angstoic.com Astrologer, Ang Stoic
Venus Retrograde is an astrological phenomenon where Venus appears to reverse its normal course, moving backwards through the zodiac from Earth’s viewpoint. Occurring approximately every 18 months and lasting about 40 days, this period is significant as it prompts intense reflection, revision of our relationships, and reassessment of personal values. Unlike Venus’s usual forward motion, retrograde phases offer a unique opportunity to delve deeply into emotional truths and recalibrate our inner relational dynamics.
Venus Retrograde phases, while notorious in astrological circles, remain somewhat mysterious and deeply misunderstood in their true psychological implications. In this current incurrence, commencing her backward journey on 1 March 2025 at 10° Aries and concluding on 12 April at 24° Pisces, Venus enchants us into a complex, yet deeply enriching exploration of our innermost desires, relationship patterns, and personal values. Her pre-shadow phase began earlier, subtly at first, on 28 January at 24° Pisces, and we shall continue to grapple with the magnetic pulls of her aura, as well as the lingering echoes of her effects until she finally clears her post-shadow phase by 16 May 2025. Understanding this timeline is key, as each stage holds a distinct psychological resonance, deeply felt in our relationships and personal value systems.
The essence of a retrograde Venus is neither simple nor mythically poetic—it is an intensely human experience, deeply psychological, and yet profoundly revealing in terms of what moves us, emotionally. It speaks directly to the inherent duality within us, symbolised by Venus’ archetypal duality as Aphrodite Urania (celestial, cerebral) and Aphrodite Pandemos (earthly, instinctual). While Urania seeks idealised, intellectualised unions, Pandemos longs for visceral, tangible connections, driven purely by sensation and instinct.
Throughout the Aries portion of this retrograde (1–27 March), Venus compels a rigorous examination of our individual autonomy in relationships. Aries, inherently self-oriented, driven and pioneering, raises questions about the force of self-regard, autogenous identity, and independence within partnerships. During this time, insecurities around self-worth become magnified, prompting reflection on whether our relationships enhance or diminish our essential self-respect. Impulsive attractions (love at first sight), sudden emotional reactions, and rash conclusions about partnerships are frequent, particularly those relationships founded on shaky ground, lacking authenticity or mutual respect.
For many, this Aries passage will unearth underlying fears of vulnerability masked by defensive independence. We may perceive imagined slights or pressures as direct threats to our autonomy, swiftly retreating into isolation or superficial distractions. Yet, beneath the apparent boredom or restlessness in relationships lies the uncomfortable truth—an intense dissatisfaction with ourselves, projected outwardly onto others. This revelation is crucial, and confronting it directly rather than evading it could significantly alter our relational landscapes, urging the need to accept and nurture genuine self-love before expecting intimacy with another.
Venus then slides back into Pisces from 27 March until her direct station on 12 April, dramatically shifting our internal narrative from the fiery individualism of Aries to Piscean romantic idealism. Here, the collective emotional climate becomes saturated with nostalgia, vulnerability, and longing for past romantic fantasies—often distant, unresolved, or even illusory. Pisces Venus retrograde amplifies the shadow of past love, nostalgia clouding judgement, idealising former partners, and inviting illusions of lost love to dominate our present realities.
Emotionally intense and profoundly impressionable, this Piscean phase will unearth deep layers of romantic idealisation and escapist fantasies that prevent genuine emotional intimacy. Many will experience relationships from a vantage point rooted in past disappointments or losses, unconsciously projecting unresolved emotional traumas onto present circumstances. Relationships that begin or reignite during this period carry a heavy karmic residue, often characterised by cycles of disillusionment and idealisation until deeper psychological realisations emerge.
Throughout this retrograde, Venus forces a critical re-evaluation of our capacity to receive love authentically. Are we stuck replaying outdated attachment-style paradigms and recurring scripts—attracted repeatedly to unavailable partners or emotionally toxic dynamics? The karmic signature of Venus retrograde is intense: unresolved past-life themes around betrayal, rejection, or emotional abandonment resurface, demanding integration rather than avoidance.
Ultimately, Venus’ retrograde journey in 2025 is about reclaiming authenticity in love—stripping away layers of societal conditioning and false personas that have obscured genuine emotional expression. While we may feel an urgent pull towards the romanticised past, the transformative opportunity lies in seeing clearly how these illusions, whether based on personal insecurity or collective myths about love, have hindered our capacity for genuine intimacy and mutual respect.
