Venus began her rare retrograde Saturday evening, March 1st. Such a motion isn’t discernible with the naked eye, but it is knowable, and asks of us: What’s living in your heart?

In the cosmic wisdom of the ancients, it was understood that there is no secret in the human heart of which Venus, as goddess of love and beauty, is not aware. Venus is the brightest object in our sky after Sun and Moon, and will, nevertheless, never be outshined by Moon, and whose lover, the red warrior Mars, always pales when he draws near here. Undaunted, Venus boldly and beautifully reflects toward humanity what she discerns living in human hearts.

In this current movement, we can imagine Venus is looking into the secret in our hearts, gathering it up for carrying to the core with us, which comes on March 22nd, when Venus meets the Sun at inferior conjunction. It will be two days after the equinox, and at such a moment, it is as though that which is worthy or prepared in the heart is infused with the fructifying forces of warmth and light.

Then, Venus begins the journey of bearing these forces back to us, as the planet steps behind the Sun and into the morning sky. But that’s not the end, because the retrograde motion continues, all the way until the Spring Full Moon on April 12th, when the Sun-infused mystery that lives in the heart is as though handed down to us, through the radiance of the Spring Full Moon.

This year, this isn’t just any Moon, it’s the Full Moon that determines the date for the sacred feasts of the Spring, like Easter and the Passover. This Full Moon arrives on the date that is observed as Lazarus Saturday in orthodox tradition ~ Lazarus, the disciple whom Jesus loved. Venus, the planet of love and beauty, witnessing what lives as love in our own hearts.

It's such a picture, when love speaks, for as Shakespeare wrote, at such a time, the voice of all the gods make heaven drowsy with the harmony.

Tom Herbert reviews the film "Trial by Fire"

Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community!

Welcome to the Community Calendar, your daily dose of exciting events and happenings on Beaver Island! Join us on WVBI, the voice of Beaver Island, as we bring you the latest information on local events, festivals, concerts, and more. Stay tuned for a curated collection of island events, ensuring you never miss out on the vibrant community life of Beaver Island. Subscribe now to stay connected with the heartbeat of our island community!

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