You may have already heard that this summer, Venus is going retrograde, giving you an astrological opportunity to reflect on—and then reset—your romantic life. But if you’re still wondering what exactly the planet Venus has to do with you or your love life, we’re rewinding back to the basics with help from Tali Edut, one half of The AstroTwins, ELLE’s resident astrologers:
Venus and Astrology
In astrology, Venus is the planet of love, beauty, harmony, seduction, and aesthetic taste, according to Edut. If you’re familiar with how an astrological birth chart works, you’ll know that each planet on your birth chart falls within one of the 12 zodiac signs and one of the 12 astrological houses. In this case, the house Venus was in when you were born can give you clues about the places you might feel the most romantic or where you might meet someone you’d like to date. Edut explains that she has Venus in her 10th house, which is all about career and public prestige, and she tends to meet people through “more formal gatherings.” She continues, “It could be a work event, or I dated a couple guys I met at self-development workshops. I met my husband at Burning Man, where I had to put in a real effort to get there.”
On the other hand, your Venus sign will tell you more about how Venus manifests in your life. “Your Venus sign will tell you about your tastes, how you dress, how you might want to style yourself to feel the most confident, the most attractive,” she explains. “It also gives you clues on your best bet for who you might attract. Venus is more of a receptive planet; it’s more about seduction than pursuit.” Since Venus is one of the closer planets to the Earth, your Venus sign can’t be farther away than two signs before or two signs after your sun sign. So, for example, since I’m a Capricorn sun, my Venus will be in Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, or Pisces. Find out your Venus sign by getting your own birth chart, and then consult Edut’s breakdown, below.
Fire Signs
“Venus in the fire signs are probably going to be the most forward, immediate, and passionate,” Edut says. “When they’re turned on, they’re lit up, and they want it now. Venus in fire signs are very physical, too.”
Venus in Aries
“They’re present, they move fast. The fall in love quickly and out of love quickly. They’re definitely exciting.”
Venus in Leo
“Theatrical. All the Venus in Leos I know really take a long time to get ready in the morning. They like to look good. They’re most likely to send nudes or send pictures of themselves. They want to be adored.”
Venus in Sagittarius
“A little more laid-back about love. They want a partner who’s not going to cramp their style, who will go on adventures with them. They might be into going camping or to festivals or traveling together with their partner.”
Earth Signs
Edut explains that Venus in the Earth signs tend to be more traditional when it comes to love. “Like, we’re either together or we’re not, we’re building something together or we’re not,” she says. “They want their love to be more legendary and leave a legacy.”
Venus in Taurus
“Really sensual. They may be some of the best ones in bed, because they’re all about making an experience. Everything has to be right: the lighting, the mood. A little high-maintenance.”
Venus in Virgo
“Clean sheets, clean everything. Get waxed. All of it. But they’re also kind of earthy, sensual. Venus in Earth signs are interesting, because they’re at once fastidious and a little bit down and dirty too. So as long as it starts off clean, it’ll go dirty fast.”
Venus in Capricorn
“Can be a little slow to get involved. They know they’re going to be all the way in, but there’s definitely a power couple desire there. They need their partner to make them look good.”
Air Signs
Venus in the air signs, on the other hand, can be playful, fun, and communicative. “They need their partners to get along with their friends, because they’re very social,” Edut says. “They want to entertain together. They want to go do fun things together. They also can be a little emotionally cool and detached. They may not be the most affectionate always; it’s all about the mental communication.”
Venus in Gemini
“Most likely to text nonstop. They’re very interactive, good with their hands.”
Venus in Libra
“Venus is at home in Taurus and in Libra; those are the two signs it rules. Venus in Libra, they like to do a lot of things—a lot of fine dining, luxury hotels, museum dates. But they’re also nice and slow. They’re probably the most affectionate of the air sign Venuses.”
Venus in Aquarius
“Super experimental, a little detached sometimes. They’re most likely to be polyamorous, because Aquarius is communal or willing to explore non-conventional relationships.”
Water Signs
Venus in water signs are the romantic, storybook fairy tale types, according to Edut. “[They] believe in the power of love and hand you their beating heart. Every emotion is felt. They love to nurture their partners too and create a really irresistible environment for them.”
Venus in Cancer
“So sensitive. They get their hearts broken so easily, but when they find someone, they’re super loyal, great to build a family and a home with. And they’ll keep things hot.”
Venus in Scorpio
“A bit secretive. They also struggle to be vulnerable, very private about love and romance. But [they have] very strong feelings; they do not break up well. But super loyal too.”
Venus in Pisces
“The ultimate fantasizers. They’re all about getting lost in love.”
