Last week we received a note from a reader, Dawn, asking about whether she should stay married or get divorced. We have some advice for her and all of our readers as love planet Venus is retrograde from October 8 through November 18!

Dawn, we can tell you this:
If you want to make it work, prepare to do the time. Virgo and Aquarius can be a tricky combination and not one for the faint of heart (remember Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley? Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards?) As an earth sign, Virgo, you crave meaningful conversation and also a partner who wants to be taken care of (Virgo is the zodiac’s helper). While your Aquarius man’s ego may delight in the attention at first, he’s ultimately an independent spirit who will feel smothered by too much focused attention, pulling away emotionally and leaving you hurt.

Between now and November 18, expansive Jupiter is retrograde (moving backward) in Pisces, your committed-relationship sector. This is a favorable time to do repair work before making any life-altering decisions. If your husband is willing, we recommend booking at least six weeks of couples counseling sessions. They’ll help your vastly different signs either to learn to communicate (maybe for the first time!), or to part amicably.

For all signs:
As we said, love planet Venus is retrograde from October 8 through November 18, which could throw troubled relationships into a tailspin. While we don’t recommend taking drastic actions, you can’t sweep problems under the rug, either.

Relationships are hard work, and fittingly, even the likes of Cupid and love planet Venus occasionally need a vacation from their arrow-slinging and matchmaking. Well, that time has arrived. Venus will be retrograde in Scorpio (until 11/7) and then Libra (until 11/18), two intense signs that govern our most intimate connections. Every 18 months, Venus treats herself to a six-week break, going retrograde and leaving us mere mortals to hash things out on our own. Inevitably, we always screw things up at first, but it can also be a great learning experience that helps us grow.

While traditional astrology advises against weddings and engagements during Venus retrograde, there’s no need to cancel your walk down the aisle or holiday proposal plans. Just prepare to … negotiate. Venus retrograde is a time for all couples to address the deeper issues, and for the terminally single folk to face their fears of intimacy. Friendships, co-worker relations and all interpersonal dynamics come under scrutiny during Venus retrograde, too. You and your sweetie may need to hash out a few details, like desires for children, religious/cultural differences or the way you handle money. OK, so maybe it’s not the most romantic way to start a life together, but your ability to compromise sets the tone for how you’ll handle conflicts that inevitably arise in long-term relationships.

If you’re carrying a torch for an ex, Venus retrograde helps you explore that old connection or snuff out the embers for good. Don’t assume you have to go it alone, either. Couples counselors, workshops like Imago, even self-help books can fill in the gaps until Venus resumes her duties and returns to direct (forward) motion on November 18.

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