VENUS Is Retrograde!

Find out what it means for your sign, by clicking the sign buttons that follow the intro.

Approximately every 18 months, Venus, the planet that rules love and money, pulls an about face for 40 days and 40 nights. Some claim she's off to take a well-deserved "beauty rest," but that's just her cover. Whenever designing Venus regresses, you can bet she has ulterior motives and that mysterious forces are at play.

As she draws back the curtain on whatever area of your chart she’s revisiting, you’re compelled to take another look.  What Venus reveals is sure to alter your perspective and lead you to discover new ways of dealing with old issues. The secrets she divulges may initially cause turbulence. If so, it’s only to bring any imbalances to your attention, so you can correct them and restore harmony. Well, you can try.

Venus presides over two signs, Libra and Taurus. In her airy Libra role, she rules over everything cultured and refined: beauty and the arts, justice and fairness, love and partnerships. In her earthy Taurus guise, she’s the material girl of the Zodiac, ruling sensuality, sex, money and last, but not least, self worth. When she retreats, all the afore-mentioned qualities will seem lacking in your life, which is why

THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO BE MAKING ANY MAJOR CHANGES IN YOUR LOVE LIFE, YOUR FINANCES OR YOUR APPEARANCE!

What will Venus's review reveal for you? Click on your Sun sign (and, if you know it, your rising sign) below to see what houses (areas of life) Venus will be evaluating for you this time.

BONUS: Look back at what happened in 2009, when Venus was Retrograde in the same signs (Aries and Pisces) in almost the same time period.  If there are still unresolved issues from then, you may get a clue as to what you can expect this time around. If you've already resolved them, give yourself a high-five and wait with bated breath for whatever Venus has in store for you now.

ARIES

You racy rams are not ones to lie around contemplating navels – well, not your own anyway. But now that Venus, your relationship planet, has turned introspective, you may actually find yourself in a more thoughtful mood about your love life. Contemplate that! Of course, you may also find yourself in the mood for a meaningless fling. Fine, if you're single. But if you're otherwise engaged, think twice before embarking on a minor intrigue that could set off a major conflagration. The wise souls among you will let Venus teach you how to get more out of a relationship not more relationships!

This time around, Venus begins back stepping in your sign. Lucky you! When glamorous Venus does an extended tour in a sign, even when she’s moving backward, she bestows an excess of charm, glamour and sex appeal. In your case, this is an embarrassment of riches (not that Aries ever gets embarrassed). As a result of Venus’s influence, you may feel a strong urge to enhance or change your look, but be warned: This is no time for an extreme makeover!  Stick with your current stylist and routine beauty treatments. Do not try anything new—unless you want to spend the next month wearing oversized sunglasses and hiding your hair in a hat.

When Venus retreats into your house of inner peace, on 4/2, it will be time for you dynamos to hit the brakes and unwind. Meditation and yoga could help.  But if that’s too “mellow yellow” for you, take a hike. Long walks communing with nature will allow you to reflect on your accomplishments over the past year. Hey, there are worse things than being asked to reflect on your own brilliance and count your blessings. You can start by being grateful you’re an Aries!

TAURUS

You slo-mo's don't really mind Retrogrades, as it forces the entire world to downshift to your amblin' gait. But don’t get too complacent! With Venus, your health and fitness planet, backsliding, it will be all too easy for you to fall off your diet/exercise routine and reach for the comfort food. Don't give in to decadence! You’ll get your just desserts, when you're strutting that toned bod around this summer.

But this go around, Venus wants more than a fab body for you: She wants your soul too. So while she's unwinding in your spiritual house of rest and reflection, she encourages you to do the same. Hit the spa! Go on a retreat! But make sure to take advantage of this contemplative time to purify and refresh both body and spirit.

