1: Keep an Eye on Venus
2: Timeline of Venus in Leo
3: Venus in Leo Personalities
4: The Retrograde Effect
5:Transits to Note in your Diary
6: Mars in the Mix
7: Venus in Leo through the Zodiac Signs
7:1 Aries
7:2 Taurus
7:3 Gemini
7:4 Cancer
7:5 Leo
7:6 Virgo
7:7 Libra
7:8 Scorpio
7:9 Sagittarius
7:10 Capricorn
7:11 Aquarius
7:12 Pisces
1: Keep an Eye on Venus
Venus enters the sign of Leo on June 5th and she will stay there until October 8th.
Normally she does not stay that long but in 2023 it’s a whole four months. We might stand back and applaud her antics as the Venus parade rolls in to the showiest sign in the zodiac; and she won’t just take one bow and discreetly disappear after the curtain call, but she’ll repeat the performance as an encore.
For any planet to stay that long in a sign begs that we pay attention to the meaning of that Leo and all that comes with Leo. It’s basically the dalliance of Venus and the Sun, so it may have implications for our relationships, money and life purpose, the whole ‘story’ around which we in structure our lives and express our persona.
Venus on the whole tends to shine brighter than ever – she brings out the bling in Leo but also the regal nature of Leo. So prepare to dazzle and be dazzled. This period will be great for entertainers, dancers, beauty parlours, show people, jewellers, costume and fashion designers and or anyone who wants to put on a buzzing social-networking event, a coming together, reunion party, or a performance of some kind. It is also good for anyone who has pride in their appearance, wants to improve how they look, and is beaming heartfelt vibes to the rest of the world simply because they can and others around them certainly feel those rays.
Leo is the genuine king or queen in that the world radiates out from them, not the other way around. If you agree to be a satellite revolving around their planet, they are happy. Venus is at her showiest in Leo and that’s not such a bad thing unless you are an introvert and don’t like fun and frolics. Venus helps you develop self esteem and pulls you out of yourself to interact more with others.
But when Venus goes retrograde, she invites us to take a second look at those same people and situations that help us shine, and that might be relationships, lovers, friends or business partners, so we might get ready by looking at where Leo is placed in our natal charts and considering where this will manifest for us and if the specific degrees where it lingers have any pointers for us.
2: Timeline of Venus through Leo
The stationary period begins July 22nd but she moves fully into the Retro on the 23rd and 24th but during this time, as with most planets, she is at her most powerful. The basic drift of Venus in Leo is going to feel great. She’s a benefic after all and happy in this fire sign as it gives her free reign to freely express herself. It can also affect sun sign Taurus and Libra as Venus rules those signs.
The words of Nina’s Simone’s song come to mind even though she makes them sound bitter-sweet:
“Birds flying high, you know how I feel.
Sun in the sky, you know how I feel.
Breeze driftin’ on by, you know how I feel.
It’s a new dawn.
It’s a new day.
It’s a new life.
For me
And I’m feeling good.”
3: Venus in Leo Personalities
People with Venus in Leo are pretty dazzling and there’s not much that is subtle about the way they capture your attention. It’s full on. A list of the names of natives born with Venus in Leo reveals they love to do a frontal assault on the senses to make their point: Whitney Houston (9/8/1963) was an attention grabber for sure with the voice and the looks combined.
Alfred Hitchcock (13/8/1899) provided us with shocks aplenty, with new camera angles, psychological horror, all cunningly coded into a powerful cinematic language. He may have been difficult to deal with for leading actresses, but these are films that once seen you rarely forget.
Stanley Kubrick (28/7/1928) also had this capacity to continue to impress long after his death, as his films bear repeated viewings, revealing new facets of interest each time, his films impress layer by layer each time they are analysed afresh decades after he has gone.
Playwright George Bernard Shaw (22/7/1856) created an irascible persona as the joker that he maintained till the end, but the way Venus merged with his Sun (and an Eros conjunct Pluto) made him a impossible womaniser romanticising all his famous leading ladies of the day while at the same time leading them on a merry dance, not always satisfying as sex and celibacy do not always mix well.
