Venus Retrograde at 2 degrees Virgo: Transition and Healing

Contributed by guest blogger Melody.

Venus will begin her retrograde journey on July 27, moving back into Leo August 9 – October 8 before returning to Virgo. We have seen her as the bright evening star for some time, but by the end of July she will no longer be in the Western night sky. I will definitely be missing her, but by the end of August Venus will be seen as the morning star, visible just before sunrise.

From our earthly perspective, Venus is retrograde less than any other planet, so this is a rare phenomenon. She is also at the 2 degrees Virgo point from July 21 – August 2, a whopping 12 days.

She never stations at an exact minute, but her slowing down since July 17 contributed to last week’s gravity. The Sabian symbol for 2 degrees Virgo is “A large white cross dominates the landscape.” The wisdom and compassion, which only the experience of suffering and isolation can bring. Rudhyar talks about the lesson of detachment that this brings through the “crucifixion” of the ego on the Path that leads to Initiation.

Venus at 2 degrees Virgo is a powerful time of transition and healing. Where does this point land in your chart?

The Sabian symbol for 3 degrees of Virgo is “Two Guardian Angels.” Invisible help and protection in times of crisis. Rudhyar writes that through the crucifixion of the ego, we may develop a sense of deep companionship with consciousnesses, which may be really different than one’s own mind but will help to bring strength within.

Venus is in her fall in Virgo because if one is feeling insecure or unsure it is easy to be critical of one’s own and the world’s shortcomings, contaminations and imperfections. Analyzing one’s feelings is a reaction to trying to understand the imperfections with one’s mind. There is an inherent idealization of the harmony that comes through things working well and smoothly, good manners, social order, and Venus in Virgo contributes through service and so purifies the essence of love.

Because I have a Virgo Moon, a friend of mine who gave me my first real astrology reading told me the story of how Native Americans would weave a beautiful white blanket but intentionally leave a yellow bead towards the middle as a reminder that nothing is perfect. The journey that Venus in Virgo puts us on is the same. In learning to understand humankind’s imperfections, there is a softening and acceptance of each person’s unfolding path and its inherent cosmic perfection, including our own and our ability to accept that less pure with the pure. And so the highest energies of Venus in Virgo include gentleness, kindness, service, caring, altruism, and a love for ourselves and for all humanity, as we are all one in the end.

This theme parallels Virgo retrograde, those rare periods of introspection where we are inwardly adjusting and focused on our relationship with others and ourselves. Resources and values are an extension of this in the sense that we value what we think we need in terms of others and resources (such as money) to survive and feel secure.

There are many questions that may come up during the next week. Perhaps we need to rebel against societal expectations so that we can feel good about staying true to our own values. Perhaps we are being challenged to examine how we are being critical of our failures, or adjust our thinking towards looking at the changes that would bring harmony and self-love back into our lives. Perhaps we need to look at areas where there is guilt looming heavily in the background and adjust our perspective so that we can let the guilt go. Guilt is a very toxic emotion and sometimes is warranted to herd one back to a higher path, but often is acquired through impersonal expectations and conditionings of others and society. To buy into the guilt is to be controlled. Perhaps this is a time to see how one’s judgments and self-acceptance or lack of are affecting the areas of one’s life that are being influenced by this transit.

This is a time to learn and grow. I would suggest that whatever your last year has brought, this point on your chart is the place of healing, self-love, and a purer more perfect sense of yourself.