Venus Retrograde
On July 22, 2023, the lovely planet of Venus joins Neptune, Pluto, and Saturn in retrograde motion. However, we start feeling the effects of Venus’s retrograde a couple of weeks prior to the actual commencement of retrograde motion. Venus’s Retrograde brings more attention and deliberation to love, values, relationships, beauty, money, pleasure, food, and relationships. This Venus retrograde in Leo centers around performativity, bravery, ego, and strength as it shows up in those Venusian themes I just listed.
We are having to internally address the genuity of our expressions of love, pleasure, and creativity. If it feels like our expressions center performativity rather than the feeling of the experience, then we will need to go back to the drawing board in order to recenter and actually put our heart into our expression.
Leo is the zodiac sign related to the heart. The bravery and fierceness of the Lion show up out of love for its pride (family) and its need to stay alive (keep the heart beating). This Venus in retrograde season, we are reconsidering what it really means to move from a space of love rather than selfish pridefulness. When we move from a place of love for self we are able to honor our authentic nature via joyful creation which opens opportunities to attract more love, beautiful experiences, and even money. When we actually align our lifestyle and actions with our values rather than putting on an act to be seen as valuable by others that is when we are truly living a life of value. Is it more important to be seen as worthy by others or do you actually want to feel worthy according to your own standards?
When we accept ourselves as we are and allow ourselves to see beauty in ourselves exactly as we are is when we can experience and observe greater beauty in the world. When we accept that beauty radiates from the inside out we understand that a mirror nor anyone else can validate us, the validation we seek is inside. When we validate ourselves that is when we are truly confident. Superficial performances are not fulfilling. Operating purely from an egoic place creates empty connections, empty art, and emptiness within. When we move from our heart space we pour life into everything that we do and we open ourselves up for others to pour life into us as well. There is such a thing as a healthy balance of ego and heart, when we allow them to work in tandem that’s the money spot. We know our worth AND we acknowledge the worth of others which leads to respect, equality, and consideration for all. Now, that’s what I call healthy love.
A lot of people in today’s time confuse love and vulnerability with weakness. When in reality, being open to love and being vulnerable is actually a strength. It takes bravery to take such a big risk in regard to the heart. Love truly is a gamble and there is more to gain than there is to lose. Even when we feel we “take a loss” we are usually gaining greater perspective and have gained a lot of beautiful memories and helpful lessons. Love is a source of joy, warmth, and light. What is life without love? It’s empty, it’s dark, its cold. Love is not limited to romantic connections. Romance is not something we can only experience with a romantic partner. Romance and love are something that can be given to us by ourselves, our family, our platonic community, and even in nature. Think of a time when you have watched a sunset, isn’t that romantic? Think of a time when a friend has bought you your favorite snack or sent you a random loving text message, that’s also romantic.
During this Venus in Leo retrograde remember not to limit love or force romance to only be delegated to certain relationships. Love is not meant to be restricted. Love is loud not always in volume but the fullness in which we can feel it in our bodies. Or the way love can fill a room or the way seeing someone we love that we haven’t seen in a long time can make our day feel full and beautiful. We don’t have to minimize love, we should maximize it. Make a big deal out of the little expressions and the tiny moments. Summon love and romance into your life by deciding to see love in every little corner of life. It’s always there, it’s not hard to find we just need not let ego distract us or pride disrupt us from being open to the experience.
This is a time to lean into pleasure and allow ourselves to love freely and fearlessly, while also loving with integrity, ethics, and healthy boundaries. It’s important to be accountable in love and make sure that we are loving from a healthy and wholesome place. We want to be sure that our love is of quality and that we love with honest effort. Love is not just something to do. Love is not desperate. Love is not controlling. Love is not prideful. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love is understanding. Love is empathetic. Love is trusting and trustworthy. Love is intentional.
It’s a good time to reflect on and write out what your love ethics are. What does loving behavior look like and feel like to you? What type of lover are you? What type of lover do you want to be? (Being a lover applies to being someone who loves in general, how you love others, how you love yourself, how you love the world, and how you love your higher power. It’s all connected.)
