Let this Taurus New Moon stimulate your senses and draw you into the magic of your ordinary world. Do you feel a quickening in your body? A desire to experience even more earthly delights? Ritual is a time-honored way to attract invisible assistance in manifesting your desires. And it’s a wonderful way to deepen play with the creative earth energy of Taurus. That’s why every Spring, on an auspicious Friday, during the Venus-ruled Taurus season, I perform the Santeria ritual for Oshun. As the Yoruba goddess of fresh waters, Oshun oversees the same delights that Venus does. I call “Venus” with Oshun’s ritual and neither goddess seems to mind the confusion.
The first time I did the ceremony as a lark. Venus rules pleasures, money and love—who wouldn’t be eager for more of that! To ensure a powerful result, I knew I needed to be as specific as possible. I meditated on my desires—they seemed faraway, perhaps impossible, but I knew exactly what I was dreaming of: I wanted a fabulous new home and a man to share it with. Given the magnitude of my request—wouldn’t it take time to bring such bounty!—I figured it wasn’t too soon to let Venus know.
I gathered the requisite ingredients: a dinner roll, a nickel, my desires written down on a piece of paper, some honey, and a candle. I prepared them as instructed. The ritual was supposed to conclude with tossing the combined ingredients into a body of fresh (not salty) running water. This was not easy to find in my suburban neighborhood. And I was not going to toss my dreams in the toilet—the common suburban substitute for ritual running water. Thankfully, a receptionist at the local water company told me of an unmarked spot three miles north of the main road. There, in an unnamed stream moving briskly through a forgotten oak grove, I surrendered my dreams to Venus. She could help me or not!
Just six weeks later I found myself in escrow on a home so beautiful, with waterfalls, French windows, breath-taking views, it was grander than my wildest dreams. And guess what—the man arrived too, bringing a loan for the down payment and a desire to move in with me!
I was stunned.
I’ve performed the Santeria Oshun ritual many times since. None of my subsequent rituals have surpassed the sheer drama of that first result. Yet my repeated petitions to Venus have brought something far more profound: Venus is now a living presence in my life. My exquisite dream house has since been sold, its profits funding a prosperity of ease and playfulness that was once only a dream of mine. The man who materialized after that first ritual has since moved on, allowing another man, even more passionate, to join my life. My days are more pleasure-filled than ever before. No longer is Venus just a figment of my imagination. She’s a real being whom I actively serve, by celebrating what she loves.
It’s not the desire to pile up Venusian goodies that prompts my annual rituals. The sparkle and rush of running streams in my neighborhood, the teasing bowers of new Spring growth—they stir me to it. One time, after preparing our rolls and burning our candles, my partner and I drove to a local creek. I could sense Venus dancing in the water and among the leaves. I could feel her within, a rising joy. “Oh let’s pick a good spot, so we can watch our rolls float awhile downstream!” I focused into the pleasure of the moment and flung my bread into the water. I watched as it swiftly sailed through the sun-lit current, until it went out of view.
Exhilarated, I turned to my partner. His face was glum. There was his bread, inches away from where he’d thrown it, pinned against a rock. Every moment in ritual is a telling one. If what shows up is contrary to our desires, it indicates what might be in our way, or what is unclear about our current state of mind. My partner had been feeling stuck in his life for awhile. He shrugged his shoulders and turned toward the car. “No! We must free it!” Was it Venus speaking in me? We tossed stones, laughed, nearly fell into the water, and then his roll sprung free and went on its way. At home that night, we honored Venus deliciously.
Gods and humans need each other. We love their magic. They love our acknowledgement. It is through us that they live! I hope you spend this Taurus Moon cycle living the joy of Venus. Use the Santeria ritual, or any other means!
Santeria Venus Ritual
“The invisible world wants to help us,” declares visionary activist and astrologer Caroline Casey, “but spiritual etiquette requires that we ask.” One of the best ways I know to ask for Venus blessings is the Santeria Venus ritual (described by Casey in her Making the Gods Work for You. I make sure I perform this ritual every year during the Taurus cycle. I encourage you to do the same!