From an ontological standpoint, Venus Retrograde recalibrates our internal magnetism—the subtle yet profound force drawing us towards particular individuals, experiences, and values. When retrograde, Venus disrupts habitual patterns of attraction, temporarily diminishing the gravitational pull towards familiar comfort zones, “snuffing out fires”, compelling us instead to explore uncharted emotional territories. Our senses become acutely aware of discrepancies between superficial attraction and deeper emotional resonance, allowing us to identify and ultimately discard relationships and values misaligned with our core authenticity.
In this heightened state of awareness, many previously unconscious motivations—fear-based dependencies, self-sabotaging insecurities, or compulsive patterns of romantic ideation—are illuminated with particularly unsettling clarity. Thus, the retrograde period serves as a critical emotional and relational audit, prompting a hard reset, in functional terms, enabling the conscious reclamation of true personal values and desires.
Following Venus’ station direct in Pisces on 12 April, a gradual integration begins, solidifying the emotional realisations gleaned during her retrograde motion. Her post-shadow period, lasting until 16 May, is essential for anchoring new understandings into lasting change. Relationships initiated or dramatically altered during the retrograde require careful reassessment during this phase, as previously obscured truths will commonly crystallise into full clarity.
Ultimately, Venus Retrograde in Aries-Pisces (2025) challenges us to confront deep-seated relational illusions, unresolved emotional wounds, and self-defeating patterns of attraction. This period demands unflinching psychological honesty: only through consciously engaging with these uncomfortable truths can we genuinely transform our relational landscapes, emerging with greater emotional maturity, integrity, and the capacity for profound intimacy and authentic love.
But enough of the astro-tech preambles; How will this year’s Venus Retrograde impact you?
ARIES
A subtle inner stirring began late January, prompting quiet reflection on emotional blind spots or lingering subconscious baggage. By 1 March, Venus retrogrades right in your sign, insisting you address how you show up in the world, whether you lean too much on outdated self-images. Then around 27 March, she slides back into Pisces, coaxing you to face deeply buried fears or regrets, the kind you’d rather keep hidden. This pause is a necessary reckoning before 12 April, when Venus goes direct, reawakening your personal magnetism and appetite for bolder expression. By mid-May, you’ll have shed stale illusions and re-enter life more fully, with a renewed sense of who you are and how you want to be seen.
TAURUS
Early this year, sudden questions about friendships and group loyalties bubbled up, hinting that some alliances might no longer reflect your evolving values. On 1 March, your ruler Venus retrogrades in Aries, shining a spotlight on private fears—particularly around standing solo if necessary. Late March draws Venus back into Pisces, stirring fantasies of ideal social circles or philanthropic causes. Yet it also reveals hidden doubts about who truly has your back. Come mid-April, Venus moves direct, letting you clarify which connections you cherish and which are draining. By May, you’re ready to integrate deeper insights into your future plans, trusting that even if you go it alone at times, it’s worth aligning your dreams with genuine allies.
GEMINI
A gentle little side-nudge to reconsider your career path arrived in late January, prodding you to question whether your ambitions still fuel your sense of purpose. Once Venus turned retrograde on 1 March, tensions around group involvement or public recognition started surfacing. Maybe you’ve grown tired of chasing goals that no longer excite you. By late March, Venus dips into Pisces, spotlighting illusions about success and whether you’ve confused visibility with genuine achievement. After she goes direct on 12 April, you’ll feel freer to pursue projects or communities that energise you. Mid-May finds you stepping into a new groove, merging a redefined professional vision with a supportive network that genuinely appreciates your unique spark.
CANCER
A quiet restlessness about your worldview began creeping in earlier this year: you may have felt an urge to expand your personal horizons or revisit lost beliefs. When Venus retrograded on 1 March in Aries, career pressures and expectations may have clashed with that call to explore. Around 27 March, she floats back to Pisces, urging you to sift through spiritual ideals you outgrew but never fully released. Reflecting on past journeys—literal or metaphorical—could reveal truths you’d ignored. By 12 April, Venus goes direct, reawakening your desire for meaningful growth even as you balance work demands. Ultimately, May ushers in a more authentic path, one that unites worldly responsibilities with the deeper yearnings that feed your soul.
LEO
Since late January, Venus has been stirring up deep currents in your eighth house (Pisces), shining a light on how sex (power), intimacy, and shared finances interweave to mess with your life. You may have sensed old emotional patterns resurfacing—moments of jealousy, vulnerability, or a desire to merge more profoundly with a trusted partner. Now, as she turns retrograde on 1 March, your spiritual yearnings collide with the realisation that trust and surrender aren’t always easy. A kind of death is necessary. Come late March, Venus re-enters Pisces, pushing you to face hidden fears of dependency or even betrayal. By mid-April, when she goes direct, an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and truth (Truth) in your ninth house (Aries) awakens—fueling bold plans for adventure and frank debates with those around you about what’s real.
