Think of Venus retrograde in Scorpio and Libra, from October 3 to November 13, as a steamy, scandalous romance novel that fuels our passions and liaisons. The planet of love and desire is slowing down, rewriting the next chapters more deliberately. Venus retrograde, which happens every 18 to 19 months, is a check-in to make sure we are growing and receiving tenderness. Yes, it’s going to be messy and dramatic—unions will be on and off for the next 40 days and 40 nights. It’s breakup and makeup season.
A few noteworthy themes arise from this retrograde. First, Venus in Scorpio and Mars in Leo abruptly link up on October 10 under the new moon in Libra, pushing us to chase love. The cat-and-mouse game intensifies, urging us to figure out what we truly crave from commitments. Do we want to play games, or do we want a secure foundation? The choice is yours.
Venus in Scorpio also squares Pluto in Aquarius. The two planets clashed for the first time on September 15, when Venus was in its pre-retrograde shadow; these celestial forces meet again on October 20, with a final standoff on December 9 during the post-retrograde period. This transit highlights themes of resilience, transformation, jealousy, competitiveness and power dynamics. Pluto is the planet of evolution, but shedding old skin is never easy. Venus prefers to indulge in pleasure and stay comfortable—rarely keen to get its hands dirty—which simply won’t work right now. The fraught exchange between the two will shake our foundations. Bonds don’t necessarily have to end, but they do have to evolve. If they don’t, tensions will mount, because connections cannot remain stagnant.
Another pivotal moment during this cosmic backspin is the “cazimi” (derived from the Arabic for “in the heart of the Sun”) between the sun and Venus in Scorpio on October 23, marking the midpoint of the retrograde. It is the most clarifying day of the cycle. At this juncture, we will gain clear insight into which path to take as we redefine our sense of self.
Astrologer Arielle Guttman refers to the cazimi as the Venus Star Point, part of an eight-year cycle that resurfaces every four years as the planet traces a five-pointed rose star in the sky. Look back to 2022, 2018 and 2014 to understand its personal and collective resonance. The Venus Star Point serves as a major barometer for cultural shifts, collective values and how we care for both others and ourselves.
As Guttman tells Vogue: “This Venus retrograde will feature the last Star Point of Scorpio. It has been a 100-year-long cycle of the VSP in Scorpio (1926–2026), but this is the final one. Many things are ending as well as beginning as we navigate this major transition into the Libra point four years from now.”
Symbolically, this alignment marks Venus’s shift from an evening star (visible at dusk) to a morning star (rising before dawn), undergoing a rebirth often associated with bold, unpredictable energy—a classic descent and resurgence as we undergo a necessary reset.
Venus backs into Libra on October 25, the day after Mercury stations retrograde in Scorpio. Venus’s retreat through Libra will bring tensions to the surface as we try to restore balance in our partnerships. Exes and old flames may resurface for a dalliance, even if their motives seem questionable. Be cautious with financial ventures before taking unnecessary risks. On October 30, the North Node brings us closer to our core motivations, though we may still question what we must sacrifice to get there.
The retrograde officially concludes on November 13; however, the post-retrograde shadow lingers until December 15. During this window, we will assess the fallout and integrate the revelations that surfaced along the way.
