When I was asked to write about Venus, as an astrologer I thought, “Easy. Love, money and relationships, right?” Yes, this is often the case but, as I discovered putting pen to paper, Venus is much more than this.
Venus is associated with Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty. Venus rules two zodiac signs: Taurus and Libra. As ruler of earth sign Taurus, she represents the sensual and physical side of love and desire. As ruler of air sign Libra, Venus represents the mutually pleasant and socially acceptable expression of love and beauty.
Venus cycles
It takes Venus approximately 13½ months to orbit the Sun. During this time, you can see Venus as the Morning Star (rising ahead of the Sun) and as the Evening Star (setting after the Sun).
Venus moves relatively quickly, spending between three and four weeks in one zodiac sign. The exception to this is when Venus retrogrades, or moves backwards. When retrograde, Venus spends between three and four months in one zodiac sign.
Venus travels close to the Sun and is always within 48 degrees of it. This means you will have Venus either in the same sign as your Sun or, at most, in one of the two signs on either side of your Sun.
12 styles of love
Everyone expresses Venus differently, depending on the sign their Venus is in. Picture anything of Beauty, a person you admire, a piece of art or an amazing landscape. These preferences represent your Venusian style.
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Equally, Venus’s sign indicates the kinds of qualities you value, find attractive or hold dear. It can also flavour what turns you on and can show what relationship influences or experiences you are after.
Venus shows your attitude towards love and describes how you give and receive affection. She describes what you find desirable and beautiful. Venus is your inner feminine nature. It is not only important for women to be in touch with their inner feminine side, but for men too. Everyone has the desire to express and connect to the qualities associated with their Venus sign. Doing so helps you feel complete, attractive and worthy.
Even if you don’t know your Venus sign, read the descriptions below and see which one you most relate to. To work out your Venus sign, calculate your chart free or contact your local astrologer.
Venus in Aries
With Venus in a fire sign, you can be impulsive, jumping into things quickly. Aries is the first sign of the zodiac so your needs and values often come first. You’ll never shy away from an argument and can be direct, telling others exactly how it is. You may be the sporty type and always on the move. You can be independent and love freedom, and will value these qualities in others. With Venus in Aries, you may have no time for rest and are always on the go.
Venus in Taurus
Venus is very much at Home in Taurus, where the pace switches from super-fast in Aries to slow and sensual. If you have Venus in Taurus, you appreciate tactile experiences. The way to your heart is with a massage, great food and quality wine, with an emphasis on the quality. Love and money often win out here. Did someone say luxury hotel suite, complete with a manicure and pedicure? You may enjoy the outdoors, too, making a romantic stroll on a Sunday afternoon ideal. You love to be pampered and will never refuse an indulgence. You may show your feelings through touch and, in turn, respond to physical affection.
Venus in Gemini
With Venus in Gemini, you are sociable and have a funny, flirtatious side. You can be talkative and tend to feel closeness and love from another through sharing your thoughts, like a merging of the minds. Intellectual stimulation is a must, otherwise boredom sets in. Your lover must be a great communicator and have a quick wit. Comedy is one of life’s best medicines for you. You may express your affections through words. You have a need for variety — no environment, discussion or connection can be the same as yesterday or last week.
Venus in Cancer
This is the sensitive mama. The caring type. You feel things deeply and easily show your emotions. Love is the centre of the heart for a Venus in Cancer. To nurture and mother is instinctive. You are a gentle and sympathetic soul and may be shy. As you have a more sensitive nature, you may dislike confrontation. Venus in Cancer is the “homemaker”. You may be a domestic goddess or like to show your love by cooking a warming, nourishing meal for your partner at home. Mi casa, su casa.
