Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus, a popular self help book by relationship guru John
Gray, ignited a controversy when it was first published in 1992. Gray’s intention was to assist
couples in diffusing the eons old battle of the sexes through understanding, communication and
a search for common ground. In the ensuing years, Gray has built a retail empire—a whole
series of books about Mars and Venus’ trials from the bedroom to the boardroom, a diet and
exercise guide, nine day relationship makeover, videos, compact discs and DVDs. Gray’s
success is a testament to the magnitude of the challenge, “Why can’t we all just get along?” If
personal relationships are this daunting, imagine the exponential effect when dealing on a
community, national or global level.
Gray, ignited a controversy when it was first published in 1992. Gray’s intention was to assist
couples in diffusing the eons old battle of the sexes through understanding, communication and
a search for common ground. In the ensuing years, Gray has built a retail empire—a whole
series of books about Mars and Venus’ trials from the bedroom to the boardroom, a diet and
exercise guide, nine day relationship makeover, videos, compact discs and DVDs. Gray’s
success is a testament to the magnitude of the challenge, “Why can’t we all just get along?” If
personal relationships are this daunting, imagine the exponential effect when dealing on a
community, national or global level.
On a cosmic level, the planets Mars, God of War, and Venus, Goddess of Love, have recently become engaged in an
escalating conflict. They are projecting a litany of grievances for us to ponder, and hopefully to resolve. “On Earth as
it is in heaven.” Fast moving inner planets normally govern only our personal experience because they dwell in a
given sign only one or two months. Planetary retrogrades, however, can extend that window to six or seven months. As
a case in point, Mars entered Taurus, July 28, 2005 and, owing to its retrograde from October 1–December 10, it won’t
exit until February 17, 2006. This extended time period gives us the opportunity to see the effects of planetary energy
in the collective experience. Mars and Venus retrograde on a cycle of alternate years. Atypically in 2005, their
retrograde periods nearly collide, with Venus turning tail on Christmas Eve Day, just two weeks after Mars goes
direct. Mars transit in the Venus-ruled sign of Taurus further intensifies the oppositional relationship between these
two energies. An apt image for Mars in Taurus is an athlete running a handicap race in slo-mo wearing concrete boots.
As a further echo, the transiting nodes (karmic destiny points) this year are South in Libra (Venus ruled) and North
in Aries (Mars ruled).
escalating conflict. They are projecting a litany of grievances for us to ponder, and hopefully to resolve. “On Earth as
it is in heaven.” Fast moving inner planets normally govern only our personal experience because they dwell in a
given sign only one or two months. Planetary retrogrades, however, can extend that window to six or seven months. As
a case in point, Mars entered Taurus, July 28, 2005 and, owing to its retrograde from October 1–December 10, it won’t
exit until February 17, 2006. This extended time period gives us the opportunity to see the effects of planetary energy
in the collective experience. Mars and Venus retrograde on a cycle of alternate years. Atypically in 2005, their
retrograde periods nearly collide, with Venus turning tail on Christmas Eve Day, just two weeks after Mars goes
direct. Mars transit in the Venus-ruled sign of Taurus further intensifies the oppositional relationship between these
two energies. An apt image for Mars in Taurus is an athlete running a handicap race in slo-mo wearing concrete boots.
As a further echo, the transiting nodes (karmic destiny points) this year are South in Libra (Venus ruled) and North
in Aries (Mars ruled).
Grinding to a Halt
Are Venus and Mars hopelessly incompatible? Fiery Mars, the archetypal male principle, is naturally action oriented
and aggressive, tendencies that run counter to peacemaker Venus, the archetypal feminine. Within days of Mars'
ingress into Taurus a power struggle between their competing agendas became evident. By mid-November (the time of
this writing), a clear pattern has emerged. The players are engaged in a cosmic game of chess; Venus obstructionist
strategy has confounded Mars at every turn and forced him into defensive moves. In this battle, the stakes are high.
The future course of war and peace hang in the balance.
and aggressive, tendencies that run counter to peacemaker Venus, the archetypal feminine. Within days of Mars'
ingress into Taurus a power struggle between their competing agendas became evident. By mid-November (the time of
this writing), a clear pattern has emerged. The players are engaged in a cosmic game of chess; Venus obstructionist
strategy has confounded Mars at every turn and forced him into defensive moves. In this battle, the stakes are high.
The future course of war and peace hang in the balance.
