The Astrological Love Drought Is Over

After a sluggish start this spring, love is back on trend. On April 12, Venus wakes up from a mojo-dulling six-week retrograde, igniting the romantic fire in our hearts once again. But that’s not all: The very same day, we’ll see this year’s only full moon in romantic, aesthetic Libra, the sign Venus rules. As the stars pour a double shot of love potion, our hibernating desires wake up.

In astrology, Venus rules over the softer side of love—things like seduction, planning dates, and getting yourself in the mood. (Sex is the domain of lusty Mars, Venus’s cosmic co-pilot.) Generally, Venus will spend four weeks in each sign of the zodiac, delighting in that sign’s energy and directing our urges accordingly.

But 2025 follows a different rhythm. This year, Venus has only hovered between fantasy-fueled Pisces and passionate Aries. The reason for this extended timeline? Venus’s retrograde cycle from March 1 to April 12, which caused the planet to back up through the zodiac for six weeks.

Venus began the year in Pisces on January 2, and love became a high-intensity romantasy novel soundtracked by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars crooning the lyrics to “Die With A Smile”: “If the world was ending / I’d wanna be next to you.”

A dramatic arc arrived on February 4, when the love planet lumbered into independent, thrill-seeking Aries, the first sign of the zodiac. Suddenly, self-love was the new order. We pulled back to examine our attachment styles and reinstate personal boundaries. We chose to invest in our own interests—no more sacrificing—and empowered the ones we love to do the same.

Just as we were ready to start feeling affectionate again, Venus turned retrograde on March 1, backing up through Aries until March 27, then slipping into its second voyage through Pisces for the rest of the retrograde. Can you say déjà vu? Venus retrogrades are notorious for stirring up the past in our love lives. Exes slide back into your DMs. Your partner’s adorable quirks annoy and trigger you, excavating relationship issues you thought you put to bed.

On the plus side, a Venus retrograde can help with conflict resolution—but not in a superficial way. You have to peel back the emotional layers and get to the core of the issue. If you’ve been immersed in deep conversations, couples’ therapy, or your own healing journey since early March, we would not be surprised.

As Venus turns direct this April 12, everything lightens up considerably. Progress can now be made after six weeks of spinning our wheels in “will we or won’t we?” indecision or delulu-level hopefulness. It feels easier to extend the olive branch or to stop pointing the finger and dwelling on the past.

Plus, the harmonizing Libra full moon lends tons of support to Cupid’s case this April 12. You might not be able to help but open your heart. Whether you’re brushing desert dust off your Coachella micro shorts or taking a break from screens to check out IRL eye candy, this could be one of the most high-key romantic weekends we’ve had all year.

Sweeter yet? Venus hangs out in soft-filtered Pisces until April 30, its favorite place in the zodiac. There’s a natural synergy between planet and sign, which is why astrologers call imaginative Pisces the “exalted” position for Venus, the cosmic love goddess. Feel free to let your fantasies flow and bask in nostalgia for a little while longer. Just make sure you swap the rose-colored VR goggles for some regular old lens. The object of your affection may be closer than it appears.