Venus
Retrograde in Scorpio
Venus was the goddess of fertility,
marriage, creativity and agriculture in myth worshipped by
our ancient ancestors in many of the cultures around the
world. Venus was known as governing peace, love, creativity
and sensuality but it also had a destructive darker side
when it was in its Morning Star phase. Venus in myth could
create but also destroy life.
Let me first list the astronomical information for Venus
that will turn retrograde October 8th through November 18th 2010 in the zodiac sign of Scorpio and
briefly backing into Libra in November. Venus will enter
Scorpio September 8th and leave January 7, 2011. Venus
retrogrades in the same sign every 8 years as it did
October 10 – November 21, 2002. Venus will also go through
the retrograde process that we will be able to observe
without telescopes as a Morning Star or Evening Star. The
ancient astrologers believed that the Morning Star
indicated more aggressive and agitated energy that could
forewarn war or political instability within the country.
The Evening Star was associated with the harmonizing
qualities of Venus forecasting peace and a fruitful
agricultural season.
This retrograde period will be a Morning Star as it was in
2002 suggesting a more aggressive nature. Even though Venus
is generally thought of as the planet of peace and love
that during the last Morning Star retrograde in 2002 a war
with Iraq was imminent. The US Congress October
2nd
passed a joint resolution
that authorized the President to use US Armed Forces
against Iraq, October 12th terrorists bombed 2 nightclubs in Bali
killing 202, October 22-25 Chechen rebels took hostages in
a Moscow theatre, November 8th the United Nations unanimously approved
a resolution forcing Saddam Hussein to disarm or face
serious consequences and November 25th George W. Bush signed the Homeland
Security Act into law.
But even without the Morning Star influence Venus will be
traveling through Scorpio, which is ruled by the mythic god
of war, Mars. Mars rules aggression, ambition, energy,
desires as well as courage and determination. And to make
this cycle even more passionate for good or evil Mars will
also be transiting Scorpio making for a powerful and
intensely desirous Mars from September 14 through October
27, 2010. When planets turn direct or retrograde is when
their effects are strongest for a few days before and after
and during the retrograde phase when the planet aligns with
the Sun. The dates to watch will be around September
12th
when Mercury turns direct,
October 8th
when Venus turns
retrograde, October 28th when Venus conjuncts the Sun, November
18th
as Venus turns direct. The
US will have their mid-term elections during this cycle,
which should certainly indicate a contentious election when
both parties will probably be upset with the outcomes.
However I am concerned that saber rattling between nations
could ignite as it did in 2002 and that cycle didn’t have
Venus aligned with angry Mars. When forecasting events for
countries one can use the chart when the nation was formed
but that chart is often wrong or at least the exact time is
when it became official. Therefore astrologers look to the
chart of the President, ruler or King, as astrologers used
for centuries. President Obama will have Venus and Mars
transiting his 9th house sector ruling international
affairs. Decisive Mars will move into his
10th
sector of government
leadership October 28 – December 7 as Venus continues in
his 9th. I would think that the major
conflicts would be outside the US but pull it into some
part of the crisis.
Venus governs unions and harmony whereas Mars is more
egocentric with strong desires and together good or evil
can be expressed depending on other planetary factors.
Venus governs love and Mars governs sex and together
romantic passions and fertility can blossom. But the dark
side arises when one separates love and sex. Tiger Woods
was born with Venus in Scorpio with Mars in a wide
opposition to his Venus as he separated or disassociated
his Venus love energy with that of his Mars energy ruling
his sexual encounters with other women. His Venus Mars
provided him the passion to successfully compete in golf
but obviously that was not enough to channel his strong
sexual passions. The positive expression of Venus Mars
would be romantic passion, creativity and fertility and the
dark side could be when one’s desires overtake their
rational choices whether it is love, sex, drugs, greed or
domestic violence.
When Venus retrogrades or when Mercury or Mars are
retrograde our emotional basic nature tends to surface and
influence our rational thinking so it’s important to
breathe, remain conscious and not to react impulsively.
Retrogrades are a good time to reflect on our past choices
and actions and make any necessary changes. Venus
retrograde is often when relationships are tested and the
good ones become stronger and the weak ones will show any
cracks and bad relationships could end or disintegrate into
battle.
The following is how Venus may affect each of the 12 signs
during its Scorpio phase from September 8 to January 7,
2011. When Venus retrogrades October 8 through November
18th
could indicate more
weakness or struggles with the Venus energy. But when Mars
aligns with Venus retrograde, October 8th through October 28th or a few days prior or after could
indicate when our insecurities could become more prevalent
triggering such reactions as jealousy, anger, greed or
addictions. Our only purpose in life is to become conscious
and during the retrograde phases especially with the
personal planets of Venus, Mars and Mercury is when we will
be tested on whether or not be had been avoiding the truth
or learning from it.
The effects of Venus and Mars in Scorpio:
Look for your Sun and Rising Sign
Aries: Scorpio isn’t comfortable with Aries as it can
indicate competition, conflict or quarreling. Venus Mars in
Scorpio is 8 signs from Aries the sector that governs joint
ventures, loans, sexuality, secrets and banking. The good
could be striving to succeed in stressful business
negotiations or hopeful anxiousness with a sexual partner.
The bad would be battling or stressing over finances,
business partnerships or agreements or that prickly area of
sex.
Taurus: Scorpio is opposite Taurus that can either indicate
compromise or confrontation. Venus Mars will be 7
signs past Taurus that
governs the sector of relationships, contracts or the
public. The good could be falling in love, a marriage
proposal, a business contract offer, or public recognition.
The dark side could be conflicts, confrontations and
competitiveness with partnerships in the personal or
professional life.
