VENUS RETROGRADE in SCORPIO - THE ENDING OF A CYCLE

As I write this today we are now in a period of Venus Retrograde (Venus Rx) in the sign of Scorpio. This is a very unusual retrograde as it coincides with the ending of an 8 year cycle and a 100 year cycle that began in 1926. Without going into too much math and geometry of this event it is sufficient to say that it refers to orbits of the sun: in 8 years the Earth will orbit the Sun 8 times during which time Venus will orbit the Sun 13 times and lap the Earth 5 times. Every time Venus passes between the Earth and the Sun it stations retrograde and forms a Sun-Venus Cazimi, an exact conjunction. If you imagine a drawing of this you will see a 5-pointed star representing each of the 5 Cazimi conjunctions, which is also known as the Venus Star or Celestial Rose, where each point can be referred to as a “petal”. Every 8 years Venus returns to almost the same starting point as the previous 8 year cycle, the last being late October 2018. On October 24, 2026 it hits the last petal or point before returning to the original point. The orbit is not exact, losing 2 – 3 degrees every 8 years and it takes about 100 years for Venus to go back to 0 degrees of a sign. Thus on October 24 this year Venus Rx will hit 0 degrees of Scorpio and then start another 8 year and 100 year cycle as it retrogrades into Libra.

So what do these cycles mean? Venus is the planet of love, harmony, beauty and money. It represents romance and marriage and how we express love and seek partnership and how we balance business partnerships. It also represents beauty and art as well as comfort and physical pleasure. Venus in the chart shows our core values, our self esteem as well as our money. It is detrimented in the sign of Scorpio as it rules Taurus,the opposing sign of Scorpio, as well as Libra. Therefore it is considered weak in Scorpio whose properties are very different.

Scorpio is ruled by the planet Pluto and co-ruled by Mars and as such is considered the planet of power. Its governance includes sex, death and rebirth or regeneration, and it is where we find the shadow self, secrets, the parts of ourselves we want to keep hidden and all that is taboo. A heavy Scorpio overlay in a chart shows someone with a laser-like ability to penetrate the superficial and see to the absolute core of a situation or a person. Scorpio rules mysteries, esoteric knowledge and alchemy and governs the reproductive and eliminatory organs. It is unafraid to look into the dark. It also rules joint financial matters and resources, inheritances, taxes and investments.

The Venus Rx began on October 3^rd and heralds a time of going back to revisit the areas of life that fall under the Scorpio umbrella. It is time to expose the truth that has been hiding, or was not ready to be faced and dealt with during the last retrograde which occurred between October 5 and November 16, 2018. It’s a time to stop papering over the cracks to avoid dealing with deep seated issues, a time to face up and have those dreaded conversations and a time to address the painful feelings that lurk in your psychological cellar and bring them into the light. Addictions, behaviour patterns, toxic relationships and sexual problems all need to come out now. It’s time to shine a light on financial liabilities, debts and shared resources and get them straightened out. Time to look at old resentments and forgive those that are in the past or have the courage to collect on what you know for sure is owed to you. Tell yourself the truth about any power plays that you know are going on, even if you have been too afraid to admit it’s been happening.

The Venus-Sun Cazimi which falls on October 24 will be the highlight moment as this is when Venus, sitting at 0 degrees Scorpio, is “burnished and purified” by the Sun and clarity has the chance to show its face. At this point there’s no going back, the game is up. No more burying it in the bottom drawer. It wants to be seen so that you can clear it and move forwards with a lighter load. You might experience massive lightbulb moments as if you’re seeing something clearly for the first time or uncover truths that have been kept from you.

On October 25 Venus moves backward out of Scorpio into Libra, where, even though still retrograde, it is a little easier as it is in the sign of its rulership. Libra is the sign of harmony, balance and justice. It rules marriage and committed partnerships, including business partnerships and is where we look for justice and diplomacy. Venus Rx in Libra calls for us to pay attention to our close relationships, to examine contracts and to resolve issues in a peaceful way. Matters from the past that have not been concluded return to be completed. As it is the sign of marriage it is time look at what needs to be resolved and where harmony and balance can replace discord. And what are the artistic projects that are half completed and now sit on the shelf? Put them back on the table and finish them.

Venus stations direct in Libra on November 14^th. At last the retrograde is over but we must march with it as it goes into forward motion and reenters Scorpio on December 5^th. We are still dealing with Venus in the deep sign of Scorpio but, now going forwards, things are beginning to lift. This is still a time of transformation and, on January 7^th 2027, Venus moves out of Scorpio and enters Sagittarius, and we will not experience this retrograde for another eight years.

If you have any planets in Scorpio or 22 degrees Libra onwards, Venus Rx will hit those planets and you are likely to experience an intense shift when it does, depending on the impact of those planets in your chart. If you have planets or points at 0 degrees of Scorpio this really will be a turning point for you, perhaps a literal change in your circumstances or a major realisation that leads to a change in your outlook or understanding that frees you from a deeply held but limiting belief. Either way, it’s all to the good in the long term even if it doesn’t appear so at the time.

You may not have planets in these signs but everyone has Libra and Scorpio somewhere in their chart, so check which houses they govern and you will find a particular emphasis on those areas of your life. For example if you have Scorpio on the cusp of the 5^th  house of romance, creativity and children, this is likely to bring changes of some sort in those areas; on the cusp of the 10^th house of career and public standing expect some sort of alteration or realisation here.

We have had 100 years living with the effects of Venus Rx in Scorpio, the deepest part of the personal and collective psyche – hence we have witnessed some of the darkest and most difficult areas of life come up for air and bring about a new understanding in extraordinary ways. The next 100 year cycle will involve Venus Rx in Libra which is where these developments will come to harmonize and seek balance, which will be a relief to us all.