HAVE WE CONFUSED PROTECTION WITH WISDOM? How are you supposed to understand human nature if you're terrified of encountering it? And how can you possibly understand yourself if you've decided that everything unpleasant about being human belongs to somebody else? We've developed an extraordinary vocabulary for identifying narcissists, manipulators, hypocrites and toxic behaviour. But in our determination to recognise these qualities in others, have we conveniently avoided confronting them in ourselves? Venus retrograde in Scorpio since October 3, followed by Mercury retrograde on October 24, offers a powerful symbolic opportunity to examine our relationships, judgments and the darker aspects of human nature. Carl Jung's concept of the shadow reminds us that the qualities we struggle to acknowledge in ourselves don't simply disappear because we condemn them in others. Envy. Jealousy. Greed. Selfishness. The desire to control. Have we never experienced these ourselves? Some of life's most valuable lessons come from the very people and experiences we'd prefer to avoid. Of course, protecting yourself from genuine harm is necessary. But recognising another person's faults doesn't automatically mean we've understood our own. Not everyone deserves a place in your life, but even an unpleasant encounter can teach you something valuable. Perhaps the greatest tragedy isn't discovering the darkness in other people. It's spending a lifetime condemning it without ever recognising your own. Experience teaches us what people are capable of. Wisdom teaches us what to do with that knowledge. #VenusRetrograde #MercuryRetrograde #ScorpioSeason #CarlJung #Astrology - @vivandsook