One thing I love about astrology is how embodied it is: though we study texts and watch lectures to ground our knowledge, it’s pulling from phenomena we are all experiencing and living in all of the time. Not only can we enhance certain aspects of our lives by how we dress, we can also learn more about ourselves and our worlds. An example: today is Friday, Venus’s day. Venus is the planet of fashion, luxury and adornment so, in a way, dressing for Venus is quite easy. Just adding a simple necklace or a swipe of eyeliner can be a devotional act to the Lesser Benefic.
You can also look to the people and professions ruled by Venus. William Lilly lists “Musitions, Gamesters, Silk-men, Mercers, Linnen-Drapers, Painters, Jewellers, Players, Lapidaries, Embroiderers, Women-tailors, Wives, Mothers”1 as Venus roles. So if in these positions, how would you dress? Once you have your Venus outfit on, ask how the look make you feel feel? Does it change how you carry yourself and move through the world? What sort of syncs or omens come your way as a result of this intentional way of dressing?
You see, Venus doesn’t just rule adornment, she rules devotion and worship. Devotion means to "de "down, away" (see de-) + vovere "to vow,”2 or to bring the sacred back down to earth. Devotion makes sacred. What you wear can be a renewed commitment to your own unfolding, letting the world see the true you. What you wear can be a signal to the stars that you wish to communicate, embody, learn from them. Every sartorial decision means something, even lack of care or non-effort. You are still transmitting something to yourself and your world. See how the world responds to your renewed commitment.
I created my planetary fashion guidebook to help make the numinous more practical (and fun!) and to re-enchant the mundane. The two go hand in hand.
Yesterday, I finally released Styling with the Stars into the world. It aims to add a creative layer to your planetary devotional practice and manifest your unique look. I walk through the fashion of each of the planet— specifically The Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn— providing style icons, trends, silhouettes, specific clothing items and vibes for each planet. Additionally, I list the colors, gems and people associated with each deity as well as provide a color palette to really drive home the aesthetics of the stars. I have also linked Pinterest boards I have made compiling visual aids for each of the planets to really stoke your inspiration. Here’s a peek at my Venus Pinterest board because I just had so much fun making them:
Not only do I outline how to use this guide to make every day a sartorial devotion to a specific planet, I also provide ideas on where to look in your own chart to begin mapping your own signature style. What makes an icon is their ability to be one of one, to follow their own muse, to create a trend all their own. My research has proven that astrology is invaluable in informing your own iconic looks.
For millennia, astrologers have aligned the planets in the sky with our actions on earth, including colors, jewels, people, objects. But never before has someone distilled this ancient knowledge into a fun and extensive guide to planetary dressing. I draw on authors such as Abu Ma’shar, Al Biruni and William Lilly to form a sturdy foundation for my own thoughts and ideas about how the planets dress. Though plenty speak of dressing for your Venus, you cannot find this information anywhere else, especially not with a rooting in the tradition combined with contemporary wisdom.
You can learn more and purchase this guidebook by clicking the link below
Some Further Updates and Changes:
First of all: I am writing a book! I signed a contract with Weiser, home of some of my favorite astrology books, in December, to write about the fixed stars.
As I take on this long-term project, I will have less time to work on my other writings. I am still devoted to this newsletter but will have to reduce my input to once a week at minimum. Sometimes I may be able to keep up a bi-weekly schedule but don’t be surprised if I only publish a free newsletter one week and then a paid one the next week. I hope you will stick around to read the quality writing I promise to publish and continue to support me as I work on this exciting new venture.
For now, I leave you with this:
Until next week,
Love,
Chloe