posted August 21, 2007 06:58 AM
I subscribe to Luc De Jaeger's monthly Love Letter and this was in it today about the Venus Retrograde. I thought everyone here would find it an interesting read! 
Is Your Lover Turning His/Her Back On You?
With transiting Venus still retrograde we got the suggestion to write something about this specific situation, especially because Venus is in Leo too, the sign of love.
Venus is the general significator of relationships and love in specific. It also shows what you want to beautify.
Venus can be either the ruler of the material earth sign Taurus or the communicative air sign Libra. Ancient astrologers made a difference between Venus as a morning star and Venus as an evening star.
Venus as the morning star rules Taurus. Venus as the evening star rules Libra.
When Venus rises before the Sun (in a clockwise direction), it's a morning star and is more materialistic. When Venus rises after the Sun (in a clockwise direction), it's the evening star and more into socializing/relationships.
So far if Venus is direct and following the natural order of the zodiac.
However, when Venus changes its course and turns backward; it becomes more focused on itself, becomes more "materialistic" and physical. Retrograde Venus in such a position shies away from people and socializing and tries to find harmony, beauty and love in itself through material goods and tangible things, the more so if Venus is an evening star.
In all instances though, retrograde Venus makes more shy, more reactive in relationships and lives love on an inner level; without showing it outwardly. Love can be manifested in a material way (giving presents or gifts) though, instead of saying it with words.
Also, Venus retrograde becomes more suspicious when other people openly manifest their love. Retrograde Venus is in doubt if this is "real love."
Retrograde Venus in Leo, the sign of love, is in quite good a position because Leo is a charming and creative sign that loves beautiful things which Venus loves too. Venus in Leo brings artistic flair and productive needs.
Planets in retrogression are almost always in a learning phase and here too, with Venus retrograde, there is something to learn about love and relationships in general.
When Venus turns backward and becomes more materialistic, it might affect your income and/or budget. Love becomes expensive...
In horary astrology planets turning retrograde have a specific meaning because the planets almost always represent a specific person or object.
It's amazing how often this principle works in natal astrology too but you MUST take into account that the general signification of a planet comes after the rulerships. The rulerships are primordial in that any ruler of the house stands for the person signified by that house.
For example: the ruler of the 7th house is the significator of your partner. Venus only comes second.
When the planet changes direction by going retrograde, the person that is signified by the re-trograde planet, re-considers, re-thinks, re-conciles, re-peats, re-builds, re-coups, re-adjusts, re-collects, re-pulses, re-fuses, re-sists, re-paints, re-decorates, re-adjusts...
In other words, the situation almost always gets RE-VERSED.
If Venus represents your lover, (s)he might turn his/her back on you. Retrograde Venus may reject you (as will any retrograde ruler of the 7th house).
We very much like the way Ivy M. Goldstein-Jacobson, one of the most brilliant astrologers that ever existed, explains the signification of a planet turning retrograde: a planet retrograde will not reveal his nature entirely, keep much to themselves (on the inner plane). "There is always more there than meets the eye", is her motto.
Moreover, any retrograde planet signifies somebody who is possibly ill or in a "poor condition." A retrograde planet holds back and is averse to entering "your house", she also adds in different of her books.
Her keyword for retrograde planets is SHYNESS, especially with Venus, planet of relationships and social interactions retrograde.
So, what can we learn from this?
If natal Venus is retrograde, expect a lover to not reveal him- or herself to the full. Possibly you will meet someone who is ill or in a rather unfortunate situation. The same holds true if the ruler of the 7th house is retrograde in your natal chart!
Some other misconceptions about retrograde Venus:
* retrograde Venus NEVER prevents you from love or falling in love (as some authors want us to believe), it will only delay it. Also, bonding with someone who has natal Venus retrograde takes TIME!
* some authors claim retrograde Venus brings homosexuality in male horoscopes. We have not found this to be true at all!
One of the basic principles in astrology is that transiting planets in your natal chart are "players" coming from "outward" into your life. Mercury, the messenger, is the postman or a document or a letter that you get. Venus represents a woman or a beloved one or a gift/parcel...
As such, transiting Venus turning backward denotes a beloved one or a woman who is ill, or unfortunate or who is rejected or sent away or for whom the situation is reversed.
In Leo, the sign of love AND children, retrograde Venus can also signify a female child that is sent away, that is ill or...
This is the way to delineate retrograde planets: combining archetypal meanings into a consistent picture (like pieces of a puzzle you put together).
Doing so, you'll be astonished with all the knowledge and wisdom (ancient) astrology gives you!
You can subscribe and read all the previous Love Letters at: http://www.cosmitec-astrological-compatibility-advice.com/CosmiTecs_Love_Letter-backissues.html