The Venus Cycle: Morning Star, Evening Star
THE lunar cycle as a gateway into the VENUS CYCLE
Like the Moon, Venus goes through phases of appearing, disappearing, then reappearing. Whereas the moon only disappears during the New Moon phase, Venus disappears twice in her cycle around the sun.
The lunar cycle is a template for all cycles that wax and wane. Similar to the seasons, the life-death-life cycle, and the day and night - the moon begins in stillness and emptiness and expands into fullness and fruition, then back again.
The four phases of the Venus cycle are:
Morning Star (Waxing Venus - 9 months)
Full Venus Phase (Venus in the Underworld and Exterior Conjunction)
Evening Star Phase (Waning Venus - 9 months)
New Venus Phase (Venus Retrograde and Interior Conjunction)
Venus appears to get bigger and brighter in the sky as she gets closer to earth on her orbit. The crescent phase of Venus (both waxing and waning) can sometimes even been seen in daylight!
The Venus Cycle and phases as seen from the perspective of earth
One full Venus cycle is like a lunar cycle expanded over 19 months. It takes Venus more than a year and a half to return to the same position from our perspective on earth. Learning about the Venus cycle and tracking her position in the sky expands your awareness of the overlapping cycles within cycles and the movement of love — not to mention this orbit creates a five petaled rose with the start points created when the sun and Venus are conjunct at the New and Full Venus phases. Read my substack article for a more in-depth look at the Venus Rose.
Venus Returns
Venus spends nine months as a morning star and nine months as an evening star. This length of time is significant. Many ancient cultures must have tracked this movement with an awareness that this mirrored the potential gestational period for humans.
Along with the Moon, Venus is one of the oldest timekeepers that was tracked by ancient astronomers all over the globe. The Venus Tablet of Ammisaduqa are cuneiform clay tablets from Babylonia based on records from around 1600 BCE. These show the astronomical omens of the risings and settings of the planet Venus aka the “Holy torch who fills the heavens.”
Where does she go and for how long?
The longest disappearance happens when Venus is behind the sun (about 2 months), and a shorter disappearance (about 8 days) when she is in front of the sun during the retrograde period.
Why does she disappear?
Venus travels in a close orb to the sun. Anytime a planet is within a 10 degree orb of the sun, that planet is not visible from earth because the rays of the sun block it out. Once Venus is at a distance of more that 10 degrees from the sun, she reappears — like clockwork, like a pendulum.
On a symbolic level, Venus disappears behind the sun to face her shadow and be born anew. She travels through the underworld to strip away any falsehoods. She emerges in the evening sky ready to regain her pleasure and authentic self.
As an evening star Venus meets up with the moon at dusk every lunar cycle. When the Moon and Venus come together in a conjunction in the sky, a doorway opens for emotional heart healing.
EVENING STAR VENUS
After traveling in the underworld behind the sun, Venus appears at dusk as an evening star.
This is when Venus starts coming closer to earth on her orbit. The evening star phase is referred to as the Ascent, the time for reclaiming healing in relationships.
Lunar Heartbeat: Venus meets up with the waxing crescent at dusk.
This conjunction happens about 7 times just AFTER the new moon each lunar cycle. In some schools of astrology this is referred to as a Venus Gate or Rose Gate, and corresponds to each one of the chakras starting from the root and moving up.
MORNING STAR VENUS
Venus transitions from an evening star to a morning star after passing in front of the sun. This happens during the retrograde period.
As a morning star, Venus is traveling away from earth towards the “underworld” on the far side of the sun.
Lunar Heartbeat: Venus meets up with the waning crescent moon at dawn.
This conjunction happens about 7 times just BEFORE the new moon each lunar cycle. In some schools of astrology this is referred to as a Venus Gate or Rose Gate, and corresponds to each one of the chakras starting from the grown and going down up.
Especially for folks who are highly sensitive empaths, it can feel like too much to bear to keep the heart open and to feel all the things. Venus helps us look for evidence of how life wants to love itself. You may begin to notice how Venus shows up as an ally on your journey through relationships, creative expression, fighting for what you love, pleasure, heartbreak, forgiveness, and opening up to the gifts of life.
Venus is what makes the heart pulse with love in this heartbreaking experience of being human. Every moment there is beauty, and every moment there is suffering.
The Lunar Wall Calendar and Lunation Journals are available in the shop! Order your copy today.
This simple and beautiful circular calendar and journal establishes the new moon as the starting point for each monthly cycle. By using a circular calendar you perceive time in relation to nature more clearly, and patterns in your own experience become more apparent. It provides a structure for connecting to your inner wisdom and natural rhythms.
