For those who are new to astrology, or for those who are looking to brush up on their Venus Retrograde knowledge, this crash course is for you!

Of course we shall start with defining terms:

What is VENUS and what does it represent?

Ah, VENUS! Named after the Roman Mythological Goddess of Love and Beauty, this planet is the 2nd planet in our little solar system. Sometimes called Earth’s twin, because it is closer in size to us more than any other planet.

VENUS KEYWORDS:

High Expressions: Love, Beauty, Harmony, Artistry, Sensuality, Romance, Pleasure, Diplomacy, Balance, Luxury, Grace, Charm, Sociability, Cooperation, Fertility, Affection, Creativity, Elegance, Prosperity, Refinement.

Low Expressions: Indulgence, Vanity, Superficiality, Materialism, Co-dependency, Passivity, Insecurity, Jealousy, Extravagance, Over-accommodation, Infidelity, Manipulation, Possessiveness, Insatiability, Narcissism, Lack of Boundaries, Hedonism.

In Natal Astrology (yung mag papa compute ka talaga ng birthchart), isang function ni Venus ang pag describe kung paano ka ma-inlove, kung saan ka attracted, at kung ano din ang mga naattract sa’yo.  How do you relate with other people, especially in one-to-one interactions? Paano ka ba pa-kiligin? Paano ka nga ba as a partner?

FOR EXAMPLE:

Mahilig ka ba mag-habol, at super brave ka ba pag dating sa pag-ibig, na kahit mahirap ang situation, or kahit tipong kahit tablado ka na, laban ka pa din (Venus in Aries)?

O baka naman ikaw yung tipong takot at praning kahit wala pa namang nagyayari, kasi sobra kang ma-in love, at sobrang lambot mo inside, at minsan clingy ka talaga kaya madami kang walls at defenses sa umpisa (Venus in Cancer)? 

Ayaw mo ba ng mushy, and hindi ka ba mahilig mag I love you, or gumawa ng mga extreme romantic gestures, pero ang love language mo ay service? Are you highly critical of your partners? May-pagka perfectionist ka ba, namadaming napapansin na mali, pero sa totoo, gusto mo lang maisingit yung punchline na “pano ka nalang pag wala ako?!” (Venus in Virgo)

Malalaman mo ang style mo sa pag-ibig, by learning about your natal Venus placement – meaning, kung saan ito naka-pwesto nung exact moment na pinaganak ka.

(Click Here to check where your Natal VENUS is)

OK! Alam na natin kung ano ang astrological significations ni VENUS.

Moving forward…

What does it mean when a planet is Retrograde?

Here is a simple, up-front visual guide to what exactly is happening when planets go retrograde:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=TK9ozJYELR8%3Fversion%3D3%26rel%3D1%26showsearch%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26iv_load_policy%3D1%26fs%3D1%26hl%3Den%26autohide%3D2%26start%3D5%26wmode%3Dtransparent

Para sa mga tipid ang data/mabagal ang net/ or tamad lang mag click, the simplest explanation is this analogy:

Pag nakasakay ka sa auto, tapos may mada-daanan ka na auto na slightly mas mabagal sa’yo, during the time of the overtake, diba pag tumingin ka sa labas, parang umaatras yung sasakyan na naunahan mo? Ganon din sa solar system. Pag na-o-overtake natin ang isang planet sa orbit nila, muka silang umaatras. Pero sa totoong buhay, hindi naman, Optical illusion lang siya, sa perspective natin dito.

Now, when a planet is in retrograde, ito ang point na pinakamalapit ito sa atin dito sa Earth. Lumalakas ang energy na ni-rerepresenta nito, to the point of overload. so ang effect, parang nagkakaroon ng short circuit. In a way, parang may brown out. All the functions of that planet turn inward, bumabaliktad. Nagkakaroon ng confusion at delay, pag dating sa mga bagay ng ni-rerepresenta nito.

What does it mean specifically when VENUS is RETROGRADE?

Okay, so ito na. Una sa lahat, Venus turning retrograde is quite rare, second only to Mars. VENUS retrogrades only happen once every 1 year and 8 months, and it lasts about 40 days, so it’s quite the event.

