The phenomenon known as Venus Retrograde occurs every 18 – 20 months. This is when Venus travels in reverse motion against the backdrop of stars. It’s approximately 40 to 43 days from station retrograde to station direct.
Venus As Evening and Morning Star
When Venus is three weeks into her retrograde period, there’s a short period of darkness as Evening Star. After three days of invisibility, while still retrograde, Venus is resurrected and emerges, rising ahead of the Sun as a Morning Star. In this phase, she is called Lucifer, or the light bearer.
Venus, the dazzling and bright morning or evening star, outshines all the other stars and planets in the night sky. Mythical and astrological thought about the nature of the planet Venus has been consistent since ancient times. Her beauty, high visibility, and morning and evening phases have made her one of the most closely observed planets.
The Double-Phased Ishtar
Babylonian and Mesoamerican astrologers paid close attention to her cycles, particularly to her first appearance as the morning star, which was considered a dangerous time. The Babylonians called Venus the double-phased Ishtar, the morning star of war and the evening star of love. The Mesoamericans linked the morning phase of Venus with Quetzalcoatl, one of their major gods, believing that this was a time when leaders were struck down, and natural disasters occurred.
This is where it gets really curious. The ancient Aztecs had a Venusian goddess who they believed walked the earth as a man for 40 days before returning to the heavens. Forty days was the period of time between the resurrection of Jesus and his ascension to heaven. Also interesting is that the number 40, so significant in Jewish, Christian, Islamic, and other traditions, is also the number of days of a Venus retrograde cycle and her complete transition from evening to morning star.
Biblical Numerology and Forty Days
Biblical numerology recognizes that several numbers and sets of numbers can be found repeatedly in the Bible. The number 40 represents transition or change, the concept of renewal, a new beginning. It is mentioned almost 100 times in the Bible. Below is a partial list:
1. The rains (in Noah’s day) fell for 40 days and nights (Genesis 7:4)
2. Israel ate Manna for 40 years (Exodus 16:35)
3. Moses was with God on the mount, 40 days and nights (Exodus 24:18)
4. Moses was again with God 40 days and 40 nights (Exodus 34:28)
5. Moses led Israel from Egypt at age 80 (2 times 40); (Deuteronomy 34:7)
6. Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness and died at 120 (3 times 40); (Deuteronomy 34:7)
7. The spies searched the land of Canaan for 40 days (Numbers 13:25)
8. Therefore, God made Israel wander for 40 years (Numbers 14:33-34)
9. 40 stripes was the maximum whipping penalty (Deuteronomy 25:3)
10. God allowed the land to rest for 40 years (Judges 3:11)
11. God again allowed the land to rest for 40 years (Judges 5:31)
12. God again allowed the land to rest for 40 years (Judges 8:28)
13. Abdon (a judge in Israel) had 40 sons (Judges 12:14)
14. Israel did evil; God gave them to an enemy for 40 years (Judges 13:1)
15. Eli judged Israel for 40 years (1 Samuel 4:18)
16. Goliath presented himself to Israel for 40 days (1 Samuel 17:16)
17. Saul reigned for 40 years (Acts 13:21)
18. Ishbosheth (Saul’s son) was 40 when he began his reign (2 Samuel 2:10)
19. David reigned over Israel for 40 years (2 Samuel 5:4, 1 Kings 2:11)
20. The holy place of the temple was 40 cubits long (1 Kings 6:17)
21. 40 baths (measurement) was the size of lavers in the temple (1 Kings 7:38)
22. The sockets of silver are in groups of 40 (Exodus 26:19 & 21)
23. Solomon reigned the same length as his father; 40 years (1 Kings 11:42)
24. Elijah had one meal that gave him strength for 40 days (1 Kings 19:8)
25. Ezekiel bore the iniquity of the house of Judah for 40 days (Ezekiel 4:6)
26. Jehoash (Joash) reigned for 40 years in Jerusalem (2 Kings 12:1)
27. Egypt to be laid desolate for 40 years (Ezekiel 29:11-12)
28. Ezekiel’s (symbolic) temple is 40 cubits long (Ezekiel 41:2)
29. The courts in Ezekiel’s temple were 40 cubits long (Ezra 46:22)
30. God gave Nineveh 40 days to repent (Jonah 3:4)
31. Jesus fasted 40 days and nights (Matthew 4:2)
32. Jesus was tempted 40 days (Luke 4:2, Mark 1:13)
33. Jesus remained on earth 40 days after the resurrection (Acts 1:3)
Is it merely a coincidence that the number 40 is also the number of days of the Venus retrograde cycle and that her three-day disappearance from the sky before rising ahead of the Sun as the morning star is the same amount of time Jesus remained in the tomb before his resurrection? (Matthew 12:40 KJV)?
“I, Jesus, have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David and the bright and morning star.” Revelation 22:16 KJV
The video below shows the orbit of Venus around the Earth over the course of about eight years. This is how long it takes Venus to complete her entire cycle and return to approximately her original position. The small loops show Venus retrograde periods. Be patient, and you’ll see the formation of a Rose.
By MAAS Member Patricia Lantz