Dancing with Venus
A journey through Venus' eight year cycle and her retrograde in Leo
Astrology is the study of time, not in the linear sense, but rather an art form making meaning of cosmic cycles. Venus, planet of commitment, love, pleasure, and relationships, dances with the Earth and Sun creating a five pointed star known as the Venus synodic cycle. Every eight years, the star is formed through five retrograde periods when the goddess of love and beauty appears to travel backwards and ten cazimis when she’s enveloped in the heart of the Sun. Fellow astro nerds, astrologer Pallas K. Augustine writes about Venus’ eight year cycle here.
Tonight, as Venus in Leo stations retrograde at 8:33 p.m. CDT, let’s dance together through the last eight years to experience the magic of Venus’ five pointed star. In astrology, retrogrades are periods of reflection, revision, and recalibration. A time to turn inwards and backwards to remember how far we’ve come. So, let’s turn back the clocks to 2015 the last time Venus stationed retrograde in Leo.
Setting the scene. It’s July 25, 2015, and Venus stations retrograde at 0° 46’ Virgo appearing to twirl backwards to 14° 23’ Leo on September 6, 2015. What was happening in your life at this time? I was 22, fresh out of college, and about to embark on the journey of adulthood. I didn’t realize these were my final days of freedom before the capitalist trap of selling my labor to survive snapped its jaws around my neck.
In addition to commitment and love, Venus signifies our values. Astrologer Jessica Lanyadoo shares insights on Venus and values on her podcast (Ghost of a Podcast Ep. 342) which set me into research mode. I contemplated my values and how they’ve been challenged and transformed over time. Because of Jessica’s insights a lightbulb went off. After researching Venus retrogrades of the past eight years, I saw how this mystical cycle aligned with massive shifts in my values.
Summer and fall of 2015 I experienced my first political awakening bursting the conservative, white bubble I grew up in. Bernie Sanders announced his candidacy for President in April 2015, and the following summer and fall, during Venus retrograde, his popularity blazed like a wildfire among my generation. At 22, I had no idea what class consciousness was, but now at 30, I can thank Bernie’s campaign for bringing my awareness to the injustices of economic inequality. Â
Bernie’s speeches about the corruption of billionaires, Wall Street, and Big Pharma fired me up in a way I never experienced before. My belief systems and values were rocked, and the door to the labyrinth of anti-capitalist worldviews lured me inside. Reflecting on the last eight years, I can see how deep in the labyrinth I’ve traveled and how different of a person I’ve become. Although I shudder at electoral politics these days, I proudly display a Bernie Sanders sign on my living room wall as a reminder of the generational shift in political values Bernie, and more importantly his volunteers, helped ignite. I wouldn’t be who I am today without that initial spark.
Tonight, a new eight year Venus cycle unfolds (from the perspective of Venus in Leo). I’m a Leo rising, so a first house Venus retrograde holds significant meaning for me. Let’s continue our dance by reviewing the dates of the last five Venus retrogrades and contemplate how our commitments, values, and relationships have been challenged and transformed.
July 25, 2015 – September 6, 2015: Venus retrograde in Virgo and Leo
March 4, 2017 – April 15, 2017: Venus retrograde in Aries and Pisces
October 5, 2018 – November 16, 2018: Venus retrograde in Scorpio and Libra
May 13, 2020 – June 25, 2020: Venus retrograde in Gemini
December 19, 2021 – January 29, 2022: Venus retrograde in Capricorn
I recommend reviewing your natal chart and looking at the planets and houses you have in Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Scorpio, Capricorn, and Pisces to guide your contemplation. If you need support in understanding your chart, I'm available for astrology readings throughout July and August, virtual or in person, and I’d love to connect. You can utilize apps like Chani or websites like astro.com to calculate your chart by entering your birth date, time, and location. Precise birth time is key to an accurate chart and can likely be found on your birth certificate.
When researching these dates, I was shocked at how they aligned with major moments of transformation. October 5, 2018 – November 16, 2018 changed my life forever. I ended a four year abusive relationship and reclaimed my freedom. The breakup was Venusian divine intervention. The day after the breakup I attended the Women’s March to the Polls. It was magical leaving a toxic man behind and being surrounded by thousands of women and LGBTQ+ people marching through the streets of Chicago. At the march I met up with a friend who would be pivotal in my healing journey. Again, Venusian magic connected us when we needed each other most. It turned out as I was looking for a new apartment my friend needed a roommate! The stars aligned, and within a couple weeks I settled into my new home with a friend who empowered me by introducing me to feminist artists, leaders, and literature.
Fast forward to May 13, 2020 – June 25, 2020 and our collective values are rocked to their core. These weeks marked a historic period of social unrest when the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor were publicly exposed and dispersed throughout social media networks. Globally hundreds of thousands if not millions of people took to the streets to protest police violence.
In the spring and summer of 2020, my eyes were opened to the horrors of state violence wielded through policing. I went through a massive unlearning and learning journey that I’m still on today. I confronted my whiteness, unconscious biases, and the whitewashed educations I received. I was exposed to abolitionists for the first time and fell in love with the teachings of Mariame Kaba who expanded my heart and mind. That moment in time affirmed I too dream of a world free of oppression, punishment, and violence. That summer I committed to being part of social movements to bring a better world into being.
How have you danced through these Venus retrograde periods? What Venusian themes were prevalent in your life? Venus signifies art, beauty, commitment, harmony, LGBTQ+ & women’s rights, relationships, values, and so much more. When Venus is retrograde these aspects of life are disrupted or thrust into the spotlight.
With Venus in Leo themes of art, performance, and self-expression are amplified. In June 2015, we celebrated the federal legalization of gay marriage. Now in July 2023, the rights of queer and trans people are being stripped away. How can we rebel and support the LGBTQ+ community? How can our art and self-expression amplify messages of love and solidarity?
As you dance through the previous eight years of your life, and look ahead to the next eight, I hope you find magical synchronicities like the ones I stumbled upon today. Sending you all my love this Venus retrograde. Xoxo – Emily
Flower Moon is a semi-regular newsletter written by Emily Hall of Mystic Magnolia Astrology. Emily is a Taurus Sun, Gemini Moon & Leo Rising. Her ever-changing titles include astrologer, creative & writer, for now. Book an astrology reading here.