Your 2025 Venus Retrograde Survival Guide

Venus retrograde is one of the most talked-about transits in astrology, and for good reason. When the planet of love, beauty, and finances appears to move backward in the sky, its usual ease and flow give way to complications, delays, and reflection. Relationships feel more intense, financial decisions become center stage and past emotional patterns can resurface, demanding attention.

Venus retrograde, like all retrogrades, is a time of re energy—rethinking, revisiting, reconsidering. While it’s often associated with delays and complications, it can just as easily bring a reversal of energy. A relationship that felt stagnant may suddenly move forward, financial uncertainty can shift into clarity, and unresolved emotions might finally find resolution. Venus retrograde doesn’t just expose what isn’t working—it gives us the chance to rewrite the story.

For a personal anecdote: during a previous Venus retrograde cycle, my on-and-off situationship turned into a full-on committed relationship. What had once felt uncertain—full of mixed signals and hesitations—suddenly became clear. It wasn’t some dramatic cosmic intervention, but rather a natural unfolding of Venus retrograde’s themes: revisiting old patterns, reconsidering what (and who) we truly value, and deciding whether to realign or release.

This cycle happens roughly every 18 months, lasting for about six weeks, and it brings an invitation—sometimes a forceful one—to reassess what we value, how we relate to others, and how we treat ourselves. Instead of pushing forward, Venus retrograde wants us to pause, reexamine, and realign.

If you're experiencing confusion in love, second-guessing financial choices, or questioning what (and who) truly matters, you’re not alone. Venus retrograde isn’t here to ruin anything, but it will make sure you see things clearly.

Venus Retrograde March 2025: What to Expect

The next Venus retrograde will take place from March 1 to April 12, 2025, in the sign of Aries & Pisces, bringing a mix of fire and water energy to love, money, and self worth. Retrogrades are always a time of reflection, but this one will have a noticeable shift in tone as Venus moves from bold, independent Aries back into dreamy, emotional Pisces.

The Aries portion of this retrograde is all about reclaiming yourself. Aries energy is direct, confident, and sometimes impulsive, so when Venus moves backward here, it’s time to ask: Am I going after what I really want, or just chasing something out of habit? Old relationship patterns may resurface, but instead of simply reacting, this is a chance to reassess how you assert yourself in love and whether your desires still align with your values. Financially, it’s a time to be cautious—Aries loves a risk, but retrograde energy isn’t great for major investments or spontaneous splurges.

As Venus moves into Pisces, the focus shifts inward. Aries wants action, but Pisces asks you to feel. This part of the retrograde could stir up nostalgia, longing, or even idealized views of past relationships. If an ex resurfaces, the question isn’t should I go back? but rather what am I still holding onto? Pisces energy blurs boundaries, making it easy to fall into old patterns or get caught up in emotions that don’t have real staying power.

This Venus retrograde isn’t just about love—it’s about values, priorities, and where we’ve been giving too much or not enough. Some relationships will be tested, others may find unexpected closure, and in some cases, what’s been stalled may finally start moving forward. The best way to navigate it? Slow down, pay attention, and let clarity come to you instead of forcing it.

For a more personalized reading, be sure to look at your unique birth chart.

What Does Venus Retrograde Mean?

First off, logistically, Venus retrograde isn’t Venus literally moving backward—it’s an optical illusion caused by differences in orbital speed, making it appear to reverse course from our perspective on Earth.

Venus rules love, relationships, pleasure, attraction, and money. So, when it retrogrades, these areas become less predictable. This isn’t the time to make impulsive decisions. New relationships started under Venus retrograde often fizzle out, big purchases may lead to regret, and financial plans might need revisiting. But what does happen is a chance to see the truth about what’s working and what isn’t.

People from the past may reappear, whether it's an ex sliding into your DMs or an old friendship resurfacing unexpectedly. Sometimes these encounters bring closure, and sometimes they test whether the dynamic has truly changed. In long-term relationships, Venus retrograde can highlight unspoken issues, making it an important period for honesty and self-reflection.

Financially, this transit encourages a more thoughtful approach. It’s a good time to go over budgets, reassess investments, and take stock of spending habits. If something feels unstable, it probably is, and Venus retrograde will show you where adjustments are needed.

Do's & Don'ts of Venus Retrograde

The key to working with Venus retrograde is patience. Instead of chasing new beginnings, focus on clarity and resolution. If something is breaking down, there’s a reason. If something resurfaces, there’s unfinished business.

This is a time to check in with yourself about what you truly value. Are your relationships reciprocal, or do they drain you? Are you pursuing financial goals that align with your actual needs, or just following external expectations? Venus retrograde brings these questions to the surface, and while answers might not come immediately, paying attention to patterns will give you clarity by the end of the cycle.

A few things to keep in mind during Venus retrograde:

✨Avoid major relationship decisions. This isn’t the best time for engagements, weddings, or breakups. The way you feel now might not be how you feel once Venus moves direct.

✨Be mindful with money. Hold off on big purchases, financial commitments, or aesthetic changes you might regret later.

✨Revisit the past, but don’t live in it. If an ex reappears, ask yourself whether the situation has truly changed or if it’s just Venus retrograde stirring up old emotions.

✨Use this time to realign. What do you truly desire in love, in friendships, in your financial life? Venus retrograde helps you see where you’ve compromised too much, or on the flip side, where you need to soften

✨ Avoid Plastic Surgery and getting Filler, Botox and Other beauty procedures for the first time. Generally speaking, Venus retrograde is not the time for cosmetic procedures.

Venus Retrograde in Your Unique Birth Chart

Each Venus retrograde takes place in a specific zodiac sign, and the area of your chart ruled by that sign will feel the effects the most. If you know your birth chart, look at which house Venus is retrograding through—this will show you which part of life is undergoing reevaluation.

For example, Venus retrograde in the 7th house can bring relationship themes to the forefront, making you question partnerships and dynamics. In the 2nd house, it might impact money, self-worth, and material security. The exact influence depends on your personal chart, but no matter where it falls, the theme is the same: reassessment, refinement, and ultimately, deeper clarity.

Embracing the Venus Retrograde Cycle

Venus retrograde isn’t here to make life difficult—it’s here to reveal what you’ve been avoiding. Whether that’s a relationship dynamic that needs adjusting, a financial habit that isn’t sustainable, or a shift in personal values that’s been waiting to happen, this transit brings the necessary space to course-correct.

By the time Venus moves direct, you’ll have a clearer sense of what’s truly important, what’s worth your time and energy, and what needs to be left behind. And that’s the real gift of Venus retrograde—it may be a time of pause, but it’s also a time of profound realignment.

Want to dive deeper into Venus retrograde or explore your unique birth chart? Book a birth chart reading with me to uncover the keys to your personal healing journey.