Everybody loves a Friday — and the reason why is rooted in astrology.
Just like the zodiac signs themselves, each day of the week is governed by a ruling planet. And just as the signs are imbued with the energy of their respective ruler, so too is each day. The names of the days themselves are rooted in myth — Roman and Norse alike. When we honor the spirit of each one, we can leverage it for our benefit.
We can blame the existence of the week (among other things) on The Bible. Genesis reports that God created the universe in six days — SUCH a try-hard — and rested his robed, omnipotent self on the seventh, a masochistic concept of work-life balance that continues to haunt us.
Because we live in a capitalist wheel that grinds bones and demands toil, our work week misguidedly begins on Monday, a day ruled by the moon. Tuesday belongs to Mars, the god of war, and is thus, a prime time for sex, sports, and corporate takeovers.
Wednesday is the territory of Mercury, the god of messaging, making hump day a great time to send a sext, sign a deal, or present a PowerPoint. Thursday is ruled by drunk uncle and lucky duck Jupiter, making it the day of days for games of chance, risky romance, and shooting our proverbial shots.
The Cure picked Friday to fall in love and it’s no surprise, folks — this day of days is the beacon at the end of the dark tunnel, the pearl that promises rest and revelry are nigh.
Friday, we’re in love
Friday, the last gasp of the work week, the pre-party, the freedom bell, the edge of autonomy, the patron saint of happy hours, art openings, and cutting out of the office early belongs to Venus, the planet of love, beauty, attraction, aesthetics, and ambient light.
Friday plays host to all manner of good times and glad rags. Notable exceptions include, for the superstitious or religious — same 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 wedded bliss. Apropos of this, Friday remains an enduringly 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 every kind, but all too often we associate sensuality with sexual pleasure but that’s selling ourselves short. Peeling an orange, feeling the sun on your skin, or taking a long slow pull from 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 your body, sleep without dreams is an insult to the imagination and a day spent without laughter is an insult to life.”
It is in this spirit that we should seek to spend our Fridays.
How to venerate Venus
Friday and Venus both offer you the invitation to treat your body like an altar, heavy on the ritual offerings.
Buy yourself flowers, wear pearls and/or your ‘getting laid’ underwear, eat dark chocolate or raw honey, fall in love, fall in lust, savor each sip of a good glass of wine, masturbate (maybe with a rose quartz sex toy), author a love letter to the skin you’re in, breathe fresh air and spend time naked.
T–s out, feet bare, hair wet — Venus was, and is, here to party.
Venus is a shameless flirt and a conversational courtesan, making Friday an ideal day to date yourself, your friends or a lover. Venus asks only that you be wholly present for the pleasure of being alive. Venus equals earthly delights, so take a bite…and maybe…a bath.
As depicted in Botticelli’s painting, “The Birth of Venus,” the goddess of love was born from the mingling of the salty depths and the severed member of the god Uranus, sprung fully formed from the seafoam, delivered onto the island of Cyprus in a clam shell.
T–s out, feet bare, hair wet — Venus was, and is, here to party.
Given the saltwater castration origin story of Venus, Friday is a perfect day to take a dip. Whether you’re proximate to the ocean or a bathtub, incorporate water into your end-of-week self-care. A foot bath, facial steam, skinny dip, or long soak are all prime ways to honor and emulate the shell-dwelling goddess of feeling good.
In a similar vein, or vain as it were, Friday is prime for practicing ritualistic praise. Looking into a mirror, tell your reflection that you are beautiful, worthy, powerful, and deserving.
Speak it till you’re convinced.
Astrology 101: Your guide to the star
Astrologer Reda Wigle researches and irreverently reports back on planetary configurations and their effect on each zodiac sign. Her horoscopes integrate history, poetry, pop culture and personal experience. She is also an accomplished writer who has profiled a variety of artists and performers, as well as extensively chronicled her experiences while traveling
