Venus Retrograde 2009: March 6 to April 17
March 3, 2009 by cafeastro
Filed under Annie's Blog, Astrology of Relationships, Featured
Venus is getting ready for her apparent “backward” motion, beginning midday Friday, March 6th, 2009. Her backtracking begins midway in the sign of Aries and will take her all the way back to the beginning of Aries and one degree into the sign of Pisces before she turns direct again on April 17th.
There’s nothing truly to fear about Venus retrograde, but it’s always wise to take special care during this cycle. It’s not the best period for entering into a new relationship, because our sensors when it comes to love are not up to par. However, it’s not unheard of to begin a relationship under the influence of a retrograde Venus, and it survives. Venus rules our values, and when she is retrograde, we don’t seem to be in touch with exactly what and who we value. After the retrograde cycle is over, we may look back and wonder what the hell we were thinking. So, do what you can to avoid major decision making during Venus’ retrograde cycle. A change of heart is likely later. And, the people we meet now may appear more fabulous than they turn out to be. It’s also possible that some people we meet now may appear less attractive than they turn out to be! Whatever the case may be, try to hold off until late April before making big decisions, particularly life-altering ones.
Still, we are not especially warm and affectionate during this cycle. It’s hard to trust others just now, and, perhaps more so, it’s difficult to trust our own instincts when it comes to judging others or our relationships. We tend to suspect insincerity in others. People appear to be more selfish, withdrawn, and self-protective. It’s hard to make headway in a direct manner in our love relationships for the time being.
Then there is a feeling of the inevitable during a Venus retrograde. What happened in the past, including past love affairs, can flood our consciousness now. Sometimes, a past lover reappears in his or her physical form. Dealing with endings is actually favored during this cycle.
Those with personal planets or their Ascendant at 29 degrees Pisces and 0 to 15 degrees Aries are going to feel this retrograde cycle most acutely. In the case of the Ascendant, these people are not going to be coming across in the fairest or most pleasant of manner. Re-assessing how we would like others to see us, and discovering ways to make changes in ourselves in order to achieve this, is in order now. Some will go through some form of rude awakening regarding their appearance or manner. This can provide the necessary cosmic shove towards righting the situation.
Besides those people directly affected by this Venus retrograde by degree, there are those who have Venus ruling the Ascendant or Descendant of their charts who are affected more than most. People with Aries, Taurus, Libra, and Scorpio rising will feel this cycle more acutely on personal and partnership levels. Taurus and Taurus rising has Venus retro in their solar twelfth house and twelfth house respectively, and should watch for dealing with relationships from the past, karmic events, and even private or secret affairs, which can be compromised just now.
If you’re in a love relationship, don’t push matters with a partner. Give yourself and your partner some space without allowing anyone to feel completely abandoned! Keep things as status quo as possible. Some people have written me, worried about a newly formed relationship and how it will fare with Venus turning retrograde. There is no need to panic. Try on a “what will be, will be” attitude. Relationships that are currently tenuous or challenged may be put through a few tests, but it’s less likely to happen if you stay calm, cool, and collected. Worrying about the fate of a relationship is not conducive to normal behavior! Keep things status quo.
New relationships formed during retrograde Venus do have a chance at surviving, but a change of heart is quite possible later on. Many years ago I married a man I met when Venus was retrograde, and that marriage lasted about 14 years. It ended, yes, but I could never say it was a complete waste of my time. So, if it happens that you first laid eyes on someone who is “relationship potential” while Venus is or was retrograde, don’t rule out the possibility that it could be a good thing. Just take things slowly.
Venus retrograde has more implications, as Venus reigns over more than only love and relationships. Read my article, Venus Retrograde, for more details.
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Hi Annie, Thanks for the great articles. I met a man in October 2002, while venus was not retrograde, however, our first date a few weeks later happened during the retrograde cycle. And subsequently the beginning of our romantic relationship. It has lasted until now, but boy, has it been a crazy ride! I’ve learned so much about myself, I cannot tell you! My question is this: how technically exact are you when determining “when” a relationship starts? First meeting or falling in love? And also, I have venus retrograde natally, so are these relationships and cycles somehow more comfortable for me? I often wonder if deep down I don’t really want what I’ve always thought I wanted, if that makes any sense?
