter days, and trust in the universe. If you stop trying so hard, good things can happen.

Cancer: “Everything is about sex except sex. Sex is about power” – Oscar Wilde. This applies to your career and your hopes for your career. Of course, sexual harassment guidelines need to be followed, but there is no denying the power of sexual self-expression as a means to gain power. Workplace fantasies can be sublimated into true career advancement. 

Leo: While international travel has come to a halt, this doesn’t mean you can’t fantasize about a tryst that happens abroad. Sometimes the way to enlightenment is by experiencing internal ecstasies as opposed to traveling through time and space to get to them. You are a naturally expressive sign, so disclosing some of your fantasies gives you the attention you’re seeking.

Virgo: Out of all the signs, you have the best chance to probe the darkest recesses of your erotic impulses, making deep psychic gains. The subconscious is now understood by psychologists as the driving motivation of our actions. Acting on these impulses carries its risks, but has its rewards. Exploring these uncharted waters in solitude can be frightening but illuminating.

Libra: This is not the time to hold back on the relationship front. A partner will be like Cupid, shooting arrows at you. Let your heart be pierced, and reap the rewards from this fall. Merging with this partner helps you expand your horizons and go farther than you would have otherwise.

Scorpio: Stop and breathe in the fresh air. Platonic love is the key for you. The flowers, the clouds, a cup of espresso—these things and activities are how you experience love. As one of the most intense, and often times sexual, signs of the zodiac, this might be a challenge. Focus on simple, daily delights, and you’ll find the love you’re seeking. 

Sagittarius: Out of all the signs this month, Cupid’s bow really hits you. Enjoy this, as you are usually the one shooting arrows, as you are the archer. Allow yourself to use the romance that blossoms over the next couple of weeks as a chance to experience yourself on a purely personal level. That might sound strange. After all, isn’t love about two people? But erotic self-expression is just as important for your partner as it is for yourself. 

Capricorn: Though you’re probably the sign most interested with your public reputation, some love on the home front is the astrological doctor’s order. Home cooked meals and slow burn romance touches the heart and takes you away from the massive changes and losses you may have been experiencing. Cupid’s bow helps. Look at this as a pivot, and find good fortune where you least expect it. 

Aquarius: You are one of the most social signs of the zodiac, so these past couple of months have been difficult for you. However, love on the family front, especially amongst siblings, really helps here. Family love returns you to a deeply satisfying place like no other. Use the window of this transit to see that family connections are the most critical in life.   

Pisces: Love and money really do go together, according to astrology. This is usually reserved for Venus, but her son Eros has something to say. Think about what you value sexually and this can inform how you approach finances and generally the resources you have to work with. Objects hold energy too, and electric attraction to them should not be discounted. Beauty and the recognition of beauty is a kind of eroticism. 

Valentines Day Horoscopes and a Special Gift Offer

Happy Valentine’s Day! Forgo the fondue and give the gift of astrology! Through the end of this week, receive $40 towards any Inner Makeup session. Call 504-313-8706 or email dan@innermakeup.net to order.

The origins of this holiday find their roots in the courtly love espoused by the milieu of Geoffrey Chaucer. Courtly love is defined as love that privileges the virtues of nobility, chivalry, and social acts. Nowadays, the consumption of gifts in the form of restaurant meals and commodities are exchanged as opposed to immaterial gift-giving. Last year I decided to forgo the obligatory heart shaped box and instead offered a lecture to an audience at the East Jefferson Parish Regional Library called What Astrology Has to Say About Love. The audience was comprised of largely older women who knew better than to accept the usual Valentine’s Day trappings.   

So what does astrology have to say about love? Even if you know nothing about astrology you know that Venus is love. In antiquity Venus was said to find her joy in the astrological sector of love, creativity, children, and good fortune. In modernity that area has much more to do with the sun which embodies romance via will and ego assertion. There is a conflict between these two concepts—gestational creativity vs. self-driven dramatics. To further complicate matters, the sector of astrology that governs daily routines and health is said to be in aversion to romance. This makes sense—fun recreational love and sex rarely have to do with the mundane aspects of long term relationships. It is a challenge to integrate these to concepts. What to do then? The song My Funny Valentine is instructive. The lyrics tell of loving one whose looks are laughable or whose figure is less than Greek. As the comedian Greg Stone once said, “real love isn’t when everything is going well, it’s when it is not going well.” So yes, you need love and you need to feed your ego, but you also need to look for love in the most unlikely of places—the mundane world of your daily existence.  

