I suppose you could say that because they’re all moving around in the sky above us, the planets are always traveling together, but the history of art and literature reveals that the celestial beloveds are always Venus and Mars, and this week, the Moon builds an ever-brightening bridge of light between them, looking west after sunset.
In the classical world, the love between Venus and Mars is usually described as an illicit one, but if we watch the sky for the remainder of this season and into the next, it’s easy to imagine another chapter to the story, one where, because they come together in the vicinity of the star that marks the heart of the lion, their connection is fortified with a true love, with courage, and loyalty.
But as with any great love story, first there are the tests, and this week, we find Venus among the stars of Taurus, a place of stubbornness, while Mars is in the region of Gemini stars, which can make the bold lover seem non-committal and contrary. The Moon met Venus over the weekend, and passes by Mars on Tuesday.
Next month, the Moon will meet the celestial lovers with both of them in the region of Gemini stars. They’ll come closest to one another at the end of June, approaching Leo; and then in early July, they’ll meet at the heart of the lion, near the star Regulus, fortified by the journey.
For this, I like WS Merwin’s poem “Traveling Together”:
If we are separated I will try to wait for you on your side of things
your side of the wall and the water and of the light moving at its own speed even on leaves that we have seen I will wait on one side
while a side is there
