Permanent adjustments of any kind are generally not advised during retrogrades, as these transits tend to be more focused on looking backward than forward. This transit, however, is a time to avoid making significant cosmetic changes because Venus rules over beauty, advises astrologer Crystal B. If you can, stay away from cosmetic treatments, tattoos, and even significant hair changes.
While Venus retrograde can undoubtedly evoke insecurities about one’s physical appearance, Bowles notes that when Venus becomes direct, it is simple to regret major choices.
Instead, if you’re motivated to change, choose for something delicate and transient to accentuate your inherent attractiveness.
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Settle for someone or something beneath your worth.
“According to Murphy, Capricorns may prefer familiarity and following established customs. Venus is retrograde, so it may motivate you to be true to yourself and discover methods to cherish who you are, sometimes even at the sacrifice of that comfort.
During a Venus retrograde, tough choices about whether second chances are actually attainable may need to be made, says B: “In the area of love, specifically, deeper questions about the nature of a partnership may unexpectedly surface.” “With Capricorn as the dominating sign, it’s crucial to draw a clear boundary and enforce it. Avoid relationships that make you want to “fix the other person” or “make them a project,” as Capricorn energy can motivate you to do, and only invest time and effort in a relationship that seems appropriately returned, she recommends.
The same philosophybeing paid what you’re worthapplies to how you value money “According to Bowles, think about whether you’re getting paid what you deserve for the work you produce and where in your life you might be feeling undervalued. “Once Venus becomes direct, you can use this retrograde to improve your financial foundations and boundaries.
Formalize a commitment in love, if you can help it.
Starting or strengthening a relationship at the very end of Venus’s eight-year cycle is riskier than doing so once Venus stations direct and starts a new journey. According to B, you can go into Venus retrograde with one perspective and emerge with a whole other one. On the other hand, judgments taken in the interim may not be the most indicative of your objectives.
It’s not that you won’t meet someone special or strengthen a relationship while Venus is retrograde; rather, it’s that the universe will be better positioned for commitments or contracts that will last after Venus turns direct once more.
Make any major, splurge-y purchases.
“According to B, the Capricorn portion of this Venus retrograde story will serve as a reminder to keep an eye on our finances. Venus controls over money, value, and worth, which only serves to underline that. Avoid making any large, arbitrary, or unnecessary purchases, as “According to B, purchases made during this time period might not seem as worthwhile later on.
While it can be difficult to limit spending during the holidays, Murphy advises reconsidering your choices for presents. “Over the past 18 months, I think we’ve all come to realize that not everyone in our lives requires more material possessions, she says. ” Maybe this is a chance to switch to more mindful consumption. You might think about buying something used, repurposing something, cooking for a buddy, or doing them a favor in its place.
What should you avoid doing while Venus is retrograde?
Mercury retrogrades are certainly familiar to you by now, as they are frequently discussed in astrology on social media and elsewhere. The similar idea applies to Venus retrograde, except instead of disappointments, crossed wires, and false starts in communication (Mercury’s domain), the challenges occur in Venus-ruled parts of our lives.
Venus is related to romance, ties, attractiveness, the arts, and wealth.
Venus appears to pause every 18 months (what astrologers refer to as “stationing”) before beginning to move backwards (what we call “retrograde). Over the course of around 40 days, the planet retraces its route by 15 to 18 degrees.
During this time, you will likely notice:
- more divorces than normal (both private and public). Long-term relationships that have been in trouble frequently end in a breakup.
- feeling a little “blah” or depressed, especially if Venus is strongly influencing your horoscope. (Notice to Libra or Taurus Ascendants!)
- Making an appearance are previous lovers, old pals, and distant relatives.
Here’s what NOT to do starting now:
- Don’t arrange a wedding or get married. Venus is the planet of love and relationships, and while Venus is moving backward and locked in the past, no marriage will begin well. (I’m addressing you Jennifer Aniston from the time you wed Justin Theroux. I yelled, “NOOOOO!” Not at all. Modify the date! If only you had a partner in astrology. I’m available, just to be clear!)
- Avoid beginning a new relationship. If you’re considering joining eHarmony, wait until Venus is traveling normally before doing so because beginning a new relationship during a Venus retrograde typically also ends in failure. Any beau/belle who shows up around this time should be avoided because they probably aren’t who they seem to be.
- Keep your beauty routine as consistent as possible. Have you ever considered getting red hair? being inked? undergoing cosmetic surgery? Not right now. Keep your present clothes and usual hairstyles. Any significant purchasing or remodeling endeavors will end in disappointment. If you do take risks during Venus retrograde, when the planet turns direct again, you’ll wake up, wipe your eyes, and discover that your hair is now maroon rather than red, that you now have a Chinese tattoo on your neck that says goat milk rather than world peace, and that your “killer new wardrobe” is made up of two sizes too large pieces of beige and grey clothing. You remember the commercial about drunk driving where the car keeps piling up bottles, blurring the road in front of the automobile? The result of a Venus retrograde is that. It moves directly, which is sobering. You are still susceptible to the scheming of Venus retrograde even if you are now aware of it. I can show that with the photograph with my maroon hair and my loose beige outfit fest. Your home is the same way. I’ll say it again: Don’t try to renovate right now!
- Avoid starting new investments. Venus is in charge of managing your money as well. Your senses are distorted while the planets are retrograde, and this emotional state might lead you to make very bad financial decisions. During this time, investments frequently overvalue or inflated, and when Venus turns straight, they lose value. Uncertainty in the world economy during a Venus retrograde period is another well-known phenomenon that can make things worse. (Isn’t it ironic that the legalization of cannabis in Canada occurred during Venus retrograde? What occurred to its market value practically instantly?
- Avoid making large purchases, particularly those for a car, boat, piece of art, furniture, home, or company. You’ll overspend, and your acquisition will turn out to be a mistake. You’ll either end up with a huge hassle or a money hole, or you’ll deeply regret your purchase. Your capacity to evaluate something’s worth or price considerably deteriorates.
When I tell that breaking these guidelines will result in you constantly hitting your head and exclaiming, “What was I thinking?,” believe me.
Here’s how to USE the retrograde period:
- Examine your connections. What’s happening? What could they do better? Venus retrograde can make already bad relationships even worse while even making good ones a little irritable. Try to wait until Venus turns direct before making any snap decisions.
- Examine your finances, assets, and investments. Reevaluate your future goals, but don’t take any action. Do not, I say. Do not.
- Organize a garage sale! You probably haven’t used the products you unload because you purchased them during a Venus retrograde, so be shocked when someone eats them up.
- Do you want to modify the way your home or you look? study the subject. Examine new hairstyle possibilities. Make a “dream board” with design concepts. But if you want to reconsider acting on thoughts, wait till the Venus retrograde is over. It will be a nice exercise to determine how much or if your values have changed to see what genuinely sticks once Venus turns direct.
What activities are prohibited during a retrograde?
Ellen Bowles, an astrologer and co-author of Astrology SOS, claims that “we can have technical or mechanical troubles, and our wires can seem crossed in all our channels of communication.” “Planetary retrogrades are occasions for everyone to stop and think. We are being advised to slow down and double-check the details when Mercury is retrograde.” The urge to meticulously examine every last aspect extends beyond the three to four weeks of the retrograde period itself. The same guidelines for what not to do during Mercury retrograde also apply during this time, which lasts for a week or two before and after the actual retrograde. This period is known as Mercury’s shadow phase or “retroshade.”