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Venus is going retrograde; now what?

By Dana Gerhardt

Venus is retrograde from March 4 to April 15 (from 13 degrees Aries to 27 degrees Pisces).

Few people listen closely enough to their Venus. To make up for this kind of ignorance–well, that’s what Venus retrogrades are for.  At these times, Venus renews herself, transitioning from evening star to morning star, by first entering the underworld, where whatever was unfinished or unacknowledged may erupt.

Venus retrogrades remind me of Botticelli’s delightful painting of Venus and Mars. You’ll note that a spent Mars is passed out while Venus is alert and pondering, possibly scheming. (Recent scholarship suggests that Mars is actually stoned.) Traditionally, Mars is the active agent, while Venus, as receptivity, is passive. But during her retrograde, these roles are reversed. Mars (the conscious chooser of what we do and don’t do) lets Venus take over.

Fuddy duddy astrologers are usually alarmed, advising caution in any and all Venusian matters (like relationships, art, pleasure, and spending money). Venus might make you buy a crazy polka-dotted coat or fall for an ill-advised partner! It’s true; these things could happen. But there’s a reason. Venus has needs you’ve been ignoring and now she demands that you listen. She may raise a familiar desire to an uncontrollable pitch. She may inspire you to break out of your aesthetic box. She may trigger a visit from someone in your past. These are merely symptoms. Whatever happens in the outer world, in the inner world, this is an important time to renegotiate the relationship with yourself. It needs to have more pleasure in it. Venus will  test the quality of your past decisions here.  And your happiness in this area acquires a new urgency. Your moods may swing–from sorrow to bliss to indignant fury. Visions of better things may dance in your head. But the point is always this one: you need more joy.

Venus goes retrograde every eighteen months. During these six weeks everything that Venus rules–love, money, fertility, and creativity–is vulnerable to wild, ingenious, or deluded thinking.  Maybe you remember Bibi and Poldi, the tortoise couple who’d gotten along amicably for over a hundred years. People say that Bibi started it. Maybe she just wanted more out of her long life–but during the Venus retrograde of 2012, the two couldn’t stop bickering. Then  Bibi lunged at Poldi, taking a bite out of his shell. The experts at the Austrian Zoo were horrified. Supposedly such things rarely happen to long-term couples in the animal world. Zoo people counseled the turtles, fed them good mood aphrodisiacs, and tried to encourage more playfulness. But Bibi was determined to get away–and it seems from the Google search I just did that she succeeded.

Venus retrogrades can break up bickering relationships, start exciting new ones, and/or return former lovers to your life. These events may or may not be good things. The best defense is to know your Venus! Consider the needs described by her natal sign and house. Venus is retrograde from March 04 through April 15 (13 Aries to 27 Pisces). If you know where this retro zone falls in your birth chart, you’ll find more clues about what this time might mean for you.

Venus is retrograde—the perfect time to get seriously playful with your inner goddess. I’m excited to offer a new Venus retrograde special. From now until April 15,  when you order “Your Venus Unleashed,” you’ll receive a free copy of my new personalized ebook, “Your Bliss: Heavenly Recipe,” (a $19.95 value), which will be released when Venus goes direct.      Click here for more info!

 

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About Dana Gerhardt

A popular columnist with The Mountain Astrologer since 1991, Dana Gerhardt is an internationally respected astrologer. She has lectured extensively and written for astrology publications on several continents. Her ongoing passions are the moon and living the intuitive life. Dana worked for many years in the corporate sector, where she observed the undeniable influence of natural cycles. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude from Occidental College in Los Angeles and did graduate work in literature at Columbia University and CSULA. Dana can be contacted by email.

Comments

  1. Patricia says

    Mar 6, 2017 at 12:30 pm

    will we be able to get “Your Bliss: Heavenly Recipe” separately at some point?

    Reply
    • Dana Gerhardt says

      Mar 6, 2017 at 1:56 pm

      Yes–it will be released for sale around the time Venus goes direct. Thanks for asking!

      Reply
  2. Maria S. says

    Mar 5, 2017 at 1:38 am

    Brilliant Article! I am very glad that I have found it. Thank you for such an amazing work!

    Reply
  3. Maria says

    Feb 28, 2017 at 7:45 am

    Dear Dana, Thank you for your call of awareness! I have natal Venus in scorpio (house 1) and in the retrograde period will be moving in my house 5. Any suggestions on how this will show out and what should I do about it?

    Thanks,

    Reply
    • Dana Gerhardt says

      Feb 28, 2017 at 9:27 am

      It’s useful to remember that sky pictures show us the hidden movements of living archetypes. They’re not the gears of a clock that will produce the same mechanical effects for everyone. Transits don’t happen to us, they happen from us. So in whatever house or sign you have natal Venus and transiting Venus, the prescription is the same. Investigate the sweetness quotient in your life. Look at the situations that are currently obsessing you. That’s where the work–or playground–of Venus retrograde will be.

