How often do you stop to question whether you still want the things or life you once wanted?
Some people never pause to consider this important question while they still have time to change their direction.
In the rush of daily life, it’s easy to take for granted that what you think you want is what you want.
While the planet Venus is retrograde, it invites us to pause our race to the finish line and actually investigate whether the way we are living is truly aligned with our current desires.
Read more: 6 Topics That Come Up For Review During Venus Retrograde in Leo
One of the things that makes a Venus retrograde challenging is that this inquiry can appear to raise more questions than answers, sowing seeds of confusion.
Venus is a planet that loves comfort, and a Venus retrograde is not comfortable.
Head vs Heart
On The Astrology Podcast, astrologer Austin Coppock explained that Venus retrograde can be like a Mercury retrograde, except in matters of the heart.
What does this mean?
Mercury is the planet that represents the mind. It rules communications; it’s the messenger. One of the issues that comes up for review during a Mercury retrograde is how we communicate with others and the messages we receive from others.
Mercury retrogrades often illuminate the confusion that arises from miscommunications, such as unclear or unreceived messages.
If Mercury retrograde is about our communication with others, Venus retrograde is about our communication within ourselves.
Venus is the planet of the heart; it speaks to our desire and passion. This planet is also about what we value.
As Coppock explained, Venus retrograde can bring up wavering about what we like versus what we don’t like.
During Venus retrograde, we might find ourselves going inward to question:
“Do I like what I like?“
”Do I like what I thought I liked?”
Venus retrogrades often pull together conflicting experiences of attraction and repulsion
This can create a lot of back-and-forth as we start to question everything. It can sow the seeds of confusion.
Read more: How Venus Retrograde in Leo Will Impact You Personally
Confusion is Inevitable
The journey into the heart is a daring adventure. As you start to investigate your heart’s longings and desires, confusion is inevitable.
Some people live their entire lives without investigating their hearts’ desires. They live by beliefs and values passed down from others; they fulfill someone else’s vision of an ideal life.
Venus retrograde can be an opportunity to get clear on what is driving you:
Are you pursuing what your heart truly desires, what’s most meaningful to you, and what you value?
Or are you following a path based on values and desires that someone else gave you, without considering what is most meaningful to you?
The process of arriving at that clarity can significantly muddy the waters and raise a lot of questions.
Your heart may lead you in a direction that feels irrational or illogical.
The message of your heart might conflict with what your mind “knows” to be “true” or “fact.”
This confusion and questioning is not a sign that something is wrong. It’s actually a good thing, because it’s part of the process of gaining clarity.
How to Navigate the Confusion
This is not an overnight process or a “once and done” event.
You can’t investigate or rewire all of your values in a weekend workshop.
To gain clarity requires consistent and repetitive practice, like building muscle.
There’s a reason this Venus retrograde lasts for approximately 40 days.
40 is a number of great significance. Think: Moses on the mountain. Noah in the flood. The Jewish people in the wilderness of Egypt.
This process is a journey, and the key to working effectively with this transit is to embrace the journey. Allow yourself to be in the process of questioning without forcing answers or decisions.
Summon Your Leo Courage
It takes courage to investigate the values and beliefs that you may have taken for granted.
It also takes courage to allow yourself to live in a state of not having all the answers.
That’s why this review is particularly well-suited to Venus’ retrograde through Leo: Leo is the sign of courage.
If you allow the process without trying to rush yourself for answers, it can bring depth of emotional clarity about what you truly value and what is most important and meaningful for you.
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