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.