Your Ultimate Love, Money, and Beauty Guide to Venus Retrograde

There’s something so carefree and steamy about summertime. From happy hour drinks with friends to a few casual romantic flings–this time of year is all about embracing uninhibited fun. However, the astrology of Summer 2023 has a few tricks up its sleeve. There will be some major shake-ups in the stars over the next six weeks, and none more chaotic than Venus stationing retrograde in Leo from July 22 to September 3, 2023.

As if things weren’t messy enough, the planet of love, sex, beauty, and money is causing everyone to slow down and look seriously at how things are currently going. Everything you thought you knew about your romantic connections, your relationship with money, and how you express your beauty are under review until Venus stations direct. And if you think you can avoid dealing with this cosmic switch-up, think again. Venus rules creativity, self-expression, and the outward expression of your aura energy. You don’t want to fight this; it’s the chance to get the glow-up of a lifetime.

This year, Venus retrograde comes at a particularly explosive time, adding fuel to the cosmic fire. Major themes around self-expression, inner confidence, wealth, pleasure, and partnership will be explored for the next few months. Between the lunar nodes switching signs and the mind-altering Pluto retrograde currently swirling around–this summer feels like a phoenix rising from the ashes moment. This month’s Venus retrograde will encourage you to make major revisions around relationships, money, and more.

Keep reading to see what Venus retrograde has in store for your zodiac sign–plus tips for glowing up this summer.

What is Venus Retrograde?

Venus is the planet of romance, beauty, sex, pleasure, and money. When Venus stations retrograde, astrologers say it's time for transformation. Retrogrades in astrology are planetary illusions that occur when a celestial object appears to change direction and retraces its steps across the night sky. During a retrograde period, the stars want you to slow down and reconsider how you arrived at your current situation. Getting caught in a pattern out of habit or necessity is easy. And retrogrades are your chance to refine and recalibrate your life to align with your desired path in life.

There’s plenty of enjoyment and indulgence that comes with the energy of Venus, but there’s also a darker side as well. Too much of a good thing can make you sick. And sometimes your rose-colored glasses can blind your view of what’s really happening. Despite the fear associated with retrogrades, they can be powerful times of self-discovery. When Venus retrogrades, it’s time to revisit how you view these themes and what you place the highest value on in your life.

Venus Retrograde 2023 Dates

Venus is one of the faster-moving planets around the Sun and shines so brightly in the night sky that it’s often visible from Earth. Venus retrograde happens once every 18 months and lasts for about six weeks. During this time, astrologers recommend holding off on making any impulsive decisions about your love life, finances, or appearance.

Here are some important dates to mark down for this year’s Venus retrograde:

• Venus enters Leo: June 5, 2023

• Venus retrograde in Leo: July 22 to September 3, 2023

• Venus goes direct in Leo: September 3, 2023

• Venus enters Virgo: October 8, 2023

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How Venus Retrograde Affects Your Relationships

One of the major themes of Venus retrograde is romance, love, sex, and relationships. Venus shows what you’re attracted to and how you express that attraction to others. Everything from your flirting style to your love language to how you like to get down between the sheets can be learned by looking at Venus. During this retrograde, it’s a great opportunity to explore taboo topics and discover what makes you feel good.

Venus retrograde is also a great time to renegotiate your current relationships and redefine your boundaries. During Venus retrograde, there’s an emphasis on striking the right balance between the heart and the ego. Love is a selfless act and requires a lot of compromise. And while love isn’t about keeping score-it’s also about both partners feeling good, helping each other, and getting their needs met. When Venus goes retrograde, it’s a time to ask yourself if all the hard work you’ve been tirelessly pouring into your relationships equally benefits you.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a retrograde without a little drama. Venus retrograde is infamous for bringing old flames and exes back from the past. This could take many forms, like someone who ghosted you suddenly reappearing or even a text from that one ex you swore you’d never speak to again. Venus retrograde will force you to confront any unfinished business preventing you from moving forward in your love life. And while that might sound scary at first, it’s actually a major moment of growth for you.

Venus Retrograde Love, Sex, and Romance Guide

Venus retrograde isn’t all bad news. Many people worry that this cosmic detour will cause everything to fall apart, but retrogrades only destroy things that limit your potential. This is your chance to examine codependent tendencies, release toxic relationship cycles, and reclaim your sexuality in a big way. This transformative period will reset the tone for your relationships moving forward. You’re calling the shots moving forward.

Whether it’s a bad habit of choosing emotionally unavailable partners or hiding your true feelings from people, Venus retrograde wants you to get to the ugly truth. Self-love and activities like crystal healing, meditation, therapy, journaling, affirmations, and mindfulness can greatly help during this time. You’ll also want to rethink how you assert yourself in relationships. Venus retrograde is a good time to explore new ways of expressing what you need and learning that you don’t need to downplay your desires to be worthy of love.

Venus retrograde is also an ideal time for exploring your sexuality. In astrology, Venus is the key to unlocking your freaky side. This retrograde cycle is your chance to let your hair down and embrace your wild side. Whether you’re considering exploring a new sexual identity or reigniting the passion in your sex life–Venus retrograde is your time to let it all out. Just be sure to keep things light, fluid, and flexible, as retrograde periods can be unpredictable. You’ll want to hold off on making any romantic commitments like starting a new relationship, getting engaged, or getting married until after Venus retrograde.

READ MORE: Embrace the Taboo: Here's What Your Lilith Sign Says About Your Personality.

