The Full Moon in Aries on September 25 is conjunct Chiron and square Saturn.
The Moon and Chiron are braced together in the first two degrees of Aries, at the beginning of the zodiac.
The Full Moon in Aries conjunct Chiron is vulnerable. It’s like a kid in the 1st day of school. Remember when you did something for the 1st time? Remember the feelings of vulnerability and anticipation? “I am really able to do this?” “What if others think I’m a loser?”.
Aries is the 1st sign of the zodiac and normally he doesn’t care about what others think of him or her. However, right now the Moon in Aries is conjunct Chiron. Chiron feels like an outcast because he IS different. He is an amazing, gifted teacher but he doesn’t know that yet.
Also, the Full Moon in Aries is opposite the Sun and Mercury in Libra, and Libra does care about what others think.
The cherry on the cake, if we could say this, is an almost exact square from Saturn.
Saturn is in Capricorn, where he fully embodies his traits: the tough teacher who obeys the rules and is here to show you that you should, too.
How can you be yourself (Moon in Aries), be mindful of others (Sun in Libra) and also fulfill the expectations of the society (Saturn in Capricorn)?
The answer? Be vulnerable. When you embrace your vulnerability, your awareness increases. So what if you haven’t done it before? When you stay present you pay attention. You become more aware of subtle clues from your environment.
The Full Moon in Aries is not about the usual Aries energy: hey this is me, take me as I am. It’s not about entitlement. It’s about being mindful, being aware, it’s about approaching life with a beginner’s mind.
There is a more subtle message to this Full Moon. That is to stay strong in the face of adversity and follow your north star, no matter what.
Whatever you do, keep going. Do you feel resistance? Break through it.
No matter how the world tries to bring you down, keep going. Don’t go against it, learn from the others, adjust, but keep going.
You can make it.
Yes, you should listen to other people’s feedback. During the Libra season, we naturally pay more attention to the other. But in the end, it’s all about you.
Will you keep going even when it gets tough?
The ruler of the Full Moon, Mars, is in Aquarius, makes positive aspects to Sun and Mercury, now in Libra. The secret is to stay level-headed and not to take things personally. I warn you, it won’t be easy. When Chiron is conjunct the Full Moon, things are anything but easy.
But Chiron, the wounded healer, is also the wisest teacher. Your deepest wound is your greatest gift. Sometimes we do have to go through some pain and suffering so we can arise stronger, wiser and better.
When good things happen to us, we think it’s luck…but we forget about all the hard work that got us there.
You may know that most people who inherit or gain a large sum of money waste it. That’s because they haven’t earned it themselves. The only things that matter in the end are the ones we earn with our sweat and blood.
Life is challenging from time to time and will push out of our comfort zone. That’s how we learn to appreciate it.
Venus Retrograde – Venus’ Descent Into The Underworld
Venus goes retrograde less than any other planet, but when it does, it touches us to the core of our heart.
Venus retrograde is similar to a descent into the underworld: a part of us must die so that a new version of ourselves can emerge.
Did you know that Venus, our sister planet, is the 3rd brightest object in the sky, after the Sun and the Moon? Venus affects us deeply, and when it changes direction, our life changes too.
Venus retrograde is so much more significant because it happens only once every 1,5 years of 584 days. And Venus retrograde is nothing else but the beginning on a new Venus cycle.
Yes, just like Sun has a cycle (365 days, or a year), just like Moon has a cycle (29 days, or a lunar month), so does Venus.
What is spectacular about the Venus cycle is that it has two distinct phases: Venus rising as a morning star, and as an evening star.
For 9 months (btw, did you know that Venus cycle correlates to the human gestation?) Venus rises before the Sun. This is her morning star phase.
She then disappears from the sky for approximately 2 months. After 2 months, she rises again, this time as an evening star. After that Venus disappears again, this time for two weeks. A new Venus cycle starts, with Venus rising again as a morning star.
Complicated? Venus’ movement back and forth, before and after the Sun can seem confusing (it was confusing for our ancestors too, and some cultures believed that Venus was two different stars!).
When Venus transforms from an evening star to a morning star, she actually disappears from the sky. Venus goes retrograde.
The Rebirth Of Venus
Venus retrograde happens exactly at the end of a Venus cycle when Venus shifts from an evening star to a morning star.
Venus changes her clothes from an evening lady to a morning warrior.
When retrograde, Venus has to leave behind her beautiful evening gown and embrace the purity of nature. This is the rebirth of Venus.
Venus retrograde is nothing else but Venus’ rebirth.
The transformation is a complete metamorphosis. No wonder Venus retrograde completely turns our life upside down, too.
I know people who lock themselves in the house, refuse to go out, say no to invitations, don’t make any purchase, and don’t even go to the hairdresser when Venus is retrograde. But unless we understand that Venus retrograde is a necessary process of transformation, we will miss out greatly on opportunities to change ourselves and our lives for the better.
Venus is retrograde for 40 days. Many myths have been connected to the 40 days period: Jesus was tempted in the wilderness for 40 days. Moses and the ancient Hebrews wandered in the wilderness for 40 days. Buddha is said to have fasted and meditated for 40 days before reaching Samadhi.
But perhaps the most significant Venus retrograde myth is the Sumerian myth of Inanna’s descent into the underworld.
Venus And The Myth Of Inanna
Inanna is no one else but the Sumerian counterpart of Venus. Inanna was the Goddess of fertility and abundance and the most important deity of the times.
Her morning and evening phase where indicators of agricultural productivity. Food was the most important thing for our ancestors, food basically meant life. No wonder Inanna (Venus) played such an important role at the time.
The myth of Inanna’ descent into the underworld is nothing else but an allegory of Venus’ retrograde cycle.
The myth starts with Inanna deciding to travel to the underworld to visit her sister Ereshkigal, the Goddess of the Underworld. To the Sumerians, Venus disappearing under the horizon meant Venus went to the Underworld
Inanna passes through 7 gates to Underworld and she has to remove a piece of clothing or jewelry at each gate–> she needs to let go of her old identification of the self
She finally arrives in the Underworld, but her sister decides to kill her –> this is the phase when Venus is conjunct the Sun and a new Venus cycle starts. To start anew, a part of us must die
The goddess of the Underworld who strikes Inanna dead is nothing else but our shadow side, which we need to learn to integrate
Emissaries from the Earth come to rescue Inanna and resurrect her. Inanna is resurrected and comes back to Earth –> this is the phase when Venus appears again in the sky, this time as a morning star.
Inanna’s myth is the story of Venus retrograde when Venus ‘shapeshifts’ from Evening Star to the Morning Star.
To recap
At the beginning of Venus retrograde, Venus appears to change her direction and starts moving backward
Venus becomes invisible in the evening sky as she is approaching the conjunction with the Sun
Mid-retrograde cycle Venus conjuncts the Sun and a new Venus cycle starts
7 days after the conjunction Venus appears again, this time in the morning sky
And 10 days after her appearance, Venus finally starts to move forward again.
The Real Meaning Of Venus Retrograde
Two things are important to keep in mind about Venus retrograde:
Venus changes from an evening star to a morning star–> Venus retrograde is about a metamorphosis from one state of being to another
Venus starts a new cycle –> Venus retrograde will come with a new beginning in your life.
Venus retrograde and a new beginning? This can come as a surprise to you because you probably have a long list of things you should NOT do when Venus (or any other planet) is retrograde.
But now that you know that Venus actually starts a new cycle when retrograde, it makes sense it comes with new opportunities.
That’s not the case in the first half of Venus retrograde. The first 20 days of Venus retrograde are about letting go of the old, and NOT a time for new beginnings. This is when old lovers or unfinished things from the past come into your life – so that you can finally deal with them.
So yes, the first half of Venus retrograde is about letting go of something of value.
However, when we start the second half of Venus retrograde things take a completely different turn.
Born Again
This is a little-known secret but exactly at the middle of the Venus retrograde (this will be October 26, 2018), when Venus is conjunct the Sun and closest to the Earth, this is the best time for a new beginning. This is when you have more free will than ever. In the heart of the Sun, you can manifest whatever your heart desires.
This is also a time of confusion. When Venus is conjunct the Sun, she is also invisible. Things may not be what they seem. But now, more than ever, it is important to listen to your heart. Even when the actual evidence may be missing, it’s important to listen to what your heart is trying to tell you.
This doesn’t mean you should make a big decision yet. It will take a few more days until Venus will appear in the sky again (on November 5th). This is when things will start to make more sense to you.
As you can see, there is so much more to Venus retrograde than ‘don’t start a new relationship now’ or ‘don’t make important decisions’. Venus retrograde will come with changes, that’s for sure, but the purpose of these changes is to make you a better person.
Let the heat of the Sun burn you, just like Venus throws herself into the arms of the Sun, just like Inanna is killed by her alter-ego, Ereshkigal.
If you do it, you will finally shed your old skin, and let go of whatever is no longer serving you.
And then, just like Venus is born again, this time in the morning sky, a new you will emerge.
At the time Venus is conjunct the Sun, she is as close to the Earth as she can be. This is the time to have an honest look at your core values and discover what you hold most dear.
Yes, Venus retrograde can initially come with a loss. You will have to let go of old values, relationships, or your attitude to these relationships. But if you do it, then your life will be completely transformed.
Venus Morning Star, Venus Evening Star
Venus retrograde is that part of the 19 months or 584-day Venus cycle when Venus changes from an evening star to a morning star.
