For minimal impact, it may be time to briefly consider having a long-term, long-distance, low-commitment, casual girlfriend/boyfriend.

About every 18 months, Venus Retrograde occurs, meaning the planet of love and pleasure reverses through the cosmos, typically ushering in a short period of heightened emotional enlightenment. But, for the first time since 2015, Venus is stationing retrograde in Leo, meaning navigating romance this summer will be unlike previous years.&nbsp;
Venus Retrograde already makes relationships and situationships a bit more complicated, to say the least. During this time, we're more prone to step backward, making questionable life-altering relationship decisions due to an elevated desire of yearning for attention. Getting back with our exes, overanalyzing situations, lowering our dating standards, and being extra-possessive of our relationships are just a few unwelcomed common occurrences of Venus Retrograde to be wary of.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Add in fire-sign Leo to the mix, and complicated turns into straight-up chaotic. Leos are notoriously loyal and exceptionally confident. With Venus Retrograde, Leos are more susceptible to reading too much into their connections &mdash; romantic or platonic &mdash; resulting in a change of looks or attitudes to keep the attention on them. Shocking scandals, exposed affairs, and divorces are extra vulnerable during Venus Retrograde 2023, as we're already seeing from our favorite celebrities.

<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/ariana-grande-dalton-gomez-divorce-separated-husband" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez</a> announced they are heading towards a divorce only days before Venus Retrograde started. But since then, it's only gotten messier as Grande is allegedly in a relationship with Wicked co-star <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/who-is-ethan-slater-ariana-grande-dating-wicked-relationship" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ethan Slater</a>. Jumping into an immediate rebound isn't anything new, but what about when your rebound is married and had a child last year?
Though their rumored relationship is confirmed, <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2023/07/26/ariana-grande-boyfriend-ethan-slater-estranged-wife-abandoned-family/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a source told TMZ</a> that Slater's estranged wife Lilly Jay, feels "betrayed and heartbroken" and like Slater "abandoned his family." Adding to that betrayal is Slater's recent filing for divorce on July 26, according to legal documents <a href="https://pagesix.com/2023/07/26/ariana-grandes-boyfriend-ethan-slater-files-for-divorce-from-wife-lilly-jay/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">seen by Page Six</a>.
Grande, Gomez, and Slater is far from the only messy celebrity situation happening right now. <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/sofia-vergara-divorce-why-joe-manganiello" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sof&iacute;a Vergara and Joe Manganiello</a> are also reportedly getting a divorce, due to irreconcilable differences. For example, <a href="https://pagesix.com/2023/07/20/joe-manganiellos-desire-to-have-kids-led-to-sofia-vergara-divorce-source/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to Page Six</a>, Manganiello eventually wanted to be a father while Vergara, who is already the mother to 31-year-old son Manolo Gonzalez Vergara, does not want more children.&nbsp;

Singers Rosal&iacute;a and Rauw Alejandro didn't find themselves safe from the wrath of Venus Retrograde 2023, as the two reportedly broke off their engagement after being together for three years. According to People, sources say "that despite the love and respect the singers have for one another" the decision to end the engagement was agreed on both ends. 
Rosal&iacute;a took to Instagram where she posted on her stories, "I love, respect, and admire Raul very much. I don&rsquo;t pay attention to the gossip; we know what we&rsquo;ve lived through. This moment is not easy, so thanks to everyone for understanding and respecting it."
Alejandro also addressed the breakup, especially amidst fans accusing him of cheating allegations. In response he wrote in a post, "There are thousands of things that can cause people to split, but in our case it was not due to third parties or infidelity. As I am getting my head around all this, erroneous public allegations have been made, and because of the respect I have for her, for our families and for everything in our lives, I can&rsquo;t remain silent and watch how they try to destroy the most real love story that God has allowed me to live."

Another couple that was on Venus Retrograde's hit list?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/tiffany-and-co-return-to-tiffany-beyonce-collaboration" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Beyonc&eacute;</a>'s mom and stepdad Tina Knowles and Richard Lawson. After eight years of marriage, the couple is filing for a divorce, also due to "irreconcilable differences" based on the court documents <a href="https://people.com/tina-knowles-lawson-files-for-divorce-from-richard-lawson-7566212" target="_blank" rel="noopener">obtained by People</a>. While further information has yet to be revealed, Knowles has reportedly requested for her name to be legally changed from Lawson back to Knowles.
We don't know what negative energy was put in the cosmos, but Venus Retrograde is clearly on a <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/biggest-celebrity-breakups-2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener">breakup</a> warpath. That said, it's not all bad news. This era of intense introspection also offers an opportunity to carefully analyze your relationships for the better. Finding yourself wanting to get flirty this summer? Stop overthinking it and say yes to that lunch date. Been stuck in an anti-social rut and are trying to snap out of it? Take a chance and send that text message to your friends asking to hang out.
Simply put, be extra mindful of how you navigate your relationships this summer because Venus Retrograde isn't messing around.

Photo courtesy of Amazon Prime Video.

Venus Retrograde Isn't Playing Around With Your Relationships This Summer

L'OFFICIEL USA December 2024 - Julianne Moore Cover

Venus Retrograde Isn't Playing Around With Your Relationships This Summer

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