I Wanna Be Adored: What To Expect When Venus Goes Retrograde in Leo This Summer

On Saturday, July 22nd/23rd, Venus, planet of love and beauty, stationed Retrograde at 28 degrees Leo. It will continue its journey backwards until September 3rd/4th when it will go direct at 12 degrees of the fierce fixed fire sign. Here's what to expect, both in general and for your sign.

What does it mean for Venus to go Retrograde?

A retrograde planet is one that appears to be moving in the opposite direction. Astrologically, this means that the energies of this planet are directed backwards or inward.

Retrograde periods are often said to be riddled with delays and disruption, but they don't necessarily have to be. These periods are not so much a time for action as they are for reflection.

Things from the past will often return to us. This could be people from our past, including from our past lives, situations or memories that we thought we had forgotten about, or maybe even just lessons that we're getting a second chance at learning after having failed the first time around.

You may have heard of Mercury Retrograde but in actuality, every planet goes retrograde, save for the Sun and the Moon. Venus's retrograde periods are the least frequent, stationing retrograde about every 18 months over periods made up of about 40 days.

While Mercury Retrograde periods are said to affect areas of technology, transportation and communication, Venus Retrograde affects areas of love, sexuality, relationships and beauty.

It is said that during these times, relationships begin to go haywire. You may begin to rethink any partnerships (or potential partnerships) that you had formed pre-retrograde. It's a good time to get in touch with yourself and reflect on what you need and want in your relationship, regardless of whether you're partnered or single.

It is also common, at this time, to find ourselves thinking about, maybe even fantasizing about, our exes or even old friends. This can be a good time to reflect back on all your past relationships and to heal any negative patterns, or it can be a good time to receive closure from past partners.

Venus Retrograde in Leo: Summer 2023

After chilling out in the cozy corners of Cancer since May 8th, Venus entered the sign of the lion on June 5th. The goddess of love and beauty was quite comfortable in the sign of Cancer, an emotional water sign associated with the deep sort of attachment normally affiliated with familial bonds. However, Venus in Cancer is quite private, preferring to keep to the comfort of their own home. The much louder and outgoing, Venus in Leo, brought some fun and excitement in contrast, at least until before it entered its pre-shadow period on June 19th, which is when many of the issues triggered by the retrograde began to make themselves known.

Leo is a fixed fire sign ruled by the Sun, the star that all the planets in our solar system revolve around. Venus in Leo reminds me of summer, celebration and Hollywood glamour. But what happens when it goes retrograde? Does the summer turn cold? Does the glitter turn to dust?

Venus in Leo never does anything half way. She's a little bit of a diva. She'll only wear the most fashionable and attention-grabbing clothing, and the mates she chooses must be worthy of recognition and respect. She has high standards and knows what she wants. However, while she is a indeed a bit of a drama queen, unlike the equally choosy Venus in Capricorn, she is certainly no ice queen. She is fun, passionate and full of life! In love, she is loyal, generous and eeven a little bit of obsessive, proudly showing off her partners to the world and giving them all that she has.

When retrograde, Venus in Leo's dramatic elements become more obvious. The need for attention could take a dark turn, as we may go to excessive lengths to get it. Feelings of love may be wrapped up with feelings of hate and public displays of affection mixed up with public aggression. If our partner is not giving us the attention we crave, we'll make them, no matter the cost. Venus in Leo is normally very playful, but in retrograde, this may turn to playing games. Love affairs could easily become toxic now, as people will go all out with their feelings, for better or worse.

Leo, the lion, is the king of the jungle and often associated with the ego, which could also present a problem for our relationships. For example, relationships could suffer due to a failure to understand our partner's point of view. There might be more of a struggle than usual to step outside of our own feelings to empathize with another person's. Or else, our pride may get in the way of our relationships. Whether it be through fighting or through ghosting, the stubborn refusal to compromise may lead relationships to fall apart. It's also possible that we'll see power struggles between couples at this time or we may become aware of the power dynamics that govern our own relationships. For some of us, the people we love could even be exposed as narcissists and we'll feel more confident to walk away from relationships that don't serve us.

In addition to relationships, Venus is the planet of beauty and fashion, and Leo is the sign most often associated with fame. So, Venus Retrograde in Leo could also signal a subversion of what is trendy, a transformation of the current "celebrity" culture. The stars of today may quickly became yesterday's news, while those we find struggling on YouTube or TikTok become the stars of tomorrow. As I wrote in my article about Jupiter in Taurus, this transit could signal a new arts, literary, musical, fashion and/or cultural movement, and this is something we may start to see this summer, with the planet of art and beauty traveling backwards in the sign of fame.

