🇦🇺 Venus Retrograde is Testing Your Patience (And Your DMs 😏)

As someone who’s been studying Astrology as a hobby for over 5 years, I always feel like I’m in a reality TV show whenever there are retrogrades 😂 may it be Mercury Retrograde which happens around 3-4 times each year and is the most common one, or Venus or Mars which goes in retrograde only every 12-18 months.

If you’ve watched Love Island - that’s exactly how these retrogrades feel like, one moment everything is sweet and wholesome, and next the most unexpected thing happens, or someone from years ago popping up in your DMs like, “Hey, how are you?” And as cliche as it sounds, these retrogrades do bring people back. A week ago, I wrote an email about Venus Retrogrades Pre-Shadow Phase, and Arabelle literally told me “It is interesting that after I read your email, someone I haven’t heard from in years actually messaged me.” Which definitely proves my point 😂

So let’s talk about what’s actually happening and how to survive this chaotic but necessary energy shift.

🔮 Back to Basics: What Even Is a Retrograde?

If you’ve been seeing Astrology posts on your feed, you’ve most likely heard people blaming Mercury Retrograde (since it’s the most common retrograde) for their Wi-Fi acting up, texts left on read, exes coming back, or just overall having a hard time communicating with people. But what actually is a retrograde?

A retrograde happens when a planet appears to be moving backward in the sky from our perspective on Earth, but it’s actually not moving backwards, it’s just orbiting really slowly which creates an optical illusion that it’s going in reverse. And that’s one of the reasons why we feel like time is moving so slowly. If you’ve been following our Letters from Arabelle emails, I’ve discussed about how January felt so slow that it seemed like it was an entire year itself 😂it was because we were in Mars Retrograde at that time.

✨ Venus Retrograde 101

Venus is the planet of love, relationships, pleasure, and beauty. When it’s moving normally (direct), things feel smooth – your relationships, sense of self-worth, creativity, etc. Life is basically serving.

But when it’s in retrograde, it’s like the universe hits pause and suddenly we’re in reflection mode, looking at our relationship dynamics, friendships, and how we feel about ourselves. It’s giving….forced character development 😂 

This Venus Retrograde runs from the 1st of March - 12th of April 2025 but we’ve been in the pre-shadow phase since the 28th of January (aka, the sneak peek), so if weird things have already been happening, congratulations, you’re in the trailer before the full movie drops 😂

📉 What Can I Expect?

1️⃣ Exes, Old Friends & Ghosts from the Past

If someone you thought was long gone suddenly resurfaces, it’s not just a coincidence. Often times, these retrogrades push us to go inward and self-reflect, and depending on what comes out of those realizations, it may prompt people to reach out or not. I know because I’ve had those self-reflection moments and nearly became the ex who came back during the retrograde instead of my ex reaching out to me 😂 But of course, I took a step back and asked myself, “Do I really want them back or do I just miss the memories?” 

2️⃣ Relationships in Slow Motion

New or existing relationships may feel like they’re moving at a snail’s pace - or worse, just straight up confusing. If you’re questioning where you stand with someone, take it as a sign to pause and observe, rather than force things forward. Retrogrades, especially Venus Retrogrades are not the time to jump into commitments out of impulse. 

3️⃣ Self-Worth Check-in (Hello, Shadow Work 👀)

I’m a strong believe that retrogrades aren’t just about external relationships – it’s about you. You may start to reflect on:

✅ How you show up in kove and friendships
✅ What you truly value in relationships
✅ Whether you’re settling for less than you deserve 
✅ Past relationship dynamics and how it’s shaped you

🫶🏻 Do’s & Don’ts

💖 Reflect, Don’t React – If an ex, old friend, or situationship returns, ask yourself: Do I miss them, or just the idea of them?

💖 Reassess Relationships – Take a look at your love life, friendships, and even your relationship with yourself. Who and what actually align with the person you’re becoming?

💖 Slow Down & Observe – This is not the time to rush into a new relationship, commitment, or major financial investment. Let things unfold naturally.

💖 Reignite Self-Love – Venus Retrograde is a cosmic mirror. Focus on yourself, your healing, and raising your standards.

💖 Trust the Process – I told a friend recently that I wanted to be in a relationship, and he simply said, "Trust the process." I replied, "The process isn’t processing," but then I thought—maybe my trust isn’t trusting. If things feel delayed, trust that there’s a reason.

I know, I know—this all sounds like a lot. But retrogrades aren’t here to wreck your life; they’re here to course-correct it. Instead of resisting the shifts, use this time to reassess, reflect, and refine what love, relationships, and self-worth mean to you.

And hey, if your ex or an old friend does pop up… just remember: The past is better left in the past 😉.