What a busy week in the stars we have, darlings! Saturday marks the end of Venus retrograde through Capricorn, and I want to talk a little bit about what this means, as this was probably a rather emotional, if productive, time for all of us, regardless of if we follow the cosmos.
The word retrograde tends to give us all a little shiver, and while the illusion of the planets moving in reverse can shift energy a little differently than we are familiar with, these times are generally very lucrative when we move in flow with them. In case anyone is unfamiliar, retrograde is a time when the planets appear to slow down and move in reverse. This is just a trick of perspective, but even so, it can have repercussions energetically for us to be moving in a seeming opposition to our galactic neighbors.
Venus went into retrograde on December 19th, 2021 and will be “moving forward” again starting on January 29th, 2022. Since Venus rules over beauty, values, money, love, and relationships (both platonic and romantic) this retrograde probably put you in your feels a bit. You might have noticed some delays and confusion in your relationships, finances, or creative endeavors that felt like more like red flags than setbacks. Luckily, Venus was moving through the sturdy earth sign, Capricorn.
Instead of spinning in place through this retrograde, Capricorn’s hardworking and logical attitude encouraged us to focus on where we could put that energy to actualize solutions to these setbacks. Since this sign is ruled by the planet Saturn, perhaps you looked inward to notice that you need to learn to say ‘no’ and set better boundaries. Or maybe you already do this, but now have a clearer picture of what your actual limits are and can adjust your boundaries accordingly. This won’t always be met with happy attitudes, especially in relationships and finances, but Venus speaks to our self-care and self-love as well as our relationships with others. We can’t give from an empty cup!
Hopefully you didn’t make any big decisions regarding Venus’ areas of impact, like breaking off an engagement or quitting your line of work out of the blue. This retrograde wanted you to withdraw and look inward. Reflect on your current relationships, financial endeavors, and creative projects, recognize problem areas, and revise how you’re approaching these areas of your life. We didn’t want to start new projects in this retrograde, but tend to those we already have underway. With the knowledge we’ve gained about ourselves and our partners (whether romantic, platonic, or professional), we can move forward with Venus on Saturday, an actionable plan in hand, and make noticeable progress in these areas.
My advice is to use these last few days of Venusian retrograde to reflect on the last 6 weeks. Maybe journal on what has come up, how you’ve felt, or any new tactics you’re getting ready to employ to minimize emotional and financial speed bumps. Recognize the growth you’re making and how looking internally has helped you step out stronger and ready for what the stars have in store next! You might be surprised how much this retrograde touched you. That’s part of why I like looking at my life after these cosmic moments pass.
Keep in mind, that we are also in the middle of a Mercurial Retrograde that started on January 14th. This means that technology, communication, and transport may all be areas where we’re feeling bogged down as well. In the technological age, I have only one piece of advice. Be patient, my darlings. Mercury will go direct just after Imbolc on February 3rd, and we can look forward to the rest of the year. Blessed be!