What is Venus Retrograde in Leo and Virgo Good For?

by Robert Wilkinson

As with any retrograde, we are given a chance to do a review, taking a look back at recent developments ruled by the retrograde planets. Mercury RX gives a review of ideas and perceptions, while Venus RX gives us a chance to find a new value or appreciation in what we've recently experienced regarding things and people. When Venus is retrograde it's a great time to reflect on values, relationships, and why we like or don't like whatever or whoever, including our relationship to money, wealth, and things in general, as well as why we value what we do in our relationships, and whether we're working off of old tapes, old hurts, old attachments, and old aversions in relationships that bear no resemblance to what we're living with today.

Venus retrograde in Virgo and Leo offers us the opportunity to take a look back at our Leo and Virgo experience with people and things, in terms of enthusiasms and practical issues requiring some adjustment. If we cannot play, be naturally expressive, and make changes without getting into power struggles, turf battles, or needless worry and criticisms, this will be the time to get a new angle of value and relating so we don't get caught in these in the future.

This particular Venus RX will be conjunct Saturn the entire time, thus enabling us to make needed adjustments in recent new endeavors ruled by Saturn. If we can get over useless worry and any tendencies toward nit-picky criticisms, we are offered an opportunity to be pragmatic and practical in updating our likes and dislikes to current values and conditions freed from old subconscious tapes that are not useful in our present day to day relationships to people and things.

In general, many times Venus retrograde can bring memories of old hurts and misunderstandings, past relationships that went in directions we didn't expect or where there was confusion about the nature of the interactive dance. That said, Venus retrograde can help us re-experience old wounds so we can free ourselves of subconscious patterns that seduce us into suffering.

During this time we can superimpose our mature self's values and short circuit the echoes of memories of perceptions based in prior ignorance or victimization. That some people hurt others is a reality in this impermanent world. Still, we do not have to suffer needlessly based in old emotional habits that do not serve our need for love, wisdom, veneration, compassion, and self-respect.

I have found that even when these are absent, and hurtfulness is all around, by maintaining the higher values within me I can transcend the outer conditions. Then I no longer struggle with those who want to suffer, or dish it out to others. A very wise man once said words to the effect that life is painful, but we do not have to suffer.

It does take courage, strength, and good will to transcend the tendency to suffer, but in releasing the habit of suffering, we take control of our magnificent eternal consciousness and are able to find a tremendous compassion and power. Using these, we are able to enter into the pain and suffering wherever we find it, and break the link between the two.

So as you move through these times, whether they are cheerful or painful for you and those you are with, try to remember that regardless of what's going on around you, we have the choice to BE however we need to be in that moment to bring forth the highest self we are able. It is that which is beyond the fluctuations of personality, and the means by which we can be the light in the darkness of this impermanent existence.

For more info on this Venus Retrograde period, here's Venus Retrograde in Virgo and Leo July, August, and September 2007 Pt. 1 - Guardian Angels Are All Around.

© Copyright 2007 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[Robyn]

AH YES ROBERT IS ON POINT...i'm in the heat.

"power struggles, turf battles, or needless worry and criticisms, this will be the time to get a new angle of value and relating so we don't get caught in these in the future."

my roommate is vile. in lieu of blaming me for something my cats did to his kitchen chairs a few months back, he is berating me. it all came about as soon as i came home from vacation. all he wants is my money or for me to leave so that he can control the house. he's relentless. my sister has also been drawn to his alliance, deserting me because of our past issues. he's using brute macho-ism and verbal intimidation to make me feel bad. its not working. i am trying to remain calm in the face of all this. this is difficult, yet i think i can get by.

"...we do not have to suffer needlessly based in old emotional habits that do not serve our need for love, wisdom, veneration, compassion, and self-respect."

i do have saturn in leo and i do feel every word you've written. your words of wisdom are a light in my dark. and the angels are all around us now.. ty

[ian]

Hello Robert!

I'm curious about timing and money with the venus retro period. (please don't feel obligated to answer this if you are too busy!)

Since the last full moon I've the opportunity to get a loan from my boss for much needed film/video/computer equipment for my own artistic endeavors. I'm pretty cautious about this sort of thing and don't want to underspend, getting less than I need, or overspend, getting more than i can pay back in a timely manner. Neither do I want to unnecessarily delay the process.

Should one wait during this time, reflect, and use the available funds after the retro period or would this actually be a good time to finally get the much needed equipment for my art?

If it were mercury retro I would know to wait but I've only really studied one other venus retro period.

I have natal venus in taurus/8th house oppose natal Uranus. transiting uranus is curently squaring natal neptune, if that helps. -It certainly doesn't help me and my uncertainty! HA!

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also, let me Thank you for your advice and inspiration.