      Reply
  4. Katerina says

    Jul 28, 2015 at 5:36 am

    Hello Dana, I’d like to ask you about what you said above about starting exciting new relationships.
    You mean that they may start while Venus is retrograde or only old ones end during this, so we have the chance for exciting ones maybe later, when Venus is direct again?
    I’m asking because I’m leaving for vacations and having 4 planets (including Sun as I’m Taurus) in Venus zodiac signs, I think I will be very affected.

    Oh and about former guys coming back … I live it these days. I want to kick him and he doesn’t understand, he keeps on showing up trying to attract attention!

    Reply
    • Dana Gerhardt says

      Jul 28, 2015 at 12:57 pm

      Both are true–relationships can end and begin during the retrograde. Tradition generally says to be wary of what begins at this time, as the retrograde will be a long-term feature of the relationship, which could prove frustrating. But, there are always exceptions to the rule. Again, the best defense is to know yourself and know your Venus!

      Reply

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The Moon is in its
Full Phase

in the
Sign of Sagittarius


Today's Lunar Aspects (Greenwich Mean Time)
(subtract: PST -8 hours, PDT -7 hours, EST -5 hours, EDT -4 hours)

  • Moon trine Mars, 8:27am  May 14 2025

Venus is currently
The Morning Star

in the sign of Aries


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Astrologers use a variety of house systems, or methods of dividing up the sky into twelve sections. I use the Porphyry house system; another popular house system is Placidus (this is the default on https://astro.com). If the chart I send you looks different from what you are used to seeing, then likely a system other than Porphyry was used. Whole signs, Equal House, Regiomantus, and Campanus are examples of other systems. If you find all of this confusing, do not worry. It is likely not critical to your report.

m  Conjunction:  Like peas in a pod, planets in conjunction tend to come from the same place. They act together, but it’s also hard to tell them apart. This aspect can increase talent, focus, and intensity (“two are better than one”). Or one planet can disappear as the other dominates. Their connection feels so natural, it’s easy to think everyone blends these planetary energies just as you do—but mostly, they don’t!.

p  Sextile:  Planets in sextile are compatible, though without any fireworks. This aspect doesn’t demand your attention. It quietly presents an opportunity. You can join these archetypal forces. Donna Cunningham has called this the “Oh, that!” aspect, because that’s generally what her clients say when she describes their benefits.  To get the most from sextiles you need to actively work them.

q  Square:  Squares are wild and wonderful—but difficult too. The power struggle between these planets was likely defined in your youth, when they were impossibly challenging. People are usually aware of their squares. They force the issues that make you to grow. And that’s their gift. They ensure you learn your lessons. When you rise to the occasion, they bless you with energy, action, and success.

r  Trine:  Michael Munkasey has dubbed this the “goddess aspect” because it’s so lovely. Identifying talents you may have perfected in a previous life, trines can bring you joy. There’s a nice flow of energy between planets in trine. They support and reinforce each another. But without any struggle, you might take them for granted—neither using nor developing their gifts. An unattended trine can sometimes trick you into negative behaviors.

t  Inconjunct/Quincunx:  Your quincunx planets are innately incompatible. Bringing them into harmonious expression requires constant adjustments. This can be stressful, also motivating. You’ve got to keep changing your process, opinions or attitude—which promotes highly creative solutions.

u  Opposition:  They say opposites attract—and planets in opposition are never far from each other, though they’re constantly bickering. You may be triggered into awareness of this aspect by other people who seem to resist or undermine you.  An opposition can make you feel uncertain, insecure, or discontent, until you can accept and see yourself in both energies. Typically people find it easier to identify with one side and project the other onto unsuspecting others in the outer world.

First House: Personality, physical body, beginnings. Includes the Ascendant and rules physical appearance, the image you project to others, your general outlook on life, how you start things; may describe your role in your family system, often guides your first impression of immediate environment.

Second House: Money and personal finances, sense of self-worth and basic values, personal possessions, talents.

Third House: Communication, thoughts, language skills like writing and speaking, early schooling, siblings and neighbors, short trips, coming and going around town.

Fourth House: Your home, psychological foundations and roots, family, parents, domestic life, instinctive behavior, ancestry, your connection with the past, sense of security, domestic life, real estate. conditions at the end of life.

Fifth House: Children, creativity, romance; pleasure, entertainment, self-expression; all forms of “play”, speculation, gambling, and attitude towards taking risks; hobbies, attitude towards romance, lovers as opposed to partners, attitude towards having fun.

