Ritualizing Venus's underworld journey
Practices for love and desire
On March 1, Venus stationed retrograde in Aries.
Astronomically, retrogrades are an illusion. The appearance of a planet moving backwards occurs because of a relative difference in speed. Astrologically, retrogrades present a challenge to the status quo; they take us off the main road, so to speak, and present alternate challenges and welcome creative solutions.
For 40 days and 40 nights once every 18 months, Venus stations retrograde. This is a winding down of her expression as the evening star, amplifying energy behind what we need to “put to bed”, and a gearing up of her presentation as the morning star, symbolizing rebirth and new beginnings.
We see the continuation and culmination of Venus’s retrograde journey through March and part of April 2025. Use this as a time to ritualize in the areas of personal happiness, values, love, relationships, and all you hold dear and all you deem beautiful.
Reflect on your deepest desires and wants
Venus is abundant and she wants you to be filled up with love, gratitude and all you desire. Over the next few weeks, you are being gifted a blank canvas on which to create your life, so use these days to get some loose pages out and finish this sentence:
“My deepest desire right now is…”
When you’ve finished writing about your deepest desire, write about your next deepest desire, and your next, and so on. Write about all of your wants until you can’t write anymore. Set the pages aside, maybe folding them and placing them on your altar.
By March 12 or so, it’s time to lay low and become observant — Venus is in the underworld, and so too are you. Spend the time in retrograde activities like reflection and introspection.
Journal on your shadow
What and who am I triggered by, and why? What and who am I envious of, and why? How are they connected?
What are the parts of me that I shun? That I hate?
What beliefs about myself are holding me back?
What am I putting to bed? What am I letting go of?
Bringing awareness to your shadow side helps reduce the risk of it coming out sideways to yourself and your loved ones. Be gentle with yourself during this time. Rest.
When Venus emerges from her underworld journey as the Morning Star on March 23, it feels much like a New Moon. This is a New Venus, heralding the beginning of a 584-day cycle. You might feel an increase in energy and radiance; your desires may feel within reach. As Venus becomes more visible in the mornings, set out an offering to her. Venus loves all things beautiful and sweet, so consider leaving flowers, honey, chocolate, or rose quartz on your altar or outside.
Allow the practice to continue working through you, and as the end of the month approaches, begin to reflect on strategic steps from this point. Trust that Venus will gift you back the wisdom for how to move forward.