Since the beginning of recorded history, and probably much before, the call to arms has been the weapon of choice for
conflict resolution on planet Earth. If we give credence to the Biblical prophecy from Isaiah that opens this
dissertation, mankind now stands on the brink of a massive paradigm shift. We are in the “end of days,” AKA the
transition into the New Age. The possibility of an end to all war is anchoring in the collective consciousness. Have we
been seeing the first tentative steps toward making world peace a reality? It has been a stop-and-go process—one step
forward two steps back. However, Martian slings and arrows—or was it swords and spears—have begun transforming
into Taurean ploughshares. Viewing recent events through this lens, an optimistic and hopeful picture comes into
focus. A chronicle of the last three months is perhaps the best vehicle for tracking the unfolding of this plan. Hint:
Watch the money and the women, both Venus ruled.
conflict resolution on planet Earth. If we give credence to the Biblical prophecy from Isaiah that opens this
dissertation, mankind now stands on the brink of a massive paradigm shift. We are in the “end of days,” AKA the
transition into the New Age. The possibility of an end to all war is anchoring in the collective consciousness. Have we
been seeing the first tentative steps toward making world peace a reality? It has been a stop-and-go process—one step
forward two steps back. However, Martian slings and arrows—or was it swords and spears—have begun transforming
into Taurean ploughshares. Viewing recent events through this lens, an optimistic and hopeful picture comes into
focus. A chronicle of the last three months is perhaps the best vehicle for tracking the unfolding of this plan. Hint:
Watch the money and the women, both Venus ruled.
Give Peace a Chance
The world in November looks radically different than it did in August, not only because of record hurricanes,
earthquakes and tornados. As chronicled, the fortunes of war are slowly turning. While Mars’ blood and Venus’
treasure may continue to flow, military solutions are becoming less viable. There is growing acknowledgement that
the underlying causes of problems in the world need to be addressed. Humanitarian and economic remedies are
needed. On the anti-war front, we may see the birth of a new brand of activism, a real peace movement—a true
integration of the Libra/Aries nodal axis. It is time for each of us to become pro-active for peace. Some will march,
write letters, sign petitions, donate money or join a movement. Most importantly, we must BE the peace we wish to
see in the world. Make peace within yourself, your family, your relationships, your community. Visualize peace.
Meditate on peace. Pray peace.
earthquakes and tornados. As chronicled, the fortunes of war are slowly turning. While Mars’ blood and Venus’
treasure may continue to flow, military solutions are becoming less viable. There is growing acknowledgement that
the underlying causes of problems in the world need to be addressed. Humanitarian and economic remedies are
needed. On the anti-war front, we may see the birth of a new brand of activism, a real peace movement—a true
integration of the Libra/Aries nodal axis. It is time for each of us to become pro-active for peace. Some will march,
write letters, sign petitions, donate money or join a movement. Most importantly, we must BE the peace we wish to
see in the world. Make peace within yourself, your family, your relationships, your community. Visualize peace.
Meditate on peace. Pray peace.
Congressman Dennis Kucinich, when he accepted the Gandhi Peace Award in 2003, had this to say:
There are some who think that peace is somehow a static activity. Far from it. It's a dynamic expression of
the possibilities of human aspiration. So we are called upon at this moment, to be witnesses for peace, for
truth, for light, for love, for compassion, and for the potential of humanity to evolve from a condition
where some believe that war is inevitable, to a condition where our knowledge that peace is inevitable
becomes the defining paradigm of a new century and a new world.
the possibilities of human aspiration. So we are called upon at this moment, to be witnesses for peace, for
truth, for light, for love, for compassion, and for the potential of humanity to evolve from a condition
where some believe that war is inevitable, to a condition where our knowledge that peace is inevitable
becomes the defining paradigm of a new century and a new world.
Amen.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Judith Goldberg, MFA has a Master’s Degree in Art Education from the Maryland Institute College of
Art and a Certificate in Karmic Astrology from Creative Choices, Inc. Judith writes a monthly column,
Star Track: Astrology for the New Age in the Spirit Crossing free online newsletter. Judith is a
Vocational Astrologer in private practice in Baltimore, Maryland. She welcomes your comments and
questions.
Art and a Certificate in Karmic Astrology from Creative Choices, Inc. Judith writes a monthly column,
Star Track: Astrology for the New Age in the Spirit Crossing free online newsletter. Judith is a
Vocational Astrologer in private practice in Baltimore, Maryland. She welcomes your comments and
questions.
| “And it shall come to pass in the end of days that… they shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” - Isaiah II |
| Swords and Plowshares |
The Peace Dividend
A Cosmic Conflict
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