Venus Retrograde in Scorpio: The Deepening of the Intensity of your Longings

This October, the planet of love, beauty, justice, femininity, and values invites a deeper examination of what we want, what we value, and what we are ready to transform.

As we enter October (the 3rd to be exact at 3:16 PM Philippine time), Venus, the planet of love, beauty, justice, femininity, and values, goes retrograde deep within the dark, brooding waters of Scorpio. Venus has been swimming in Scorpio since the 10th of September, prompting deeply passionate relations–whether it involves people, circumstances, and patterns.

Retrogrades are optical illusions. These happen when planets appear to be moving backwards in relation to our earthly perspective. When planets go retrograde, the veil of illusions makes us see, think, and feel differently. Retrogrades can be confusing, sometimes intense, but retroactively necessary (meaning, such a hassle while it is happening, but when you look back on the circumstances from the future, it shall seem so necessary that this had to happen. Life always finds interesting ways to make us understand). Sometimes we need to be shaken to our core, or maybe lifted out of our patterns to find a better way of living life.

As Venus goes retrograde in 8 degrees of Scorpio, we are prompted to reassess our relationships. The relationships we have with others, our relationship to abundance, to careers, and most importantly, our relationship with ourselves. Scorpio is an intense sign. It is unafraid of the shadows. If anything, it abhors anything superficial. Scorpio wants depth and passion and transformation. This retrograde wants to alter the depths that you carry deep within you. It wants to change your heart; it wants to deepen the intensity of your longings.

First of all, this energy will ask us to reassess what we truly desire. Especially those we keep trying to tame and keep pushing down. These desires will come up for air and ask you to finally recognize them. Why do you feel discomfort with these desires? Why have you kept them hidden? But beware: This is not a time to act; it is just a time to feel and recognize. This is a time to acknowledge what suddenly surfaced and not force it to hide again.

This period will highlight relationships where desires are not fully met. Is your job emotionally fulfilling you? Why do you really want more money? Does your romantic relationship contain emotional, sexual, and spiritual satisfaction? Are your friendships still bound together by depth and transformative experiences? Is there something about your notion of self-worth that needs to be integrated and updated? What do you find still worthy of your devotion? Whatever happens to you this month, go to the questions that want to be asked.

Our hearts will be taken on an underworld journey by Scorpio. It is asking us to really feel, not think. It is asking us to embrace the intensity and to allow it to change us.

When Venus goes retrograde, people from the past may resurface, seemingly transformed. Or perhaps it is you looking to reconnect with the past. Perhaps it is a test to see how far we’ve come from those days. Are you still the same, or have you evolved?

On October 24, the Sun and Venus will merge together at 0 degrees of Scorpio—a powerful point of clarity. The Sun shall shine its light on where Venus has been meandering about this whole time. Hopefully by then, you will find answers. However, the following day, Mercury goes retrograde nearby. There could be misunderstandings. Venus will be squaring Pluto, the planet of death, rebirth, and ultimately, power. It is putting more weight on the already intense situations.

Ultimately, what it could be saying is this: If you want change, you need to step out of your patterns. Easier said than done, I will admit. But again, this is not a time for solutions, but for deep, deep, deep introspection. Venus will also be opposing Chiron in Aries at this time, and there will be quite a lot of feelings about your identity or who you want to become. Remain open to the feelings, as uncomfortable as they are. Scorpio is training us to strengthen our core with discomfort.

To find out where it will be taking place in your life, find your rising or ascendant sign below.

Aries rising

This could feel really intense, as this will be happening in your 8th House of shared resources and intimacy. Certain desires will be bubbling up. You could find yourself reassessing who you share your life and resources with. Have you been asking for what you really want? With Saturn and Neptune in Aries now, perhaps you have been feeling stifled. This transit is asking you to consider things deeper than you would have before.

Taurus rising

This retrograde is highlighting your closest personal relationships. What tethers you to them still? Are you bound by something deep and transformative? If not, is it time for a new chapter? How can you intensify the depths of your relationships?

Gemini rising

With Uranus in your first house, you are ultimately changing things up. You could be reassessing your daily routines–your daily tasks at work, or even your health regimen. Your daily life could be asking for a change.

Cancer rising

Your self-expression could be demanding more attention. Romances should be scrutinized—is this just a fleeting experience or something that could go on for the long run? Your creative expressions could be transformed as you excavate from a deeper, more meaningful space.

Leo rising

There is attention needed on the home front. Or perhaps there is a memory, a wound from your childhood that wants to resurface. Perhaps certain uncomfortable conversations must be done with the family or at home. Either way, this transit wants to alter the way in which you define family and home.

Virgo rising

Be more careful in how you communicate yourself during this transit. You may find yourself more open to talking about the deeper, more uncomfortable stuff, but it may not be received well. You could also be rethinking the community you surround yourself with. What is the bond you share? What is it that you want to learn?

Libra rising

This transit is prompting you to revisit your relationship with money and your self-worth. Nay, not just a revisit. It is asking you to transform. What is your relationship to abundance? Do you know and really believe in what you are worth?

Scorpio rising

You are being asked to transform your relationship with yourself. Is your self-love conditional? Go back to the roots of it all. Face the shadows so that you are also ready to step into the spotlight. There is a lot of movement in your career and legacy sector. For you to access the blessings that may enter there, you have to learn to have a better relationship with yourself.

Sagittarius rising

A lot of the shadows may be rising to be addressed. Take care of your mental health. The best way to take care of them is to finally really look at them, but gently, lovingly, tenderly. These burdens that you silently carry are asking you to kindly acknowledge where they came from, why they are here. Take an honest look at the difficult things that have unfolded and what you need to change, where you might have been wrong too.

Capricorn rising

You could be reassessing your goals. Are you still truly intensely tethered to them or are you just doing them because you are one to complete what you’ve begun? It is ok to pivot. Friendships are the same way. You could be asked to reassess the bonds you share with people.

Aquarius rising

There is something about the evolution of your career and legacy that is coming to the forefront this month. Perhaps there is a questioning of your life’s purpose at this time. This is good; you are examining life and what you bring forth deeply, passionately. Pluto in your first house is intensifying your personal transformations, prompting you to really think about what you devote yourself to.

Pisces rising

Your beliefs could be challenged at this time. Hopefully, for the better. Beliefs are never to be inherited blindly, anyway. You step into it wholeheartedly, because there should be a coherence between what you know and what you feel.

Savor the questions that surface during this period. The answers cannot be rushed, nor is this the time for answers and solutions. The nutrients are in the questions.