Thanks again for your great sites!
I just found that I’ve been dealing with the same person during every venus retrograde period since 2001 retrograde (include 2001 one). He is an authority at work, but we do not deal with each other everyday. During 2001 retrograde period, he gave me the offer. 2003 I left, but during 2004 retrograde period, I was accepted back by him. During other retrograde periods, we had minor or major conflicts. This week we had a strong confrontation and it is still lingering. What are the meanings of all these?
Wei,
Because the 2001 Venus retrograde cycle was also in Aries, I think this 2009 one may give you the opportunity to resolve whatever conflicts you are having with this person. I believe there is a reason we keep going back over certain scenarios. Not always sure what that reason is! But perhaps this will become clear later.
Cafeastro, Thank you for your thoughts! I only discovered this pattern in the past several days. 2001 venus retro was in my 10th house, this year it is in my 9th house. I found the houses where the venus retro was in were rather precise to tell what the interactions were about.
I haven’t seen any light of lingering conflicts solved during this cycle, but this venus retro just started. It will be interesting to see what happens after two months.
Mary,
I have always found the “first meeting” date and time the most important. However, with astrology you can chart or “natalize” any event that’s significant to you. So, in my mind, both dates work, they’re just for different things. Of course, it’s so much easier to have a date and time for when two people meet. It’s challenging to really determine when a romantic relationship begins. A first date is significant, but when did the desire to go on a date come about? I personally feel most comfortable with the first meeting chart but, again, I feel both charts are significant.
With Venus Retrograde natally, yes you’ll likely be more comfortable than most when Venus is retrograde, simply because you understand the energy because you live with it! I’m not sure if you read an old Ask Annie column in which I discussed Venus retrograde. The question was about a progressed Venus retrograde cycle, but touches upon Venus Retro in general, and can be found here: http://www.cafeastrology.com/askanniearchives3.html
I completely understand what you mean by what you said here: “I often wonder if deep down I don’t really want what I’ve always thought I wanted, if that makes any sense?” Maybe it’s a fellow Venus retrograde thing (I was born with it too).
Wei, Yes it will be interesting to see how it plays out. It first occurred in your 10th house which rules your superiors, amongst other things, and this is a relationship with a superior. Maybe this time around it will be more about 9th house things, such as your opinions and belief systems. Let me know how it goes.
Annie
Hi Annie,
As soon as the venus retrograde started i got the (devastating) news (and invitation) of engagement and marriage of the girl i have been courting for last 8 months. she is a scorpio and i am a taurus(aquarius rising). i hadn’t told her about my feelings, was planning to tell her but kept putting it off to avoid the friendship we had. now i find it very hard to tackle this heart break, more so due to the attraction between us and i missed the opportunity to tell her how i feel. the situation is overwhelming because we work in same place and every time i see her or hear her voice it literally kills me due as i begin to mourn this loss and failure of converting our friendship into a lasting loving relationship. is it really a signal from the stars that this has happened? i feel totally pessimistic about my future now. please advise.
Hi Annie, Is it a good time to find a lawyer during the venus retrograde? I might have to do so. Just want to see what it means. Is it just a reflection of this year’s venus retrograde in my 9th house?
Thank you Annie, for taking the time to answer my question. I will go back and read that article about venus retrograde. Yes, in fact the desire for a first date happened quite quickly, and it was only because of time constraints and schedules that it occurred later…but it’s interesting that that’s how it worked out, too! It sure has been an “outside of the box” type relationship, that’s for sure. People ask me sometimes what it feels like to have a natal venus retro, and I honestly don’t know how to answer because I guess I can’t be objective – it’s all I know!?! (my venus is also combust, less than one degree from the sun – yikes!