I'm just coming out of the last exact conjunction of my saturn return and have found that applicable, practical and spiritual advice is hard to come by. In fact, I felt almost betrayed by our cultures (parents,therapists,officials,ect) inability to offer any kind useful, appropriate direction for myself in any way. I have, with help from a few such as yourself, found that inner guidance in myself and the greater world of nature everywhere, so thank you.

I feel a sense of both power and relief (and responsibility!) and I will work to reflect the same kind of creative inspiration to others as we emerge into a greater harmony through these radically transoformative times.

...and don't let my praise make you feel in any way obligated to answer my question. you do so much for so many and I feel kind of bad asking for more without paying you! I'll figure things out one way or another.

[Robert]

Hi Robyn - There are many times in life when we can do nothing except not make it worse, and humanity can get pretty weird at times, especially like now, when Venus is on its station and Mars is exactly square Saturn. Strange assumptions coming down, too much to do, so take it easy. I tend to get in the face of those who berate me, but I do have a Sun-Mars conjunction in Aries. ;-) Just because he's taking your money doesn't mean he has the right to treat you uncivilly. As for macho intimidators, joke 'em! They usually don't have much of a sense of humor, and if you call them on it, there's not much they can say. And your sister will live to regret her poor choices of alliances, but that's another story. Remain calm, but don't take too much disrespectful guff. If he says something over the top, ask him how he would feel if someone did that to him, and then say nothing else. Definitely don't go into explanations or debate about what, why, etc. Just point out the Golden Rule and then be quiet. Glad I can be Jimminy Cricket.

Hi Ian - Sounds like you understand the practicalities of business, but worry too much that you'll "get it wrong," when we never know until we're in the soup, so to speak. Could be a good time to get what you needed in the past, with the RX effect. Actually, Jupiter and Saturn are more indicative of investment in biz equipment than Venus. Borrow and buy with a good Moon-Saturn, and make sure you're not buying something that will be obsolete in 12 weeks. Could be that you need to make a list, do your research, and then buy when Saturn enters Virgo (with other planets there as well) as they are favorable to your Taurus-Scorpio. Of course, you're welcome. I've long maintained that our "culture" has betrayed us in a thousand ways, including most normal psychological models of therapy. Glad my column can remind you of the power of your inner guidance staying focused on the highest ideal that is attainable in the moment, given our human-ness. And of course you're most welcome.

[dottie]

i apologize in advance for this seemingly superficial question but what do you think about the notion that venus retrograde is a bad time to make any changes in your appearance? some astrologers seem to warn against it fiercely but i wonder if that advice isn't too simplistic? since i am an early virgo would it be crazy for me to dye my hair now(er, have it done professionally)? i've been considering the change for a while (before the retro started). it seems like venus retro just before my sun *should* involve such things, no? primacy of the internal compass?

[Robert]

Hi dottie - I think Venus RX is a great time for experimenting with appearance, as long as you stay open and flexible and remember that you may not like that same look at some point after it goes direct. It seems to me that it could bring out some subconscious likes and looks that have been repressed for some time due to ancient opinions offered that have no usefulness in the present.

[Ben]

I'm still stuck on Venus. I know this is an old thread! :)
Do you ever use midpoints? I just realized that venus is going to station direct right on my Venus/Mars midpoint. Just curious if you think that has any significance. I actually have not worked at all with midpoints.
Man, this venus retro has been bad. I'm so excited for it to be over! And that eclipse did not help! :)

[Robert]

Hi Ben - I seldom use midpoints, since there's a wealth of info to be found by using the planets. However, I have seen conjunction midpoints to be important trigger points. My Mercury and Mars are only 6 degrees apart, and often when something is exactly between them the combined energies seem to manifest. That said, the opposite point has zero observable effect. I believe the problem in working with broad midpoints (say the midpoint between planets 30 degrees or more apart) is that you are left with so many points that they become virtually meaningless, or that effect could be explained by an aspect to a natal or progressed planet, or even a Solar Return position.

This is a problem with Astrology, in that at some point you have too many zones of influence and so diffuse the ability to be specific, since anything could mean anything if you stretch and bend it enough. When I first started studying the craft a million years ago, I took into account everything from midpoints to the hundreds of Arabian Parts and Fixed Stars as well as the "reflex chart" and prior lunation, Eclipse points, and planetary stationary points, giving me too much information to sort through. This was also my problem when studying Uranian Astrology years ago. Using a 90 degree wheel, you're left with about a hundred points that could mean something, rendering it all meaningless. While some midpoints seem very strong and are valuable indicators of a resonant point where two energies come together, having over a hundred points of influence is not as valuable as knowing what the primary 15-20 actually mean. In your case it could mean that Venus will have "the upper hand" in its dance with Mars in your chart. This Venus RX has been much more stressful than I initially imagined, probably due to the multitude of oppositions to Saturn and other Mutable planetary squares and oppositions. The Eclipse was what it was, and will continue to bring upheavals and disruptions for many months to come. And the beat goes on and on and on...