October Energy Update & Astrology Highlight Reel
Updated: 1 hour ago
This month, the Wheel of Fortune turns, the veil thins, and Venus begins her descent.
October is perhaps one of the most potent months of the entire year and I’m personally so excited about it.
Venus retrograde in Scorpio begins on Oct 3rd, bringing the Divine Feminine into focus and prompting a major glow-up. There’s also the new moon in Libra (while the sun is also in Libra), a full moon in Taurus, and Mercury begins its final retrograde of the year in Scorpio.
The themes of this month are heavily focused around relationships with others, but even moreso, the relationship with ourselves and our power.
The Numerology of the month lands in its annual placement of 10: The Wheel of Fortune, in the tarot major Arcana.
Specifically this year (10/2026: 1+2+2+6= 11 = 1+1= 2), this month is also the month of the High Priestess.
Change is upon us; listening to our intuition and quieting the outer noise are also key themes.
In This Month’s Update
The Wheel of Fortune Meets The High Priestess: October’s Tarot and numerology
October’s Astrology Highlight Reel: Key transits and collective themes
What Ties It All Together?: Relationships, truth, power, and security
Rising-sign Themes & Mantras: Your personal focus for October
An October Tarot Spread: The turning wheel
Journal Prompts: Questions for reflection and reclamation
A Ritual for Release and Remembrance: Honoring an ending and choosing what continues
Crystals to Accompany Your Reflection: Symbolic companions for the month
The Wheel of Fortune Meets The High Priestess
October is the 10th month of the year, symbolically connecting it with The Wheel of Fortune, Tarot’s tenth Major Arcana card.
The Wheel represents cycles, turning points, changing circumstances, and forces that cannot be controlled through willpower alone. It reminds us that we are co-creators of our fate and that sometimes we must let go of control and allow things to move, shift, and transform without controlling every little detail.
With Autumn beginning just a couple weeks before, we are in the middle of the Earth moving through its cycle of harvest, letting go, winding down, clearing space, and knowing that all parts of transformation are not always seen right away.
In universal-month numerology, October 2026 reduces to 2:
1 + 0 + 2 + 0 + 2 + 6 = 11 ; 1 + 1 = 2
Two carries themes of intuition, receptivity, partnership, patience, and emotional sensitivity. It corresponds with The High Priestess, the keeper of intuition, spiritual connectedness, and truth beneath the surface.
Together, these archetypes offer October’s message:
The wheel is turning. Listen before deciding where it is taking you.
Not every change requires an immediate response. October is asking you to observe, feel, gather information, and tune into your intuition before taking action.
October’s Astrology Highlight Reel
October is shaped by two personal-planet retrogrades: Venus stations retrograde in Scorpio on October 3, followed by Mercury stationing retrograde in Scorpio on October 24. Venus later returns to Libra on October 25.
Personal planets are the planets closest to the Earth, whose influences are more specific due to the shorter orbits around the sun; collective/generational/era planets are going to be the planets further away with large orbits, meaning their changes influence larger-scale and collective happenings and themes.
Because both planets travel through emotionally perceptive Scorpio, the month may bring unresolved feelings, relationship patterns, financial questions, secrets, and questions of trust back into awareness.
Scorpio is known for going deep, cutting through bullshit, and having courage to transform. It thrives on intimacy and depth and is connected to themes of power, vulnerability, emotions, and material resources.
Meanwhile, Pluto stations direct in Aquarius, shifting a longer collective review involving community, technology, social systems, and group power (the Age of Aquarius).
A Libra New Moon opens a relational cycle, while a Taurus Full Moon asks what creates lasting security.
Astrology Highlight Reel in Eastern time zone and following Western astrology interpretations.
Early October: What Has Been Left Unsaid?
Date | Transit | Theme to work with |
October 2 | Mercury square Mars and Pluto; Mars trine Neptune | Words carry intensity. Pause before reacting, and look beneath the argument for the deeper need or fear. |
October 3 | Venus stations retrograde in Scorpio; Mars opposes Pluto | Relationship and money themes enter a period of review. Avoid forcing an outcome when emotions or power struggles are running high. |
October 4 | Sun opposite Saturn | A limit, responsibility, or reality check asks for maturity and patience. |
October 6–7 | Mercury conjunct retrograde Venus; Mars sextile Uranus | An old conversation, desire, or relationship theme may return with new information. Allow yourself to approach it in a new way. |
October 10 | New Moon in Libra; retrograde Venus square Mars | Set intentions around reciprocity and honest partnership. Attraction and conflict may be intertwined, so distinguish chemistry from compatibility. |
Phew! October begins with a bang. Emotions are likely running high. Let them serve as information to better care for yourself. Everyone is a mirror and people are always teaching us about our needs, boundaries, capacity, and where we can improve.