- It’s best to perform this ritual on a Friday—which is Venus’ day. You’ll need a round piece of bread, like a dinner roll. Make a hole in it and put a nickel or five pennies inside (the number five is sacred to Venus).
- On a small piece of paper, clearly state your desires. Fold this paper and put it into the bread, on top of your nickel. Then pour a little honey on top of that (as Casey always says, “for obvious symbolic reasons!”).
- Finally, place a small candle in the hole (bigger than a birthday candle, but smaller than a taper). Casey suggests a yellow candle, though I’ve found different colors fun to play with.
- Light the candle. As it is burning, honor Venus: take a luxurious bath, go shopping, make love. Do something that makes you feel juicy, beautiful, pampered, prosperous, and happy. Like attracts like—a delightful like-minded mood attracts Venus like nothing else!
- When the candle is completely burned down, so that only melted wax is on the bread, take it to sweet flowing water—a stream or a river, but nothing salty like the ocean. Toss this now ritually potent (and fully bio-degradable) roll into the water, reciting an invocation, poem, or prayer of your choice.
- The goddess will respond to your desires in the coming weeks. She might fulfill your dreams in miraculous ways. Or she might play the trickster—revealing a blind spot that still stands in the way of your desires.
I tried this ritual twice more and it always burns my bun :/ when the flame gets to the bottom it always burns unfortunately no matter how big the hole I make. I blow it out before it burns it all. What type of candle do you recommend?
Thank you so much!
Hi Dana,
I just missed the Taurus cycle for the Santeria ritual for Oshun:( However, I want to try for June 12th when the Moon is in Taurus (not during the void-of-course). Is that a good idea?
I love your website! It’s awesome!
Hi! I did this in the morning and I didn’t think the candle would take this long to burn. I have to go to work now and I cannot leave this candle burning unattended. I was wondering if I put it out would this upset Venus and also if I were to try this again next Friday, maybe burning the candle on the Thursday and letting it down the stream on Friday morning what should I do/the proper way to dispose of with this bun that I prematurely put out? Thanks so much in advance for answering me 🙂
It’s easy for us to project onto the gods… but they are neither petty nor easily manipulated by the gestures of materialism. The ritual is just a vehicle for communication. It’s worth refining such vehicles, so do it again and again, if you wish. The point is, you’re building a relationship with an actual living archetype. How do you want her to be? Loving? Forgiving? Eager to celebrate your gestures with a successful wind? Or quick to anger and be bound by little rules? Put your focus on Venus. Don’t endanger your house. You will read in many candle “magick” books that putting out candles prematurely or relighting them is bad juju–but I say it’s better not to endanger your house. You learned something about the ritual this week. Consider it a wonderful practice run. Mercury is retrograde. Just the time for doing things again.
Thank you so much for your insight. I really appreciate it 🙂
Hi Dana,
I am just learning about astrology & all that goes with it and am interested in trying this ritual tomorrow, Friday 5/22/15, but have a few questions I hope you might be able to clear up.
First, since we’re currently in Mercury Retrograde, will that have any effect on the ritual? Should I wait?
Second, can this be preformed at any time of the day on a Friday? Does it matter if it’s dark out when I get to the stream to send my bun sailing?
Thank you!
Erin
Don’t worry overmuch about the details. It’s nice if you can have everything in place, but if you can’t, sincerity of heart is all you really need. Just pay attention to the messages around the ritual. I do this ritual every year and each year has different nuances. Some years are better than others. But it’s always worth doing.
Taking a luxurious bath while candle is burning means that we are home.
Then we have to go to the stream or river. Can we do it the next day or have to do it right when the ritual is done?
Often I’ve burned the candle on a Thursday and sailed it down the river on a Friday. The burning period is for us–to gather intention. The releasing is our contact with Venus–best to do that on a Friday.
Sadly this Friday will be the start of Gemini cycle.
Next year I can repeat it on time now I will choose an other day.
Hi Katerina,
I’m very new to this, can you elaborate on why tomorrow would be bad because of the start of Gemini Cycle?
Thank you!
