Venus

Venus, born from the sea foam according to Hesiod, is the Roman goddess of love, beauty, and desire. Her Greek counterpart Aphrodite wielded a power that could undo even the most resolute gods. The planet Venus has been celebrated since Babylonian times as both the morning star Phosphorus and the evening star Hesperus -- a dual nature that mirrors the goddess's capacity to inspire both tender affection and consuming passion.

Venus governs attraction, aesthetic sensibility, and the principle of relatedness. In a chart it describes what a person finds beautiful and desirable, how they behave in relationships, and the values that guide their choices. Venus shows where pleasure is sought and what kind of beauty resonates most deeply -- whether in art, in people, or in surroundings.