Aries: March 21 - April 19 

Out of all the signs, you are the lover this Valentine’s Day. However, because you are the most aggressive of all the signs, there is a dissonance of harmony and discord within. What this is really about is your wanting to create stability for yourself in matters of the heart. Act on your vision of love that is seeking structure, and you will triumph. 

Taurus: April 20 - May 20

Watch out that a love affair doesn’t get you in trouble this Valentine’s Day. You need to think about how love can disrupt what you’ve been constructing for yourself. You’ve had some sweet peace as of late, especially amongst friends, and going off on a fling might be your undoing. Let this one go. 

Gemini: May 21- June 20

Things are a little foggy with regard to career matters. You do best in the coming months to review what’s been going on at work. Retreating a bit come March will do you some good and by May, your head will be clear about what you need to do. This will all lead to personal gains. 

Cancer: June 21 - July 22

Focus on yourself for the next four months or so! You are able to make the kind of gains that only come astrologically once every eighteen years. There will be a lot of action relationship wise in the next couple of months, but don’t put any extra effort into this. The energy is already celestially there. But to truly progress, your personal karmic future is where it’s at. 

Leo: July 23 - August 22

Your will is truly focused on a relationship right now. However some business dealings are holding you up. You might have to postpone things until a later day. Plan for a trip down the road. This will ease the current tension with that partnership. 

Virgo: August 23 - September 22 

Circumstances around a relationship are unclear. You do best to sort this out over the next few months and not make any moves. You might have to juggle a bit to have the romance you want this Valentine’s Day. Hey, Jeff Bezos said to his mistress, “I want to talk to you and plan with you.”

Libra: September 23 - October 22

Things could really heat up for you this Valentine’s Day—for better or worse. Finding harmony through the fire is not always easy. Those types of energies are best funneled into concrete actions. Working through pain points will allow you to use the passions to take your relationship to new heights.  

Scorpio: October 23 - November 21 

You’re going to be a real talker for the next couple of months. Your communication style takes on an aggressive, driving tone. On one hand this is good for you. Scorpionic energy struggles to get things out. But don’t let the cat get your tongue. You might be the one who ends up getting your ass bitten in the end. 

Sagittarius: November 22 - December 21

You have a chance over the next couple of months to make some money moves, but it will be volatile. It will be a combination of acting, juggling, staying steady, and making some deep sometimes cataclysmic changes that need to occur. While this is regarding your money, you make gains more easily with investments and even tax refunds. 

Capricorn: December 22 - January 19

You’re coming down the pike of what feels like a loss of self. This is not bad, and it gives you spiritual insights. Losing oneself is painful, but the dissolution of identity is freeing at the end of the day. You make progress when you focus on partnerships and how you relate to others in general. 

Aquarius: January 20 - February 18

Something is unclear about your finances right now. Don’t make any moves in the next couple of months. Let the facts surface as they will. Come this spring you will be in a good position to take some healthy risks. 

Pisces: February 19 - March 20 

Things are a little unclear for you physically. You do best to wait this spell out. Don’t make any big changes with regard to your health. Come this spring you’ll get to the bottom of what’s going on and the matter will end. 

These horoscopes were originally published in Ambush Magazine.

Fellini's Astrology Chart? He Was "Born a Liar"

Fellini earned income writing gags and jokes early on in his career symbolized by Gemini sitting on his 2nd house of money.

The filmmaker Federico Fellini has been on my mind since I gave a lecture at the American Italian Cultural Center. After doing some research I found a quote where he said he started off out as Marc’Aurelio and ended up Marcus Aurelius, meaning beginning as a gag writer, prankster and ending up a philosopher. 

In Fellini’s words, he became the philosopher Marcus Aurelius over time symbolized by strong activity in Sagittarius on the 8th house of the personal unconscious where he derived much of his knowledge later in life.

Fellini lying to us?

