guiding star

this inaugural issue of venus hour explores myriad topics of

feminist discourse ranging from identity in social roles to

dismantling systemic narratives of power. through the

selection of these submissions, we have endeavored to

amplify diverse speakers in order to ensure that every poem,

story, and artwork contributes to the overall mosaic of

guiding star.

our theme was designed to highlight the resilience of

feminine archetypes at the center of all cultural creation.

varying religions across time have a central figure referred

to as the “queen of heaven:” mother mary, inanna, hathor,

ishtar, isis, and aphrodite to name a few. the queen of

heaven is culturally represented by the planet venus as she is

the third brightest object in the night sky. suspended

between night and day, venus is capable of transcending the

realms of earth and spirit; the primordial and the divine. for

centuries, humanity has looked up to the sky and found their

guiding star in the heavens, both literally and figuratively,

and characterized her as female.

attributed with different monikers such as the evening star,

the morning star, the star of bethlehem, and the star of

ishtar, venus has long been represented by a compass rose -

an eight-pointed icon - or the quintessential guiding star. in

this representation, she is both mother and navigator; both

goddess and human, residing in the heavens and tending to

the earth, transcending the binary of realms.

the planet venus is present in all cultures and throughout

various disciplines of science, religion, and astrology,

contextualized as the paradigm of feminine energy. in our

work on venus hour, we strive to amplify marginalized

voices, advocate for women’s strengths and perspectives, and

develop discourses that will center women as the guiding star

of our cultural ideologies.

as editors, we are so immensely grateful to our contributors

for sharing personal perspectives rather than staying silent.

because of you, venus hour is able to platform a discourse of

meaningful form and content that honors the multiplicities

within womanhood, girlhood, and motherhood.

allow your work to be your guiding star.

with love,

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