Sixth House: Work and job (as opposed to career), daily life, attitude towards service and coworkers, helpfulness, pets, attitude towards routine and organization, how you refine and perfect your skills.

Seventh House: Partnerships, one-to-one relationships, marriage, the first marriage, the “significant other”, business partnerships, competitors, open enemies, lawyers, mediators, counselors, contracts, negotiations, agreements. clients/the public.

Eighth House: Transformations and crisis, your ability to meet and rebound from crisis and change, sexuality; sex, death and rebirth, rituals and personal growth, your partner’s resources, addictions, psychology, other people’s money, taxes, divorce/alimony, inheritance.

Ninth House: Attitude toward expanding horizons, religious beliefs and personal philosophy, higher education, long-distance travel, morals, foreign languages and cultures, personal truths, publishing, commerce, advertising, your sense of adventure.

Tenth House: Career and profession, your contribution to society, social status, public reputation, material success, how you carve out a public identity for yourself; attitude toward authority figures, parents, caregivers, bosses, governments, attitude towards responsibility, desire for achievement.

Eleventh House: Friends, groups, organizations; hopes, wishes, aspirations, personal goals; your philanthropic attitude, concern for the collective, humanity; like tenth, can bring recognition and honors for fulfilling hopes and dreams.

Twelfth House: What’s hidden beneath the surface, karmic dustbin, limiting childhood/past-life messages, self-undoing, hidden enemies, hidden weaknesses, dreams, secret affairs, lost items, hospitals and prisons, hidden strengths, spiritual studies and soul growth.

A  Sun: Our vitality and magnetism; self-identity, ego.
Roles: The Self, the Hero, the Performer, the King.

B  Moon: Intuition, emotion, nurture.
Roles: The Mother, the High Priestess, the Child.

C  Mercury: Mind; physical dexterity and mental agility.
Roles: The Thinker, the Communicator, the Student, the Trickster, the Merchant, the Thief.

D  Venus: Our capacity for pleasure, receptivity, creativity, and social connection. Also indicates our relationships, self esteem, and financial abundance.
Roles: The Lover, the Seductress, the Artist.

E  Mars: Desire, initiative, anger.
Roles: The Protector, the Athlete, the Warrior.

F  Jupiter: Luck, opportunity, expansion, higher learning, religion.
Roles: The Scholar, the Gypsy, the Traveler, the Monk, the Professor.

G  Saturn: Hard work, commitment, focus, inadequacy, leadership, suffering, loss.
Roles: The Task Master, the Grim Reaper, the Wise Old Man, the Builder, the Cynic, the Boss.

H  Uranus: Change, breakthroughs, upsets, discoveries.
Roles: The Revolutionary, the Humanitarian, the Visionary, the Snob.

I  Neptune: Imagination, spirituality, idealism, addictions, deception, compassion.
Roles: The Artist, the Romantic, the Guru, the Addict, the Martyr, the Victim.

J  Pluto: Transformation, power, psychological dynamics, helplessness.
Roles: The Terrorist, the Detective, the Psychotherapist, the Dictator, shady people.

a  Aries: Pioneering, competitive, selfish, impatient, courageous, reckless, independent, dynamic, domineering, “Me first!”

b  Taurus: Patient, stable, lazy, dependable, practical, sensual, stubborn, artistic, possessive, greedy, gentle, loyal.

c  Gemini: Intelligent, curious, adaptable, quick-witted, restless, clever, scatterbrained, lacking follow-through.

d  Cancer: Nourishing, intuitive, protective, moody, sensitive, maternal, domestic, childish, cautious, creative.

e  Leo: Proud, dignified, vain, expressive, romantic, generous, childish, overbearing, self-assured, creative.

f  Virgo: Perfection-seeking, practical, methodical, petty, critical, studious, discriminating, cautious, never satisfied.

g  Libra: Charming, sociable, peace-loving, refined, diplomatic, artistic, indecisive, apathetic, easily deterred.

h  Scorpio: Passionate, secretive, penetrating, resourceful, suspicious, manipulative, jealous, sarcastic, intolerant, determined, aware.

i  Sagittarius: Freedom-loving, philosophical, optimistic, enthusiastic, careless, impatient, talkative, a know-it-all, broadminded, athletic, honest.

j  Capricorn: Serious, responsible, practical, hardworking, stubborn, brooding, inhibited, status-conscious, domineering, unforgiving.

k  Aquarius: Progressive, individualistic, unpredictable, cold, intellectual, artistic, eccentric, shy, impersonal, scientific.

l  Pisces: Compassionate, intuitive, ungrounded, romantic, impractical, self-sacrificing, seductive, musical, artistic.