A Backward Kind of Love: Venus in Retrograde

Did you miss it? Venus went retrograde on December 19th. 

Not to worry – it stays retrograde almost all of January!

Unlike Mercury, which is retrograde three times a year, Venus goes retrograde once every 18 months, yet it remains retrograde for approximately 40 days.

In ancient Mayan culture, wars were often waged during the retrograde periods of Venus. But it does not have to be that way with us.

Remember retrogrades are usually a time for revisiting and resolving past issues indicated by the planet in retrograde. Venus is associated with love, relationships, arts, and all things of beauty and value. Which means during January, you may do well wrapping things up instead of getting things started.

A Venus retrograde period is usually not a good time to start a love affair or be seduced into misbehaving by your sexuality. You may pay too dearly for the experience. And being retrograde (think backwards), there is often a temptation to return to a previous relationship (stalking Facebook again?) or to try to make a bad one work.

In reality, Venus retrograde is a great time to bury relationships past, let go of the fantasies, and allow for karmic closure.

We also need to be aware of overspending on luxury items, particularly jewelry and clothes, but we can get a good deal on expensive items that are not valued appropriately by the seller (like vintage jewelry in a flea market). It’s also a good time to sell your unwanted luxury items as well (do you really need two Rolexes?).

But there is also another side, a spiritual side, to a Venus retrograde. This is an excellent time to study inspirational literature from the past, and to heal the heart chakra from all past hurts.  Singing kirtan, chanting bhakti mantras, and falling in love with divine expressions of the One will go well doing this period. 

And you can also explore creativity as a form of being in the meditative flow. Interestingly enough, creative projects done just for you go better than a commercial expression, so maybe it’s time you learned to make a mala or design a new altar.

If you are feeling lost during this time, chant “Om Shukraya Namah” to Venus and stay off the dating websites. Love always returns, and Venus is busy proving it!

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