(2 March 2025)  The key transit this week may well be Venus retrograde.  Venus stationed retrograde on Saturday, March 1 at 16 degrees of Pisces.  It will now appear to move backwards in the night sky for the next 42 days, stationing direct on April 12 at 0 Pisces when it resumes its normal forward motion.  While retrograde planets tend to have a somewhat negative reputation, Venus retrograde may or may not have negative implications for Venus-related significations like love, marriage, women, luxuries and social harmony.  In my experience reading charts, individuals born with Venus retrograde may be more likely to have somewhat unconventional relationship histories such as delayed marriage, higher rates of divorce, or a unique approach to romance.  But this is very much a general impression that has not been verified by methodical analysis.

In terms of transits, Venus retrograde can be positive or negative depending on the planets it forms alignments with, either by transit or in one’s natal chart.  For example, a person born with the Sun at 16 Pisces (i.e. born March 30-31), it very likely to benefit this weekend from this Venus retrograde station at 16 Pisces because Venus will conjoin their Sun for several days.  Venus-Sun conjunctions are usually favourable for social interaction, especially those involving personal and romantic relationships. Venus-Sun conjunctions bring harmony, happiness and contentment.  Conversely, someone born with Saturn at 16 degrees of Virgo is more likely to have a difficult experience from this Venus retrograde station since it will form an opposition with their natal Saturn.  Venus-Saturn oppositions tend to bring disappointment, disharmony, and a sense of loneliness.  The effect of Venus retrograde therefore depends more on the planets it aligns with than any intrinsic quality it may possess.

This week retrograde Venus will approach its conjunction with transiting Mercury.  Since Mercury is considered a benefic planet, this Venus-Mercury conjunction looks positive.  Financial markets may therefore be more likely to rebound at some point this week.  With the Venus-Mercury conjunction exact on March 11, however, any rebound in stock prices need not occur immediately on Monday (Mar 3) or Tuesday (Mar 4).  The Venus-Mercury influence could take a few days before it is felt, although it is uncertain precisely when we can expect it to manifest.

We should make a special note here that financial markets have been trending lower over the past two weeks as Trump’s tariff threats have generated considerable uncertainty among investors.  This sets up a possible bullish reversal in the days following the Venus retrograde station.  My research into the Venus retrograde cycle suggests that trend reversals are more likely following the retrograde station if stocks have been declining by more than 2% in the 5 to 10 days leading up to the Rx station.  However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that stocks will extend last Friday’s rally early in the week.  But based on 37 previous instances of Venus retrograde, it means there is about an 80% chance that we will see at least a 1.5% rebound above Friday’s closing price by Thursday, March 6.  This is 5 calendar days after the Rx station which is the shortest time interval used in my study.  Whether or not any rebound can continue after that remains to be seen.  But certainly the approaching Venus-Mercury conjunction on March 11 suggests a bullish reversal looks quite possible.  The transits for Wednesday March 5 also look positive in this respect due to the Moon-Jupiter conjunction.