Into the Depths: Venus Retrograde in Scorpio

With Mabon, we welcomed the Autumn Equinox—a sacred turning point where day and night stand in balance before the darkness begins to claim more of the sky. Traditionally, this is a season of reflection, gratitude, and balance: a time to gather what we have cultivated, give thanks for what has sustained us, and begin turning inward. It feels especially fitting, then, that Venus goes retrograde on October 3rd. Venus governs love, pleasure, beauty, art, desire, and relationships, and when she turns inward approximately every 18 months, we are invited to do the same—to reconsider what we love, what we value, and what truly brings us joy.

This year, Venus travels retrograde through Scorpio, adding depth, power, mystery, and transformation to the journey. Rather than simply asking, “Who do I want?” perhaps the deeper question is, “What do I actually want—and what am I willing to confront to have it?” We may find ourselves looking beneath the surface of our desires, uncovering the difference between what we genuinely crave and what we have been conditioned to want. What do you truly value when no one else is watching? What truths lie waiting in the places you rarely dare to look?

For me, devotion to the gods, spirit walking, and shadow work have been some of the keys to finding those answers. There is wisdom in descending into our own depths, even when what we encounter there is uncomfortable. Scorpio reminds us that transformation requires us to be willing to shed what no longer serves us. So as Venus turns inward and the leaves begin to fall, perhaps this is an invitation to enter your own underworld—not with fear, but with curiosity. What will you discover when you have the courage to search the depths?