Looking to the news for examples of how Venus Retrograde in Leo will affect us culturally, it is interesting that the new Greta Gerwig-directed Barbie movie should be released only a day before Venus stationed Retrograde. The promotion for this movie screams "Venus in Leo" with its prominent pink displays and eye-catching advertisements you can't escape. It's sure to be a blockbusters and reportedly a very feminist one, subverting the misogynist tropes associated with the doll into something empowering. On another note, the BAFTA strike has subverted some of our ideas about celebrity culture by revealing how little some of these writers and actors actually get paid, despite their recognition. Meanwhile, singer, Lana Del Ray has been spotted working at a Waffle House in Alabama; whether it's just for fun or she really needs the money, it's not the sort of side gig we usually expect from famous people, who we imagine as untouchable, mythological figures.

Venus Retrograde 2023: Aspects

Mercury at 21'12 degrees Leo is applying towards a conjunction with Venus, highlighting the need for communication and self-expression. his aspect inspires a need to be bold, be loud and speak up about your relationship needs! However, the square between Mercury & Venus Rx to Uranus at 22'30 Taurus (exact on August 9th) indicates a revelation of something shocking. Whatever you say has the potential to change your relationship(s) in unexpected ways. Relationships may be made or broken suddenly, and even randomly. However, you may feel like it's important not to let the fear of change stop you from expressing your love freely. Furthermore, Mercury will also go retrograde from August 23rd, so be on the lookout for miscommunication in relationships and try not to end things abruptly or act too rashly in response to what could be a misunderstanding.

In addition to Uranus' influence, Black Moon Lilith is also in Leo, and will conjunct Venus on August 8th, at 23 degrees, presenting us with yet another sign of rebellious feminine energy. While normally, I do not pay much attention to asteroids and the like, as astrologers do not seem to have a clear consensus on their meanings, this aspect seems significant and we can look to the myth for our interpretations. According to some Jewish myths, Lilith was the first wife of Adam but was banished from the Garden of Eden, and became a demon, after refusing to lie with Adam. For us currently, this aspects represents an uncontrollable force present in women.

Venus's station Retrograde also coincided with an opposition between the Moon at 27 degrees Virgo and Neptune Rx at 27 degrees Pisces. If reality's been tough on our emotions, we may be tempted to escape it by daydreaming or engaging in romantic activity. This is all well and good but be careful not to get too caught up in an illusion or wrapped up in a deception. People's true feelings and intentions may be hard to read at the moment, and situations may be different from what they appear. Try to live in the moment without idealizing people or making negative assumptions. Wherever there's a hidden agenda, the truth will come out eventually.

On the day of Venus's station Retrograde, the Moon in Virgo also sextiled the Sun at 29 degrees Cancer, stressing the need for emotional health and a change of habits. The Sun at the last degree indicates endings. With the Sun square the North and South Node at 29 degrees Aries and Libra, respectively, these endings may be "karmic" or fated in nature. However, with each ending, comes a new beginning, and such transformations are likely to be positive at the end of the day.

Venus Direct in Leo: Autumn 2023

On September 3rd/4th, Venus will finally station direct at 12'12 degrees Leo, allowing us to put the lessons we learned during the retrograde into practice.

Venus will be making a square to Jupiter at 15'34 degrees Taurus and the Moon at 6'00 degrees Taurus will be making a square to Venus, as well. Jupiter expands whatever it touches and our need for love, affection and attention will be magnified, perhaps to extreme degrees. The Moon is an especially emotional point, associated with care and nurturance, as well as our deepest needs. Our hunger for the other is increased. A feeling of longing is triggered. Emotions are intense. Expect some dramatic emotional outbursts during this period. Love may quickly turn to hate and back to love again. Relationships may be at an all or nothing point.

However, Mercury Retrograde will be trine Jupiter, enabling us to have difficult, "dramatic" conversations about the past with more ease. This is a good time to gain closure and to say the things you've been too afraid to say, especially things that have been weighing on your mind for a long time. Perhaps, the reflection done during the retrograde will allow us to clarify what we need to say, what to ask for, and what boundaries we need to set in relationships, once Venus goes direct.

