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We're currently in a very interesting astrological period, especially with the influence of Venus retrograde in Leo, which runs from July 23 to September 4.
Of all the recent transits, the most attention-grabbing is Venus retrograde in Leo. From July 23 through September 4, Venus moves retrograde through Leo. Planetary retrogrades usually bring certain lessons, prompting us to analyse, examine and confirm specific areas of life, and to check once more whether adjustments are needed. In other words, every planetary retrograde is the universe reminding us to pause, review our current plans and goals, and confirm whether we need to change direction. We do our checking and adjusting during the retrograde, and once the planet turns direct again, we carry on forward.
Do remember that there's no need to worry or be afraid just because a planet is retrograde — after all, several planets go retrograde every year. In fact, retrograde energy also helps us spot problems we might normally overlook, so that we can correct and adjust them in good time.
When it comes to Venus retrograde, there are several important areas to pay attention to. The first is money. This includes our spending habits, our attitudes towards money, and the way we use it. This Venus retrograde period is an excellent time to examine whether our spending habits and money mindset need adjusting. If you're involved in investing, you can also take this opportunity to review whether your positions need rebalancing and whether your investment strategy needs revising.
Venus retrograde will also prompt us to think about "beauty". We need to ask ourselves: what is true "beauty"? What is our own personal definition of beauty? Venus retrograde is a very good time to reflect deeply on your aesthetic outlook and your understanding of beauty.
The second key area involves love, partnerships and collaborative relationships. As mentioned earlier, Venus retrograde is a time for looking back and reviewing. We need to assess our views on love and consider whether the person we're seeing is really right for us. Even those who are single will find themselves reflecting on these questions during this time, and exploring how to care for themselves.
For those who already have a partner or a business collaborator, retrograde energy may bring to the surface long-standing differences in communication, expectations and values that have perhaps been overlooked. The issues that come up during this period usually don't appear out of nowhere — they were already there, we just never dealt with them properly.
How you handle these issues depends on your own situation. Some people may need to communicate and work things through; others may need to assess whether the relationship is worth continuing. However, before dealing with the problems in your existing relationship, it isn't advisable to rush into a new one, hoping a new relationship will paper over the old problems. This too relates to the influence of Venus retrograde: during the retrograde, our sense of our own worth within relationships may not yet be solid, which makes it easy to be drawn in by things that look glamorous on the surface while ignoring our deeper inner needs, and to make the wrong choice.
So if you meet someone you like during this period, it's best not to rush into any major decisions. Ideally, wait until Venus retrograde ends — after September 4 — then calm down and reassess whether this new person is really right for you. By then, you may well have different thoughts and different answers from the ones you have now.
This Venus retrograde happens to take place in Leo, and Leo is connected with self-worth, self-confidence and self-esteem. At the same time, we'll also be reflecting on our sense of self-worth in love and at work. During this period, you'll be examining your self-esteem and self-worth more deeply. Some people may find themselves questioning their own value, feeling insecure and inadequate about their appearance, abilities, social standing or achievements.
This period may affect your confidence, and may even lead some people to re-examine decisions they made in the past, discovering that earlier choices don't seem quite right after all — which can trigger a sense of distrust in themselves.
However, I want to emphasise that the whole purpose of a planetary retrograde is to guide us to review and adjust, so that we're ready for the next stage of growth. So if you're spotting the problems and are willing to make adjustments, that's absolutely wonderful! Being able to pause under the energy of a retrograde and find the places that need adjusting will benefit you enormously in your future growth.
Let's continue looking at the influence of Venus retrograde in Leo. What characterises this retrograde is that it has us re-examining self-worth, love, working partnerships, intimate relationships and our attitudes towards money. These challenges are meant to inspire us to reflect and make adjustments. Through those adjustments, we can move into healthier, more positive relationships and gain a clearer understanding of our own values. And so the gift of Venus retrograde is exactly this: an opportunity that allows us to grow.
Finally, as I was writing this article, I had the soundtrack from Succession playing. That series tells the story of a wealthy family and everything that revolves around money, power and self-worth. It highlights the importance of self-worth, and of pursuing the things that match your own values. That fits the energy of Venus retrograde in Leo very well. If you enjoy American dramas too, I really do recommend it.
Lastly, I hope this has been helpful to you and has given you a better understanding of the influence of Venus retrograde in Leo. If you have any further questions or would like more astrological guidance, you're always welcome to get in touch!
