October Astrology 2026: Through the Looking Glass
Enter the Cocoon of Transformation with Venus and Mercury Retrograde in Scorpio! October's Libra New Moon and Taurus Full Moon reassess the world...
Right from the get-go, October is a challenging month that can nonetheless purge and strip away the non-essential and bring out the best in us. Venus and Mercury both go retrograde this month, Venus on the 3rd and Mercury on the 24th, making the last week of October especially suited for a magical journey inwards. Both October’s lunations fall in Venus-ruled signs - a New Moon in Libra on the 10th and a full Moon in Taurus on the 26th. They place our focus squarely on reviewing and renegotiating relationships, agreements, values and resources. October is very much about going deep within to discover what’s truly important, so we can align projects, places and people with that alchemical nugget of pure desire reborn out of the ashes of what no longer works. A journey now starts that will take us all the way to mid-November.
Here follow a few words on October’s Venus and Mercury retrograde, the Libra New Moon and Taurus Full Moon.
Or you can jump straight to the bite-sized October Astrology Calendar.
The Transformative Cocoon of Venus Retrograde in Scorpio and Libra: 40 Days in the Desert
Venus Retrograde Dates:
Venus stations retrograde October 3rd at 08:15 BST at 08°29’ Scorpio
Venus conjuncts the Sun October 24th at 04:44BST at 0°45’ Scorpio
Venus enters Libra October 25th at 09:09 GMT
Venus turns direct November 14th at 00:27 GMT at 22°51’ Libra.
Venus re-enters Scorpio December 4th at 08:12 GMT
Venus is her so called “retrograde shadow” (i.e. going up and down the same stretch of zodiac) September 1st - December 15th.
The Retrograde Shadow
Venus retrograde is a strange and eery time. You can already feel relationships start to loose their fizzle as Venus stretches far beyond the Sun and enters her retrograde shadow. This was already in play by early September. Now we have gone as far as we can with certain choices and preferences. It’s time to pull back and reassess, a process that won’t be fully done before mid-December.
Wrapped in a Cocoon
Venus retrograde wraps you in a cocoon of transformation. There you will struggle, purge and alchemically transform, eventually emerging like a butterfly with beautiful wings. This is doubly so this year with Venus starting her retrograde in alchemical Scorpio and ending it in aesthetic Libra.
40 Days in the Desert
Venus retrograde lasts 40 days and is often likened to the famed “40 days in the desert.” It is a time of withdrawal from the pleasantries of the world to test the heart, know the self, and understand what’s most important deep inside. Venus goes retrograde every 18 months or so at different times of year, missing some years entire. So her cycle always catches us a little unaware. Look back to March 2-April 13 2025, July 23-September 4 2023, December 19 2021-January 29 2022, May 13-June 22 2020, and October 5-November 16 2018 to see what happened for you in some past retrogrades of Venus.
The Venus Pentagram
Amazingly, Venus retrograde returns to the same spot in the skies every eight years, with five retrograde occurrences spread out over these eight years creating a perfect pentagram in her orbit around the sun as seen from the earth. This is a truly magical cycle. In fact, seen in this way, Venus hits the fifth point of the pentagram that started getting traced during the pandemic, back in May-June 2020, as we speak. And will complete the pentagram entirely, returning to the starting point to trace another, in 2028. Equally, Venus is now ‘completing’ the pentagram she started tracing back in 2018.
Venus Retrograde in Scorpio
Venus turns retro on October 3rd and it’s time to begin retracing our steps. Venus is bound to be stripped down to bare essentials in no-frill Scorpio. There, all kinds of dark stuff come to the surface: complexes, secrets, taboos, betrayals, dependencies, money trails, and power plays. This is a time to be honest and transmute these energies.
Hesperus & Phosphorus
Venus retrograde has two phases: Lover and Warrior; Hesperus and Phosphorus, the Evening Star and Morning Star or “Lucifer”. Venus’ Lover phase happens fully in Scorpio, taking us on a deep journey of re-evaluation, stripping what’s not essential to our happiness. This ends on October 24th with Venus’ conjunction with the Sun. Stripped down, Venus enters Libra now for the second half of her journey, trying on some strange outfits… This will be her Phosphorus, Lucifer phase, eventually emerging as the announcer of a New Dawn, a Warrior. Ruminations eventually lead to nascent new desires, fighting to gain ground.
Swallowed by the Sun
Venus’ rebirth moment arrives on October 24th, when she meets with the Sun. This is called her “inferior conjunction” (or sometimes “interior conjunction”), when she is swallowed by the fire, sheer brilliance and life force of the Sun. Venus travels between the Sun and Earth now. This is the maximum alchemical point, the moment of Venus’ rebirth, the seeding of a “New Venus” that will take us all the way until spring 2028 and the next Venus retrograde. This is also the start of a new pentagram star that will take us all the way to 2034.
