On March 1st (or 2nd, depending on where you are located in the world) 2025, Venus stationed Retrograde at 10'50° Aries, sign of its "detriment". The planet of love & beauty will re-enter Pisces, where it is exalted, on March 27th and continue its journey backwards until April 13th, when it will, then, finally, station forward at 24'37° degrees of the fish.
Venus Retrograde: General Information
A retrograde planet is one that appears to be moving in the opposite direction. Astrologically, this means that the energies of this planet are directed backwards or inward.
Retrograde periods are said to be riddled with delays and disruption, but they don't necessarily have to be. These times are generally better fogfr reflection than action. Things from the past will often return to us during these times, including people, memories and even situations. While Mercury Retrograde is the most talked about, all planets go retrograde at some point, save for the Sun and Moon.
Venus Retrograde periods are actually the least frequent. The planet of love and beauty stations retrograde about once every 18 months for periods lasting about 40 days. While Mercury Retrograde periods are said to affect areas of technology, transportation and communication, Venus Retrograde affects areas of love, sexuality, relationships and aesthetics.
Relationships are said to go "haywire" at these times. While of course, the level of effect a transit has on a person will always depend upon their individual natal chart, in general, many people begin to rethink their relationships (or potential relationships!) at this time, or else, they may simply reflect on any patterns present in their current relationship and/or relationships past. It's generally a good time to get in touch with yourself and reflect on what it is you really want/need from a partner, regardless of whether you're partnered or single. It is also common, at this time, to find ourselves thinking about, maybe even fantasizing about, our exes or even old friends. This can be a good time to reflect back on all your past relationships and to heal any negative patterns, or it can be a good time to receive closure from past partners.
On another note, it's possible your sense of beauty or aesthetics might change, in some way, or you could undergo a transformation of values. Perhaps, materialistic beauty may become less important to you or this transit could offer you an opportunity to heal from any insecurities or wounds relating to these areas of your life.
Venus Retrograde in Aries: 2025
Venus jumped headfirst into the fiery flames of Aries on February 4th. Traditionally, Venus is considered to be in detriment in the sign of the ram, making it an uncomfortable place for the gorgeous goddess of love & beauty, even when direct. So, after March 1st, when it went retrograde at 10'50° of the cardinal fire sign, what else could we expect but for this discomfort to turn to pain? When you play with fire, you get burned, right? Of course, discomfort is not always a bad thing; without taking risks (something that Venus in Aries is ALL about) we would never learn or grow. So, perhaps there are some valuable lessons to learn here, however scorching they may be, so we might as well keep lighting up and feeding those flames, right?
Ruling over the signs of Libra and Taurus, Venus is concerned with all things pleasant, whether socially or sensually. Aries, ruled by Mars, planet of war, isn't afraid of conflict. In fact, the ram is drawn to it! The traditionally "feminine" planet of beauty takes on the "masculine" or athletic look of a "tomboy" when in this sign and as far as relationships go, Venus in Aries may prefer the simple thrill of the chase. On a positive note, Venus in Aries attracts others with its excitement, enthusiasm, and sense of adventure. People with this placement often display a certain bravery, confidence, and passion in their love lives, that is sure to flatter and thrill a partner, regardless of however long it lasts. That said, with Venus Retrograde, the negative side of this detriment placement may very well take on more prominence.
This could mean more fights and arguments, maybe even break-ups. This transit may bring with it an increase in anger, aggression, conflict and division, that may very well cause harm to both existing and potential relationships. Because retrograde periods often bring up past issues, it is likely that long-unresolved tension may finally come to the surface and lead to sort-of explosion. Issues that we thought had been "resolved" might come back up, possibly when we least expect it. Basically, such fights and arguments may be based on on-going conflicts and/or deeply rooted in past issues or patterns. Situations may seem to repeat themselves at this time. Even the more "positive" attributes of Venus in Aries, however, may seem to take on a more "negative" tone during this retrograde transit. For example, a feeling of excitement and a risky act may lead to ruin. Acting on passionate impulses and diving headfirst without forethought, no matter how tempting the feeling may be, can ultimately be very dangerous.
