The Proud Phoenix

Astrology to Help You

Transform Your Life

 PO Box 12370

Durham, NC 27709-2370 US

proudphoenix@pobox.com

You have Venus in Libra in the 6th house.

Venus represents how we create and respond to harmony. Venus is that part of us that wants to get along well with others. She also represents our aesthetic tastes and perceptions or how we feel moved when we see beauty, such as the beauty found in nature. Venus rules inner peace and what sorts of experiences can help us calm down when life jostles and jars our sensibilities. She’s how we relax and have fun. Venus represents the appealing qualities with which we attract others to us, whether we’re talking about beauty, gracefulness, politeness, an elegant way of speaking or moving, or something else. In addition, Venus indicates how we form and maintain supportive relationships.

Venus is very comfortable in Libra, one of the signs that Venus rules. The processes associated with Venus are naturally very compatible with the motivations and resources of Libra. With your Venus in Libra, when it comes to developing and maintaining social ties with others, you need hospitable, friendly, connections. Socializing with people who are uncultured or unsophisticated, or who act brusque or want a lot of time to themselves won’t do for you. You need to be with people who thrive on companionship and interaction, who appreciate the pleasures that can only be enjoyed in another person’s company, who have refined sensibilities. In order for you to develop your social self-expression and a sense of social connectedness, you need frequent interaction with people. You also need congenial environments that are pleasing to your senses--without people groaning and moaning or harsh sounds or glaring lights, for example.

With Venus in Libra, you’re here to achieve harmony in the way that you relate to others and express yourself aesthetically. One way you could do that would be by bringing different parts or elements together in a pleasing arrangement. For example, maybe you combine aesthetic elements (colors, shapes, flowers, etc.) as an actor, or singer, or writer, or some other sort of artist. This could mean prettying up your surroundings, whether it’s through painting some grand work or through decorating or tidying your home in simple ways. Maybe you combine human elements, such as conflicting parties, as a mediator or counselor. Maybe you combine physical elements such as agility and grace in playing tennis, bicycling, ballet or some other athletic activity. The stereotype is that Libran energy is diplomatic and charming and a piece of cake to deal with. However, it can sometimes come across as surprisingly contrary. Libra is about balance, and that includes a natural ability, when presented with one view of a situation, to offer an alternative or opposing perspective on it. When life’s bumps and bruises jangle your nerves, listening to music or going to a theater, cinema, concert or museum could help you restore a sense of calm. So could playing a musical instrument yourself or going out for a tasty (and tasteful) dinner. You might try visiting a botanical garden or spend time in your own back yard. Get a massage or meditate.

Your natal Venus lies not only in Libra but also in the 6th house of responsibilities. The 6th house is all about become skillful and competent. It’s about acting responsibly, as a pupil, or adherent or follower in accordance with some philosophy or some cause. We all have some need to feel like we’re competent and effective. We need to be good at something that other people value. In order to become good at something, we have to act with self-discipline and engage in some measure of self-sacrifice. We can’t do whatever we want, whenever we want. We can’t strike out on our own and do only what feels good. We have to apply ourselves, and we have to learn from others. We need role models, mentors, heroes or gurus—people that will teach us a particular skill or teach us how to apply a particular set of principles in the way we live our lives. We have to voluntarily submit ourselves to some process, and then carry out whatever become our responsibilities. The 6th house represents all of these things. The 6th house also represents how you relate to anyone who depends on you for concrete support, including people in your personal life and any pets that you might have. It represents your general health, including your physical health.

You can make the best or the worst of your natal Venus in Libra in the 6th house. The choice is yours. If you make the worst of it, then you could behave like a manipulative clinging vine, an indulgent companion, or a lazy gold digger—one who pursues relationships in order to get rich.

