When is Venus out of retrograde? Here's why we're counting down the days

When is Venus out of retrograde? Not soon enough!

Our August 2023 horoscope warned us that we'd be in for an emotional month, but the Planet of Love, Money, and Art seemed to enjoy making things a little bit more difficult than we'd like. If you're unconvinced, the long list of breakups will make you reconsider the cosmic casualties: Rosalía and Rauw Alejandro ended their engagement, the Ariana Grande cheating scandal was like Scandoval round 2, and plenty of "expirationships" met their demise. 

It was going to be a trying time for matters of the heart, and we knew the past would resurface. Oh, and to top it all off, the two full moons in August, a once-in-a-blue-moon happening, would force us to deal with old wounds and seal 'em up once and for all. So yes, we love the summer months, but this particular one was intense...and we're ready for it to be over.

When is Venus out of retrograde?

Venus stationed retrograde on Saturday, July 22, and will go direct on Sunday, September 3, thank goodness. Not to be dramatic, but we've circled the date in our calendars. 

Once the planet goes back to its usual travels, we can expect our romantic relationships to feel less tense, and we can get rid of that fog that's been burdening us creatively. Plus, we have the best season of them all to look forward to. (Spooky season/autumn.) 

"We're going to have a better idea of how we want to move forward with everything that happened," our in-house astrologer Narayana Montúfar insisted. "We're not going to feel uninspired. We're going to be ready to tackle anything and know what we want to focus our energy on. We're going to be more focused."

Is anyone else ready for some clarity? The dust is finally going to settle, and we're so close to reaching that point. 

Narayana Montúfar

Narayana Montúfar is an astrologer and an expert in the astrological studies of the Moon and the author of Moon Signs: Unlock Your Inner Luminary Power. She has been My Imperfect Life's resident astrologer for over a year, providing you with cosmic intel straight from the stars in our monthly and weekly horoscopes. 

What happened during Venus retrograde?

Not only was this a tricky transit, but it was happening in the fire sign of Leo, which has a flair for the dramatics. So things were a little uneasy for some of us. 

"Retrograde Venus in Leo [brought] issues in love, return past relationship drama, and reevaluations," said astrologer Iva Naskova of Nebula. "During its retrograde movement, the planet of love most likely caused disruption and breakups in relationships that were already damaged and headed that way."

And fire signs were particularly getting the brunt of it. 

Leo is a fire sign, so those with prominent fire signs in their chart (Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius) may also feel the effects of this retrograde period more strongly," said Solaris the Hii Priestess. "Fire signs tend to be passionate, creative, and expressive, so they may feel a greater urge to dive into creative projects and pursue their desires during this time."

Solaris the Hii Priestess

Solaris the Hii Priestess is an Austin-based tarot reader, astrologer and newly published author—y.o.u. Your own universe, a children’s astrology book— is known for her contemporary method of divination using tarot. She has been featured at various festivals, such as: Mala Luna, SXSW, ACL and more. 

The good news regarding Venus retrograde

While it seemed like a summer stay at the Heartbreak Hotel, Venus retrograde actually had some positives, according to astrologers. 

"Venus retrograde in Leo [brought] opportunities for growth and transformation around matters of the heart and creative expression," Solaris said. 

So yes, while some of the experiences we encountered might've been challenging, they ultimately led us in the direction we were meant to pursue. Plus, it provided a time in which we could, as always, review and revise the way we see not only relationships but the things in life we hold dear. 

Naskova added, "Retrograde Venus might be the push you need toward a better future. Disruption and breakups are more likely in relationships that were already damaged and headed that way. But for those whose bond is strong and stable, this transit can significantly help to realize what you want from the relationship and how you can make improvements."

Plus, now that we have a breather some September 3, it's time to put those creative goals into high gear. Ready for it?

For more cosmic intel, check out our guide to what planet is in retrograde. Up next? Mercury retrograde 2023.