Horoscopes

Now it's time to see how it will affect your sign. I suggest reading the horoscope for your ascendant or rising sign, first, instead of the sun. I find the rising sign horoscope to be more accurate than the sun, as these horoscopes are based on the houses. If you don't know your rising sign, click here to generate a birth chart. Yes, you will need your birth time for this. If you don't have your birth time, Sun sign horoscopes are the next best thing. If you want to know more about how this transit will affect you in depth, on a more personal here, click here to schedule a reading with me.

Please remember that these are general descriptions and in reality, this transit is more likely to affect you if aspecting your angles or personal planets or if say, Venus is the lord of the year. For example, those of you with planets or angles between 8 and 29 degrees of the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) are likely to be the most affected.

Aries

With Leo Venus Retrograde in your 5th house of fun, children and creativity, your main motives are to enjoy and express yourself! But you may soon find that love is more than just fun and games, dear Aries. The person who made you laugh before is now seeming to give you demands and you'll have to ask yourself, are you really ready to be with someone throughout all the ups and downs? Alternatively, it could be that your relationship is starting to feel like a chore and you're needing to find the fun and the joy in it again. In that case, think of how you felt and what you did when the relationship first started and try to recreate that energy. Go on more dates! Since the 5th house is associated with romance, those of you who are single (or poly...?) may have an opportunity to reconcile with an ex lover.

Taurus

You love your comfort, Taurus, and what place is more comfortable than the home? Some of you may have just moved in with a partner, or brought a new date over to your home for the first time; others of you may have been living with your partner for a while. While this might've been exciting at first, it has a down side as you're forced to become more used to each other's quirks. There might be fights and blow-outs, and you might even find that you're repeating patterns you learned from your parents in early childhood. Perhaps. the need for your partner's attention stems from some unmet need you had when young, and it is causing you to behave in childish or immature ways. By reflecting on the past, you can create a more comfortable presence and a happier home. Alternatively, some of you may be re-locating or re-decorating your living space.

Gemini

You're all about communication, Gemini, but with Leo Venus Retrograde in your 3rd house, it's possible that an ego battle is getting in the way. Are you confident enough to express how you feel, with all your heart? Are you able to set boundaries with love, or are you so loving that you neglect your own needs, unable to ask for what you want? Don't be too afraid to pursue the person you desire! Because if not, you might regret missing out on an opportunity. If you've been feeling silenced in relationship;s, it's time to take your power back and speak up. You know your worth and your values, how important communication is to you. You need someone who lets you speak freely and listens to what you say. If your partner is unresponsive to your words and refuses to communicate properly, or if you're afraid to speak up for fear of losing them, perhaps it's time to walk away. In any case, there's nothing to lose by being honest: you either get what you asked for or you doge a bullet.

Cancer

With Leo Venus Retrograde in your 2nd house of finance, you're tempted to flaunt what you've got! However, at the end of the day, Cancer, matters of the heart mean more to you than material things. You're generous and giving but is it possible that you're giving more than what you have? Is your partner giving you back what you deserve? If not, it's time to set boundaries and ask for what you want; don't let yourself get taken advantage of. Alternatively, you could be letting material desires get in the way of what's important. You want it all, but should all that excess come at the expense of your most cherished relationships?

Leo

You love attention, Leo! In your mind, there's no greater feeling than when all eyes are on you. However, with Venus Retrograde in your 1st house, it's possible that you could be attracting some negative attention, or else, your self-obsession could be threatening the stability of your relationships. All of this may have you questioning your self-worth. For you, this transit is about realizing that true confidence, true self-love, and true happiness, comes from within, regardless of the amount of attention you attract. It may or may not be a specific relationship that makes you realize this. Alternatively, since Venus is about beauty as well as love, this transit might be about experimenting with your wardrobe, changing up your style, doing something new with your hair or make-up! However, once again, this transit serves up a reminder that no matter what you look like, true beauty comes from the inside.

Virgo

Let's be honest, Virgo, you're not the most extroverted, and with Leo Venus Retrograde in your 12th house, you may be finding that you're keeping your love inside. Hiding it, locking it away in a box. Now is the time to unbury it, set your heart free. Be honest with yourself about what and who you desire, and do not be ashamed. Secrets relevant to your love life may reveal themselves in dreams and you may come face to face with feelings that you previously didn't want to admit. You can wait to share it when you're ready but it's important that you know your truth now.

