"THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE NEVER DID RUN SMOOTH" !!!

VENUS - the planet which rules social urge, sense of values, love and affection, and financial matters begins its RETROGRADE journey for 2017 tomorrow, 3/4, at 4:08 AM EST ... during a transiting Venus retrograde, old lovers, potential past romantic interests or even friends may resurface - some hoping to reconnect while others are only in and out for "pass and review" so to speak ... frequently one will come to realize why the relationship did not work out to begin with or why it is time to let go and move on -
some will not understand this and run the danger of repeating over and over what may have been a very challenging time in their lives ... relationship issues, both personal and professional/ public and private, come to the forefront thus causing all types of contracts and partnerships to be reconsidered especially if they have become difficult or challenging ... this is also a time when our personal values are usually reconsidered - both material and spiritual - to see if they still make sense or need adjusting somewhere ...


One of the main purposes of a Venus retrograde is to reconsider relationship and acquisition needs as these change over time for all of us ... it becomes very important during this time to get in touch with ones present values, wants and needs, and to become clear about exactly what you want to attract and why ... is what you personally value inwardly being projected outwardly positively or is change needed on some level ??? ... and needless to say issues surrounding money and finances can become big problems during a Venus retrograde !!! ... As Venus, anatomically speaking, rules the throat, chin, cheeks and sense of taste, these areas of the body could encounter some kind of potential problem ...

Venus spends the least amount of time in retrograde motion out of all of the planets ... within its 584-day cycle, Venus stations retrograde roughly every 18 months for a period of about 6 weeks ... it was last retrograde from July 25th, 2015 through September 6th, 2015 going from 0 degrees 46 minutes Virgo back to 14 degrees 23 minutes Leo - what was going on in your life during that period that may have had to do with anything mentioned in this blog specific to a Venus retrograde that has now resurfaced for review and rethinking or simply falls apart or must be released ??? ... there is a good chance that any partnership/relationship, especially of the romantic variety, begun during that last retrograde period has now come to a point where it is time to let go and move on !!! ... in fact, ever since Venus entered its shadow point back on January 30th, issues could have begun to arise foreshadowing what was to come during the retrograde period ... especially issues that may have plagued the relationship on and off since Venus stationed back in direct motion on September 6th, 2015 or perhaps even issues that have surfaced in partnerships/relationships that have been ignored even if the relationship was not begun during the Venus retrograde period !!!



This is another dual sign Venus retrograde which will go from 13 DEGREES 9 MINUTES ARIES back to 26 DEGREES 55 MINUTES PISCES ... and yes, there could be issues already rising up from any relationship/partnership either personal or professional that was begun from January 30th up until March 4th when the retrograde begins ...

Taurus and Libra born individuals, this is your planetary ruler so you are beginning your period of personal "down time", so to speak, to review and rethink what has transpired in your life since September 6th, 2015 ... but in addition to you, we all will be subjected to a period of reflection in our personal actions in regards to our social urges, sense of values, love and affection, and monetary affairs ...

Some things to remember during a Venus retrograde - it is NOT a good time to purchase "luxury " items if you can wait because when Venus stations back into direct motion, you might well find yourself thinking "WHY did I spend THAT MUCH on something I really didn't want or need" or you may simply feel you did not get the anticipated value for what you spent your hard earned money to purchase ... often in a Venus retrograde money can become low and scarce and we can end up having to spend money we hadn't counted on spending, but in some cases one may end up getting money "coming back" to them from one source or another !!! ... it also is not a good time to begin a new job if you can wait because you may never get the money you expected out of the job, you may feel like you are not being paid enough for the value of your service, or the job simply might not pan out down the road for some reason ... that being said, unfortunately as a Venus retrograde can indicate the "tightening of the purse strings" by individuals as well as companies, salaries could be cut back or the job may be terminated for one reason or another ... and spending money on any kind of beauty enhancement procedure is definitely ill-advised as it most likely will not turn out the way you expected and you may find you have to go back and spend more money to correct the faulty procedure !!!