Mercury (planet of communication & thinking) squares Mars and Pluto (Mars: planet of action & energy; Pluto: planet of power; square: tension). Think communication that could possibly be defensive, forceful, revealing, intense, and even raising questions about control or sovereignty. This moment invites you to recognize what is motivating your desire to “win” in a discussion.
Venus begins its retrograde at approximately 8° Scorpio on October 3 (if you’d like more information about degrees and aspects, check out my article HERE). I am personally excited about this retrograde because it is going to unleash a whole new level of Divine Feminine power. We’re in a collective paradigm shift where the Divine Feminine is recalibrating our society and demanding justice, balance, and softness.
Venus is in its sign of detriment in Scorpio, meaning Venus, ruled by Libra, is not particularly a fan of being in Scorpio; however, when it is, it is highlighting the Dark Feminine energy (not to be confused with the Unhealthy or Wounded Feminine). This means Dark Feminine themes such as boundaries, power, desire, self-worth, and owning your power, are getting a major glow-up.
Venus retrograde is often associated with breakups, the return of an ex, or past relationship themes; this retrograde could involve some of those instances but there’s a bigger focus on one’s personal power in relationships. If an ex is showing up, it could be an invitation to fully close that chapter and notice where you were giving away your power in that relationship ie: Block him!
The Libra New Moon on October 10, at approximately 17° Libra, offers a relational reset. Yet with Venus retrograde and square Mars, this beginning may depend on revisiting the past rather than moving forward as though nothing happened.
Be honest with yourself and be gentle too, boo!
Midmonth: Rebuild With Intention
Date | Transit | Theme to work with |
October 15 | Sun sextile Jupiter; Pluto stations direct | A wider perspective becomes available as a long-running process begins to move forward. |
October 16 | Mars trine Saturn | Focus, discipline, and sustained effort help turn intention into practical action. |
October 20 | Retrograde Venus square Pluto | Questions involving attachment, control, jealousy, money, or unequal power may resurface. |
October 21 | Sun opposite Chiron | A relationship dynamic may illuminate an old wound around independence, rejection, or belonging. |
The middle of the month pieces together what has occurred so far. It’s overall a very constructive time of the month. The Sun-Jupiter sextile is a beautiful moment, supporting generosity and expanded perspective. Mars trining Saturn gives a boost in patience, endurance, and boundaries.
Pluto stations direct in Aquarius on October 15. Pluto’s influence is slow and collective (its orbit takes sooo long), so this may not feel like a single dramatic event. Symbolically, however, it marks a gradual shift from internal review toward external change involving humanitarianism, community, systems & institutions, technology & innovation, and being part of something bigger than just ourselves.
Venus square Pluto on October 20 returns us to October’s central questions:
Where is the line between love and control?
Where does fear motivate us to try and micro-manage an outcome?
What does intimacy feel like if it includes both honesty and freedom?
This aspect intensifies desire, but intensity alone does not equal intimacy or trust.
Let behavior, not urgency or merely words, show you what is sustainable.
Late October: Beneath the Surface
Date | Transit | Theme to work with |
October 23 | Sun enters Scorpio | Attention turns toward depth, intimacy, transformation, and emotional truth. |
October 23–24 | Sun conjunct retrograde Venus | Reconnect with an essential value. Notice what the heart is reconsidering. |
October 24 | Mercury stations retrograde in Scorpio | Review conversations, agreements, plans, and information. Allow hidden details to surface. |
October 25 | Retrograde Venus returns to Libra | Relationship questions shift toward fairness, reciprocity, and unresolved agreements. |
October 26 | Full Moon in Taurus; Sun square Pluto | Needs involving safety, money, the body, and stability reach a turning point. Release what is being maintained through fear or control. |
October 28 | Retrograde Venus opposite Chiron | An old relationship wound may become visible enough to approach differently. |
October 30 | Retrograde Mercury square Mars | Slow down before sending the message or escalating the disagreement. Direct mental energy toward revision rather than reaction. |
The end of October is a grand finale.
The Sun enters Scorpio on October 23, beginning a season of going even deeper than before. Shortly afterward, the Sun meets retrograde Venus in a cazimi (one of the best moments this whole month!!!). A cazimi moment is often the pinnacle of the retrograde; expect ah-ha moments regarding the Venus retrograde themes. Then, the remainder is about integrating the lessons learned.
On October 24, Mercury stations retrograde at approximately 21° Scorpio.
Don’t freak out! Mercury retrograde, while annoying, is often overhyped in the media as something catastrophic or fearsome. In reality, it’s when we can take a backseat and allow the Universe to prune for us. It’s a time of revision, review, reconnection… and with that, sometimes the not-so-fun harder lessons that come with miscommunications.
Sometimes things must fall apart so they can be rebuilt. What I’ve found to cause stress during Mercury retrograde is when people are in denial or try to resist/force their way through it.
One of the beautiful, balance-inducing lessons it brings us is reminding us that we don’t control everything and that a little grace and patience goes a long way. We’re all meant to surrender and be carried sometimes.
