Live from the Chamber of Ugh
As of a few days ago, one of the most unpleasant transits of the year has just passed. Mars, the hot and fast malefic, was opposite Saturn, the cold and slow one. Together, these two represent all the unpleasant experiences of human life— not “evil,” per se, or without their merit, just uncomfortable and difficult.
“Some say the world will end in fire/ some say in ice,” Robert Frost wrote. “From what I’ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire,” he continues, echoing the impassioned, direct energy of Mars, who has just recently entered Virgo. Mars often comes through as an uncomfortable call to action— perhaps a test of your courage, or a pain that requires you to find relief as soon as you can. “But if it had to perish twice/ I think I know enough of hate/to say that for destruction ice/ is also great/ and would suffice,” Frost finishes. Saturn calcifies and halts. They ask you to endure. Together, especially in positions diametrically contrary to each other, Mars and Saturn may be felt like speeding up then being forced to slow down.
Some ways I have been feeling the Mars-Saturn Oppostion:
a piece of hot ash falling on my eyelid and a pie crumb landing directly in the same eye
loud construction blocking sidewalks
multiple speeding tickets after never getting any before in my life
trying to get places on time but traffic making it near impossible
I have dubbed this period “The Chamber of Ugh,” because it encapsulates the feeling of being stuck somewhere and the attendant emotion it evokes. It frustrates. Foils. And I, and many others I’ve spoken to, have felt it all week. It should begin waning today, but give yourself some grace the next few days— and be vigilant where knives and heavy machinery are involved.
Future Nostalgia
Venus retrograde begins tonight and I’ve been thinking of what to fill my space with in between all the reversals and wild rides this transit promises. Relationships? Halted. Haircuts and new clothes? Have to be tweaked or returned, if possible. New ventures or creative projects? Back to the drawing board. There can be a sort of stutter to Venus retrogrades, particularly around what we want, which is often where our thoughts and emotions are stickier. We often have hard look at what we are drawn to and perhaps learn something more about our own beauty in the process.
There are useful activities for all phases of life. I’ve been pondering on this Venus retrograde and it’s relationship to the past. Venus retrograde promises you can live twice. Old people coming out of the woodwork. Old patterns about connection and excavated and worked through.
One enjoyable way I’ve been anticipating the retrograde is by visiting old favorite pieces of art: songs I enjoyed five, ten, fifteen years ago and play lists I’ve made past seasons. The books of poems I’ve collected on my bookshelf and pieces of art I have been stunned by at museums, many of which I have included as art for this newsletter. These returns don’t just allow me to revisit certain significant events and phases of my life, it allows me to dwell in certain feelings and tones my life has took. These old pieces of art, like stores of memory, allowed me to appreciate where I’ve been and all I’ve experienced along the way.
So I invite you to do the same: are there past albums, movies, books, you find yourself revisiting?
And take your time, be easy on yourself these next 42 days— and see what kind of sideways motions you can make in the meantime.
Until next week,
Love,
Chloe