The Venus Star Point
Venus’ conjunctions with the Sun are what forms the five points of the pentagram, or so called ‘Venus Star Points’. 2026 sees the last Venus Star Point in Scorpio for generations to come (160 years), the last “New Venus” in Scorpio. This completes a transformation of many Scorpio Venus Stars that started back in 1930. This final moment arrives at 0° Scorpio on October 24th, the purest Scorpio degree, a critical degree of radical rebirth. This also happens to be the date that Mercury turns retrograde (more on that below)! This a moment of pure alchemy when the past is done and we begin emerging toward the future.
Venus Retrograde in Libra
On October 25th Venus backtracks into Libra, where she will turn direct on November 14th, eventually re-entering Scorpio December 4th. The glue that holds the civilised world together is truly thin at this point - and the same holds in our private lives. Loosely held together we may feel raw or vulnerable (especially as Venus also opposes Chiron at critical degrees). With our usual defences down, we have no choice but to let that eery light enter. Time to go through the looking glass. With Mercury retrograde from this point too, this is a time of honesty. We have until mid-November to seek a better footing, founded on inner truth, from which to re-harmonise and re-civilise our world. It won’t be until mid-December before we feel completely restored.
Scorpio 'New Venus' Sabian Symbol: “A crowded sightseeing bus on a city street.” A rather lacklustre symbol that nonetheless shows an eagerness to bear witness and widen our experience.
The 24th-25th and 26th...
October 24th, 25th and 26th is a powerful turning point: as Venus renews herself in Scorpio and backtracks into Libra, Mercury goes retrograde, followed by a Taurus Full Moon. With both Venus and Mercury retrograde now, all this ruminating, reassessing, reviewing, and rebirthing will take us all the way to mid-November.
Mercury Retrograde Dates:
Mercury stations retrograde October 24th at 08:12 BST at 20°58’ Scorpio
Mercury conjuncts the Sun November 4th at 14:24GMT, at 12°10 Scorpio
Mercury turns direct November 13th at 15:13 GMT at 05°02’ Scorpio
Mercury Retrograde Shadow: October 4th - November 30th.
Mercury Retrograde in Scorpio
Venus has already been in the ravaging desert for twenty days by the time Mercury joins her on the 24th and begins shining his guiding light into that strange space. It is exactly half-way through the Venus retrograde, on the 24th, that Mercury also turns retrograde in Scorpio. But the themes he activates will have been with us even since October 4th, when Mercury started travelling over the part of the zodiac that he will cross over and over again. This urges a brutally honest review of important matters: survival and finances, trust, secrets and truths, power-shifts, and personal demons. This process will take us all the way to mid-to-end November.
Epimetheus
Like with Venus, Mercury retrograde also has phases… The first ten days of Mercury retrograde is Mercury’s “hindsight” or “Epimethean” phase. This will take us to the end of October. October 24th-November 4th lends itself to looking back, doing a recce and processing all that has come to pass - both over the past three months or so, but also over the past three-four years. All this while our heart is in the midst of its own eery rebirth process.
New Mercury and Prometheus
By November 4th, Mercury meets with the Sun (the “inferior” or “interior” Mercury conjunction when Mercury comes between the Sun and Earth). This is the birth of a New Mercury in Scorpio. New ideas will now slowly take shape to see us through the next few months that won’t be fully digested until 2028-29. The next ten days are highly experimental!
Scorpio "New Mercury" Sabian Symbol: “An inventor performs a laboratory experiment.” Time to try new ideas on for size and re-connect the dots afresh.
Venus and Mercury Retrograde Combo…
October 24th-November 13th is a super-eery time, as we withdraw our relating feelers and shut down external processes to dedicate computing power to processing and exploring the inner landscape. Right now, we’re only beginning that journey.
Feeling Listless
Venus retrograde can be a very special time. A time of waiting.
A magical holding pattern in which we are given the space to discover different sides to ourselves, hidden aspects of our hearts, and even purge false pretences and outgrown choices to discover our truest desires.
This can sometimes happen by going through an experience that clearly outlines what we don't prefer. Or the opposite - sometimes we are presented with a pure and awkward prototype of something we would love to have.
Or we can find ourselves making unusual choices, spending time in unusual places, with unusual people just to give us a taste of something we would normally never do. Or we may even get the urge - or chance - to reconnect with people from our past. Or we may simply not be very outgoing.
We are crossing no man's land, a dark cavernous space, an abyss.
It is easy to pass these strange times feeling listless and lost. Better yet to do some inner explorations, be honest with ourselves, and use these energies to our benefit.
