Love Conquers War when Venus overpowers Mars at Solstice 2018

Summer Solstice occurs at 6:07 am on Thursday, June 21st, followed a few hours later by Venus opposing Mars, at 12:54 pm. This juxtaposition of the goddess of love and the god of war just as the Sun heaves its greatest outbreath into the glory of the season and takes pause (or stands still) is a powerful image  to inspire the coming weeks. Contrary to popular belief, Venus and Mars on opposite sides of the Earth does not diminish their “love game” and turn it into battle, rather, it strengthens love and relationship, because all partners must work more clearly and specifically toward another across the space between them, without opportunity to rely on the sweet nothings that can be whispered when they are close. In Sandro Botticelli’s allegory from 1485 pictured here, love conquers war! And while there are many interpretations of the meaning of the different elements included here, I would like to hazard one of my own regarding the wasps that gently buzz over Mars’ head. It has been said that they represent the coat of arms of the possible patron of the work, though this is not known with certainty. It’s possible they represent the audio sensation that results from raising up the life force (known in eastern tradition as the “kundalini”). One of the sensations associated with awakening this primal energy is as the sound of a vibratory buzzing, like wasps or bees would make. Though Mars is asleep in the aftermath of their coupling, the wasps could indicate that Love is awakening within ~ there’s a solstice message!