[Week 2: Saturn in Aries] Taste

Beginning of eclipse season + Venus retrograde

Hi, there!

How are you doing?

I hope you are taking things easy now that we are in Pisces season.

Last week, I took my own advice and cut my hair.

I haven’t done it since Leo season, my favorite season to change my hair, so it was a long time coming.

Before and after

This week's two most crucial astrological events are the following:

• The beginning of Eclipse season

• The beginning of Venus retrograde

As usual, after mentioning the characteristics of these events, I’ll offer some exercises intertwining them with the preparation for the Saturn return.

Ready? Let’s go.

---

The beginning of eclipse season

On Thursday, the 27th of February, at 19:44 EST, there’s a New Moon at 09°40’ of Pisces. This New Moon is not an eclipse, but it marks the beginning of the first eclipse season of 2025.

There are many versions about the beginning and end of eclipse season. Some astrologers consider that this season only lasts 15 days: from the first eclipse until the second one.

Chris Brennan has another view. He states that the eclipse zone lasts four weeks.

It begins one week before the first eclipse and ends one week after the second eclipse. In his view, the most potent times occur on the days of the actual eclipses.

For me, eclipse season is longer. It starts with the New Moon before the New Moon that will be an eclipse, and it ends with the next New Moon that is not an eclipse.

This window lasts for roughly two months.

I know, it seems to be a long period.

But believe me when I tell you that surprises and synchronicities are at an all-time high during eclipse season. And this doesn’t happen in only 15 days or one month but over two strange, confusing, and exhilarating months.

Of course, the intensity of the eclipses will not be at full force for the whole two months. Sometimes, the pressure will be higher, and sometimes, it will be lighter.

Synchronicities emerge timidly after the New Moon that is not an eclipse and get more striking closer to the eclipses.

The New Moon at 09°40’ of Pisces occurring on the 27th of February at 19:44 EST marks the timid beginning of eclipse season.

The strangest part of the journey occurs in the two weeks between one eclipse and the other. But don’t worry about this for now. We’ll deal with it once we get there.

For more info about the astronomy of eclipses and the dates the eclipses will take place in 2025, check this previous edition of the newsletter:

Eclipse season is OVER!

Since eclipse season is long and full of twists, I’ll keep writing about this subject in future newsletter editions.

Now, let’s move to the other crucial astrological event of the week.

The beginning of Venus retrograde

Venus starts retrograding at 10°50’ of Aries on Saturday 1st of March at 19:36 EST. This is the week's most important event.

Similarly to Mars, Venus’ retrograde phases are a big deal because this planet only spends 7 % of its cycle in retrograde motion.

Mars retrograde

These are 10 keywords related to Venus:

• Desire

• Values

• Relationships

• Love

• Beauty

• Art

• Taste

• Money

• Creative expression

• Balance

When this planet retrogrades, it prompts reflection and reevaluation of all of these topics.

Besides, the 40-day retrograde phase often leads to revisiting past connections or unresolved issues.

Venus retrograde periods are deep and subtle at the same time.

They are not riddled with snafus or miscommunications like Mercury retrograde periods. They don’t imply that action has stopped like Mars retrograde periods.

You don’t have to do anything specific when Venus is retrograde. The reflections or revisions needed about your relationships, values, tastes, or creative life will become evident once this transit begins.

Usually, every astrologer and their mom focus their attention during Venus retrograde on relationships and desire. I was one of them, too. But this time around, I want to focus on taste.

I invite you to pay attention to the experiences or creations you enjoy.

Notice the movies, TV shows, meals, songs, books, rituals, routines, seasons, clothes, destinations, sports, or whatever you like and cherish.

Those experiences or creations could be available in your life right now. Perhaps they aren’t.

Don’t fret over it. You don’t have to do anything specific. You don’t have to activate a 10-step plan to love yourself or find the love of your life or some other nonsense.

For now, just pay attention to what you already like while simultaneously being open to changes in your taste and style.

Venus retrogrades in the same zodiac sign every 8 years

Looking back eight years when analyzing a current Venus retrograde transit is helpful. There will be echoes of the past in the present situation.

Venus retrograde goes through the same natal house every eight years. By doing it, this planet reviews and unearths incomplete or dormant issues that have been quiet since the last transit.

Deeply mysterious transformations occur when Venus is retrograde. And they are so mysterious that you may never know what happened until several months later.

