Venus Cycle & The Myth of Inanna 🤍🌸
Hello beautiful soul,
Once, we lived in harmony with the natural cycles, tracking the movement of the Sun, Moon, and planets as guides for our lives. Perhaps I romanticize this (hello, Sun in Pisces), but deep within me is a longing to return to a way of living that is intimately connected to Mother Earth and Father Sky—a time when life moved at a slower, more intentional rhythm (hello, Moon in Virgo).
I know I’m not alone in this. Many of us feel that the fast-paced, hyper-masculine world we live in is no longer serving us—perhaps it never truly did.
When I first immersed myself in Astrology and Shamanism, I became more attuned to the natural world, both above and below. I could watch the Moon shift through her phases, the trees dance with the wind, and the rivers carve their path for hours. In this blog post, I invite you to journey with me through one of the most beautiful celestial rhythms: the cycle of Venus.🌸
Venus does not simply shine in the sky—she moves through an ancient, sacred dance of descent and return, a journey of death and rebirth. Like the myth of Inanna, Venus disappears into the underworld and is later reborn, emerging renewed and transformed. And just as she moves through this cycle, so do we. So this story hold deep shamanic wisdom in it.
I deeply believe in the Hermetic principle of As Above, So Below—what happens in the heavens mirrors what happens within us. When we tune into Venus’ cycle, we begin to recognize her story unfolding in our own lives as well: the moments of radiance, the descents into darkness, and the inevitable rising once more.
The Planet of the Sacred Feminine
Venus, the planet closest to Earth, is often associated with beauty, love, money, and aesthetics in Western astrology. But her essence runs much deeper. In Shamanic Astrology, Venus is seen as the embodiment of the Sacred Feminine—the Goddess in all her many forms. This perspective resonates deeply with me, especially as a student of TOTAMS (The Turning of the Ages Mystery School) and someone profoundly inspired by Venus Alchemy, the work of Cayelin K Castell and Sheridan Semple.
Venus, the Goddess Herself, is a mirror of the sacred feminine within us all. As the ruling planet of Taurus, an earth sign, she calls us into embodiment, grounding us fully into our physical form. She guides us on the journey from Spirit to Matter, from the heavens above to the Earth below. Following her cycle in the sky is more than an astronomical observation—it is a personal journey of transformation, mirroring the rhythms of death and rebirth. In a world shaped by masculine structures, Venus reminds us to return to our essence, our inner wisdom, and the cyclical nature of life itself.
For me, Venus is a guiding light, leading me back to the feminine essence of love, trust, community, and sacredness. She reminds me to reclaim the lost wisdom of the feminine in our world—a way of being that embraces slowness, deep presence, and the full experience of the senses. Through her, I am called to savor each moment, to be fully embodied, and to love every part of myself. To embody the sensual, radiating woman. With many planets and placements in Taurus, I deeply recognize this as part of my personal path.
Venus Cycle, Her Cycle🤍
The first written story found on clay tablets is about the Sumerian myth of Inanna. It describes the cosmology of the Venus cycle. Can you imagine, the first written story was about the Sacred Feminine.
Her cycle takes 8 years and is divided in 5 journeys of about 19 months. These 5 journeys together creating a five pointed star, or a rose in the sky. ❀ Her journey begins when she is first visible in the evening sky, as an evening star after a time of invisibility. The zodiac where she was in when she became visible is the initiation and marks the energy of her new 19-month journey. This is how our ancestors, Sumerians and Babylonians, followed her journey. There are also stories of the start of her journey when the Sun and Venus first conjunct (coming together). For me personally I follow the first perspective, as that resonates most with me and is also what Venus Alchemy shares.
4 Main Phases of Her Cycle
Morning Star Rising
Venus begins her new cycle by rising as the Morning Star—visible in the early morning sky after a period of invisibility. This marks the birth of a new journey, as she gradually descends toward the Underworld.Descent into the Underworld
Eventually, Venus disappears from the sky and enters the symbolic Underworld. She remains hidden for about 2 to 3 months—a time associated with deep inner work, transformation, and surrender.Evening Star Rebirth
After her time in the shadows, Venus rises again—this time as the Evening Star. It is her moment of rebirth, emerging renewed and transformed, ready to share her wisdom with the world.Final Metamorphosis
As her cycle nears its end, Venus becomes invisible once more, entering a short but powerful liminal phase in the Underworld, lasting about 7 to 14 days. This is a final moment of metamorphosis before the next cycle begins.
Aries-Pisces Cycle 🐏🐟
This time, Venus reappeared in either Aries or Pisces, depending on where you are in the world. This is a rare and unique event, marking the start of a new Venus cycle infused with both Aries’ fiery independence and Pisces’ deep compassion, healing and love for all. Additionally, this Venus rebirth happened closest to the Equinox—a special alignment that only occurs once every eight years. Some astrologers will talk about this cycle as an Aries Venus cycle, because both Venus and the Sun were in Aries when they conjuncted. For me personally the Aries-Pisces cycle resonates and I continue with this. I will share more about this new cycle in another blogpost.
The Descent of Inanna 🦋
The ancient myth of Inanna’s descent into the Underworld is a powerful tale of transformation—one that many of us can recognize within our own lives. Over the centuries, this story has been told and reshaped in different ways, but I want to share the version that resonates most with me.
Inanna, the Queen of Heaven and Earth, embarks on a journey to the Underworld to visit her sister, Ereshkigal, the Queen of Darkness, who is grieving the loss of her husband. Before leaving, Inanna prepares herself with great care, adorning her most beautiful garments, crown, and jewelry. Her faithful servant, Ninshubur, is uneasy about the journey and warns her against it. But Inanna is resolute. She instructs Ninshubur that if she does not return within three days, she must seek help from the gods. Reluctantly, Ninshubur agrees, and so Inanna begins her descent.
As she travels deeper into the Underworld, Inanna reaches seven gates, each guarded and demanding a toll. One by one, she is stripped of her adornments—her crown, her necklace, her bracelets—until she arrives at the great hall of the Underworld, completely naked and powerless. There, she meets Ereshkigal, who is not pleased by her presence. With a single, merciless glance—the eye of death—Ereshkigal strikes her down, turning her into a lifeless corpse and hanging her body on a hook.
Days pass, and when Inanna does not return, Ninshubur, fearing the worst, seeks help from the gods. The great Enki, moved by her plea, fashions two small beings and sends them to the Underworld with the food and water of life. They make their way past the seven gates with ease, reaching Inanna and restoring her to life. However, no one may leave the Underworld without offering something in return. Inanna must choose someone to take her place.
Upon her return to the living world, she finds that all who love her have been mourning—except for her consort, Dumuzi. Unlike the others, he shows no grief at her absence. In anger, Inanna selects him as her replacement. But compassion softens her judgment, and a compromise is made: Dumuzi will spend half of each year in the Underworld, while the other half, he may return to the land of the living.
Thus, the cycle of descent and return is set into motion—a reflection of life, death, and rebirth, mirroring the rhythms of nature and the transformation we all undergo in our own journeys.