A great example of Venus in Leo is actress Barbara Eden (23/8/1931) of ‘I Dream of Jeannie’ TV series fame. She he radiated charm, with her high cheek bones and blonde curls, working instant magic and being hugely popular with audiences- There’s a good bit of genie in a bottle with Venus in Leo, but in reality djinn are powerful meddlesome entities. They included this in the series by adding a wicked sister genie also played by Eden, and whether it is connected or not, apparently she suffered several tragic incidents in her life, the death of her son, complications in pregnancy, and even sexual harrassment on the film set.
All this points to the shadow side of Venus that we see more in the retrograde period but is always there. Her sun was at 29° of Leo and that’s the culmination of the Leo storyline in her life. However, it did not dim her shine in the long run.
The dazzle of Venus in Leo, is not merely physical but shines in the mental domain too where it can challenge tease the mind with startlingly original ideas. This is true in the magical fictional world of Argentinian author, Jorge Luis Borges (24/9/1899). He broke the tradition of attachment to realism and fractured his ideas and stories into multiple facets each one containing a prism of endless possibilities. In his case Venus combined with Mercury in Leo, ruled by the Sun, and the Sun was at 0° of Virgo out of sign, which is ruled by Mercury, and that created a neat kind of mutual reception uniquely his own.
4: The Retrograde Effect
As always there’s a bit of rough with the smooth, some Yin with the Yang during a retrograde phase, nothing to worry about but some considerations are needed. Venus moves into Leo and brings all the pleasure back into life but then she turns backwards and becomes more inward-looking, less outwardly oriented. It’s the Retrograde effect. It’s all fine but it may not feel so boisterous, and is a little slower and more reflective. Anyone born with Venus Retrograde already in their charts will find this is normal for them, they take their time to make any decisions about love and relationships, they don’t jump in willy-nilly.
Finding the balance between extremes as you evolve through all these emotions will be wise. Venus rules Taurus and Libra so look to its effect in wherever those houses are as well as Leo for a fuller more comprehensive understanding. There’s always a lot going on and the chart is a blend of multiple checks and balances. But ideally Venus can have a smoothing effect even when she’s reviewing all that she values. It’s a bit of love audit which is always good to do from time to time.
Looking at these seven main stages that Venus goes through by early September we may be getting the reprise or repeat situations and some mirroring of events that happen in September that happened in July or cause us to rethink it all and what we valued about it- a reevaluation but also the closure on that issue which will be resolved by then.
This will be especially true if you have any planets, angles or points at these degrees. Venus spends more than a week hovering around 12° of Leo at the end of August, beginning of September, so this will be where its most intense Venusian effects will occur. So that may be the best party time as long as you don’t overindulge, overspend or do any crazy cosmetic surgery.
Venus retrograde comes with repeated warnings – you just might want to hold back a bit and reserve judgement and arrangements until a later date, or at least until when Venus goes direct again. It may not always be possible to do that, but it is certainly worth your time to re-evaluate your plans during this time.
Number one warning is to avoid having a wedding or get married during this period. They say that it does not bode well for relationship growth to marry on a Venus retrograde- it will only have to be reviewed later on.
Also, not to make massive decisions that involve cosmetic surgery that would affect the way you look, to indulge in a costly purchase for home decorations, or to go on a mad spending spree. It’s important just to take stock of everything that you truly value and take time during the retrograde period to allow your intuition to reign free and go internally to reflect – is this the person you really want in your life? Or, has that person or situation got that shimmering dazzle where the shock will be that it is just another mirage, and the reality would never be the same? We experience a reverse in values- what we thought we wanted is not what we want after all. Be careful what you wish for.
Venus cycles back to the same sign about every 8 years just not exactly the same degree. This is what creates the awe-inspiring Venus dance where the retrogrades trace a perfect celestial pentagram. These cycles are much deeper and more important than people realise, so take note of all the patterns that return.