Libra

They say you're in love with love, Libra, but friendships are relationships too, and they often mean just as much to you as partnerships do. With Leo Venus Retrograde in your 11th house, it's friendships that are the main focus. Are your friends giving you the attention you deserve? Are they loyal and generous, or do they over-power you, drain your energy by only demanding your attention for their needs? These are the questions you need to ask yourself, as you get in touch with what it is you really want/need from a friendly relationship. It's possible that friends you've lost touch with, even friends that you've fallen out with, may reappear in your life during this time, but it's up to you to decide if they add anything to your life. Alternatively, those of you in relationships may be struggling to balance the amount of attention you give to your partner(s) and friends. In any case, you're learning that friendship should be a two-way street.

Scorpio

You have high standards, Scorpio, and a yearning for success. But with Leo Venus Retrograde in your 10th house of career, you might be reflecting on how much these material markers of achievement really matter to you. Is status and money really that important in a partner? It's what's inside that counts. Then again, sometimes, no matter how much we love someone, it won't work out if our life paths aren't in alignment and this might be what you're struggling with, as well. Your partner needs to respect your goals and alternatively, you could be struggling to balance your workload with the attention required by your partner. If you work in the arts, fashion, or another Venusian field, you may expect some sort of shift in your career or in your personal style.

Sagittarius

Your passion to stand up for what you believe in is admirable, Sagittarius, but sometimes, it can cause issues in your personal life. With Leo Venus Retrograde in your 9th house of faith and philosophy, differences of opinion can be wearing your relationship down, particularly if your partner does not respect your belief system. While its important to choose your battles wisely, shared values are important in a relationship, and you might be reflecting on both your beliefs about love in general, and what shared beliefs your partner needs to have in common with you. The 9th house is also about higher education and travel, two of your favorite things! So, alternatively, your enthusiasm for learning and going new places could also add to relationship drama, particularly if you're dating someone a bit more possessive. Such experiences can lead to fated encounters, but will a long distance relationship go the distance?

Capricorn

It looks like the demons from your past have come back to haunt you, dear Capricorn! With Leo Venus Retrograde in your 8th house of death and debt, the things you once loved and felt excited about may come back to haunt you, whether it's a person you were once obsessed with or a check you have yet to pay back. Some of you might be going through literal grief, while others of you may be going through a break-up, with memories of past loves preventing you from enjoying your present. Now is the time to heal from that, to have fun and break free. Some of you could even experience a karmic relationship, a past life lover sent to help you evolve into the confident, independent person you are meant to be.

Aquarius

Hold on tight, Aquarius, because your love life is in for a shake-up! With Venus Retrograde in your 7th house of relationships, this transit could send you on a romantic rollercoaster. You may be having fun, but pride and power struggles could seek to threaten your relationship. It's possible that you've been so caught up in your own emotions that you've neglected to give your partner the adequate attention they deserve or you've failed to understand their point of view. It's time to step outside of yourself and listen to what they have to say, unless, alternatively, it's them whose failing to understand you. There could even be miscommunication on both sides, as a result of ego & pride. It's time to step outside of yourself and listen to what they have to say, unless, alternatively, it's them whose failing to understand you. Some of you might get back in touch with an ex-lover(s) or experience a karmic relationship. This transit is a positive sign for reunion and could also help you to gain closure. However, if this message is for you, be careful to let go of grudges and make sure not to repeat the issues that broke you up in the first place. Alternatively, reflecting on past lovers can give you a better sense of what you are looking for in a relationship now.

Pisces

The 6th house is about work and service, as well as health, and with Leo Venus Retrograde transiting here, you may come to feel that you've been serving others at the expense of yourself. You're known for your compassion, Pisces, but are your partner(s) and friends extending that same compassion over to you? Unequal power dynamics in your relationships can stress you out so much that they even take a toll on your health. It's time to take a step back and reassess your routine, particularly your dating and relationship habits. Some of you might alternatively find that the routine you have with your partner is getting stale. Maybe it's not fun anymore, and in that case, it's time to switch things up.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Venus Retrograde through the sign of Leo will trigger explosive feelings of love, desire and the frustration & anger that comes when these wants are unmet. Venus's square to Uranus suggests shocking, unexpected changes and a desire for freedom. Venus's conjunction to Lilith is in particular suggestive of the liberated feminine, while the square to Jupiter shows that passions run high! There is a need for adoration, attention and affection, and we may feel inspired to go after what we want, for better or worse. Ultimately, however, this transit will help us to build our confidence, teaching us to stand up for our own needs but also, learning that true self-love comes not from the amount of attention we receive but from within ourselves.