Venus spends half of the cycle as a morning star and the other half of the cycle as an evening star.
These two faces of Venus correspond to the two signs Venus rules: Taurus and Libra.
Taurus has the characteristics of Venus as a morning star, and Libra has the characteristics of Venus as an evening star.
When Venus rises a morning star, before the Sun, she is straightforward, sensual, and keen to meet her needs and desires.
Venus morning star is about self-love – about learning how to love yourself for who you are, straight and simple.
You were born with Venus as a morning star if your Venus is before your Sun in your natal chart. EXAMPLE: If you are a Virgo, but your Venus is in Leo or Cancer, you are a Venus morning star. If you are a Virgo and your Venus is also in Virgo, Venus has to be before the Sun (e.g. Venus is at 10° Virgo, and Sun is at 20° Virgo).
When Venus rises as an evening star, she has learned about self-love. She is now is concerned with the love for another. That’s why she appears in the sky AFTER the Sun has set (which is a symbol for Libra).
Venus is now interested in others. You were born with Venus as an evening star if Venus is after your Sun in your natal chart. EXAMPLE: if you are a Virgo, but your Venus is in Libra or Scorpio, you are a Venus evening star. If you are a Virgo and your Venus is also in Virgo, Venus has to be after the Sun (e.g. Sun is at 10° Virgo, and Venus is at 20° Virgo).
We can see the two faces of Venus everywhere in nature, and in art.
Let’s take two famous painters who depicted Venus in their masterpieces.
Firstly, there is Titian, who captures the raw sensuality, materialism, the physical love of Taurus, or Venus as a morning star. Look at her, she oozes sensuality!
And then there is the famous’ Botticelli “the birth of Venus”. He focuses on the delicacy, beauty, perfection, and serenity that are Libra – or Venus evening star qualities.
Venus is depicted naked. She is naked just like Inanna was left naked when she arrived at the Underworld, got killed and then resurrected. Her nudity represents the essence of love, those values that never die, true love and beauty.
Venus is depicted naked. She is naked just like Inanna was left naked when she arrived in the Underworld, got killed and then resurrected. Her nudity represents the essence of love, those values that never die, true love and true beauty.
Venus: Self-Love And Selfless Love
We need both types of Venus in our life: self-love (Venus morning star) and selfless love (Venus evening star).
Your Venus natal phase tells you which type of love you were born to master in this lifetime.
Are you a Venus morning star? You then need to master self-love. You need to learn how to love yourself. Attention, narcissism is not self-love, it’s, in fact, a lack of self-love masked as self-love. True self-love does not need validation from the outside.
Are you a Venus evening star? You then need to master selfless love, the love for the other. This doesn’t mean you have to become a doormat and do whatever it takes to please the other. It simply means to love ‘the other’ for who they are.
No matter what your natal Venus phase is, Venus retrograde is a reminder that in order to fully embrace Venus, you need to explore both. You cannot love the other if you don’t love yourself. And what is self-love alone, if it cannot be shared with another?
Venus retrograde is a promise that just like Inanna rose from the dead, your heart can rise too, into more and more love, with every Venus retrograde cycle.
If you want examples of Venus retrograde plays out in real life read my blog post Venus Retrograde Stories
Do you feel the earthy, feminine energy? On September 9 literally ALL 10 planets are in feminine signs, and all of them (with the exception of Mars) make positive aspects.
That’s pretty incredible. Don’t believe me?
Uranus (2° Taurus) is trine Saturn (2° Capricorn) and Mercury (6° Virgo), forming a grand earth trine. Grand earth trines are best for making things happen.
The New Moon (Sun and Moon at 17° Virgo) is trine Pluto (18° Capricorn) and sextile Jupiter (18° Scorpio). A New Moon is the best time to initiate new things… and when you have the support of the most ‘potent’ planets, Jupiter and Pluto, impossible is nothing, like in the Adidas commercial.
The New Moon in Virgo will definitely come with stellar opportunities, if you know how to navigate through the muddy waters of the earth and water signs.
We also have two tense aspects: the New Moon in Virgo is opposite Neptune, and Mars is square Venus. However, these aspects stand no chance to spoil this beautiful New Moon. It’s even better we have a little bit of tension, because too many positive aspects can lead to inertia.
The ruler of the New Moon, Mercury, is in Virgo, which is great, because Mercury has both his domicile and exaltation in Virgo. No better place to be for Mercury and multiple opportunities for you!
New Moon Opposite Neptune
The most important aspect the New Moon makes is an opposition to Neptune. Neptune oppositions can have a bad reputation, but this usually happens when we don’t understand how Neptune works, and we try to outsmart it. And we don’t do that with Neptune (or with Pluto) – right?
Also, because we have so many positive aspects right now, I truly believe this time we will see more of the positive manifestations of Neptune.
What can we expect exactly from a New Moon opposite Neptune?
We basically have both the Sun and the Moon on one side of the zodiac (in Virgo), opposite Neptune on the other side of the zodiac (in Pisces).
The Sun and the Moon are the Yin (Moon) and the Yang (Sun) which together represent our identity.
A New Moon opposite Neptune is a time to question your identity, the old definition of who you are and embrace instead the timeless, infinite, everlasting Self you really are.
Because Neptune is an outer planet, this conflict (the opposition) happens outside your consciousness.
That’s why Neptune transits are famous for the confusion they bring. When something happens outside yourself, you cannot measure it, you cannot make sense of it.
But it is in the chaos that a new order emerges.
The old foundations of your identity are now shaken so you can find new possibilities, so you can discover who you can become.
Neptune opposite the Sun and the Moon will challenge your old identity, so a new, higher self can emerge. Neptune dissolves the identification with your ego, so that you can step into a higher expression of yourself.
Venus Square Mars – Guns And Roses
A few hours before the New Moon, we have an intense square aspect between Venus and Mars. Venus and Mars are the eternal lovers that chase each other, need each other, but never quite understand each other.
Venus-Mars transits bring both attraction and repulsion.
Like it or hate it, Venus in aspect to Mars will not leave you indifferent.
Venus and Mars are now in a tense aspect – a square – so they ‘argue’ with each other. If Venus is the ‘receiver’, Mars is the ‘initiator’ – he likes to get his way whether or not others approve of him (while of course, Venus wants everyone to like her).
Venus is the Goddess of beauty and Mars is the God of war. If Venus is the rose, Mars is the gun.
If Venus brings people together, Mars separates them.
Venus square Mars will show us that sometimes life is both guns and roses. And it is in the apparent conflict between the two that creation becomes a possibility.
A good metaphor for Venus in hard aspect to Mars is the Earth spinning around the Sun.
Gravity attracts the Earth towards the Sun, and simultaneously the centrifugal force pulls Earth away from the Sun. These two forces provide the opposing tension that keeps the Earth alive.
Now, in the creative possibilities of the New Moon, is good to keep in mind that if you want to make something happen, you need a bit of friction.
So instead of getting angry if things get too intense, ask yourself what is the creative potential of the situation you got yourself into.
Venus In Scorpio – Embracing Intimacy
After the square to Mars, Venus moves into Scorpio, literally just before the New Moon becomes exact.
Venus will stay for a very long time in Scorpio (until December 3rd) due to the upcoming Venus retrograde.
Because the New Moon and Venus’ ingress into Scorpio happen at the same time, whatever you start at this New Moon will be connected to Venus’ transit in Scorpio.
While the New Moon in Virgo is factual and practical, Venus is Scorpio is mysterious and emotional.
If there is one word that could describe Venus in Scorpio, that is intimacy.
Being intimate with another human being can trigger feelings of vulnerability.
Venus retrograde in Scorpio will analyze every single corner of your mind and soul. Nothing will stay untouched.
She will explore the dark side of your psyche and expose what hides behind your deepest needs and fears. Rage? Jealousy? Nothing will stay unscrutinized.
Your task with the New Moon in Virgo is to become more intentional about your need for intimacy.
You could sit in the dark corners of your bedroom, checking your social media feed, stalking people you admire, wishing you could share a real connection with them, OR you can make a plan about what are you going to do about it.
A good place to start is acknowledging your need for intimacy. If you are a human (and of course you are) you need intimacy, you need real connections with others. That’s how we humans are wired.
The problems arise when we are ashamed of our need for intimacy.
You may think needing intimacy makes you weak. But the opposite is true. Embracing your need for intimacy makes you vulnerable, makes you real. And this is the real strength.
While retrograde, Venus will move from Scorpio back into Libra, the sign of relationships. Venus moving from Scorpio to Libra will show you how to transform your fears of intimacy so you can have better, more mature relationships with others.
Cosmic Opportunities
We talked about the opposition to Neptune, about Venus square Mars and about Venus in Scorpio. All these aspects will influence your experience of the New Moon in Virgo.
But to understand the fundamentals of the New Moon in Virgo, let’s get back to basics.
As you probably know, New Moons are times of new beginnings. Virgo is an earth, mutable sign. So we will have a new beginning related to being practical (earth) and flexible (mutable) in the same time.
In the zodiac, Virgo follows Leo, a fixed sign. Leo is a very intense, creative, but also stagnant energy. Leo resists change, because it wants to preserve the flame of creation. Virgo is the next step – and brings what Leo has created to the next level of perfection. Virgo will make sure that whatever Leo has created ‘makes sense’. The object of creation basically needs to pass the ‘common sense’ test of Virgo.
