The Meat Hook
Venus Stations Direct 12th of April '25
“…We’re going to imagine that we are with Inanna on the meat hook. Stare fearlessly into the pain until we surpass it and reach a point of ecstatic awareness and clarity. We can also just use this as a meditative point where you feel deeply into the state of your body as is.”
11th of April 2025
06:39 pdt Portland Oregon
Helios 21’54” Aries
Day of Venus Hour of Venus
Luna 6’11” Libra
#15 The Starling
0’00” Libra - 12’51” Libra
The Meat Hook Spread: Suspension and Clarity (Venus Stations Direct in Pisces 12/4/2025)
Welcome to “The Meat Hook” part of Inanna’s journey to the underworld.
Let us start with a very brief recap of both the time we’ve lived through with Venus and a story that is told to help us understand the impact of her cycle. A lens that helps guide us through these moments. I won’t be spending too much time on this section. Because this interview with Demetra George on The Astrology Podcast from the summer of 2023 is a fantastic dive far deeper then what I could and should even attempt to provide here.
I will say though that my exploration of Venus’ cycle of incubation, creation, and release. Has taken me into a way of looking at these cycles on a larger scale. That I came upon an interesting personal discovery that I’m not going to divulge here. Because, today we are focused on the moment of stasis. Where during moments of endured pain. We can find clarity and epiphany. Insights in the stillness that help us flush out and move forward on our journey. So before I get the cart too far ahead of the horse. Here are the sensitive dates for personal reflection and a possible storyline that mirrors those moments.
Opening Scene: Superior Cazimi (Venus Cycle Begins)
4th of June 2024 14’ Gemini
Act 2: First Visibility as Evening Star (Inanna comes to power)
31st of July 2024 24’ Leo
Act 3: Enters Shadow (Trouble Begins and Gilgemesh Fights the Bull of Heaven)
28th of January 2025 24’37” Pisces
Act 4: Stations Retrograde (Inanna turns her thoughts towards death. The Bull of Heaven has been killed)
1st of March 2025 10’50” Aries
Act 5: Inferior Cazimi (Inanna travels to the underworld. Disrobing all of her magical garments)
22nd of March 2025 2’ Aries
Act 6: Station Direct (Inanna is hung on the Meat Hook and her servants plead for her release)
12th of April 2025 24’37” Pisces
Act 7: Exit Retrograde Shadow (Inanna begins her return to her throne)
15th of May 2025 10’50” Aries
Act 8: Under the Beams (Ascends to the heavens to retake her usurped throne)
5th of November 2025 26’ Libra
Final Act: Superior Cazimi (Inanna has taken her throne and the cycle begins again)
6th of January 2026 16’ Capricorn (Conjunct Mars as well)
We have arrived at Act 6. Ereshkigal has refused Inanna’s condolences. Even more so Ereshkigal is offended that Inanna believes she could come through the gates to the underworld and then return. For not even the Gods are allowed to escape her realm once they’ve entered. Inanna has left each of her garments of power at the 7 gates during her descent.
She now stands naked and vulnerable to her sister's will. Still struck with a deep sense of mourning. Ereshkigal orders Inanna to be hung on the meat hooks behind her throne. This is where you are in this tarot spread. Suspended on a meat hook behind your sisters throne. In a stasis of contemplation.
The first time I saw someone practice suspension I was a teenager in my hometown. The process involves piercing the flesh with multiple hooks and suspending the wait of the body from those points. Every year for their birthday a friend of ours wanted to celebrate this way. It was a spectacle to behold. Awe striking for sure. There was definitely blood.
It’s said that once you pass a certain threshold of pain you gain a sense of awe and clarity that you previously weren’t aware of. Often used at a point of transition via rites of passage or, like my friend, used as a way of celebrating a new year.
We’re going to imagine that we are with Inanna on the meat hook. Stare fearlessly into the pain until we surpass it and reach a point of ecstatic awareness and clarity. We can also just use this as a meditative point where you feel deeply into the state of your body as is.
The Meat Hook Spread
1st Card: “You are here”
This card is placed in the center. Feel into it’s indications. Wear it as a mask to perceive yourself through it. Both the upright and reversed meanings may apply.
2nd Card: “What your trying to release”
This card is placed below the center card. Whatever conflict or struggle that may have arisen so far in this journey is being called to rest behind you.
3rd Card: “Who is coming to your aid?”
Before Inanna set out on her journey to the underworld. She gave instructions to her faithful on how to come find and rescue her. This card represents your support system. This card can either be friends who have been with you through this story or your spirit guides if you have them. See this card as ally’s either expected or unexpected.
4th Card: “Ereshkigal is convinced to let you free”
Your allies have pleaded their case and Ereshkigal has decided to let you go free. What does this card remind you about yourself or your worth? What did your ally’s say about you to convince your great and powerful sister?
Also, just because she lets you loose doesn’t mean that it’s free. She demands that someone replace you on the hook. This is not to be named yet.
5th Card: “Begin your journey home.”
As you are lifted off the hook. You feel exhausted. Maybe body, spirit, or mind. Maybe all three. You are nourished to health. However this card represents one of your 7 powers that you need to focus on rebuilding.
6th Card: “Who takes your place on the Hook?”
Once you’ve returned to your realm a usurper has taken your throne. This could also simply be an imposter of how you see yourself has taken command while you’ve been on this journey. This is the card that you will overthrow and cast down to Ereshkigal as a replacement for your absence on the Meat Hook. Is it a person? Is it an idea or a habit?
7th Card: “Coronation”
You have fought for and rightful reestablished yourself on the throne. This is a card of what success may look like. If this card doesn’t appear like a “Winning” card. Then you may end up making compromises that weaken your position on the way. Maybe this last mirror is showing you the trap that your setting yourself up for later. Only time will tell.
Now there is still a story to unfold. You’ve been given a map forward in this spread. However there is a lot of time from now till the story finalizes on January 6th, 2026. You’ll want to put a bookmark in the notes you take for this spread. For as the journey moves forward there are key dates that you can choose to reflect back on this spread and how things have unfolded from now till then.
These key dates mark the 7 times that Luna will conjoin Venus. A waning crescent Luna that is there to add balm to the wounds of the hooks. These are also how Inanna retrieves her articles of power. So I invite you to put the following dates in your calendar to revisit this reading.
24th of April 2025 27’ Pisces
23rd of May 2025 17’ Aries
22nd of June 2025 16’ Taurus
21st of July 2025 18’ Gemini
20th of August 2025 23’ Cancer
19th of September 2025 29’ Leo
19th of October 6’ Libra
Hopefully, you can find insight and assurance from this spread and the dates to meditate on in deep reflection. As the times around us on a grand scale are seemingly in a form of chaos. Don’t forget to ground yourself in your surroundings. Take notice of the things in nature that are consistent and reliable. Allow your plant, animal, and stone relatives to remind you of the persistence of life and the consistency of the gifts that the Earth is always openly offering us. In moments of uncertainty we always start with gratitude.
One of the strongest but less emphasized attributes of Venus in our modern times is her signification for Justice. Justice is the force needed to rebalance and create harmony. This Venusian tool often comes through the process of removing or repulsing. To reflect Justice in our actions and world. We need to negate, refuse, and repulse. In the Venusian world of Justice. She is not blind. For the world moves in balance and reciprocity.
The other tool of Venus comes through the power of her rulership of the throat. The voice is needed in to enact order. For it is in silence. That the acts of evil deeds persist.
May the fire inside guid you,
Devon Malone
The Esoteric Butcher
End: 10:37 pdt Portland Oregon
Hour of Helios 4/12/2025