The last time Venus retrograded from Virgo back into Leo was in July 2015. Similar themes from 2015 might boomerang back into view for good or ill.
Don’t forget that Venus has a shadow side – different from the ‘period’- this is the bit we don’t like to see- and I think shows up when she goes retrograde, it brings out some of the darker aspects of Venus. Just think of a Venus fly trap, which is an anomaly of nature- a carnivorous plant. It has specific insect prey where they are lured by the Fly trap’s nectar. Then once it closes in and the insects are trapped and swallowed up.
While Venus is not an obvious misleader like Mercury, or Neptune, she still has a few tricks of her own. She can play games with your mind and heart, and she can teach us a lesson as hard as any Saturn can muster. Venus could sweep in an encounter with a love bomber or an ex-partner – a Venus-inspired psychopath who clinically feeds off your energy and drains you dry. Hopefully, this won’t happen, but be wary of that and best focus on all the positive Venus brings, a genuine appreciation of love and beauty, friendships and possessions we cherish and all the pleasures life brings.
Venus can lure people from mild to ever more extreme narcissistic traits. It has a strong archetypal pull on your subconscious mind. Many young people are absorbed by looking into the counterfeit mirror of social media, seeing the real as hyper-real, and not realising the massive difference until it is too late, and they have become disconnected from their authentic selves. All that glitters is not gold as we are told in the fairy tales, but we still are powerfully attracted to the glitter and sincerely want those wishes to come true.
Social butterflies might be tempted to trust people whose intentions are less than pure and be careful ordering your new look and haircut just in case it is a bit of a disaster, not what you really want after all.
5:Transits to Note in your Diary
Bear in mind when Venus arrives Leo on June 5th she brings a dollop of radical intensity. She opposes Pluto at 0° of Aquarius and that may play out for all the time she’s there as it gives it that intense flavour and it could trigger money issues or doubts where you need to formulate a whole new strategy. This opposition also forms a T-square with the position of Jupiter in Taurus and by the 9th with the Nodes of the Moon, so all the issues can become inflated in some way and require careful adjustment. Venus herself squares Jupiter more exactly on June 11th. So there may be a need to reign feelings in as there’s too much momentum and it may need to be more measured.
On July 2nd Venus squares Uranus at 21° of Taurus. And then again on August 9th-at 22°. It is always difficult to predict the unpredictable but readiness for anything takes us half way there. But this could also relate to news about Crypto currencies and the CBDCs that governments are proposing that snatch away more of our liberties and increase government surveillance of our every action.
Venus conjuncts the Sun on August 13th at 20° of Leo. Prepare to have you best fun, be in a good location, look your best, and involve all the people you love around you. This is called a Cazimi which is Venus behind the Sun. What better day to host a party, or attend a glamourous event, not just if you are a Leo. For details on the Venus star point/gate and its significance check Arielle Guttman.
By August 22nd she is at 15° of Leo opposite asteroids Eros and Hygiea at 15° of Aquarius, so there may be some contrary feelings about sex hygiene at that time, and some minor complications.
In September Venus rolls further on in Leo. On September 17th she squares Jupiter and on September 23rd she Trines Chiron so that might be a more bitter-sweet period where all the lessons learned from the retrograde can be absorbed and healed somewhat. She squares Uranus again on September 29th so there may be some sudden influx of inspiration from her, before she finally goes forward again. This may come back again to bite us.
Check if you have any planets placed in Leo if there are any as during these months, Venus will come to touch each one of them, perhaps even twice if you check the degree, so she’s pointing clearly to that area when that happens. For Leo sun signs there will be that Venus-Sun conjunction, so enjoy that day. And even for Leo Ascendants Venus will touch any planets you have in your first house affecting the way you look.
