So the big astrology news this week is Venus Retrograde.

For the next two months or so, Venus will be moving Retrograde (that is, it appears to be moving backwards through the sky from our vantage point) through the signs of Scorpio and Libra.

At a time of Venus Retrograde, we are called into review of our relationships. Truth can be clearly seen – insecurities and issues pop up to be dealt with, and we are challenged to get real with what’s going on in our relationships right now. We might end up reminiscing on the past, getting lost in old hurts, or have old lovers pop up after a long silence.

Because it’s Venus, a Venus Retrograde also plays with our feelings of self worth and how much we are willing to honour and love ourselves – we might find ourselves putting everyone else first, dismissing our needs, and not treating ourselves like the luscious creatures of pleasure that we are.

I’m already feeling it hard. I ran into my ex for the first time since we broke up last week – that was weird! And then on Friday night, the night of the Eclipse, I had a dream about my current boyfriend cheating on me with some girl behind the bike sheds at school, and then the next night I dreamt I was hanging out all night in a library with my ex, and then the third night, I was up all night with relationship anxieties.

JEEEEZ, man. It’s only day four!

Perhaps it’s affecting me pretty hard as, in astrology, my Moon and Rising Sign is in Scorpio.

When planets travel through the skies, they journey through different signs, or territories. Each sign or territory has a different flavour, or set of characteristics.

Scorpio is the sign of intensity, sexuality, power, the hidden and the forbidden. Deepest truths, scary desires, and the need for soul-bearing intimacy – that sort of thing. Venus in retrograde is said to get us to look at the power balances in our relationships, and what feelings and desires we are hiding from – what dark scorpions live in the shadows?

Scorpio is Venus’s Sign of Detriment – it’s the sign that Venus gets on with the least, and feels really uncomfortable with. Easy-going, fun-loving Venus is freaked out by Scorpio’s love of hanging out in graveyards and obsessive personality. When Venus has to hang out with Scorpio, she tends to get really possessive, jealous and controlling.

Venus will move through Scorpio until the end of October, and then she will move through Libra. Libra is one of Venus’ favourite places to be, so retrograde in Libra is little less heavy than Scorpio. Libra, the sign of beauty, balance, harmony and relationships, though Venus’ retrograde through Libra might bring out her traits of superficiality, things that look good on the surface, and her need to people please at the expense of herself.

How to deal with this retrograde shiz? 

Well, this stuff happens all the time, so it’s not the doom and gloom that the new age internet will have you believe. As stuff comes up this month, your challenge is to remember to NOTICE things and be a witness to what is going on, rather than loose yourself in late nights freaking out, or texting up a storm with your best friend because your partner said something the wrong way.

The trick is to be extra vigilant in looking after yourself. Watch out for that little voice that goes, oh no I’m not worth that. The voice that goes, yes I WILL do that thing for you, even when you don’t have time and you don’t want to.
Venus Retrograde will tempt us to sacrifice ourselves for others, to not honour the juicy loveliness of who we are and contract in her spheres of influence: love, self worth, creativity and abundance.

The challenge is to see your shadow, and love and nourish yourself any way. Prove to Venus that you KNOW you are a goddess, and she will be giddy with glee.