You might have heard that the planet Venus is in retrograde, and wonder whether we’re in for another bout of cosmic chaos – since cousin Mercury’s retrograde always brings with it talk of frustrating delays, mix-ups and mistakes.
Actually, ‘retrograde’ doesn’t have to be a scary word – but awareness is key. Learning how this cosmic change can affect our daily lives allows us to take control and use it to our advantage.
What is Venus in retrograde?
Venus is a planet that usually circles the sun faster than the earth, but during its retrograde the earth overtakes it. This creates a ‘backward’ effect: hence retrograde.
Venus is the planet of love, romance, money, beauty, and art – so Venus retrograde is often connected to relationship changes and financial decisions. Because Venus has seemingly ‘slowed down’, however, many see this as a time to be reflective and take stock, making decisions carefully rather than jumping to big conclusions.
How long is Venus in retrograde?
Venus is in retrograde from July 22 to September 3 – a total of 44 days, which is longer than its usual average. Venus only goes into retrograde every 18 months – the only less frequent being Mars, which retrogrades approximately every 26 months.
Why is 2023’s Venus in retrograde significant?
This time around, Venus is in retrograde in the fire sign Leo, meaning you might find that this usually exciting placement is having the opposite effect.
Typically when Venus is in Leo, it’s a time of passion, romance and creativity, since Venus is the planet of romance and joy, and Leo is associated with optimism, warmth and confidence. But in retrograde, you might experience social difficulties or potentially even relationship niggles.
What should I do during Venus retrograde?
Since Venus is also the planet of beauty, you might want to save making any big aesthetic decisions until she’s back on track – so maybe opt out of that big haircut you’ve been planning. Save your inspiration images and come back to them in September.
When it comes to relationships, try to take a moment when you come up against any problems – be it disagreements with your partner or a date that just didn’t work out. Take a breath and come back to it with a clear head.
Ultimately, Venus retrograde in Leo will challenge us to try exciting new things when it comes to love and beauty – so enjoy it, but don’t act too impulsively.