Venus Is Retrograde: Here's How To Manage Your Feelings & Escape Unscathed
By now, some of you may have heard of Mercury retrograde – the nerve-racking three weeks when the planet symbolizing communication and technology goes bonkers, making the simplest things like sending a text message, using a laptop, or stringing together coherent sentences, some of the hardest things to do. Well, you may not know that Mercury isn't the only planet that goes into retrograde. There is such a thing as a Venus retrograde too.
Astrologically speaking, Venus is the planet that symbolizes romance and relationships, as well as self-worth, beauty, pleasure, and money.
And anytime a planet goes retrograde, it's considered to be moving backwards, which means that it's a time for us to go backwards too, reflecting on and reevaluating the areas in our lives that the retrograde planet covers. Between March 4th - April 15th, that planet is Venus.
As a rule, Venus represents what we want when it comes to finances and relationships; the things that bring us security, pleasure, and comfort. For romance and relationships specifically, Venus is also symbolic of our personal magnetism and style of relating. Currently, Venus is moving through the sign of Aries, a sign known for its confidence, passion, and epic clapbacks.
This means that while Venus is in Aries, we may find that we're more passionate about having what we want and who we want.
For many of us, this may mean taking a bold, fearless, or impulsive approach.
On April 2nd, Venus retrogrades into Pisces, which has a very different outlook when it comes to mating and relating. Pisces tends to put others first before its own needs, which makes for a more intuitive and compassionate relationship style. However, trouble can arise with Pisces when it comes to boundaries. Venus in Pisces can sometimes be too accepting or accommodating of others, which can be a recipe for lopsided or one-way relationships. Though over the six-week period that Venus is retrograde, when it comes to our relationships and our overall happiness – the biggest question is: are we getting what we really want? When it comes to Venus, we need to believe that we're worth having it.
[Tweet "We need to believe that we're worth having it."]
One last thing to note, is that while Venus is retrograde, this is not a good time for starting committed relationships, getting engaged, getting married, or drastically changing our appearance (like a new hair color or cut) as this is a time for taking things slow and getting clear about who and what we want, what we value, and what it means to be in relationship to ourselves, as well as to another human being.
Here's what Venus retrograde means for your sign:
Aries
It's time to cool your jets a bit and become more intentional with your desires. Just because something or someone is available, it doesn't mean it's for you. Also, does your personal style align with how you want to be seen?
Taurus
Deep down, what do you really want? Are you giving yourself space or permission to have it? Money and security are fine, but it's time to honor what your soul needs. With friendships, are you giving more than you're getting back?
Gemini
When it comes to certain friendships or associations, you may have a sneaking suspicion that you're outgrowing them. Know that as you grow, you need people alongside you that support that growth. Career-wise, are you getting your due?
Cancer
Are you getting the recognition you deserve in your professional life? Is there something else that you'd rather be doing? The lack of inspiration you feel may be because you're overdue for a new experience. Start with travel.
Leo
You don't need messy and dramatic emotional entanglements to make you feel alive. You can get that same thrill and heady rush by following a creative inspiration and daring to go, see, and experience somewhere you've never been.
Virgo
You don't have to give everyone you meet open access to your heart. Conversely, you don't have to be so guarded either. Find a healthy balance between how much you give and how much you take. Vulnerability can be a strength.
Libra
Whether you're single or not, it's time to get clear on what you really want from partnership. If you're not getting what you want, you may need to reevaluate your perceptions/values around love and relationships.
Scorpio
Are you feeling as physically good as you could be? To answer this question, you may have to reassess what your self-care routine looks like. Know that a big part of self-care is knowing when to ask for help and when to say no.
Sagittarius
You may find that what you used to be into or who you used to be into, has lost its allure. That's OK because you're becoming more discerning about what and who you give your heart.
[Tweet "If your heart isn't it, leave it alone."]
Capricorn
Honoring your feelings and intuition can be tricky for you because you tend to be a “facts-only" kind of person. However, you're starting to find out that you can ignore your heart for too much longer. You deserve to be happy too.
Aquarius
You're known for being rather free-spirited and independent, though you're recognizing that you can't always do it alone. You need people in your corner too. When it comes to your money, are you placing too little value on your worth?
Pisces
How much do you believe in yourself? Or do you believe in yourself at all? If you're ready to level up, it's time to show others (and the universe) that you're worth it. This means not settling for less than what you deserve.
What has Venus retrograde told you about the kind of changes you need to make in your life?
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Mecca Woods is a New York City-based Astrologer and Transformation Coach working to help others to claim and create a life they truly want. You can find her at www.mylifecreated.com
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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You've Never Seen Luke James In A Role Quite Like This
Over the years, we've watched Luke James play countless characters we'd deem sex symbols, movie stars, and even his complicated character in Lena Waithe's The Chi. For the first time in his career, the New Orleans-born actor has taken on a role where his signature good looks take a backseat as he transforms into Edmund in Them: The Scare—a mentally deranged character in the second installment of the horror anthology series that you won't be able to take your eyes off.
Trust us, Edmund will literally make you do a double take.
xoNecole sat down with Luke James to talk about his latest series and all the complexity surrounding it—from the challenges taking on this out-of-the-box role to the show's depiction of the perplexing history of the relationship between Black Americans and police. When describing the opportunity to bring Edmund's character to life, Luke was overjoyed to show the audience yet another level of his masterful acting talents.
"It was like bathing in the sun," he said. "I was like, thank you! Another opportunity for me to be great—for me to expand my territory. I'm just elated to be a part of it and to see myself in a different light, something I didn't think I could do." He continued, "There are parts of you that says, 'Go for it because this is what you do.' But then also that's why it's a challenge because you're like, 'um, I don't know if I'm as free as I need to be to be able to do this.' Little Marvin just created such a safe space for me to be able to do this, and I'm grateful for everything I've been able to do to lead to this."
Courtesy
Them: The Scare, like the first season, shines a light on the plight of Black Americans in the United States. This time, the story is taking place in the 1990s, at the height of the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles. While the series presents many underlying themes, one that stands out is Black people and the complicated relationship with the police. "For the audience, I think it sets the tone for the era that we're in and the amount of chaos that's in the air in Los Angeles and around the country from this heinous incident. And I say it just sets the tone of the anxiety and anxiousness that everybody is feeling in their own households."
James has been a longtime advocate against police brutality himself. He has even featured Elijah McClain, the 23-year-old Colorado man who died after being forcibly detained by officers, as his Instagram avatar for the past five years. So, as you can imagine, this script was close to his heart. "Elijah was a soft-loving oddball. Different than anyone but loving and a musical genius. He was just open and wanted to be loved and seen."
Getty Images
Luke continued, "His life was taken from him. I resonate with his spirit and his words...through all the struggle and the pain he still found it in him to say, 'I love you and I forgive you.' And that's who we are as people—to our own detriment sometimes. He's someone I don't want people to forget. I have yet to remove his face from my world because I have yet to let go of his voice, let go of that being [because] there's so many people we have lost in our history that so often get forgotten."
He concluded, "I think that's the importance of such artwork that moves us to think and talk about it. Yes, it's entertaining. We get to come together and be spooked together. But then we come together and we think, 'Damn, Edmund needed someone to talk to. Edmund needed help... a lot [of] things could have been different. Edmund could have been saved.'
Check out the full interview below.
Luke James Talks Ditching Sex Symbol Status For "Them: The Scare", Elijah McClain, & Morewww.youtube.com
Featured image by Getty Images