On 4/2, Venus will slip back into your house of friends and associates. Change-averse Taurus sometimes sticks with a situation, relationship or job long after it’s ceased to be fulfilling. If that’s you, you may appreciate Venus taking a more discerning look at your social circles and questioning all your allegiances to find out if they still meet your needs. Should you discover that it’s time to seek new pastures, don't get your tails in a tangle! Venus isn’t asking that you do anything uncharacteristically rash like quitting your job, leaving your wine group or unfriending anyone. The good news is you don't have to make any major decisions until after 4/14, which should be plenty of time ... even for you chronic procrastinators! 

GEMINI

In the film Groundhog Day, a smug Bill Murray finds himself reliving the same day over and over until he gets it right and learns to love.  Since your romance planet Venus has just been “left back,” it looks like you’re going to be repeating some lessons in love yourself.  Whatever you can learn now from your past affairs will come in handy. Pay close attention, if you want to make the grade. Yes, you are a quick study.  But as intimacy is not your best subject, you’ll still have to do your home work.

With Venus rebounding through your house of long-term goals, you may find yourself shifting focus from short-term gains to more permanent outcomes. As part of this process, start questioning your professional alliances and group affiliations, as Venus reignites your fervor to make the world a better place. You could double your impact by, say, enlisting in a global humanitarian effort, organizing local protests and maybe running for office yourself!

On 4/2, Venus will revisit your career house. During this time, you probably won't see any big advances professionally, so hold off asking for that well-deserved raise or promotion until after 4/14.  Sure, we all know you do twice the work of the average person, but you’d be wise to use this time to review your contributions and take an inventory, so you can make a stronger case. Fortunately, sociable Venus is very well-connected, providing you with an excellent opportunity to network with former colleagues/clients, expand your influence and build concrete support. After all, lasting success requires a solid foundation—and we’re not talking Clinique.

CANCER

Caring Venus is the ruling planet of your 4th house of home and family. Now that she’s regressing, you might assume it’s time for home improvements. But it's never a good idea to undertake a major renovation or redecorating project when designing Venus is on hiatus, although you could do your research now. The real home improvement Venus requires of you sentimentalists is an emotional housecleaning. The insights you glean now will have a profound impact on your love life and your living arrangements. 

With Venus regressing in your career house, you'll want to ask yourself if your professional trajectory truly mirrors your desires or only reflects your family’s expectations. Should you find yourself rethinking your current path, this is an opportune time to reach out to former colleagues and supporters for advice and referrals.  Then, when Venus advances on 4/15, chances are good you will too. As you side-skittering crabs know all too well, sometimes you have to go backward to go forward.

On 4/2, Venus backs into your 9th house of travel and adventure.  If you're like most homey Cancers, your idea of adventure is surfing the Food Network from the cozy comfort of your couch. So you'll be happy to know you're not likely to find yourself going claw to claw with a wild bear.  As the 9th house also governs wisdom and all things philosophical, it's more likely you'll traverse the realms of the mind, using this time to expand your horizons by taking an online class, exploring new cuisines or studying a foreign language. It’s sort an "around the world in 80 pages" idea. The best part is you never have to leave the house!

LEO 

Leos rule! But while your career planet Venus is backtracking, don't expect to see any big progress on the professional front. So hold off on asking for that overdue raise or promotion.  Sure, we know you’re worth a king’s ransom, but you'd be wise to use this reflective time to take a personal inventory and review your true value. Then, when the time comes, you'll be fully prepared to make the case that you reign supreme.

But what should you do now? Well, with Venus commencing her Retrograde in your 9th house of travel and adventure, you’re most likely going to be grounded, unless you go somewhere you’ve already been. So why not navigate the realm of your higher mind?  It’s time to scrutinize your goals and ask yourself some tough questions to make sure you're heading in the right direction. I know the real troopers among you will take every opportunity to discover higher ground by seeking out belief systems and ideas that expand your horizons.  The divas among you may still try to pull a geographic and take to the friendly skies, but let me give you a tip: You can’t get there on Jet Blue.

On 4/2, when Venus slips back into your house of transformation, it will be time to confront those aspects of yourself you’ve dismissed, repressed or denied, which may be preventing you from taking your rightful place in the world. Sound like fun? Well, I have Leo Rising, andI wasn’t too happy about it either. But if we take this time to “plum(b)” the depths of our beings, I’ve no doubt we’ll find it to be very fruitful! Or so I hear.

