Venus in Taurus III

Often, manifestations from a series begin washing upon the shores of lived experience before a working is even conducted. Sometimes as soon as we start discussing specific elections, getting louder as base materials are acquired, altar-wares sourced, and so on until the celestial seeds are sowed in-ritual, winding down to a fallow slumber before getting kicked into highest gear by incubation chambers cracking open during each dedicated launch cycle.

This particular election — Sphere + Sundry's third Venus in Taurus after the first (self-titled) in 2019 and Empress in 2020 — has been a long time coming. So long, that it was a literal birthday gift from Austin on my last Solar return.

Because I wanted one that badly.

The co-mingling of multiple malefic influences compounded by transient and fixed evils (always a factor: Algol from 24-28°), took Talismanic and Remedial-grade elections for Venus in Taurus off the table for 2021 (combust the Sun; square Saturn; Uranus), 2022 (square Saturn; with Rahu and Uranus), 2023 (Rahu and Uranus), and 2024 (terribly combust; with Uranus), in our opinion, per Sphere + Sundry's standards of practice.

How is Remedial-grade defined, exactly?

Keep in mind that 'Western' Astrology (for lack of better term) is only now in the process of re-assembling some of its remedial faculties, and that remediation has not been part of Western astrology for some time (and still basically isn't).

One aspect of how Austin Coppock solves for this — resident electional architect, but more importantly, likely the most influential astrologer at the forefront of re-integrating the remedial tradition with Western practice — is by looking to the finest currents within the Jyotish tradition, which have maintained a continuous remedial practice since antiquity.

Rule is: if a configuration would require or even benefit from a remedy in a natal context — because that configuration is causing harm — it cannot, by definition, serve as a remedial-grade supplement for the same Sphere.

This is especially the case when a malefic afflicts the target Power of the operation (in this case, Venus), the Moon, the Rising / 1H, the Midheaven and 10H, and the Descendant / 7H. Considerations also extend, in the best of practice, to the Ruler of the target Power.

The Nodes are considered Big Bads in the Vedic tradition, and any planet conjunct them will be afflicted by them.

The North Node's afflictions include: insatiability, excess, delusion, dissatisfaction, self-centeredness, mental and physical illness, obsession, greed, lying, obfuscation, hauntings, drug use and addiction, reputational damage, and, in a metaphorical if not literal sense — ridin' dirty.

Are these qualities any of us want contributing to our relationships?

Matters of the heart?

Effecting our Venereal Spheres?

Not we!

Magic that promotes new and existing problems in the life and psyche are not what Sphere + Sundry aspires to provide.

Honestly, the growing pains from even top-notch Talismanic x Remedial-grade magic can be enough of a challenge to metabolize!

This philosophy is in deep alignment with Marsilio Ficino, whose work is the closest thing to remedial wisdom the Western tradition has to offer, who has a "horror of" and finds "pitiable" and "foolish" the practitioner who places ~even~ the Greatest Benefic upon the North Node. This from Three Books on Life (Critical Edition and Translation by Carol V. Kaske), likening the Dragon's Head to the Devil himself:

Regarding the Picatrix, here is some good documentation.

But! We're at risk of this write-up becoming more of a treatise on the Nodes and Remediation than a tribute to She Who Bears Fruit, for which I blame authoring it during Bardo season and the pervasiveness of Rahu's influence upon my own Lunar sphere — deepest apologies!

I shall strive to be light and quick with remaining points, saving deeper explorations for Book, and return with great gratitude to Her, for Whom we gather today.

Note that there is no such thing as a 'perfect' election and concessions must always be made. The goodness must offset and overcome the bad. Uranus by itself is a volatilizing factor which increases the likelihood of negative manifestations when egged-on by actual malefics, such as Saturn, Rahu, and the condition of combustion.

