Hi Bob, sorry for my delay in this - responding to 90% of your post last week, and then it's been crazy over here as you know.

Venus in the second house in Aquarius

Enter the soup kitchen Chef.   She works day in and out and enjoys her place in the back.  She is in the forefront of making a difference.  Not being the face of the organization, she is able to participate from a level where she can make a difference but also stay in the margins and see it from afar.  You may find her sitting back and enjoying one of the nice apples that were donated.  Something she likes to do for a break, as she watches people, families, individuals make their way through, and she can see her work making a real change in their lives.  She particularly enjoys seeing the kids as this is a place of receiving, she can see how the spark, at least for now, reignites in their eyes through the nourishment of her creation.  She reflects and realizes how lucky she is to be at the strike point of the community catching those less fortunate before they fall.  This is where the rubber meets the road.  This is where all the efforts she makes allows the magic to happen.  She sits and gazes on as she sees people connecting over a meal.  This may be some of the happiest moments of these people's lives, well, at least that week.

 

She is known as the quirky one but loved by many of the regulars.  Especially by management, where she is regarded as the rock that holds the place together.  Many times, she has brought the place back from a situation that, due to the lack of resources they felt they may not be able to provide what was needed.  Making use of what she has and bringing a unique spin to the menu.  Her approach is not typical or smooth but is graceful as she is in her element. Making a difference.

Yes this is all possible as one expression of this archetype. Speaks to the inner contentment and community values quality. Lets see how you develop this ... 

How will the soul listen to and relate to their own inner needs?

She may feel her needs are not normal, if she is in touch with them at all.  I see someone who may distance herself from her own needs.  Getting caught up in her daily routines and focusing on others.  Not intentionally as a way of distracting herself, but effective, nonetheless.  I feel like she would be someone who journals a lot.  Working out how she feels slowly over time in an intellectual and reflective way.

Not necessarily journaling as there's nothing here that indicates this. And focusing on others only in the sense of wanting to live in a way that is perhaps communal, approaching survival from a more group oriented/ community mind set and what is good for "everyone", and might feel alone or different in that regard.

And yes to perhaps not being in touch with her own needs. This is more so due to dissociation from the physical/ hyper mental relationship to the body and thus difficulty being personable and intimate within her own self.

How might the soul cultivate self-intimacy, pleasure, contentment, a connection to the poetry of life? 

I see someone who may find an ability to feel pleasure in simple things.  Someone who may reject the traditional, as they may see it as something that is flawed and needs work.  Finding contentment in a simple way of being that affords them an opportunity to give as a way of moving towards ‘the solution’ in their mind, the way it should be.  I see someone who may find beauty in seeing others less fortunate getting their needs met.  Seeing the community live and breathe life into people as they come out the other side with more connection and satisfaction.  

Yes to all of this - but the focus on "less fortunate" isn't so Aquarius, feels more Pisces to me. I would reframe this as a way of living that is more intelligent and operates with respect to the whole ecosystem. My survival isn't separate from yours, and there must be a better more thoughtful way of living.

What are the soul's core relationship needs? How might the soul listen to another based upon their own inner self-relationship? 

I see someone who needs to express a unique perspective.  Born, initially out of rejection of the status quo, and then perfected through a honing of creativity.  I see someone who can be very effective at hearing and seeing people and their needs, especially if she has taken the time to see herself.  If she is more in touch with her own needs, she may find value in listening and reflecting back a unique helpful perspective.

Yes, there can be an objectivity in listening and what you shared can be true for this signature - and also one issue can be an oversimplification; not wanting to deal with complexity and can actually easily feel bombarded/ overly put upon by others needs. The Leo 8th polarity of course reflecting a deeper and more complex human heart centered intimacy. Aquarius 2nd might not want too much complication and thus not entirely available for deep psychological connection.

You are right in pointing to the honing of creativity in the way I think you imply creativity (2nd house creativity here meaning more the embodiment of living gracefully), Venus in Aquarius in the 2nd can be highly refined and artful, graceful in their own unique way - and this can itself make relating to others a bit challenging. There might even be an arrogance and "distaste" for the way others relate to the body, to pleasure to personal needs etc, because this soul really values their own unique way.

Describe the kinds of projections or expectations the soul might receive or project in a relationship.

She may be inclined to look for someone that cares as much as she does.  I feel like she may find someone who is doing this in very creative and obvious ways.  And eventually she may observe flaws in their approach.   I see this as things she wants to see in herself and by seeking it others she may be confronted with their humanity, as well as her own.

The core of this is really about personal values and the souls inner relationship with itself. So they might not relate very much to how other people live, and so there will be a need to have a degree of resonance with others who can meet them in their way of being. Caring will apply on that level: are my values shared, or am I going to feel like an outsider receiving all kinds of projections.

How might a soul avoid feeling/self-intimacy by way of either numbing out, indulgence, over-dependence on others to provide a sense of self-value, or over-dependence on physical resources/ particular ways of relating to one's own body and sensual feelings

I feel this may be someone who places a lot of value on how they can make a difference.  She may be in touch with seeing the simple pleasures in life for herself.   She may be someone who likes to numb out by working for the good of others.

The making a difference and working for the good of others isn't so implicit within this. Aquarius doesn't imply this - it implies liberation, and so there's a natural orientation for breaking out of the constructs of the old, and this will often mean an attunement to values and ways of living/ surviving that are more evolved and a desire to create and live that in this world. This will lead to resonating with others who share those values, and even creating something new and more evolved on this planet. But it's not about making a difference or working for the good of others just within itself per se, even though this soul might be very interested in those things. Let me know if that makes sense or if you need further clarification.

Edit - With an incredible ability to create good food she may find herself escaping into the sensations of the experience of eating. She may not dare to voice her ideas for improvement as she may feel it goes against what is normal.  Needing stand as an individual here. 

Yes to needing to stand as an individual here. Escapism in eating isn't implied here though. And I'm not sure what you mean by voicing her ideas for improvement - in reference to what? It's possible I am missing what you're trying to express here.

Please see Marija's post and my responses for more perspective on this question and others as well.

Great work Bob, I think you got the essence of this, with a need for some refinements. Thank you for your efforts.

Thank you, Ari for the time to evaluate.  I feel I have learned a lot about this.