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We're under the influence this week, held in the sway of several powerful celestial forces, all of which manage to maintain the status quo: a consistent escalation of intensity, individual and collective, that isn't ending anytime soon. (I know; just keep breathing, deeply.) Handling this acceleration is likely to challenge even the most conscious among us, especially over the course of the next few weeks as the stars emphasize partnerships of every denomination. Relationship issues are seldom simply easy, even when they work well. Eventually, every true meeting of the heart is certain to bring up differences. Whether those differences are political, emotional, financial, cultural, or spiritual, figuring out a skillful way to resolve the tension always takes a moment or two. And that's the current task: Finding the cardio-resilience to make room for other, equally valid, points of view. Unfortunately, in times of stress many of us tend to revert to our default settings, standard emotional responses that no longer serve, yet seem like a safe bet if only because they've worked before. But given the current climate of transformation, those habituations could boomerang easily, especially if they override deeper, more authentic responses. Make every effort to stay conscious of where you might be reacting out of habit, and then do your best to move your response into present time.

Venus is at the epicenter of the intensity. The goddess of love and beauty still trines Saturn; she is in Gemini, the sign of conversation, while Saturn, symbolizing knowledge born from experience, is in Libra, the sign of relating. They are having a deep dialogue about alliances, which means many of us are also contemplating our personal and professional bonds. On May 15, Venus goes retrograde, and all week long, as she slows down in preparation for her "course correction," certain areas of life are likely to feel stalled. She's retrograde until June 27.

Venus Retrograde adds a deeper octave to the already ongoing relationship discussion, and as she revisits her path, it would be wise to revisit your patterns. The actual review doesn't have to occur in person, but that being said, old lovers could get in touch, and they will definitely want to talk. The presence of Saturn will skew these exchanges toward the deep. Whether those tête-à-têtes will fan old embers or spark new flames is uncertain; what is clear, however, is that these dialogues provide opportunities for insightful intimacy. Gemini is also the Sign of siblings and cousins, which means several of these conversations could take place with family members.

And some of those Venus Retrograde conversations could be quite surprising. A solar eclipse on May 20 also occurs in Gemini, and because eclipses always tend to reveal hidden knowledge, and because Gemini just loves dispensing data, some of us may be saying or hearing things we always suspected were true but could never prove.
The best news is the continuing Sun/Jupiter conjunction, which is spreading its jovial light far and wide, supporting laughter as a potent remedy for healing hearts. Let this exuberant relationship enhance your heart's resilience and keep you optimistic about your opportunities to transform.

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