Venus will pass its stationary position on October 2, 2026, begin its retrograde on October 4, and return to direct motion on November 15, 2026.
In astrology, Venus is the representative of love, a sense of value, and financial resources; it is also known as the "minor money planet." When this powerful indicator of beauty, aesthetics, and relationships begins its retrograde motion, its effects on earth directly reflect upon our inner world. During Venus retrograde periods, by human nature, we feel a much greater need to be loved, validated, and given attention than usual.
The Venus retrograde motion in the sky works almost like a broken radio station. Our understanding of love and value breaks down along with our perceptions, and frequencies get mixed up. Due to our increased need for attention and malfunctioning perception, we might feel a meaningless attraction toward people we would normally never give a second glance. This fog in our minds causes us to misinterpret events completely. We might perceive someone's ordinary smile or slight attention as them having feelings for us, dragging ourselves into a spiral of emotions.
It is precisely because of these illusions that starting a new relationship is highly risky during Venus retrograde. With a malfunctioning perception, we fall in love with the wrong person. The lifespan of relationships started during this period usually lasts until Venus moves forward again. When the planet returns to its normal course and that broken station is fixed, we begin to see the truth and say, "How did I even like this person?" We realize that our souls do not match at all and that we are not as happy next to that person as we thought, and we quickly distance ourselves. Therefore, relationships built during Venus retrograde are not long-lasting; setting sail into a brand new relationship is not recommended during this period.
Another inevitable theme of the retrograde is the past knocking on the door again. People we used to date suddenly appear with messages like "I miss you," or "Shall we meet?". If there are unspoken, unfinished issues in a past relationship, you can certainly meet with these people to put those matters on the table and close that chapter completely and permanently. However, it should not be forgotten that the return of old loves right during Venus retrograde is not a romantic twist of fate; it is a major control question that life directs at us. It is a test to see whether we have learned our lessons from the past.
Venus retrograde creates deep illusions not only in relationships but also in how we see ourselves and our surroundings when we look in the mirror. While the planet of beauty and aesthetics is in retrograde, we start disliking ourselves and focusing on our flaws. However, aesthetic operations performed during this period usually end in disappointment. You might not like the result after the surgery at all, and when your perception clears at the end of the retrograde, you might realize what a terrible choice you made. This situation will cause you to go under the knife again to fix the mistake; you will end up paying the price twice and experience great sadness. Therefore, any kind of aesthetic operation should strictly be avoided during the retrograde.
The same deceptive effect applies to our living spaces. Changing home decoration or starting painting jobs is not good timing. A wall color you chose or an armchair you liked in a store might look very pleasant to your eye during the retrograde. However, when the retrograde ends, you might experience great regret.
Because Venus also represents money, one should also be cautious in financial matters. You should not take out large loans that are difficult to pay back. If you have to take out a loan for compelling reasons, you should act by determining the amounts so that the monthly payments will not strain you in any way.
What Should Be Done During Venus Retrograde
| ✅ Do | Description |
|---|---|
| Do Self-Worth Work | Rebuild your own value through psychotherapy, family constellations, and inner child work. |
| Close Unfinished Business | Confront past partners who appear before you, and completely close that chapter by talking about the issues that remained unresolved. |
| Repair the Current Relationship | Put the problems swept under the rug in ongoing relationships on the table and try to repair them. |
| Make Financial Planning | Restructure old debts, organize your budget, and take your expenses under control. |
| Return to Unfinished Projects | Revive artistic or creative jobs started and left unfinished in the past. |
What to Avoid During Venus Retrograde
| ❌ Don't | Description |
|---|---|
| Start a Brand New Relationship | Relationships starting in this period where perceptions are misleading will be short-lived; the truth will emerge at the end of the retrograde. |
| Get Aesthetic Surgery | The probability of not being satisfied with the result is very high; you may need to incur expenses again to reverse the procedure. |
| Change Home Decoration | Painting, whitewashing, or buying large furniture can create regret after the retrograde. |
| Take out a Large Loan | Do not take on major financial risks that are difficult to pay back; act only with budgets that you can easily afford. |
| Make Sudden Breakup Decisions | Since emotional confusion is high, do not cut off your current relationship abruptly due to a temporary delusion. |
| Believe an Ex Immediately | Do not immediately get caught up in the messages of a returning ex-partner; remember that this is a test from the universe. |
With the Light of the Stars...
AstroSkylog