Virgo has the incredible gift of ‘knowing’ what makes sense and what doesn’t.
If there is one word that could describe Virgo that would be ‘common sense’. Common sense is not taught in schools but it’s perhaps the most useful quality we can have.
Common sense is the ability to quickly makes sense of the world, to make good judgments and behave in a practical and sensible way.
So The New Moon in Virgo is all about common sense, right?
We have a little complication.
Common Sense vs. Cosmic Sense
You also know by now that the New Moon is opposite Neptune in Pisces. Pisces is the polarity of Virgo: both Virgo and Pisces are mutable, flexible signs, but while Virgo is an individual sign, Pisces is a collective sign. While Virgo is an Earth, practical sign, Pisces is a Water, intuitive sign.
Neptune is the planet of ‘no borders, no limits’, of that place where there is no space and time as we know it. The place where all realities collide and where everything is possible.
Neptune represents the higher laws of the universe we don’t fully understand with our limited human thinking. Even if we don’t understand these cosmic laws, it doesn’t mean there’s no order in cosmos.
Yes, there is a higher law, and because we cannot understand it, we must believe in it, we must have faith that it is there. That’s why Neptune is the planet of spirituality and blind faith.
Virgo believes in what she can see, on what makes sense to the rational mind. Virgo is ‘common sense’.
On the other hand, Neptune and Pisces are about the ‘cosmic’ sense – the higher laws of the universe, the intelligent design where everything makes perfect sense.
‘Common sense’ vs. ‘cosmic sense’.
The New Moon in Virgo opposite Neptune is your opportunity to start something new – something that can bridge the gap between the ‘common sense’ of reality as you know it, and the ‘cosmic sense’ of a reality you can only dream of.
You will feel the full effects of the New Moon two days later, on September 11, when the Moon becomes visible, aka rises again in the morning sky.
If you have planets or angles around 17° Virgo, the New Moon will come with an important opportunity for you.
Venus Retrograde 2018 starts on October 5th at 10° Scorpio. Venus retrograde will last for 40 days, until November 15th when Venus goes direct at 25° Libra.
Venus is the Goddess of love and relationships. When retrograde, your relationships are being tested.
You have 40 days to review, revisit, re-evaluate your love life and your relationships.
If Venus Retrograde 2018 is already giving you chills, listen to this: Venus goes retrograde in Scorpio, the most intense sign of the zodiac. Death, sex, finances, and taboos – in general, what people never talk about – are Scorpio’s territory.
Can you imagine what it means to have the Goddess of Love going through Scorpio? The Valley of death, the inferno?
Let’s put it like this: If Romeo and Juliet was an astrological transit, it would have been Venus Retrograde in Scorpio.
An Alchemical Process Of Transformation
But no reason to be afraid: Scorpio’s death is metaphorical. Nothing will literally die during this Venus retrograde, but your life will be transformed to an extent you never thought was possible.
Venus Retrograde in Scorpio will be challenging, but it will bring a rebirth of the heart.
There’s no coincidence that Venus is retrograde exactly for 40 days. Number 40 is a sacred number in pretty much every religion and is usually associated with fulfillment of promises, BUT ONLY after a period of testing, trial and probation.
The purpose of the “trial” or the retrograde period is to guide you back to your heart.
Venus Retrograde will thrust you out of your comfort zone and into the unknown. Yes, it can be challenging. Yes, it can be painful. It can feel like an unending, uphill battle against the world. But it will be totally worth it.
Venus In Scorpio – All Or Nothing
As you know, Venus is a symbol of the feminine. Venus rules love, relationships, money, and personal values – the most important things in life. The key word here is value – Venus is our unit of value exchange.
What about Scorpio? Scorpio rules the big cycles of life and death, our legacy, what we “share” with others and with the universe as a whole, those things we have no say in. You have no say when you are born. You have no choice but to die, sooner or later.
Scorpio rules the deepest corners of our psyche – our instincts, our reflexes, our reptilian brain. Scorpio also rules our secret desires, our taboos, all the things we choose to keep secret from others, and sometimes, even from ourselves.
In Scorpio, Venus is deeply seductive. She craves all-consuming love and deep emotional connections – and she’s not afraid to dig through the dark side of things.
Venus Retrograde in Scorpio will remind you of that one thing you always wanted to have but never got. And it will inspire to try to go and get it. This time, it’s all or nothing.
The first part of the Venus Retrograde 2018 (from October 5th to October 31, when Venus is in Scorpio) is highly intense. You can experience obsessively intense feelings and all-consuming attraction.
Venus In Libra – It’s All About Relationships
But there’s much more to this Venus Retrograde than the obsessive intensity of Venus in Scorpio.
While Venus retrograde starts in Scorpio, Venus Retrograde ends in Libra.
And this is where (in Libra) we will have the final outcome, the resolution of this transit.
Libra is the sign of the ‘other’, the sign of relationships so the outcome of this Venus Retrograde will likely be connected to your relationships.
Libra is the only sign of the zodiac that is not a human or an animal – it’s the only inanimate object of the zodiac. Libra is the sign of reason.
The ultimate goal of this Venus Retrograde 2018 is to show you how to find reason in passion, how to find objectivity in what otherwise is your subjective perspective.
This can take different forms. Maybe you will learn that in order to get what your soul craves so much (Scorpio) you need to first understand what the ‘other’ wants (Libra). If your deepest desires aren’t being met is maybe because you need to revisit the underlying principles of ‘give and take’ and strike to find a better balance.
The Dance Of Venus And Venus Cycles
We cannot talk about Venus Retrograde without talking about the strikingly beautiful dance of Venus.
The Earth-Venus dance for 8 years creates this beautiful 5-petal flower with the Sun at the center.
As you can see, the tight inward loops represent a Venus retrograde.
Every 8 years (and 5 Venus cycles) Venus comes back to the same area of sky, activating the same area of your chart. In any given century, there are only 5 points in the sky where Venus goes retrograde.
Venus doesn’t go retrograde in Libra, Sagittarius or Pisces for example. Venus only starts her retrograde in one of the following signs: Scorpio, Leo, Gemini, Aries, and Capricorn.
Why Is This Venus Retrograde So Important?
From all Venus retrogrades, Venus in Scorpio retrogrades are the most profound and bring the greatest transformations.
Many of my clients mentioned the Venus retrograde in Scorpio as being the most life-altering Venus retrograde of their lives.
For years I wondered why is that. What makes that portion of the sky (the first decan of Scorpio and the last decan of Libra) so special?
And then it finally struck me.
What makes Venus Scorpio retrogrades so special is that almost everyone alive has a transpersonal planet (Uranus, Neptune, Pluto) on Venus’ retrograde path (25° Libra to 10° Scorpio).
And transpersonal planets are the most mysterious, life-changing energies in the universe. When a personal planet like Venus travels over a transpersonal planet, it comes with once-in-a-lifetime, fated events.
No wonder everyone feels Venus retrogrades in Scorpio much more intensely than any other Venus retrograde.
Let’s have a look how Venus Retrograde 2018 will affect you depending on which transpersonal planet she makes a conjunction to…
Venus Retrograde Conjunct Natal Neptune – The Longing Of The Heart
If you are born between 1953 – 1962, your Neptune is on Venus’ retrograde path. This means Venus Retrograde 2018 will conjunct your natal Neptune.
Neptune is the planet of higher love and idealism, but also the planet of fog and confusion.
Neptune blurs the lines between reality and imagination and paints beautiful pictures that may or may not be real.
Venus with Neptune can make you want to drown in love. Your desire to experience an out-of-this-world connection is stronger than ever.
Venus Retrograde 2018 conjunct natal Neptune can make an ordinary connection with another human being feel fated and can confuse the most rational person on Earth. If you are born between 1953-1962 you will have a longing to experience a soulmate connection.
If you are born between 1973 – 1977, your Uranus is on Venus’ retrograde path. This means Venus Retrograde will conjunct your natal Uranus.
For you, Venus Retrograde 2018 will be an unsettling transit, for good and for bad. Something will change, suddenly and irremediably.
Venus conjunct Uranus makes me think of the machine used to bring patients with cardiovascular arrest, back to life.
With Venus and Uranus, it’s of course, a metaphorical return to life.
When you don’t live from your heart, you are a walking dead. You don’t even know who you are and what you want any longer.
And in this place of apathy, all you need is a trigger, an impulse to connect you with your heart again.
If you’ve been feeling apathetic, Venus Retrograde 2018 conjunct Uranus will change that. Expect major changes of heart, even if nothing seems to be happening in your life right now. This transit may turn your life upside down, but by the end of it you’ll be free and live more authentically.
Venus Retrograde Conjunct Natal Pluto – The Essence Of Love
If you are born between 1981 -1988 your Pluto is on Venus’ retrograde path. This means Venus Retrograde 2018 will conjunct your natal Pluto.
Pluto’s intensity can be sometimes too much to handle for lovey-dovey Venus. Pluto will get to the core of the matter, and will ‘distill’ the characteristics of Venus. A metaphor for Venus-Pluto is perfume.
Perfume is made by extracting oils from flowers by pressing and steaming them. Perfume oils are then aged for several months or even years. It’s a laborious process. But then the result is the very essence of that flower.
