Venus has reached a point in her cycle where she continues to move forward in her orbit around the Sun but approaches her closest orbital point to Earth. This period is known as ‘retrograde’ and during this time, appears to move backward in the sky. During her cycle around the Sun, Venus moves approximately one degree a day, with the retrograde period lasting about 6 weeks (no more than 43 days at a time). Some years she doesn’t retrograde at all.
During the retrograde period, Venus’ presence is more pronounced in our daily lives. Particularly highlighted during this period are the things that we attract or consider to be of value to us, be it particular relationships, moral standpoints, objects and possessions, our source of income and creative endeavors ranging from aesthetics, the arts and children.
The phrase “It’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind“ epitomizes Venus’ temperament in her backward motion, inclusive of relationship commitments—romantic, professional and familial—issues of abode and a re-evaluation of what is valuable specifically to you. Venus retrograde is not to be feared as this period is always an excellent opportunity for self-observation and introspection.
Venus and Earth are the only major planetary goddesses in our solar system. It is said:
Venus puts men to bed in the evening, and wakes men up for war in the morning
That’s right, Venus is a seductress and war goddess. When she rises before the Sun – the morning star – she leads men to war. However, she doesn’t attack outright, she entices, she entrances and she attracts the opposition using her feminine wiles. I guess a little like the aptly named ‘Venus fly-trap’. As the evening star, setting after the Sun, she has a softer, romantic and more seductive feel.
Venus is the place in the chart where we compromise. Where we find there is unfairness so we have to rectify – she indicates our type of diplomacy. Her placement in the natal chart reveals what we want from a relationship, and where we will find one.
During her retrograde period, Venus is closer to Earth in her orbit so we feel her presence more prominently. With the Venusian energies heightened during this time, isn’t an ideal time to start a relationship or get married—though it doesn’t mean you’re doomed if you have—and it’s not the best time to indulge in beauty treatments. If you are thinking of investing your money or making a big purchase, make sure you definitely have the funds as there may be some sort of loop-hole that leaves you out of pocket.
With that in mind, Venus retrograde is a good time to go back, check the bank-balance and re-figure financial situations. Old flames may get back in touch, we may decide to indulge in more pleasurable activities than usual and productivity may lose the battle as we slip into the comfort zone.
Read about Venus retrograde in each of the signs and discover what this transit means for you.
During Venus Retrograde 2018
- The Sun moves from Libra to Scorpio
- The Moon starts in Leo and finishes in Pisces
- Mercury Moves from Libra to Sagittarius
- Venus moves from 10° Scorpio to 25° Libra
- Mars moves from Aquarius to Pisces
- Jupiter Moves from Scorpio to Sagittarius
- Saturn moves from 3° to 6° Capricorn
- Uranus retrograde moves back into Aries for one final hurrah
In fixed sign Scorpio, Venus values privacy, she is all or nothing in her attitude towards love and is provocative. She is intuitive, experiences an unfathomable depth of extreme emotions, and is incredibly loyal once she has decided she is ready to commit. It’s the little details she values and is the type of girl who squeezes her partners’ spots, comfortably talks about pooping and is there through the really rough stuff.
In Libra, Venus enjoys the interaction of relating and learns about herself through her partner. She can be indecisive to the point of inertia as she doesn’t want to upset the balance and avoids conflict. She has an eye for fine arts, is a great mediator and is well-liked and popular. She’s the type of girl who puts other people first and is effortlessly attractive.
On Venus’ retrograde journey this year, she travels back to Libra after having popped into Scorpio asking us to get deep, intense and honest in our romantic endeavors. Are you being honest about how equal you feel in your relationship? Are you in an unjust situation where you need to involve a middle-man (solicitors/insurance/lawyers)? Is there a power struggle that is causing you to dig deep and draw on stamina you didn’t realize you had?
Battle of the Sexes
Just days prior to Venus retrograde in Scorpio, Pluto—ruler of Scorpio—leaves retrograde motion and turns direct.
As a result, this signifies an ability to process internal or retrospective issues which have been brought up over the past 6 months. Being the sign of secrets, power, and manipulation, Scorpio gives Venus the setting to consider relationship dynamics, issues of inequality, and compromise.
Venus is also approaching a harmonious trine to Neptune when she stations retrograde. This can be expressed as seeing situations with rose-tinted glasses, longing for romance, being blind to lies and not seeing a situation for what it really is. Scandal, victimization and sexual passivity are also signified.
