Locational Astrology of Tulum, MX
One of my favorite locational astrology teachers, Steven Forrest, once said that there are certain places in the world whose magic can’t be rationalized with one’s astrocartography lines, local space maps, geodesics, or relocated charts–– all of which are techniques used by locational astrologers to find ideal places for people to vacation and live.
Tulum, Mexico is one of those places.
I’ve met several people in my last few months living in Playa del Carmen, the larger, more modernized city one hour north of Tulum where I’ve been living for the last two months. They all speak of Tulum as a vortex. The city doesn’t let you leave until you’ve mastered the lesson you’re meant to learn here.
I got back to Playa yesterday and I’m quite content. I enjoy the mix of rustic culture and modern luxuries that Playa has to offer, but I can’t stop thinking about my time in Tulum. Although it was a short trip, only three days, I feel like the goddess of the land already planted within my mind and heart the seed I needed to learn my lesson from the vortex.
I believe every city and region in the world is ruled by a planetary energy.
Portland? Uranian because it’s weird and the epicenter of woke counter-culture.
Las Vegas? Jupitarian because it’s the land of perpetual indulgence.
Los Angeles? Neptune, the city of illusions, delusions, and dreams.
I sensed the mystical feminine presence of Venus whispering through the palms of the jungle as soon as I arrived in Tulum, with wood-woven heart sculptures delicately placed around the city. Cradled by a lush forest, the town is bathed in heart chakra emerald green. Cacao pods hang from palms densely scattered throughout the town even before you reach the jungle edge. Cacao is a sacred plant used ceremonially to open the heart and cultivate self-love, community, and compassion. It is considered one of the most divine foods from the region. There is even a holiday every April (HELLO, TAURUS SEASON) for the god of cacao and trade, Ek Chuah. Although I like to look at planetary energies more than signs for this sort of thing, Tulum’s brand of Venusian energy is very Taurus to me, the timing of this festival is uncanny. I even met two locals who showed me a really great time and I later discovered they were both Taurus Suns.
A note on Venus-ruled signs
Taurus and Libra are both ruled by Venus but it manifests differently as Taurus is an earth sign and Libra an air sign. Taurus’ Venusian traits are centered around comfort, sensual pleasure, and the security that love brings. Libra’s Venusian traits are more about perceiving beauty than feeling pleasure in one’s own body. Like Taurus, Libra loves love, maybe even more so, but it doesn’t crave emotional security like Taurus, it finds bliss in pure companionship and the idea of the “other.” Both signs enjoy luxury and the finer things in life.
As if I needed anything else to confirm, I received the full nod from Venus herself when I went to the Mayan ruins at the Tulum Archaeological Zone the next day. A sign at the entrance of the ruins said,
“Tulum was a city dedicated to the planet Venus, a deity with a dual nature: that of the morning and evening star. The descending god symbolized by the setting Sun is closely related to Venus, and so it can be said that the evening star was worshipped at Tulum; thus, the image of this deity is found on the facade of some of the buildings, and its assesses are oriented to face the point where this planet sets.”
Depending on the time of year, Venus shines in either the morning or the evening. It’s so bright and clearly visible that it’s no wonder the Mayans worshiped her. Many of the massive pyramid structures that stand today were built for the purpose of gazing at Venus. The Mayan calendars were created by assessing the position of the Sun and Venus at the four corners of these buildings, indicating the turn of the seasons.
The shadow side of Venus in Tulum
With any planetary energy, there is always a shadow and a light side. While the light is ideally where we want to stay in a utopia, shadows create definition, showing us where we need to heal.
While the light side of Venus is all about love, values, security, beauty, generosity, and art, the shadow side can manifest as taking too much, hoarding what isn’t yours, selfishness of your own resources, and vanity.
My perception of Tulum before visiting was through the lens of Instagram where beautiful toned, tanned, white couples posed seemingly candidly on the pristine beaches and underneath the jungle canopy. Videos of copal blowing through the air as Australian entrepreneurs harked on about their “spiritual awakening.” I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but drinking Yerba Mate one time while a native man drums at dawn does not constitute a spiritual awakening.
Needless to say, I was prepared for “influencer” Tulum, but it was worse than I thought it would be. Instagram boyfriends and tripods were abundant, while locals gave the side-eye. I suffered from second-hand embarrassment at the juxtaposition of the staged jungle photoshoot next to poverty-stricken shacks and stray dogs.
I found myself becoming more self-conscious, leaning into the shadow side of Venus in my own way. Feeling angry at those who were bold enough to take up too much space in a sacred place for their personal gain and ego, but I also felt my own ego flare, realizing I looked nothing like the supermodels that have taken over. I guess you could say I was also envious of their naivety. How much nicer it would have been to start doing yoga one day and go to Tulum and announce to my 20,000 followers that I am now enlightened? My journey here was much uglier. A common side effect of a true awakening.
Having these thoughts come up here made it all click for me. This was my lesson.
So what did I learn?
Yesterday I made my way back to Playa but I feel like mother Maya planted the seed I needed to learn my lesson from the vortex rather quickly. Everything fell into the right file folders in my brain and suddenly many things I’ve been working through lately clicked. It became clear that I came to Tulum to do deep heart unlocking. I have to stop being so hard on myself. Perfection is an illusion that serves no one.
Fully releasing will take a lot of time, but I think the foundational mental framework might stick this time. Part of succumbing to true love that radiates within you out into the world is releasing resentments, forgiving, and not passing judgment on yourself and others. It’s not an overnight process, but I definitely felt a new energy begin to permeate the black hole of rot in my heart. It’s uncomfortable, but it’s time to fill it with something more beautiful–
pure unconditional love.
Are you ready to feel love?
The deep history of the land alone is enough for anyone to have a Venusian escape in Tulum, Mexico. But in doing so, come with an open heart, willing to receive the lesson that the Maya has to offer. Protect the sacred land and the suffering coral reefs. Don’t use plastic and pick it up when you see it so that it doesn’t reach the ocean. Support local businesses and tip well. And please wear your masks to protect the locals whose livelihoods are dependent on tourism– healthy tourism.
Moving to a place that emphasizes Venus in your own natal chart can also bring lovely Venus things into your life like partnership, self-love, and more pleasure (even money!)
Curious? Let’s look at your chart together!
