Venus, the planet of love and luxury, is in Ashlesha in the sign of Cancer, from June 22nd to July 4th, 2026.

Ashlesha is ruled by The Nagas, a race of divine shape-shifting cobras, which traditionally guarded heavenly wealth. You are protective of your relationship and loved ones, and your reserves of sympathy and insight are in demand, as you exercise a powerful hypnotic attraction in company. You are intensely loyal, will go a long way for a lover or friend, and expect the same kind of commitment and discretion in return. The Serpent Nakshatra makes you fascinating to others, though you are also alert to receiving unexpected attention or flattery, and can detect if anyone has a hidden agenda.

You have insight into character and a subtle worldly wisdom, but may also be taken aback by how clearly somebody senses your own motivations. You can receive a kind of overwhelming attention and need to extricate yourself from a situation where there is a mutual misunderstanding. Venus moves alongside expansive Jupiter at this point, which gives you extra openness and confidence in your relationships. You may be torn between intense attachment to one person and a temptation to explore different romantic options.

There is also a potential conflict of values between you and your partner, and somebody returning into your life sees you reappraise your relationship and decide whether you are simply friends or seek deeper romantic intent. The Shakti, or special power of this asterism, ‘To Inject Venom’, sees a potentially stinging experience, where somebody behaves out of proportion to the moment, and you may be on the defensive. Jupiter also redresses Venus’s tendency in this nakshatra to become overly needy or possessive, and you find an easier middle way.