The flower may have died years ago, but its essence remained. The essence – the perfume – is in the same time ‘less’ (thousands of flowers have to die to make a perfume), and in the same time, ‘more’ (the fragrance is much more intense than of a thousand flowers together and can last forever).
Venus with Pluto will make you want to experience that type of love that never dies.
During this transit, you will feel that there is no sacrifice not worth taking so that you can experience such love.
If you were born outside these date ranges, you don’t have a transpersonal planet (Uranus, Neptune, Pluto) on the Venus retrograde path. However, you may have other planets (Moon, Sun, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn), an angle (ascendant, descendant, IC, MC) or a lunar node in Libra or Scorpio. To find out, generate your natal chart and check whether you have any planet between 25° Libra and 10° Scorpio.
Is Venus Retrograde 2018 A Bad transit?
Venus Retrograde 2018 can certainly feel like a difficult transit. And this is because Venus Retrograde can bring unfinished business back into your life: past lovers, (including past life lovers), old friends, or repeating patterns in your relationships.
And we humans are wired to avoid having to deal with unfinished stuff. Otherwise, we would have dealt with the ‘stuff’ in the first place.
Unfinished stuff is heavy, energetically consuming and requires hard work and sacrifice. But if you don’t solve it, then it lingers somewhere in the background, and it ends up consuming even more energy and effort in the long run.
And this is where Venus Retrograde chimes in. She will challenge you to change what you are most comfortable with.
Let’s say you’re used to be the “giver” in relationships. Venus Retrograde will make you see the reality for what it is. Maybe people take advantage of you. No more hiding and fooling yourself that these people love you for who you are.
Or maybe you are the one taking advantage of others. Venus Retrograde will expose any unfair advantage or manipulation attempt in order to maintain power.
If the passion in your relationship has faded, you will want to do something about it: either by exploring new paths of intimacy with your partner, or by falling in love with someone else. This doesn’t mean you will start an affair (although this is certainly a possibility when Venus is retrograde) but you will most likely project this desire into something, or onto someone.
Because of all these examples, you may be tempted to believe that Venus in retrograde is a bad transit. Yes, Venus Retrograde will likely bring heartache. Yes, it will challenge you to the core of your being.
But Venus Retrograde 2018 is not a bad transit.
The reason Venus Retrograde comes with difficult choices is to allow a new you to emerge. A better you.
You can only become this better version of yourself when you open your heart, do an honest introspection and explore your deepest needs and motivations.
This is what Venus Retrograde can help you with.
“Be thankful for every heartbreak, for they were planned. They come to your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then leave. Their purpose is to shake you up, tear apart your ego a little bit, show you your obstacles and addictions, break your heart open so new light can get in, make you so desperate and out of control that you have to transform your life. And you do.”
Venus Retrograde 2018 Opposite Uranus – A Once In A Lifetime Transit
The most important transit Venus makes while retrograde is an opposition to Uranus.
This is particularly important because it will last unusually long – until the beginning of December!
What normally is a five-day transit will last for 3 months. Uranus is disruptive even in small doses. This means this retrograde will be unusually disruptive.
When I say disruptive, I don’t mean it in a negative way. Disrupting your ‘business as usual’ can be a good thing, because it will ultimately bring you the freedom and liberation you desperately needed, even if you didn’t know you needed it.
Uranus will ask you to become honest with yourself and look into your heart in order to make the changes you need to make.
This transit is usually associated with “love at first sight” but what is really behind love at first sight, is the desire to acknowledge the truth of who we are and what we really want.
Who says love and freedom cannot coexist? The purpose of this transit is to teach you how you can have both.
Venus Retrograde 2018 Dates
In mythology, Venus (or Innana) is described as descending into the underworld as an Evening Star during the first part of the retrograde, experiencing a rebirth while she’s invisible (conjunct the Sun), and then emerging anew as a Morning Star.
Let’s have a look at the most important aspects Venus makes while in retrograde:
PHASE I – Venus dims as an evening star
September 3rd – Venus enters shadow at 25° Libra
September 8th – Venus (29° Libra) is square Mars (29° Capricorn)
September 9th – Venus enters Scorpio
September 12th – Venus (2° Scorpio) opposite Uranus (2° Taurus)
September 16th – Venus square the Nodes of the Moon
October 5th – Venus goes retrograde at 10° Scorpio
October 10th – Venus (10° Scorpio) square Mars (10° Aquarius)
October 15th – Venus is conjunct Mercury at 8° Scorpio
PHASE II – Venus invisible: Venus goes into the underworld
October 18th – Venus becomes invisible, falling below the horizon and into the underworld
October 26th – Venus conjunct Sun. A new 584-day Venus cycle begins. The conjunction marks the transition of Venus from an evening star to a morning star
October 31st – Venus (0° Scorpio) is opposite Uranus (0° Taurus)
October 31st – Venus goes back into Libra
PHASE III – Venus rises as a morning star
November 5th – Venus becomes visible again, this time as a morning star
November 9th – Venus (26° Libra) is trine Mars (26° Aquarius)
November 15th – Venus goes direct at 25° Libra
November 30th – Venus (29° Libra) opposite Uranus (29° Aries)
December 2nd – Venus re-enters Scorpio
December 18 – Venus gets out of shadow at 10° Scorpio
Take Action
Even if every Venus retrograde is different, Venus retrograde cycles follow a clear pattern.
Unlike other retrogrades, like Mercury retrogrades or Mars retrogrades, Venus retrogrades are very cyclical. Remember the beautiful flower pattern?
Venus cycles repeat in fact 5 times over a period of 8 years. Each Venus retrograde is a repetition of the Venus Retrograde that happened 8 years ago, 16 years ago and so on.
Every 8 years Venus goes back to the same area of your chart.
Last time we had this was October 2010. Venus retrograde activated the same area of your chart. What happened back then in your life? Check your diary, look at your social media feed, or search your mailbox to find out what was going on in your life.
Secondly, if in August we had 6 planets retrograde, in September we are left with 2! Things are really getting better.
In September we also have a record number of positive aspects, including a grand earth trine on September 7.
Jupiter will also form a sextile to Pluto. Jupiter and Pluto are the most powerful planets of the zodiac, and are notoriously associated with wealth creation. Jupiter is in the sign of Pluto (Scorpio) so the two powerhouses really dig each other. September is indeed a good time for finances. But you need to be brave and do something different in your approach to finances. Remember, abundance is firstly a mindset, THEN a lifestyle. Now is your chance to do something about your financial future.
If you have personal planets and angles between 1-3° or between 14-19° in earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) September 2018 will be glorious!
But let’s have a look at the major astrological events of the month:
September 6th, 2018
On September 6th, 2018 Saturn goes direct. The planet of discipline and tough love goes direct! With 6 planets retrograde in August (Saturn included) you probably had more than your share of tough love.
When retrograde, Saturn takes his time to make sure you learn his lessons. Everything happens very, veeery, veeeeery slllllowly. But when you’re done with Saturn’s lessons, you are DONE for good and those things won’t bother you again in the future.
September 6th comes with another good news: Mercury enters Virgo, the sign of its rulership. Mercury feels great in Virgo. Mercury is a very objective and flexible planet, and Virgo is all about analysis and paying attention to details. Virgo is also a mutable sign meaning it deals very well with change. Most importantly, Mercury rules the mind.
Mercury spent a lot of time in Leo, including 3 weeks of retrograde motion. If you’ve been stressed and oversensitive lately (Mercury in Leo is a bit dramatic, especially when retrograde), that will change now.
Your mind will just ‘know’ how to focus on what is relevant. You will find it easier to organize your thoughts and articulate them clearly. That’s also because Mercury travels right now with the speed of light: Mercury will spend only 16 days in Virgo!
September 6 until September 22 is the best time to work with sticky notes, make to-do lists, draw a mind map, make a timeline, and put together an action plan for the rest of the year. This is also a good time to start a mindfulness practice – Mercury is very perceptive in Virgo.
September 7th, 2018
On September 7th, 2018 Sun is opposite Neptune in Pisces. This is the “Alice in Wonderland” transit.
Sun is the Self, the EGO, what you see when you look in the mirror. Now imagine that mirror gets blurred out of the sudden. That’s Neptune opposite the Sun.
If Sun is a picture of you, Neptune is the Instagram filter. The Instagram filter is not ‘good’ or ‘bad’ per say. You can use the filter to escape yourself, or you can use it as a source of inspiration: to please your aesthetic sense, to play with different versions of you, to tap into different personas, into different parts of you that want to come out but don’t know how otherwise.
Yes, Neptune opposite Sun can distort your sense of the self, of who you are, but this is because Neptune wants to find a higher order into your every day (oh-I’m-so-used-to) reality. And to find this higher order you firstly need to tap into chaos. Don’t be afraid, stay there. Find your inspiration. Soon, a new order will emerge, and a new You will emerge.
September 8th, 2018
On September 8th, 2018 Venus in Libra is square Mars in Aquarius.
This is the first Venus-Mars square, we have one more on October 11 when Venus is already retrograde.
Venus and Mars are the eternal lovers. Venus is the feminine principle and Mars the masculine principle. Women are from Venus, men are from Mars anyone? Venus square Mars will make you aware of the differences between these two polarities. Venus square Mars can bring conflict, but also intense desires and sexual attraction.
What is interesting is that in between these two squares, we have a very long Venus opposite Uranus transit.
All these aspects announce huge changes in relationships. This autumn is BIG for relationships. More than ever before, you will feel ready to reclaim your freedom and have more authentic, genuine relationships.
