Venus in Leo and Music

Venus of Urbino by Titian

I'm continuing my Venus as the Muse investigation with the 2nd Fire sign, Leo.

What do Madonna, Fiona Apple, Tori Amos and Amy Winehouse have in common? They're all on my music shelf, they're all unconventional (to say the least) and they all have Venus in Leo.

Being a Fire sign, Venus in Leo shares some things with the Venus in Aries we've seen before; namely, the enthusiasm, a certain naivety of feelings because inside lives a child, the mythical view of Love and the disregard for material limitations. So again we find lyrics about how love is a fairy tale:

If the land of make believe is inside your heart, it will never leave/ There's a golden gate where the fairies all wait and dancing moons, for you (Madonna in Dear Jessie)

In the mist there she rides and castles are burning in my heart (Tori Amos in Girl)

And again we see that there is a deep idealization of what Love should be. First comes the ideal, then the rest, as Fiona Apple puts it - I'll idealize, then realize...or Amy Winehouse I drift off, I fantasize...

For Venus in Leo, Love must be Grand, Unique, Once in a Lifetime, Never done before, hence why Madonna sings: Romeo and Juliet, they never felt this way, I bet. - in Cherish, co-written with Patrick Leonard.
We scream in cathedrals, Why can't it be beautiful? Why does it gotta be a sacrifice? asks Tori Amos in Iiieee. I know, Tori, it should be all red and fantastic all the time.

Leo is often regarded as an extravagant, flamboyant, the-sun-shines-on-me sign. In fact, it is associated with the Sun and the Sun symbolizes the Ego. Leo is accused of being self-centered, of being obsessed with themselves and that may be true - but is that necessarily bad? The truth is they're very self-conscious and they need to gain a clear understanding of who they are so they can be as confident as we expect them to be.

This quest for their true identity is done by expressing themselves, by creating something, so there is an extension of them to be admired and recognized by others. They need some ego-boosting from their loved-ones (I just need to be reassured, sings Fiona Apple), even if they already appear confident enough, don't forget.

As Madonna puts it in her all-Leo hit "Express Yourself" - What you need is a big strong hand, To lift you to your higher ground, Make you feel like a queen on a throne - Venus in Leo should be the King/Queen of the relationship. They are naturally so giving and generous that they only expect to be thanked and appreciated in return. As Amy Winehouse puts it - All I need is for my man to live up to his role.

Venus in Leo doesn't like the conventional, the ordinary...(Madonna says - I want more than just romance). They like feathers, candles, silk, magnificent scenarios; in their minds they do wear a crown on the top of their head. And a King/Queen is always proud because deep down they're very sensitive to what others think of them. Fiona Apple explains - I have never been so insulted in all my life, I could swallow the seas to wash down all this pride. (in Sleep to Dream)

Or the Amy Winehouse confession - Although my pride is not easily disturbed... (in You Sent Me Flying).

KT Tunstall (also Venus in Leo, but Sun in Cancer) also says: I don't want to be second best, Don't want to stand in line, Don't want to fall behind.

Venus in Leo is very temperamental and dramatic in love and not what we would call easy-going. In fact, they're often regarded as troublemakers...Tori Amos starts the first song in her first solo album saying Every finger in the room is pointing at me, I wanna spit in their faces. Coincidentally, Fiona Apple's first song in her first album also says: This mind, this body and this voice cannot be stifled by your deviant ways, So don't forget what I told you, don't come around, I got my own hell to raise.

To be fair, they enjoy being "bad" and they don't try to disguise this aspect of their character. Even the titles of the songs are clear enough: "Criminal", "Sullen Girl" (Fiona Apple); "You Know I'm No Good (Amy Winehouse); "Bad Girl" (Madonna).

Fiona Apple is a master at expressing her devilish side:

- 'Cause I know I'm a mess he don't wanna clean up;

- You feed the beast within me

- I may be soft in your palm but I'll soon grow hungry for a fight, and I will not let you win

Amy Winehouse isn't ignorant about hers neither:

- My destructive side has grown a mile

- Animal aggression is my downfall

We must give them credit for their constancy, nevertheless. Being a fixed sign makes them more prone to being faithful and committed to one relationship, as long as their partners are loyal and appreciative in return. On the other hand, they can be massively stubborn as well. Ah, and competition...beware! They can be ferocious towards competitors and sometimes the competitor is the other partner - Venus in Leo likes to dominate but in a healthy, honest way (if there's such a thing).