With the Sun moving from Libra to Scorpio – The opposite to Venus retrograde (who moves from Scorpio to Libra) – expect things to go from feeling light, harmonious and romantic, to entangled, intense and obsessive. Relationship dynamics certainly look to be highlighted for Venus Retrograde, with her initially squaring Mars: The battle of the sexes, give and take, love and war.
In the fixed signs, it may seem there is an immovable issue causing all involved to feel stuck. With Mars in conjunction with Lilith, a third-wheel is implied, creating a ‘three’s a crowd’ dynamic, whether that third wheel is another person, a substance, or weapon of mass distraction (x-box/ps4/mobile phone). With Lilith in the mix, there may be nowhere to aim frustration as it feels like throwing rocks into a bottomless pit. There’s nowhere to put the emotions that come up during this time and you’ll be exposed to the darker sides of your own psyche – as well as the darker aspects of those around you.
The Taurus–Scorpio Polarity
Venus feels things in an incredibly intense way during the time she retraces her footsteps through the murky depths of Scorpio. It is worth remembering that Venus rules Taurus, where Uranus currently resides. Scorpio and Taurus are opposite each other, so immediately a deeper and more committed element of relationship dynamics are implied. In fixed signs Taurus and Scorpio, there is certainly the challenge of getting things moving again, feeling stuck, stagnant, stubborn and full of resentment.
Mars has been hanging around Aquarius for a long time due to his retrograde period earlier during the summer months earmarking fixed issues being triggered for change. Tales of relinquishing control, valuing the unseen and unspoken areas of relationships and taking relationships out of the realms of analysis and intellectualization, and into the physical realm where there are physical consequences to actions and great creative outlets if channeled productively.
With Venus being tactful and strategic in Scorpio, and Mars in Aquarius being intellectual in his defense, There seems to be a tug of war between remaining controlled in an objective way and mentally outsmarting opponents. The combination in this t-square creates inevitable friction which kicks a theoretical war into action, driven by the dark and unsettling forces that lie below the surface. The waters run deep in Scorpio, and this can be a great driving force when entering battle.
When Uranus moves from Venus ruled Taurus to Mars Ruled Aries, change is inevitable, and all elements are involved in making this a shift in consciousness which moves into practical application. Read More about Uranus in Aries here.
Push Me Pull You
There is a sense throughout this Venus retrograde period of balancing fairness, admiration, and appreciation with feelings of rejection, isolation and being ostracized. Like two ends of a magnet, there is a feeling of attraction and repulsion simultaneously. This see-saw adds an element of bipolarity about this period; one minute intensely involved and wanting to be together, the next having a complete change of mind, pushing people away. This is a battle between the desire to blend and establishing individuality, felt most prominently around the 25th to the 31st of October.
Much like a teenager striving for independence, yet still wanting to come home for dinner and have their washing done, it feels rocky, uncertain and inconsistent. Don’t be fooled into your vision of idealizing how you think things should be: the wholesome 2.4 children. Life, relationships and people aren’t perfect.
Towards the end of Venus retrograde, Uranus enters Fire Sign Aries again for his final foray on 6th November 2018 until 6th March 2019. He won’t enter Aries again until 28th April 2094! This means Mars and Uranus are in mutual reception from November 15th so enjoy this fast-paced and inventive energy. This a good time to think about the internal changes that have occurred over this rather eventful astrological summer (in fact, the whole year to be fair), and what you want to see for yourself in the future. It’s time to take action on the changes you want to see in your life. Don’t act rashly, don’t be too spontaneous, but do let that spark ignite your desire to improve and progress.
False Prophets
Venus retrograde ends with the Sun approaching a conjunction with Jupiter. The spotlight is on justice, guru figures, those in positions of power who are carried away with their own status and self-importance or high from the stench of their own farts, as I like to say! Justice is a word associated with Jupiter and the drama being brought up is connected to the settling deeply buried issues. Currently, the #metoo movement with sexual harassment being brought to the fore and those finding a voice and speaking out against injustice may find this time particularly cathartic if struggling through issues that Venus’ retrograde period brings up. Jupiter leaves Scorpio on November 8th, dragging the dead out of the water. It’s not a pretty sight but at least we can identify the skeletons, lay them to rest and move on.
This is a great opportunity to let go, embrace liberation and a fresh new perspective.
