Stellar Insights for April 25 - May 1

What is Beauty?

What is beauty? 

This on-the-surface straightforward question that is actually seemingly complex in its nature has captured the attention of philosophers, poets, and spiritual scholars throughout history.

Is it “the quality or aggregate of qualities in a person or thing that gives pleasure to the senses or pleasurably exalts the mind or spirit” as cited by Merriam-Webster? Is it something that is actually embodied on the surface or is it “only skin deep?” Is it one of the properties of being—along with truth and goodness—all categorized as “transcendentals” by luminaries such as Plato and others? Is it an objective notion, or a subject one, as reflected in the popular axiom that it’s in the eye of the beholder?

I wanted to begin this week’s reflections by talking about beauty because it’s certain to be on our minds over the coming days.

The reason? Venus unites with both everything-is-connected Neptune and make-it-larger Jupiter this week. And with that, what is beauty and what is beautiful captures our attention. We may find ourselves not only wanting to define it, and to invite it more deeply into our lives, but also to give in to it, to unite with it, to be enthralled and captivated by it. And while this may infuse our lives with pleasure, at the same time it’s important to be aware of its value at any moment; like with everything, even with experiences that allow us to seek and know beauty, there’s often a necessary price we have to pay for it.

One facet of life in which we aspire to have beauty—and its associate, pleasure—are our relationships, another realm of Venus that may be at the forefront of consciousness this week. Focus on your partnerships, enjoying what it is about them that inspires and fulfills you. Yet, also be aware of times when you may be wearing rose-colored glasses while engaged in them, and therefore perceiving in them what it is you want to see rather than what it is that is occurring.

It’s important to note that even with all this Venus focus this week, there may be times of storminenss and intensity. After all, we’ve got transformative Pluto stationing direct on Friday. And with that, topics such as secrets and buried treasures, death and rebirth, and control and power pepper our world.

Additionally, while things are moving and shaking, evolving and revolving, we may not be able to access as much clarity as we desire. That’s because on Saturday we have a Solar Eclipse (New Moon). The weeks around this lunar event, intensity is elevated given that life-shifting events and experiences occur, and yet where they may lead us still feels undefined. With this Solar Eclipse taking place in Taurus, collectively we may see the ushering in of new awareness and attitudes towards nature, money matters, experiences that bring us sensual delight, and our relationship to pragmatism. (To further see what this Solar Eclipse will inspire for you, look to where 11 degrees Taurus—the location of this lunation—falls in your astrology chart.)

A sense of haziness—which usually accompanies Eclipses—could have us feeling more sensitive and stressed this week. And given that the three days before any New Moon is a period associated with external darkness, we may find ourselves wanting for clarity that isn’t clearly and immediately discovered.

The solution is to know this, to remember that now’s the time to allow for the waves of sea changes to occur without pressuring yourself to need to know exactly where the tides are taking you. Be in it…with awareness, with love, with practicality, with patience, and with compassion.

Not only may this relieve some potential tension, but it will also have you understand and experience beauty on a whole other level.

To beauty,

xxStephanie

Astrological Highlights

April 27

• Mercury/Jupiter Sextile

• Venus/Neptune Conjunction

April 28

• Mercury/Pluto Trine

April 29

• Mercury enters Gemini

• Pluto Stations Retrograde

April 30

• Venus/Jupiter Conjunction

• Taurus Solar Eclipse (New Moon)

All days reflect Eastern Daylight Time (-4 hours GMT)

Photos by Anton Filatov, Simon Lee, and Ilona Panych via Unsplash