Tuesday 5 June 2012

When Love Comes Around

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Union Jack radio beside tea and sconesIt's been a busy time for me and my loved ones in England. We've been enjoying an extended weekend celebrating the Olympic torch's relay through the country to the run up to the Summer Olympics in London this year, and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. One of my favourites has been the jubilee concert so far, with Grace Jones stealing the show - and with a hula-hoop no less!

And alongside celebrating an every 4-year event with the Olympics, and a 60-year event of the British Queen's reign, there is an even longer event approaching us.

The planet Venus is set to put on a Sun spectacular as it prepares to move across the face of the Sun as viewed from Earth for its second year run this century. It's a hundred year event, and every hundred years or so the planet makes this journey twice. The first for this century was in 2004. Once the latest transit has passed in 2012, it will not occur again for another 100 years. So it really will be a lifetime event for some.

This once-in-a-lifetime celestial show will have skywatchers like my twin flame reaching for the heavens once again. Skywatchers in the UK will catch the end of the transit at sunrise on Wednesday.

Just to add a note of caution: experts warn never to stare at the Sun with the naked eye. Even on a cloudy day, looking up at the sun for extended periods of time can damage the eye. Use protective eye-wear if you're attending a celebratory event to mark the occasion.

The phenomenon is not just a pretty sky show, but has particular historical significance. The 17th- and 18th-Century transits were used by the astronomers of the day to work out fundamental facts about the Solar System.

Throughout the ages, humankind has looked skyward and pondered the great vastness of the universe and our tiny place in it. Those musings are sure to resurface this evening, as stargazers around the world look skyward to watch the planet Venus as it appears to race across the face of the sun.

Some of us will know that in astronomy mythology, Venus was the Roman goddess of love and beauty. And astrologers believe the meaning of the Sun in conjunction to Venus in the birth chart, when used positively, makes that person popular, easy-going and someone who relies on the power of attraction. The positive sides of this trait helps restore balance in the lives of others. And we all know that love is the ultimate balancer in the resolution of conflicts.

And this rare event won't cause any catastrophes to unfold in the galaxy, or send great solar flares hurtling our way to wreak untold damage on us. It's a simple alignment of planets, nothing more, with science using this once-in-a-lifetime event to dig deeper into the mysteries of the universe.

Now, if that isn't analogous to true love, then what is? Because wherever these events unfold, they all share a common link - the real meaning is in how we perceive ourselves in the universe through this event.

The planet Venus, black spot, is seen crossing the sun in 2004. On June 5, 2012, Venus will pass across the face of the sun, producing a silhouette that no one alive today will likely see again. (AP / Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
Venus only makes the cycle twice every century, and this event will not be seen again by most in their lifetime/AP

When we see Venus cross the Sun, the real meaning is in recognising our own special place in the universe. Having Venus literally appear dwarfed by the size of the Sun as it moves across like a little black dot is an awesome sight to witness, and really hits home just how small our physicality is in this universe.

It can also serve as a lesson that we will have once-in-a-lifetime events many times and we must grab the opportunities, and not let them pass us by.

So, when love comes around to dwarf you, don't be frightened away; embrace the realisation that there is something bigger that you in the universe.

Yours in love,

Mickie Kent