The 2025 Venus Retrograde in Aries period is further influenced by its close conjunction to the Moon at 9'05.° This combination of influences is hot mess of emotions. Our interactions (especially - but not limited to - those of the more romantic and/or intimate kind) are likely to be colored by impulsive behavior and rash decisions made purely on instinct. Mood swings may leave us in a state of confusion: the hot desire we just expressed for our lover a second ago can one second later turn into uncontrollable rage and vice versa. The Moon rules the subconscious and our early childhood experiences, so it's possible that deep-seated feelings related to past experiences may be affecting our current emotional states more than we realize. While on one hand, our desire for companionship with another is increased, with such a volatile emotional influence, I would emphasize the advice to use the retrograde period as a time for reflection, if you can. There is a danger here in making major decisions based on the explosive, but temporary, feelings of the moment. Follow your heart, of course, and don't deny what you feel, seize the moment & all; just be smart about it, and know that acting without thought could potentially lead to harsh consequences. When you play with fire, you do get burned.
This particular degree of Aries (9-10°) is home to the fixed star, Algenib, in the Pegasus constellation. This bright blue star marks the tip of the horse's wing and astrologically, it contains a Mercurial and Mars-like nature. On the downside, it is associated with misfortune, dishonor, notoriety and violence. So, intuitively, it seems that Venus here (with the Moon, too) could spell heartbreak or perhaps, a scandalous affair of some sort that ruins one's reputation. According to Vivian E. Robson, Venus on this star makes one generous and proud, with a quick temper, bad morals and/or drinking habits, but it is favorable for financial matters. On a more positive note, this star can indicate a strong will, a determined mind, and a fighting spirit, as well as popularity and a gift for writing, speaking, art and/or literature. With Venus Retrograde here, perhaps there's some beauty to be found in couples fighting for their rights to love each other regardless of whatever "scandal" it brings.
The constellation of Pegasus itself is represented by the symbol of a flying horse and like its star Algenib, like the sign of Aries itself, this constellation is associated with poor judgement and reckless ambition. This association stems from ancient legend.. According to Greek mythology, Pegasus was a winged-horse born from the blood of the snake-headed Medusa, after Perseus cut off her head. Belleprophon, a Greek hero, most famous for slaying the lion-headed snake-bodied chimera of the Iliad, had tamed Pegasus, and after growing big-headed, tried to ride it to Mount Olympus, home of the gods who weren't too happy about his adventure, but the Greek hero fell off and died, or went blind, depending on which version of the myth you subscribe to. This reminds me a little of another figure from Greek myth, Icarus, who flew too close to the sun, causing his wings to melt. Once again, we hear the message: play with fire and you get burnt, stare at the sun for too long and you'll go blind. We are warned against arrogance, especially in relationships, as we are unlikely to get away with our transgressions, as well as we think. On a personal level, this constellation is also associated with vanity, enthusiasm and the ability to rise above challenge. Meanwhile, in mundane astrology, it is concerned with events involving ships, the ocean, and changes in weather, associations that we are even more likely to see with so many planets in Pisces.
Meanwhile, Venus stations retrograde in a sextile to the great benefic, Jupiter, at 12'21° Gemini. This aspect indicates abundance, positivity and good luck, particularly in regard to aesthetic or relational matters. The only problem, however, is that it doesn't fully perfect, at least not just yet, because Venus turns her back on the King of the Gods before it can. Venus's conjunction to the Moon is a blessing here though, because Jupiter and the Moon do, in fact, meet, which puts us in a good, jovial mood conducive to fun, happy times, and if times are hard, at least there's some hope to keep us pushing through.
However, the issue still stands that while Venus sextile Jupiter is a good sign of opportunity, if Venus departs backward before they can actually meet, it looks a bit like an opportunity that fails to come to fruition or at least, not so soon. For some people, this might be the defining moment of the Venus Retrograde season. Think meeting the love of your life only to learn she's moving back to her far-off home country the very next day. Or to return to the issues of emotional impulsivity discussed in the paragraph above: think meeting this person - your person - only to lose your cool and scare them away by freaking out, perhaps self-sabotaging as a way to avoid getting hurt.
