Part of Eros
The Part of Eros is the lot connected with Venus in Hellenistic astrology, and it describes desire: what you want, what and whom you are drawn to, and what moves you with passion. It takes its name from Eros, the god of love, but it is not limited to romance; a strong longing for a kind of work, an idea or a place is also part of its story.
The Part of Eros is derived from the Part of Spirit. While the Part of Spirit describes your will and your conscious choices, the Part of Eros shows what attracts that will and where your heart flows. Its sign describes the style of your desire, and its house the area of life you are passionately attached to.
You need your birth time and place to calculate the Part of Eros, because the point is found from the Ascendant. Since it depends on both the Part of Spirit and Venus, it is sensitive to small shifts in the birth time; an accurate time means an accurate result.
How is it calculated?
First we find whether the birth was by day or by night, and the Part of Spirit. For a day birth the Part of Eros is calculated as Ascendant + Venus − Part of Spirit, and for a night birth as Ascendant + Part of Spirit − Venus. This is the formula handed down by Paulus Alexandrinus in the 4th century.
The works of Vettius Valens give a different formula for Eros based on the Parts of Fortune and Spirit; most Hellenistic astrologers today use Paulus's formula based on Venus, and so do we. The ruler of the point is the traditional ruler of its sign: Mars for Scorpio, Saturn for Aquarius and Jupiter for Pisces.
How to read the Part of Eros
When you read the Part of Eros, start with its sign: it describes the colour of your desires and the way you love and want. Then look at its house: the matters of that house are where you are passionately attached and where your heart flows most. With the Part of Eros in the 5th house, creativity and romance draw you most; in the 9th house, learning and discovery.
Then look at the ruler of the point and at the condition of Venus in your birth chart. If these planets are at ease and strong, following your desires comes naturally; if they struggle, you may feel a tension between what you want and what you have, and that tension often turns into a creative force. When the Part of Eros is touched by transits or by someone else's chart, a strong attraction can be felt.
The Part of Eros in the signs
- Aries
- Your desire is quick and fiery. You go after what you want at once and don't hesitate to make the first move; challenge, excitement and new beginnings draw you most.
- Taurus
- Your desire is sensual and loyal. You attach yourself to things you can touch and savour, things that deepen with time; closeness that feels safe is what draws you most.
- Gemini
- Your desire passes through the mind. Wit, conversation, playfulness and curiosity draw you most; you bond with a person or a pursuit first through their words and ideas.
- Cancer
- Your desire is fed by tenderness and belonging. You attach yourself to places and people where you feel safe and cherished; emotional closeness is passion itself for you.
- Leo
- Your desire is generous and grand. Admiring and being admired, being on stage, creating and loving wholeheartedly are what draw you most.
- Virgo
- Your desire is expressed with care and attention to detail. Being good at what you do, being useful and showing love through small but meaningful gestures draw you.
- Libra
- Your desire is about harmony and beauty. You are drawn to graceful, fair and balanced relationships, to art and to beauty; mutuality is the foundation of passion for you.
- Scorpio
- Your desire is deep and intense. You don't settle for half measures and want to bond completely; secrets, transformation and soul-deep closeness draw you most.
- Sagittarius
- Your desire is about freedom and discovery. You are drawn to people, places and ideas that widen your horizon; adventure and the search for meaning keep your passion alive.
- Capricorn
- Your desire is serious and lasting. You are drawn to bonds proven over time, to goals that take effort and to people you respect; your passion grows slowly but surely.
- Aquarius
- Your desire is original and free. You are drawn to unusual people, ideas and shared ideals; bonds that begin as friendship are the strongest for you.
- Pisces
- Your desire is romantic and boundless. You are drawn to imagination, art, music and spiritual union; you tend to lose yourself in what you love.
The Part of Eros in the houses
- House 1
- Your desire is bound up with expressing yourself. Your charm is easily noticed, and you draw your own path with passion.
- House 2
- You are drawn to beautiful things, comfort and feeling your own worth. Seeing the reward of your effort and enjoying what you have nourish you.
- House 3
- Words, correspondence, learning and your close circle set your passion in motion. Conversation is a form of intimacy for you.
- House 4
- Your heart flows towards home, family and roots. A warm home shared with the people you love is your deepest desire.
- House 5
- Love, flirting, creativity, play and children are what draw you most. Passion is lived here in its most natural form.
- House 6
- You are passionately attached to your work and your daily pursuits. Bonds that begin at work, or a craft you love, hold an important place in your life.
- House 7
- Your desire turns towards relationship and partnership. Building a deep, mutual bond with someone is the strongest pull in your life.
- House 8
- Your desire is intense, deep and transforming. Emotional and physical intimacy, mysteries and shared lives draw you most.
- House 9
- Faraway places, foreign cultures, philosophy and learning set your passion alight. Someone or an idea that widens your horizon easily enchants you.
- House 10
- You are passionately attached to your career and your goals. The wish for success and recognition is strong; doing the work you love is a love story for you.
- House 11
- Friendships, communities and shared dreams are what draw you most. Love that grows out of friendship and passion shared with a team come forward.
- House 12
- Your desire is often hidden and inward. Imagination, spirituality and quiet devotion draw you deeply; some of your passions are known only to you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Part of Eros?
The Part of Eros is a point calculated in Hellenistic astrology from the Ascendant, Venus and the Part of Spirit. It describes desire: what and whom you are drawn to and what moves you with passion. It is about love, but also about a strong longing for a kind of work or an idea.
How is the Part of Eros calculated?
For a day birth, Ascendant + Venus − Part of Spirit; for a night birth, Ascendant + Part of Spirit − Venus. This is the formula of Paulus Alexandrinus. Since the Part of Spirit is calculated from the Ascendant, the Sun and the Moon, you need your birth time and place.
What is the difference between the Part of Eros and Venus?
Venus describes in general how you love and what you value. The Part of Eros combines Venus with the Part of Spirit, which describes your will, and with the Ascendant; it shows more personally in which area of life and in what style your desire flows.
Is the Part of Eros used in relationship compatibility?
It can be. If someone's planets, especially their Venus or Sun, are conjunct your Part of Eros, that person may feel a strong pull towards you. Still, compatibility should be read from the whole of both charts rather than a single point.