Venus went retrograde in Scorpio on October 3, and it will stay there until October 25. This is an important astrological transit because Venus doesn’t frequently go retrograde. Here are some important things to know about Venus retrograde in Scorpio.
Venus
The planet Venus is known for beauty, art, pleasure, love, relationships, and money. It is the ruler of the signs Taurus and Libra. Since we are currently in Libra season, Venusian themes associated with relationship dynamics are highlighted for the collective. Venus’s immature expressions are vanity, superficiality, promiscuity, overt indulgence, and indecisiveness.
Scorpio
Scorpio is a fixed, introverted, water sign ruled by the planets Mars and Pluto. It is a sign associated with death, rebirth, and transformation. Scorpio is comfortable with darkness and explores the taboo by bringing what’s hidden to the surface. As a result, Venus is in detriment in Scorpio, essentially in exile, and struggles to thrive.
Retrograde
When a planet is retrograde, it appears to move backwards, creating an optical illusion in the sky. Retrogrades can indicate life themes that no longer serve you or unfinished business that requires a deeper look. As a result, it is a time to reflect, review, reconsider, release, reassess, reclaim, restore, renew, or redirect.
When Venus is retrograde in Scorpio, a reassessment of Venusian themes through a Scorpio lens is highlighted. Also, beware that Venus retrograde has a pre-shadow and post-shadow period of at least a month. This means the effects of this retrograde can still be felt after it ends.
The Ugly Is Beautiful
Beauty and aesthetics can be a major theme in terms of physical appearance, home decor, or artistic explorations. Scorpio highlights embracing non-traditional standards of beauty. It could manifest as turning something painful or considered unattractive into a beautiful aesthetic. You may be called to evaluate the ugly parts of yourself that are hidden from the public.
In terms of physical appearance, people may embrace tattoos, body piercings, or cosmetic procedures. You may also feel called to redecorate your living space into something more edgy or gravitate towards gothic aesthetics. However, it is not advised to make drastic aesthetic changes during the retrograde period. Instead, use this time to reflect on your desired aesthetics, then act on those changes after the retrograde. This will prevent impulsive or permanent changes that can’t be undone.
Alternatively, you may engage in more taboo artistic expression through your media consumption. An example is erotica or smut stories that feature explicit sexual content. Metal, punk, and rock music genres may be of interest to you during this transit. You may indulge in TV shows or movies that explore darker themes in an unsettling manner, such as You, Obsession, Hannibal, or The Substance.
Ultimately, Venus retrograde in Scorpio will encourage you to confront the shadow aspects of beauty. Here are some important reflection questions for this transit. Where does your understanding of ugly come from? What steps can you take to embrace the ugly and insecure parts of yourself? How can you transmute pain and trauma into artistic expression?
Toxic Relationships
Venus retrograde in Scorpio will highlight unhealthy relationship dynamics, whether it’s romantic, familial, or friendships. It is important for you to evaluate how power dynamics show up in your relationships.
Scorpio can be very possessive and controlling in relationships. This can manifest as financial, emotional, psychological, physical, or sexual abuse. Reflect on whether you are the dominant or submissive one in your relationships. Explore why you prefer that dynamic and the subconscious wounds that may influence that decision.
Scorpio can also bring hidden secrets to the surface during this transit. This means secret love affairs, stalkers, crushes, sneaky links, situationships, or flings may become public or resurface. Evaluate why you choose to be in a hidden or non-committal relationship. Are you secure in your self-worth, or are you settling for less than you deserve? Does commitment or vulnerability in relationships frighten you, and why?
Struggle love may also be an important theme right now. Deconstruct the idea that love has to endure, be painful, or undergo numerous obstacles to prove its worth. Unpacking generational trauma that normalizes toxic struggle love will help break the cycle. This Venus retrograde may encourage you to end unhealthy relationships that no longer serve you.
You may also have ex-partners, past friends, or family members you cut off reach out to you during this Venus in retrograde transit. Inversely, you may be the one who reaches out to a past connection to reconnect or make amends. Reflect on why past relationships ended and the important lessons you gained. This will help you discern whether to keep the door closed or reopen it.
Hidden Sexual Desires
Since Scorpio is associated with sex, this Venus retrograde may activate your hidden sexual desires. You may feel inclined to reflect on your relationship with sex, lust, and pleasure. Do you consider yourself to be asexual, hyper sexual, celibate, or abstaining from sex, and why? What does a healthy sexual relationship look like to you?
This transit may also bring up repressed sexual trauma that still needs to be processed. Subconscious trauma can indicate the motive behind hidden sexual desires that would be viewed as shameful. Taboo sexual preferences such as bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, and sadism and masochism (BDSM) are great examples. You may consider connecting with a sex therapist to unpack how trauma is informing your sexual decisions.
Alternatively, you may have a repressed sex life, and this Venus retrograde may encourage sexual liberation. Deconstructing how religion, patriarchy, heterosexuality, and purity culture influence your understanding of sex is a great step towards reclaiming your sexuality. You should dig deeper into why unconventional sexual experiences such as polyamory or open relationships may be discomforting.
Most importantly, if you choose to have sex during this Venus retrograde, make sure it is safe and consensual. Scorpio rules the sex organs, so you should beware of sexually transmitted diseases or urinary tract infections during this transit.
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