How Venus Retrograde Affects Your Relationships and Self-Worth

Venus, the planet of love, beauty, and values, goes retrograde approximately every 18 months for about 40-43 days. During this time, our relationships, financial decisions, and sense of self-worth come under review. Here's how Venus retrograde might affect you and how to navigate it with grace.

What Happens During Venus Retrograde?#

When Venus appears to move backward in the sky, we're invited to reassess what—and who—we value. This retrograde period often brings:

• Past relationships returning for closure or reconsideration
• Hidden relationship patterns becoming more visible
• Shifting perspectives on beauty, art, and aesthetics
• Reassessment of financial decisions and material possessions
• Fluctuations in self-esteem and self-worth

Relationships Under Review#

Venus retrograde often brings relationship patterns into sharp focus. You might notice:

• Ex-partners reappearing (in person or in your thoughts)
• Unresolved issues from past relationships surfacing
• Current relationships facing tests or revealing deeper truths
• Attraction to people from your past
• Reassessment of what you truly need in partnerships

This is not typically the best time to begin new romantic relationships, as your perceptions and attractions may shift significantly once Venus returns to direct motion.

Financial Reconsiderations#

Since Venus also rules finances and material possessions, expect to:

• Reconsider major purchases (especially luxury items)
• Reassess your budget and spending habits
• Question what you truly value in material terms
• Notice fluctuations in your financial attitudes

Beauty and Self-Image#

Venus retrograde can bring shifts in how we perceive beauty:

• Dissatisfaction with appearance or style
• Desire for makeovers or transformations (though major changes are best delayed)
• Reconnection with old aesthetic preferences
• Deeper questioning of beauty standards

How to Navigate Venus Retrograde#

To make the most of this transit:

1. Review, don't restart: Use this time to reflect on relationships rather than beginning new ones.
2. Resolve the past: Address unfinished emotional business.
3. Reassess values: Consider what truly matters to you.
4. Delay major beauty changes: Wait until Venus goes direct for significant appearance changes.
5. Practice self-love: Focus on inner beauty and self-acceptance.

The Gift of Venus Retrograde#

While challenging, Venus retrograde offers the valuable opportunity to:

• Gain clarity about your true desires in relationships
• Release relationship patterns that no longer serve you
• Deepen your understanding of self-worth beyond external validation
• Reconnect with your authentic values
• Transform how you relate to others and yourself

By working consciously with this energy, you can emerge from Venus retrograde with greater authenticity in your relationships and a deeper connection to what you truly value.