Everyone loves a Friday – and the reason is rooted in astrology.
Much like the zodiac signs themselves, each day of the week is ruled by a ruling planet. And just as the signs are imbued with the energy of their respective ruler, so is each day. The names of the days themselves are rooted in myth – Roman and Norse. When we honor each other’s spirit, we can harness it to our advantage.
We can attribute the existence of the week (among other things) to the Bible. Genesis records that God created the universe in six days – such an effort – and rested his omnipotent, robed self on the seventh, a masochistic concept of work-life balance that continues to haunt us.
Because we live in a bone-grinding, work-demanding capitalist wheel, our work week mistakenly begins on Monday, a day ruled by the moon. Tuesday belongs to Mars, the god of war, and is therefore a privileged time for sex, sports and business takeovers.
Wednesday is the territory of Mercury, the god of messaging, which makes this hump day the perfect time to send a sext, sign a deal, or present a PowerPoint. Thursday is ruled by drunken uncle and lucky duck Jupiter, making it the day for gambling, risky romances, and proverbial shootings.
The Cure chose Friday to fall in love and it’s no surprise, folks: this day is the light at the end of the dark tunnel, the pearl that promises that rest and festivities are near.
Friday we are in love
Friday, the last burst of the working week, the pre-party, the bell of freedom, the limit of autonomy, the patroness of happy hours, art openings and early office breaks belongs to Venus, the planet of love, beauty, attraction, aesthetics and ambient light.
Friday is host to all kinds of good times and happy holidays. Notable exceptions include, for the superstitious or religious – the same but different – Friday the 13th and the curiously named Good Friday.
The word Friday derives from “Frigg’s-Day”, Frigg being the wife of Odin and the Norse goddess of fertility, clairvoyance and marital happiness. Speaking of which, Friday remains an ever-popular date night. Frigg’s Roman counterpart is, naturally, Venus, winner of hearts and wet t-shirt contests.
Venus is rightly associated with sensuality and appetites of all kinds, but too often we associate sensuality with sexual pleasure, which amounts to underestimating ourselves. Peeling an orange, feeling the sun on your skin, or taking a long sip of a tall, cold drink can be just as erotic as sex itself.
In the words of a very Venusian sommelier I met in a restaurant I couldn’t afford: “Food without wine is an insult to the gods, sex without tenderness is an insult to the body, sleep without dreams is an insult to imagination and a day spent without laughing is an insult to life.
It is in this spirit that we should seek to spend our Fridays.
How to worship Venus
Friday and Venus both suggest you treat your body like an altar, heavy with ritual offerings.
Buy yourself flowers, wear pearls and/or your underwear to fuck, eat dark chocolate or raw honey, fall in love, fall into lust, savor every sip of a good glass of wine, masturbate (maybe with a rose quartz sex toy), write a love letter to the skin you’re in, breathe some fresh air, and spend some time naked.
T-came out, barefoot, wet hair – Venus was and is there to party.
Venus is an unapologetic flirt and conversational courtesan, making Friday a great day to go out with yourself, with your friends, or with a lover. Venus only asks that you be fully present for the pleasure of being alive. Venus is all about earthly delights, so take a bite…and maybe…a bath.
As shown in Botticelli’s painting “The Birth of Venus”, the goddess of love was born from the mixture of the salty depths and the severed limb of the god Uranus, formed entirely from sea foam, delivered to the island from Cyprus in a clam shell.
T-came out, barefoot, wet hair – Venus was and is there to party.
Given the history of Venus’ saltwater castration, Friday is the ideal day for swimming. Whether you’re near the ocean or a bathtub, make water part of your weekend self-care routine. A foot bath, facial steam, skinny dip, or long soak are all great ways to honor and emulate the shell-dwelling goddess of wellness.
In the same spirit, or so to speak vain, Friday is the ideal time to practice ritual praise. As you look in the mirror, tell your reflection that you are beautiful, worthy, powerful and deserving.
Speak it until you are convinced.
Astrology 101: Your Guide to the Star
Astrologer Reda Wigle researches and irreverently reports on planetary configurations and their effects on each sign of the zodiac. His horoscopes incorporate history, poetry, pop culture and personal experience. She is also an accomplished writer who has profiled a variety of artists and performers, and has chronicled her experiences at length during her travels.
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