Whatever you make it, though Venus will certainly have a say this month.

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NOT SURE WHAT YOUR VENUS SIGN IS? GO TO THEASTROTHERAPIST.COM TO CREATE YOUR BIRTH CHART AND FIND OUT!

“Love is…..” Don’t let anyone finish that sentence for you. Not even me! Love is utterly subjective and entirely personal. The way you finish that sentence describes not only how you love but how you want to be loved, what makes you feel loved. And in astrology, the condition of Venus when you were born reveals what makes your heart sing.

Venus represents the law of attraction, that magnetic pull that brings people together. She stands for the qualities that please you, what is satisfying and appealing to you. She’s your urge to be desired as well as what you desire. Venus gives you a sense of your own power of attraction and helps you tap into your intrinsic nature. Attraction allows for relationships; after all, love is what binds us together. When we talk about our heart, we’re talking about Venus. Glamour, grace, style, charm, sociability, personal values, romantic tastes, interpersonal sharing, your response to beauty, your mode of connecting — all of this is in Venus’s realm. And each of us puts our singular spin on Venusian matters.

How do you bond? How do you give and receive love? What do you find alluring in someone? What makes you feel valued? How do you express affection? How do you convey other heartfelt emotions? How much closeness do you need? What type of togetherness do you want? How would you describe your style of relating to people? What is most important to you in your relationships? What are you seeking in an ideal partnership? Your answers to these questions have everything to do with your Venus.

When we talk about the condition of your Venus, the first thing to consider is the sign Venus was in when you were born. Beyond that, an astrologer would look at factors like what angles she’s forming with other planets. If, for example, your Venus in fiery Aries is opposed by restrictive Saturn, you might believe in love at first sight, but Saturn stops you in your tracks and cautions, “Wait and see. Let’s find out what this person is made of.” And the house Venus resides in in your birth chart highlights an area of life where your relationships come to the fore. But we’re only discussing Venus signs today — and if you’d care to venture beyond that, I’d love to meet you and dive deeper into your chart!

The personal rewards of accepting and honoring your own Venus are immeasurable, and your relationships will also benefit from your knowledge of others’ Venus signs. We want those we love to value the qualities in ourselves that we value. If they don’t, we may not feel truly loved by them. Requited love is a worthy aim and a gift from the gods, but as W.H. Auden wrote, “If equal affection cannot be, let the more loving one be me.” The feeling of loving someone truly, madly, deeply cannot be matched. But to fully love others, first you need to believe you have something to give. You must value yourself to prevent the mistake of trying to draw water from an empty well. Often, we look to others to fill us up, to give us value. And some people seem withholding, because they’re coming from a place of scarcity within themselves and feel they can’t afford to give. When you love yourself first, your well is full. Your heart is full. You already know how to give and receive.

I’ve explained that Venus symbolizes both how you love and what makes you feel loved. And chances are you don’t share the same Venus sign as all of your loved ones. So it stands to reason the person who can love you best is…..YOU! Proof positive that self-love is the key that opens the door to all other love. Only you can love yourself in the exact way your Venus wants and has built-in receptors for. Everyone else is only capable of loving you with their Venus. You can grow to understand more about what your mate needs and desires and how they feel about you. But you must love yourself first for your Venus to be happy and fulfilled enough to give love. Maybe this sounds like a fairly simple concept. But it has the power of a profound truth. And I hope you’ll read about your own Venus sign with this truth in mind. It bears repeating: The way you love is also what makes you feel loved. Consequently, your Venus is the conduit to all the love in your life. Start by getting to know your Venus sign, and then use this knowledge to value yourself as the uniquely precious soul you are.

Venus in Aries:
With Venus in the sign that’s ruled by hot-blooded Mars, you’re not afraid to make the first move. Attraction is a rush for you—and you go after what you want, living in the moment. What is there to think about? You lead with the heart! Spontaneous affection, love at first sight and whirlwind affairs are just your speed. Flirting can be a game, as you like to test the waters to see who you can win over. Plus, you’re socially outgoing and super direct. Since you don’t hesitate to take the initiative and indicate your interest, you also appreciate bold, energetic, straightforward people. Your avid desire for a new challenge stems from the Ram’s impulse to charge forward. So sometimes you may come on a little strong, pick a fight to turn up the heat or move on when the attraction wanes. And it’s hard to balance your need for autonomy with the sharing that relationships require. But your almost childlike hopefulness has the potential to be a self-fulfilling prophecy.