September 9th, 2018
On September 9th, 2018 we have a New Moon at 17°Virgo. Virgo is the organizer of the zodiac. Virgo is also the sign of productivity. If you give something to a Virgo they will make it better. Which area of your life needs some improvement?
The New Moon in Virgo is a great time to take action to make your life a little better. The New Moon is opposite Neptune, so let your imagination guide you. Look in which house you have Virgo to see which area of your life is up for improvement.
Also on September 9th Venus enters Scorpio. This is a very important transit because Venus will go retrograde in Scorpio one month later. Venus will basically start its retrograde motion in Scorpio, move back into Libra, go direct in Libra, and then finally move back into Scorpio.
When a planet begins its retrograde in one sign and goes direct in the sign before, this is when it brings the greatest transformations. You probably already know that Venus is all about love and relationships. Scorpio is a deep, emotional sign, while Libra is a rational, intellectual sign.
Water signs is where we believe we act on intuition but are in fact on autopilot. Being on autopilot is not a bad thing! If we wouldn’t have the ability to internalize learning, we would never evolve.
But in order to change the way we feel about something we need to move from water (Scorpio) to air (Libra). Basically, we need to rewire our thoughts and mental models.
Venus moving from Scorpio to Libra will show you how to re-wire your fears about love and intimacy so you can have better, more mature relationships with others. This is a time to face your deepest fears about love and intimacy.
September 10th, 2018
On September 10th, 2018 another planet changes signs: Mars. Mars re-enters Aquarius. Mars firstly entered Aquarius on May 17th (can you believe it?) but because Mars was retrograde this summer we have such a long Mars in Aquarius transit.
This Mars retrograde has been particularly difficult – I’ve received tons of messages and complaints about it! but Mars back in Aquarius will come with the final resolution. You will finally understand what this Mars retrograde was all about and what it meant for your evolutionary journey.
September 12th, 2018
On September 12th, 2018 Venus (now at 2° Scorpio) is opposite Uranus (now at 2° Taurus). This is a VERY important transit because it will last pretty much forever – until the beginning of December!
We will, of course, have a 2nd and a 3rd Venus Uranus opposition (because of Venus and Uranus retrograde), but the 2nd and 3rd oppositions will take place when Venus will be back in Libra and Uranus back in Aries.
I looked at all transits Uranus makes when he’s back in Aries and this one is the most important. It’s like Uranus moved back into Aries ON purpose for this transit… to bring freedom and liberation in your relationships.
Venus opposite Uranus will COMPLETELY change your views on love and relationships and I cannot stress that enough. Usually, Venus opposite Uranus lasts for approximately 5 days but this time it lasts for almost 3 months!
There is so much more to this transit, and I will write more about it closer to the date. Until then, mark your calendar. See what happens around September 12th, what themes emerge, what messages you receive, and I can promise you will have a much easier life when we have the 2nd and the 3rd opposition later in October-November. Astrology is such a useful tool for self-awareness. If you understand what happens, why, and what’s the bigger picture, your life becomes so much more meaningful.
September 13th, 2018
September 2018 is the month of oppositions! So far in September, we had Sun opposite Neptune, Venus opposite Uranus. On September 13th, 2018 Mercury is opposite Neptune. You may think your thoughts (Mercury) belong to you … but is it really so?
Our minds are highly perceptive and highly influential. Our thoughts are not fully ours. They are a combination of the messages we receive (and we have very little control over them) and our interpretation of these messages (here we have more control, but not 100%).
The message of Mercury opposite Neptune? Be aware of what you take in. Reality is created by the sense and meaning of the worlds describing it.
September 18th, 2018
On September 18th, 2018 we have the last Mars Uranus square. Phew! Just as a quick reminder: we had the first one on May 16th and the 2nd on August 1st. Mars is the planet of action and Uranus is the planet of freedom.
Action + freedom? Shake, after shake, after shake. And this is been going on for months now! At least by now, you know what you needed to break free from.
September 22nd, 2018
On September 22nd, 2018 Mercury enters Libra. Mercury is the planet of the mind, of the intellect. After you put order in your thoughts while Mercury was in Virgo, now is decision time. Libra has a reputation for being indecisive. In fact, in Libra is where the best decisions are made.
Libra is an action-oriented, cardinal sign after all. Libra is in the middle of the zodiac so it has the full picture and understands both sides of the scale – therefore it does what is fair, and what is right. No wonder Libra is the sign of justice!
The only time Libra doesn’t make a decision is when a decision should not be made yet, and more research and analysis is necessary.
In the coming weeks, you can rest assured that you will make better decisions and you will work better with other people.
September 23rd, 2018
On September 23rd, 2018 Sun enters Libra. The day is equal to the night, no matter where you live on Earth. We are all equal! No differences, no prejudices. When we understand that, life naturally becomes all peace and harmony. And Libra IS the sign of peace and harmony.
In this turbulent times when everything from our everyday communication to Social media is filled with hate speech its worth remembering that beyond any differences, we all share something in common: our humanity.
What an irony, that Libra is the only inanimate sign of the zodiac! Libra is a reminder that true reason can be found where there is no trace of flesh or nature. Sun’s yearly transit into Libra is a reminder – and an invitation – to be more human, more reasonable, to seek peace and common ground.
September 25th, 2018
On September 25th, 2018 we have a Full Moon in Aries. The Full Moon is square Saturn. The Sun and the Moon are both in cardinal signs and are squared by Saturn, who is also in a cardinal sign (Capricorn). The message?
Whatever you do, keep going. Don’t get stuck. Do you feel a resistance? Break through it, because everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.
September 30th, 2018
Wake me up when September ends. If you’ve been asleep throughout September, then on September 30th you will definitely wake up, because Pluto, the planet of deep transformation and truth goes direct. And when Pluto wakes up from hibernation, you cannot keep your eyes closed any longer, either. And this is a good thing because October will bring even deeper, soul-shaking transformation.
On August 26th, 2018 we have a Full Moon at 3° Pisces.
The Full Moon in Pisces is probably the best Full Moon of the year. Why?
The Full Moon only makes positive aspects – sextiles and trines – with other planets. In fact, the Full Moon forms a special pattern called Kite. Kites are positive, dynamic configurations which bring opportunities.
The Full Moon is conjunct the fortunate fixed star Fomalhaut. Fomalhaut, also called the Watcher of the South, is one of the 4 royal stars (the others are Regulus, Aldebaran, and Antares) and is associated with riches and honors.
Both rules of the Full Moon (Jupiter and Neptune) form a trine. Neptune is the modern ruler of Pisces and Jupiter is the traditional ruler of Pisces. When both rules of a sign make a favorable aspect, they ‘agree’. This is a double YES!
Jupiter, the planet of faith, is now in Scorpio, the planet of trust. Neptune, the planet of dreams, is now in Pisces, the sign of endless possibilities. The message? Keep the faith and dream big! You will see this theme repeating over and over during this Full Moon.
All You Need Is Trust And A Little Bit Of Pixie Dust
After a difficult eclipse season, the Full Moon in Pisces comes with a happy ending. You know those movies where the hero is continuously tested to the point of breakdown, and still, somehow he or she makes in in the end? The good finally prevails. This is how the Full Moon in Pisces will feel like.
And the good news doesn’t end here. Immediately after the Full Moon, Mars goes direct. Life truly comes back to normal! … or at least for a while. (heads up: Venus goes retrograde in October).
What I really like about this Full Moon is that is on the apex of a kite aspect pattern.
Imagine a kite floating in the sky, pointing to the Moon. The kite is maneuvred from the earth, yet it reaches toward the sky. When you can’t find what you are looking for here on earth, look up.
The kite will bring you an opportunity you were not even aware of.
The Full Moon And The Virgo Season
We are now in the middle of the Virgo season. Virgo is a time to get organized and be realistic. If your harvest is not what you expected, you can still make adjustments.
Most people give up just before they’re about to make it. Virgos instead (Capricorns too) stick to the plan. When everyone else moves to the next best thing with the hope this time they will make a better choice, Virgos actually finish what they have started.
Persistence always wins. Before giving up, think about how you can improve what you’re already doing. How can you become more productive? Productivity doesn’t sound very sexy, but the results it brings are very sexy indeed. Stick to what have you been doing in the first 6 months of the year, at least for one more month. You will thank yourself.
How does the Full Moon in Pisces fit into the picture? A Full Moon is a time of culmination, a time to reap what you’ve sown. A Full Moon always takes place in the opposite sign of the Sun. To get results, you need to take the opposite perspective.
Virgo vs. Pisces
We are now in the Virgo season, but the breakthrough will come if you look in the opposite sign of Pisces.
Both Virgo and Pisces are mutable signs. Virgo ends our individual journey around the zodiac (Aries to Virgo). Pisces ends our collective journey around the zodiac (Libra to Pisces).
Virgo and Pisces are associated with endings, but they bring much more than just that. Virgo and Pisces bring choices and possibilities. And depending on what you choose, you have a final outcome. An outcome, not an ending.
But the way Virgo and Pisces approach this is very different.
If Virgo is down to earth, Pisces floats in the sky.
If Virgo is very practical – and choosy – about what opportunities to pursue, Pisces is imaginative and embraces pretty much everything. There’s nothing unworthy to Pisces – Pisces can find a little bit of themselves in everyone, and everything.
