October 2026 brings some of the strongest heart-activating energies we have experienced in almost two years, with the start of Venus Retrograde. Starting October 3rd in Scorpio, this Venus Retrograde will feel exposing and will trigger vulnerabilities, especially in our relationships.
Do we truly allow ourselves to be seen? What is blocking us from truly being and feeling loved? These deeper questions will come up for review under this Venus Retrograde, which will last until November 13.
Along with Venus in Retrograde, Mercury will also station retrograde this month, adding to the mix! Both these planets in retrograde will create a strong pull to our past and will have us needing to look over things before moving ahead.
Patience is definitely going to be a virtue this month, as is keeping an open heart!
Both the Libra New Moon on October 10th and the Taurus Full Moon on October 26th will be highlighting the Venus Retrograde themes. The New Moon will guide us to welcome new perspectives, while the Full Moon will be guiding us to let go of dynamics that are keeping us small and blocking us from fully feeling worthy.
There is definitely some deep energy coursing through our cosmic skies this month, making self-care a top priority.
Be gentle with yourself, work on loving yourself more, and nurture and nourish what your heart space is trying to share.
Listen to yourself and trust that a new heart awakening is on the way.
Here are your key dates for the month ahead:
Astrology for October 2026
October 3: Venus Retrograde
Venus Retrograde is one of the most significant astrological transits for love and relationships. As Venus travels retrograde, she guides us to unlock the barriers around our heart, to clear out old relationship wounds, and to reassess our values. Venus will begin her retrograde in Scorpio, so our attention will be pulled to the shadow side of our heart space. We may be experiencing deeper thoughts and emotions around love and connection, and we may even find ourselves on a deeper quest to unlock a new level of truth. Issues around our sexuality, intimacy, and desire may also come up for evaluation. One of the big themes of Venus Retrograde in Scorpio is our relationship with vulnerability and really allowing ourselves to be seen as we are. As Venus moves back into Libra later in the month, the retrograde theme will shift slightly toward balance, harmony, and justice (more on this below). Ultimately, Venus retrograde is a time when we move through a sort of death and rebirth of the heart. We are called to clear the old wounds, but from that space, new things blossom.
October 10: Libra New Moon
The Libra New Moon on the magical day of 10/10 brings powerful new beginnings that feel like a level-up from where we’ve been. This is the type of New Moon intention that you want to get specific with. Don’t set vague intentions like, “I want to be happy.” Really dig deep and explore what will bring you the sense of fulfillment you are after. Try not to base your answers on things outside your control, but on things you can control. Retrograde Venus is the star of this New Moon, and she is making her way through the underworld, helping us weed out blocks and barriers that prevent us from accessing the fullest expression of love. We may be confronted with some painful memories or blocks around our heart may be exposed, but this New Moon truly offers a new beginning and a fresh way of looking at things.
October 15: Pluto Direct
Pluto was our first outer planet to station retrograde, and it will be our first outer planet to station direct. Pluto will station direct in Aquarius, launching us into a new cycle of consciousness. Pluto is the planet of death and rebirth and also rules over the underworld. As it begins moving direct, we may feel ourselves emerging into the light, almost as if we’re experiencing an awakening of sorts. This awakening is likely to stir a deeper understanding of our lives and the bigger-picture vision. Pluto in Aquarius helps us to find our authenticity and to step out of the status quo. It wants us to celebrate diversity and to not limit ourselves to what we know to be true. We may find ourselves stretching our minds in some way, and giving rise to thinking that is somewhat outside of the box. Pluto in Aquarius is also fuelling many of the major advances we are seeing in technology and AI. With Pluto stationing direct, we are likely to see more of these themes presented in the media and on the world stage.
October 17: Arcturus Gateway
Arcturus is a high vibrational star that aligns with our Sun at this time of year, unlocking a portal or gateway of energy. As Arcturus and the Sun meet, their energies merge, and we can use that energy to recharge our auric field and raise our consciousness. Arcturus is known as the star of luck and prosperity, so work on opening yourself to receive and flow in gratitude. Learn more about the Arcturus Gateway here.
October 23: Sun in Scorpio
The Sun shifts out of air sign Libra, into water sign Scorpio. We are diving deep, and we may not always be comfortable with what emerges. What are we resisting in our lives? Where do we need to find peace in all that feels uncomfortable? Scorpio energy helps us make peace with the shadows, but we have to be brave enough to venture there. Scorpio Season is also a great time for deeper inquiry. If you are looking to solve a complex situation or gain deeper insight into a difficult one, Scorpio Season can be supportive. Put on your detective hat, and stay open to any new insights that come your way. If you are feeling any intensity during this watery season, ground your energy.
October 24: Mercury Retrograde
Mercury stations retrograde for the last time this year in Scorpio. Having two inner planets (Mercury and Venus) in retrograde can be intense and is something we can feel playing out on a day-to-day level. We may feel stifled, regretful, or find ourselves needing to look to the past in order to move ahead. Past skeletons, relationships, and life lessons we thought we conquered may come back around. While this can be frustrating, it’s part of leveling up our consciousness. If we think of Mercury as the “messenger of the gods”, he is really helping us to dive deeper into those forgotten, ignored, or squashed messages that we may have bypassed. This makes Mercury Retrograde a power time for dream work, listening to our intuition, and paying attention to those nagging feelings that our inner GPS is trying to communicate. Mercury will station direct again on November 13.
October 25: Retrograde Venus in Libra
Retrograde Venus moves from Scorpio into Libra, helping us revisit issues around balance, judgment, and fairness, especially in our relationships. We may start to notice where we are being taken advantage of, or where we may be judging too harshly. This really is a time for deeper self-love, and to work on forgiving and accepting ourselves, shadows and all. Venus will emerge from her retrograde on November 13, which is coincidentally the same day as Mercury. Having both planets stationing direct on the same day is definitely auspicious and can bring powerful awakenings and ah-ha moments!
October 26: Taurus Full Moon
We have another strong Venus-themed lunation this month with the Full Moon in Taurus. This Full Moon will push on all those Venus in Retrograde lessons, shining a spotlight on blocks and barriers that keep us from being fully available in our closest relationships. We may find old relationship wounds activated, as Chiron, the asteroid known as the wounded healer, weaves its vibrational essence through this Full Moon. As the wounded healer reminds us, we still have the power to lead a beautiful life despite our trauma. The Full Moon will guide us to let go of what no longer needs to be part of our story, while also helping us see how every experience has something to offer if we look for it.
Keep Reading
Aries Harvest Full Moon Ritual September 2026
Weekly Tarot Reading: September 21-27, 2026
Aries Full Moon Astrology September 2026
Intuitive Astrology: September Equinox
Weekly Tarot Reading: September 14-20, 2026
Virgo New Moon Ritual September 2026
Virgo New Moon Astrology September 2026
