The TikTok Ban, Venus Cycles, and the Michael Scott Paper Company

TikTok’s notification to US users on January 19, 2025.

As the TikTok ban went into effect in the US today (January 19th), its meteoric rise and potential decline highlight a significant cosmic pattern. Venus, the planet of love, beauty, and connection, operates in eight-year cycles. The timing of this celestial dance offers a fascinating lens to examine the ban on TikTok and the Venusian overlays of money, connection, relationships, and values. Spoiler: The story isn’t over yet, but we’ll get to that in a bit.

A (Very) Brief Overview of the Venus Cycle

The 5 petals of Venus, showcasing Venus’ movement over its eight year cycle. Credit: EarthSky

Imagine Venus leaving a trail of stardust as it moves through the cosmos. Over time, it would reveal a perfect geometric pattern —a five-pointed star or lotus flower. It’s a fitting metaphor for Venus’ energy, isn’t it?

Every eight years, Venus returns to nearly the same zodiacal degree, bringing closure to stories initiated during the previous cycle. In 2025, we see the end of a Venus cycle, one that ties directly into the fate of TikTok.

The Data Behind the Venus Cycle

In March 2017, this current Venus cycle began at 5° Aries. On March 1, 2025, Venus will station retrograde at 11° Aries, closing its eight-year journey. These cycles weave narratives in our lives and society, spotlighting what we launched or valued eight years ago—whether relationships, creativity, or priorities—and how those stories are now coming full circle.

When this Venus cycle began in 2017, we saw the end of Vine, a beloved short-form video platform. Despite its popularity, Vine was discontinued as its parent company, Twitter, struggled to monetize it—a striking Venusian theme, connecting value and money.

Meanwhile, TikTok rose to prominence during this cycle, becoming the most downloaded app in the US by 2018. TikTok not only expanded on Vine’s concept but took it to unprecedented heights, intertwining its story with Venus’ current cycle.

Looking Ahead: Truth, Power, Greed, and the People

Venus will station retrograde in Aries from March 1 to April 12, 2025, signaling another chapter in the TikTok saga. Aries, ruled by Mars, pushes for bold action and decisive change, suggesting heightened tensions during this period.

The 9-11° points of Aries will be especially important this year. In addition to Venus stationing retrograde at 11° Aries on March 1st, Mercury will station retrograde at 9° Aries on March 15th. There is also a partial solar eclipse happening March 29th at — get this — 9° Aries. If Trump allows for a 90-day extension, which is the most recent update at the time of writing this article, the next fate of the app will be decided by April 20th … eight days into the new Venus cycle.

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Venus’ influence over money and values will offer an interesting storyline to look for as the year progresses. Prior to the ban taking effect, much of the app’s content (at least in this user’s algorithm) pointed out which Congressional members backed the ban while simultaneously investing in Meta stock over the last several months, noting that Meta spent $8 million lobbying Congress to ban TikTok.

Security risk, or good, old-fashioned greed and power grab? Tsk, tsk, gentlemen. The underbelly and shadow side of Big Tech will continue to be revealed now that we have Pluto in Aquarius influencing Venus cycles over the next 20 years. Aquarius will emphasize the good of the masses over the few — it’s a time to center our attention, organizing, and intentions around what social media can bring to so many, and what we really need from tech platforms in terms of integrity, monetization, and free speech.

Uranus Enters Gemini: A Digital Revolution

Uranus, the planet of innovation, technology, revolution, and disruption, enters Gemini on July 7, 2025. Uranus rules the internet and social media; as it enters Gemini, we’ll see an added emphasis on communication, learning, and storytelling. We don’t get very far into the Uranus in Gemini story during 2025 — it stations retrograde at 1°27’ and dips back into Taurus on November 7th, where it will stay through the end the year. But the preview we’re shown from July 7th - November 7th is important and will give us insight into Uranus in Gemini themes that will have more time to unfold in 2026 and beyond.

TikTok’s journey could mirror larger shifts in the digital landscape, as Uranus’ move into Gemini aligns with breakthroughs in social media and new technologies. While the fate of TikTok in the US remains uncertain, the seeds of innovation planted now will grow into the next era of digital connection.

A Keyword for Gemini is “Choice”

Watching the ban unfold, I found myself thinking about the Michael Scott Paper Company, where Steve Carrell’s character on the The Office opens a rival paper company in the basement of his previous company, Dunder Mifflin. His strategy is to steal the customers by offering prices so low that they aren’t even sustainable. They will eventually put him out of business, at which point he’ll just open the next version of the Michael Scott Paper Company, and do this over and over and over again, stopping only when his old company goes down with him or somehow rights their wrongs.

Proving a point is part of the Uranus in Gemini energy.

As TikTok users defiantly closed their Meta accounts and migrate to Xiaohongshu (RedNote), a Chinese app similar to TikTok, let us remember that there are other apps. And if those gets banned, there are still more apps, and even newer apps after that.

As 2025 serves as a bridge between the old and new worlds, you’re invited to ask yourself what you value most when it comes to relating to others, sharing your talents and voice, and the foundational rights and political protections needed to ensure you and others have space to do so freely.

For those looking for more ethical social media options, the app Neptune is female-led and set to launch sometime in 2025 (my guess is once Uranus enters Gemini). Learn more about it now and reserve your user handle early.

We always have choice.

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Astrology shows us how we are always in several cycles at once. If you are curious about how this astrology might be impacting your chart, you can book a private astrology consult to learn more.