The Sun in Pisces (11'40°) square to Jupiter may not be the most helpful for us here either; not only because a square is (generally) a more challenging aspect but because the Sun meets Jupiter before Venus does. This could make our own egos a barrier to the love and harmony that we seek, as there's additional danger that they could inflate. Over-confidence can lead to the over-stepping of boundaries, although being down on yourself is no good either, as its just the other side to the same damn coin. It is best we cultivate self-discipline and avoid excess of all kinds. The positive energy of Jupiter is best used by remaining thankful for what you have, rather than chasing after - or crying about - what you don't.
This isn't to say, though, that 2025's Venus Retrograde in Aries is without any positive points. I mean, let's even take look at the cardinal fire sign's ruler, Mars, at 17'13° Cancer. The crab may be the sign of it's detriment, sure, not the best for taking any kind of direct action, but it's a retrograde period anyway, right? Mars has recently stationed direct again, on February 24th, and more to the point, it is in mutual reception with the Moon in Aries, which is a very positive thing, suggesting alignment between our actions and emotions, our feelings and goals. It's still not the time to act rash, because everything I wrote above still applies, after all, or act passive-aggressive, needy or moody as Mars in Cancer often likes to do. However, it's a good thing that we seem to know what we want, and the trine between Mars and Saturn at 20'48° Pisces makes this a good time for planning, if not direct action, just yet. Having clarity about our long-term love and relationship goals (i.e. marriage, commitment, etc.) is the important first step toward developing a thoughtful plan of action.
Mercury, planet of communication & thought, will join Venus at 8'47° Aries on March 11th. This is a good aspect for communication, especially of the more loving, flirtatious kind. It is possible we may hear from an ex or someone we knew from our past (or even past live?) particularly people who we may have feuded with or where the situation just didn't end well. While we may not necessarily want to bring this person back into our lives, it is an especially good time for receiving closure or clarity about a contentious situation. While Aries can be a divisive sign, Venus here helps to sweeten things up and smoothen out any tension, making communication much easier. It's a good time for any type of difficult conversation, as it could potentially put any end to any drama, both past and present.
Venus in Aries will eventually sextile Pluto too, at 2'54° Aquarius on March 21st with the Sun meeting up with Venus soon after, on March 22nd, lining up with the fixed star, Deneb Kaitos, of the Cetus constellation. This flaring, luminous star located at the tail of the giant whale, or sea monster, is of a Solar and Mars-like nature. Traditionally, it was associated with themes of self-destruction arising from selfishness, so it's possible with Venus Retrograde conjunct the Sun here, that our desires take on a gigantic proportion that is likely to consume us, for better, or most probably, for worse. That said, Venus sextile to Pluto could be a positive influence, intensifying our desires, sure, but also, allowing for deeper intimacy and closeness with other people. We may be able to figure out the core-root of a relationship issue or theme that has been consuming or destroying us, so that we could then, heal from it.
Speaking of sea creatures, it would be foolish not to mention that on the day of Venus's very station retrograde, there was a conjunction in Pisces between the North Node (27'24°), Mercury (27'56°) and Neptune (28'55°). This is especially relevant, knowing that Venus will also re-enter Pisces on March 27th. On one hand, this is may seem like a highly spiritual energy and the North Node's involvement suggests something karmic. This could be a past life connection of some sort, which could lead to an idealized karmic relationship. However, it is important to remember that Mercury is also detriment in Pisces, which can suggest miscommunication. This could be the result of projection, deception and/or a false sense of "empathy" built only on illusion. The things we see and the people we meet, at this time, may not be what they appear, and the relationship conflicts we experience could be nothing more than the product of misunderstanding.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Venus Retrograde is a time to reflect on our approach to love, beauty and all relationships. In the sign of Aries, issues might arise due to being more impulsive than usual, whether its through causing fights with our partners or fighting for a relationship with the wrong person. The aspects echo this, showing heightened tension and passion, likely arising from past events or issues built up over time.
It is important to remember, however, that this is a very general article. How this affects you, personally, and/or to what extent, will depend on your individual natal chart. To learn more about this, you can book a reading with me here. That said, those with significant placements between 0° and 11° of the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius) or 24° and 29° of the mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces) are the most likely to be affected by this transit. As for what to expect during this retrograde when it actually enters back into the sign of Pisces, I will discuss that in part 2.
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