Venus retrograde 2020 is fast approaching—it’ll be in effect from May 13 to June 25—and, like many other events of this year, it’s not likely to be all sunshine and rainbows. When any planet goes retrograde, or appears to move backward in the sky, we’re invited to slow down and take a closer look at its themes. In the case of Venus, those include love, beauty, finances, creativity, peace, and harmony. But the reason Venus retrograde has earned some notoriety over the years, second only to Mercury retrograde, is because of how it can disrupt romance.
“During a Venus retrograde, matters of the heart often go awry,” says Ambi Kavanagh, astrologer and founder of Soulstrology. She notes that the COVID-19 crisis could make Venus retrograde 2020 especially harsh—sorry to break it to you. “Many couples, having been forced to spend so much time together, may find tensions surfacing in their relationships,” says Kavanagh. “Some of these tensions will be understandable, surface-level irritations, since not many people are used to being together 24/7 with little downtime. This lack of space can lead to arguments and even a waning in the levels of desire.”
For others, Venus retrograde may bring up deeper issues around fundamental compatibility. “There’s no hiding in quarantine,” says Kavanagh. “It may be time to face the music that the relationship isn’t built on a firm foundation or has cracks that are irreparable.”
Given that Venus retrograde 2020 is taking place in Gemini—the sign that rules communication—couples can expect to have more than a few “Can we talk?” moments as we move through the next six weeks. But this doesn’t have to mean one heavy conversation after the next. “It’s a great opportunity to get to know your partner better by talking and listening,” say Kavanagh.
“[Venus retrograde in Gemini] is a great opportunity to get to know your partner better by talking and listening.”—Ambi Kavanagh, astrologer
If you’re single, Gemini’s energy could inspire you to give teledating a try. “For fledgling affairs of the heart, now is the time for old-school getting to know each other—Skype, FaceTime, Zoom dates where you talk and get to know each other in a deeper way before physically connecting,” says Kavanagh. “It’s almost bringing back old school courtship in many ways!”
That said, Venus retrograde isn’t thought to be an ideal time for new romance to flourish. But what if that special someone you’re sexting seems like the one? Kavanagh suggests waiting to see if quarantine loneliness is swaying you. “I always tell clients that it’s okay if you meet in Venus retro and fall madly in love, but wait until the shadow period is over before you start planning your future,” she says.
And then, there are the dreaded exes. Retrogrades often bring back former lovers, and Kavanagh says that this time around, you can almost guarantee it.
“Global pandemics and the ensuing turmoil have a tendency to pull on our heart strings and make us think of past loves. Perhaps we want to make amends if need be, or just reach out to say hi,” says Kavanagh. “In many ways it can feel ‘safer’ for people to do so at a time where there is no pressure of falling back into something that is perhaps best over. However, for some, this may be the beginning of a reconciliation.”
More likely, though, she believes exes will resurface in order to make peace with the past and move on. “Forgiveness is very much the energy thanks to the backdrop of [COVID-19], which reminds us of our mortality and to not sweat the small stuff—or in some cases, even the big stuff,” she says.
No matter what your relationship status, though, Kavanagh recommends holding off on making big love-related decisions during a retrograde. (Better yet, wait until the retroshade has passed.) We don’t know what the world will look like when Venus retrograde 2020 is over, but if you’re willing to be candid and get it all out there, you’ll be making the most of the cosmic energy at hand—and setting yourself up to move forward when the romance planet’s back on track.
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