40-Day Self-Compassion Practice for Venus Retrograde
Venus, commonly associated with love and relationships, goes retrograde in Aries on March 2, 2025, setting off a period of introspection and re-evaluation about what we value most.
Aries, the first sign in the zodiac, is often seen as the principle of individualism and the self. It is deeply tied to personal identity, ego, and the forward momentum behind our driving desires.
That’s why, I think, this period from March 2 to April 12 is the perfect time to commit to a traditional 40-day sadhana, with an emphasis on self-compassion.
Retrograde periods are inward focused. We re-think what’s important to us. In the case of Venus in Aries, we are called to renew our commitment to healing any animosity or judgment we have toward ourselves, our shortcomings or past decisions.
The yoga tradition teaches that we are not our circumstances, our mistakes, or even our successes. Rather, our true self lies deep inside — unchanging, steeped in joy and always at rest. A self-compassion sadhana can help us connect with this light within that is impervious to the fickle nature of life.
Below you’ll find the general steps for this meditation for free, if you’d like to guide yourself. If you prefer to be guided, I welcome you to download the meditation recording below to use over the next forty days.
Begin to heal any animosity or judgment we have toward ourselves, our shortcomings and past decisions.
Steps to Self-Compassion Meditation
Take a comfortable seat where you can maintain a tall spine with a sense of ease. This can be on the floor or in a chair. Close your eyes and allow a few moments of simply noticing the natural flow of the breath.
Bring to mind any pain or suffering you are currently experiencing in the present or have experienced in the past. Do not judge this pain. Simply become aware that you are hurting.
With a sense of unconditional love, contemplate the ways in which you have avoided offering yourself compassion and grace surrounding this pain. Fully offer now complete love for the ways that you hurt, in the same way you would for a friend who is suffering. If your mind wanders, bring it back to the sense of healing that comes from extending love to yourself.
Now contemplate the infinite love of the universe that brought all life into being, including you. The birds, the trees, our pets, our friends and relatives — all loved into being by a universal force that IS love. See your offering of self-compassion as an extension of this love that flows from a divine or universal creator to her creature.
Return now to the original pain you contemplated at the beginning of this meditation. Notice in what ways this pain has transformed, even in this brief practice. Stay rooted in a sense of love for yourself for as long as you’d like before easing yourself back into the world.