Surrender To A Miracle
In astrology, Pisces is the sign of miracles. In the endless sea of possibilities, miracles are possible, as long as you believe in them.
Pisces is all about surrender. Surrender has somewhat a negative connotation. It’s like you can only surrender to what is negative, undesirable, and beyond your control.
But what you find when you surrender to the grace of God, Universe, or however you want to call it, is nothing like that. Beyond fear, there is only love.
What about surrendering to a miracle? Do you believe a miracle could even happen to you? You can’t know for sure, but you can embrace the possibility. Let yourself float, just like a kite in the sky.
“Who’s to say where the wind will take you/ Who’s to say what it is will break you/ I don’t know which way the wind will blow”
The message of the Full Moon?
Find the balance between persistence and surrender. Stick to your path. Give it one last push. Surrender to the endless possibilities that lay beyond what you can even imagine. And believe that a miracle, somewhere, is waiting for you.
Everyone will benefit from this Full Moon. If you are a Pisces, or if you have Pisces rising, you will benefit even more so. If you have planets around 3° in feminine signs (Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn, Pisces), the Universe will offer you a one of a kind opportunity. Make sure you don’t miss it!
On August 17th, 2018 Venus is at the greatest elongation from the Sun. If you look in the evening sky, Venus will rise as far away from the Sun as she can get.
This means Venus starts slowing down as compared to the Sun.
Venus is still moving direct, but because she now moves at a slower speed than the Sun, the distance between her and the Sun starts to decrease.
![WARNING: Venus goes retrograde in October]!
On August 17th, 2018 Venus is as far east of the Sun as she can go. There’s no more place to go. She has reached her limits. At least the evening sky limits. This is her greatest elongation.
She will end her night journey on October 27, 2018, when Venus (by then retrograde) will move on the other side of the sky, only to re-emerge, a few days later, as a morning star.
But let’s go back to the greatest elongation. Venus at the greatest elongation is as far as she can go. This phase is like the Full Moon phase of Venus and will bring a culmination of her journey as a night star.
Topics related to Venus will come to a conclusion, to a culmination.
Something you started early this year can come to fruition, especially if it’s related to ‘Venus’: women and feminine archetypes, beauty, love, money and things you value or feel strongly about.
But just after Venus reaches her greatest elongation, she starts slowing down. She doesn’t want to travel any further.
She got what she wanted – all by herself. Now what?
The irony of this position is that Venus is now as free as she can possibly be. She has never been more independent, more on her own. She can do whatever she wants, away from the binding rules of the Sun.
The Sun is the Self. Your Sun sign is so important for a reason. This is your mission in this lifetime, this is the divine script your soul wrote. The Sun is the reason you are here.
Venus And The Sun – Never Tear Us Apart
But living only from the Sun is pretty boring. That’s why we have all these wonderful planets to go along with, Venus included.
Each planet represents a particular archetype of your psyche. Each planet will show you how to grow in a particular area of your life. Mercury is the mind, Venus is love, Mars is action and so on.
Venus and Mercury have the most important relationship with the Sun, because both Mercury and Venus travel along with the Sun. Mercury never travels more than one sign away from the Sun, and Venus never travels more than two signs away.
So Mercury, Venus and the Sun have a special relationship. Sometimes, Mercury and Venus travel a little faster than the Sun. This is when they are more independent and explore the world on their terms.
And sometimes they travel slower than the Sun. Whenever they do that, they get closer to the Sun. They align what they have learned in their solo journeys, with the individual purpose your soul has chosen to manifest in this lifetime (the Sun).
And this is exactly what Venus will do, now that she starts to slow down and catch up with the Sun.
She has everything. Yet she doesn’t want it anymore. She feels alienated with all her riches.
Venus will move closer to the Sun (to the Self) to integrate what she has learned in her 9-month journey as an evening star.
As Venus begins to move slower than the Sun, your inner Sun takes over.
You will experience this role reversal in your inner sky as well. You can have an internal shift, an ‘aha’ moment. “This is why I wanted to do that”. “This is what that thing really means”. “It’s not what I expected but it makes sense now”. “And this is how that thing fits into my story”.
“La donna e mobile / Qual piuma al vento”
This is the famous line from Verdi’s Rigoletto which translates to:
“The Woman is fickle / Like a feather in the wind”
In astrology, Venus is associated with women, or with the feminine, ‘Yin’ part of the self.
There are endless poems and songs about women’s apparent frivolity and indecisiveness. If you are not that familiar with how Venus ‘works’ – yes, women can seem like that. Maybe you feel like that too sometimes, and you don’t like it.
A Subtle Change Of Heart
But what’s really going on? What happens is not really a change of heart. Women are not fickle – and that’s because Venus always knows what she wants!
What happens is that she takes different approaches to get what she wants. When she moves away from the Sun, she wants to explore, when she moves toward the Sun, she wants to re-align with the Self. Explore and adjust.
You can like the dress in the window, but this doesn’t mean it fits YOU and your character. But at least now you know what it’s ‘out there’. And you got inspired.
Venus rules what we like and what we don’t like. When Venus is direct and has speed, what we like and what we don’t are more important than who we are. We are in the exploration phase.
When Venus is slower than the Sun, the expression of the Self becomes more important. The Self starts to integrate what Venus has learned and use it to fulfill its individual mission. This is also when we become more disciplined, more focused and more aligned with our mission.
EXAMPLE: lately you felt drawn to women who always seem to look good on camera. Their hair always looks amazing, and their clothes always fit. You start following them on Social Media. This is Venus’ exploratory phase. You notice the world around you and get inspired.
Around August 17, when Venus slows down, you have an ‘aha’ moment. The grass always seems greener on the other side but is it really?
What did that appeal to women-who-look-good-on-camera means to you and to your journey? Maybe you liked they always seem to have the time to take care of themselves. And maybe this is exactly what you need too – more ‘me’ time. Why do you need it? And how can you get it?
Think about it.
This is a subtle, but powerful shift that can give a new meaning to your inner struggle.
On August 17 (plus minus two days) you can experience too an internal shift. What subtle change of heart are you experiencing? And what is really going on?
The Solar Eclipse in Leo on August 11 is the last eclipse of the season. The eclipse is visible from Canada, North Europe, and North East Asia. During the eclipse, the disk of the Moon will partially cover the disk of the Sun.
The eclipse takes place at 18° Leo and is particularly important because is the last Solar Eclipse in Leo, concluding a two-year eclipse cycle in Leo/Aquarius. This last eclipse will culminate with answers to what was stirred in your life in the past two years.
What happened over the past two years? What changes have occurred in your life?
The eclipse is linked to the solar eclipse on July 31, 2000, and to the solar eclipse on July 20, 1982.
What happened in your life back then? Can you find any common themes?
There is one more eclipse at 0° Leo on January 21, 2019, but that one will be a lunar eclipse and by then the Nodes of the Moon will be already in Cancer and Capricorn.
So this eclipse on August 11 is really your last chance to fulfill your Leo mission. When I say the last chance I mean for the next 18 years. In 2036 we will have similar eclipses… but I bet you don’t want to wait until then to do what you know you need to do.
Six Planets Retrograde
And there is one more reason why this eclipse is significant. At the time of the eclipse, there is a record of 6 planets retrograde.
It’s like the whole sky slows down to make sure you pay attention. You may have noticed in the last couple of weeks repeated messages keep coming your way. The sky is calling you out!
With so much retrograde energy, expect to encounter some slowness and resistance. But if you stay there, if you break through the resistance, you’ll be able to see – maybe for the first time – a tiny speck of light.
Just like the Moon casts a shadow over the Sun, that initial discomfort will show you where your light shines from.
Last Leo Eclipse – Last Chance to Embrace Your Heart’s Longing
The Sun is eclipsed by the Moon, signifying that your inner word (the Moon) takes over the outer world. An eclipse is a recalibration. You can only live in purpose when both your internal world (the Moon) and the external world (the Sun) get in sync. And that’s what eclipses are for!
The Solar Eclipse in Leo is a North Node eclipse. The North Node of the Moon is connected to our life’s purpose.
There is a Leo-related purpose in your life you need to fulfill right now.
And no matter what your sign is, you have Leo somewhere in your natal chart. This is where you need to pay attention to.
Leo, ruled by the Sun itself is the core of who you are. Leo rules your heart, your center, what makes you feel alive.
Because all planets revolve around the Sun, and because Sun rules Leo, Leos are unjustly called selfish or attention seekers.
But isn’t it the Sun that gives us energy and makes possible life as we know it? Sun is the most generous ‘planet’ in our solar system. The Sun is the ‘engine’ of our solar system, without it, we wouldn’t be here.
Just like the Sun is – literally – the center of our solar system, in the same way, Leo rules our heart, the center of the Self. And it’s our heart that spurs with love, generosity, and creativity.
Leo rules creativity and talents in your natal chart – what fuels you and brings you joy, your mojo. Leo is what we generously share with the world, simply because what we share is who we are, and the world needs that special talent that only we have.
Find Your Voice – And Sing It Out
Sharing your talents and gifts with the world is nothing else but an act of love. Problems start to arise only when you care too much about how your talents and gifts are being received. When you care about what the world thinks of you, you disconnect from that engine, from that speck of light in the middle of your chest. At that moment you lose your authenticity.
