The Two Faces of Venus
Venus retrogrades once about every 18 months and each retrograde period lasts for 40 days. Those 40 days can be considered a cycle change as Venus moves from its energy of Morningstar(Phosporus) to Evening Star (Hesperus) and back.
As the evening star, Venus is goal oriented, deliberate and grounded and memories of heartbreak are harder to release. In a sense, Venus Morningstar can be associated with Libra and Evening star to Taurus. The former being cardinal air, seeking novelty, intellectual compatibility, balance and harmony in relationships; while the latter being fixed earth seeks loyalty, steadfastness, comfort and familiarity.
Venus Retrograde 2023*
*Do note that I tend to switch between tropical and sidereal zodiac. For what it’s worth, in Sidereal- Venus will retrograde in Leo, then ingress back into Cancer on the 8th of August and re-enters Leo only on the 2nd of October. While in the Tropical zodiac, Venus transits in retrograde and direct entirely in Leo and leaves Leo on the 9th of October. As you can guess, the Venus-Sun conjunction takes place only in the tropical zodiac and not the sidereal.
Every 8 years, Venus retrogrades in the same sign while she changes how she expresses herself through life. This retrograde period will last from 23rd July to 4th September. During the week of 7th to 13th August, the Sun will head to a exact conjunction with Venus in Leo with the exact being on the 13th of August. Thereafter, the Sun will continue on its transit of Leo while Venus continues to retrograde until the 4th of September.
This retrograde marks Venus’s process of transformation from her morning star energy to ‘evening star. Which suggests that if you have been relationship oriented, spontaneous, harmony seeking fun loving in the past 18 months (since the last retrograde), you may feel an energetic shift to become more self focused, goal oriented and strategic.
So, this retrograde period, you are offered the opportunity to re-evaluate, redo or release patterns and beliefs in love and relationships that no longer serve your highest good. As Venus is the significator for union, expect subtle shifts and transformations in your one-to-one relationships and finances. This period will also help you fast track any changes that you need to make in the way you relate to yourself and to others. Caveat being that as with all planetary retrogrades, your past may resurface, sometimes seeking full closure. These could be old friends, past lovers, past business connections etc. Resist the temptation to solidify these connections. Instead, think of it as an opportunity to redefine healthy relationships in romance, in professional life or in your family.
Do not start anything new between 23rd July and 4th September 2023. Do not sign contracts for new jobs, or agreements for property sale/purchase, or begin divorce proceedings or get married or change your diet or buy expensive equipment (unless it was pre-planned).
The Narratives we tell ourselves.
The last time Venus was in retrograde motion in Leo was way back in 2015. Saturn was transiting Scorpio in retrograde motion. Back then, Venus and Saturn squared each other. Think back to July 2015 and the events that occurred between July-August 2015. You could extrapolate those experiences, more or less, to 2023.
Although this time, the situation is slightly different. Saturn is currently in retrograde in its own sign of Aquarius and Venus will oppose Saturn from Leo.
As both Aquarius and Leo are fixed signs, there could be a sense of feeling stuck with the choices you have made in the past 8 years. You may feel like you have to choose between self interest and the interest of others in your life, which may be in opposition.
As with all retrogrades, there is a feeling of frustration, anxiety and fear. Fear of and fear from. The shape of this fear can be ascertained from Saturn and where it transits currently in your natal chart.
You may also be faced with coming to terms with existential questions such as :
How do we present ourselves in the world? Do we claim the spotlight as a divine right?(Leo) Or do we shy away from it and hide?
How do we manage our needs in a relationship? In business? Is it a ‘everyone for herself/himself’ or do we look out for our fellow human being?
How do we court or demand attention? How do we behave when we don’t receive attention and love?
Is our pride and ego leading to our downfall? Are we hurting ourselves because we are unwilling to change our habits, our behavioral patterns and our way of relating to the other?