LOVE YOURSELF AUDACIOUSLY

Venus in Taurus:
Steadfast, patient and loyal, you’re the rock others rely on. Once you’ve formed a connection, you’re not going anywhere. Granted, you can take devotion a bit too far, veering into possessiveness. To the sign that rules material goods, “You belong to me” are words of love. And love is valuable to you! So you hold on tight and don’t let go. Thanks to Taurus’s dominion over the five senses, you need physical proximity and human touch — so long-distance liaisons aren’t your jam. Although your sensuality tends toward the tactile, because this sign rules the throat, you might fall head over heels based on someone’s voice. Thanks to Bulls’ famous stubbornness and aversion to change, you’re in danger of sticking with a bad relationship and failing to let a good one evolve. And your desire for financial security can lead you to prioritize wealth in a partner. But your faithfulness and ability to savor what you have make you a true catch for the right person.

LOVE YOURSELF UNWAVERINGLY.

Venus in Gemini:
This Venus placement makes you a notorious flirt and vivacious wit, as it adds a heaping dose of lighthearted playfulness to your interactions. You’ll take a meeting of the minds over a soulmate fantasy any day. New people pique your curiosity and score bonus points if they match your clever banter. You thrive on variety, so it’s no surprise you’ve been known to juggle multiple lovers. You’re the sign of The Twins, after all! You’re frequently called fickle but are capable of going the distance with someone you can talk to and share ideas with. When it comes down to it, you want a buddy by your side while you pursue your latest interests (plural!) A smart, lively type who understands you need to circulate, in search of fresh stimuli. In your mind, love is expressed in words — and preferably not deep, dark ones. You’ve been accused of talking a good game and being a tad superficial, but if there’s one thing you’re not, it’s boring!

LOVE YOURSELF BLITHELY

Venus in Cancer:
Some astrologers say Cancer is inevitably either the baby looking for a breast or the breast looking for a baby. So it makes sense that when the relationship planet is in this sign, you alternate between wanting to mother your loved ones and wanting to be babied by them. As a born nurturer, in your book loving equals caretaking. Does that mean you can be a smother-mother and a needy child at times? Um, yes. Luckily there’s a major upside: Because you value home and are certain blood is thicker than water, you treat those you care for like family and impart a soothing feeling of belonging. And you want the same in return; emotional security is vital to you. Crabs have a soft underbelly, and when it’s exposed, you need reassurance you’re safe and loved. Ruled by the moon, this Venus sign is ultra-sensitive, moody, protective, sentimental, cuddly and prone to taking things personally. You favor nesting and entertaining over hitting the hotspots. And you give great hugs!

LOVE YOURSELF GENTLY

Venus in Leo:
You’re the star of your own love story with Venus in this theatrical sign. Whether you’re being swept off your feet by someone you’re proud to be seen with or acting the part of the ardent lover yourself, you relish the drama. Grand gestures and incredible gifts are your style, and you want to be recognized for your warmth, generosity and romantic streak. You lavish attention on those you love, so is a little reciprocal adoration too much to ask? There’s no question your regal charisma and big heart — which you wear on your sleeve — earn the praise of many. And your ego is often invested in your social life to the point where you view a relationship as an extension of yourself. What people need to understand about you is that enjoying life, feeling good about yourself and being in love all go together. You build up those around you too when you’re at your best—which is when you believe there’s room for more than one queen.

LOVE YOURSELF JOYFULLY

Venus in Virgo:
Bad news first: You’re picky AF. Now the good news: You know what you want! Either way you spin it, the goddess of love is a perfectionist in this sign. You make your own choices and would rather be alone than settle for less than you desire — and what you desire is probably highly specific. You take a careful, selective approach to relationships, and it pays off when you find someone reliable who’s also seeking a partnership rooted in mutual self-improvement. Your efforts to help someone to better themselves can come off as nitpicking, but feeling needed is feeling loved to you. Because you have a strong sense of duty, you’d sooner show you care by doing thoughtful favors than by showering your S.O. with presents. You know that love is in the details, and you enjoy life’s little daily pleasures. Always willing to work on solving relationship problems, you could find yourself entering into problematic relationships just so you can work on them. Fortunately, you’re quite rational and know how to set boundaries!

LOVE YOURSELF THOUGHTFULLY

Venus in Libra:
The sign of balance craves harmony, equilibrium, symmetry and mutuality. You prefer even-steven sharing and want people to cooperate. If things aren’t to your liking, you opt for compromise over confrontation. This “peace at any price” policy can make you disingenuous, because you can’t stand unpleasantness. It’s important to you to be seen as nice, and you’re drawn to good manners (not to mention beauty!) in others. Deep down, you enjoy pleasing people, so your graciousness is usually sincere. You also value grace, fairness and good taste, since these are qualities you possess. Libra rules one-on-one connections, which is why you hate to be alone and aspire to share your life with someone. You constantly seek out friendly companionship and you’re socially adept enough to snag plenty of partners in crime. As a mental air sign, Libran romanticism translates to loving the idea of love, so it’s all about the honeymoon phase for you. You may put off committing while weighing your options. Ultimately, a partnership where you complement and compliment each other can last beyond the initial fireworks.