Erin
I’ll step in as Katerina and I emailed about this. The Sun enters Gemini, but it was the Taurus New Moon that started this cycle. I like to do the ritual when both the Sun and Moon are in Venus-ruled signs, but it’s not the end of the world if you pick another time. Just dive in and see what happens.
I’m definitely going to try this! I’m a spiritual witch, but having transitioned from a Muslim background, I’ve been slow to get into the concept of pagan gods. Its been quite a few years since I’ve changed my spiritual path, and I’m starting to learn more about and become more curious about gods and goddesses. Oddly enough, when I think of pagan gods that I’m drawn to, Venus is always the first one to come to mind. If I didn’t know any “better” I’d say I’ve been feeling her energy around me lately… Maybe it’s time to take that big step and reach out to her!
Sounds like it is!
Thanks for writing this, Dana, and all the great comments; I’m so excited to do this on Friday! I’m wishing I had found your post before I left Texas, where my town had a “magic spring” (as I thought of it) and stream in the middle of a gorgeous historical park, which I visited every Beltane. Now, however, we’re in the desert! Not a lot of naturally occurring, freely flowing sweet water in my ‘hood. 😉 What we do have in spades are cement irrigation ditches that flow fast with lovely clear water every morning. So my plan is to drive several miles out of town and up the mountain to the places where the irrigation first comes out of the ground, and put my offering in there where I hope it’ll disintegrate or feed the birds before the system narrows down into those tiny hoses that go up into the fields. LOL!
Any thoughts about Venus and man-made water structures? Thanks so much!
Where birds sing, where water gathers and flows, and your heart sings… that sounds like a good place. If you could avoid the cement, that might feel more natural, but your plan sounds lovely. Good luck!
Hi Dana,
I am planning to do this ritual on Friday 8/15, is there any spiritual meaning if my wish isn’t granted, has this ever happened to you?
Thank you so much,
Michelle
It’s better to think of this as a journey–rather than a wish being granted. We do have the Disney model of magic so firmly in our heads, it’s easy to think we’re waiting for a magical gift. What’s been truer in my experience is that you’re asking rather than wishing, and the goddess is answering, whatever the actual result. In other words, to engage this way with the archetypes means that you’re in relationship with them… you’ve begun a journey. Whatever happens, it is indeed a message. Sometimes having my wish denied brought even greater gifts.
I am curious about this and have a couple of questions. I have everything on hand to do this ritual – the bread, the nickel, the honey, the handwritten wishes and the fresh, sweet flowing water close by.
1) You mention this being an annual ritual for you, so does that indicate that you suggest only doing it during the months of April or May?
2) Next question regards performing this ritual on a Friday when possible. Do you mean to only do it when a Full Moon falls on a Friday?
3) And last question: Tomorrow is the June Friday the 13th Full Moon, which is apparently an extremely rare combination. Is this ritual recommended to perform on a Full Moon? I know that Full Moon energy usually is bidding farewell and recognizing completion of cycles. I appreciate any information you can offer in response to these questions!
– Dawn
I do the ritual annually as an offering to Venus, but I also do the ritual any time I feel a sincere need to petition her. I always make sure to do it on a Friday, but other than that, I have no rules. There are two different and very contradictory views about working with Full Moons–some say this is the best time to perform a ritual; others say it’s not. I always use my inner wisdom as a guide to know which Full Moon is good for ritual (some feel wonky and unstable). As long as your heart is sincere, I wouldn’t worry about the other details. As far as “rare” combinations–I think we give too much attention to this. Every moment is rare and wonderful. Just because our computers can tell us that a Friday 13 Full Moon won’t happen for another 35 years doesn’t mean that there’s something particularly special we should capitalize on for this date. But that’s just me… Again, approach Venus with a sincere heart; that’s all that’s really needed.
Thank you, Dana! I appreciate your common sense approach with this, particularly regarding the rare combination mindset. I am going to subscribe to your newsletter via email, now that I have found your site.