Venus in Leo puts all of this and more under the scanner. It’s time to re-evaluate your relationship strategy. If you’re giving too much of yourself to another, its time to pull back and focus your energies on yourself. If you’re too self focused, its time to pay attention to the other important people in your life.
As Venus is also the significator of wealth, status, and pleasure- this retrograde period could signify limitations from these signification of Venus. These limitations could be your personal choice or it could be an effect of circumstances. In the best case scenario, you cut down on current personal expenses (for eg- that expensive daily cup of coffee) to focus on stabilising long term wealth. In the worst case scenario, you are forced to stop personal expenses because you got laid off.
Remember though: the choices you make now will come back for an adjustment in 2031 when Venus is back in Leo squaring Saturn in Taurus (sidereal).
How does it affect you?
Sidereal Mutable Risings (Gemini, Sagittarius, Pisces and Virgo) may find the retrograde period relatively smooth sailing, depending on what your natal planets are doing in the chart.
Cardinal and fixed rising signs will experience significant changes during this transit as Venus rules one of the four angles in their charts.
Sidereal Taurus/Tropical Gemini Rising
As Venus is your ascendant lord and will transit an angular house in retrograde motion, July-September could be challenging on all fronts. Saturn opposes Venus from your 10th house, so if you’re unfulfilled in your career, this is the time to re-evaluate your next steps. If you’re a workaholic, its time to turn attention to your home. If you’ve been too self focused, this is the time to focus on your partner/family. You may have to be careful and deliberate with your thoughts, behaviors and actions. Try and balance your self interest with that of the group you feel a belonging to and if you work for the ‘common good’, you will be financially and emotionally rewarded in 2031 when Saturn transits Taurus squaring Venus in Leo.
If you’re currently negotiating a property transaction, please avoid signing a contract during the retrograde period.Some of you may fall sick and be confined at home during this period. Others of you may find home environment too restricting and cold.
Whatever you choose, do remember to take a balanced and harmonious (Venusian) approach to all matters in your life.
Sidereal Libra/Tropical Scorpio Rising
This is an overall positive retrograde period for you folks with a few hiccups here and there. If you’ve had projects or ventures or initiatives stuck in limbo, for whatever reason, you’ll have the opportunity to launch them. You’ll find supportive people around you, and you may lean on them for help in difficult situations. On the flipside, you may choose to re-haul your friends circle during this time if you find those connections unfulfilling. It all boils down to the ‘right’ interpersonal relationships- who do you connect with and why- for the long term.
Some of you may face setbacks in your professional life because of personal choices made in the past. Others of you who’re trying to have a baby may face delays and may have to resort to medical intervention.
Sidereal Aries/Tropical Taurus Rising
Children are the focus this year for you. Now, if we broaden the concept of children, then we can say that ‘creation’ is the focus. Whether it be creating a business venture, exploring your musical or theatrical side or having your own children. Your mind and your heart is occupied with exploring your creative side and you may feel compelled to start your own family and the decision you make during this time could change the structure of your current situation.
If you are a parent, expect expenses with regards to your children’s education. If you’re in a relationship, a definite change is on the horizon. Either you commit further and take it to the next step or you may choose to part ways. Any long term decision needs to be avoided during retrogrades.
Sidereal Cancer/Tropical Leo Rising
The fear of financial instability may spur you into focusing all your energy and attention on yourself. Building a secure emotional and financial base for your future becomes a top priority this retrograde. You may put in a lot of effort, despite delays and obstacles, to increase your income/earnings through developing workplace connections with your peers. You may also choose to invest in yourself through studying or learning something new which could help in your professional life.
Sidereal Capricorn/Tropical Aquarius Rising
Some of you may relocate, maybe even internationally. Others of you may get married and start your own family. All of these changes could impact your finances for the long term. Those of you who dabble in the stock market may see a sudden change in your portfolio. If you’re seeking a new job, you may be successful using your friends circle to refer you. If you do so,you may find a job during this period.
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