Echoes of the Venus T-Square: News Stories Illustrating Grief, Conflict & Power Under Venus Retrograde

 

 

 

In my recent post Grief → Conflict → Power: Weaving the Five of Cups, Wands & Swords Under Venus Retrograde, I explored the potent sequence unfolding during Venus’s retrograde journey through Scorpio (stationing retrograde on October 3 at 8°29′ Scorpio). The core arc moves from the Five of Cups (Venus Rx in early Scorpio — focusing on loss, disappointment, and emotional reckoning around love, attachment, and values) into the Five of Wands (Venus square Mars around October 10–11 — open conflict, clashing wills, and friction over desires or boundaries) and culminates in the Five of Swords (Venus square Pluto around October 20 — sharper power struggles, control issues, betrayal of trust, or decisive confrontation and release).

These energies invite a purification of what is truly sustainable in relationships and personal values. Unresolved grief erupts into conflict and then demands radical honesty with power dynamics. The invitation is to stop pouring energy into what is already lost or toxic, fight only for what is worth fighting for, and release what cannot be forced — so the remaining emotional resources can be reclaimed with clearer self-worth.

As this transit unfolds in real time (Venus is currently retrograde; the Mars square is imminent and the Pluto square approaches), current events offer vivid mirrors of these themes. Below are selected high-profile stories from late September into early October 2026 that illustrate the sequence. They are not “caused” by the astrology, but they resonate strongly with the collective atmosphere of review, intensity, and transformation around intimacy, shared resources, and power.

Grief and Emotional Reckoning (Five of Cups / Venus Rx in Scorpio)

Several recent splits highlight the mourning of relationship ideals, abrupt endings, and the need to re-evaluate attachment:

• Elon Musk and Shivon Zilis (Neuralink executive and mother of four of his children) ended their long-term relationship. Zilis stated he ended things “with no warning,” shortly after public expressions of affection — a classic abrupt loss of an idealized connection and co-parenting shift.
• Alan Ritchson (Reacher) and his wife of nearly 20 years, Catherine, announced they had decided to end their marriage after reflection, emphasizing family continuity amid the personal loss.
• Jaime King and Austin Sosa finalized their divorce after a whirlwind secret marriage that ended with a sense of being “blindsided.”
• Other notable separations (J Balvin & Valentina Ferrer after nearly a decade, Audrina Patridge & Michael Ray, and various 2026 celebrity roundups) echo the theme of focusing on what has been spilled while two cups remain upright.

Open Conflict and Clashing Wills (Five of Wands / Venus square Mars)

Heated disagreements, territorial dynamics, and friction over control or past harms are surfacing:

• Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez’s custody battle intensified, with mutual accusations (including claims of physical conflict during an argument) and public sparring over boundaries and parental authority.
• News anchors Liz Cho and Josh Elliott’s “nasty divorce” prompted a judge’s stern warning amid ongoing feuding.
• Tyreek Hill and Keeta Vacarro faced off in court over past-marriage abuse allegations, including claims of violence while pregnant — raw conflict over history, control, and accountability.

Power Struggles, Control, Betrayal & Decisive Release (Five of Swords / Venus square Pluto)

Deeper issues of obsession, manipulation, public exposure, and forced endings appear:

• Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem filed for divorce from Bryon Noem after 34 years, following a public photo scandal involving him. Themes of devastation, exposure of private dynamics, and radical honesty dominate coverage.
• The Mike Vrabel–Dianna Russini scandal continues to ripple through the NFL: alleged affair photos, denials, professional fallout for the reporter, and ongoing discussions about power imbalances, optics, and trust between coaches and journalists.
• Lululemon founder Chip Wilson’s divorce filing (no prenup after 20+ years) raises major questions of financial power and shared resources.
• New Jersey Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell resigned amid ethics complaints and allegations of inappropriate behavior and attempted favoritism — a forced release of a position entangled with control issues.
• Lori Loughlin filed for divorce from Mossimo Giannulli after nearly 30 years, closing a long chapter marked by public scandal and private reevaluation.

These stories collectively trace the arc: grief acknowledged, conflict engaged, and power dynamics confronted. Some point toward necessary endings that free energy; others risk the costly “victory” that leaves emptiness. Because this is a Venus retrograde period, the constructive path remains reflection, honest communication where possible, firm boundaries, and willingness to release the unsustainable rather than forcing new commitments or “winning” at all costs.

The sequence builds from more open friction (Mars) toward deeper psychological intensity (Pluto). Individual charts will color the expression strongly — especially the houses activated and any natal aspects to the degrees involved. May this period support genuine healing, clearer self-worth, and more authentic connections once Venus stations direct in mid-November.

For the full symbolic weaving of the three Fives and the planetary sequence, please revisit the original post: Grief → Conflict → Power.