We all know that Venus is the author of mirth and jollity. We know that it is either refined or a reckless slob. We know that it is artistic, even though many artistic people are angsty and depressed and not mirthful or jolly, and many are not gamblers either. There is a phrase "starving artists," which is literal, but Venus is supposed to be fat and overeat. Venus totally confuses me. Can anyone explain to me the whys behind Venus in trad?
I think the confusion is arising here because you are confusing two separate things.
First, Venus is the author of mirth and joy, among many other things. However, artists, skinny and fat people are not Venus. Neither are gamblers or starving artists or anyone else.
No one is Venus. So, you have to separate that out first if you want to understand the concept behind this or any planet.
Venus does govern or rule, hold sway over or
signify certain types of people and things and activities. She also has a distinct look, by herself, that ends up being modified by where she placed and such like.
However, one cannot conclude that all artists are Venusian; they aren't. All gamblers do not have Venus prominant; they don't. And, whether you eat well or not doesn't have one iota to do with Venus either.
This would be like saying the governor of a state or city is so-and-so down the street or this other person over here in that bar or those people down there illegally gambling or the housewife or whatever. They might partake in some of those activities but they aren't any of those people. They simply
govern a specific area of effect, and hold sway over them, influence them and represent them in matters.
You can still be governed by Saturn and be happy or by Jupiter and be poor, or have a strong Mars and hate fighting or be an artist.
Not every recipe that has milk and honey is a cake.