WEDDINGS ARE MOST CERTAINLY A HUGE NO-NO as this is the planet which rules romance, love and affection - do you really want that energy going backwards on the day you say "I DO"??? ... if you were to take the day of the actual wedding, and count forward to the end of the retrograde period, then that total number of days would be the actual number of YEARS it would be before the energy turned back into direct motion by progression in the event chart ... most likely there would constantly be issues regarding either love, emotions and/or money and that can make things very difficult !!! ... if you are getting married, you should have someone mark the time you are officially pronounced married and then have an event chart run, by a reputable astrologer, for that time and the place to see in which house Venus retrograde falls, and you might get a very good idea where in life issues concerning love, money and personal values may surface during the marriage ... I'm not saying don't get married because I know weddings take time and preparation, just realize you may be adding an unnecessary challenge to the already challenging task it takes to navigate through the waters of a personal relationship ... to this end, I would also state the hopefully obvious - a Venus retrograde is definitely NOT the time to begin a new romantic relationship !!! ... but keep in mind if you were born with Venus retrograde in your natal chart, these choppy emotional waters might not be as difficult to navigate as it will be for others ...

Speaking of relationships, you may find arguments and disagreements rearing their ugly heads and if you sever the ties in a Venus retrograde, when it turns direct you will probably be asking yourself why you cut that person out of your life ... on the other hand, relationships and partnerships that have been constantly challenging and have been overly stressful will most likely dissolve during a Venus retrograde period and it is usually best to let them go and move forward ... but this can also be a good time in certain cases where there is a chance to allow some healing to occur in a partnership or relationship that somehow managed to fall off track ... keep in mind that in a Venus retrograde people become a little less sociable and frequently forget their manners so it might be a good idea to "drop back and punt" and hold off passing judgment while the energy is moving backwards ...

As previously mentioned, this Venus retrograde occurs from 13 DEGREES 9 MINUTES ARIES back to 26 DEGREES 55 MINUTES PISCES ... if you've had a natal chart done, look to see in which house or houses theses degrees fall and you might get an idea as to where this energy may surface in your life ... Remember that Venus in Aries is considered to be in detriment so it is not functioning efficiently to begin with and adding retrograde motion can makes things even more challenging ... Venus in Aries is all about the thrill of the chase and often moving too far too fast and we may certainly find that is exactly what happened while it is retrograde ... we may discover that whoever or whatever it was that we became so impassioned about suddenly becomes more of a question of "what were we thinking about, or what did we really see in that person" ???



On April 2nd, Venus returns to the sign of Pisces and the emphasis will shift from the fiery passionate side of Venus to the more sympathetic and emotional side ... Venus in Pisces is exalted which means it functions extremely well unlike in Aries but nevertheless in retrograde will present its challenges ... Venus in Pisces is all about dreams and wishes, fairy tale endings and love at first sight and happily ever after ... In retrograde motion, Venus in Pisces will surely bring to light that all is not perfect and the mirage of "perfect" love we thought we found to be so ideal becomes very human after all and often extremely disappointing ... therefore whatever occurred from January 3rd through February 3rd, when Venus made its initial first full transit through Pisces, may suddenly become very flawed by the reality that now confronts us in retrospect ...

For those of you born between March 5th and April 14th, you will definitely get the energy of Venus retrograde in your solar return chart, the birthday chart, for the year ahead ... those born on March 4th and April 15th may or may not get this backwards energy depending on the time and day your solar return occurs this year ...

The following is what astrologer Mary Fortier Shea has to say about having Venus retrograde in your birthday chart for the whole year and it may be helpful in understanding what you may be dealing with :

"Venus retrograde indicates a time of comparison and contrast. Your increased ability to distinguish and value inner qualities separate from external situations signals an opportunity to compare and contrast the importance of each. Relationships, finances, and priorities should all be reassessed on the basis of the inner qualities they exhibit in comparison to the external pleasure or stress that they generate. Your focus on internal values will tend to overshadow your need for external manifestation; consequently, you will make adjustments in your pursuit of materialistic and external goals.

Relationships are always more important for the love you give and receive than the external trappings; however, this issue will become more evident during this year. You may be in love with a special person who treats you wonderfully, but refuses to consider marriage. If you were attracted to this person because of his or her inner qualities, it is important to appreciate your feelings for one another, and not get hung up on the legalization process. During this year you will tend to assess relationships you see or experience for the inner and outer qualities which they possess or lax. You can always find others who have the external trappings you desire without genuine caring. (Example: a verbally abusive marriage.)