By itself in an otherwise excellent election, so long as Uranus is not too close to the target Power, Uranian co-presence need not be a deal-breaker. The spontaneous and energetic expression of purely beneficent manifestations are not a major concern for any well-judging wearer, and the ancients would not have been aware of its placement in the horoscope.

To tie a bow around the Remedial aspects: it is important for Clients to understand the difference between Remedial-grade Talismans and Materia and those which are not, because it renders the majority of sales copy and claims about their effects at worst: untrue, or at best: partial portraits. A white-washed report of what a customer can expect over time, which drives the transaction but obfuscates what comes after.

How one uses and applies a true Remedy is very different from how one can apply magic in general, especially with a malefic edge. For instance, passive application to one's body.

It is a fair and valid thing to use Rahu for its magical effect with purpose and intent — it will make Bigger, more Voracious, Wealthier, and Technologically Immersive (though Greedy, Selfish, Deluded, Dissatisfied, and Corrupted). Modeling Sphere + Sundry in all aspects but its electional standards, is to miss the entire point.

A Client must be informed in order to Discern.

The election — June 26th, 2025 — having been decided in October of 2024, presented a long runway for Venus in Taurus III syncs to vogue upon.

April 10th hosts the first documented evidence of truly meeting Buddy, a deer friend who would enrich the experience of Venus in Taurus III's creation cycle and lead the way to the Talismanic Image which marks the series.

The first time he was spotted, my beloved aunt — one of my absolute favorite people, who was visiting — pointed to an older foal with a bright pink collar at the far end of the yard. How bizarre, we thought.

The next, he emerged from the trees and approached Lucian with his wonderful caretaker (and friend!), Corine, playing in the grass. The deer got closer and closer, prompting them to pack up and began walking back the house. But Buddy followed... and he stayed!

The collar had either fallen off (or been removed by the people who raised him), but we figured it must be the same foal we'd recently seen, since the fur was indented all the way around his neck. And because he acted like no other deer we had ever met before.

He had absolutely ~zero~ fear of humans, and boldly approached anyone he came across for a nuzzle and a pet. He was loitering outside the house multiple times per week, pushing his wet little nose against Austin's office door between snacking from the butterfly bush.

He was named Buddy — in honor of the tiny buds starting to emerge from his head, and because he was so intent on becoming our friend.

And I can't resist a double entendre!

The first time he met Gail, he literally booped her in the butt from behind!

Deer! was one of Lucian's first words.

And... he'll walk right inside the house and hang out if an open door presents the opportunity!

But fondest of Buddy anecdotes aside, on April 13th, a few days after making his furry acquaintance, a Client posted in the Community requesting a future subset for platonic friendship.

That coinciding with the appearance of Buddy at the same time formulating for Venus in Taurus began, felt like an early sync.

For any unaware of astrological associations, I should mention that deer and doe-eyed characteristics are classic Venusian and Taurean significations, not being too far off from cows in terms of being foliage eaters with multi-chambered stomachs and (fun fact!) even-numbered toes. And the Picatrix calls for the use of deer and stag imagery for Venus Talismans, specifically.

Thus, deer materia from an actual dear friend presenting itself was too on the wet little nose to ignore.

Google AI (at the top of search results) reported deer could be fed oats (— found out later they should not be fed oats! AI spreads misinformation all the time, so please always dig deeper!). So I began feeding Buddy oats and saving deer lick bowls to mix Venus' Earthly Delights in later, alongside deer's tongue herb (a Venus and Mercurial plant ally).

I also took the Furminator and helped remove Buddy's winter coat (HE WAS SOOOO APPRECIATIVE!), which would become a later addition to the Friendship subset.

As the working neared and in the time since, camaraderie and easy, immaculate social vibes have been undeniable. The night before the working, since it was a middle of the night one, most of the Team who volunteered enjoyed a company-sponsored sushi feast and hung out in the hot tub before staying over together on site, catching up with a team-member past and just generally reporting a really lovely time.