If you act like a manipulative clinging vine, then you treat other people like pawns and you do whatever it takes to keep them in your life. You depend on them too much, and you use your charm to take advantage of them. Responsibility becomes a one-way street. Perhaps you expect total discretion and loyalty from your friends or employees, but you show no genuine interest in their own wants or needs. Maybe you cheat on your romantic partner, or you seduce people and exploit them. You’re the politician who panders to public fears for the sake of keeping the media spotlight on you and getting re-elected time and time again. In addition, you spend so much time in pursuit of pleasure that you neglect responsibilities in your life. Maybe you spend lots of time socializing at work, but not much time on what you’re expected to do. Maybe you always find the time and money to go out to eat or travel, but not to maintain your car, or file your taxes, or handle some other routine duty.

If you operate like a lazy gold digger, then you take the easy way out while enjoying as much pleasure as possible. Suppose you hold a public office. You’d love to receive a pay bonus in your work, and you can probably get it without having to lift a finger. All you have to do is sell yourself out. Say “yes” when people try to bribe you to get the consideration that they want. If you do that, then you betray your office and the public trust. You become a soft touch for the real estate lobby or some other group. The 6th house is the house of health. Since you have hedonistic Venus in pleasure-loving Libra in the 6th house, if you act lazy it could also take a toll on your health. Too much rich food and sedentary activity could catch up with you before you know it.

If you act like an indulgent companion, then you take on too much responsibility for the sake of maintaining good relations with others. With Venus in the 6th house, it’s possible to overdo or underdo acting responsibly. If you overdo it, then you cooperate with people in your work or personal life, but they don’t do the same thing in return. Therefore, they always get their way, while you never get the support or help from them that you want. Suppose that both you and your spouse want to run some personal errands (separately from each other), but someone has to look after the kids. To keep the peace and maintain a pleasant environment that is as free of tension as possible, you agree to run your errands later. If this sort of dynamic becomes a pattern in your relationship, then you could end up feeling exploited and discontent. The same thing could happen on the job. You compromise away your self-respect for the sake of preserving a shallow peace and a cheap illusion of collaboration. And those around you help this process along. It’s evident to them that you have a strong sense of duty, or it means a lot to you for everyone to get along with each other, or both, so they gladly take advantage of your willingness to be accommodating. They act irresponsibly and let you clean up behind them. You put up with such exploitive, one-sided commitments rather than risk the unknown by moving on. You don’t like it, but on some level you might feel like you deserve it or you couldn’t do any better elsewhere, so you stay put and suffer.

If you make the best of your Venus, then you could conduct yourself like a sociable artist, an affectionate lover, or a soothing diplomat.

If you act like a sociable artist, then you develop competence and skillfulness in some artistic or social territory. Perhaps you’re an activist for social and political causes. For example, you foster improved race relationships, fight for peace, take a public stand on abortion, call for better services for homeless people, or even rescue animals. You’re the singer-songwriter who becomes a favorite among intellectuals with her subtle social commentary. You’re the counselor who works with child during wartime, or the school manager who keeps the schedule busy and fun by developing classes and planning meetings. You’re the authority on art, or literature, or architecture. You turn out work that is well-crafted and delightful. It helps make the world a more harmonious, more just, or more aesthetically appealing place.  

Like an affectionate lover, you could give—and get—good mentoring in some social or creative area. Maybe you grew up hearing stories about how a relative traveled to carry out anthropological studies. It inspired you to become a writer when you were older. Maybe you help your romantic partner present himself or herself in a more glamorous way. You’re courteous and supportive, fond of learning and helping others learn. You act responsibly toward yourself—not just toward others. As a result, you derive a lot of satisfaction from developing skills that are both personally meaningful for you and that are valued by others. You enjoy making contributions, whether you do it as a photographer, owner of a health club, lawyer, or physician. You’re the loyal employee, the faithful friend, or the dutiful daughter, but you don’t tolerate abuse or unfair conditions. You consider commitment to be a two-way street, and for all the congeniality or that you might exhibit, others know where you stand.

If you act like a soothing diplomat, then you use your ability to see situations from other people’s perspective in a masterful way. Where others have failed to break through impasses in negotiations or disputes, you manage to work out wonderful, sophisticated compromises. Charming and friendly, you inspire trust in others.