VIRGO
Tensions around intimate or business partnerships began surfacing in the final weeks of January, hinting at unspoken grievances. By 1 March, Venus retrogrades in Aries, confronting you with deeper power struggles—where do you feel at a disadvantage, and where might you hold back out of fear? As late March draws Venus back into Pisces, memories of past relationships or illusions you clung to about love return, prompting a reevaluation of what mutual commitment really means. After 12 April, Venus turns direct, allowing you to re-establish fairer give-and-take, be it emotionally or financially. By mid-May, a healthier balance emerges, shaped by a clearer understanding of when to trust, when to compromise, and when to stand firm.
LIBRA
Hints of unrest in your daily routine or health regimen began emerging near the end of January, leaving you questioning whether you’ve overextended your energy. Venus retrograding in Aries on 1 March now magnifies tensions in your one-to-one partnerships, showing how much (or how little) you and others invest in mutual support. Around 27 March, Venus steps back into Pisces, illuminating subtle imbalances in how you serve or care for others. Perhaps old guilt or worry patterns resurface, demanding you set fresh boundaries. Once she goes direct on 12 April, equilibrium starts returning. By May, you’re more willing to assert your needs, ensuring the partnerships in your life function on a basis of genuine reciprocity and respect.
SCORPIO
In late January, a spark of creative or romantic yearning emerged, stirring the notion that you might be playing it too safe in love or self-expression. Then Venus turns retrograde on 1 March in Aries, highlighting lingering dissatisfaction with how you structure your daily life—too many chores and not enough joy, perhaps. Come late March, Venus recedes into Pisces, resurfacing deeper longings for spontaneous love and authentic artistry. You could also confront illusions you once had about “perfect” romance. By mid-April, Venus goes direct, rekindling your creative fire in a more grounded way, better woven into daily routines. With May’s arrival, balance reigns: pragmatic habits merge effortlessly with your longing to explore passion on your own terms.
SAGITTARIUS
Flickers of restlessness around home or family life arose after late January, nudging you to assess whether your emotional foundation feels secure. When Venus retrogrades on 1 March, you face revelations in your realm of personal pleasure and self-expression: Have you been limiting your joy to keep the peace? By 27 March, Venus re-enters Pisces, dredging up earlier family patterns you might have ignored. Perhaps old resentments or soft spots around belonging come to the surface. Around 12 April, as Venus turns direct, the tension between your private life and your thirst for fun begins to resolve. By mid-May, you’ve learned to anchor yourself more confidently at home, freeing up new creative channels and genuine sparks of enjoyment.
CAPRICORN
Subtle rifts in communication began to appear in late January, prodding you to question whether you’ve been heard—or if you’re listening closely enough. With Venus retrograding in Aries on 1 March, family tensions or unresolved issues at home may intensify. You might see how unspoken hurts or misunderstandings seep into daily exchanges. When Venus slides back into Pisces in late March, you’re forced to reckon with illusions or unaddressed worries about siblings, neighbours, or your immediate environment. By 12 April, clarity returns as Venus goes direct, allowing you to repair strained relationships through mindful speech. By May, you’re set on a more stable foundation at home, armed with deeper empathy for those closest to you.
AQUARIUS
A faint discomfort with your money mindset or sense of self-worth has been gnawing since late January. Venus retrograding in Aries on 1 March underscores old anxieties around communication: maybe you’ve been holding back ideas or not advocating for your true value. By late March, Venus returns to Pisces, pulling you into a more introspective look at where your security actually comes from—financially or otherwise. You might re-examine past attitudes or illusions around independence vs. shared resources. Once Venus goes direct mid-April, conversations about money, personal skills, or untapped talents become clearer. Entering May, you’ll have the confidence to speak up, strategise differently, and integrate new insights into how you earn, spend, and share.
PISCES
A gradual awakening to your own needs stirred around late January, but you may have found it easier to focus on everyone else’s wants. As Venus goes retrograde on 1 March, pressure mounts around how you define your personal worth, financially or otherwise—have you been shortchanging yourself? Then, at the end of March, Venus briefly re-enters your sign, revealing any self-deceptions you harbour regarding identity or relationships. Maybe you’ve adapted your persona to please others without noticing your own yearnings. By 12 April, Venus turns direct, unveiling a rejuvenated sense of who you are. Come May, you’ll stand taller, capable of setting boundaries and making choices that honour your evolving self and strengthen your security.
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