When Venus travels through Aries from February 3rd to March 27th, our hearts are in it to win it. Whether you’re putting your cards on the table with a crush, bringing a competitive edge to your flirt-a-thons, exploring a new art form that quickens your pulse, or communicating your desires more frankly than ever, relish the adrenaline rush.

The planet of love and beauty is anything but demure in this Mars-ruled fire sign. Think: the feeling we get when something is so adorable we want to gobble it up (metaphorically, of course). But this kind of assertiveness doesn’t always come naturally to a planet concerned with grace and diplomacy. Venus is traditionally considered to be in detriment in Aries, meaning it struggles to access its usual tact in this placement. Just remember that a little friction or frustration is par for the course during this transit. Then again, busting romantic clichés and playing against stale aesthetic conventions is half the fun. Matters of the heart demand bravery, after all, and the coming weeks double-dare us to zero in on our passions — relentlessly.

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Venus retrograde: review, reignite, reclaim

But not so fast. Venus in Aries may be raring to wear a head-turning outfit or gate-crash the local art scene, but a slowdown is on the horizon. On March 1st, Venus stations retrograde in the sign of the ram, foreshadowing a horn-lock or two. During a Venus retrograde, which happens once every 18 months, our pleasure centers can go offline. The planet of love appears to turn backward in the sky and slips into the underworld for 40 days and 40 nights. So if an important relationship loses its luster, if your creative spark seems dimmer than usual, or if everything in your wardrobe suddenly ceases to conjure delight, know that this is all normal — and temporary.

Venus’ retrograde through Aries may be uncomfortable, but it’s an invitation to rediscover your personal convictions and pierce through the stories and patterns that have undermined your agency. At the same time, this period is a potent opportunity to reconnect with your inner warrior. Though this subterranean journey may not be straightforward, Venus’ retrograde in Aries will help us all delve into our deepest caves and tap into the resources that will energize us to love boldly, connect courageously, and keep fighting together for the world we want to live in.

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From January 2nd to February 3rd, Venus moves through Pisces. The planet of love, art, and relationships is exalted in this mutable water sign, meaning it operates at the peak of its powers in this placement. Think: how you feel at your most moisturized, hydrated, and rested. For the next month, we’ve got an extra confident, energized Venus infusing our connections, creative practices, and self-adornment rituals with an overflow of goodwill and pleasure.

Venus in Pisces is an unabashed romantic. It’s all about grand, sweeping gestures — not for the photo ops, but for the sake of doing something wholeheartedly, without holding back. Whether you’re catching up with a dear friend, cooking dinner for a beloved, getting in the zone at your pottery wheel, turning to a blank page in your notebook, tuning the strings of your cello, or sing-shouting along to your favorite playlist in the car, Venus in Pisces wants you to go all the way. To savor how it feels to commune deeply with other people, with works of art, with beautiful experiences, and with love itself.

If you’re tempted to write off this notion as foolish, naive, or cringe, ask yourself why. Sure, being openhearted can get sappy, but so what? If making a sentimental scene isn’t your thing, that’s fine. No matter what, test out what happens when you’re 100% honest about your own emotions. Nudge yourself to tell others how much they mean to you. Let this time reconnect you to the intricate webs of interdependence in your life.

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But don’t forget — boundaries, baby

Keep in mind: Venus in Pisces can get so carried away in the whirlwind of romance and fantasy that it loses track of boundaries. When someone else seems to have a clear, compelling idea of what they want, you don’t need to conform to their wishes just to be agreeable. Over these next few weeks, check in often with your own moral compass. And refuse to believe that love requires self-sacrifice. The more you remind yourself where others end and you begin, the more profoundly you can enjoy this joyride of a transit. 

From November 11th to December 6th, Venus (the planet of love and connection) passes through Capricorn (the sign of consistency and hard work), and the steady support of this transit is right on time. This is a moment to commit — really commit — to the pockets of ease, stability, and pleasure that are available to us even amid challenging times. So heed its invitation to honor persistent acts of self-care. Embrace the comfort of friendships built on dozens of inside jokes. Establish boundaries that help you express your desires. And circulate “no thank yous” that protect your peace.

Venus in Capricorn teaches us that a little diligence can be the balm that revitalizes our bonds. That reliable routines like regular brunch dates, therapy sessions, or houseplant watering sessions can reinforce our trust in our attachments. That when we strengthen these structures, they soothe our nervous systems in return.

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A safe place to land

After a particularly dramatic election season in the US, Venus’ entrance into Capricorn brings a stabilizing force. Here, the planet of connection offers an anchor of care, kindness, and commitment to our communities. It reminds us that our systems of support persist — and sometimes they require us to check in with our loved ones (and ourselves) like it’s our job. This is the perfect time to pencil in magic hour catch-ups to tell your besties how much they mean to you, and to establish the solitary rituals that allow you to show up in your relationships.

Within tumultuous periods of history, our pledges to our fellow activists, to our networks, and to one other are crucial. This transit invites us to be each other’s pillars — to share the sometimes overwhelming weight of the world. And to remember that practical acts of grounding go a long way, even if it’s something as simple as hopping on a Zoom call to breathe with your chosen family or pausing to enjoy a cup of tea in the sunshine.

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Sweet devotion

On a personal level, the role of art and beauty in our lives is also about to get more serious. Just as the calluses on a guitarist’s fingers demonstrate years of honing their craft, Venus in Capricorn shows us that dedication is the main ingredient of virtuosity. Devoting your energy to the people and practices that have stood the test of time is a gorgeous way to honor this transit. Instant chemistry is all well and good, but there’s something even more satisfying about an old friend who remembers your favorite sorbet toppings. So surprise your nearest and dearest with handwritten notes of appreciation, celebrate the endurance of your bonds with matching tattoos, and draft your shared five-year plans. Venus in Capricorn understands that consistency is its own pleasure and pouring time into your loved ones is its own reward.

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