Venus Retrograde basics
Venus retrograde occurs about every 18 months and lasts about six weeks. Venus is the planet that represents love, attraction, and money, as well as our aesthetic tastes and basic beliefs about the value of people and objects in our lives. [read about natal Venus retrograde and other retrograde planets in the birth chart]
Venus represents attraction, connection, and also our core values and priorities. Retrogrades are times when a planet makes its closest approach to Earth. A retrograde planet literally glows in the sky. A retrograde planet’s energy intensifies, turns inward, and orients toward the past. This condition affects everyone, regardless of your Sun sign. But people born under the Venus-ruled signs Taurus and Libra will feel its influence more strongly.
What is Venus retrograde like? You may find yourself called to go back and take care of unfinished business. You may experience deep, stirring feelings that take you back to your past or remind you of lost love. These strong feelings tend to be difficult to understand and express while Venus is retrograde. It’s time to look within for answers. Recalibrate, reevaluate, and reorient yourself.
December 11-25: Venus – Pluto
The December 2021-January 2022 Venus retrograde begins with Venus slowing down and then stopping in serious-minded Capricorn on December 19. During the two weeks leading up to the Solstice/Christmas holiday, Venus will remain in close conjunction with intense, powerful Pluto for an unusually long time. (Typically, Venus conjunct Pluto is a one-day event. But this time it hangs around for nearly 2 weeks.)
Pluto’s influence on Venus infuses Venus’s domain of love, pleasure, and affection with power and intensity. The conjunction stirs up the energy in Capricorn, whose vibe is hardworking and serious but also cold, downbeat, and negative. You may deal with issues of control, trust, accountability– or someone in your orbit may be struggling with their demons.
Late December through January
I’m waiting until February to start important new projects in my business, and this is why:
Venus will back up through the Saturn-ruled sign Capricorn for most of January. Capricorn is about big business. Banking, finance, and payment processing systems in particular. It may feel a bit like Mercury retrograde in the world of big finance, payment processing, and the stock market. It may be difficult to pin down accurate company valuations in the big old world out there. In your small business, this is a period of re-assessment and re-evaluation. Rethink your pricing, products, and packages. Survey your customers to find out what’s working for them.
Venus retrograde 2021-2022: key dates
- Venus enters its retrograde shadow: November 17, 2021
- Venus trine Uranus: November 19
- Venus sextile Neptune [1]: November 30
- Venus conjunct Pluto [1]: December 11
- Venus turns retrograde at 26° Capricorn: December 19
- Venus R conjunct Pluto [2]: December 25
- Venus R sextile Neptune [2]: January 5, 2022
- Venus turns direct at 11° Capricorn: January 29
- Venus conjunct Mars: February 16
- Venus sextile Neptune [3]: February 24
- Venus trine North Node: March 1
- Venus conjunct Pluto [3]: March 3
- Dates from Molly’s Astrology/Moon Calendar
Venus Rx and love
Venus retrograde isn’t a red light on love relationships, but it is a flashing yellow. Dating can be a precarious hall of mirrors. As love shines her light on your self-worth and lovability, it’s understandable that you would assume the intensified feelings are about the object of your affection. But actually, they are a reflection of your own light, your own worthiness.
That’s why your connection with yourself is the most important now. You may think it’s about the other person, but it’s not. It’s about what you’re seeing in the other person that is really about yourself. Stay open to these reflections and their deeper meanings.
This is not the time to finalize either commitments or separations, as the value or lack thereof in the relationship might not be apparent to you now. There’s a strange kind of intensity and longing that tends not to go anywhere. You may yearn for a past love or struggle to understand your own strange attractions at this time. A new “sizzle” could fizzle out when Venus retrograde is over.
Venus Rx and money
Venus retrograde can delay money and payments. Avoid spending a lot of cash on something that you might not like anymore a few months down the road. Experiment with new styles, shapes, and colors. But save your money– unless you really know what you’re looking for. “All that glitters isn’t gold.”
This is the post-holiday return season, and there will be good bargains if you know what you’re looking for.
We tend to fall for style rather than substance when Venus is retrograde. It’s a great time to shop for a bargain if you know your market. A drab exterior or a coat of ugly paint may be cloaking something of real worth.
Medical astrology
In medical astrology, Venus is associated with sugar and sweetness in all forms— most notably, blood sugar. Sugar, aka glucose, isn’t bad on its own– in fact, our blood and brains rely on it. At issue is the form the glucose comes in, and how much. Refined sugars cause blood sugar to rise faster than the system can easily cope with. It’s not just sweets and soft drinks that do this. Refined starches and wheat flour do, too. Chips, bread, and breakfast cereals– unfortunately, some of America’s favorite comfort foods.