6: Mars in the Mix
Mars will also be travelling through Leo and following Venus, but when Mars moves on Venus lingers back. Mars and Leo famously trigger the sexual and partnership excitement and tension. Mars entered Leo back on May 21st so he’s been there a while adding zest and energy to wherever your Leo placement is. Mars dances close to Venus between 3-4° in late June never quite hitting an exact conjunction. But we’ll still feel it. This is great for adding zest and vigour to any relationships, so expressions of love may be stronger and more dynamic at this time, even if it is just pressing the ‘on-off’ button.
Mars moves on much faster than Venus and enters Virgo on July 10th and arrives in Libra by August 27th. It was last year 2022 when we had the Mars Retrograde effect for so many months, and that was a long and exhausting drag on physical energy, so it will be nice to contrast that phase with what Venus brings to the table.
As if to round off all the repeated connections Venus makes, she trines the North Node on Oct 3rd. So this points to the culmination: you may have figured out who and what you really love by then.
Venus finally goes into Virgo on October 10th where she’ll be hugely toned down and more fastidious and restricted in her expression. The Leo shine will be gone but your heart will be reprogrammed and reshaped.
7: Venus in Leo through the Zodiac Signs
This is a general look at how Venus in Leo may affect you for the next four months. Remember however to locate where Leo is in your natal chart for a more personalised slant that offers specifics. Also, look at the houses ruled by Venus-that’s both Taurus and Libra. So check where those fall in your chart too. From Leo to Taurus is a Square expression and from Leo to Libra is a sextile which is more harmonious. The following forecasts are based on the standpoint of your Sun sign being on the Ascendant so read also for your actual Ascendant sign whatever that may be.
Aries
Venus in Leo is great for Aries as just like Sagittarius it is fire to fire. It trines your sign. So it could bring some fun back into your life, there are easy and beneficial influences. When Venus is here it could be a fertile period for revisiting an old project you had forgotten about. It is good for playing games and enjoying children, or even for having a baby should that be the right thing for you.
You might just generally feel more playful and want to do more interesting things with your partner. That might include travelling further afield than usual and exploring unknown ideas together. It may bring more female friends back into view. Working with them on any enterprise projects might have a booster now. Just be aware of the effect of dreams on your conscious awareness, sometimes even old and pulling back to old nostalgic feelings.
Taurus
Venus in Leo for Taurus you might turn you hand to deciding where you want to stay and what really makes you comfortable. You wish to consolidate all you have and stay more with your family. You might look into Real estate deals, and finding that dream place that helps you to be more serene. Venus rules your sign so she’s bringing you more of what you want in terms of all that’s practical and earth-bound, and that includes your money and investments.
The retrograde phase is a good time to reevaluate where and into what you place your money to ensure future stability. You still have Jupiter in your sign until 2024 and that spotlights all that can be expanded and bring a bit of luck. So take advantage of this period. But you may also find it easier to sort out your daily routine and keep good relations with co-workers.
Gemini
At this point early June, the Sun is still in your sign putting the focus on you anyway. So enjoy all the attention. Venus in Leo just adds to all this and works well over the next few months to boost your joy in taking short trips. It may be time to consider improving your skills, getting back into learning or even being a teacher yourself. Perhaps you will work best with a female teacher.
So Venus here is going to keep you very busy, not that you can’t handle that being so naturally versatile and flexible. You may get in touch with siblings a bit more and communications may feel like they are speeding up. You may even consider longer trips further than you usually go, and that may make a welcome change and with Venus there that will make them all the more enjoyable. It can lead you to meeting new lovers too, and you’ll get sweeter vibes from that, and inject new energy into creative projects, as those might feel especially rewarding.
You may feel you even have spirit guides working in your favour, with vivid dreams sending messages, but the way to interpret them will require take more rest, be less busy, and be more secluded. Also, just keep an eye on what you say, your words carry power and ensure that if you do say something it is really what you mean.
