At the corner shop a couple argues over which pasta to buy. Penne or fusilli. A tiny decision that somehow carries the weight of a whole relationship. The new moon in Sagittarius hangs somewhere above the strip‑lights, urging everyone towards bigger horizons, bolder truths. But here we are, stalled between shelves of tinned tomatoes.

Venus is supposed to smooth things over, bring sweetness, connection, a little charm. She exposes what we want and what we pretend not to want. The man reaches for the fusilli. The woman sighs, then laughs. The tension dissolves. Sugar in a cup of tea.

Jupiter would call it expansion. Saturn would call it progress. Neptune would say it never happened.

I drive home thinking about how desire doesn’t always shout. It nudges, a gentle correction.

the new moon
Venus brightens the path
between two hearts

Paul Conneally
December 19th 2025
Bakewell

Photo: ‘Self Portrait with Zoë’ – Paul Conneally December 2025