In Astrology, Venus symbolizes “Love & Money”—what it is we value—and consequently describes your respective approaches to attracting the richness of life’s resources—namely, your level of investment in terms of relationships, romance and finances and the potentially painful issue of Communication. 

When Venus moves Retrograde, we’re simply not able to see the true value of people, places and things, clouding our perception when it comes to the objects of our attraction. Venus Retrograde asks us to reflect on past experiences of social or romantic rejection and financial hardship, allowing us to gain deeper insight and clarity into what (and who) we truly value.

This is especially the case as Venus moves closer to its Station on May 13 (see Chart on the right), when Venus not only comes to a full stop but forms a tense angle to Neptune, the planet of Confusion, Fog and Misapprehension. 

In the days surrounding May 13, we’re particularly confused when it comes to what we want and where to invest our time and energy when it comes to our pursuit of love and money.

At the most basic level, Venus has to do with Relationships and Gemini with Communication + the “Day-to-Day”—including the ability to be fully & completely present.

From May 13 - June 25, Venus Retrograde in Gemini highlights the challenge of living in the moment at a time when anxiety about our collective social and economic future is at an all-time high. 

Can we recognize & confront the effects of our communication styles and/or ability to relate to others in a meaningful way, in terms of how they impact our ability to function in our respective day-to-day lives? If not, you may find yourself exhibiting some of the less desirable traits of Gemini. 

Naturally, as with any Venus Retrograde, this will likely include the flood of long-lost Exes/Bugaboos bound to return (if they haven’t made an appearance already). It’s up to you who you decide to engage with, as there may be some promising insight or opportunity we’d like to confront.

But with Venus moving through the sign of Gemini, I just want to be clear: I don’t just mean “Exes” as in “Previous Significant Others.” I mean “Exes” as in “Anyone You’ve Had A Date With Ever.” So don’t be surprised when the least likely of phone numbers surfaces from the depths of your Little Black Book. 

Venus Rx in Gemini: Communication Station

Either way, whether you’re feeling tethered or inexplicably bereft, we’re all a little “at sea.” It’s as if we’ve temporarily lost our sense of humor and suddenly seem to have considerably less charm left.

Whatever the case, we haven’t seen a Venus Retrograde in Gemini since October - November 2012, so you may want to reflect on what was going on for you then, as you’ll notice lingering patterns or attachments in your romantic or social life that you’d like to either change or let go of completely if need be. 

Communication, lest we forget, can be extremely exhausting, especially during a season of seemingly never-ending isolation.

Thus you may be surprised by the intensity with which some of your more petty, adolescent instincts emerge when it comes to interpersonal dealings. 

In a literal sense, communication hiccups may be directly related to the challenges of transitioning to new routines and environments. For instance, everyone used to going to an office or even traveling regularly for work are now forced to come to terms with the reality of sharing spaces with those we live with in ways that allow us to relax and be “productive” simultaneously—not an easy task. 

Venus & the Romance Pickle: Bicker or Banter?

On an interpersonal level, you may realize your fear of being alone; if living with someone or coupled up, you may see more or less painful aspects of the way you communicate with one another (or don’t). For example, perhaps spending more time “alone together” reveals that the daily spats you used to find playful are actually more bicker than banter. 

Gemini loves to party, so if you’ve been really feeling the isolation or socially distancing yourself for some time, you might become more thoughtful about how you can function as a Party of One. Singles may be frustrated with the limits of communication in the context of the Great Romantic Pickle that is Reality (aka Extreme Anxiety).

Even if it’s the sting of realizing the limits of your comfort zone, trying to date may leave you feeling like Hannibal Lecter. At the very least it’s pretty much impossible not to feel a little nuts when contemplating the absurdity of how to meet your FaceTime crush when your local grocery store won’t even let you in the door without a face mask. 

Cooped up couples, on the other hand, have the opposite extreme to contend with—Communication Overload. This may be a joy for newly-coupled couples or those used to communicating openly with one another.

But if you’re one of a typically-active or passive-aggressive couple—or if you share a living space with someone but live completely separate lives—get ready to have your limits tested. 

Whether you realize that whenever your Spouse/Roommate goes out to get toilet paper and comes back with the “wrong kind,” you end up inexplicably baking seventeen poundcakes or that you “somehow” end up on an online shopping binge when waiting on an email from a colleague who refuses to answer the most basic of questions, whatever comes up now is designed to provide insight into how we communicate (or don’t) and how this affects our productivity. 

Venus Retrograde in Gemini: “Shiny Ball” Syndrome

What happens, you ask, when Venus in Gemini goes awry? Gemini has what you’d call “Shiny Ball Syndrome”—the main reason Gemini is notoriously prone to inconsistency: because they’re plagued so often with indecision to the extent that their constant mind-changing can cost them, well, many a dime. 

Venus in Gemini’s “SBS” is the result of a combination of a preoccupation with having “Options,” yet hinges equally upon the (conflicting) need to “have it all” in a purely superficial sense. In Gemini, whether it’s a matter of financial or romantic potential, this manifests as an obsession with the idea that “the grass is always greener.” 

