Don’t Cut Your Hair: Notes On Venus Retrograde
What to know. What to do. And how to track your personal Venus Rx story.
Throughout the years I’ve made some terrible decisions during Venus Retrogrades. I’ve relapsed into toxic romances, uprooted my life for nostalgia and empty opportunities, and even imploded some seemingly fine friendships. But I’ve never cut my hair.
As of March 1, 2025, Venus has officially stationed retrograde. The goddess of earthly delights and social graces has left the room, leaving us to wander in her absence for 40 days and 40 nights.
Am I being dramatic? Perhaps. Venus retrograde is about remembering what we love. And, sometimes, like Aphrodite emerging from the sea foamy waters of blood and cum, the process is messy.
OK. BUT WHAT IS VENUS RETROGRADE?
Venus retrograde is part of Venus’s synodic cycle or her relationship with the Sun.
Every 18 months, evening star Venus appears to stand still, circle back in the sky — and disappear. After a long sojourn in the symbolic Underworld, she conjoins the Sun, then begins her ascent to become a morning star.
Her phase change is marked mid-cycle when she conjoins the Sun in a process astrologers call cazimi. At the heart of the Sun, Venus’s impurities are burned away: an old story ends, so a new one can grow.
A MYTHOLOGICAL LENS: INANNA AND PERSEPHONE
The story most often attributed to Venus’s synodic cycle is the Sumerian myth of Inanna and her descent to the Underworld to visit her sister, Ereshkigal, the Queen of the Dead.
Another story that fits the cycle is the Greek Myth of Persephone.
Similar to Inanna, Persephone makes a descent into the Underworld — although not willingly. While picking flowers with her friends, the youthful goddess is snatched down into the Earth by her pervy uncle’s black chariot.
Chaos ensues when she goes missing. Her mother, Demeter, is so distraught over her disappearance that she stops the seasons on Earth. Reluctantly her brother, Zeus, responds to her pleas by calling for his niece's return.
But it’s too late.
Persephone has consumed the fruits of the Underworld, six pomegranate seeds. In Ancient Greece, food was basically a contract. You eat here. You’re bound here. Fortunately, since it was half a pomegranate, it’s decreed that Persephone will only have to reside in the Underworld for half the year!
While I don’t love this story for us — Wtf Hades — it does illustrate the two faces of Venus. As an evening star the Ancient Greeks considered Venus the Goddess of Love. As a morning star, the Goddess of War.
Every retrograde journey marks her change from the Goddess of Love to the Goddess of War.
Unlike Persephone, most of us — none of us — will actually become royalty, but, if we’re strategic, we may exit this Venus Rx journey feeling empowered and prepared to fight for what we love.
WORKING WITH THE VENUS RETROGRADE
Commit these three tips to memory and apply them to every facet of your life.
Make An Offering When Stuck
In the story of Inanna, the goddess must remove all her clothing before descending into the Underworld. What’s distracting you from your journey?
Are you feeling stifled on a creative project? Burnt out on dating? Are the things that used to give you pleasure just not cutting it?
Take a break. Maybe you give up dating or chocolate or shopping or whiskey. Whatever. Dedicate the thing you love to the Goddess, and after 40 days and 40 nights, you may be surprised that what you now desire is something completely different.
Collect Data. Reflect Before Acting
Most of my Venus woes, like my life woes, can be attributed to the impulsivity of my Aries sun. While you may not have Aries placements, you may still find yourself tempted by the allures of Venus.
Venus retrogrades bring things back into our lives — old loves, career opportunities. Sometimes these things are meant to last. Often it’s so we can remember why they didn’t work in the first place and cut the cord.
Before you trash your life for a cross-country move or fall back into the arms of a charming and toxic lover, give yourself some time to contemplate the situation before taking action. By the time Venus stations direct, the reality of your situation should become clearer.
Execute Beauty Plans When Venus Is Direct
I have no idea why Venus Retrogrades drive the best of us to extreme makeovers, but it’s a thing. Do yourself a favor and wait until Venus is direct before making any drastic beauty moves. This includes haircuts, plastic surgery and shopping sprees.
Otherwise you might end up with a botched nose job or an empty wallet from a new wardrobe you don’t even like that much.
SWEET REMINDERS
Sometimes Venus shows us what we love, and it’s nice. Like my two friends whose Venus retrograde story is about taking their friendship to a more intimate place.
As Chris Brennan points out in his episode of the Astrology Podcast, Venus Retrograde in Aries in History, for some people Venus Retrogrades are connected to career milestones and recognition. Example: everyone who won an Oscar.
LOOK TO THE PAST
The last time Venus was retrograde in Aries was March 4–April 15, 2017.
What was happening in your life? You might find some of the same themes resurfacing.
TRACK YOUR STORY FORWARD
The following dates mark key moments in this Venus cycle. Compare them to your personal timeline to uncover your Venus story.
January 29th, 2025: Pre Retrograde Shadow (Into Shadow)
March 1st, 2025: Venus Stations Retrograde inAries
March 22nd, 2025: Venus Conjoins the Sun (Midpoint of Cycle)
April 12th, 2025: Venus Stations Direct in Pisces
September 16th, 2025: Post Retrograde Shadow (Out of Shadow)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thanks to my Astro Bookclub cohost, Stefanie Marlow, for pointing out the Venus cycle/Persephone connection at the last Los Angeles Astro Salon.
Thanks to my workshop collaborator, Liz Vasquez, for inspiring this post. Stay tuned for our Venus workshop!
ABOUT VIVI
Vivi Henriette is an LA-based astrologer and tarot reader whose collaborative approach to divination weaves in storytelling and mythology to create a container for her clients to explore their personal narrative. She’s the host of the Los Angeles Astro Salon at the Philosophical Research Society and the podcast TALKTALKTALK.
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Random tangent but I'm just realizing your Sun is in Aries. The whole time I've been reading your work, I was convinced you were a Gemini, as if I knew for certain (not sure why)? Now I'm wondering if my subconscious just decided you were each time I saw "TALKTALKTALK." Lol...