Brace yourselves—Venus is about to hit reverse in a fiery red Lamborghini, and it’s happening in Aries. If you’re expecting this to be a breezy, love-infused transit where everyone gets along, think again. This is Venus, the planet of love, relationships, beauty, and values, taking a deep dive into the sign of the ram. And when she turns retrograde? We’re talking about a full-on mythic quest—one that could make or break our perceptions of love, self-worth, and what it really means to fight for what (and who) we value.
To understand what’s at stake, we’re going to turn to one of the most dramatic love stories of all time: the myth of Psyche and Eros. But before we get there, let’s break down what’s happening astrologically.
Venus Retrograde: The Basics
Venus goes retrograde about every 18 months, giving us a 40-day period where love, relationships, self-esteem, and finances enter a reflective (and sometimes chaotic) phase. Unlike Mercury retrograde, which turns our inbox into a war zone, Venus retrograde isn’t about lost emails or travel mishaps—it’s about lost lovers, unresolved emotional baggage, and a sudden realization that we might not even know what we truly want.
When Venus retrogrades in Aries, the sign of self-determination, confidence, and battle-readiness, we’re asked to examine the role of love in our independence. Are we too headstrong in relationships? Too impulsive? Do we dive in headfirst and then wonder why we’re always patching up emotional wounds? Or have we lost ourselves in love, dimming our fire to keep others warm? Aries doesn’t do passive reflection—it demands action, sometimes the kind that comes with battle scars.
The Myth of Psyche: A Venus Retrograde Blueprint
Enter Psyche, a mortal woman so beautiful that people stopped worshiping Aphrodite (Venus) and started idolizing her instead. If you know anything about Aphrodite, you know she does not take kindly to being upstaged. So, in classic divine pettiness, Aphrodite sends her son, Eros (Cupid), to make Psyche fall in love with a hideous monster. But things don’t go as planned—Eros himself falls for Psyche, hides his identity, and spirits her away to a palace where they live happily… as long as she never looks at him.
Of course, Psyche’s curiosity (or, let’s be honest, some peer pressure from her sisters) gets the best of her, and she sneaks a look. Eros, betrayed, flees. Psyche is left heartbroken and must now prove her love through a series of impossible tasks set by Aphrodite, including sorting a mountain of seeds, stealing golden wool from deadly rams, and descending into the underworld itself to retrieve a beauty elixir.
This story screams Venus retrograde in Aries. Love is not handed to us on a silver platter—it requires growth, self-awareness, and courage. Psyche’s journey is one of self-discovery, trust, and learning that real love isn’t about fairy tale illusions—it’s about facing challenges, owning our flaws, and developing the kind of strength that doesn’t require someone else’s validation.
Jungian Insight: The Anima and the Individuation Process
From a Jungian perspective, Psyche’s story represents the journey of individuation—the process of integrating different aspects of the self to achieve wholeness. Venus retrograde is a psychological checkpoint, a time to assess whether our relationships are reflections of our true self or projections of our unresolved wounds.
During this transit, the anima (our inner feminine principle) is activated, urging us to examine our beliefs about love, self-worth, and what we desire from partnerships. Are we seeking a partner to complete us? Are we afraid of losing ourselves in love? Have we confused passion with conflict, thinking that the most intense relationships are also the most meaningful?
Just like Psyche, we may feel like we’re being put through a series of trials. Maybe it’s a sudden reevaluation of our current relationship. Maybe it’s an old flame reappearing with “Hey, I’ve been thinking about you” energy, forcing us to decide whether they belong in our present or are best left in the past. Maybe it’s a creative crisis, where we question whether we’re expressing our true selves or simply performing for approval.
Whatever comes up, the goal is self-reclamation—learning to love from a place of confidence rather than fear, clarity rather than desperation.
How to Work With Venus Retrograde in Aries
- Face the Hard Truths About Your Relationships
Aries energy doesn’t sugarcoat things, and Venus retrograde in this sign will highlight where you’ve been lying to yourself about love. Are you chasing unavailable people? Settling for less than you deserve? Staying in a relationship out of comfort rather than real connection? The truth may sting, but clarity is the first step toward authentic love.
- Reclaim Your Sense of Self
Venus retrograde in Aries is a call to put you first—not in a selfish, reckless way, but in a way that honors your individuality. If you’ve been bending over backward to make others happy at your own expense, it’s time to set boundaries. If you’ve been neglecting your own passions, rediscover what makes you feel alive outside of relationships.
- Expect (and Ignore) the Return of the Exes
Like clockwork, Venus retrograde tends to bring back people from the past. But here’s the thing—just because they reappear doesn’t mean they’re supposed to stay. Think of them as ghosts of lessons past. Are they back because there’s unfinished business, or are they just a test to see if you’ve truly moved on?
- Get Comfortable with Discomfort
Psyche’s trials weren’t easy, and neither is this transit. This is a time of internal work—learning to sit with uncertainty, questioning old relationship patterns, and confronting fears of being alone or unlovable. But discomfort is the birthplace of transformation.
- Reevaluate Your Values
Venus isn’t just about love—it’s also about what we value. Are your current priorities aligned with your true self? Have you been pursuing relationships, career goals, or material success based on societal expectations rather than what truly fulfills you? This is the time to recalibrate.
Motivational Takeaway: You Are the Hero of Your Own Story
By the end of her trials, Psyche doesn’t just get Eros back—she gains something even more valuable: her own sense of self-worth and inner strength. That’s the real lesson of Venus retrograde in Aries. Love isn’t about finding someone to save you. It’s about recognizing your own power, embracing your imperfections, and understanding that love—real love—requires courage, trust, and the willingness to grow.
So as Venus turns retrograde, ask yourself: Are you ready to fight for a love that aligns with your true self? Not just in romance, but in every area of your life. Because at the end of this journey, it won’t be about who stays or who goes—it’ll be about the warrior you’ve become.
Final Advice: Own your worth. Set your boundaries. And if love feels like a battlefield, remember: You were born for this. Oh, and mark your calendar, Venus turns Rx on March 1st.
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