Notice the impact of sugary and starchy processed foods on your moods. How do you feel about yourself after you eat junk food? Try keeping a food-mood journal while Venus is in retrograde, to self-reflect and see what you learn. Venus retrograde gives us all an opportunity to look deeply at personal and family patterns relating to love, sweetness, and craving. Eating sweets is a poor substitute for enjoying the sweetness of life. Nevertheless, the brain is often reluctant to let go of these comforts. Why? Because of the pleasure– Venus. Sugar hits the same reward systems in the brain that cigarettes and addictive drugs do!
Venus retrograde and weight loss
Venus and Mercury also relate to the thyroid gland. The thyroid responds to a spikey/crashy blood sugar situation OR low calorie intake by downregulating or decreasing the rate at which the body burns calories. This is one reason that low-calorie dieting results in weight gain over the long term.
This tried-and-true phenomenon received some national attention after the New York Times published this article following up with contestants on the TV show The Biggest Loser in 2016. Low-calorie dieting may be especially counterproductive now, while Venus is under stress. So eat plenty of calories, and make them good calories. Your body doesn’t just digest food; it also reads food to find out what’s up with the environment. Food is information (Mercury). Eating the right amount of good, nutrient-dense calories gives your thyroid the message that all is well in the world, and that it’s ok to crank up your metabolism and burn fat!!
What does it mean that Venus is in retrograde?
If we look up in the sky and watch the motion of the planets against the backdrop of the stars, we usually observe them moving in a forward direction. Occasionally, every astrological planet (except the Sun and the Moon) will appear to slow down in its orbit, stop, and then go backward, or retrograde, for a period of time. Because Venus and Earth both orbit the Sun, the relationship between them creates a star-shaped pattern often called the Venus Rose. The looping part of the cycle is the retrograde.
How is Venus retrograde going for you? Leave your favorite takeaway from this article and let me know your thoughts in a comment below.
23 Responses
Dear Molly,
I am highly interested in your explanations regarding the Venus retrograde, because my sun sign is Taurus And my ascendant is Libra!
I hope to feel much better after tomorrow, january 30th.
I am also curious about your opinions explaining the period right after the Venus retrograde. Of you hiçe permission, I would like to share the video above on my instagram by tagging you.
Hi Daphne – the after period will be a kind of unwinding of the experience of the retrograde as Venus gets back up to speed and moves forward again over the territory she reversed through during the retrograde. It’s known as the shadow period.
The video above is not mine. Click/tap the title to get to the source content on Youtube. Thanks!
Hi Molly,
Thanks for an insightful article. Already feeling the V Rx in terms of my ex who is also a close friend. We have been spending lots more time together over the past few weeks and will always love each other but we both know we are meant to be friends for life and nothing more.
In terms of money, etc. I have been researching crypto and other investments and was planning to get started next week (just before Christmas). Only starting small, as I am new to it all. As I have been considering it for a while, would that be considered something begun before the Rx? Or is it still a case of waiting until the end of January when Venus goes direct?
I’m Libra Sun, Pisces Moon, Aries rising, with Mars and Venus both in Scorpio in the 7th house, Jupiter in Leo in the 5th house.
Thank you!
Lorna, I am terrible at predicting markets. All I can really say is that generally there is downward pressure during Venus rx.
Can still dye my hair in December 19? Im a libra btw. Pls answer🙏
Byby, (assuming you are a grown adult) you can dye your hair whenever you want. Keep in mind there’s a higher likelihood you won’t like your results, and you may have to repair or repeat the dye job later.
Hi Molly,
Surprisingly for the last 2 days, I’ve felt very nostalgic about my past love. So much so that I google’d mercury retrograde, to find this upcoming Venus Retrograde 12/19 – 01/29. Honestly it has taken most of my life to finally Surrender this Flame, I feel I’ve made it thru the worst and I have no intentions of sliding back down that rabbit hole.. My question Is this intensity typical with Venus rx? and should I prepare myself for even stronger debts of longing.
I’m Scorpio Venus, Mercury & Sun.
Yes, this intense longing is very typical of Venus rx (and further intensified by the Venus-Pluto contact).
My venus is in aries in my 8th house. Mercury and sun also in eighth house. Im a virgo ascendant have mars saturn and jupiter in taurus 9th house. Any general tips as to where / how this will impact me? is now a bad time to drastically change my hair colour?
emma – Venus rx is considered a poor time to change up your style– good time to experiment but not to spend a lot of money on stuff you may not want anymore after Venus retrograde ends.
Hello, my boyfriend is a venus cap r will this make him feel good? Since he was born durin a venus cap r? It makes me so scared since its goin to conjuct pluto also im a venus scorpio 🥲
Hi Rachel – Astrology should be lighting the way forward. If it’s making you fearful, you’re not getting the benefit you could be getting from it. I don’t know if your boyfriend will feel good or not. It depends on what he finds when he goes inward. If he does pull back, your best response is to do likewise. Give him space to figure out his stuff, and you take time for your own long look at yours too. You’ve got this. Good luck!
What impacts (if any) does this event have on Venus heavy placements? I have Taurus sun/Mercury/Venus and a Libra moon. Just wondering if there are things I should look out for?