VIRGO

Good news! Knowing you're never happy unless you have something to fret over, I'm pleased to tell you that you need to keep an eye on your money, joint finances in particular. Yes, telling a Virgo to pay attention to such detail may seem superfluous, but with your money planet Venus in recession for the next 6 weeks, even you could overlook a transaction that could prove costly. Happy now?

As Venus is rewinding in your 8th house of intimacy, you have an opportunity to delve into your feelings, unearth and examine your deepest desires and confront uncomfortable issues.

“Why on earth would I want to do that?” you protest. Well, because when Venus backs in to your relationship house on 4/2, (to conduct an exhaustive review of your love life, which, you must admit, could benefit from a fresh approach), you might just be ready to try something completely out of the ordinary—like revealing and entrusting those secrets to your partner! Seriously. Stranger things have happened during a Retrograde.

LIBRA

While no sign is more tactful, it would be a mistake to confuse your politesse for lack of will. They don't call you the iron fist in the velvet glove for nothing!  But with your ruler Venus regressing, you'll be in no mood for diplomacy. Oddly, this frees you to confront certain situations you've tolerated far too long. The element of surprise alone (no one expects you to be so direct) should work to your advantage!  Especially since Venus will be rebounding through your relationship house, providing you with a fresh perspective so you romantics see something different in your situation, like reality.  This will force you to look at the state of your affairs without your rose-colored glasses so you can really work on it.

“Ugh, how unpleasant!” you say. “Working on a relationship takes all the romance out of it." Okay, but Venus is hoping that by streaming select scenes from your past, she’ll force you to recognize unhealthy patterns, thus preventing you from repeating them. The good news is that breaking up really is hard to do, and when Venus is on the rebound, it’s nigh impossible. So while you’ll be questioning all your relationships (personal and professional), you hopeless vacillators will be relieved to know that you don’t have to make any major decisions about them— at least not until after 4/14.

When Venus slips back into your fitness house on 4/2 you have a splendid opportunity to clean up your act and go "cold turkey." Oh, I can just see those gorgeous eyes widening in surprise, but don't play coy with me. There isn't a Libra on the planet who doesn't have some little habit—or person—they'd like to kick. I'm speaking figuratively, of course. 

SCORPIO

The fact that Venus, your relationship planet, is on hiatus right now, might be a good thing. You can skip all the drama, avert any crisis, and mind your own business. “But drama and crises are my business!” you protest. Right! What do I know? I'm just a cautious Capricorn. You Scorpions thrive on upheaval. Okay, let's think positive. Perhaps your passionate past will come back to haunt you, creating all sorts of intrigue and excitement. So don’t be surprised if a former flame suddenly reappears. . . and don't say I didn't warn you!

Because Venus begins her backward trek in your health/work house, you may find yourself deciding to get back in shape or rethinking your workout routine.  If you've had health issues recently, take care to avoid a relapse, especially if, true to form, you've been pushing yourself too hard.

It's also time to rethink your workplace behavior. Those of you who’ve been too a little too "scorched earth" in your manner may have left some bruised egos in your wake. This could cause a serious backlash as your past conduct catches up with you. I know you have fostered an atmosphere of collegiality and teamwork on the job, so you can expect long overdue accolades. The rest of you, duck! What goes around comes around.

Sagittarius

You globe-trotters really get around. But with Venus stuck in reverse, first in your romance sector, then in your house of home, you're going to be grounded. Now what are you going to do? Well, since Venus rules your fitness house you might start by getting back in shape.  This is a great time to schedule annual checkups and get back to the gym. Once you’re feeling gorgeous and in fighting form, you’ll want to reconnect with former colleagues and associates with an eye to expanding your network—and your options. That’s work options.

