Artwork by Peter Eglington
www.PeterEglingtonArt.com

We are in the midst of Venus Retrograde now, heralding her next Star Point in Scorpio. This will be her final Scorpio Star Point visitation of our lifetime. The Scorpio VSP has been with us since 1926, 100 years now, a time period when the archetypal energies of Scorpio have been seeping in and permeating collective consciousness for the duration. The Venus retrograde of 2026 involves three squares to Pluto, the modern planetary ruler of Scorpio, intensifying the energies and mysteries involved with this pair.

A recent interview in this YouTube video between Callum from Kepler College and Arielle speaking about the hundred-year closing cycle of this Scorpio VSP can be watched here> 

Three of the most intriguing stories that have surfaced since the time of Venus’ entry into Scorpio (September 10), foreshadowing the themes that might become evident during her retrograde in Scorpio, involved sex, death and revenge. This is indeed the underbelly of Scorpio and Pluto.

First Story: The Cornell University Rape Allegation
Jane Doe and the Cornell 7

The news broke on the story of this 2024 incident resulting in the 2026 lawsuit by Jane Doe as Plaintiff and Cornell University as Defendant days before Venus in Scorpio, already moving quite slow, was preparing for her retrograde. Here is the geodetic map for this, revealing five planets clustered around Ithaca, the scene of the crime.

Venus remained at her stationary retrograde degree of 8° Scorpio for ten days as news of this incident was breaking. Mercury is also part of the picture, representing the reporting and the unfolding of the story. At the final degree of Libra, Mercury is poised to enter Scorpio, suggesting intrigue, investigation, and the impulse to dig deeper. Saturn and Chiron stand opposite in Aries, flanking the two inner planets. Beyond them, but still within range, are the Moon and Ceres. A veritable pantheon of representatives from all sides of the story.

Saturn represents patriarchal law. Now in Aries, where it is in its fall, Saturn may be weakened in some respects, yet it remains powerful enough to favor its own team. Its slow, retrograde motion may also symbolize delays in reaching a verdict.

The Moon and Ceres sit somewhat on the sidelines, yet remain close enough to offer emotional support, grief, and a cry for justice. They remind us of Demeter’s tears when Persephone was snatched from her home and taken below by Pluto. Chiron is also present, representing the perennial wound inflicted by the patriarchal misuse and abuse of women and other vulnerable segments of the population.

This is not the first scandal to surface in a Scorpio Star Point period. Many Scorpio VSPs of the past few decades have had sex scandals surface from the deep below and shockingly spill out in the news, causing much shame for the perpetrators and their families, many of whom were high profile figures in politics, economics, sports and entertainment. And of course the damage caused not once, but many times over for the victims, goes without saying. Scorpio does hold secrets it hopes will never surface. But somehow they always do. But then, to follow up on the expose, what has been done to exact justice? This is how Libra follows Scorpio in the Star Point sequence. Libra needs justice.

Third Story: A Memoir of Revenge

According to excerpts from Charles Spencer’s book: Swan Song: Diana, My Sister published before its release, he recalls that the then-Prince Charles said during a heated telephone conversation about funeral arrangements:

“Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough!”

Spencer says this occurred after Diana’s death in 1997. The quote has not been independently verified through a transcript and remains a recollection. King Charles’s response: Buckingham Palace issued a rare public response, saying that the pain of grief can affect reason, judgment, and memory. Spencer subsequently defended his account and described the palace response as being “gaslit by a king.” The book was published September 22, with Venus in Scorpio, slowing down her speed as she prepares for her coming station, retrograde.

But the aforementioned themes — death, sex and revenge — are not its only topics. The theme of transition, transformation and death/rebirth are all ascribed to Scorpio. Its highest attribute is assigned to the phoenix, the bird that rises out of the ashes of its former self/life.

Transition. Transitioning. These words capture so much of what has been unfolding during this Scorpio Venus era. We are witnessing transitions on many levels, both personal and collective, as established identities, institutions, and ways of life undergo profound change. Consider that the long cycle of Venus in Scorpio began exactly when a planet was discovered and quickly ascribed to rule Scorpio. Now Scorpio would have both Mars and Pluto as its allies, thus increasing its power immensely.

In the coming months, our inner planets all take turns with a retrograde procession. This includes, Venus, Mercury and Mars, one after another. As each of these planets governs two signs of the zodiac for a total of 6, that is half the signs of the zodiac’s planetary rulers pausing, reversing, and making their retrograde loops. Imagine half the population of the world experiencing this phenomenon. Also note that the important mid-term elections in the US occur during the first two retrogrades.

Venus Retrograde – October 3 to November 13, 2026 (ScorpioLibra)

Venus Cazimi (Star Point) – October 23-24, 2026 at 0⁰Scorpio45’

Mercury Retrograde –October 24 to November 13, 2026 (Scorpio)

Mars Retrograde—January 10 to April 1, 2027 (VirgoLeo)

(C) Arielle Guttman – 2026

Now, for a personal message!

2026 has been an over-the-top travel year for me. While physically exhausting , it has also been supremely gratifying to meet all the people I’ve met at our in-person retreats in Greece, USA and Mexico.

Joining retreats that are smaller and focused on targeted topics and settings is great – but what we take home from them is not just the photos and notes we took. We also form new relationships, some perhaps lifelong friendships.

The first in-person Venus Star Point event of 2027 is in Bucharest, Romania, a land I have never been to before. It has me wondering what I will learn about myself there as my ancestry is partially Romanian. If you are interested in joining, please drop an email to: [email protected]

Then, in May in beautiful Greece, I will be once again joining the Dream Mysteries Tour with Sarah Janes. We will visit many oracular sites including Epidaurus, Delphi, Dodona and others where the energies of prophetic dreams lives on. This is an excellent opportunity to travel through some of the most beautiful areas of Greece, seeing spring in full bloom. To learn more about this special tour, follow this link>

THE OFFERINGS FOR 2027

I hope you will join me either in person or online for one of these special events.

For further studies of the Venus Star Point, please refer to the following sources.
YouTube channel: The Official Venus Star Point channel
Facebook: Venus Star Rising page
Newsletter archives: www.SophiaVenus.com/blog/

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Are you interested in deepening your astrological awareness of Venus and her star? There is a certification course and exam offered here for the Venus Star Point. Explore the inner workings of the Venus Star and how it can enhance a natal chart by learning how to chart and interpret its meaning.