)
Not yet sure exactly what this current cycle is bringing, but I am enjoying the “down” time and being on my own for the moment…
thanks again for your insights,
Mary
Hi Annie,
I’ve noticed that since Friday I use my words extremely aggressively when having a conversation that could hurt me. I had two of these with a friend with whom our relationship status is not cleared. Both times I’ve lost my temper in short time and ended up hurting him. Actually I’ve attacked him by words, and used such rude ones that I would not normally use. Have to confess that I wasn’t sober. (I’m Libra Sun, Venus, Mars, and have Moon in Aries)
He was the one who started the conversation about the degree of our relationship, and said things that were completely the opposite of his deeds done before the retrograde.
He started questioning the whole thing. (He’s Cancer Sun, Scorpio Asc, Venus and Mars in Taurus).
I wonder if there’s any connection between these things and Venus being retrograde? I feel they appeared out of nowhere suddenly, wasn’t any sign of them.
Thank you,
Kitty
Kitty, Yes! Venus is retrograde in Aries, and the more unpleasant traits associated with Aries, such as abruptness, impatience, losing your temper easily, and so forth, can surface and do some damage. With your Sun, Venus, and Mars in Libra, you are Venus-ruled (Venus rules Libra), and Venus is currently opposing these planets, and near your Moon in Aries. Although your boyfriend is a Cancer, his Venus, Mars, and partnership sector are all Venus-ruled (Venus also rules Taurus). As I mentioned in the article, although everyone is affected by Venus retrograde, some are more sensitive to it. I think it’s important to note that people with personal planets or their Ascendant in Aries are not coming across in a favorable light for the time being, but it does give them a chance to examine behaviors that can easily be taken the wrong way. In other words, we can’t act up and blame it on Venus retrograde. If we do act up, it has to come from somewhere, and it’s a good time to figure out why it’s happening. Aries at its best is authentic, true to itself. But in order to be true to ourselves, we don’t have to bulldoze over others in the process.
Wei, I am not sure if starting legal action while Venus is retrograde in your ninth house is recommended. It’s probably better after!
Annie
I found it interesting what Mary said as this is a similar situation to what I’m in at the mo. I met someone on New Year’s eve just passed and I felt an amazing connection with him. He lives 3 hours from me though and has a child so it could be complicated. We’ve spoken on the phone every week since then but we are only going to meet for the first time since New Year on the 4th April when Venus is retrograde and square Pluto although the Sun is trine the Moon which is nice. I, like Mary, am wondering which chart is more important? You said the first meeting chart is most imporant and our first meeting chart was very powerful in connection with our charts. However, we didn’t arrange to meet up again for a while after, we were both hesitant because of the complications. I think the next time I see him will be very significant as he is away from his home town and going to stay with me for a couple of days and therefore think this chart will matter but it does worry me a little that it is Venus Retro…I suppose I have to see what happens and keep you posted.
Jody
I’ve definitely noticed Venus in Retrograde these past few days, especially. I’m a Scorpio and Venus in Scorpio. My closest parter (we’re technically taking a break but still living together as support in a new city) is an Aries. He is Venus in Tauraus.
We have been having difficulty with communication.. He is being very Aries right now.. he’s quite extreme in exhibiting his signs aspects.. I’m pretty defensive and am coming off bitchy and presumptive.
The person who I have deep affection for (someone else) is very quiet right now. We’re not communicating at all really. He’s a Libra… Venus in Sagittarius. He’s distant.. we only communicate by e-mail right now.
I’ve been at peace with keeping the Venus in Retrograde status in mind. I think that’s exactly it with both of these situations. I just hope things take a sharp turn for the better starting the 18th of April!
I am DOB 11.5.58 Phoenix. I saw my girl DOB 5.31.55 Detroit in a vision in Spain, when I was 12; met her in the flesh at 25, and was enchanted. Finally left my wife for her in July 2006, and had 32 months of passion till she ended it 2.27.09. We also had a working professional relationship and stood by each other through many challenges. She was the boss; I, her counsellor and servant; and then, when the sun went down, I was “daddy.” I ruled her nights. We wrote a book. We made love all night again and again. We travled. We had rituals and dreams.