I wonder if the four women I mentioned would be in this list if it wasn't for the strong Virgo influence in their charts. What I mean is that often the Fire signs provide a lot of energy and enthusiasm but this isn't always directed into a coherent target. There is an enormous potential, particularly in the creative sense, but not always the necessary persistence to carry it through to an end - that's the Earth signs area. So the Virgo energy in these woman may have made the difference, as unfulfilled potential is offensive to any Virgo. They feel a duty to make the most of their capacities. Madonna and Tori Amos have both a Leo Sun, but Madonna has Moon, Ascendant, Mercury and Pluto in Virgo and Tori has also Mercury and the Midheaven in Virgo, as well and Uranus and Pluto.

Fiona Apple (Sun + Moon in Virgo) and Amy Winehouse (Sun + Mercury in Virgo) may attribute their "bad girl" label to this impetuous Venus in Leo, as they largely differ from other Virgoean singers (for instance, sweet Katie Melua, with Venus in Libra).

Is your Venus in Leo?

Venus and Music

The Birth of Venus ("Naissance de Venus") by W. Bouguereau

Here's a post I've been working on for days. It involved a lot of research, interpretation and...music listening. It's been exciting and very interesting and I sincerely hope you enjoy it too.

When two things are so good separately, we have to believe that they can be magical together, so I'm attempting to combine Music with Astrology in a post about Venus.

Astrologically, Venus represents the way we love and what we love (be it an activity or personal qualities). It is connected to romance, beauty, aesthetics and arts in general. Even though music in particular is often associated with Neptune, this isn't a personal planet, it moves extremely slowly and lacks the richness and individuality that Venus contains. This way, I'm pretty sure Venus is the inspiring muse songwriters breathe from when writing love songs. (The way they express it nevertheless ruled by Mercury.)

I began to wonder whether the qualities of Venus in the charts of singers/songwriters were reflected in their lyrics. So I started by looking at the Natal Venus of some of my favourite songwriters. It was interesting and I continued...until I'd checked 76 charts and this almost became a scientific and certified investigation. ;)

My general conclusions:

- Venus in Earth and Fire signs came up more frequently (Air signs came last). Fire is the most dramatic and outgoing element so I understand their need for writing songs, as a grand gesture. Earth is less obvious, but perhaps it's their commitment to the material world, the world of the senses, that makes them want to produce something that can be heard.

- Venus in Fixed signs has a slight advantage over Cardinal and Mutable, possibly because their feelings are often more intense, enduring...

- Ten of the 76 "participants" had Venus in Aries. Other popular signs were: Taurus (8), Scorpio (8), Virgo (7), Capricorn (7), Aquarius (7), Pisces (7). I found only 2 songwriters with Venus in Cancer.

- Even though I limited my analysis to the signs were Venus was found, I couldn't help noticing Venus' aspects to the other planets in the chart and that's where the most interesting observations were.

(a) In the great majority of the charts Venus is extremely aspected, which highlights the planet's influence in the chart.

(b) Except for 3 or 4 charts, Venus was always aspected either by the social planets (Jupiter and Saturn) or by the extra-personal planets (Uranus, Neptune and Pluto) or BOTH. In my opinion, this reflects a person's connection to society and the collective; the person is able to understand the social trends, the collective feelings, hopes and dreams and probably channel that understanding into their songwriting. That's why they are popular songwriters and performers and not john and jane does - the public is able to see themselves in their songs, they enjoy it because they recognize their feelings in the music and lyrics, there is an obvious connection established. This can also add an explanation to the great number of Venus in Scorpio, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces found (all signs ruled by extra-personal planets).

(c) 80% (possibly more) of the analysed Venus are connected to Saturn in some way, proving what I knew but didn't really believe - Venus-Saturn connections have a great artistic potential (including Venus in Capricorn) because Saturn likes the give shape to things (a big, restricting shape ha) and next to Venus it makes people "get serious" about art and relationships, it makes them work on it, not simply enjoy it, and so artistic concepts gain a material, practical form. Additionally, Saturn rules time so it gives people rhythm and musical ability.

Possible limitations and biases:

- Most songwriters I checked were to my liking, but not all of them. To be more precise, I'd have to select half that I liked and half that I didn't, but liking is per se a very subjective concept.

- Lyric interpretation is possibly one of the most subjective activities in the World and my views will necessarily be biased (hopefully by my feelings and not by this study).

- I haven't obviously been able to read ALL the lyrics from ALL the 76 musicians...

- I'm limiting myself to the analysis of Venus signs, not houses (it's impossible to find out the exact birth-time of most of the artists) and not aspects, so it will always be a limited analysis.

I'll be back to present to you my conclusions for each sign.

In the meantime, if you don't already know, you can find where your Natal Venus is here.

Then you'll see if the song lyrics describe how you usually feel when you're in love (in my next posts).

Venus in Aries in Music

Let's see if all this craze makes any sense on paper.

I shall start with the Fire signs (because they're the best - nooo, kidding!). Check here to see if you have Venus in Aries or other fire sign.

