I love planetary retrograde cycles.

Why?

I feel that retrograde periods are times for reflection and heightened inner awareness.

They give us a time to pause, to slow down. The flow seems different; it feels like we are encouraged to orient from a more internal place when a planet—notably a personal planet like Mercury, Venus, or Mars—is in retrograde motion. Instead of being exceptionally active in doing, we may find ourselves drawn more towards a greater space of allowing. The movement is backward and inward rather than more focused on being forward and outward. We revisit people, places, and situations in our lives, and with that we can be gifted with gathering awareness that comes through re-attending to arenas we have already experienced, getting to re-experience them through another lens. From this, it seems that we can craft a more complete, and more holistic, understanding from which can stem a greater level of consciousness and empowerment that we then have in moving forward.

My love for planetary retrograde cycles includes that for Venus Retrograde.

Since Venus symbolizes relationships, love, beauty, pleasure, and finances, the six-week period when the planet is in retrograde motion can yield great insights in related areas of our lives. With Venus representing what we value—as well as our self-value—it's the perfect time to re-evaluate who and what it is we treasure, as well as learn new ways to fortify our ability to treasure who we are.

Venus’ current retrograde cycle begins on March 4 and lasts through April 15. During this retrograde period, Venus travels from 13 degrees Aries to 27 degrees Pisces. (The last Venus Retrograde was July 25 - September 6, 2015 when Venus traveled from 1 degree Virgo to 14 degrees Leo.)

Here are some Stellar Reflection Questions for this Venus Retrograde cycle:

What's my unique value?
What gets in the way of my valuing myself?
What brings me pleasure?
How and when do I fight for things that are valuable and pleasurable to me?
What's my definition of beauty?
What allows me to experience inner harmony?
What really fulfills me in a relationship?

Use these queries of reflection to guide you through this period. They can serve as great barometers to measure your reactions, attitudes, and motivations.

Want more personalized insights on what this Venus Retrograde cycle may yield for you, as reflected in your individual astrology chart? Write me and let's do a mini session in which we will explore the opportunities (and possible challenges) that are presenting themselves for you right now.

May this Venus Retrograde period yield for you a greater forging of your sense of value as well as the inner knowingness of your unique beauty.

Venus Retrograde: March 4 - April 15, 2017