Venus as the Ultimate Astrological Alchemist

While we often think of Scorpio or Pluto as astrological transformers — Venus has an alchemy all of their own.

And Venus retrograde cycles can be particularly transformative. Similar to other phases of backward-moving planets, we often get a redo or revisit from the past. However, with Venus, this may take the form of people or facing parts of ourselves that invite us into deeper self-intimacy. Sometimes it reflects to us that we haven’t valued ourselves or put earning love from others above our own needs.

And around every 18 months for 40 days, these themes can come up in full force as Venus asks us to birth something whether it be an insight or a way of seeing ourselves in relationship to others.

Just as the alchemists believed that by performing physical transformations of substances, they could achieve spiritual enlightenment and gold…Venus reveals instead astrologically through a retrograde, synodic cycle, astrological chart comparisons, or alchemically anytime we find ourselves being changed by another.

As a Taurus — ruled by Venus — and someone whose natal Venus touches almost every planet in my chart, Venus retrograde usually proves to be a potent time for me. And this cycle was no different. One of the trickiest things about being an astrologer for me is how to write about what’s happening in the sky simultaneously while being impacted by it.

In perfect Venus retrograde fashion, I recently reconnected with a former lover who deeply transformed me. We never seemed to quite align and at one point I suggested we move in together just to intensify the lessons and be done. While my logic was flawed, I still understand that desire of my soul to get the learning as I knew we would be changed by each other. It was healing and painful and I feel so grateful for the chance to have the conversation and finally feel ready to let go with a grateful heart. To appreciate them in all their beauty and feel connected enough to release what I was still holding.

For almost a decade we “haunted” each other (their word) being intertwined in some way but not together. It felt so easy to feel our connection, but it always came with so much distance physically and often emotionally that it felt impossible. I would find myself yearning…