Hey Riley! Venus retrograde impacts everyone. Since Venus rules a lot of important stuff in your chart, you may experience the inward pull of Venus retrograde a bit more powerfully than the less Venusian people in your life. Good time to clean house. But be careful with your money and your heart!
Hmm, would Venus in retrograde affect people with a natal Venus in retrograde differently? Would it be a good time for them to start something new, etc?
I think someone with natal Venus retrograde can better take advantage of its upside. They might roll with the inside-out energies of the time a little better. Such a person tends to see value where others don’t and may find terrific bargains along the way. But it doesn’t flip-flop the meaning and cancel out the effects of the retrograde.
Capricorn sun, rising. and Taurus moon here.
My ex is a Gemini Sun, Scorpio Rising and Virgo moon.
So far. Pretty shadow period kicked off- instantly I recieve a bunch of I love you messages and regret messages from a long term ex of mine who broke my heart and cheated. We discussed over the first week of pre shadow things. He swore to me be was single and loves me and wishes we could have kids and fix things. Well I needed time to consider things.
Fast forward to pre shadow week 3/4.. week before retrograde kicks off. Ex wanted me to hang out with him this weekend, but I had a bad feeling (intuition) I called him out on speaking with someone. He denied it. A day later (today) admits he is now seeing someone and as of yesterday he didn’t want relationship with anyone.. today ( his relationship dynamic with this person is now headed towards relationship)
How is venus retrograde going for me? I’m completely broken shattered and depressed. He had already broke my trust and me so much before and he came back to finish the job.
How is gemini doing in retrograde? Same as always. Getting away with everything and getting their cake and eating it to. 😭
I can only hope once the retrograde kicks off or is over …things look up. And I’m praying this new girl he is seeing is a venus retrograde mistake. Because karma!
Aw Capricorn, I feel for you. So much going on in your sign in these past few years, and now Venus retrograde + Pluto. It’s a lot.
Remember – retrogrades call us within. It’s not about this guy at all… it’s about WHY are you still concerning yourself with him when he lies and cheated on you and broke your trust? Move on, this man isn’t right for you.
Retrogrades bring the focus inward. Spotlight’s on what’s inside you that drew a partner like your ex. It’s not about your ex and his new girl, his karma, or anything else about him. Venus-Pluto: between now and xmas is a rare opportunity to transform your self-worth, love yourself.
One thing I love about the planet Venus in Rx is that it gives you a good heads-up that “scam-season” is open during this period.
And that old, relic’d, antiques or even hand-me-downs surprisingly becomes better – w/o wasting huge amount of money.
Just one question though:
How does it (Venus Rx) affect the person moving into a new place of residence?
Hi Budi! I would go over the paperwork carefully. Then take it slow with aesthetic decisions like paint colors, fixtures, furniture, etc that cannot be changed easily. You may end up not liking it later on. If you have kitty cats, give some special attention to their needs.
Oh how I hate Venus Retrograde. I ALWAYS want a divorce during those long six weeks that seem to drag out forever. When I first learned what Venus Retrograde is, I googled past retrograde periods and sure enough, they lined up with the times I very nearly left the marriage. I dread these retrogrades so much that I start having anticipatory anxiety when I know it’s coming up… so like now; I’ll be nervous about this until December, then counting the days until it’s over. Thanks for covering other aspects of the retrograde like money, health, and self-awareness… it gives me something else to stay focused on besides an unhappy relationship.
I’m so sorry, Sarah. Thank you for leaving your comment. I hope this time it goes better for you.
Hi Sarah,
If you haven’t already done this, you might discover valuable insights into yourself by examining the role your natal Venus plays in your chart; and, digging deeper, the more subtle ways in which Venus exerts influence on your other natal planets through dispositorship, triplicity, terms, decanate rulerships, and receptions. Without really adequate information to make a proper judgment – only based on your comment above – you may have a lot of developmental stress on your natal Venus (squares, oppositions, sesquiquadrates, quincunxes) which are trying to resolve during Venus’ retrograde cycles.
May I suggest, rather than fearing these cycles, make the best list you possibly can (as you’ve taken steps already) to analyze what issues are being brought to your attention (triggered) during the times you’re thinking of divorce. Relate them to your own birth chart instead of to your spouse, and then get an outside perspective (astrologer or astrologically-literate counselor) to seek a breakthrough in your own patterns.
I’m not saying that your spouse is totally innocent; only that people who stay together for any length of time do so because their patterns and energy match up. So, givers and takers match up; spenders and savers link up; abusers and victim-enablers do their unhealthy tango. Some patterns which mesh bring forth the best in both people; other patterns bring out the worst in us. Between two people, there is usually a mix of the beneficial and detrimental matching patterns. If you can begin to see what those patterns are for you, you can begin to find healthier ways to express the same energies and step away from your fear and relationship stress.
Venus conjunct Pluto is a fantastic time to do this level of digging and breakthrough personal growth. To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under Heaven. Seize the day, dear lady!