Gemini wants a mate, for instance, who’s “perfect” and eternally shiny inside and out, rarely willing to “settle” for anyone they deem “less.” The challenge with Venus Retrograde in Gemini is to overcome the tendency to be overly-dismissive of or impatience with the less “shiny” aspects of life. Because even though it’s driven by insecurity, it’s their refusal to focus that keeps them from long-term relationship happiness. 

Options bring Gemini a feeling of security because even if they do find their Golden Goose, what do they do if the Goose decides to leave? From May 13 - June 25, 2020, fear of isolation and abandonment is (at times quite blatantly) the fear we’re dealing with here, as we recognize that the impulsive need for what may feel like “more” in the moment can in the end often leave us with considerably less. 

Take Brad Pitt (Sagittarius) and Angelina Jolie (Gemini), notorious for beginning their relationship as one of the most infamous affairs in Hollywood history—with Angelina relishing the role of the Shiny Gemini Mistress. 

Learning to Self-Check (aka Check Yourself)

This isn’t to say you should give up your standards. But if you find that you’ve been forgoing commitment to one person strictly for the purpose of chasing the next, best (looking) thing, or allowing yourself to be perpetually distracted by “shiny objects” in your midst, you’ll likely end up exhausted at best and possibly failing to appreciate what you have (or what you until recently had).

When it comes to money, for instance, do you expect a pay raise at work just for showing up and smiling? When it comes to your dating life, do you expect a “perfect 10” only to be disappointed when you realize no one (no, not even you) fits that bill? Or do you notice yourself brooding a little too often over “rejections” from former lovers—when in reality the one who did the “dumping” was you?

Alternatively, if you find yourself fantasizing obsessively over an ex or a crush you’ve never dared speak to, you might want to either contact them or cut the cord. The important thing to keep in mind that the purpose of this period is to reflect upon the relationship between the way you express yourself and note your relative (in)ability to attract what (or who) is good for you.

So beware of bringing old baggage, negative energy or expectations of “perfection” to the table, any romantic or financial interactions are likely to go south. Because who wants to be held to an impossible standard or made to feel bad for no reason? And who the hell is going to carry all those bags? (Hint: No one).

Learning the long-term value of honesty and the ability to look beyond the shiny, placid surface of romantic and financial prospects old and new—this is the primary lesson of Venus Retrograde in Gemini. Asking yourself these kinds of questions will help you focus inward on what you can do to amplify your powers of attraction and avoid the Hamster Wheel of Unfulfilled Desire—aka the classic case of Gemini and The Shiny Ball.

So if there are significant communication issues in the form of misunderstandings, secrets or realizing the fact that you’ve got one to many “shiny balls” to juggle when it comes to you and your Significant Other or Spouse? Whatever they are will certainly emerge to be dealt with and—ideally—put to rest. 

Venus’ Shadow: Beguilingly Aloof or Passive-Aggressively Cruel?

Whatever situations and realizations Venus Retrograde has in store for you from April 9 - July 29, this period represents a rare opportunity to take a deeper look at whatever seemed to be working on the surface. Taking stock of your romantic and financial portfolios and thinking about, in a more general sense, the question of where (and with whom) you “fit in” are paramount. 

But before you go throwing everything (or everyone) out of your life, unless you’re truly prepared to cut a particular person or investment loose, it’s best to take your time and (re)consider all possible angles. If you’ve cut anyone off completely in a time of crisis, was it to “teach them a lesson” or force people to communicate with you in a certain way?

If the answer is yes, you may want to ask yourself honestly: is being withholding really getting you closer to what you want? Or is the look you thought was “beguilingly aloof” really closer to “passive-aggressively cruel”? 

Though there’s definitely no shortage of Bugaboos to put up with, cutting people off completely during times of need (particularly in a state of social quarantine) isn’t just short-sighted—it’s a sure fire way to lose a friend, exhausted spouse or even potential partner. 

Venus Post-Retrograde: Building Relationships

Luckily, the beauty of the post-Retrograde shadow period—June 25 - July 29—is that we’ll have plenty of time to process whatever nagging feelings or realizations come up. For what begins in early April as a period of torrential Bugaboos ends with the profound realization that No Woman is an Island, highlighting the need for a stronger sense of Community and Social Support Networks. 

Making time for friends and building relationships is more important than ever this year, as the relationships we deemed a waste of time—disposable distractions forever getting in the way of our career ambitions and personal plans in 2019—suddenly become our greatest sources of Love and Happiness by the end of 2020.  

But if a person, idea or financial investment looks too good to be true? You might want to steer clear, or at least investigate and think about the overall dynamics or outcomes at play. Because with all the hijinks from unexpected exes and communication snafus with current lovers, co-workers or friends, expect some inconvenient truths to come to light. 

So in any dealings involving the Venusian themes of “Love & Money,” avoid two-faced tactics, (white) lies, or impulsive action when it comes to any kind of investment. Translation: Think before you speak and hold on to your money.