Gemini: Scorpio isn’t comfortable with Gemini as they can
compete and quarrel against each other. Venus Mars in
Scorpio is 6 signs
from Gemini that governs the area of one’s daily job
routines but also health maintenance. The good could be
directing one’s passion into their work, finding a new job,
volunteering, or getting excited about starting a new
business and a good time to start a new health regimen but
before Venus is retrograde. The dark side to avoid would be
getting into conflicts at the job or letting bad eating
habits get out of control
Cancer: Scorpio is a water sign like Cancer and therefore
quite compatible. Venus Mars in Scorpio is 5 signs past
Cancer that governs the area of children, fertility,
creativity, entertainment, sports, speculation and romantic
fascination. The good outcome could be getting pregnant or
having a baby or bringing a creative idea to birth, falling
in romantic love, creative expression and the necessary
passion to compete in sports. The dark side could play out
with discipline problems with children, romantic disputes,
unintentional pregnancies, gambling debts or bad business
speculations.
Leo: Scorpio and Leo are called fixed signs that can be
loyal and stubborn and these two energies can struggle
against one another. Venus Mars in Scorpio is 4 signs past
Leo that governs the home, family, and property. The good
could be a family vacation, wedding or reunion or the
creative passion could be channeled into buying, selling or
remodeling the home. One could also have romantic dinners
or host parties at their home. The dark side could be too
much greed around buying or selling a house, or going
overboard with expenses on the home or events with family.
Virgo: Scorpio and Virgo get along fine. Venus Mars will be
3 signs past Virgo governing the area of communications,
learning, writing, short trips, interviews, sales and
siblings that includes our close neighbors. The good would
be creative writing, acting or lecturing. Weekend
pleasurable getaways or enjoyable activities with siblings
or neighbors are other positive expressions. This would
also be quite good for any type of sales, or selling
yourself at a job interview or at a business meeting. The
dark side could be ego disagreements with siblings or
neighbors, or becoming too aggressive at meetings or when
trying to promote oneself.
Libra: Scorpio and Libra tend to be neutral to each other.
Venus Mars in Scorpio is 2 signs from Libra the area that
governs cash flow, material possession and self-esteem. The
good can manifest with a strong ambition to make extra
money or the energy to attract more financial
opportunities. You may shop to acquire beautiful artwork.
The dark side could me associating your self-esteem with
material possessions and spending money on fleeting
happiness or just spending too much money on impulse. You
should be able to end up with more money as long as you
don’t spend more than usual.
Scorpio: Venus Mars in your sign indicates that you are the
instigator, magnet or both for creative and sexual changes.
Venus Mars in Scorpio is in the 1st sector that governs the personality,
appearance, character, vitality and ego. The good
expression would be projecting charisma, charm, sensuality
and a passionate nature. This would be excellent for public
recognition, popularity, winning elections, taking
leadership roles, and for attracting the spotlight on
yourself or your activities. Also positive would be any
creative expression and seeking or attracting a romantic
partner. The dark side would be craving too much attention,
projecting sexuality too overtly, self-aggrandizement,
promiscuity or letting desires such as addictions take
control of your rational choices. Venus Mars in Scorpio
will test your spiritual and ethical development as much
good can result as well as self-destructiveness.
Sagittarius: Scorpio and Sagittarius are neutral with each
other. Venus Mars in Scorpio is 12 signs past Sagittarius
governing retreats, charity, healing, meditation but also
isolation, hospitals, fears or our unconscious called the
shadow. The good would be channeling your passions towards
charity or crusading for the sick and disadvantaged. The
12th
likes to be alone and with
Venus Mars this could be a great period for the creative
process as well as for rehearsals or rewrites. The dark
side would be reflected in creative blocks or frustrations,
secret love affairs or romantic separations and unconscious
addicted behavior could also be triggered.
Capricorn: Scorpio and Capricorn tend to be okay with each
other. Venus Mars in Scorpio is 11 signs past Capricorn
that governs one’s dreams and aspirations, friendships and
group associations. The good would be seen with increased
enthusiasm and passion towards attaining one’s goals,
expectations and hopes. Venus Mars can be very social and
the 11th
rules friendships and group
activities, which could be good for making new friends,
joining social or professional organizations, or
participating in team sports. The dark side could be
over-inflated expectations, misinterpreting friendship for
romance or vice versa, or unhealthy competitiveness among
friends.
Aquarius: Scorpio and Aquarius are at cross-purposes with
one another and both are set in their ways. Venus Mars in
Scorpio is 10 signs
past Aquarius that governs the profession, reputation,
business and leadership. The good could be artistic
ambitions and accomplishments or becoming more social with
one’s professional duties. Venus Mars awakens charisma that
plays well in the career sector, which would be good for
leadership and popularity. The dark side would be arrogance
in a leadership capacity, or too much desire, greed or an
overly aggressive nature. In other words, too much hubris
that often sets one up for a fall.
Pisces: Scorpio and Pisces are both water signs and
therefore compatible. Venus Mars in Scorpio is 9
signs past from Pisces that
governs higher education, media, law, philosophy,
long-distant travels and foreign energy. The good could be
passions channeled into media, publishing, marketing or an
importing exporting business. The 9th also is excellent for higher education
and philosophical, spiritual or religious studies. Venus
Mars can be very pleasurable and connected with the
9th
can instigate a strong
desire to travel abroad or some of you could fall in love
with a foreigner or while traveling. The dark side would be
fanaticism with justice, religion or personal beliefs.
Perhaps you may find yourself in a difficult long-distant
love affair. You may be desiring too much media attention
or the media could be hounding you. However, the
9th
placement is usually
fortunate and lucky so unless there are other mitigating
planetary factors having planets in your
9th
should be good.