Top 5 tips for Venus Retrograde in Aries

 On March 01 Venus, the planet of love and beauty, begins her retrograde journey, starting at 9 degrees of Aries. This retrograde period will last until April 12th, when she will station direct at 24 degrees of Pisces. Venus retrogrades occur every year and a half or so and repeat in the same sign every 8 years. The last Venus retrograde in Aries was back in the spring of 2017, and the time before that in early 2011, etc. Think back to that time to get an idea of what themes may come up again for you this March and April. Below are the top 5 themes and advice for navigating the Venus in Aries retrograde.

 

Astro Codes Oracle

1. Relationships Return. Whether it's an old flame or an old friend, you are more likely to have someone from your past return to you now. It doesn't necessarily mean you will get back together with your ex, but you might be tempted to. In most cases those that do get back together with an old partner during this time tend to break up after, as they are reminded of why they are no longer together in the first place. For most people Venus retrograde means you might reconnect with an old friend or lover. something from the past comes back in a new form, but usually pleasantly so. Watch for what returns to you during this retrograde period.
   
   
2. Relationship Reviews. Venus is the planet of love and relationships, and during her retrograde cycle, it's a good time to review them. This includes romantic, friendships and family relationships. We are asked to look at what is and isn't working, power imbalances and issues like independence vs closeness in our relationships. With Venus in the sign of the warrior, we are asked to be more assertive about our needs. This doesn't mean you will break up or lose friends, but often relationships that are on shaky ground will fall apart, while those that are strong will only emerge stronger for this time of reflection.
   
   
3. Retro Styles. As Venus is also the planet that rules aesthetics and beauty, when she goes retrograde there tends to be an increase in nostalgia for past fashion, design, music and the arts. You may notice that retro styles from 8, 16, 24, 32, etc. years ago, may come back and music or movies from these past periods may experience a revamp or resurgence. It's a good time personally to experiment with your look, just don't do anything too drastic or permanent like cut all your hair off or get a tattoo, as you will probably regret it once Venus moves direct again.
   
   
4. Creative Experimentation. A recurring theme when Venus goes retrograde in Aries is that controversial or experimental art comes out that pushes the boundaries of what society considers acceptable. Whether it's in music, movies, fashion or the visual arts, the Venus retrograde in Aries often marks a shift in public taste. This is because Aries is a sign that is often a pioneer and leader, is willing to take risks and to stand out from the crowd. This makes it a great time to do some creative experimenting of your own. Even if you do not consider yourself an artist, take a chance and redecorate that room, or try on the latest style in fashion to see if it suits you. You might be surprised.
   
   
5. Protest. Venus retrograde periods have often coincided with times of mass protest and upheaval. In 2017 the US saw the largest ever demonstrations in the Women's March. In 2011 there was the Arab Spring uprisings that spread throughout North Africa and the Middle East. Venus retrograde in Aries has a particular connection with women's rights. This goes all the way back to 1913 when there were massive suffragette rallies in both the US and the UK. If you are concerned about civil rights, particularly women's rights, this is a good time to protest and take action. Venus is the planet that rules women and the feminine, and when she is in the sign of the warrior, Aries, she is not willing to settle for less than she deserves.
   
   
   

    
   

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Five Tips for Navigating the Mars Retrograde

On Friday December 06 Mars retrograde begins at 6 degrees of Leo. Mars retrogrades are not as common as Mercury retrogrades, which happen 3 times a year. A Mars retrograde occurs every 26 months, and this one lasts until February 23 2025, where he will retrograde back to 17 degrees of Cancer. Mars is the planet of war, fighting, desire and action, and when he moves backward, it can cause frustration and a slow down in the forward momentum in our lives. Mars retrogrades ask us to slow down and to reflect on past actions. This is not a time to rush forward or to initiate action. 

 

Astro Codes Oracle

This retrograde starts in the sign of Leo, but moves backwards into Cancer on January 06 2025. Mars in Leo is leadership and charisma but also can be forceful and bullying. When in retrograde, trying to force your point of view on to others or to strong arm them to get your way will end up backfiring. It is more likely that you will look like you are overreacting and being a bully and you won’t get your way. When Mars moves into Cancer, we become more protective of who and what we love. We can also use emotions or guilt to try to passive aggressively control others. During the retrograde these efforts are more likely to backfire on us and be ineffective. We are also more likely to withdraw in an effort to protect ourselves now. 

The Mars retrograde, just like the Mercury retrograde, is challenging, but offers us an opportunity to reflect on past actions and to slow down and rest before moving forward again. If we can work with the energies of the retrograde we can benefit from these retrograde seasons. Below are 5 themes of Mars retrograde to help you navigate the next three months.

 

1. Slow down. Mars is about forward motion and action, and during his retrograde cycle, we want to act but feel stopped by outside forces or lack motivation from within. This will be even more powerful during the first two weeks of December, as we have a Mercury retrograde going on now too. Expect an increase in delays along with transportation issues, as Mercury rules travel, and Mars rules action and movement. This is also a time when we are more likely to have accidents or injuries if we are rushing. Mars retrogrades are a reminder to slow down. Things will go better if we go with the flow rather than trying to push against things.

 

2. Don’t Start a Fight. Traditional advice for a Mars retrograde is to not start a war as the aggressor will lose. This isn’t just good advice for armies, but in our own lives, don’t start a fight now as it is more likely that you will lose. It’s okay to defend yourself if attacked, but make sure to take considered action. We may feel annoyed, frustrated, or even downright angry with others, but knee jerk reactions will not serve you now. Remember that it is best to think things through before jumping into action.

 

3. Underdogs are more likely to win. Another common theme of Mars retrograde periods is that underdogs tend to win during these times. If someone is a favourite  and looks like they will easily win, whether in battle or a sports competition, they are more likely to lose to a less favoured opponent now. These time periods have seen champions emerge out of seemingly nowhere, and turn arounds in what we may have thought was certain victory. Don’t take it for granted that those who have always been on top will continue to be so. This can be good news or bad, depending on what side of a competition you are on.

 

4. Enemies and rivals return. A Mercury retrograde can bring back an old friend and a Venus retrograde and old lover, but Mars is a fighting planet, so brings back enemies and rivals. While not always pleasant, sometimes it brings them back to us in order to resolve and heal issues or at least to come to terms with what happened in the past. Sometimes it is not an enemy, but rather a fellow competitor or colleague, especially if we are involved in sports, gaming or the military or police force. 

 

5. Review past actions. Part of the lessons of the Mars retrograde is to slow down and look at how we acted in the past so that we can learn from our successes and failures before we move forward again. A Mars retrograde shows us where we get frustrated and where we are overconfident in our abilities. If we have been avoiding conflict it will force us to confront the issues we have been ignoring. Conversely, if we have been too pushy, it will blow up in our face now. Mars is not subtle and he is showing us now how we can take action more effectively. 

 

All in all a Mars retrograde can de disruptive and frustrating, but can also be an opportunity for us to slow down and reflect on things before we rush forward again. If you would like more astrology, you can sign up for my free newsletter on my website. I also have detailed weekly astrology reports on my Patreon and you can book a personal reading on my Etsy shop