She is extremely beautiful. The night before she ended it, I had her crying out in pleasure. The next night, she went out with a GF and didn’t want me to go. She danced with a yoga instructor and came back and told me how much fun it was and that she needed some alone time. I slept in the basement.
Her stated reasons are demonstrably untenable. She told me that she loved me many times and loaded me with amazing physical affection to the day she ended it. Now she won’t take my calls and she is treating me like a stalker. I have lost 18 lbs in three weeks. Consciousness is a burden. Is this a venutian trick? Should I wait this out?
Hi Annie, I ended a relationship last year around this time and now I am haunted by it…more so in the last week or so. I really want to get back with him as I realise I have very strong feelings for him even though I have spent a year trying to run away from him. He was non-committal and I wanted commitment. My dob is Nov 4, 77 and he is March 15, 82/81. I did not wish him on his b’day and if I don’t write to him soon then I think whatever little hope we have of getting back together ever will die. I was the one who told him not to contact me ever again and he said ok and did not contact me expect he wrote to wish me on my b’day. I have always felt him to be a soulmate to me even though our relationship was not a long one. Please give me advice of what is the best for me in this situation because I just cannot trust my mind and heart right now. Please let me know if there is any hope of this relationship resurrecting or working. I look forward to your reply.
Thank you Annie for answering my question and giving me a picture about this astrological event.
Kitty
Hi Annie,
Thank you for your article. It’s really kind of reassuring.
I was wondering how this Venus rx would affect a person (my bf) who has the following planets:
Sun Virgo
Moon Aries
Venus, Mars, Mercury Leo
and another (me) with:
Sun Leo
Moon Leo
Venus, Mars, Mercury Virgo ?
I am asking because him and I are on a “time to think about things” type of break with a hint of “it’s over with doom and gloom” sprinkled all over it. I dont want it to be over, he didnt want it to be the end either but he said he couldnt deal with it. =( Is Venus really trying her best to mess with us or is it really most likely over?
I been reading on venus retrograde in aries and I have been very surprised 2 find out how much my relationship has changed almost the same day this happened. I am an Aries sun, Leo moon, Scorpio ascendant and I have my venus positioned in Aries also. I am turning 17 very soon and I have been ina relationship with a boy who was my best friend for 2 years n (was) with him officially for 10 months. I completely fell in love with him. I know iim young buh im not an immature or stupid girl and I can say that I don’t trust or jus love someone quite easily… but he means a lot to me and has changed me and made me want 2 be a better person.. made me want 2 be somewhat like him. he culd give love so easily and freely. we were so comfortable with eachother.. I had never imagined somethin so real and I know we were meant to be in eachothers lives. he is a Libra sun, Libra moon, AND Libra ascendant. His venus is positioned in Scorpio.
