October Horoscopes: What the Retrogrades Reveal
Day and Night, 1938, by MC Escher. Images courtesy of Collection Gemeentemuseum Den Haag/the MC Escher Company
In the midst of a swirling eddy can you be still as a stone? October’s astrology asks us to find calm within the chaos. The month opens with a bang when communicative Mercury makes harsh aspects to aggressive Mars and transformative Pluto on the 2nd. These are fighting words and they cut deep. Try to welcome this incision - some wounds can only be healed by digging to the root.
Venus stations retrograde on the 3rd, bringing a 41-day review of our relationships, finances, and all things feminine. Venus retrograde occurs roughly every 18 months, and this one calls back to events in your life from 2018. Pull together those Pinterest boards, but don’t make big changes until the retrograde ends on November 13th. Looking for love? Review your past relationships to get clear on what you want. Committed to someone special? Deepen your connection with couples’ counseling or a get-to-know-you game like We’re Not Really Strangers.
The New Moon in Libra on the 10th is a chance to set intentions for partnerships and matters of justice– especially for women and marginalized groups. Venus, who rules this new moon, will be challenging Mars, so your efforts may face opposition or feel a heightened sense of urgency.
The last week of the month is packed with celestial activity. Scorpio season begins on the 23rd as the Sun and Venus align for a moment of clarity. Our last Mercury retrograde of the year begins on the 24th, and it will prompt a review of our investments, debt, taxes, and intense emotions until November 13th. The Full Moon in Taurus on the 25th prioritizes safety and material support, and it bumps up against Pluto, which makes these needs feel more primal than intellectual. Finally, the month ends with another conflict between Mercury and Mars on the 30th, prompting more quick thinking and words of bravery or confrontation.
Take good care of your health, especially your throat and reproductive system, and be sure to get adequate sleep and hydration. Remain aware when using local transport, like cars, buses, or trains - keep those headphones on transparency mode. Lastly, save big decisions for the end of November if you can. Retrogrades are revealing, and the information they share could be the missing puzzle piece you need.
Would you like to learn more about working with this month’s astrology? Book a reading for personalized guidance tailored to your unique natal chart.
Libra Sun & Rising
Libra, are you reworking your entire life? Venus is your ruler and she is experiencing major changes. With the Libra New Moon in your first house of self and physical body, and the retrogrades moving through your second house of assets and earned income, your identity and possessions are top of mind. Take your time – let your decisions unfold gradually as you receive clarity from unexpected sources.
Scorpio Sun & Rising
Scorpio, this is an introspective month for you. The Mercury and Venus retrogrades are happening in your first house of self and physical body, and you may be questioning everything: your look, your identity, your health, and your relationship to your physical form. Remember that you are the queen of the death and rebirth cycle. Let the leaves of your old self fall away, release the need for perfection, and allow the unknown to bloom.
Sagittarius Sun & Rising
Sagittarius, your sign may be known as a people-person, but this season asks you for stretches of purposeful isolation. The Mercury and Venus retrogrades will take a deep dive into your twelfth house, the home of your subconscious realm. Meet this energy with journaling, walking meditation, restorative yoga, or morning breathing exercises. Make space for what’s hidden in your mind, and you may be surprised by what floats to the surface.
Capricorn Sun & Rising
Capricorn, you are asked to think and dream bigger this month. The Mercury and Venus retrogrades in your eleventh house spotlight your wider community, humanitarian causes, alumni associations, and greatest hopes and wishes. With the New Moon sparking beginnings in your tenth house of achievement, and the full moon illuminating your fifth house of creativity, it’s time to set your sights high. Visualize your dream life until it feels as real as a pen in your hand.
Aquarius Sun & Rising
Aquarius, keep your eye on the prize this month. This is a season for you to achieve, but only if you are able to tune out the chaos and lock in. The Mercury and Venus retrogrades are refining your public image and highest career aspirations, while the New Moon in Libra lights up your ninth house of broadcasting and big ideas. Set intentions large enough to cross international waters, and when Pluto stations direct in your first house on the 15th, tap in to your power.
Pisces Sun & Rising
Pisces, your imagination spans as wide as the cosmos, but the gift of seeing infinite possibilities makes it hard to know where to start. Let the Mercury and Venus retrogrades in your ninth house of higher education, religion, and philosophy allow you to edit your biggest ideas. Can you select the top three you’d most want to pursue? Take this time to narrow your view and find depth within your focus.
Aries Sun & Rising
Aries, it’s time to review your personal ledger. The Venus and Mercury retrogrades cover your eighth house of shared finances: we’re talking debts, taxes, fundraising, inheritance, child support, or alimony. Meanwhile, the Full Moon in Taurus illuminates your second house of earned income and assets. What’s on your balance sheet that needs to be reconciled? Look for untapped wells of funding and consider restructuring your investments or utilizing a balance transfer offer. Debt is malleable - make sure it’s being used in your best interest.
Taurus Sun & Rising
Taurus, what do you want most from your sacred other, your love, and your home? Venus is your ruler and she wants to hear from you. The Mercury and Venus retrogrades move through your seventh house of partnership, addressing long term or contractual relationships like marriage or business and creative alliances. When the Taurus Full Moon on the 25th illuminates your identity and highlights your needs, take note. Adjust any relationships that feel uneven or in need of evolution.
Gemini Sun & Rising
Gemini, this is a great time to focus on your health and routines. Innovative, unpredictable Uranus is residing in your first house of identity and physical body for seven years, while this month’s Venus and Mercury retrogrades are reviewing your daily habits, work environment, and overall health. Build momentum with that new stretching routine, reevaluate your supplement mix, and get any necessary blood work done. Addressing the small things, like your Vitamin D, B12, or iron levels, will make a huge difference in the long run.
Cancer Sun & Rising
Cancer, family and home may be on your mind this month. With the Venus and Mercury retrogrades moving through your fifth house of children and creativity, and the Libra New Moon in your fourth house of home and family history, this season’s changes happen within your own four walls. Matters of children and parents, fertility, or real estate may resurface when you thought they’d been resolved. If this happens, see these reviews as opportunities to leave no stone unturned. Ensuring a solid foundation will position you to rise when the time comes.
Leo Sun & Rising
Leo, you may feel energized or larger than life as Mars and Jupiter are traveling through your first house of self. These planets help you move through obstacles and accomplish your goals with ease, so take advantage of this forward momentum. The Mercury and Venus retrogrades covering your fourth house of family and home ask you to consider your past as you move into the future. You stand on the shoulders of giants, and you’ve honored their legacy with your own hard work.
Virgo Sun & Rising
Virgo, the Mercury and Venus retrogrades are your major ‘Edit’. Your writing and speaking projects are under review; what story do you want to tell, how, and to whom? Is there a book idea in your heart waiting to be put to paper? Are you eager to submit a piece to a poetry review, or to apply for a new degree or certificate program? Sort through your thoughts carefully, and let your excellent communication skills take center stage. Use your gifts with intention.
