On July 23rd, 2023, Venus goes retrograde at 28° Leo. Venus is retrograde for 40 days, until September 3rd, when she goes direct at 12° Leo.

Venus goes retrograde in Leo, the sign of the heart. This is a KEY Venus retrograde because it will help us answer a very important question: Who am I, and what do I want?

This might sound like 2 different questions – but they are not. When we truly know ourselves (Leo), we also know what we want (Venus). Similarly, our heart’s longing is the compass that always guides us to ourselves. When we know what we want (Venus), we know who we are, (Sun).

“We are what we love.”

When Venus goes retrograde on July 23rd, she is at the apex of a Yod with Neptune and Pluto. The Yod is also called the Finger of God, because it really looks like someone pointing their finger at something really important.

The yod contains the generational Neptune-Pluto square, that one aspect that almost everyone alive has in their chart. So Venus at the apex of this yod is pointing to something very important for every single one of us.

Venus retrograde in Leo is our unique chance to find out what we’ve been called to do in this lifetime.

And if that was not enough, at the time Venus goes retrograde, Pluto also squares the Lunar Nodes. When so many energies line up, we know we’re in for a truly magnificent journey.

Venus Retrograde In Leo – An Alchemical Process Of Transformation

There’s no coincidence that Venus is retrograde for exactly 40 days. The number 40 is sacred in pretty much every religion and is usually associated with the fulfillment of promises, BUT ONLY after a period of testing, trial, and probation.

Jesus was tempted in the wilderness for 40 days. Buddha is said to have fasted and meditated for 40 days before reaching Samadhi.

The purpose of the “trial”, or the retrograde period, is to guide you back to your heart – to help you get in tune with your truest desires. To help you discover what really matters to you.

Venus, our sister planet, is the 3rd brightest object in the sky (after the Sun and the Moon). Venus affects us deeply – when it changes direction, our lives are impacted in profound ways.

Venus Retrograde will thrust you from your comfort zone and into the unknown. Yes, it will be challenging. Yes, you will be asked to transform from the inside out. But it will be totally worth it.

This Venus retrograde in Leo is really about coming into our heart’s desires. Leo will give Venus the courage to go for what she really wants.

The Dance Of Venus And The Venus 8-Year Cycle

Venus cycles are unlike any other planetary cycles, in the sense that they happen in the exact same areas of the sky (minus 1 degree). In any given century, Venus ONLY goes retrograde in 5 signs: Aries, Gemini, Leo, Scorpio and Capricorn.

Venus cycles repeat themselves every 8 years (or 5 Venus retrogrades). Every 8 years, Venus comes back to the same area of sky, activating the same area of your chart.

Venus retrograde is a repetition of the Venus retrograde that happened 8 years ago, 16 years ago, and so on.

The last time Venus retrograded in Leo was July-September 2015, July-September 2007, July-September 1999, and on and on.

What happened back then in your life? Check your diary, look at your social media feed, or search your mailbox to find out what was going on in your life.

Similar themes may arise. While no 2 Venus retrogrades are exactly the same (since Venus engages in different aspects each time), Venus retrogrades always trigger THE SAME area of your chart, so we have a little bit of history repeating.

If something terrible happened during one of the previous Venus retrogrades in Leo, this doesn’t mean that this particular Venus retrograde will be the same. There are always other factors to consider, plus we all grow and evolve, and wisen with age.

Reflecting on your past Venus retrograde in Leo experiences it’s still a very useful exercise that can help you spot relevant themes you want to pay attention to.

Venus Evening Star, Venus Morning Star

Venus retrograde is nothing else but the beginning of a new Venus cycle.

Venus’ 584-day cycle has two distinct phases: Venus morning star, and Venus evening star.

For 9 months Venus rises before the Sun. This is her morning star phase. Venus’ metamorphosis from an evening star into a morning star occurs in the middle of the Venus retrograde cycle – that is August 13th, 2023. This is when we will experience a “reset” of all Venusian themes, and a rebirth of the heart.

On August 13t, 2023 a new Venus cycle begins. This is THE most important date in Venus’ 584-day cycle – but it’s not the only important date.

Venus Retrograde In Leo 2023 Dates

We can look at this Venus retrograde in Leo cycle from 2 angles: 1) the 4 distinct Venus retrograde phases (that happen during every Venus retrograde), and 2) through the transits Venus makes with other planets.

Let’s have a look at the 4 phases and the transits that occur in each of these phases:

PHASE I – Venus visible and evening star

We can still see Venus in the evening sky, but her light begins to dim. Venus prepares for her journey to the underworld. This is a time to reflect on what’s important to us, and identify those feelings, stories and patterns that no longer serve us.