Look to that Mid-November Moment…
Come November 13th-14th, both Mercury and Venus turn direct in tandem. Armed with fresh desires and ideas, we will break out of that transformative cocoon and return to the world with a whole new attitude. It won’t be until mid-December that our heart is free to totally move on.
And Beyond…
This October-November period is a preparation for what to come in 2027 when Mars goes retrograde for four whole months. It is important that learn our heart and see through any pretences before the outer world requires us to take a whole new stand.
October’s Libra Full Moon and Taurus Full Moon: Clearing Space for Personal Fulfilment
A few words about October’s Lunations. This month we have:
A New Moon on 10 October 16:50 BST at 17°21 Libra
A Full Moon on 26 October 04:11 GMT at 02°45’ Taurus
We have two rare Venusian Lunations this month, both in Venus-ruled signs whilst Venus is retrograde: a New Moon in Libra on the 10th and a Full Moon in Taurus on the 26th. These mark key moments of intent (New Moon) and realisation (Full Moon) in our inward journey.
Libra New Moon October 10th
October's Libra New Moon falls on October 10th, within Venus’ ‘Lover’ phase, as an Evening Star. Libra is all about relationships, agreements, laws and courts, civilisation itself. This is the point where we start closely examining our relationships and agreements and unravelling anything that’s become corrupted or defunct. The impulse is to purge and transform the past and decide what’s really important, which of our existing alliances and investments to keep and which to purge. And each of us can do this as well as we can.
Libra New Moon Sabian Symbol: “Two men placed under arrest.” Here we see the breaking of the social contract and the consequences that follow.
Libra represents the civilised world with its laws and courts, Scorpio shady dealings, crimes, money and power moving behind the scenes. Some rectification process now begins to restore balance. Venus squares Mars, closely guarded by Pluto. This fires up the passions, evoking strong love/hate reactions and a desire to 'do something'. With Venus retrograde, this may be a long and drawn out process.
Taurus Full Moon October 26th
October’s Taurus Full Moon falls on the 26th, within Venus' ‘Warrior’ phase. Venus is still invisible, swallowed by the fire of the Sun and soon to emerge as a Morning Star, Lucifer, a Warrior in Libra. What tools does Venus in Libra have? Not weapons. Only the courts. And with Venus retrograde, reform may be needed there too. This Venus has a strong inner sense of fairness. This is a powerful moment of realisation as to what truly matters, and a warrior's commitment to restoring balance. Taurus has everything to do with our physical wellbeing - and with money, energy and the earth’s resources.
The Sun and Moon square Pluto perfectly making for a super-intense moment - our survival instincts are on red alert! With the Taurus Full Moon conjunct Chiron (and Eris) in Aries too, there is hurt and an outcry for justice. This is a lesson in the importance of individual physical sovereignty.
Taurus Full Moon Sabian Symbol: “Natural steps lead to a lawn of clover in bloom”. This is a most beautiful image of natural fulfilment - and luck! Perhaps true abundance can be ours if we allow this Full Moon’s message to imprint and expand our consciousness. There’s method to the madness.
Events this month will seed energies that will take us through most of 2027. Enjoy this journey into the dark caverns of both heart and mind...
October Astrology Calendar 2026
Let's try to connect the dots...
2 October
Mercury square Mars 10:14 BST
Mercury square Pluto 21:42 BST
Mars Trine Neptune 23:17 BST
It’s a fiery start to the month. Challenges now extended flow into inspiring initiatives that could prove transformative. Pressure. Conversations and transport could get tricky, tiring or aggressive.
3 October
Venus stations retrograde 08:15 BST
Mars opposite Pluto 11:38 BST
Last Quarter Cancer Moon 14:25 BST (square Saturn)
We have invested all we can. Relationships have gone as far as they can. We are now out of juice and need to return to a previous place. Truly, it’s time to turn inward and reassess. To go back or pull back. Affections are about to go through a transformative journey to be reborn and purged of anything that’s no longer necessary. This will allow us to come out stronger more empowered toward the things that truly matter. We may be trying to move mountains (and failing at this point or feeling the muscle soreness) It’s a slow-burn - nothing can be achieved instantly. Play the long game. Time to sober up, shift perspective and squeeze the meaning of the last three weeks of our experience. Venus stays retrograde until mid November.
4 October
Sun Saturn Opposition 13:29 BST
This is a reality check. And a commitment to discipline if we wish to see long term results. Make things concrete. Test goals against reality to see if you’re actually on track. Discover limitations and address them.
7 October
Mercury conjunct Venus Retro 01:10 BST
Mars sextile Uranus 11:41 BST
After a tough first weekend things are a little smoother. Build bridges, communicate tactfully but truthfully. An opportunity for pleasant exchanges, a chance to break for freedom and try something different.
