The Fifth House

When I first came to Japan, the dominant colors of male costume were dark[. ...] Women's costumes are of course more varied; but the character of the fashions for adults of either sex indicates no tendency to abandon the rules of severe good taste;—gay colors appearing only in the attire of children and of dancing-girls, to whom are granted the privileges of perpetual youth.

(Lafcadio Hearn, Gleanings in Buddha-Fields.)

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It is sad, I think, that the scheme of planetary joys fell out of use in Western Astrology, as it appears to me a crucial thread tying the philosophy into a unified whole. And here, we see illustrated it so elegantly! Of course dancing-girls are given the privileges of youth, since children, dancing, and pleasing attire are all fifth-house endeavors, in which Venus rejoices.

I remember reading, somewhere or other, that an English poet (I believe it was William Blake) was once asked by an associate, "What is heaven?" And he went over to the window, pulled the curtains, gestured to some children at play in the street, and said, "that is heaven."

May laughter-loving Venus, who delights in play and harmonizes the world, grant you glimpses of heaven on this Her day, too.