How Venus Retrograde Affects Your Money

Venus governs more than just romantic relationships and sex; it’s also the planet of abundance, money, and manifestation. Everything you desire in life falls under the domain of Venus–which is what makes it responsible for how you attract wealth and prosperity. This planet represents comfort, beauty, and luxury in life; those things don’t come cheap. When Venus goes retrograde–which happens every 18 months or so–it encourages you to take a step back and take another look at your finances, spending, and earning potential.

During Venus retrograde, it’s not uncommon for unexpected expenses to arise and cause a strain on your finances. The flow of money may slow down or feel tighter than usual, so focusing on saving money during this transit is crucial. This is your chance to figure out where your money isn’t working to its full potential and how to spend and save smarter. It’s not the most exciting thing to spend your time doing, but you’ll be shocked at how quickly the quality of your life improves when you do. Venus retrograde isn’t about limiting yourself or denying pleasure; it’s about cutting out the fluff and excess.

There could also be concerns about your career path during Venus retrograde transits. Because Venus rules money and pleasure, it’s common to feel dissatisfied with your current job during this retrograde period. Rather than focus on how much money you make, ask yourself if your current financial situation can fund your ideal lifestyle. Everyone values different aspects of their job–sometimes the job's perks outweigh the benefit of making more money. However, if you feel like nothing about your career is working in alignment with your desired future, it could be time to start planning your next move.

Venus Retrograde Money and Career Guide

Money, finances, and personal possessions are all closely aligned with Venus, which also informs your self-worth and values. During Venus retrograde, you can feel pressured to conform to society’s standards. The important thing to remember is that self-worth is the most valuable thing in your possession, and nobody gets to define your value but you.

Venus rules your relationship with your money, so it’s important to review your finances regularly. If you’re considering making high-ticket item purchases or major investments during this time, it’s best to wait until after Venus goes direct. The cosmic energy surrounding financial transactions and dealing with banking institutions is tense during Venus retrograde. However, if you need to move ahead with a major purchase, articulate exactly what you need and double-check any contracts before signing them.

Venus retrograde is also a great time to rethink financial goals, review your debt, and avoid frivolous spending. Saving money will be the smarter choice in the long run. And if you absolutely can’t kick the urge to buy yourself a few little treats during Venus retrograde, try looking for second-hand treasures at your local thrift shop. Again, there’s no point in completely denying yourself any fun or joy during Venus retrograde. It’s about scaling back mindless consumption and finding new ways to enjoy life.

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How Venus Retrograde Affects Your Beauty

Venus represents beauty and aesthetics, not just the kind you see in the mirror, but in your personal style, fashion tastes, and aura energy. Changing your appearance when it goes retrograde isn’t the smartest choice. This is because you’re likely to be making decisions based on impulse rather than intuition. When a planet goes retrograde, it skews your view of whatever area of life that planet influences. So when Venus stations retrograde, it can literally skew your self-perception and self-esteem in a major way. This could lead to beauty decisions that are fueled by insecurities, and you may regret them later.

Making changes to your physical appearance should be avoided during Venus retrograde. If you’re thinking about chopping all your hair off or bleaching your eyebrows, you’ll definitely want to consult a professional rather than try it alone in your bathroom at home. Of course, your best bet is to stick with changes that are temporary and can be reversed. The good news is you’re safe to stick with your monthly trims and maintenance treatments like highlights and touching up your roots. Remember, the thing to avoid is big, shocking, impulsive changes.

When it comes to plastic surgery and other cosmetic alterations, it’s always best to wait until Venus goes direct. These types of permanent changes to your appearance can be riskier when the planet of beauty and aesthetics goes retrograde. Again, you’re probably fine with light Botox or filler if you’re someone who regularly gets these procedures. But if this is your first time going under the needle–do yourself a favor and wait. The same goes for getting new tattoos. Anything you've planned for months ahead of a retrograde cycle is probably fine, just communicate your vision extra clearly and print off examples for your tattoo artist. But don’t get matching ink with your friends after a night of drinking and making questionable choices!

Venus Retrograde Beauty and Style Guide

Beauty runs more than skin deep, which means Venus also rules the inner beauty and light you shine on the world around you. Venus retrograde is a chance to embrace the different sides of your personality. You’ll want to focus on empowering yourself and embracing a natural glow-up during this Venus retrograde cycle. Late bloomers may find themselves discovering the source of their true beauty. And overall, you’ll benefit from doing self-reflection rather than finding a temporary fix in a bottle of hair dye.

Venus retrograde is a good time to refresh your personal style and clean out your closet. If you’ve been looking for some semblance of identity and self-expression in fast-fashion trends and mismatched aesthetics, it’s time to start fresh. Try on everything you own and donate anything that doesn’t make you feel good and look amazing. Not only does it symbolically wipe the slate clean, but it’s also a chance to examine how much of your money is being wasted on clothing and accessories you’re not using. New style and smarter spending habits? That’s kinda iconic.

Last but not least, Venus is the planet that empowers creativity and artistry. Art is a direct expression of your inner world and perspective on life. Creating art is one of the purest forms of joy, and it’s a great way to find your voice as an individual. When Venus goes retrograde, there’s an opportunity to tap into what motivates you to create, what interests you, and how you take up space in the world. Venus retrograde can help you see beyond your current reality and find new ways to manifest your creative energies in the world around you. Things like creating vision boards, revisiting old passion projects, or collaborating with people you admire can open up a world of possibilities.

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