Venus Retrograde – Her timing and changes: You may feel your energy slowing, social plans losing their appeal, or fatigue setting in as Venus slows before turning retrograde on Saturday, October 3. Venus retrogrades about once every two years, with each cycle lasting roughly eight weeks. This cycle begins at 8° Scorpio 29′, returns to Libra—one of the signs Venus rules—on October 25, and turns direct at 22° Libra 51′ on November 13, 2026. Venus reaches the degree where the retrograde began on December 16, 2026, bringing the cycle back on track.
For a recent, real-world example, see the September 23, 2026, Bloomberg Magazine article at https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=rm&ogbl#inbox/FMfcgzQhWfMTRSBbpmkgNgFVfZKtbzlc
The article included a graph showing how AI (artificial intelligence) can help with administrative tasks and price comparisons—for example, alerting a consumer to a better price on something they buy regularly. Remember, Venus reflects what we desire. When she is retrograde, we may rethink those desires and the quality of what we choose. Consumer goods, clothing, and other purchases may not meet expectations as readily as they do when Venus is direct. As one of my teachers used to say, think twice, cut once.
Here is an interesting thought: Venus’s mythology reveals two modes. Archetypically, she represents harmony, negotiation, and balanced exchange. During her retrograde, however, she may express the contrasting energy of her sisters, the Furies—figures rarely included in familiar accounts of her birth. In Greek mythology, Saturn, known as Kronos, uses a scythe to castrate Uranus, the sky god, after Gaia, the cosmic mother, sends her son to end Uranus’s continual coupling with her and the endless children it produces. Venus—Aphrodite in Greek myth—is born from the blood and semen. Less often discussed is that the Furies are born simultaneously.
When Venus appears to move backward in the sky, her energy can resemble that of the Furies: angry, vengeful, and combative. In this interpretation, Venus becomes less a goddess of peace and harmony and more a goddess of war. Combined with the other retrogrades and Pluto’s growing involvement, these volatile energies may feel increasingly present in the atmosphere.
What might this mean in practice? During Venus retrograde, Venus interacts with Pluto in Aquarius, which turns direct at 3° Aquarius on October 15. This combination may surface relationship power struggles: Who wants control, and who wants the upper hand? It may also bring disappointment when ordered goods fall short of expectations. These tensions unfold throughout the midterm elections in America. Mercury is also retrograde from October 24 through November 13, increasing the potential for misunderstandings and unclear outcomes in cooperative efforts. Try not to become so distracted or confused that you cannot act. October is a classic wait-and-see period, so take time to observe before deciding.
Over the next few weeks, sort through what you have and remove what no longer serves you. Venus in Scorpio favors refreshing, revitalizing, or beautifying what is not working; this constructive focus can also ease October’s irritations. With Mars, the god of war, entering Leo on Sunday, September 27, and staying longer than usual, distinguish passion and lust from a true, deep connection. As Mars and Pluto face each other over the weekend, channel the intensity into clearing pipes, closets, attics, or basements rather than confrontation. Difficult transits can be handled in more than one way. Most important, set the ego aside: the scorpion is the only animal said to kill itself with its own sting. Where is the sign of Scorpio in your chart, this applies to that area of our life. Stop. Look. Listen. Think carefully—then act. Let that be your mantra for the coming weeks.