Some of you might think Venus lingering in your romance house is your cue to be even more cavalier and flirtatious that usual. Au contraire! This is no time to leap into anything new.  It is, however, a great time to make peace with your past and work on improving your current situation, as you reflect on the deeper aspects of love. You higher minded Sadges will be happy to know that if you open your heart to Venus, she'll teach you how to get more out of your relationship, not more relationships!

And speaking of home, with Venus ending her reunion tour in your house of family, it's seems she’s also out to get you to heal old wounds by dealing with your emotional issues, not sweeping them under the carpet like you usually do. Think of this as a sort of cosmic spring cleaning—instead of cleaning your house, you clean up your act. 

CAPRICORN

With weighty Saturn as our ruling planet, we goats are well acquainted with the delays, limitations, and gravity of its influence. In fact, it was a Capricorn, Sir Isaac Newton, who discovered gravity while in a rare moment of repose in his mother's orchard. This just goes to show how important it is for us diligent souls to take a break once in awhile. Like now. Might as well.  With our career planet Venus out on strike, professional progress will be stalled for the next six weeks.

"Oh no! Now what do we do?" Well, you might find yourself rethinking your goals and your means of achieving them.  As you probably won't see much movement on the career front, hold off asking for that well-deserved raise or promotion. This is, however, an ideal time to research opportunities, reach out to former colleagues and supporters and explore all your options.  Then, when Venus advances on 4/15, chances are good you will too!

With Venus regressing through our 4th house, you may find yourself feeling disgruntled with things on the home front. Whether it’s a family drama, roommate situation or real-estate venture, it's advisable to take a wait-and-see approach and not take everything so personally. You're better off taking a more introspective approach. Find out where you’re coming from emotionally, so you can course correct and get to where you really want to go professionally. "What, again?" you ask. Yes, again. Aren't Retrogrades fun?

AQUARIUS

For years, I’ve chided you free radicals for being allergic to emotional intimacy. It's easier for you to take on the establishment than deal with issues closer to home, like your own feelings. But with your home and family planet Venus backtracking, you have an opportunity to delve into this foreign territory, unearth your deepest desires and confront these uncomfortable issues.

“Why on earth would I want to do that?” you protest. Well it's the job of you noble souls to save the world! And it’s mine to disabuse you of the notion you can do it without putting your own house in order. Besides you'd be doing us all a favor if you focused on your own needs for once.

To that end, you may find yourself dealing with a recurring family drama, roommate situation, or a move. But whatever domestic circumstance presents itself, make no mistake, it's just a trigger to get you to do some serious emotional housecleaning. Usually, you get excused from these mundane tasks by pleading that you’re domestically challenged,  but that won’t work now. Start sweeping!

There's always some degree of wishful thinking on your part when it comes to money and there's always some degree of wishful thinking on my part when it comes to predicting anything for you contrarians. But, on 4/2, when Venus recedes into your house of worth (self and net), there's a good chance you'll spend that time taking a long, hard look at what really owns you, which will prompt a more realistic look at your finances. Yeah, freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose, but the question is: can you really afford to find out?

PISCES

A Pisces pal confessed to me that you hopeless romantics only read horoscopes to find out about your love life. “Don’t bother with the rest," she assured me. "We just skip over it.” Um, okay. Here's something romantic. Whenever Venus Retrogrades, there's a better than good chance you'll find yourself falling in love again, either with your present love or someone from the past. Of course, the latter situation could be complicated if you're otherwise engaged, especially because Venus rules your house of intimacy and sexual desire, a place often fraught with jealousy and obsession.

But when Venus regresses, it’s time to confront any doubts you have about your relationship (or any doubtful relationships) and put them to bed (so to speak). I know it’s not easy to confront a problem you can't see (especially when you’re wearing rose-colored glasses), but that's why you Pisces were given inner vision. Use it.

Okay, this part's not about love, but it's important! You might want to call a moratorium on spending. I have to mention this because for some Pisces (present company excepted) extravagant expenditures are like a drug. May I suggest that instead of spending money on those new Choo's, you spend time nurturing your vast wealth of inner riches? You'll get a great return on your investment and it will be a lot less expensive!