Come around… March 5 ( our 10 month mark) things started 2 be rocky… backwards even. I went through a really bad week beginning that following monday and I was emotionally in need of Angel (that’s him) more than ever… buh he seemed so distant.. he’s been busy with baseball and work and skool activities buh it never was a big problem… buh it seems that he all of a sudden, slowly started to not care or take pride in me like he once did. my Libra began to turn cold… wen I wuld touch him, as if tellin him to come closer to me, there wuld be no warmth coming off of him anymore. He began to be so focused on himself and what he was doing and about things he wanted that its like I started to see myself fall down his list of priorities. it wuldnt matter to him that I needed him to be with me. its like it didn’t matter 2 him that I felt alone… he was goin to work n makin money n getting good grades n coming up in baseball… and I did support him. go to his games and root for his team even tho they lost everygame… id go just 2 be with him cuz I wanted 2. buh inside I knew the love wasn’t the same. its like he started to become selfish and jus worry abt himself..which is uncharacteristic for him…bcuz selfish is one thing I know he isn’t. and on march 9, wen the moon was in virgo, I started 2 tell him (n got emotional, angry even) abt how I felt n how unhappy I was… I didn’t wana leave the relationship cuz I believed in us… he said he didn’t waana leave either but he said that his life is complicated and hard and confusing… like mine isn’t, u know?? he said he culdnt be with me anymore…. and I didn’t take it well… bcuz I wanted 2 be with him, I wanted 2 help him n face our difficulties together as a team. I guess his excuse is… that he’s too busy for a relationship… too busy for me… idk… I just want to know if anyone here can pleasse help me understand what happened and help me prepare for what is going to happen in the future wehn venus goes back into pisces then again, into my sign of aries. I am very interested in astrology and believe in it bcuz it makes sense 2 me. id like to know more about what is going on in this situation I am in… bcuz skool restarts ina bout a week and I have 2 see him again. iAnd I can’t hide from him.. he has 5 of my classes and we r in the same chorus…I jus want 2 go back with a little more understannding and wisdom. if I understand better, maybe I will be able 2 let go if its really the end…. he said it was the end… I asked him where I stood and he said tha he didn’t want me to hold on 2 anything. but he still wuld like 2 be friends…. so I haven’t been talking to him lately and we act like we do not know eachother.. I said I didn’t wana be his friend cuz I culdnt.. idk how 2 act.. I know ill jus fall in love w/ him again… but I still feel like he misses me n still loves me… its just a feeling tho… like he’s puttin up a front to everybody.. but idk… it culd prolly jus be me. Help. Please.
-damaris
Noni I got back together with an ex-boyfriend during Venus retrograde in 2005 who had broken up with me during Venus retrograde in 2004. It did not work out. So in my experience, getting back with someone during Venus retrograde is a no-no. but that’s just me.
Hi there!
Thanks very much for such an informative website!
I met someone on the 20th of February, while the moon was direct in Capricorn. I thought this might have been a goodtime for me to meet someone but I just read that Venus was already in Aries. I gather this is a no-go for long-lasting relationships. I am taking things slowly and staying very grounded, As I realise that Venus is now retrograde for the next few weeks. Any advice on the potential of the relationship?
Thanks very much for any and all advice!
Warm wishes,
Lulu
Thanks! Racheee for your reply. I will take your word for it…becoz I believe in signs and you replying is the sign. Thank you and god bless.:)
Lulu,
Taking things slowly and keeping in a realistic frame of mind is always a good idea. Venus was slowing down on February 20th, heading towards its retrograde cycle. However, it doesn’t mean you can’t meet someone with whom you can have a long-lasting relationship. In fact, that day, Venus was in healthy aspect to Mars and Jupiter, and the Sun with Pluto. This retrograde period might slow things down a little, but it’s not necessarily a “bad” thing, either!
Jody, Amy, Victor, Noni, and Damaris,
Yes, waiting it out is really the only thing to do. Amy, the attitude of “being at peace” is really the best one for the time being. That’s what the Venus retrograde cycle pretty much urges us to do. It gives us a chance to “step back” and figure things out. If it’s our partner who is withdrawn, it can be a challenging time wondering what’s going to happen next. Venus in Aries is such a direct and straightforward energy, it can be really tempting to push matters or try to force a confrontation. However, that’s not going to go over well right now.
We’ve got some really exciting Venus energy coming up. Venus conjunct Mars on the 20-22 in late Pisces, and then Venus and Mars will be traveling (forward) in Aries pretty close to one another in the month of May. That’s when love energy will be direct, active, and extremely straightforward, perhaps too honest for some. For much of June, Venus and Mars will continue to move ahead close to one another in the sign of Taurus, and then it’s Gemini’s turn.
Keep us posted!
Is there anyway I could have someone look at our composite chart and give me some hope, or not? I am going CRAZY, crying, etc. I hate this!
OK. I’ve had my crying spell for the day. (I never knew I was such a wuss). Every day I write letters and I tell myself: “This one will persuade her.” Are you telling me to wait till May? She’s a Gemini, and mars is retrograde from May 7 until her birthday on May! I just don’t see an opportunity. I feel as if the planets are pushing us apart.