10 October
Libra New Moon 16:50 BST
Venus Retro square Mars 22:31 BST
October’s Libra New Moon arrives on the Saturday. Time to regain our balance. Return to old values, revisit the past, reassess the situation, embark on a journey to rediscover a sense of meaning, love and devotion. Anything lost along the way, now is the time to reclaim it. Anything left unresolved, now is time to address it. Anything dragging its feet, time to pause and reassess. Passions are ignited and action is needed to restore balance.
15 October
Sun sextile Jupiter 09:21 BST
An exuberant, expansive, hopeful day. Fair winds give us an opportunity to push forward with our plans.
16 October
Pluto turns direct 03:40 BST
Mars trines Saturn 09:32 BST
You can cut the tension with a knife. As inexorable forces shape our world, we hold our breath to sense their direction. Changes we’ve been processing over the summer now resume their forward motion. A good time to buckle up, come up with long term strategies and take stabilising action.
18 October
First Quarter Capricorn Moon 17:12 BST
(Sun Eris opposition 19:41 BST)
Impulses, mini-crises and rapid events galvanise us to action. Things begin gathering momentum, forcing our hand, urging us to make some decisions before we know the full picture. This is a bold ‘claws out’ moment. Do what you must. No use beating about the bush.
20 October
Venus Retro square Pluto 07:56 BST
There are three Venus-Pluto squares during Venus’ entire retrograde journey up and down the same bit of zodiac: the first was 15 September; this is the second; the third will come 9 December. We’re in the middle act of a story of transformative encounters and subtle power shifts. Money plays another hand.
21 October
Sun trines North Node 11:47 BST / opposite Chiron 23:26 BST
A full realisation of our vulnerabilities, flaws and insecurities could lead to a wobble now. But we also have an alignment with our true North. Squirming won’t do. Authenticity pulls us where we need to go.
23 October
Sun enters Scorpio 10:37 BST
Scorpio season is when the veil between worlds is thinnest. The light is darkening, and the earth is purging in preparation for rebirth (in our northern part of the world at least… ). The leaves are rotting; the alchemy begins. Happy Birthday Scorpio!
24 October
Sun conjuncts Venus Retro 04:44 BST
Mercury turns Retrograde 08:12 BST
A key turning point! The last Scorpio ‘New Venus’ of this century (and more) coincides with Mercury stationing retrograde, also in Scorpio. Through the looking glass we go! The outer world no longer makes any sense. We now need to turn inward to find meaning. This is a magical time of survival / intimacy tests and complete inversions, trapped in ‘the upside down’. Let’s explore the inner realms. However bizarre our experience from here on in, bravery going within can liberate energies that have been held by suppression for a while, and put them fully at our disposal. Scorpio Season’s journey of rebirth now truly begins.
25 October
Venus Retro at Perigee 1:45 GMT / Venus retros into Libra 09:09 GMT
Venus is now at its closest approach to the earth as she backtracks into Libra. Time to reimagine our relating space from a more empowered vantage point. Remember, we’re each in our own little cocoon now and the external world is a bit muffled. Worry not. Let the magical chrysalis do its work. New wings are now forming and will soon be ready to push and break the bubble. The next three weeks are tentative. It’s about finding a more authentic footing, a new balance, a rediscovery of all the things that make life worth living.
26 October
Taurus Full Moon 4:11 GMT
Sun square Pluto 12:11 GMT
The Taurus Full Moon arrives on the 26th. And it is exactly square Pluto. This is an incredibly intense ‘back against wall’ kind of Full Moon, imprinting us with the urgency of change and transformation. And Taurus is about our resources. It is about our values, what we hold dear and fast, what we expect to stay fixed and provide us with the security and stability we need to function - that fixed reference point. Well, this Full Moon calls our fixed reference points into question. Where do we look for sustenance? We may need to reassess that. As we grope our way in the dark now, something deep within is slowly dying to give way to a new perspective.
28 October
Venus Retro opposite Chiron 7:34 GMT
There is deep vulnerability to October’s Full Moon, and it peaks today. Our defences are not strong enough. There’s a chink in the armour. Truth is exposed. Feeling odd - or like the odd one out - is the point. It facilitates self acceptance and authenticity in relationship.
30 October
Venus trine North Node 12:43 GMT
Mercury Retro square Mars 17:29 GMT
The month ends as it started. With Mercury square Mars (this time in retrograde motion). Words have legs, arguments have sharp edges and travel is tricky. A good day to act on your words. Also a great day to connect with others, smooth relationships and build bridges. The cosmos favours the coming together of people from an authentic place.
Article by YourAstroGenes
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