ALL ABOARD "THE ROLLER COASTER OF LOVE" !!!

VENUS - the planet which rules social urge, sense of values, love and affection, and financial matters began its RETROGRADE journey for 2025 yesterday, 3/1, at 7:36 PM 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 transiting 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 !!! 

PLEASE TAKE NOTE - retrograde periods are not always harbingers of doom and gloom and full of negativity and disaster so please try to ignore all those posts that always have the phrase "how to survive" as it should perhaps be positively stated "how to successfully navigate" these often challenging and demanding periods !!! ... these periods have the greatest potential for each one of us to be able to slow down and review what is making our lives more challenging and take action to correct our course, so to speak, so there isn't so much difficulty in navigating through this thing we call "life" on a day to day basis !!!

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 23rd, 2023 through September 4th, 2023 completely in the sign of Leo going from 28 degrees 36 minutes Leo back to 12 degrees 12 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 28th, 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 4th, 2023 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 !!!



Over the next 42 day period, this dual sign Venus retrograde will go from 10 DEGREES 50 MINUTES ARIES back to 24 DEGREES 37 MINUTES PISCES ... and yes, there could be issues already rising up from any relationship/partnership either personal or professional that was begun from January 28th up until March 1st when the retrograde began ... interesting to note, the last time Venus was retrograde in both signs together of Aries/Pisces occurred from March 4th through April 15th, 2017 going from 13 degrees 8 minutes Aries back to 26 degrees 54 minutes Pisces ... obviously this time including some of the same degrees as in 2017 ... anything come to mind from that period in your life regarding that retrograde period ???

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 4th, 2023 ... 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 !!!



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 !!!

Obviously the overall ruler of this retrograde period is indeed Venus ... and as such the following could be ongoing issues in addition to the other signs it will actually be retrograde in :

Issues could arise with art, culture, aesthetics, possessions, partners, beauty, charm, good taste, sweets and sugar, color, harmony, poetry, paintings, jewelry, singing, singing, drama, music, emotional contacts, moral character, marriage and unions of all kinds, sociability, disposition, luxuries, pleasure and appreciation - all these being ruled by Venus !!!

Issues could arise with financial affairs, possessions (except real estate), investments, earning power, any gain or loss through our own efforts, inner talents and resources, need for fulfillment, emotional feelings, sense of self-worth, sense of values, personal liberty as liberty is usually a matter of money, material debt - these issues being addressed in the 2nd house of the natural zodiac ruled by Venus !!!

Issues could arise with face-to-face relationships both business and marital partnerships, marriage, divorce, contracts, lawsuits, bargains, agreements, dealing with the public and their response, open enemies, cooperation or lack thereof with others, what you most lack in yourself, attitudes towards marriage, your mate, the kind and quality of your marriage, how many marriages you may have, your grandparents, any people who act as your agent or on your behalf - these issues being addressed in the 7th house of the natural zodiac which is also ruled by Venus !!!

As previously mentioned, this Venus retrograde occurs from 10 DEGREES 50 MINUTES ARIES back to 24 DEGREES 37 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" ???

In regards to Venus in Aries, Mars rules Aries and therefore there could be issues to arise in the following areas:

your animal nature, desire, sexual energies, assertiveness, force, power, construction, work, strife, competition, surgery, operations, weapons, war, accidents, inflammation, wounds, cuts, burns, scalds, violence, tools, iron , and steel which are all areas ruled by Mars !!!

your personality, natural disposition, tendencies, individuality, the way you express yourself, how people see you, the way you want others to see you, the way you "package" and "market" yourself, your physical body, your health, your early childhood years, your approach to life, your worldly outlook, your appearance and bearing and the beginning of all enterprises - all of these being issues addressed in the 1st house of the natural horoscope naturally ruled by Mars !!!

On March 27th, Venus returns to the sign of Pisces and the original emphasis, which will still be in play, 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 4th, when Venus made its initial first full transit through Pisces, may suddenly become very flawed by the reality that now confronts us in retrospect !!!

In regards to Venus in Pisces, Neptune rules Pisces and therefore there could be issues to arise in the following areas:

maritime matters, liquids, music, movies, stage and television, glamour, dreams, illusion, delusion, spirituality, ideals, mystique, hunches, creative functions, and things we take deeply for granted in life without questioning, fog, petroleum, mystery, anesthetics, flattery, intangibles, fragrances, second sight, love of poetry, color, dancing, drugs, drug addiction, alcoholism, hypochondria, sleepwalking, trances, hypnosis, abnormality which are all areas rule by Neptune !!!

your inner strengths and weaknesses, behind the scenes activity which would include clandestine affairs, restorative solitude, places of quiet reflection, sorrows, handicaps, secrets, seclusion, frustrations, jails, hospitals, mental institutions, secret enemies, restraint, inhibitions, exile, hidden dangers, self-undoing, things we hide from others, research, backgrounds, subjective sustainment, inner consciousness, the subconscious mind, charity, sympathy, public welfare, where we sweep away or hide problems to painful to face, difficulties we refuse to acknowledge, aptitude for art, music, dancing writing, acting - all of these being issues addressed in the 12th house of the natural horoscope naturally ruled by Neptune !!!

Regarding health issues, the following would be areas potentially affected per sign:

Venus: the throat, chin, cheeks and sense of taste

Mars: the external reproductive organs, head and face

Neptune: the pineal glands and feet

As for elective surgery, especially of the cosmetic enhancement variety, best to wait until after April 12th as you may feel you did not the desired results you "paid" for and might even have to go back and redo it once Venus stations direct ... for all other surgery that is not elective, you should not try to push that back as it could have dire results !!!

For those of you born between March 2nd and April 11th, you will definitely get the energy of Venus retrograde in your solar return chart, the birthday chart, for the year ahead on one or the other signs depending on your birthday ... those born on March 1st and April 12th 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."

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 yet again !!!

Venus remains retrograde until April 12th ... it will not be retrograde again until January 10th, 2027 through April 1st, 2027 beginning in Virgo and ending in Leo - information for those of you who like to prepare and just might be planning a "special occasion" during 2027 !!!

One final caveat, during this Venus retrograde, Mercury will take its first retrograde journey for 2025 from March 14th/15th through April 7th going from 9 degrees 35 minutes Aries back to 26 degrees 49 minutes Pisces ... same signs and very close degrees as the Venus retrograde ... and in case you're trying to figure out, should you have a birthday during these periods, if your birthday is on March 16th through April 6th, you will get both Mercury and Venus as a "present" in your solar return for the year ahead ... those born March 14th/15th and April 7th may or may not get both energies depending on the time of your solar return this year ... so much to consider and ponder - don't you just "LOVE" it ??? 

A cautionary word of advice for those who are interested - while it's true this next 42 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, during the Venus retrograde period be aware it could prove to be potentially more challenging ... AND WHY ??? ... once again because Mercury will take its first full retrograde journey for 2025 from March 14th/15th through April 7th completely embedding it in the Venus retrograde ... in fact, Mercury entered its next shadow point yesterday March 1st the day the Venus retrograde began !!! ... that being said, do you 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" !!!