Sleepovers have been confirmed as a notable manifestation of the series since, in that classic girl-y way. Good food, fun music, the warmest memories in the making.

In media manifestations, discovering Amy Poehler's podcast Good Hang and re-watching Girls Next Door alongside the companion podcast (Girls Next Level) for the first time in like 20 years — specifically coming across the Heavy Petting episode the night before launch, have all been ~pretty~ in your face.

The co-mingling of girl-on-girl friendships (—and the types of fun friendships / friendship activities girls + young women tend to get to enjoy with one another, even when boys / men are around — letting them participate in the wavelength!), animal-human friendships, and adult-child friendships have all been supported and bolstered by this particular Venus in Taurus energy.

One aspect of the "girlishness" — which Venus' in Taurus III is far and away the most girly series we've ever put out — comes from the heavy, almost exclusively feminine placements in the election, paired with its extraordinarily fresh, almost newborn Cancer Moon.

It's all the beneficence that Venus and the Moon bring to relationships — making them closer knit, more nurturing, more enriching, and more fun — without any of the bad things like "mean girl-ism" that causes so many to fear or avoid relationships with women (or catty gay men!) in the first place.

Music (and art!) but mostly music have been another sync. Spontaneous singalongs, talking about musical artists, finding, creating, and enjoying new music have all been heavy themes.

And PINK and GREEN and PEACH and PASTEL. Oh, the pink, green, peach, and pastel of it all!

In the lead-up to launch, Sam Wax (friend + helper with the Fundamentals of Astrology program!) was staying with us for her annual visit when we decidedto spontaneously watch Wicked (mentally bookmark the sunset + rainbow in the opening scene of the trailer!), which I had never seen and whose story I was totally unaware of.

And boy, it doesn't GET any more PINK and GREEN and STORIES of FEMALE (+ ANIMAL!) FRIENDSHIP than THAT! With MUSIC!

(Ariana Grande also happens to be a Venus in Taurus native!)

Earlier in the summer with production for Venus in Taurus newly under way, we hosted Sphere + Sundry's annual pool party (which The Astrology Podcast accidentally turned into a famous pool party!), which some of the North Star Campout crew joined last minute as a conference after-party (of sorts!) which ended up lasting a whole wonderful weekend.

(Almost everyone who came having an absurdly dignified Venus!)

Before that — can you tell this series is non-linear and chaotic in that girls feverishly telling each other stories with way too much to share kinda way? ; ) — Austin's aunt Janey was in town along with his parents, and I broke out the one + only copper beating bowl that had been Talisman-ified during the Venus' Earthly Delights working to make mousse au chocolate in the Thema Mundi kitchen (which is on pre-order for Round V through October, btw!).

Exactly seven eggs were cracked and beaten in the bowl, whisked along the surface of enchanted Venusian inscriptions.

The mousse was served after a meal of boeuf bourguignon (Jupiter's TM meal), to an unsuspecting public (in terms of being fed magically infused food — no one was told... I wanted to see what it would do, if anything!). As we finished up desert, we heard thunder roll, and went outside to observe one of the most GORGEOUS, immersive sunsets I might have ever experienced in real life. And for the first and ONLY time ever from work, observed a rainbow!

"Wow", Austin joked. "That mousse was really powerful!"

AND HE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT HAD BEEN MADE WITH THE TALISMANIC BEATING BOWL!

The gorgeous pink sunset with rainbow motif re-occurred the night before launch (but from Buddy's abode), prompting Austin to remind me to include the mousse story in the write-up, which was, at that time, yet to be written.

Venus is nothing if not fashionably late!

Speaking of Austin, let's share his description of the election —

In addition to all of the above, Taurus and benefics in Taurus are always good for MONEY, and GETTING / ENJOYING FREE STUFF, like FOOD, UPGRADES, GIFTS, and EXPERIENCES.

This series is INCREDIBLE for nervous system regulation, rest, and relaxation.

