Venus retrograde is here and it could help you find your true love

Modern dating has never been so hard. I’ve been thinking about dipping my toe back into the water, but the digital options are daunting and the landscape seems full of confusing situationships and a lack of IRL meetings, so until now I have opted to leave things to fate.

But could manifesting a relationship be the answer? It might sound bonkers but given that I need a radical new approach, perhaps this is a more “supervised” way of letting fate take the driving seat.

So – don’t laugh – I’ve enlisted the guidance of LA-based astrologer Dr Michael Lennox, to help me harness the power of Venus retrograde to attract Mr Right.

Lennox, who is known as the “Red Robe Astrologer”, with 54,000 followers on Instagram, gives lively daily planetary updates and astro alerts published across his social channels, while wearing a red bathrobe at sunset.

Also a psychologist and dream interpreter, he talks about how daily planetary shifts might affect the collective unconscious rather than forecasting star sign fortunes.

According to Lennox, this month’s Venus retrograde, which is when – for those who believe – the planet that rules love, relationships, beauty, personal values, and money, appears to move backwards from 3 October to 13 November, is the best time to prepare for the biggest love relationship romance manifestation of one’s life.

It may sound far-fetched, and it is certainly unconventional. Astrology is not scientifically proven and, for many, the idea of manifesting a romance is barmy. However, astrology has skyrocketed in popularity among millennials and Gen Z, who are looking to zodiac-based trends for a sense of meaning, self-discovery and agency in a chaotic world.

I’m not a horoscope reader. But I’ve been to psychics and I’m willing to give it a shot. As a single mum of two children, Lola, 10, and Liberty, eight, I don’t get much chance to go out socially, and although I’m quite happy being single, and sick of recent “situationships”, the idea of attracting the perfect relationship from the comfort of my own home sounds too appealing to turn down – even just as a fun experiment.

There is plenty already out there online about what to expect during a Venus retrograde. As with any retrograde period, things aren’t as they always appear, and as Venus rules love, beauty, and money, this retrograde period is widely thought in mainstream astrology to cloud your judgment in these areas.

The general advice is to avoid major changes to your appearance or overhaul your home – so no dramatic haircuts or painting the kitchen pink; no large financial commitments – which means no shopping sprees, and to refrain from rushing into new romantic relationships, as your perception may be murky.

It’s also known as a time when exes resurface – so avoid texting or running back to old flames, as reconnecting to past lovers at this time could cause regret.

But the upside of this Venus retrograde, Lennox tells me, is that it is also a particularly potent time to manifest romance because Venus, which rules love, is retrograde in both Scorpio and Libra – making it a perfect astrological recipe for success.

“Scorpio is the sign of change… of making things alchemise,” he tells me about the sign the planet Venus appears to move backwards through from 3 October. “Venus then moves back into Libra [on 25 October], which is the sign of a harmonious relationship. This Venus retrograde period is better for manifesting relationships than any other time.”

The question is exactly when – and how – to do it. Lennox advises that the best time to do start the work of romance manifesting is during the Venus retrograde’s first new moon in Libra on 10 October.

Weirdly, this happens to be my birthday. I hadn’t pictured myself spending it at home with a vision board, having a new moon manifesting ceremony.

But while he says it’s a good time to prepare for the new relationship – and set a wish – it’s not the time to actually bring it in.

“This is the best time to be like, ‘Okay, I’m ready to dial it up. I’m ready to write my list. I’m ready to describe my partner.’”

But although Lennox views the Venus retrograde warnings about avoiding new relationships, or getting back with exes, as “superstitious”, he still advises extreme caution. “Be very careful and discerning about anybody who comes into your life before Venus goes direct on 13 November,” he says.

“The feelings that are stirred while Venus is backward may go away when she turns around,” he tells me. And when it comes to exes returning, he says: “If you can put it off for a couple of weeks, it’s sensible – to see if the heat is still there.”

The best plan is to wait for the next full moon in the sign of Scorpio on 9 November, to ramp up the manifesting, before Venus goes direct a few days later, and go in for the kill when Venus is out of this retrograde period.

“This is a new moon in Scorpio; a powerful manifestation sign in astrology,” says Lennox. And it’s a powerful a time to set intentions, he adds, as Venus won’t be moving.

“She’ll be stationary in the sky receiving your desires very directly, and a few days later, she turns around and goes direct, bringing you all the love you could want,” he says.

“Venus is ready – and bang – she’s giving out all the cash and prizes.”

There is also another significant midway point in the Venus retrograde cycle, known as “Venus cazimi” – on 25 October. It’s thought to be an auspicious astrological event when the planet Venus aligns directly with the centre of the sun.

This cazimi supposedly creates a powerful surge of clarity, emotional breakthroughs, and deep realisations about what you truly want and value. In terms of Venus, that includes love and relationships.

“Venus is in another realm, because she’s backwards, and the sun, which is our conscious awareness, comes together with it, and so it’s a great day for renewing a manifestation desire,” says Lennox.

But he says, although using the new moons as a ritual where you “dial it in” and the cazimi as a “re-upping” of the manifestation. It doesn’t stop there. “You manifest with every breath you take,” says Lennox.

“If you want a relationship, you affirm it with your mind and your heart every day. Its like “Hey. Don’t forget everything I want.”

He also points out that it’s also a good time for manifesting money. “Venus rules money, Scorpio rules investments, so if you have financial insecurities, it can be a focus for manifesting more money on the same dates.” Don’t forget which article writer tipped you off if you win the lottery…

So – bonkers or not – I’m all set for my birthday manifestation ceremony. I’m going to set my wish: a rich man with a kind heart and drop dead handsome. It might sound like pie in the sky – but one thing is for sure, no exes are coming back into my heart during the Venus retrograde. The next chapter will be a new beginning.