For those interested in astronomy, check the animation below to see the beautiful pentagram that Venus creates when you follow it’s orbit (from Earth’s perspective). Every time it is closest to us is when the retrograde occurs:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=4nI3Ky8mhj8%3Fversion%3D3%26rel%3D1%26showsearch%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26iv_load_policy%3D1%26fs%3D1%26hl%3Den%26autohide%3D2%26wmode%3Dtransparent
When VENUS is Retrograde:
  • There is a tendency for us to reassess what and who we love and value. We revisit past relationships, or past relationships re-visit us, so madalas nag-paparamdam ang mga exes, nag re-reconnect ang mga previous love connections.

  • We become more impulsive in love – masarap ma-inlove ngayon kaya madaming surprise proposals, or bad impulsive decisions pag dating sa relationships. The need to be close and intimate with someone is stronger, and impromptu declarations of love are commonplace.

  • We become more sensitive to the trappings of the material world – may tendency bumili ng mga bagay na hindi naman talaga kailangan, kumain sa masasarap na restaurant, etc. Malakas ang energy ng mga luho ngayon, kaya mahirap magpigil.

  • We become more expressive and adventurous when it comes to art and beauty, kaya madaming nagpaparetoke, nag-eexperiment sa hairstyle, nag re-redecorate ng bahay or office, bumibili ng art/deco pieces, or mahal na mga damit.

  • Since ang planet of love ay baliktad, madaming nagkakaroon ng tampuhan, at madaming din ang nag se-selos nang wala sa lugar. It’s the season for lover’s quarrels, kumabaga, kasi highly emotional ang mga tao.

General Tips

Here are short lists of Do’s and Don’ts, to help guide us and keep us centered in Venus retrograde periods:

DOs:

  1. Reflect on your relationships: Use this time to evaluate your relationships and how they align with your values and goals. Madaming past feelings or memories, or hidden information nag magre-resurface ngayon, to help you make decisions about your partnerships.
  2. Reconnect with old friends: Reach out to people from your past and nurture connections that may have faded over time. Reunions, or any sort of social
  3. Focus on self-love: Take care of your emotional well-being, practice self-care, and engage in activities that make you feel good.
  4. Review your finances: Assess your financial situation, create a budget, and identify areas where you can improve your financial stability.
  5. Revisit creative projects: Rediscover past artistic endeavors or revisit creative hobbies that you’ve neglected.

DON’Ts:

  1. Avoid making impulsive relationship decisions: Hold off on making major commitments or ending relationships during this period. Take time for introspection and self-reflection.
  2. Refrain from drastic beauty changes: It’s best to avoid dramatic makeovers or significant changes to your appearance during Venus retrograde. Opt for more subtle adjustments if necessary.
  3. Be cautious with new romantic ventures: It’s advisable to proceed with caution when starting new romantic relationships during this time. Take your time to get to know the person and their intentions.
  4. Avoid overspending: Exercise financial prudence and avoid making major purchases or investments without careful consideration.
  5. Don’t dwell on past mistakes: While reflecting on the past can be beneficial, avoid getting stuck in negative emotions or ruminating excessively on past regrets.

To review how any Venus retrograde period can affect you personally, it’s important to look back at the last period Venus turned retrograde in this specific area of your chart, which is 8 years prior to the current retrograde. Themes and elements that played out during that time are likely to resurface again, in one way or another. of course, it is still best to have a personal consultation with a competent astrologer, to have someone walk you through what you can personally experience during the retrograde phase.

Venus retrogrades happen like clockwork, so there is nothing to be afraid of, it’s just difficult cosmic weather! Some storms can be more severe, even life-changing than others, and preparation can highly prevent any worst case scenarios from manifesting. Some storms pass by without much fanfare, with nothing more than minor inconveniences along its wake. To quote a line from a song by Cynthia Alexander, “Such is life, in this mortal merry go round!”. But what we are certain of, is that a blossoming always happens after. A renewal, and an elevation of consciousness. Like our beautiful mother Earth, we too go through life with seasons that change again and again, and while we now prepare for another downpour, it helps to remember another OPM lyric, which is the best way to top this off –

“Even if there is pain now/Everything would be alright/For as long as the world still turns/There will be night and day… There’s a rainbow always after the rain!” ❤