Last May I celebrated my 50th birthday. Entering a new decade is always a milestone, but turning fifty was unlike any other and as I thought about what this meant to me and just what I’d like to do with this time in my life. I was surprised at what I discovered, as I’d never really considered myself an artist. Writer? Yes. Photographer? Yes. Lover of all things beautiful? Definitely, but did that make me an artist? In searching my heart for a creative idea around which to organize in order to make my fifties an inspiring adventure in my mind and my life, this is what I wrote:
I am dedicating my fifties to Beauty—Beauty and Love--to living more fully as the artist I am, at heart. I’ll seize these precious moments and make it my mission to focus on the qualities of beauty, love and joy! Joy is of the essence and the natural child of beauty and love. Joy or enjoyment is confirmation of alignment with one's higher purpose. Joy is my True North.
In the eleven months since, all kinds of miraculous things have occurred to naturally move my life forward in new and joyful directions that allowed me to easily explore and express more of my creative, visually artistic self. Over the last few weeks I’ve begun to see just how much the act of consciously dedicating this time in my life to one idea has opened my eyes to possibilities and attracted opportunities through which to live my heart's desire.
When I step back and look at it, I have whole-heartedly embraced my artistic self this year. Beauty and love are ongoing themes for me, whether in my awareness of their absence in certain situations or in the realization that my world has always been full of beauty and love. Only as I began to focus on those qualities did I see how prevalent they are. Now, I’m amazed that any of us is able to keep from noticing beauty and love.
All this talk of Beauty and Love of course is related to this month’s astrological theme, Taurus and the planet associated with it, Venus, the Goddess of all things beautiful and lovely. Venus has been moving through Pisces, the sign in which she expresses her compassion and imagination in a spiritual and creative manner.
On May 3rd, Venus enters the sign of Aries where she gets down to business. Finished with the dreamtime idealism of Pisces, Venus in Aries wants what she wants when she wants it. This is the period in the annual Venus cycle when we may feel more enthusiastic about taking action on our desires; impulsively and instinctively initiating something new and if it’s exciting, so much the better. Under this energy we may be more inclined to feel impatient, or “see red” (Aries’ color) if our efforts are frustrated or denied this month. Don’t get mad, get busy. If you find your actions thwarted when moving in one direction, back off and proceed in a new way.
What do you find beautiful and lovely? What actions can you take to include more of the gifts of Venus in your life in the days and weeks ahead? May all your Venus inspired acts bring you joy.
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