Venus is ready to retrograde, though this energy has already been influencing our awareness for the last few weeks. Venus retrogrades are the rarest of them all because it is retrograde only 7% of the time.
Venus represents our force of love, connection, admiration, fondness, worthiness and the feminine mystique we all carry no matter our gender. Being in the fiery sign of Aries this femininity can roar to goddess potential as our inner warriors awaken. This year after all is all about harnessing and expressing the gift of fire energy in general (For more on that, watch the Astrology of 2017). This retrograde reminds us however, there is a balance that is required. What is missing in our masculine-dominated culture is the divine feminine; the ability to understand, appreciate, empathize, and desire to find common ground. Though masculinity has tipped the scales and run the show for eons, all of that is changing (Enter Pluto in Capricorn). This dynamic tension shows up in our world, our relationships and within ourselves.
Where do we allow the need to produce, achieve, earn and force overshadow BEing?
Where do we allow our heads to invalidate our hearts?
Where do we allow structure, control, and discipline to ignore intention?
Where does the need to win at all costs overshadow authentic truth?
Because Venus reminds us, the path we walk is as important as the destination.
Achievement without heart-centered truth is baseless and empty.
Like all retrogrades, the intent is to stir the mud, to see what is unseen, and to bring light to our shadow. With this retrograde, no doubt karma and unfinished business around love affairs of all kinds will emerge as unresolved relationship patterns rise to the surface. We are asked to define love, not in fantastical romantic diction but in words and deeds etched in truth.
What does it mean to REALLY love
our bodies, our mind, our souls, our partners, or our planet?
What does it really mean to choose love over fear?
What keeps us from real love and connection?
“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” ~Rumi
There is a dip of release and new beginnings here, as Venus dances back to pieces for a spell.
What beliefs, patterns, hurts, and expectations must we let go of to clear the path to love?
Where do we habitually block our own worthiness and abundance?
Because love has many faces. It can be soft, nurturing, devoted, endlessly giving and tirelessly persevering. Love can also be fierce, feisty and fiery as it clears blocks and creates edges of integrity.
Either way real love is a verb. Every day we are faced with a multitude of choices where we have the opportunity to choose love.
Or Not.
And we must start with ourselves.
How do we really love ourselves?
Check out the latest video blog on How to really love yourself.
Venus retrograde dates–Venus retrograde 2017 starts on March 4 at 13° Aries and ends on April 15 at 27° Pisces.