The Seven Spheres and the Strength of the Divine Feminine



(Block Print by Emily Louise Howard)

Over the years, I've explored the Gates in Rufus Opus’ Seven Spheres. Although I haven’t reached the Saturn Gate yet, I've made offerings to the Old Man Death and had powerful experiences the other Planet's energies. The Sun felt natural, providing a vibrant, electric energy. My Mercurial traits made the Wednesday initiation comfortable. Surprisingly, the Venus Gate proved to be the most challenging for me which was shocking. Who can resist the charm of love and why was it so difficult?

During the Rite of Venus, I recognized my long-term relationship was codependent, leading me to sacrifice my identity for love. I felt as if I had been slapped with a harsh reality. Wasn't Venus supposed to represent sunshine, love, and flowers? I left the Rite with the mantra engrained in my head: Don’t forget yourself, your needs are important. I was incredibly emotional and felt like everything I was operating by was wrong because it was—I was putting others' needs before my own and it was detrimental to my well-being. I believed I understood love because I tried to be so loving, but Venus revealed that I had no real comprehension what love was and was actually putting myself in harms way. I realized the importance of self-love and needed to prioritize my own needs. I needed to heal from my childhood wounds which resulted in people-pleasing and seeking approval through fawning.

After the Rite, I confronted my partner at the time about actions that caused me pain, including betrayal. Despite my justified emotions, he dismissed my feelings, claimed I was overreacting, and avoided responsibility, attempting to undermine my self-worth and confidence. A few years later, I ultimately decided to end the relationship with that partner—it felt really good. It was hard but it felt empowering to advocate for myself and make the best decisions for me. What I thought was love stemmed from my tendency to give, support someone else's ego, and it was not genuine. I realize now I truly deserve an equal partnership based on mutual respect and recognition. Understanding that you are worthy of more is an essential part of the Venus journey.

The Rite also highlighted the work I needed to undertake in order to embrace self-love and nurture my feminine side. For a long time, I perceived femininity as a sign of weakness. I grew up with two older brothers and thought it was silly to indulge myself in traditional girly hobbies. However, being feminine is anything but weak; on the contrary, connecting with the Lady of Self-Love enables you to navigate the world with genuine compassion, prioritizing your well-being and personal growth. I had enrolled in dance classes to reconnect with my childhood self and learn how to make my movements more graceful while being in tuned with my body. While I adored dancing as a child, I eventually stopped because I became self-conscious about my ability to make it look beautiful. I made a Love Thyself Lamp from Starr Casas’ Old Style Conjure to enhance the real world changes I was making.

Vocalizing my thoughts honors myself. Setting boundaries protects my heart. My love and access to me is a privilege that I can revoke anytime. It was a powerful realization. I prioritize my physical and mental well-being through healthier choices and activity. Guided by Venus, I engage with all emotions, recognizing their significance. Unlike toxic positivity culture, encouraging ‘good vibes only’, I embrace all feelings as they protect me against exploitation and indicate that something is off. The Lady of Self-Love reveals that emotions are rational; disconnecting from them is irrational.

Venus teaches you that love and beauty is what makes life worth living but to not forget, you are the author and power of your own story. Loving yourself is the most crucial step you can take. You are filled with love and deserving of it; let that truth ring deep in your bones. Connecting with your femininity empowers you to make the best choices for yourself and it is the ultimate act of self-love. 


(The information presented on this blog is meant solely for educational purposes. Please consult a professional counselor and therapist in addition to using alternatives healing methods. This blog is authored by Calla Marie Rowan of Contemporary Mystic and Witches in the Kitchen.)

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