The last time Venus retrograded in Aries was in 2017. That retrogradation started on March 4th at 13°08 of Aries. It ended on April 15th at 26°54’ of Pisces.

And what about the previous time Venus retrograded in this area of your birth chart? It happened in 2009.

In 2009, Venus started retrograding on March 9th at 15°27 of Aries. The retrogradation ended on April 17th at 29°11’ of Pisces.

The previous one was in 2001, but that’s enough for now.

You may be too young to remember what happened in 2009, let alone 2001. So, let’s just focus on 2017.

The astrology of 2025 📅

Venus retrograde in Aries in 2017

Let me paint a picture of 2017.

Or rather, let me put a playlist for you.

2017 was the year of Despacito, Shape of You, Side to Side, New Rules, Kill Em With Kindness, Green Light, 24k Magic, Sorry Not Sorry, Feel It Still, Mi Gente, Wild Thoughts, Chantaje.

The Chainsmokers dominated the music world, especially thanks to their collab with Halsey on the banger Closer.

Even though Starboy, the magnificent album created by The Weeknd, was launched in November 2016, it was everywhere in 2017.

Taylor Swift entered her Reputation era. Harry Styles launched his first solo album.

Bad Bunny started collaborating with pretty much everyone. Travis Scott, as well.

Kendrick Lamar's album DAMN. was released on April 14th, 2017. The album was available for pre-order on April 7th, 2017. This coincided exactly with the Venus retrograde phase.

Drake also released the mixtape More Life during Venus retrograde on March 18th, 2017.

Me Rehúso, the song created by Danny Ocean, was re-released on the 16th of June through Atlantic Records due to its SMASHING success in Latin America and Europe in 2016.

And this is just mainstream music. And the music I consume, so this is extremely biased and processed through my own Venusian filter.

If you like classical music or heavy metal or something else, you may have your own thoughts about 2017.

For me, musically speaking, it was a great year.

In terms of TV shows, I want to mention seven Netflix shows that premiered or launched a season in 2017.

They are:

1. Love

2. GLOW

3. Master of None

4. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

5. Toon

6. Mindhunter

7. BoJack Horseman

Why have I chosen these shows and not others? The explanation is in the prompts for this week.

Watch party of the second season of Love in March 2017

Prompts for Week 2

1. Put music from 2017 to connect with the vibe of the last time Venus was retrograde in Aries and a little bit in Pisces. The music doesn’t have to have been launched specifically during Venus retrograde. It could also be music that was launched in 2016 but blew up the next year. If you need some guidance, Spotify created this list for me. I tried looking at lists on YouTube, but I couldn’t find anything covering only the year 2017.

2. Now that you have set the ambiance, grab your dedicated journal. Write [Week 2: Saturn in Aries] Taste on top of the page, and the week we’re in, like this:

3. To connect with the beginning of eclipse season, I suggest you go back to the ideas, both practical and not-so-practical, that I offer for Pisces season. You need to be well rested to navigate eclipse season. Here’s a handy link to the edition of last week’s newsletter to get the inspiration to care for yourself:

[Week 1: Saturn in Aries] Commitment

4. Start paying attention to the things you like. Whenever you’re watching a show, a movie, listening to a song, or enjoying a meal, pay attention. Then, write notes in your phone’s app about it. You can write the title Tasty Bite and then the thing you like. Afterward, transfer those tasty bites to your designated journal. The idea is to create an inventory of your taste (or the re-evaluation of what you thought you liked) during this Venus retrograde. You can surprise yourself if you get exposed to new experiences. That’s fantastic! Write those surprises down, too.

5. The Netflix shows that I have chosen feature at least one character going through their first Saturn return. Huh! You didn’t see that one coming, right?! I wanted to combine the Saturn return vibes with the style that was current in 2017. I have watched all of those shows, and I highly recommend them. I would start with Love, though, because its second season was launched exactly during the Venus retrograde phase in 2017. Write in the designated journal which show you’re going to watch, and then write your thoughts about it. Since I have seen all of them, I chose a show that was “new” back then. I’m watching Better Call Saul.

6. Do you remember anything about your life from March to the first half of April of 2017? How about your romantic life? Relationships in general? Your work or study situation? Activities you enjoyed? Do some freestyle journaling for 20 minutes. Don’t force yourself if nothing comes to mind.

Well, I have given you plenty of homework. But I think it’s delightful, isn’t it?

Let me know your thoughts, comments, or opinions. I’m looking forward to hearing from you!

With love,

Valentina