LOVE YOURSELF PEACEFULLY

Venus in Scorpio:
When people get close to someone with Venus in Scorpio, the word intense usually comes to mind. Love and lust are intertwined in this planet-sign combo that entices with its powerful sexuality. Le petit mort, the French expression for orgasm that means “the little death,” alludes to Scorp’s all-or-nothing approach to bonding. You want passion by any means necessary and crave a profound, soulful, carnal union. Lightweight partners sometimes fear drowning in your dark depths. Surprisingly, you’ve been known to live like a nun when only tepid connections are available. While in a relationship, you’re mysterious, intriguing, erotic, manipulative, obsessed, suspicious and jealous, and you always have your beloved’s back. But if you are betrayed, you’ll plot revenge. And when you’re truly done with someone, they’re dead to you. You want to wield control and lose control. To feel like someone has power over you and you can’t live without them — and vice versa. Otherwise, it’s not love. A crisis offers the intensity you need, so you’re not above creating one. Your emotions are all-consuming and your desires overwhelming. But your love is life-changing!

LOVE YOURSELF FIERCELY

Venus in Sagittarius:
Love is an adventure, a leap of faith and a learning experience for you intrepid types. Ever the optimist, you shoot for the stars and inspire others to do the same. You’re fond of exploring and are drawn to anyone who has something to teach you, so you tend to know lots of people from lots of places. Difference has an irresistible allure for Sag. And yet, a relationship with someone who shares a similar worldview suits you best. Otherwise, you may be tempted to impose your beliefs, ethics or personal philosophy on a mate who doesn’t live up to your ideals. This sign has high expectations and also treasures freedom, so you’ve been known to make a swift exit if you’re feeling fenced in or reality falls short of your Archer’s arrow. Your honesty can hurt people’s feelings, but underneath that bluntness, you’re generally broadminded about relating. Someone who shares your enthusiasm for excitement and believes relationships should be fun and free can hold your interest.

LOVE YOURSELF LIBERALLY

Venus in Capricorn:
When Venus is in this rather conservative sign, there’s an attraction to status, ambition, dignity, age difference (both younger and older) and integrity. You care about your reputation and are into people who have their lives together. Respect is everything to you; one way you might strive for it is by “marrying up,” in some form or fashion. There’s nothing inherently wrong with being drawn to prestige and wanting to be revered yourself. This Venus placement gets difficult when you’re perceived as aloof, reserved, repressed, snobbish or cold. The bottom line is you find it hard to show your emotions. When you’re feeling fearful and insecure, you go into self-protective mode and wall off your soft side. Although you can act too serious for some fun-loving folks, your self-possession and dry charm are undeniable. Plus, you don’t shrink from responsibility. Cap is no commitment-phobe! That’s not why you hang back and wait, biding your time. You simply need to make sure a relationship is built to last.

LOVE YOURSELF REVERENTLY

Venus in Aquarius:
Aquarius is the squad sign, so the fact that you’re looking for love based on friendship almost goes without saying. Casual relationships feel more comfortable to you than very intimate ones, and you have a tendency to shut off deep, dark emotions. That may get you labeled as detached and impersonal. The truth is you place a high value on independence and want your individualism to be respected. And you also give others loads of leeway to be their quirky selves! “Live and let live” is an Aquarian motto, as is “The more the merrier.” You’d sooner socialize in a big group than spend time with one person. As a result, this Venus placement often points to popularity. However, your rebelliousness eventually pulls you away from the crowd, drawing you to edginess, experimentation and unconventional relationships. Lucky for you, you generally don’t care if your lovers get the stamp of approval from anyone else. You do want their politics to meet with your approval, however.

LOVE YOURSELF CONVIVIALLY

Venus in Pisces:
Those of you born with this Venus sign have a sweet, kind hearted, compassionate side. For you, love is dreamy, magical, romantic and divine. It knows no bounds. You and the soulmate you yearn for are as one. You have the ability to feel other people’s feelings. All of that makes you vulnerable and can lure you into enmeshed, codependent connections. When love, need and sacrifice are mixed together, you long to heal someone with your love. Fishes don’t discriminate or put up firm boundaries. Pisces is associated with the martyr and victim roles, and Venus in Pisces is often compared to agape, Jesus’s selfless, spiritual love for humanity. What you see through your rose-colored glasses is pure and beautiful. You want to get lost in a love that transcends ugly realities. For you, love is eternal, and you can treasure a memory of rapturous love forever or harbor a fantasy of unconsummated love. Although you’d do well to protect yourself a little more, your unselfish devotion is a gift to the world.

LOVE YOURSELF COMPLETELY