We've been talking a lot about Venus retrograde, which blessedly ends this Thursday. It's a six-week cycle that's challenging for love (hence, all the celebrity breakups this fall), and many astrologers advise against weddings and engagements during this cycle. But retrogrades CAN be good for second chances. The prefix "re-" means to do again, after all. Perhaps it's fitting that former MTV couple Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson have both announced new engagements during this Venus retrograde.

So, how will they fare?

In our astro-opinion, Nick's engagement to fellow Scorpio Vanessa Minnillo (they share a November 9 birthday) is a no-brainer, especially after four years of dating. We also like the Scorpio-Scorpio match, and have seen many successful pairings. Who else can understand this complex sign better than another intense Scorp? Perhaps they used Venus retrograde — which was in Scorpio — to deal with any lingering baggage or fears. (Or, maybe a cable network offered them a sweet reality deal for a show about second marriages.)

As for Jessica Simpson? A whole 'nother story. She's been dating ex-NFL player Eric Johnson for just five months. Astrologically, they're a nice match: She's a Cancer, he's a Virgo. But the timing is suspect, wethinks. Less than two weeks after Nick announces his engagement, she's flashing a ruby-and-diamond "sparkler" to the world? As a sensitive Cancer, she may have just added some "bling" to her protective Crab shell — signaling that she's still in pain over her divorce. Cancers are never as good at hiding their feelings as they think. With both Jupiter and Uranus retrograde in her impulsive ninth house (which also rules gambling), bad judgment is likely. The holidays will be telling. Three intense planets (Mercury retrograde, Mars and Pluto) will be in J-Simp's relationship house. This engagement will either unravel or survive its first major test.

We wish them all well, but in Jessica's case, we hope there's a pre-nup. Just as she once confused tuna with chicken, she might be confusing lust with love, or jealousy with a good reason to wed again.