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Venus Stations Retrograde ~ 3rd October 2026
As Venus pauses, and turns retrograde in Scorpio on 3rd October she is entangled in pivotal, ongoing conversations with Pluto, Mars, and Chiron – which means this retrograde isn’t just a period of quiet reflection, but a complex, potentially tense, painful process as illusions are stripped away and truth emerges.
Mercury has also just entered the intense, truth-seeking depths of Scorpio, and is also getting ready to station retrograde (24th October – 13th November).
Together, these planetary alignments suggest that old wounds, prior issues that were possibly thought to be over and done with or past conversations that have slipped from memory could resurface, perhaps triggering uncomfortable truths, emotional turmoil, heated discussions or even conflicts.
The picture in the sky is signalling we should be prepared for our feelings and emotions around what we desire, value, and will tolerate in life to be put under scrutiny and re-evaluated – who we love – what we love – and how we love.
As there is an invitation to face what is truly beneath the surface and be brutally honest about our relationships, our intimate bonds, our finances, our creative ambitions, our guiding principles, and our sense of self-worth – do we recognise our own value or does our inner critic pull us to pieces?
A significant time of change and inner alchemy lies ahead.
The Descent of Inanna
During Venus retrograde – when from our earthly perspective Venus appears to move backwards – Venus disappears from the night sky, as she transforms from an evening star to reappear two weeks later as a morning star.
The myth of Inanna’s descent illustrates Venus’s retrograde journey of death, transformation and rebirth as Venus disappears from the night sky, goes through a metamorphosis, before her return when she emerges as the morning star.
A deep and powerful myth, it’s a poignantly expressive mirror of Venus’s retrograde in Scorpio’s underworld realm of death and rebirth.
“The Descent of Inanna” into the underworld is one of the oldest stories in the world, written in the form of a poem.
Inanna, Queen of Heaven and Earth sets out to visit her recently widowed sister, the fearsome and unloved Ereshkigal – Queen of the Underworld. At each of the seven gates to the underworld Inanna is stripped of all her dazzling regalia until she is “Naked and bowed low.”
But Ereshkigal is furious that Inanna has come to her realm. “Inanna was turned into a corpse, A piece of rotting meat, And was hung from a hook on the wall.” Eventually, two creatures are sent by Enki to rescue Inanna, they acknowledge Ereshkigal’s pain and rage – for the first time she has been shown empathy – because of this, Ereshkigal lets them take Inanna.
Inanna is revived and restored to life, but in order to ascend she has to find someone to take her place. Many had mourned for her, but when she comes across her husband Dumzi, he was obviously not grieving for her, was enjoying his time on her throne. Dumzi was “dressed in his shining me garments. He sat on his magnificent throne; (he did not move).”
Dumzi takes Inanna’s place in the underworld. Although Inanna has revenge she also experiences great pain and mourns the loss of her husband. Finally she can fully understand Ereshkigal’s rage and sorrow.
Inanna represents our outer self, Ereshkigal the traits and qualities in ourselves that we loathe and deny, the inner fears that we repress. Inanna is transformed, fully empowered by facing Ereshkigal – her sister/shadow self – and integrating the wisdom revealed.
Venus Retrograde: Influences & Effects
Venus retrograde correlates with when we can experience a personal descent into the underworld, when just like Inanna everything we use to define ourselves, is stripped and peeled away until we are naked and vulnerable.
We are forced to face the truth, illuminate the dark, shadowy corners of ourselves and – for sure – as any illusions we were under from the past or deluded dreams for the future are swept away it can be an intense, raw and painful time. But as Inanna shows us, we can and will move on from here, ascend again, supported by the insights we uncovered. The clarity, wisdom, and inner authority discovered within.
Venus returns to Libra – 25th October
After a deep truth-seeking dive into Scorpio’s waters Venus returns to her domicile sign, Libra, on 25th October. In Libra’s realm, Venus helps us to begin to find our equilibrium, to start to smooth out what is unbalanced in ourselves or at odds, unfair, in our relationships.
- By readjusting our ways of thinking, our beliefs, and reframing past inner narratives to restore balance using Libra’s scales.
- By renegotiating or dismantling old agreements and scenarios that are no longer authentic or of present value.
- By attending to any disharmony in our relationships by seeking a shared understanding, so both sides feel heard and valued.
- By shifting from friction to healing our connections by meeting each other halfway in loving, peaceful, honourable compromises.
Double retrograde energy! Mercury & Venus
What legacies do we wish to create?
Mercury and Venus being retrograde simultaneously intensifies the experience of re-view and re-evaluation especially in regards to our relationships. When Venus stations direct in Libra (14th November), Mercury – mind – is still in Scorpio.
The merging of both energies contributes to a capability for deeper, inner contemplation – a soul level appraisal of values and beliefs – orientated towards self-improvement.
In Scorpio we get to the roots, enter the underworld, and are in touch with our ancestors – along with inheritances and legacies. We are also ancestors – the version of us that will be remembered by the people and places we touch during our lives. All that outlives the material and leaves a footprint. And perhaps a significant moment to consider – what legacies do we wish to create?
Even if we don’t think we’re influential, our energy and vibe shapes the atmosphere around us. Our energy and presence matters. Our actions can change and evolve others, in our close and family relationships. Small acts of kindness towards a stranger can ripple out and alter their path in ways we cannot see.
Our current choices are the history of the future, and shape the ways and traditions of the future, in our personal lives, family lives and collectively. How do we wish to love, live, and make a meaningful difference, in the as yet unwritten chapters of our story ahead?
Note the Dual Post-Retrograde Shadow: The dust will take time to settle
Mercury leaves the shadow phase on 30th November.
Venus leaves the shadow phase on 15th December.
With both Mercury and Venus navigating their post-shadow zones until 15th December, things will still be realigning and settling into place. While what the double retrograde revealed is real, some missing pieces of the puzzle may still need to surface. So keep in mind that the full picture will not be clear until mid-December.
From now until mid-December we are on a journey through insight, integration and aligning with a newly restructured daily rhythm and life.
Love & blessings, X
