VENUS RETROGRADE

Venus is retrograde from March 4 through Ap ril 15, 2017

In her travels Venus weaves an amazing pattern in the heavens. From Earth it is seen as a beautiful mandala with a 5 pointed star – a pentagram – at the center, as if a cosmic artist wanted to show us an image of her perfection and grace.

Retrograde means the apparent backward motion of a planet from our vantage point on Earth. Venus only goes retrograde around 18-20 months and travels backward for around 40 days. Venus goes retrorade less often that all other planets except Mars who goes retro every 2 years.  Venus is very positive, so her retro phase is not noted for tricky stuff like Mercury retrograde.

In this current 2017 phase Venus turns retrograde on 3/4 at 13* Aries, returns to Pisces on 4/2, then goes direct at 27* Pisces on 4/15, stays in Pisces until 4/28 when she re-enters Aries to stay until 6/6/17.

Here’s the general background:

Planet Venus is named after the goddess of love and harmony.  In astrology Venus represents the attracting/magnetic principle and indicates social values and your overall value system in general, and rules relationships and all heart-related affairs. She also governs cultural affairs, things which add grace and beauty to life – the arts, music, dance, theater, etc. In general Venus stands for peace, love, beauty, harmony and governs issues of concern to women and LGBT rights too.  Venus is the ruler of both Taurus and Libra so these signs tend to be more affected by Venus retro.

In Taurus, Venus reflects high values, a peaceful tolerant, kind nature, and is also Mother Nature herself connected to the Earth’s natural resources  and rules financial resources too. The Bull is the symbol for Taurus and the stock market too!

In her Libra garb Venus rules all relationships, specifically love and marriage, along with fair play for all and cultural refinement – things like art, theater, fashion, etc.  Venus in Libra, whose symbol is the balanced scale  is the ultimate peace maker, “Make Love not War” her never-ending cry.

Venus represents the most classically feminine energy in the heavens, alluring and magnetic she attracts what she needs by calling it to her and allowing it to come. In your personal birth chart Venus reveals your own day-to-day value system, and how you give and receive love. The sign your Venus is in colors this expression. Wherever Venus resides in your chart,  she tends to sweeten things and make that part of your life easier and more delightful.

Here’s the retrograde info:

Retrograde planets in the birth chart generally indicate an internalization of that planet’s mode, and also timing factors in life.

People born with Venus retrograde in their birth chart can be late bloomers when it come to love and are sometimes confused about issues around sexuality and relationships in general. Parents may have held them back with rigid rules (no dating, no hanging with friends) or their own self-worth issues got in the way and they felt socially awkward. A birth chart Venus retro can also mean they had other goals in life and simply chose to put matters of the heart on the back-burner. Whatever the cause they usually figure it out at just the right time, and can have beautiful relationships when their Venus nature finally blooms in full.

Venus, as the ruler of earthy  Taurus is connected to Nature so when Venus retrogrades there might be less emphasis or setbacks in ecological initiatives and on the environment in general. Taurus rules the earth’s resources and is connected to banking and financial systems. (The symbol of Taurus is the Bull, so it is no accident that the bull is a Wall St. symbol too!) Generally when Venus goes retro we might expect a slow down in money markets, or some sort of fluctuation though it does not necessarily mean long term negative affects.

At the personal level, during a Venus retrograde period it makes sense to handle your own finances with prudence.  You may want to redecorate your house, or spend for that lavish vacation, but think twice. Be smart enough to look at your overall budget and if necessary, be willing to hold back and wait for your financial fountain to flow again, holding faith that it will happen at the ideal time.

Venus as the ruler of airy  Libra, governs affairs of the heart. When Venus does her backward dance relationship issues come up for review.  Old loves drift back into your thoughts, dreams or even into your living arms! Relationships you felt totally secure about might start to unravel or reveal another side. Relationships where you’re sitting safely on the sidelines, suddenly pull you down into the midst of the hot and sweaty game!  If you have been taking your mate for granted, things might suddenly be in your face. Venus will not be denied when she’s in this mode! If you ignore Venus’ urgings she will seductively find ways to fling issues of the heart in your face. (Beware of Facebook when Venus is retro! The stories Venus could tell you…)

This can and does include family relations, relationships on the job, and with friends as well. It is much more advantageous to warmly embrace Venus during this time. Honor her by paying heed to your own heart’s song, and by creating more love and beauty in your life.  Love yourself and others well during her extended visit and she will reward you beautifully!

Here’s an article by Tara Greene with good Venus retro info Venus Retrograde Speaks