On October 6th, the ‘Planet of Love and Money’ shifted its motion, back spinning into retrograde and turning its energy on its head. This change in energy will have a profound impact in some lives, while it’s influence will be far more subtle in others. What does it mean for your zodiac sign?

One of the better-known planets, Venus has long been associated with the energies of love and romance. However, this planet’s reach extends beyond just our love lives. The love that Venus shares have an impact on our friendships, relationships with our family members, as well as other forms of ‘love’ in this life including the arts, culture, and the pleasure derived from luxuries. It motivates and encourages to pursue all things that bring a smile to our faces or joy to our hearts.

When this planet shifts into retrograde movement, however, it can spell trouble in paradise. By interfering with the energy that encourages love and harmony, Venus Retrograde can cause significant rifts in our relationships, introduce difficult challenges in our lives and test even the closest of connections. While you can’t avoid its energy, understanding where you are going to experience this influence will empower you to take steps to protect yourself.

What does Venus Retrograde mean for your life? Read on to find out…

Aries (Mar 21 – Apr 19)

Venus Retrograde is a time of heightened sensitivity and emotions for you, causing you to look at your relationships in an incredibly different light. Actions that you would have once shrugged off now cut deep, leading you to second guess the people that you welcome into your life. Try not to make any harsh decisions or end any long-lasting relationships before first considering the situation with your head on straight. Otherwise, you will look back on this time later with deep regret. If you harness this energy in just the right way, this may be a great opportunity to become more in tune to the emotions of those in your life.

Taurus (Apr 20 – May 20)

A time of great introspection, you are going to spend much of Venus Retrograde considering which relationships bring positivity and light into your life, and which are merely weighing you down. Why is this important? While we often overlook the great impact that our relationships may have on our lives, a single toxic relationship may be the very roadblock standing between you and your goals and dreams. While it’s never easy for someone as loyal as you to end a relationship, you need to understand that there will be times in life where it is the best decision that you can make.

Gemini (May 21 – Jun 20)

Always the life of the party, you are known for your ability to light up any room just by walking into it. Your optimism and positivity shine upon everyone around you, helping them to get through the darkest times but be warned. When Venus shifts into retrograde you may feel as though this light is lost. Things that once brought you joy and happiness no longer seem important as you find yourself feeling very alone in this life. Try to power through. You can improve your mood by surrounding yourself in the people you love dearly. They will see your light shining through the darkness and help to guide you back to who you once were.

Cancer (Jun 21 – Jul 22)

While Venus Retrograde may feel like a negative experience for many people, it can actually bring you great joy? How does this work? This energy often triggers introspection in many areas of our lives. This can lead to overthinking and over analysis for some, causing challenges, but for you, this is going to work in your favor. You will find yourself thinking about the things that bring you joy, seeking ways to bring this happiness into your life more frequently. Embrace it! We all deserve to smile and enjoy life a little bit more.

Leo (Jul 23 – Aug 22)

Be warned dear Leo, the energy of Venus Retrograde is going to largely be focused on the lion’s den. During this time, you will find yourself reassessing your home life, seeking to better understand what is working well, what brings you joy, and what areas of your home life are demanding of your attention. This need to ‘fix’ things at home may cause you some serious disagreements, but if you stick with it, then you will be able to establish a happier, healthier and more stable home life than you have ever experienced before. However, allow it to overwhelm you or turn into an obsession, and you may wind up driving your family away.

Virgo (Aug 23 – Sept 22)

Always the perfectionist, Venus Retrograde is going to challenge you to find the happy balance between your expectations and the reality of who is waiting out there for you in the world. If you constantly demand perfection, refusing to settle for anything less, you are going to spend the rest of your life lonely (hint: even you make mistakes… you can’t expect someone to be perfect if you, yourself, aren’t). Try keeping your options open and you may be surprised. Great love is out there for you, but only if you open your heart and your mind to the idea that you can love someone including their flaws and quirks.

Libra (Sept 23 – Oct 22)

It’s time for you to take a good, hard look at your finances before you find yourself in a whole so deep that you will struggle to even believe you can make it out. You are going to have to face the stress and challenge of addressing your current financial state, including creating a budget and finding a way to stick to it. If this feels overwhelming, your first instinct will be to turn to retail therapy. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see why that response is highly counter-productive. Instead, start to focus on how to find joy in the little things every day that you don’t cost you anything. For example, when was the last time you took the time to sit outside and truly take in the beauty of the sunset?

Scorpio (Oct 23 – Nov 21)

You live your life constantly battling between your passionate desire to go after the things that you want and your mysterious and collected persona, keeping your emotions and desires from the world. During Venus Retrograde, this balance is going to turn upside down, triggering you to jump on any situation that even remotely catches your attention in your quest for true joy. Impulsive actions like this can get you into great trouble, so it’s time to take a step back and reassess all that is happening. Just a couple seconds of consideration could save you a great deal of pain.

Sagittarius (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

Always one to seek the truth in every situation, you are generally known as an amazing judge of character. However, during this time you may want to second guess those initial gut instincts. The coming of Venus Retrograde will make it harder than ever for you to identify the line between fact and fiction, leaving you feeling overly paranoid, worried, suspicious and alert. Try not to lash out in fear. Instead, seek proof of your suspicions, and you will likely find that you were completely off base this entire time.

Capricorn (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

If you haven’t taken the time to step back and reassess your relationships in the recent past, that time is now upon you. While you don’t normally worry too much about having a larger social circle, content with a small, tight-knit group of friends, during this time you may find your desire to connect with others on overdrive. This can be a great thing, allowing you to meet new, amazing individuals, but only if you open that cold heart to the possibility of a true connection. At the same time, however, keep your feet planted firmly on the group. Don’t allow yourself to be caught up in the excitement of a whirlwind romance.

Aquarius (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

Always one to seek the wisdom, love, and care of those around, you are incredibly protective of your inner circle. However, Venus Retrograde is going to trigger a serious ‘Type A personality’ vibe in your that will force you to see the world through different eyes. Rather than focusing your time and energy on your relationships at all times, you are suddenly going to find yourself interested in success and career advancement, a passion that exceeds anything you’ve felt before in this area. Try not to allow yourself to slip into the world of a ‘workaholic’. You don’t want to be left with nothing but regret when this time ends, and your thinking returns to normal.

Pisces (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

With the coming of Venus Retrograde, problems that you had once been avoiding and ignoring will suddenly become unbearable as they weight you down and prevent you from moving forward in this life. It’s time to reconnect with your spiritual self by engaging in some self-care, clearing your mind and calming your stress levels. This will allow you to see the situation through new eyes, eventually leading you to overcome the challenges that you face, but with poise and grace. There is no doubting the fact that you can handle this, as long as you don’t let it break you in the process.

Image via Medium