This December, Venus, the planet of self-love, beauty, and confidence, is going retrograde – a phenomenon that happens every 18 months. But, don’t worry, not every planetary retrograde spells doom and gloom. In fact, Venus retrograde can be a wonderful thing if you know how to use it.
This year, Venus retrograde will occur from 19 December 2021 until 29 January 2022 in the sign of Capricorn. The pre-retrograde zone will begin on 17 November 2021, and the post-retrograde shadow will last until 1 March 2022, while the annual Venus star point (a magical day for heightened self-love and confidence) occurs on 8 January 2022.
When it comes to matters of beauty and self-care, during this time, it is a great idea to invest your energy in activities that make you feel better, as opposed to making drastic changes to your appearance, whether that’s changing your hair colour or chopping off all your locks. Indeed, now is the time to implement a strong self-care routine, to ensure that you feel good about yourself during the planetary backspin.
Here’s how to harness the power of December's Venus retrograde, according to your star sign.
Read more: Your Weekly Horoscope
Aries
Embrace your inner child by trying an activity that you always wanted to do when you were younger, but never had the capacity to do. The sooner you engage in a hobby or endeavour, the easier it will be to heal the past and to let go of some of the personal trauma that you’re carrying around. Plus, it’ll allow you to get rid of reactions that you have when dealing with emotional triggers. Think positive.
Taurus
Ignite your creative sentiments by stepping up your beauty game. Make your own face mask from items that you have around the house in your cupboard or refrigerator. An organic face mask will soothe and detox your skin, allowing you to glow throughout the retrograde. Not only that, you’ll have a refreshing and magical experience that will prove to be a delicious way to breathe new life into your skincare and self-care routine.
Gemini
Disconnecting from outside noise and chatter is the best self-care activity for you. The reason for this is that you take on a lot of projects at a time since you are the twin star of the zodiac, and do the work of two people at once. Also, as the chatty sign of the zodiac, you’re constantly responding to texts, emails, and phone calls. Now is the time to keep to yourself and enjoy the silence.
Cancer
As a water sign, you’ll find solace and comfort from taking a warm bath. Try adding some Epsom salt to cleanse your aura, a dash of cinnamon for energetic protection from psychic vampires, and pink rose petals for self-love. This magical bath blend will reset your vibe, and give you the boost that you need to crab-walk your way through Venus retrograde. You’ll move into a better emotional and spiritual place as a result.
Leo
You may be feeling as though you’re not getting a lot of attention from your friends and family, which (let’s face it) is one of your worst nightmares, as you like to be in the spotlight at all times. Rather than have a tantrum about it, make your own splash by posting your accomplishments on social media. This will get you the affection, applause, and love that you are craving from others – just don’t let it define you.
Virgo
Treat yourself this season. Purchase a beauty product from your youth. Nostalgic ’90s beauty, anyone? Scour the internet to find the perfume, lipstick, or eyeshadow that you wore when you were growing up. You’ll get a sentimental tingle in your heart while applying them, which is one of the purposes of planetary retrogrades in astrology.
Libra
Always a fan of a decadent treat, relish in a fun manicure that shows off your inner spirit. Don’t be afraid to add a little glitter to your nails. Go for bling, shimmer, and shine. Giving your nails extra love will make you feel like a star and bring many compliments your way, all of which will make you feel amazing.
Scorpio
The love you have for yourself runs deep like the ocean. However, there may be a few moments during the retrograde that make you doubt your emotions. Write down a personal affirmation or mantra. Recite it every morning while gazing at your beautiful self in the mirror. The more frequently you repeat the affirmation or mantra, the deeper the love affair you’ll have with yourself.
Sagittarius
Retrogrades are a time to make changes that will augment your life for the better. The one thing you won’t be able to get enough of during this planetary retrograde is moisturiser. Your skin is super thirsty due to the change in outside temperatures and is in desperate need of love, which is why the best self-care endeavour for you is to hydrate your skin.
Capricorn
Just because the temperatures are dropping outside doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t get your glam on. Give yourself a festive makeover and get yourself in the mood for fun.
Aquarius
As the humanitarian and water-bearer of the zodiac, you’re constantly giving to others and working hard to make those you care about happy. You take care of others so much that you are discovering that your loving cup is depleting. Therefore, it’s important for you to double up on the amount of sleep you get. Go to bed early and take naps throughout the day, to restore and reinvigorate your energy levels and vitality.
Pisces
The feet are the body part that is associated with your zodiac sign, which means they will need extra care during Venus retrograde because your feet are an extremely sensitive spot. Aches and pains may persist, causing you to need a daily foot rub, massage, or a DIY foot spa at home. Not only will this get rid of all the discomfort that you are feeling, you’ll be more relaxed and calm as a result.