There is some controversy about his birth time, egged on by Fellini himself, but after exploring his life I find that the chart which has him as Taurus Rising seems to fit. It puts Gemini on his second house of materials and money, and he did draw his income from his gag writing even after he became a “serious” filmmaker. He was deeply interested in Carl Jung’s ideas regarding the personal unconscious, exploring this realm deeply with others through drugs, analysis, dreams, and sex. This I find symbolized in his 7th house sitting in Scorpio where his north node of karmic future is located, and his chart ruler Venus located in the eighth house of dark sexuality and being deeply drawn towards others. His 8th house is ruled by Sagittarius, the sign of knowledge and the seeking of profound knowledge. Even though Fellini lied to us, astrology is a powerful tool to shed light upon the unknown. 

Venus' Return, and a Birthday Party for Inner Makeup

This past weekend I celebrated Venus returning to the exact point she occupied when I was born. Today, I also celebrate the birthday of Inner Makeup, the astrology business and ever evolving spiritual practice I founded two years ago. What do returns mean in astrology, and what do birthdays mean in astrology? Returns do not mean what they do in finance, a profit from an investment, rather, a return in astrology is a recapitulation of a theme, albeit slightly different, as the planetary bodies are constantly in motion. Similarly, a birthday is the exact point where the sun returns when a person or event was born, with slightly different planetary configurations.  The theme of my Venus, and her return, is drama, occupying the expressive sign of Leo; thus we endeavoured to celebrate the sweetness of Venus, the brightest “star” in the sky with a grand party where I sang the celestially-themed East of the Sun, West of the Moon. This heavenly configuration also featured the North Node of Karmic Future and Mercury, the planet of communication, in close aspect in the creative sign of Leo. Venus is also a particularly social sign, so harnessing all of this Venusian and Leo energy was paramount. Similarly, the birthday chart of Inner Makeup also featured Venus prominently, with a similar prominence in the chart emphasizing Venusian energy. But besides the sweet indulgences of Venus, how does one go about celebrating astrological phenomena?

In Western astrology, the signs symbolize the seasons, which is a wholly different conception of astrology from Indian astrology, or even NASA, whereby the signs as constellations take precedent. Western astrology is based on the sun, the amount of light shed throughout the year, and its subsequent creation of the seasons as experienced on earth. Thus, we endeavoured to offer seasonal delights for our guests to celebrate each sign, or season. Take a look below to see our interpretation of each dish as embodying each season. 

Aries, The Ram

The Sun is exalted in the sign of Aries, the fiery, powerful manifestation of spring's awakening, the spring equinox. For this, we selected spring lamb, a robust, aggressive choice paired with chimmichuri sauce.

Taurus, The Sitting Bull

If Aries is the violent burst into spring, Taurus is its beautiful flowering. For this spirit, we chose earthly tri-colored carrots paired with cumin creme fraiche. 

Gemini, The Twins

Gemini are the children of the zodiac, and exhibit a sunny, airy, playful, curious, and mischievous duality, embodying the sunniest time of the year. Confetti cookies were the natural choice!

Cancer, The Crab

Perhaps the easiest selection of the bunch, Cancer is the ancient crustacean. For this we spruced up the ceviche with a Thai-style crab. 

Leo, The Lion

The sun finds its home with the lion, the fixed, lazy days of late summer. Sweet tomatoes are to be found, and we prepared a dramatic roasted cherry tomato tart.

Libra, The Scales

Libra is literally the fall of the sun, the autumnal equinox that sheds equal day to night. Yet the fall, like love, is beautiful, and we prepared an apple pie cake to symbolize this most beautiful time of the year. 

Scorpio, The Scorpion

The most intense sign of the zodiac, where the beautiful leaves of autumn are undertaken by the sting of the scorpion, we sought to create the most daemonic dish, a dark chocolate ganache with amareno cherries. 

Sagittarius, The Archer

To capture the blunt, forward spirit of Sagittarius's arrows, we offered antipasto spears.

Capricorn, The Goat

The grounded, conservative nature of Capricorn was captured in roasted cauliflower with tzatziki and harissa sauce.

Pisces, The Fish

Along with the crab, Pisces was somewhat easy to embody, the fish. Last but not least, we prepared smoked salmon on naan bread. 

Apologies to Virgo and Aquarius, as we missed photographing you. Virgo was a virgin rose and Aquarius was an innovative orange blossom spherical ice cube drink. How are you reflected in the seasons and signs of astrology? Contact me to book an Inner Makeup session to explore your personal astrology.