When you express your true self with candor, without restaining yourself, this is when you truly shine. You don’t do it for the applause, or for the social media likes. You do it because this is who you are, and you don’t need to justify yourself. You’re the queen or the king in the castle.
The Solar Eclipse in Leo will invite you to find your authentic voice so you can share that unique gift that only you have.
As mentioned, this eclipse is a North Node eclipse (not to be confused with a South Node eclipse).
The North Node,also called the Dragon’s Head represents our ‘spiritual compass’, our purpose in life.
At the Solar Eclipse, you will find your voice from a place of truth, naturally activating your evolutionary purpose.
Your unique talents, your individual aspirations, your dreams ARE important. Follow your heart with courage even if this goes against the approval of your friends, community or society as a whole.
Solar Eclipse in Leo – Beginnings or Endings?
Solar Eclipses are nothing else but New Moons (with a shadow). And you may already know that New Moons are all about new beginnings.
Indeed, a Solar eclipse, being nothing else but a New Moon in disguise (or better said, in the open), brings new beginnings.
You also know this is a North Node eclipse. North Node eclipses are about going into uncharted territories, about going where no one else has gone before.
So we have quite a bit of ‘fresh’ energy associated with this eclipse.
However…
We also have an opposing energy of equal force. We have 6 planets retrograde at the time of the eclipse (that’s a lot, and rather unusual by ‘retrograde’ standards).
Mercury is retrograde AND is conjunct the eclipse. Mars is retrograde AND changes signs, moving back into Capricorn, and dragging the energy of the Eclipse into another area of your chart.
Neptune and Pluto are retrograde and both aspect the eclipse, forming a Yod, also called a ‘finger of God’ aspect.
The eclipse is also square Jupiter in Scorpio and square Juno in Taurus.
So on one hand, we have this new beginning energy… and on the other hand, we have all these retrogrades, which bring stuff from the past.
The Solar Eclipse in Leo is about new beginnings that are possible by integrating elements of the past.
The Solar Eclipse in Leo is a great time to either restart something, this time by taking a different approach, or to start something completely new, as long as you build it on the foundations of the past. There is an overlooked element associated with this eclipse. This overlooked element will become perfectly clear at the time of the eclipse.
Examples: you can reconnect with a close friend from the past and decide to start a business together. Or you do therapy and you finally understand what was holding you back in your relationships. As a result, you have a completely new outlook on relationships and even start a new relationship.
What is common to the examples above is that this new beginning cannot happen without addressing your past.
Because Jupiter is squaring the eclipse from Scorpio, there is a feeling of ‘I’ve told you so’. The solution that emerges might not be completely foreign to you, but you will finally look at it from a different angle.
And because the eclipse is also square Juno, the planet of commitment, there is some deeper truth to be found.
The godly couple, Jupiter and Juno, right now oppose each other in Scorpio/Taurus. There seems to be a conflict of interests. Jupiter is the ruler, the teacher, the omnipotent authority figure. Juno is his consort, the feminine side of the coin. Juno rules devotion, sticking to commitments no matter what.
You may be torn between two commitments you’ve made. One commitment can be more personal in nature (Juno in Taurus), while the other more like an obligation (Jupiter in Scorpio).
The question the eclipse will raise, and the answer it will bring, is: What solution can you find, how can you reconcile this conflict of interests so you can live with integrity?How can you live from your heart, like a lion does?
The Eclipse is also the apex of a yod formed by the Sun, Moon, and Mercury in Leo, Pluto in Capricorn and Neptune in Pisces. To live from the heart (Leo) you need to tap into your personal power (Pluto in Capricorn) while in the same time, surrender to the unknown (Neptune in Pisces).
Pluto and Neptune are transpersonal, complex planets. Remember when I mentioned this eclipse is your last chance to get your Leo part of the chart right?
Where To Find Answers?
Neptune and Pluto suggest you will find the answers where you least expect. Neptune and Pluto are the farthest planets in our solar system. They come with the last solution.
When all your regular attempts have failed, you have to look for it somewhere else, somewhere deeper.
“It’s me, your heart. Pay attention to me! There is something I really want to tell you. Don’t move on before taking this in, please!”
As with every eclipse, the key is to surrender to the unknown. But this time, the way through is not by letting go of the past. It’s by paying attention to it. It’s by allowing it to become an integral part of who you are.
Whether or not the Solar Eclipse in Leo makes a direct hit on your chart, eclipses are powerful and significant times for every single one of us.
Do you want to know more? All About Eclipseswill teach you all you need to know about the different types of eclipses and their astrological meaning.
What are the 12 different types of eclipses and what they mean
Why some eclipses are all about karma, while others are all about free will
The subtle, but powerful difference between Solar Eclipses and Lunar Eclipses
The role of the Lunar Nodes and what the Nodes tell you about the story of your evolving soul
Why eclipses come in cycles and what does that mean
Venus, the Goddess of beauty and love, enters Libra, the sign of relationships on August 6th.
This is a happy placement for Venus because Venus rules Libra. If Venus is about ‘give and take’ and the way we relate to others, Libra is all about 1-on-1 relationships. A relationship involves two people, ‘me’ and ‘the other’.
If from Aries to Virgo we learn about ‘me’, with Libra we delve into uncharted territory. Truly knowing ‘the other’ is an art and science very few of us master, but an art and science Venus in Libra is great at.
Knowing ‘The Other’
You know you know the other when you become aware you are not alone in this word. If the opposite sign, Aries, is about the affirmation of the individual, in Libra you learn that you can only go that far if you follow your needs and wants only.
Becoming aware of the other can be one of the greatest psychological breakthroughs in one’s life. If we skip this step when it takes place naturally (between the age of 13-15), we tend to have problems in relationships later on.
Becoming aware of ‘the other’ means much more than simply acknowledging someone. It goes far beyond that. It is a deep understanding that we are different. One of my teachers beautifully put it: “If you really know someone, you cannot hate them. You can only love them”.
The problem is most of the time we think we know someone. Let’s say we notice they like scrambled eggs while we like an omelet. This is a good start, but truly becoming aware of ‘the other’ is much more than that. That deep knowing, that deep understanding is a mind-blowing experience when it happens, and it shifts your perspective about life forever.
You know you know someone not when you feel sorry for them (the psychological mechanism behind ‘feeling sorry’ for someone is self-identification, you are in fact feeling sorry for yourself).
You know someone when you’re able to distance yourself from them and become a witness. Becoming a witness, an observer, a third party,is a state of complete acceptance without personal bias to alter the event, find fault, or judge. A good way to think about a witness is really to envision a third party, a third person if you like, that is not you, nor your partner.
That is ironic because relationships are about two people, right?
A successful relationship involves two people, but also a third entity that can see things for what they truly are.
Libra And Open Enemies
Interestingly enough, Libra also rules our ‘known’ or ‘open’ enemies. In contrast, Pisces, the last zodiac sign, rules the ‘hidden enemies’.
This is an important distinction. Who are your known enemies? People you agree to disagree with. With open enemies you always know where you stand.
Everyone has ‘enemies’. If you are in business, these are your market competitors. Open enemies are crystal clear about their intentions, and they won’t harm you if you play by the rules. Policemen are also open enemies. They become enemies only if you break the rules.
In fact, you can gain power by knowing your enemies. Benchmarking against a competitor can push your own business further, because it shows what your weak points are.
Libra, The Scales And Reason
Libra is the sign of the scales. Libras are being misjudged for being all about fairness and compromise. It’s much more than fairness and compromise about Libras. A scale simply shows how one side of the scale relates to the other. Is it heavier, or lighter?
Heidi Younger
A scale is a measure of objectivity. Libra is, beyond all, the sign of justice and judgment. It shows you where you’re at – really. We all think we are right, we are so convinced we are right, that we do stupid things in the name of what is right from our perspective. But what is right for us may not be right for others. That’s why you need an objective measure of what’s right. That’s what Libra is about.
Libra is the only sign of the zodiac that is not a human or an animal – it’s the only inanimate object of the zodiac. Libra is the sign of reason.
To be good at relationships, you need to have reason. After the Leo romance and the Virgo adjustment, for a relationship to succeed, you need to be able to be rational about it. This is the secret of successful relationships. Only after, the relationship can reach intimacy and depth in the sign of Scorpio.
Libra is about a deep understanding of the other, with their differences, with what makes them special. Libra is a triumph of differences, of what makes us unique. If Aries is ‘take me as I am’, Libra is “I take you as you are because I understand you are unique and because I am able to see you for who you are. Because I see your true colors.”
Libra is a cardinal sign. Cardinal sings love to take the initiative, start new things and be in charge. In courtship, it’s Venus the one that chooses and invites, it’s Venus who sends the courtship signals.
Venus in Libra is the iron hand in velvet glove. She knows what she wants, and she goes and gets it! Venus is choosey in Libra, and makes the best relationship decisions.
Libra rules all our 1-on-1 relationships, while Venus is about what we like and dislike.
Venus in Libra shows what we like and what we dislike in relationships.
Sometimes you just ‘like’ someone, as simple as that. You don’t have to like everyone, because not everyone is your match, and it shouldn’t be. Liking the right people and being liked in return is waaay more important than having everyone liking you a little bit.
But to figure out who you like and who you don’t, you need some interaction. You need to have an exchange, a relationship with that person. Liking someone’s photo on Instagram doesn’t necessarily mean you have a relationship with that person. A relationship starts with being open and honest about who you are.