Cancer
With Venus in Leo, the sign right after yours, this places the benefits of Venus in the 2nd House. This is a good placement as it bodes well for bringing in more money but it may at the same time increase your feeling of generosity, in giving for its own sake, so as it comes in, it goes out in equal measure. While Mars is still there it still could be poking out all the conflicts about resources too, so it can unsettle you at times, but finally moves away in July when the Sun is in your sign anyway. Venus does not always sit well with Cancer Sun signs are you are ruled mainly by the Moon, and shifting insights are more important to you. You may even the Venus somewhat frivolous, but it’s a good time especially during the retrograde to modify this view and really see how small outbursts of fun can add joy to your life and be the true enrichment you need to get through life.
While being involved in groups and humanitarian concerns can also bring rewards, be aware there to keep a balanced perspective when spats arise on internet groups. Being at home may feel good during this period too and things may go more smoothly with partners in the home.
Leo
With Venus in your own sign it gives you that extra glow to attract all you need into your life, more love, more money and that’s all fine and dandy. People may be looking at you more often, so keep that body in trim, dress well and show off. You may even feel it is time to throw a party where your hosting skills are demonstrated for all to see and enjoy. This is definitely your time most definitely. Venus puts you centre stage right under the floodlights. If you are a performer then enjoy all the applause and radiate that charm as it will have a very good effect on others.
With Mars running parallel to Venus at the end of June and early July it is adds extra oompf to any passions too, and that could be exciting, if a little overstimulating. So be careful not to extend your energies and overdo it all, but this influence will tail off by July and August. You may feel the need to establish your reputation by doing work of an even higher standard in whatever field you are in and you may have lots of promising communications with friends.
While Venus here makes your physical presence even more irresistible and you should take advantage of that, it also increase in your unique slant on life, that idiosyncratic edge you have over others, your flair with certain skills which you may want to brush up and put more on display.
Virgo
Venus in Leo places this in your 12th House, so that might feel like you need to rest more deeply, be by yourself and enjoy some solitude during the next few months. It can bring about a dissolving of a lot of gnarly issues you had thought to be important, and there may be a sense of loss in letting stuff go. But eventually it will feel like a release and free up energy for new projects and you’ll see the wisdom of that. You may take time to reevaluate your investments and what keeps you stable.
You may take time to investigate unusual philosophies or think about long-distance travel and do some research on different cultures. You may also focus on you immediate environment where you might notice more female co-workers and what they are doing. By the time that Venus goes direct again the Sun will already be in your sign and things will feel very different.
Libra
Venus rules the sign Libra so wherever she is at any time is good to note, and here in Leo she forms a sextile relationship. So this is going to be a pleasant ride for you and how you relate to others on a more collective level may come to the fore. Your interest in joining groups may grow and seem more important during this time. You may realise just how useful it is to have a lot of online contacts, and belong to your various groups, or wherever you volunteer for work. join a group or team.
This could be especially true if it is a sports or exercise group as that may also improve your physical appearance and make you more aware of the way you are perceived by others and you may take a more balanced view on dress sense and first impressions. Just be careful to keep on good terms with people as internet groups are famous for creating disputes that needlessly consume time and energy and Venus is asking you to put that energy into something more loving and kind. If it does trigger any deeper feelings then try to explore those with serious consideration as the more self knowledge you have the better it will be for all those you share your life and resources with.
Scorpio
Venus in Leo is bringing a serious tone here and asking you to review how you present yourself at work and that might bring a sober reconsideration period where you opt for a more classic look. This has implications for your profile at work and you find energy to work hard to establish your reputation, talk more to your bosses so that they appreciate all that. If you work for yourself, it could mean an audit of all you do seeking ways to improve business and raise your standards.
Your interest in partners and lovers is never far from your mind. You might find that if love does come your way during this time, and you are not already in a relationship, that it may come suddenly or via some fortuitous synchronicity, but if there is an age gap in love, then that also feels good and reassures you about choices you make. You may also find it good to sleep more and be in contact with what your dreams say through tracking them in a dream diary. The messages that come through may be more in harmony with your work goals and provide good ideas for the future.
