by Robert Wilkinson
Tomorrow, March 22, we have Venus retrograde conjunct the Sun at 3 Aries. This has important implications for all of us for many months to come.
We’ll begin with a review of what an "Inferior Conjunction" is. Simply put, that type of conjunction is when Mercury or Venus are retrograde and make a conjunction with the Sun. In that sense it is similar to when Mercury retrograde makes an “Inferior Conjunction” with the Sun, but in an entirely different way.
Like Mercury retrograde, a Venus retrograde conjunction fuses that retrograde planetary function with the Great Light. However, while the Mercury RX fusion is one of Life and Mind, a Venus RX fusion involves a significantly different part of us.
Venus (relating, valuing, and appreciating) conjuncting the Sun (Light/Life, Illumination, integrity, strength of heart) while retrograde indicates that values and relationship issues (Venus’ department of labor) from outer sources or subconscious sources will fuse with the Light/Life principle (the Sun), setting the tone for the lessons involving how our relationships and values are relating to our lives during the next 19 months. While Mercury RX is about the inward or backward turned mind, Venus RX is about old relationships, old values, and old experiences where we got or didn’t get something we believed we wanted.
Since Venus is retrograde, the degree of the inferior conjunction shows how our lives will merge with our values and relationships and bring forth a enjoyment and "liking" of our light. The last inferior conjunction of Venus with the Sun was in August 2023 at 21 Leo. As the theme of that degree involves the inability of the lower ego to sustain higher awareness on its own terms, it could be useful to see where that conjunction happened in your chart to understand how insights into relationships from the past, or events which brought the past back up in ways which had to be dealt with, are associated with the time since that Venus RX conjunction.
How The Retrograde Process Works
I’ve given you this in previous Mercury retrograde articles, and go more extensively into the process in my book A New Look at Mercury Retrograde. An “inferior conjunction” is one of two types of conjunctions, the other being the “superior conjunction.”
The first step is when Venus conjuncts the Sun in forward motion after its retrograde period. As when Mercury does it, it’s called a “Superior conjunction.” Because Venus is faster than the Sun, after the Superior conjunction Venus (values and relationships) again outrace Life, exploring the signs the Sun will experience as Life when it finally transits them after Venus.
Then Venus slows down until it goes stationary retrograde. It then moves into the second step when it again conjuncts the Sun while retrograde. This is when ways of relating and liking things and people are absorbed by Life, or Life takes on the results of subconscious or collective interpersonal feelings returning to source. Eventually Life gets as far from relating and liking whatever as it can, and we’ve reviewed enough. Then Venus goes stationary direct, and begins to speed up preparing for the first step anew in a different part of the zodiac.
As I offered in earlier articles on this subject, Venus retrograde may bring memories of old hurts and misunderstandings. However, we can use these “echoes of memories of perceptions” to re-experience old wounds and free ourselves of subconscious patterns which seduce us into suffering. Venus RX is a good time to take a look back and allow our current Self’s more mature values and wisdom to antidote old hurts or misunderstandings, short circuiting the echoes of memories of perceptions based in prior folly, whether ignorance or victimization.
We all get hurt, sometimes through no fault of our own. We all have been hurt by others numerous times this life. But we can always choose not to go into needless suffering based in old reactive feelings which are disconnected with our love, understanding, compassion, wisdom, and self-respect. Regardless of Venus is retrograde or direct, if we operate from these values, we will not be negatively influenced by outer events and easily let go of struggling with those who are stuck in their own frustrations or making life difficult for others.
We’ve all had relationships in the past which generated mistrust, or frustration about why we were or weren’t given what we wanted, or denied that by another. Most of us have had relationships that left us confused about why another did as they did, or said what they said.
Any memories or echoes from the past that come up during a Venus retrograde can lead us back in time so we can heal old hurts, misunderstandings, or frustrations by finding a different way to view it and understand it from a more objective view. Of course, when it comes to old hurts, it does take courage to face our fear so “it will cease to trouble us.”
This particular Venus retrograde is somewhat complicated but also benefited by Mercury’s retrograde in the same span, giving us alternative views and understanding via our inward turned mind. However, this should be a great time for remembering the good and the bad, so that we can achieve closure in areas of our inner world and move forward unencumbered by those old ghosts and memories.
The one constant about astrology is that whether what we’re dealing with is difficult or easy, enlightening or frustrating, of the past or present, we can always choose to BE our Higher Self in each moment. While the world is always in flux, racing forward or reflecting backward, we can BE the Loving Wisdom of our Higher Self. This alone is beyond the fluctuations of personality, and the means by which we can be the light in the darkness of this impermanent existence.
Venus retrograde is an excellent time to heal old hurts, and find new wisdom reflecting on old follies. If someone returns to your life, note your inner responses, and still any disturbances. You are not who you used to be. They are not who they used to be. And just because you were once close doesn’t mean you have to be close now. But it may be useful for your own self-evaluation to see how your values have matured, and what interactive folly you’ll no longer tolerate.
See you soon with more on this important celestial fusion of Life with Like, bringing the promise of emotional insights related to our “avatar ideal.” This can help us remember when we became “exemplars” of a collective ideal, or it could bring us signs and signals that we’ve overcome old insecurities and now will be called to exemplify some collective ideal in the coming years. Many will see themselves in a totally different light than before now.
And now, a word from our sponsor!
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The book offers a look into the psychological dimension of Venus, the spiritual dimension of Venus, and the astrological dimension of Venus. It offers practical techniques for how to attract your heart’s desire, and how to make your relationships more fulfilling by living a Soul-ful life. You’ll find out about why you like or don’t like people and things, why you’ve attracted people in the past and present, and how to attract those who are more aligned with your Soul purpose in the future. A major theme is understanding why Soul Mates come into our lives, and how to know the difference between a Soul Mate and our Twin Flame.
It has chapters on the qualities of each sign’s natural mate, the qualities of Venus in each sign, Venus retrograde, and when crucial choices and changes are made, affecting who we attract in the future. It was written for both astrologers and lay people, and as it has a thousand gems for better relationships, with self, others, and Source, please consider getting your copy by going to the link above! (And when you’re done, please leave a review on Amazon, since it helps the book and all other books on astrology as well!)
© Copyright 2025 Robert Wilkinson
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