At heart, we’re tribal critters. Even if you live on the edge of nowhere, there’s likely to be someone else with whom you share space. At birth, the planet Venus and the sign it’s in signify what you need in relationships, as well as what you value and what you experience as beautiful. But it doesn’t remain in that sign-it progresses or evolves into the next sign at some point during your lifetime. A progression is generally experienced as a feeling. Certain relationships may no longer interest you. Or the clothes in your closet aren’t right for you anymore. You might grow bored with a musical artist or genre that you’ve listened to for years. This is all Venus territory.

I was born with Venus in conservative Capricorn, a devoted Baptist with traditional values; my playmates were of like social status. At the age of ten, Venus broke free, entering rebellious Aquarius. Sounds cool, huh? Not for a minute. I withdrew into awkward isolation, becoming a stuttering, too-shy-to-meet-your-eyes exile-the shadow of Aquarius. In August 1988, when Venus glided into psychedelic Pisces, I began exploring altered states of consciousness in order to review my relationships with myself, others and god/dess.

On June 6, 2016, my Venus, done with drifting and dreaming, blazed to life in hot-blooded “me first,” Aries. She is wild, abandoned, fiery-yet keenly aware of her impact on others. Blazing new trails, she gently kicks butt in sturdy Doc Martens embroidered with red roses. She is teaching me much about courage: the courage to go for what I want, to initiate new relationships and boldly deepen existing ones. I’ve invested in an edgy new Venus in Aries look-sexy and outspoken. I hunger for impassioned conversation, elegance, music that fires me up and has me dancing.

Where is your Venus now? Even if she’s not moving into a new sign, she’s always up to something. Isn’t it time that you checked in with her? Venus invites. Venus allures. Venus suggests that something even more beautiful than you could ever have imagined is on your personal horizon, whether in the form of a person, a place, an object or a sunrise. She’ll whisper her wisdom to you if only you ask.