A relationship starts with showing up.
Venus, Libra and Relationships
Both Venus and Libra are concerned with relationships that’s why Venus and Libra are a great astrological match. Venus is in domicile in Libra, and this means that anytime Venus is in Libra we will all get better at what Venus and Libra are good at: relationships.
Being good at relationships means you find the right ‘balance’ (yes, the scales) between what you want and what the other wants. This doesn’t mean equality, and not ever fairness by the standard definition. Life is not ‘fair’. Life is ‘right’. You get what you need, when you need it, even if you think it’s not fair. Life is divine justice.
Sometimes, your needs are more important. Other times, your partner needs are more important. Knowing what, when and how are Venus in Libra’s specialties.
Having good relationships doesn’t mean you have to always compromise. In fact, this is a recipe for disaster. Your partner wants to grow with you. They want to know when they’ve gone too far. They want your feedback, even if that means pointing to what they’ve done wrong.
But ruthless criticism is also a recipe for disaster. And here comes the magic of Venus in Libra.
Venus in Libra knows how to give feedback without sounding like criticism.
I know, from all qualities in the world, this one doesn’t sound particularly sexy. But it is probably the most useful one.
Knowing how to give feedback in the right way is that one skill that can basically guarantee success. Master this and you will master relationships: with your romantic partner, with your colleagues, with your family members, with pretty much everyone.
Venus in Libra is about understanding the other so you can reach a win-win outcome.
The secret of successful relationships is having both parties win. Everything else is either short-term, or it will be taken away from you sooner or later.
Venus In Libra Transit
The upcoming Venus in Libra transit is a great opportunity to improve your relationship skills.
Notice how you react to others, or how others react to you. What is different? What does it work, and what doesn’t?
Venus will leave Libra on September 10th, will turn retrograde on October 4th (in Scorpio), and re-enter Libra on November 1st. Venus will finally leave Libra on December 3rd, this time rising as a morning star.
During its long stay in Libra, Venus will change from an evening star (rising in the evening, after the Sun sets) into a morning star (rising in the morning, before Sun rises).
Venus in Libra is your greatest opportunity to transform the way you do relationships for the better.
The first phase of Venus in Libra is when Venus is in Libra and is an evening star (August 6th – September 10th 2018). This is the best time to examine your current relationship patterns.
The 2nd phase of Venus in Libra is when Venus is in Libra and retrograde (November 1st-November 15th 2018). This is the time to make the necessary relationship adjustments.
The 3rd phase of Venus in Libra is when Venus is in Libra and is a morning star (November 15th December 3rd 2018). Now is the time for new beginnings in relationships. By now, you know what you want, and you know how to understand and relate to the ‘other’.
We have a record of 6 planets retrograde in August: Mercury, Mars, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. That’s a lot or retrograde energy! Although retrograde planets slow things down, they also teach us to act more thoughtfully – and be better humans, in general. Every cloud has a silver lining.
Overall, August is a MUCH better month than July. We have less drama, even with 6 retrograde planets, thanks to some positive supporting aspects which I will detail below.
The Full Moon on August 26 is gentle and healing and VERY different from the Full Moon / Total Lunar Eclipse in July. There is hope!
But let’s have a look at the major astrological events of the month:
On August 1st, 2018 Mars is square Uranus. This is the 2nd Mars-Uranus square in the cycle – the first one was on May 16, immediately after Uranus entered Taurus. That was an unsettling day for many of us.
This 2nd square won’t be much easier, but because Mars is retrograde and Uranus is stationary (preparing to turn retrograde) the effects will be less “in-your-face”.
In fact, you now can get a completely different perspective on something you started or experienced mid-May. But the final outcome of this aspect will come on September 21st – there is more to come!
On August 6th, 2018 Venus enters Libra, its rulership sign. That’s great news because Venus loves being in Libra! This is when she gets crystal clear about what she wants, and this is where she can exercise her charm with self-confidence and purpose.
Venus will spend a pretty long time in Libra due to the retrograde. I know, we have Mars retrograde, Mercury retrograde, and now I’m telling you Venus will go retrograde as well? The good news is that Venus will not go retrograde until October 4, so no need to worry too much about it… yet.
Venus will move back into Libra from November 1st until December 3rd. This means Venus will spend more than 2 months in Libra in total, so if you have personal planets or angles in Libra (especially in the last decan) this transit will be huge for you.
The goddess of love reaches her greatest elongation on the 17th of August. Basically, she will now rise as an evening star farthest away from where the Sun is setting. In this phase, Venus is all by herself, unconcerned with what the Sun wants from her. This won’t last long though. Venus will soon realize that this is as far as she can go.
In the same way, you can experience an “and now, what?” type of feeling. Now that you got what you wanted, you may realize that the price you paid was not really worth it if you have no one to share it with. And because Venus hates being all by herself, she will soon start to slow down and find her way back to the Sun.
On August 7th, 2018 Venus in Libra is trine Mars in Aquarius. In the same day, Uranus goes retrograde. Venus, Mars and Uranus will have a very interesting ‘triangle’ relationship in the 2nd half of the year. Venus will square Mars twice, and then trine it twice, and will oppose Uranus three times!
These transits will initially bring disruptions, and later freedom and authenticity in relationships.
On August 9th, 2018 Sun is conjunct Mercury retrograde, marking a new Mercury synodic cycle. Even if Mercury is retrograde, contrary to the beliefs, today is a good day to start a new Mercury-related project.
The only condition is to start by planting the intention (don’t bring your project to the world yet). So you can think about it, go to the drawing board and plan it. But don’t make official announcements, or launch it on social media. Wait until Mercury becomes visible 10 days later to do that.
In the same day, Venus in Libra is square Saturn in Capricorn. This is normally a gloomy transit, but because now both Venus and Saturn are in the signs of their rulership, they both act from their ‘higher planetary selves’. They can basically agree to disagree.
Libra and Capricorn are cardinal signs so they will push you to take action. You know what you want, now it’s time to go and get it!
On August 11th, 2018 we have a New Moon and Solar Eclipse at 18° Leo. The eclipse is conjunct Mercury retrograde and quincunx Pluto. Long forgotten memories can come to the surface and find a new meaning. Solar eclipses are about starting afresh from the dust of the past.
This is a partial solar eclipse linked to the solar eclipse of July 2000. What was going on in your life back then? Similar themes may resurface, but now you have an opportunity to see things in a new light.
Needless to say, you will be affected if you are a Leo, if you have Leo ascendant, or if you have other personal planets or angles in Leo.
On August 12th, 2018 Mars retrograde moves back into Capricorn. If your life has been turned upside down at the eclipses, now the universe is giving you a second chance to make things right.
That’s right! A solar eclipse leveraging Mars, the planet of action means you CAN start again. You CAN turn things around.
The 2nd half of August is better than the first half, and definitely much better than July. Phew!
August 19th is a wonderful day. Mercury finally goes direct and life starts to flow a little bit smoother.
On the same day, we have the last Jupiter-Neptune trine. This is one of the most positive aspects of the year bringing beauty and healing in our lives.
Jupiter, and Neptune especially are slow moving planets and although they won’t affect us on an individual level, they set the overall trends, thus shaping the future of our everyday lives. Jupiter and Neptune are in sensitive, feminine water sings so they are all about emotions, depth, beauty, and feminine expression.
Just look at the trends! When it comes to the catwalk, for example, I’ve never seen so many fluid, floral, colorful, feminine designs in years. And apparently liquid clothes (Jupiter and Neptune are in water signs) are the newest trend for this summer!
Should I mention the best selling artist of the year is Ed Sheeran? Ed is notoriously famous for his rich vocals and romantic, lyrical songs. I personally love his music. Thank you, Jupiter and Neptune!
When we are bombarded on a daily basis with fake or fear-inducing media, don’t forget that underneath it all, the world is a beautiful place.
On August 23rd, 2018 Sun moves into Virgo. Happy birthday to all the Virgos out there! As the Sun is approaching the equinox, it’s time to reflect on what we have done so far this year. There is still time to adjust and improve.
Virgo is an earth mutable sign, that’s why is associated with analysis, productivity, and adjustment. In nature, now is time to water, prune and improve the outcome of the harvest.
On August 25th, 2018 we have a grand Earth trine between Sun, Uranus and Saturn. When I said the 2nd half of August will be much better, I meant it!
Grand trines are the most positive aspects in astrology, bringing joy, harmony, and balance. Unless you thrive on struggle, you are going to love this sense of flow and ‘rightness’.
Saturn represents structure while Uranus represents freedom. The Sun is You. The grand trine will bring you the opportunity to strike the right balance between structure and discipline, and freedom and authenticity. You will benefit from this transit if you have planets around 2° in feminine signs: Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn, and Pisces.
On August 26th, 2018 we have a Full Moon in Pisces. I absolutely love this Full Moon which comes as a well-deserved relief after the intense eclipse season!
The Full Moon forms a beautiful kite aspect, engaging with the Sun-Saturn-Uranus grand trine. Kites are dynamic aspects which bring opportunities. If you have planets around 3° in feminine signs, you will be offered an opportunity. Make sure you don’t miss it!
On August 27th – Mars goes direct! It’s been a long two months, so pat yourself on the shoulder. You made it! You survived a challenging, eclipse-infused Mars retrograde. Mars retrograde tested your inner strength, but as a result, you’ve become more resilient and powerful than ever.