Archetype: PERSEPHONE

July 23rd, 2023 – Venus goes retrograde at 28° Leo
July 27th, 2023 – Venus conjunct Mercury at 28° Leo
July 30th, 2023 – Venus quincunx Neptune at 27° Leo

PHASE II – Venus invisible and evening star

Venus goes into the underworld. This is the most intense part of the retrograde cycle, a time to purge and shed our old skin so we can be rebirthed. Venus makes some pretty wild aspects with Lilith and Uranus – the call to break free is impossible to ignore.

Archetype: LILITH

August 3rd, 2023 – August 6th – Venus becomes invisible, falling below the horizon and into the underworld (the exact date depends on where you live)
August 8th, 2023 – Venus conjunct Black Moon Lilith at 23° Leo + Lion’s Gate
August 9th, 2023 – Venus (at 22° Leo) square Uranus (at 22° Taurus)

PHASE III – Venus invisible and morning star

Venus retrograde and Sun meet in a conjunction. Venus is still in the underworld, but it’s now a morning star. This is a time to tune into ourselves, discover what it is that we truly want, and set intentions for the next Venus cycle. This is a very potent manifestation time, similar to a New Moon. As the saying goes, be careful what you wish for!

Archetype: EVE

August 13th, 2023 – Venus conjunct Sun at 20° Leo. A new 584-day Venus cycle begins, and Venus transforms from an evening star into a morning star
August 14th, 2023 – Venus (19° Leo) trine Chiron (19° Aries)
August 15th, 2023 – Venus conjunct Moon at 18° Leo
August 22nd, 2023 – Venus (15° Leo) square Jupiter (15° Taurus)

PHASE IV – Venus visible morning star

Venus rises as a morning star. In this phase, Venus makes her spectacular appearance in the morning sky, making a statement: “This is who I am, and this is what I want”

Archetype: Aphrodite

August 23rd, 2023 – Venus becomes visible again, this time as a morning star (the exact date might vary, depending on where you live)
August 29th, 2023 – Venus (12° Leo) is opposite Moon (12° Aquarius)

The Rebirth Of Venus

Venus retrograde is nothing else but Venus’ rebirth from an evening star into a morning star.

In the middle of the Venus retrograde (early August), Venus disappears from the sky for approximately 2 weeks. For 2 weeks Venus will be in the underworld. This is the most intense phase of the Venus retrograde 40-day cycle.

At the time Venus is conjunct the Sun, she is as close to the Earth as she can be. This is the time to have an honest look at your core values and discover what you hold most dear.

When Venus is born again – this time in the morning sky – a new you will emerge.

Venus retrograde is a celestial call to let go of values, relationships, and patterns that no longer serve you. Venus retrograde in Leo is an invitation for you connect with your heart, and act from that place of truth. Your heart always knows what’s good for you!

“Be thankful for every heartbreak, for they were planned. They come to your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then leave. Their purpose is to shake you up, tear apart your ego a little bit, show you your obstacles and addictions, break your heart open so new light can get in, make you so desperate and out of control that you have to transform your life. And you do.” – Unknown

Aphrodite’s Diary 40-day Challenge

If you want to align yourself with this important 40-day transit, we invite you to join Aphrodite’s Diary 40-day Challenge.

Aphrodite’s Diary challenge happens inside the Astro Butterfly’s AGE OF AQUARIUS Community, Astro Butterfly’s space for astrology lovers around the world.

How does the 40-day challenge work?

The 40-day challenge is split into 4 phases that correspond to the 4 phases of the Venus retrograde cycle.

In each of the 4 phases we embody one of the 4 Venus archetypes: Persephone, Lilith, Eve, and Aphrodite.

Each phase lasts for 10 days and consists of 2 Venus Retrograde-inspired activities. There are 8 core activities in total; these activities consist of reflection exercises, Venus retrograde stories, chart examples, live calls, sharing, and more.

The activities inside Aphrodite’s Diary are carefully designed with the actual transits in mind – for example, when Venus retrograde is conjunct Mercury, we will share Venus retrograde stories from the past. When Venus is conjunct Lilith, we will have a live call to invite Lilith’s energy in. And so on.

Aphrodite’s Diary is a truly magnificent journey of self-exploration and deep transformation. Joining Venus on her reflective journey will help you understand what you really want so you can emerge as the God(dess) you were meant to be

Our 5-6 weeks live programs usually cost between $250-400, but we will be offering Aphrodite’s Diary at the very accessible price point of $40. That’s $40 for 40 days.

The challenge comes with a 40-day free trial of the Age Of Aquarius Community (the challenge happens inside the Age Of Aquarius Community).

If, at the end of your 40-day trial you decide to stay inside the Community, you’ll have the chance to join us at the price of $290/year. If instead you want to leave after the Aphrodite’s Diary challenge ends (after 40 days), you’ll only pay the initial $40, nothing more.

We are very excited about sharing this life-changing challenge and we can’t wait to welcome you!

Learn more about Aphrodite’s Diary 40-day Challenge and join us here