– Dawn
Quick follow up – I did do the ritual yesterday evening. As I drove to the creek not far from my home, I felt so upbeat, positive, happy and excited. I paid particular attention to all that inside-feeling stuff and promised myself if I felt anything of the heart sinking, stomach lurking nature, I wouldn’t finish the ritual. None of that happened. I felt excitement, anticipation and happiness. As I stood by the creek, that feeling increased, because it is a location that I spent time around during childhood, so many happy memories were tapped. I tossed my bread into the water and watched it zip away in the current and I smiled. I stood there for several long minutes watching the water, listening to the lovely sounds, and then when it felt right, I walked back to my car. Today, those feelings remain. Each time I check in with myself, I feel positive emotions and a sense of excitement and anticipation. That alone is worth the steps taken with the ritual, and I am excited to see how the energies released return to me in the near future. 🙂
– Dawn
Sounds just beautiful!
Dear Dana,
thank you for your ritual. I was so exited to perform it. Everything ready I went to the flooding stream close to my home and tossed it in. I said my blessing and watched id twirl in the stream for avfew seconds and then 3 or 4 seagulls saw this delicious bun floating and started to devour it immediately! They loved it, to hear from heir squeeking noise! So I was a bit dissappointed, because I didn not see that coming! They left me wonering what that could mean. Was I surrounde by forces that want what I have, or maybe was it telling me that I should share more? Do you have an idea about this? I live in Amsterdam, a crowded city. Maybevthere is also a relation with that. Hope to hear your creative thoughts about this! Thank you! Can I do the ritual once again? Regards, May.
Do read April’s Full Moon essay about ducks eating her bun! Sending the roll down the stream is an act of sending your desire into the world–the idea isn’t that your bun should keep flowing solo all the way to the sea. The idea is that it should join the world–that’s its job–it’s carrying your wishes into the world. I’d be delighted that the bun became food for one of Venus’ creatures–birds. But there’s another lesson–notice your own response. How quick were you to feel that this was some kind of negative omen or judgment… perhaps what’s needed is more joy and trust. That’s one of the deeper blessings of ritual–it’s all symbolic. Every bit of it can be a teaching. Meditate and see what you come up with.
I love everything about your writing. You are clear and bright and funny. Taurus that I am, I can still use more Venus energy. I can’t wait to try this! Thank you! Big hug!
Hi Lucy! What a sweetheart you are… thanks for your wonderful comments, and good luck with the ritual! I hope life is treating you well these days. Hugs.
What are other water sources, I do have the ocean ~ Gulf of Mexico right here. What else would work ? Could I toss it in the sound, my pool ??
Venus rules fresh water–and you want fresh moving water; otherwise, the bun is stuck! The first time I did the ceremony, I had to research my area to find fresh water sources. I called the local water department and was lucky enough to get someone who pointed me to a nearby stream. If you’re near the ocean, then you might also be near some water that flows into it, as the ocean is is the destination for many rivers and streams. Finding out about your local water supply is actually a good way to show Venus that you’re serious! These are her territories. If you’re too far away from fresh water, then this may not be the best ritual for you. Or, given that it’s the Taurus cycle, you could try burying the bun in the ground, then water the ground. I’d do that before tossing it in a pool.
Great thanks for the response ! I am off to search out some freshwater sources and see what I can find. Tossing in the pool was only a meant to be a funny, not realistic choice.
Thank you the Venus Santeria ritual. I am going to do it next Friday.
Hi Dana,
I have always wanted to perform a ritual, but one thing always stops me: I have a deep fear of matches and/or lighting candles. How does one perform a ritual without the component that seems to be important in each one. I also wonder if running water from a purifying system in a kitchen sink can be substituted for a stream or ……..
Thanks.
Most rituals want a balanced representation of all the elements, so this is fire. You want to include it somehow in the ritual. A replacement for the candle might be to add cayenne on the bun and/or to wrap your desires in a picture of flames. Be creative. Fire is hot, red, lively, and illuminating. Place something with those qualities on your roll.
Dana, I love this essay. I performed this ritual once, when I was preparing for my True Love. I misjudged the amount of time the candle would take to burn so left it while I went on an errand. I returned to burned bun. I was “burned” by the next interaction I had with a man, but I learned so much from that brief non-relationship. I also learned there’s no such thing as a failed spell. Even botched spells have magic in them! xo, Jessica
Hee! The goddess is witty.