Revisiting and Reimagining Love and Creativity
As always, the insights and views expressed in this post are my own interpretations and opinions – you’re welcome to consider or disregard them, along with any suggestions offered, as you see fit. Thank you for visiting!
Please note: I offer Astrology chart readings in private, individual sessions only*
Context: The archetypal symbols of astrology have been around for millenia and, basically, astrology is a language that helps us map and understand our connections with the energy of a living universe. Astrology allows us to track archetypal human experiences and knowable life cycles.
In other words, the planets are not in charge, and do not cause or compel us to do anything. The same divine intelligence that created us also created the planets in our solar system. Perhaps the best way to consider how astrology works is, when we look up into the sky at the planets, asteroids and key points in our solar system, it’s like looking into a giant cosmic mirror, reflecting our human experiences, energetic cycles, and evolution back to us.
The 2023 Venus Retrograde Cycle in Leo runs from Saturday July 22 at 8:33pm CT thru September 3 at 8:20pm CT. #venusretrograde2023
The complete cycle feels longer when we include its pre and post retrograde shadows. The full Venus retrograde cycle including shadows: June 19, 2023 – October 7, 2023.
Why is this a big deal?
Venus only goes retrograde once every 19 months and spends less time in retrograde motion than the other planets. Sacred Geometry: in the span of 8 Earth years, or 13 Venusian years, there are 5 Venus synod cycles in which the planet of love traces a huge pentagram shape around the Earth! Referred to as the petals of Venus, the pentagram shape around the Earth also resembles a rose!
What does it mean when a planet goes retrograde?
The planet is closest to Earth in its orbit and appears to be moving backwards from the Earth’s vantage point, retracing its path through the zodiac. During its retrograde cycle, a planet remains in a sector of the zodiac over a longer period of time, and in the case of Venus retrograde this summer,Venus moves from 28 degrees of Leo back to 12 degrees of Leo, so where are those degrees in YOUR chart?
Astrologers notice that during cycles where a planet appears to be moving retrograde, we experience its energies and themes differently – in ways that are often heightened, yet less confident; less straightforward, sometimes internalized, frustrated, problematic, or slowed down.
Read more about this Year’s Venus Retrograde in Leo:
Continue Here from Mailer:
During a Venus retrograde, we might feel unsure of our value, our talents, our relationships, and our finances, which can can prompt reviews of these parts of our lives. We might feel underappreciated and find it more difficult to coordinate with others or to finance our desires. Sometimes we encounter people or relationship themes/dynamics from our past. This year’s Venus retrograde cycle could also resonate with the summer of 2015 – echoing any love, relationship, or financial issues we experienced then, which is when Venus was last retrograde in Leo. We might find ourselves repeating something and hoping to re-work it or re-craft it. Perhaps we can get a glimpse of how far we’ve come since then! If we pay attention during the Venus retrograde cycle, we could uncover talents, desires, needs, people, creative or athletic interests, that we’d like to spend more time with, or that we might be ready to move on from.
“The course of true love never did run smooth” from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, by William Shakespeare. This quote could be a useful touchstone to describe how many folks will experience the Venus retrograde cycle – potentially thorny relationship issues. But, in a larger sense, the goal of Venus retrograde in Leo might be more aptly described as unapologetic self love: to love one’s own life and to express one’s self as fully, and with as much creativity and joy, as possible. It’s important to remember NOT to confuse “unapologetic” with rudeness, cruelty, or excessive vanity. Similarly, joyful self-expression does not extend into unsolicited opinions or negative comments about other people’s lives. Ideally, any genuine and unapologetic celebrating of one’s self will not come at someone else’s expense.
Questions to help navigate this year’s Venus retrograde cycle in Leo:
How am I participating here? (am I? Do I want to?)
Who or what do I love?
What do I want?
What would I like to create?
What are my values?
What’s valuable to me about this? Anything?
How can I find balance?
How can we find harmony?
How can I live more from the heart?
Key dates to be aware of during the 2023 Venus retrograde cycle:
July 27 – Venus retrograde conjoins Mercury in Leo
August 9 -Venus retrograde forms a square with Uranus in Taurus
August 13 – the Sun conjoins Venus retrograde. Venus begins its cycle as the morning star which lasts until June 4, 2024, when it becomes the evening star again.
August 23 – September 3, both Mercury and Venus will be travelling in retrograde motion (Merc retro in Virgo)
How will you engage with these important summertime energies of 2023?
To learn more about the unfolding energies of 2023 and what they mean for you individually, please email to schedule your appointment for a private reading.
*In person, or by Phone, Skype or Zoom:
- 90 Minute Natal Astrology + 12 month Forecast. All Astrology prices include 2-3 hours of prep time and require accurate date, time and place of birth.
- 60 Minute Tarot Card Reading: available in person, or remotely
Hours: Tues – Fri: 2:00pm-7:00pm, Sat 1-3pm
Meanwhile, find regular doses of astro-wisdom here Daily Astrology Page and on my social media, for navigating one day at a time.
Recent Blog Posts
https://www.theresemurphy.com/2023-summer-solstice-nourishing-and-living/
https://www.theresemurphy.com/2022-summer-solstice-transforming-in-light-and-shadow/
https://www.theresemurphy.com/2021/09/10/fall-equinox-2021-finding-balanced- perspectives/
https://www.theresemurphy.com/winter-solstice-and-december-2020-big-change/
Video discussion – Great American Solar Eclipse of 8/21/17 and more!
Therese is a member of these organizations:
The American Tarot Association
The American Federation of Astrologers
The International Society for Astrological Research
The Friends of Astrology, Inc.