This Venus retrograde in Leo poses the questions:
Are you living from a place of love or a place of ego?
Do your relationships pour life into you or drain the life out of you?
Are you open to the beauty, romance, and joy of life? How can you be more open?
How do you cultivate love and joy in your life?
How can you show and share your love more often?
What fears cause you to close yourself off from love?
How has your pride been a blockage to love in the past? How will you overcome these blockages in the future?
What are the risks of love? Why or why don’t they feel worth it to you?
If you could love with the guarantee of never being heartbroken how would you show up differently in love? What would it look like if you started showing up like that today?
How do I show up in love?
How can I be a better lover?
What limitations am I putting on love? Why?
How can I love from a more expansive place?
Important Dates:
July 27- Venus conjunct Mercury in Leo
Reminiscing on and revisiting what we’ve said in relationships, applying logic and rationale to romantic, financial, and business affairs. thinking about our values and having open discussions with our loved ones about, collaborating and brainstorming with others about creative endeavors or how to improve on one’s craft, reflecting on past performances and taking constructive criticism
August 7- Venus conjuncts Lilith in Leo
Reclaiming our power in romantic affairs, feeling fierce, possible feelings of vengefulness or how to restore justice, reflecting on times when we felt wronged, slighted, or an imbalance of power in our romantic relationships or in regards to money. Standing up for our values. Dark feminine energy. Owning our sexual power and liberating ourselves from shame
August 9- Venus squares Uranus in Taurus
Unforeseen events arise that could cause conflict in relationships or with finances, social media or technology mishaps/discussions that could cause frustration, be mindful of impulsive and rash decisions that are not actually in line with your values or feelings of love
August 14- Venus trine Chiron in Aries
Showing up with tenderness and loving energy towards your emotional wounds, being more loving towards the parts of yourself that you usually meet with frustration, showing love and acceptance to insecurities, possibly putting insecurities/scars on display in order to see how beautiful they actually are
August 22- Venus square Jupiter in Taurus
Current connections or creations inspire us to grow, noticing the ways our current connections or creations are too comfortable and that we need to aim higher, expanding our feelings of what’s possible romantically, financially, and creatively. Be mindful not to overexaggerate conflicts there probably is a simple solution just be open to compromise and change. The two benefic planets being in a square aren’t so much about conflict as it is healthy tension that creates fun, growth, inspiration, and excitement
Venus aspects to the Moon:
July 27 & August 23- Venus square the Scorpio Moon
Love might feel a little heavy or painful these days, but these are the days to be reminded of your commitment to love and vulnerability even when it doesn’t feel “good” and “easeful”
July 29 & August 25- Venus trine Sagittarius moon
Exploration and love go hand in hand. Good days to go on beautiful adventures with a partner, a friend, or by yourself as an expression of love for self and the beauty in the world. Learning sweet lessons from love about hope, faith, and embracing differences and new experiences
August 2 & August 29- Venus opposite Aquarius Moon
Conflicting feelings. Lean into the safety of your community when you aren’t feeling the love or if you aren’t feeling brave enough to face things alone. Allow your community to remind you of your value and strength
August 6 & September 2 - Venus trine the Aries Moon
Feeling brave, feeling spicy and bold, declaring your emotions to feel closer to your loved ones. The risks of love feel a bit more worth it today but be mindful of impulsive feelings and rushing into things before you have properly handled your ish
August 8- Venus square Taurus Moon
Feeling sentimental, try not to cringe at your softness on this day. LEAN INTO LOVE!!! physical expressions of love will be nice try not to feel discontented with things not feeling like “enough”
August 15- Venus conjunct Leo Moon (Leo New Moon)
Feeling quite fierce, remembering that your feelings matter and you are not meant to settle BUT maybe you could compromise a little? A healthy balance ego helps you to not be a love-blind fool
