On the 19th December 2021, Venus will make her Retrograde station in Capricorn, right next to Pluto. The fact that Venus is making an almost exact conjunction to Pluto upon her stationing degree is a statement about the intensity of this Retrograde cycle. 

Venus will make three exact conjunctions with Pluto – one before her retrograde (12th December), one during retrograde (25 December) and one when direct (4th March). So, you can see the longer Venus-Pluto story that’s playing in the background here – a 3+ month saga spanning the continuum of the deepening to the annihilation of love, passions, desires and abundance. Of course this will depend on natal chart factors and planetary activations that you’re currently undergoing – please book a session to explore your unique Venus Retrograde situation.

For a deep dive into the intricate transits of December 2021, Melissa Lafara, Spencer Michaud and myself were featured on a special Venus Retrograde special episode of the Energetic Principles Podcast which I highly encourage you to tune into or revisit. So much was discussed on the show but the key feature is Venus’ proximity to Pluto during this Retrograde show.

The essence of this Venus Retrograde period

Venus will retrograde at 26°28’ Capricorn, right next to Pluto at 25°33. If you have any planets or angles around 25-27 of Cardinal signs (Capricorn, Aries, Cancer, Libra) – you’re in for a journey! 

The Venus-Pluto combination shows complex bonds, sexual taboos, a confrontation of the shadow, secrecy, hidden plans, unearthing of inner desires, intensity and change to all things love, beauty, creativity, fertility and desire. And apart from the aspect of love and relationships, this Venus Pluto combination will also highlight finances. So all in all, we’re heading into the shadow aspects of money and sex – two of the most complex fields of human experience.

At its worst, this transit could show toxic dependencies, a compulsive desire nature, obsession, jealousy, insecurities, heartbreaks, rejection, abandonment, pushing relationships to their extremes, encounters with abuse or abuse involving women.

On the other hand, there is a potential for deepening of passions and commitments, reconciling relationship wounds, clearing the path for a resetting of values, the reaching of a creative depth and transmuting pain into joy.

Meaning of Retrograde planets

The concept of a planet retrograding is also multifaceted. On the one hand it shows a reversal of a situation. For example, if a relationship or money situation has soured recently, the Venus Retrograde could turn things around and show a return of an improved condition. The same could be true of the reverse where the relationship / money situation comes into a state of conflict (the opposing essence of Venus which is about reconciliation).

In horary, a Retrograde planet is often an indicator of a return of something. So looking at the transit of Venus Retrograde, this could look like a past lover returning to you, or retrieving lost objects / lost money. Astrological cookbooks will often mention the returning past lover and sometimes this is the case. But I’ve often found that this is like receiving the wrong parcel in the mail. Rather than a ‘happily ever after’ situation, the returning lover triggers emotions that need to be finalised within yourself.

A Retrograde condition can show a ‘corruption’ in the matter at hand. For example, the house where 26 degrees of Capricorn is located could indicate an area in life where things seem to get a bit complicated. Rather than the easy flow and grace of Venus travelling through that house, one could experience hard work, difficulties, conflict and blocks in that area of life.

The concept of ‘foreigner’ is also connected to the field of a Retrograde condition. This could describe someone else or yourself, for example, Venus Retrograde in the10th – an expatriate boss, or the feeling of being a foreigner in your career life. 

I believe this abstract notion of ‘foreigner’ will be the prevailing sentiment to this Venus Retrograde, producing situations where one feels like they don’t quite belong or feel connected, which is a foreign concept to Venus who is usually the charming and ever-popular social glue.

The ‘outsider‘ concept is exacerbated by the Saturn square Uranus theme that we’ve been experiencing all year which has highlighted the experiences of being exiled, outcast and the general topic of minorities. The final square of Saturn-Uranus on Christmas Day occurs while Venus is in Retrograde and we must not forget that Uranus in Taurus is in Venus’ domain. Perhaps this Christmas may highlight how much we feel torn apart from our loved ones or how misaligned we are to our family and social structures. Are you feeling like the ‘black sheep’ at the moment? Or is there a ‘black sheep’ situation forming around you? Or are you delving into spaces that are somewhat counter cultural or against the norm?

Who’s likely to feel this Venus Retrograde period the most?

All of us will encounter the depths of the current Venus Retrograde in some area of life. The house where Capricorn is in your natal chart will pinpoint the field of experience where you’ll feel this deepening, compulsive and intensified experience in relationships and money.

Also look at where Taurus and Libra are located in your chart, because those house topics will be pulled into question. For example, Sagittarius risings may have intense encounters in their relationship with money and possessions (Venus Rx in 2nd house) that may have connections to their work / health ( Taurus in 6th) and friends / aspirations (Libra in 11th).

Of course, those with prominent planets and angles in Capricorn, especially at the 26th degree, will certainly be right in the action of all of this. Also, if you’re currently under the rulership of a Venus Timelord or your Capricorn house is an activated place for you this year, you too will feel this transit deeply. Book a consultation to find out what your timelords are.

Navigating this Venus Retrograde period

Here are some strategies to help you process this current transit.

Give yourself permission to do nothing

The tendency to fix, resolve, manage and make better is usually a natural response for most people but for this current month, it may save a lot of heartache and conflict by remaining in a passive state. Give yourself permission to sit within decaying situations and honour the cyclical nature of the material world. Generation is always followed by corruption which is a necessary process for renewing the whole cycle again. 

It’s ok to hold some secrets

Building on the non-action advice above, it can also be said that Venus Retrograde times can align with the hidden world and the nature of all things unseen and unspoken. It’s not always appropriate or constructive to be open and transparent. Sometimes, things naturally resolve through their own process. Intervening and exposing truth can sometimes hamper the natural decaying process. If you’re an over-sharer or over-giver, you could give yourself permission this month to retract without guilt or obligation.

Facilitate a journey into the abyss

You could embrace the hidden underworld themes of this month by consciously taking yourself into unseen places to witness the depth of experiences. Some ways to do this is through meditation, art, facilitated journeying and therapies that engage with shifting states of consciousness. As always, do this in a safe and respectful way and always seek medical advice if required.

Gain the perspectives of an outcast

With the dominating sentiment being one of the outsider and especially in times of immense polarities, we could all use this time to try and understand the differences we hold with others. Being made to feel outcasted can be a great source of learning and gaining of compassion for those who have always been subject to this type of sentiment.

Hold a space for the disintegration of matters

December is certainly a time for the Nigredo – the blackening stage in alchemy that highlights the necessary process for decay and putrefaction. The fermentation of the decaying matter allows new life forms to emerge. Much like the composting process in nature, this month is a time we need to get comfortable with the Nigredo. At the personal level, it could look like a confrontation with challenging emotions, taboo topics and complex relationship patterns. Quieten down the ego and honour these shadow situations because they hold the nutrients for new growth.

Further reading

For those interested in the connection of the Venus Cycle to the Babylonian myth of Inanna, please read my new article, Venus Retrograde and the Inanna Mysteries, where I share my thoughts on which part of this myth that I believe relates to the Venus Retrograde phase…..and it’s not Inanna’s descent to the Underworld!