The Career Astrologer 2 2015 | Page 7

VENUS RETROGR ADE STACEY themselves both inside and outside the rela- tionship. In a Taurean way, this might present a period of heightened senses or issues to do with the physical body, a material assessment or appreciating one’s personal relationship with nature. ... a period where there is a need to take stock, consoli- date or discard what one has or what one needs.. The Venus retrograde phase brings forth a new conjunction with the Sun so there is something old and something new associ- ated with this phase. It is ultimately about re-evaluation and how one might achieve getting their needs met, whatever they Venus Retrograde In Transit by Monica Dimino W hile all the outer planets have retrograde periods every year, the personal planets have retrograde periods in truly distinctive intervals. We are used to Mercury’s retrograde peri ods which average three a year, and perhaps Mars’ retrogrades with its two year retrograde rhythm. But Venus does not retrograde every year. Instead, it retrogrades at approximately 19+ month intervals, lasting 40 to 44 days. It is hard to keep track of irregular cycles like this. The Career Astrologer might be. It is a period where there is a need to take stock, consolidate or discard what one has or what one needs. There are various points during Venus’s retrograde journey which are worth noting, in particular if one of them make an aspect to planets and angles in an individual’s natal chart. They are as follows; 1. The degree Venus stations and starts to go retrograde (Venus will be positioned approximately 30 degrees ahead of the Sun). For example, on the 25th July 2015 Venus will station at 0 degrees of Virgo. 2. The degree that Venus and the Sun conjoin which will be during Venus’s ret- rograde journey which using the same example will be on 15th August 2015. 3. The degree that Venus stations and moves direct which is approximate- ly 30 degrees behind the Sun (and approximately 45 days from when the retrograde period started) and where it begins its journey forward will be on the 6th September 2015. 4. The point in time when Venus returns to the position of when it began its retrograde journey and advances from the shadow of the retrograde period. So this would be when Venus returns to 0 degrees Virgo on the 09th October 2015. Additionally, Venus will become retrograde within the same house of a natal chart every eight years and can give us some insight into the patterns and internal assessments we place on ourselves in these areas of life during these cycles. If someone was born with Venus retro- grade it is interesting to note when Venus would go direct in their natal chart by pro- gression. This can occur anytime from age 1 to 45 and might depict an enlightening time when challenges and conflict to do with per- sonal relationships or their self-esteem might be reconciled. R Whenever we can, observing periods related to retrograding planets can teach us more than most textbooks. This year we will have the opportunity to do that with Venus. She does her retrograde station on July 25 at 0 degree 46 minutes Virgo. Then she “moves” back to 14 degrees 25 minutes Leo moving to direct station on September 6. What events related to Venus will surface during this time frame? relationships. To do this, I asked clients in successful marriages (they existed then in Venezuela where I lived) to provide the date and year when they met. The majority seemed to remember, often adding curious but interesting tidbits to their stories. So many people mentioned a sense of fate in their meeting. I continued this study until I left my practice there in 1988. Quick tabula- tions showed a surprising number of these successful relationships began in the 7 week period when Venus was retrograde. I did not return to this study until recently when we had a Venus retrograde period in late December 2013 to the end of January 2014. These findings were too small to fur- nish outstanding results, but I did have some surprising discoveries within my own family and community. Not only did I meet both of my husbands during a Venus retrograde period, five members of my immediate fam- ily reported meeting their spouses during a Venus retrograde period. Interestingly, most also added stories of those encounters with a powerful sense of recognition upon meeting. Not only did I meet both of my husbands during a Venus retrograde pe- riod, five members of my immediate family reported meeting their spouses during a Venus retrograde period. In the 1980’s I began a project about relationships and marriage related to astrol- ogy. I wanted to help my clients in finding auspicious times to expect meaningful OPA’s Quarterly Magazine V24 -02 JUNE SOLSTICE 2015 page 7