Horoscopes Venus Retrograde Is Bringing The Drama To Your Relationships

As the planet of love and partnerships does a U-turn, it’s best to proceed with caution

You know how almost every Sex And The City episode had that moment where Carrie says, “I couldn’t help but wonder: *insert romantic rhetorical question here*?” That’s kind of the vibe this week. Actually, mak that most of this month.

The “it” could range from your go-to office day lunch to much more critical things like relationships, friendships, maybe even careers. Before you panic, remember this is a period of reflection, not on-a-whim destruction. Now is not the time to dump your Aidan. But it may well be a phase where you’re considering whether what you thought you wanted all along is actually aligned with who you’re becoming as a person. There are no right or wrongs, only opportunities for contemplation. So, go forth and contemplate.

ARIES AND ARIES RISING

Are you ready for a makeover montage? If you’re suddenly saving French bobs faster than you can say “Taylor LaShae”, know that it’s not just you—it’s in the stars. This week, Venus kicks off her retrograde right in the centre of your life. The part of your chart most connected with beauty, aesthetics, and your body is central to this particular retrograde, especially the next four weeks. Remember, retrogrades are for reflection—not action—so as much as you’re itching to book that hairdresser appointment, try to hold off.

TAURUS AND TAURUS RISING

There’s a change in the air—but maybe not in the way you’d expect. With one of your most important planets, Venus, going to ground, there’s a more low-key kinda feel to the next six weeks for Taurean folk. Don’t be surprised if people or issues from your past resurface. They may be far flung geographically or emotionally distant. Whoever they are, they won’t be backward in coming forward. Try not to take their bluntness too personally; there is a difference between being direct and being straight up rude, even if it’s not an approach you’d adopt yourself.

GEMINI AND GEMINI RISING

If you’ve been wondering where you stand in a relationship, prepare to be enlightened. This week, Venus starts her journey to the deep, signalling a period of loud, potentially uncensored tell-us-what-you-really-think energy. With the action activating your social sphere, it could make for a very exciting (read: hectic) month or so. Overcommitting—or oversharing—is a real risk. Allow yourself a generous pause before you say “yes” to any invites, especially early on this week. And if you don’t want to spill the tea publicly, keep any juicy details relegated to your “inside” voice.

CANCER AND CANCER RISING

No sooner have you had a moment to recover from the intensity of Mars retrograde than you’re onto the next excitement. Love it or hate it, that’s 2025 for you, especially crabs. This week, Venus retrograde is bringing quite a bit of action, challenging you to get brutally honest about what you really want. A pay rise? More flexibility? Less work? More work? Whatever it is, expect to get a very succinct prompt to help you figure out what your true feelings might be. Try not to lash out or hand in your notice just yet. There is more soul-searching to be done, and with the eclipse riding into town next week, you can guarantee that what looks like “how it is” right now is only the tip of the iceberg.

LEO AND LEO RISING

After the swampiness of Mars retrograde, there’s some much-needed spice coming in hot this week. While the delivery may leave a little bit to be desired (read: tactless AF), you can’t fault the honesty. This is the sort of week when true feelings will be shared. There is an opportunity here to keep you cards close to your chest and wait to see where the chips fall. When all is said and done you might be feeling quite differently about the situation by the end of this week. Pace yourself. This story arc isn’t going anywhere in a hurry.

VIRGO AND VIRGO RISING

The way you divide—and in some cases conquer—is up for review. With your ruling planet, Mercury, joining Venus in take-no-prisoners Aries, things could get slightly salty. Expect there to be a lot of chat, or at the very least, brain power devoted to how you divvy up chores, cash, time, and even intimacy. It’s big, heavy stuff, but with the sun in Pisces still casting a bright light over your relationships, there’s never been a better time to get into the weeds. Just try not to make any sudden decisions, the next six weeks are a fact-finding mission, not a final showdown.

LIBRA AND LIBRA RISING

Is this a time to hold them or a time to fold them? It’s a question worth keeping front of mind this week. Expect plenty of situations to arise (read: drama) where you’ll get to choose your own adventure—the high road or the told-you-so road. It’s not the usual energy you bring to the yard, but this ain’t your average week in Libra land. Venus retrograde always hits you hard (it’s your ruling planet), and this one is kicking off around your most important relationships. With all the fun taking place in your one-on-one dealings, even the most patient Librans will feel activated by the audacity of Certain People ™. If it all gets too much, make your excuses and make an early exit.

SCORPIO AND SCOPRIO RISING

It’s an interesting little week with Venus and Mercury setting the scene for some serious spiciness. While you may not be in the firing line, it will be hard to miss the shots fired—especially at work. Although the outburst could seem sudden, it will bring to light an issue or sore point that will continue to develop over the next few weeks. So, you could rush into the fray, or you could hang back and wait to see how it plays out. As entertaining as it all seems, taking the strong, silent approach will be in your best interests. Remember, this is just the beginning…

SAGITTARIUS AND SAGITTARIUS RISING

Old habits die hard this week. The planets collude to ignite some tried-and-true coping mechanisms. Chances are, they may not be especially good for you. Whether it’s an online shopping binge, a cheeky vape or one too many pinots with dinner, the mood is definitely “who cares if it’s Tuesday night, let’s get a bottle!” That’s all well and good, but with everyone else being hit by the same energy (albeit in different areas of their life), the mood is fired up and a little bit shouty. Definitely not the sort of week you want to be nursing a hangover before Thursday. Equally, it’s not a great week to be trying to exchange something outside the returns policy. Consider yourself warned.

CAPRICORN AND CAPRICORN RISING

There’s some intrigue afoot this week with Venus challenging you to lean into your softer side. That may not be your favourite room in the house. But if you’re prepared to step up to the plate, it might be worth it. With some fireworks unfolding in your domestic domain, even the most stoic Caps will find it hard to keep calm and carry on. No one knows you like the people who raised you, and unfortunately, that also means they can grind your gears like no one else. Rather than spiral into shame/silence (or both) for losing your cool, give yourself a second to consider what it is about what’s being said that’s pushing your button. What is this really all about?

AQUARIUS AND AQUARIUS RISING

Noisy neighbours, reconnecting with extended family, or just dealing with the unbearable desire to buy a vintage Porsche even though you’ve let your license lapse. These are just a few of the weird and wonderful manifestations this week’s sky could have in store for Aquarians. As Venus and Mercury team up and urge you to run/speak/buy whatever takes your fancy, you could be acting uncharacteristically impulsive. If you’ve been feeling a bit lethargic, that might not be a bad thing, but if you’re trying to keep the peace with your siblings or just not max out your credit card, then this could be a tricky week. Prepare and schedule accordingly.

PISCES AND PISCES RISING

When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping. It’s a 1980s adage that could feel decidedly relevant this week. This next big retrograde has rolled into town, and she is not messing around. As the usually chill waves of Pisces season get a right royal shakeup, you’d be forgiven for wanting to shop your nerves away. There will be people who have thoughts. There will be people who want to share the aforementioned thoughts. There will be a whole lot of opinions—primarily unsolicited—and the purveyors of said opinions will not care who’s listening. It’s not bad; it’s just a lot of hot air. So, if a new lip oil makes that feel less annoying, who’s to judge?