Venus in Leo
If you have Venus in Leo, you love to be admired, even if you won’t always admit it. You enjoy being praised and think respect is the highest honour. If a partner demonstrates disrespect, you may lose affection for them. Venus in Leo will be proud of the one they love. You express affection warmly. You are loyal in love and value loyalty in others. With Venus in Leo, you can be lots of fun, at times being the life of the party, dancing the night away. Appearance is especially important, particularly your hair. You’ll likely carry a brush in your handbag and you are never far from the nearest mirror.
Venus in Virgo
Think clean, neat, straight lines. With Venus in Virgo you like cleanliness, tidiness and hygiene. You like your partner to be well presented, with an ironed shirt or blouse and pants or skirt, complete with clean shoes. With a conservative nature, you value the mundane and routine. Purity is important, as is health. Eating cleanly and exercising is a must. You value the same in a partner, and will look for someone who eats healthily and takes care of their body or is physically appealing.
Venus in Libra
Like in Taurus, Venus in Libra is at home. With Venus in Libra, you are considerate and like to please. You may see the sharing of ideas in a relationship as a display of fairness and equality. You adopt a diplomatic approach with other people and think justice and fairness are important. With Venus in Libra, you can be a peacekeeper, vying for harmony, and you appreciate when others are kind. You may enjoy seeing a play or have an interest in the arts. In love, you crave peace and harmony with your partner.
Venus in Scorpio
You are very much in touch with your sexuality and deep desires. Sex is not only a physical act; it’s also an emotional experience. To be able to intuit what another is feeling is your real gift. You can also sense another’s pain, and may believe emotional closeness includes the sharing of past hurts. With Venus in Scorpio, you may value privacy. You are unlikely to be tearfully sympathetic, like those with Venus in Pisces or Cancer (the other water signs). You can offer sympathy, but in a more subtle manner.
Venus in Sagittarius
With Venus in Sagittarius you can be idealistic in relation to the kind of relationship you want. You like to be a free spirit and love having an adventure, with laughter. At times you may be a little impersonal, with an easy come, easy go attitude. It’s not so much that you’re detached but rather you have a more fickle nature. Once you do commit, you can be generous with your partner, even though you may be at times hard to please. You speak the truth, often with total honesty. Sometimes you come across as blunt but you are also broadminded.
Venus in Capricorn
With Venus in Capricorn, you may not be very demonstrative. Instead, you may control your emotions or find verbalising your feelings tricky. That said, you are serious about love and have a strong sense of commitment. You’re capable of loyalty and are comfortable with the work and responsibilities of being in a relationship. You are mature and value a partner who is also settled and established. You may be attracted to someone who has status, ambition and is well regarded.
Venus in Aquarius
Here we find the “individual” needs represented. You can be unconventional and, rather than following the path most travelled, you make your own path. “I’ll do it my way” is the key. You value independence and intelligence in relationships. You won’t find the “clingy” type here. You might like to have individual pursuits, then get together later with your partner to talk about your experiences. You may have a detached approach to love and intimacy. Venus in Aquarius does not take kindly to jealousy.
Venus in Pisces
Venus in Pisces is a special placement, as Venus is easily able to express her energy in this sign. If this is you, you are a sensitive soul and all about feelings. You show compassion and empathy for all. With Venus in Pisces, you may feel devoted to your partner, which can be different from being physically expressive. Your love can be pure and is as real as it gets. You give yourself completely, without holding back. You may yearn for a magical, fairytale-like connection, or dream about getting swept off your feet.
Venus in the elements
How does the element your Venus appears in affect your love language and your desires?
| Venus in a fire sign (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) | Venus in an earth sign (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) | Venus in an air sign (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) | Venus in a water sign (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) | |
| You express affection | Confidently, impulsively, with flair or drama | Steadily, in a measured planned way, physically or through touch | Through the mind, with witty banter or cheeky comments | Soulfully, with depth and emotion, by trusting your intuition |
| What you want from a partner | Excitement, action, adventure, new experiences | Reliability, security, support and strength | Insight, intellectual stimulation, opportunities to learn | A soul connection, to share feelings, to feel cared for |
Credit: Kelly Surtees