Sagittarius
There’s a feeling of good karma coming your way as Venus in Leo is trine to your sign during this time- this matches fire to fire so it kicks off the travel season and that brings an extra sparkle back into view. You might breathe a sign of relief. The way you express yourself may be a bit lighter than usual, just be careful of the off jokes that may not go down well.
Venus here can restore your sense of fun in case you had lost it, or it can get back into higher educational studies, international relations, any teaching and writing that express a worldly-wise philosophy. All the things you love anyway. So if you are planning that long trip then this is the time to go for it full on- you always learn most from experience. Keep your goals in view as that’s what stimulates you the most, to have an aim for something greater that stimulates your motivation and offers hope for the future.
But the love of freedom comes with responsibilities so use the Venus retrograde to double check that person, or that far-flung exotic location around the world to is definitely the place for you. And the retrograde Venus may prompt you to review your routines, your diet and personal hygiene and food intake to ensure it is working towards good health.
Capricorn
Venus in Leo for you could bring profound feelings of how you connect to others in terms of shared resources. This may trigger some doubts and feelings you are adrift with so much that is changing radically. This period is still about doing what you love, it comes with a more emotionally intense flavour. It could be a good idea to do some therapy if you have not tried it before, even if that is just personal reflective writing, just for yourself. It will help you to unravel all the details that have been dogging you for months and help you unwind.
Thoughts may turn to art projects you have left unfinished and some flirting with new romances, if they are in view and you feel up to it. There’s fun in the air for the taking and a certain amount of luck bringing you the right people. But be aware that Pluto steps back into your sign so the Venus opposing Pluto may require your extra alertness around money and investments until next year. At the same time it may help you to reevaluate how much you enjoy long-distance travel and higher more philosophical ideas to play with so you may feel the need to go for that and relax a little. Even if you do not the thought of it alone can help stimulate all your creative ideas.
Aquarius
Venus in Leo may stimulate your interest in how you relate to others, and where previously you did not bother, now you feel ready to make a go of it. You may wish to spend more quality time with a partner and all this can be very enjoyable at this time. This does not mean there will be no issues in issues in relationships, with Mars there too until July. There may be a few bumps on the way, some friction, but at least it won’t be boring and may stimulate your passion.
The retrograde period may be good for you to see where you notice the tendency to bend over backwards to please others, and awareness of how you do that may inform better decisions and but don’t bend over backwards. It may also incline you to travel more perhaps even with a partner as you love to share those experiences but it may just be conversations about spiritual topics
Pisces
Venus in Leo for you Pisces may be less about a round of parties and socialising, but more focussed on developing diplomacy in work or just getting to know your local neighbourhood perhaps even just walking the dog more along different pathways. You still have Saturn in your sign to deal with bringing a sobering of your creative output and a kind of spiritual audit. Venus blesses anything to do with physical disciplines and any hands-on body work techniques, and studying these may bring you good results at this time.
You may be busy with learning new skills and with a lot more communication with neighbours and via emails. With Mars alongside Venus in Leo late June and early July, just watch for conflicts among colleagues that might spring up and need to be dealt with. Do you fair share of work but don’t feel you need to over-sacrifice for others, keep it all in good measure. You may find that keeping good relations with family seem more important and that the retrograde wants you to reevaluate that, where you live and your family tree.
So those are the forecasts and I plan to see an Opera next week to get in the mood. All in all Venus in Leo is time to have more fun and we need that in these hugely troubled times. She can act like an antidote to the mess. We may be able to appreciate lovers and friends and show a lot more affection. With Venus going backwards in this sign, it does not take away from that fun, but just may be good to keep an eye on whether that fun is truly essential to your life, whether it has value and brings you genuine joy that enhances your well being.
© Kieron Devlin, June 5th, 2023, All Rights Reserved
Image Credits: from Wikimedia Commons in the Public Domain
Kieron is a London-based and trained astrologer at Proteus Astrology on Facebook and his home page: #
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