We can’t dismiss it as a coincidence that we are reaching new highs of tension while Pluto squares the Sun.

On a personal level, Pluto tests our goals. This week, I met a good friend for a matcha latte. My friend and I both want to grow our businesses. The challenges we faced this week made us rethink our goals. Why do we need all this tension? Wouldn’t it be better to choose a simpler life without big ambitions?

My friend decided to shift toward simplicity, as I realized I must go on despite the hardship. Expecting my growth to be smooth and easy is as delusional as asking life to be constantly blissful. I must accept that things won’t always work as I want.

On a broader level, we can’t ignore the political tension. How do we find peace amid all this craziness? The New Moon in Taurus has the answer.

When Tauruses gain the stability and security they need, they attain peace of mind that radiates outwardly. The pleasure they derive from enjoying their senses makes them emanate the essence of Venusian energy—love, peace, harmony, and joy.

The secret of Taurus is to zoom in, move from the global chaos to the serenity of our home, from our worried minds to our knowing bodies, from emotional turmoil to sensual pleasure.

While we must act to bring the changes we want, our impact on the world’s problems is limited, and our stress about them isn’t helping. We can’t live without challenges, but if we cultivate the Venusian power of peace, love, harmony, and trust in our everyday life, we can cope gracefully.

Many spiritual teachers aim to connect us with Venusian energies. They call us to find joy, align with love, and trust that everything we want comes our way. But unlike what you might think, this is the hardest thing to do.

Do you ever wake up and spend your day blissfully, like the old-time Disney cartoon Snow White singing to the birds and the animals in the forest? I know I don’t, and I don’t know anyone else who does. Even when we are happy and well, something is always disturbing on the news. There is always a lesson we have to learn that pushes us to the edge, rudely and uncomfortably. 

Hearing messages calling us to connect with joy, love, peace, and harmony can sometimes make us feel worse. In addition to dealing with our challenges, we also face shame, guilt, and frustration surrounding our inability always to radiate love and light.

When I was seeing a psychotherapist to deal with my depression, about fifteen years ago, my therapist told me something that helped me tremendously. “We are not trying to eliminate the depression,” he said. “We are just trying to increase your happy moments in the day and reduce your depressed moments.” Climbing up from the black hole I was trapped in felt overwhelming and challenging. But adding up a few moments of joy to my day sounded easy enough to give it a shot. 

This is precisely how we should approach the cultivation of Venusian qualities—we do not have to live out of joy constantly, but we can certainly aim to increase these moments in our lives. 

The secret to tapping into Venusian energy is intentionally, deliberately, paying more attention to the things that bring us joy. 

Noticing the textures and flavors of our food, rather than listening to podcasts while we eat. Indulging in the softness of our sheets as we wake up. Stopping to appreciate the magnificence of a tree as we pass it by. Enjoying the scents of our self-care products. Sipping our morning drink slowly and mindfully, savoring these precious moments before we start our day. Eating a piece of chocolate with precise attention to extract every bit of pleasure. Appreciating the warmth of our loved ones’ voices and the comfort of their hugs. 

It’s a split of a second here, and a split of a second there, but it adds up and makes a significant, noticeable difference. I am not the old-time Disney Snow White with the animals in the forest, but I also am not grumpy, tense, and annoyed. I am slowly aligning more with love, peace, harmony, and bliss, every day for a little more than the day before.

This week, starting with the New Moon in Taurus, find your way to increase your Venusian moments of joy. What makes you feel love, harmony, and peace? When and where can you stop for a moment and enjoy the little pleasures life offers you? 

I’d love to hear from you, so please don’t hesitate to share your experience. 

Wishing you a Happy New Moon and a wonderful week,

With love,

Yael