External, artificial indicators of affection are meaningless. It is the inner and sometimes less apparent qualities that are important. Your attention to this issue will make the incongruity more obvious to you. Part of this discernment process can involve frustration with personal involvements which do not conform to your external expectations of what a relationship or partner should be. Love does not necessarily occur in neat little storybook packages, and frustration results from close attention to external storybook details which cannot truly satisfy internal needs. Outer limitations stress the importance of inner beauty. Because third parties may not easily see the qualities that you appreciate in your loved one, they may criticize your choice. Their criticism will encourage you to further define the inner beauty that attracts you. Those relationships which possess no redeeming inner qualities will seem void and unfulfilled. They can be discarded regardless of the external advantages they supply.

Values must be more closely attuned to the individuals aesthetic appreciation and therefore may be less consistent with societal preferences and standards. One can see unique beauty in what might appear ordinary to others. Your taste in material objects might depend on the emotional qualities associated with those objects. Price or status is unimportant.

Venus retrograde symbolizes an emphasis on the quality of life over the desire for financial gain. The money you earn should not be as important as the quality of your working environment and your satisfaction while on the job. Focusing on your inner need for contentment and fulfillment allows you to let go of a large salary, and search for an enjoyable employment position even though it may involve a pay cut. If you continue to work at a stressful job because of the pay, you may be very unhappy. Materialism will not bring you true happiness this year or any year. If you must remain in a stressful job, develop a strong belief in yourself and your abilities. Set goals that are rewarding and doable. Do not focus on your inability to perform at your best when conditions are at their worst. Some work environments are dysfunctional. Financially, this is generally a time to be conservative with funds. You cannot make good decisions about the quality of your life if you are more concerned with your monetary situation.

Social contacts and involvement in social activities are not emphasized while Venus is retrograde in the solar return. You need more time to focus inward and may withdraw from some or all social functions because you welcome the time alone. You might no longer enjoy these functions, or you might realize that certain social relationships are too difficult and unrewarding to maintain. For those individuals who require counseling, this can be a time of isolation. Withdrawal is common with Venus retrograde, but generally any time alone can be put to good use. You could want to be alone with one special person."

A few other things for your consideration .... Aries naturally rules the area of the head (face, etc.) and Pisces naturally rules the feet ... that being said, there is always the chance an issue could arise in one of those areas where one has to shell out money they hadn't planned on spending to fix ...



Even though we will all be impacted on some level of our lives by the Venus retrograde, the following signs may feel its impact even more personally - Taurus and Libra born as this is your ruling planet, and Aries and Pisces born which obviously are the two signs in which the retrograde occurs this time around ...

Venus remains retrograde until April 15th ... it will not be retrograde again until October 5th, 2018 through November 16th, 2018 beginning in Scorpio and ending in Libra - information for those of you who like to prepare and just might be planning a "significant occasion" during 2018 !!!

A cautionary word of advice for those who are interested - while it's true this next 43 day period will be challenging and most likely present lessons regarding love, money, and values the Universe deems necessary for us to face and learn from, when the Venus retrograde period is over on April 15th, don't think all has been said and done ... AND WHY ??? ... because Mercury will take its first full retrograde journey for 2017 from April 9th through May 3rd going from 4 DEGREES 51 MINUTES TAURUS (ruled by Venus) back to 24 DEGREES 16 MINUTES ARIES (ruled by Mars) ... in fact, Mercury will have already entered its next shadow point on March 27th before the current Venus retrograde ends, and be simultaneously retrograde with Venus for the final 7 days of the Venus retrograde ... AND keep in mind that the upcoming transit of Mars through Taurus (ruled by Venus) which begins on March 9th will be occurring during the final 38 days of this Venus retrograde ... get the picture and potential implications ??? ... All aboard the "roller coaster ... of love" !!!

With all the above mentioned being said, try your best to keep your temper in check and mind your manners as they may be trying to take a little vacation from you and everyone else as well ... hopefully one will be strong and open enough to receive the illumination and enlightenment this retrograde period will bring and be willing to take an honest and thorough inward look to see if change must be made to further personal and spiritual growth ...



In the end perhaps if one is not careful enough or simply needs and must learn a valuable life lesson, one of the main results of a Venus retrograde may end up being best summed up by the famous words of the Bard, that would be Shakespeare for those of you in the dark, himself - "The course of true love never did run smooth" !!!