Having Venus in Fire signs (Aries, Leo or Sagittarius) brings a lot of enthusiasm, energy, idealism to our approach to love. Being very concerned with ideals, aiming very high, sights on the future and in fantasy, love is certainly not boring or stationed, but the material things may be disregarded. Venus in Fire probably forgets birthdays, doesn't buy you chocolates or help you with the laundry...but you're certainly a part of the most exhilarating fantasy that's going on on his/her mind.

On to Venus in Aries - as I've mentioned, the most popular result in my songwriters research. Funnily enough none of the 10 singers with this position has an Aries Sun (this is rare since Venus never goes 45º further from the Sun, which is sign and a half). Anyway, most of them are Pisces.

Venus in Aries is impulsive and has a hard time controlling its enthusiasm, so frequently they'll fall in love at first sight. Bob Marley recognized in his song "I don't wanna wait in vain for your love" - From the very first time I rest my eyes on you, girl, My heart says follow through.

Janet Jackson knows it all too well and so she sings (I can't believe I had to browse through J.Jackson's lyrics neither!): I'm scared to fall in love, Afraid to love so fast, 'Cause every time I fall in love, it seems to never last.

Hmmm...now why does that happen?

Jewel replies: There is this hunger, this restless inside of me / There's this feeling I thought I had to get going, got too scary, got too big, got to get out of here.

The truth is that Aries love needs a certain amount of agitation, change, challenge to keep the flame alive. Jewel probably felt trapped at some point. (Stina Nordenstam would say that even a little trouble is a good thing - "I guess it's true what my sister said, when it's all fine it is just a bore")

They like novelty, new experiences, so they'll be extremely enthusiastic while they're hunting a new love interest. In fact, we may even say that the thrill of the hunt is what they like most about love.

What happens when we love to hunt and like a challenge? We search for the unobtainable person! He/She is the one that we love the most, we can't have him/her but OH, if we did...And so they pine for someone they can't have.

Stina Nordenstam has the best description: I know that I can't have you I know that you'll never be mine I know that and that's why I choose you 'Cause this is real life

Stevie Wonder laments on his lovely song "My Cherie Amour" - In a cafe or sometimes on a crowded street I've been near you, but you never noticed me; You're the only one my heart beats for, How I wish that you were mine.

Janet Jackson has a song called He Doesn't Even Know That I'm Alive. The title says it all.

Chris Martin from Coldplay wrote Shiver about an unobtainable girl (word has is that is was about Natalie Imbruglia): So I look in your direction and you pay me no attention ... He goes on to say: From the moment I wake to the moment I sleep, I'll be there by your side just you try and stop me.

Aries is persistent, I'll give you that. Because they're driven by those idealistic views of love, love that conquers all. Like Jewel, who sings: Fill your lives with love and bravery and you shall lead a life uncommon.

(bravery being all about Aries; it's in fact a term used intensively by Jewel).

Do they get disappointed?

Well I wanted to touch what I saw with my eyes Don't try to reach the moon if you don't wanna realise (Stina N. again)

Yes, often. That's what J.Jackson was saying in the beginning, it never lasts. Well, it's not that bad, it can last, if the person recognizes the human behind their perfect love fantasy, aknowldges its faults and individuality. Easier said than done!

Most of the time, the man with Venus in Aries believes himself as the original Knight in shining armour and his romantic interest is a Lady, who surely, needs to be protected and rescued. Sometimes they are blind to the fact that the Lady doesn't want to be rescued, they are blind to the actual woman in front of them, fantasising about the Ideal Female.

Even Bob Marley felt for that idea of Courtly Love on No, Woman no Cry. He tells her not to cry and tries to reassure her - My feet is my only carriage And so I've got to push on through. But while I'm gone, everything's gonna be all right!

Chris Martin - But I promise you this, I’ll always look out for you, that’s what I’ll do.

But it's not just the men! Listen to Shakira (or don't, it's up to you): Castillos, princesas, que ironia, al fin al cabo fantasiasmi principe azul, mi poesia, no estaba lejos de mi vidayo presentia que tu vendrias, que te amaria hasta el finalyo tenia un mundo de ilusiones, en el que te guarde un lugar [Castles, princesses, the irony, in the end fantasies, My blue prince, my poetry, wasn't far from my life; I felt you would come, that I would love you to the end, I had a world of illusions, where I kept a place for you].

She seems pretty aware of what is going on with her heart.

Enya also has Venus in Aries and her songs are extremely romantic and resembling the courtly love of past centuries.

Venus in Aries adds a lot of independence and willfullness to women, she won't be submissive and will stamp her foot when things don't go her way, even though she might dream about being rescued by the Knight.