We’re now firmly in December, and starting to look toward the close of this very strange year. This week, there will in any case be a touch of newness; on Wednesday, at 9:51 am EST (14:51:02 UTC), Venus enters Aquarius.

Image by Violette79.

Venus in this sign highlights the obsession our culture has with romantic (and to a certain extent filial) love.

This is blatantly clear in our storytelling as well as more overt social conditioning: we expect to find lifelong happiness in one romantic pairing, then to devote ourselves to the offspring of said pairing, and little else.

Venus in Aquarius speaks of something palpably different: the kind of love that is universal, unconditional and impartial; what the Greeks named agape. It might be called compassion, although it transcends even that.

Cultivating this form of love is empowering and liberating, because it helps break the confining narrative regarding romantic attachments.

Love has infinite capacity and applications. Of course the love shared between a couple can be wonderful and uplifting; but Venus in Aquarius says it’s equally possible to live with several partners, or be single, or consider the whole planet one’s beloved. Instead, Venus grants the understanding that life can take you anywhere, and potentially far beyond the usual, well-trodden paths. If you’re in doubt as to your calling, set your imagination loose and see what emerges.

In addition, such love flies in the face of the Maggie Thatchers of this world, who would (and did) pronounce that “there is no such thing as society.” Instead, it implies we have a duty to care for our fellow creatures because they exist; that we can, and should, help one another.

And that energy is badly needed just now.