Astrology is about cycles. It can get confusing when you try to figure out what they all mean: New and Full Moons, Venus' synodic cycle, transiting Saturn's cycle, the cycle of your progressed Moon to progressed Sun, etc.
A planetary cycle is simply the angle between one planet and another. Any two planets can create a cycle with each other. A conjunction is the beginning, an opposition is the culmination, and the next conjunction is the end (and the beginning). With squares, sextiles and trines in between.
Venus and Mars have their own cycle, as they meet at various times over the years. But they don't dance together predictably. For a technical overview of the aberrations in their cycle, check out this article by Robert Blaschke.
For simplicity's sake, I'm going to focus on this year. A commenter was asking when the new Venus/Mars cycle began. It started on February 21st/22nd (depending on time zone) at 1 degree Aries. Venus is what you want, Mars is how you get it. Venus/Mars in Aries was an initiatory spark regarding actions that manifested relationships, self-esteem, finances or creative work.
The next conjunction occurs between August 31st to September 1st (depending on time zone) at 14 degrees Leo. Venus will be Rx (moving backwards to join Mars) signifying evaluation about what you want or already have. Have actions boosted or undermined your confidence? Venus will be stationing direct at this degree, on September 6th. 14 degrees Leo (and August 31st to September 6th) will be a point of intensification. People may do an about face concerning love, money or values, as they figure out if a desire aligns with their true purpose. Deciding factors will involve pride and freedom of self-expression. It may come down to something as simple as "Am I proud to be seen with this person?"
The third and final conjunction for this year will occur on Nov 2nd to 3rd (depending on time zone) at 24 degrees Virgo. The time period from the 2nd to 3rd conjunctions will be the Balsamic phase of the Venus/Mars cycle: a conclusion of the current cycle, and the planting of seeds for the future.
Keep in mind that we'll already be in a new phase, according to Venus' synodic cycle. Rather than attempting to wrap your mind around overlapping phases, focus on the phase that pertains most directly to you. If Venus' conjunction to the Sun closely aspected your chart, go with that. If something significant happened during the Venus/Mars conjunction in Aries, go with that. If both apply to you, it's entirely possible that a couple of Venus-themed situations are in different stages of development.
I would say you'll only feel this cycle directly if at least one of the three conjunctions aspects something natal or progressed in your chart (use an orb of 2 degrees or less). Aries was the spark (get it started), Leo the evaluation (are you proud of what you've actualized), Virgo the final analysis (focus on precise actions/results, and prepare for the next cycle).
The upcoming Venus/Mars conjunction will be part of a brief Yod to Pluto in Capricorn and the Moon in Pisces. The Pisces Full Moon will also be (indirectly) tied to this, and I'll write about it tomorrow.