Some might even call it lazy.

And it moves at the speed of molasses, taking its sweet time to do literally anything it wants.

Use it to cut off more aggro influences at the pass, once you're home or ready to relax.

It really brings QUALITY to the experience of time. Whether spent alone or with loved ones (family, friends, lovers, pets).

It feels like a cross between Venus in Taurus I and Butter Ocean, with absolutely NONE of the haughty pretension of Empress.

It is sweet and prioritizes connection over acquisition of power and status.

But it does ultimately draw power and status, because that's just one of the things Venus in Rulership DOES (especially Taurus), regardless. It's just more organic and less forced here.

This series is also deeply verdant, and connected with the beauty of nature. It would be an extraordinary series to apply when being outside, engaging with the beauty of the natural world and all its wondrous creatures.

Which brings us back to the topic of Buddy for a moment (Tony got a lot of deer syncs too, btw!), and mention that while becoming his friend made for a profoundly magical Spring and Summer, Fall is bringing about, well... another type, of sorts.

Deer are wild animals and should NEVER be raised by people, because being too comfortable with humans leads to potentially attacking them down the line, when deer have become gigantic and dangerous and likely very, very sharp.

Buddy bloodily shedding the velvet from his antlers was a stark reminder that while Venus and the Moon Rule and Exalt in Taurus, it is Mars' Detriment.

Baby deer (Moon) and female deer (Venus) are one thing, but a post-pubescent male deer (Mars) in rutting and hunting season is never a person's friend. And I am hoping Buddy survives this year and many to come, without anyone — or him — getting hurt.

In retrospect, we should never have fed and encouraged his comfort with people. We should have tried to scare him away, in hopes he could re-incorporate with the nearby deer population.

But I (and we) did not know better at the time, and only came to learn more as issues began to present very recently, after talking with a local wildlife rehabilitation / education center called Wildlife Images.

Unfortunately because of diseases and potential for harm, no one can really provide sanctuary for Buddy in our area, which is part of why hand-raising deer is so shortsighted.

A portion of proceeds from Venus in Taurus III was donated to Wildlife Images on 9/13/25, in Buddy's honor.

But we're not gonna end on that bummer note!

As a palate cleanser, here are some of the other animal friends that have made their way into the Sphere + Sundry cinematic universe:

Poquito the miniature horse, who made 'Centaur Spray' of the first Jup-Juice.

Bear-Bear, beloved companion of 15-years, muse of Saturn in Aquarius grief.

Marshall the Mars in Scorpio jumping spider! And again! And again!

Harley, Sumo's first long-distance (through the window!) boyfriend!

This scorpion!

Sumo as a baby.

Sumo modeling Big-Ass Forever Totes!

Sumo bein' cute, getting bigger.

The Quicksilver Tongue peacock sighting!

Sumo trying to come to NORWAC, and helping with the Exalted Venus II and swag shoots.

The black Mars-Jupiter doggo!

Altar Box Bakko (though it does not do this magnificent creature justice!).

Pairing with Other Series + Activities:

Venus' Earthly Delight ‘gets along’ with just about anything, but will slow and make ‘lazier’ whatever it touches. It cuts down on aspirational and productive instincts, so its most appropriate use is during down-time, before bed, romance, and leisure. Lunar series and Thema Mundi, other Venus series, Asclepius, Quicksilver Tongue, and (to a lesser degree) Solar wavelengths can all play nicely. Martial energies are contra-Venusian, but perhaps worth experimenting with for polarity’s sake (especially in the bedroom!), or balance (like 90-99% Mars to Venus ratio, to cut down on heat and anti-social side effects). Exalted Mars II: Ferrum Noctis would likely be the most compatible Mars, given the trine from Capricorn to Taurus. Please make your own 'cocktails' and report back to the Client Community!

Additional Side Effects Include:

Hugs, cuddles, and kisses! Maybe even some color, music, and nature-related synesthesia.