The Mercury retrograde in Scorpio, will focus heavily on conversations revolving around trust, secrets, debt, intimacy, grief, shared resources, withheld information, or shame. Remember: everyone is human, no one is perfect, and you can take your time deciding what the information means before taking action. Actually, I highly recommend just that.
Reach out to me HERE if you’d like to schedule a Transformational Coaching appointment to help you navigate these themes.
On October 25, retrograde Venus returns to Libra, shifting the relationship review from Scorpio’s emotional depths toward Libra’s questions of fairness and mutuality. An issue that initially appeared to concern jealousy, closeness, or trust may ultimately require a clearer agreement.
The Taurus Full Moon on October 26, at approximately 2° Taurus, illuminates the balance between stability and transformation. Taurus asks what is reliable, nourishing, and sustainable. Scorpio (where the sun will be at this time) asks what must change. With the Sun square Pluto (in Aquarius), this lunation may expose where attachment to control has been mistaken for security.
What Ties It All Together?
Relationships Are Revealing Our Values and Where We’re Giving Away Our Power
Venus retrograde makes October a month of reconsideration and asks our personal power to shine in our relationships. Anyone truly meant to be in our lives will not ask us to be smaller.
During this time, you may become more aware of incongruencies between words and actions. Is what’s being said being followed through on with actions? Or are things being done that aren’t being talked about?
You may also notice your values coming to the surface and realizing whether or not you (or someone you’re in relationship with) are actually walking in those values i.e. are the choices being made reflective of what is said to be valued?
Old relationships, behaviors, fears around intimacy or power, as well as insecurities or wounds could circle back during this time.
Remember: healing is not linear or “Do A and You Get B”; sometimes things cycle in order to show you how much you’ve healed or to help you approach from a new perspective.
Ask:
Has something meaningfully changed?
Is the connection reciprocal?
Am I responding to present behavior or remembered potential?
Does this agreement honor everyone involved?
Truth Needs Time to Emerge
Mercury retrograde in Scorpio is all about investigation and reflection. Scorpio is also one of the highly psychic signs. Allow balance between what you observe, collect evidence on, and intellectually learn and your emotional “spidey senses”. A truly informed decision is grounded, un-rushed, and a marriage between intuition and logic.
Intensity Is Not The Same As Intimacy
Venus square Mars and Pluto can heighten desire, conflict, and emotional urgency. However, be careful of confusing chemistry and excitement with the necessary ingredients for a partnership. True intimacy needs trust, consistency, and emotional safety. Lasting passion is rooted in loving who someone actually is, not the idea of who they could be.
Security May Need a New Definition
The Taurus Full Moon shines light on what is actually supporting us. Expect eureka moments around material stability, like money, and also emotional security, such as your family, roommates, spouses, and those you share a home with. Taurus craves comfort, earthly pleasures, and consistency. Pay attention to anything or anyone that disturbs your peace and nervous system. It could be time to set new boundaries, have a heart to heart, or release and let go.
We are wired to seek out and return to what is familiar, not necessarily what is healthy. If a healthy change feels uncertain, hard, or scary, remind yourself that it’s just unfamiliar. Staying consistent with said change allows it to become familiar and therefore more comfortable.
The Collective Transformation Continues
We are in the Age of Aquarius, y’all! Pluto (currently in Aquarius) stationing direct gives a breath of fresh air to community and collective change. Leadership and people in positions of power are getting questioned and social justice themes are coming front and center.
The personal & collective themes run parallel, both mirroring change within systems, relationships, values, power, and resources.
Rising-sign Themes & Mantras
Read for your rising sign first. These themes use whole-sign houses, with emphasis on the Libra New Moon, Taurus Full Moon, and the Venus and Mercury retrogrades. Your complete birth chart will add nuance. If you need to calculate your birth chart, you can do so for free HERE.
Rising sign | October’s invitation | Mantra |
Aries | Reconsider relationship agreements while clarifying what you need to feel valued and materially secure. | I can create connections without abandoning my needs. |
Taurus | Review routines, work, and wellbeing as the Full Moon illuminates a personal truth or changing identity. | I honor what my body and inner self are telling me. |
Gemini | Revisit creativity, romance, or joy while giving yourself space to rest and process what has remained private. | Joy and rest are both essential parts of my life. |
Cancer | Tend to home, family, and emotional foundations while evaluating friendships and long-term hopes. | I can build belonging from a place of inner security. |
Leo | Review communication and unresolved conversations as career or public-life needs become clearer. | I speak with intention and build success on my values. |
Virgo | Reconsider money, self-worth, and personal priorities while allowing an old belief or perspective to change. | My choices can reflect what I truly value. |
Libra | Redefine how you see and present yourself while bringing honesty to intimacy, trust, and shared resources. | I am allowed to change the terms by which I know myself. |
Scorpio | Make space for private reflection as partnerships reveal what needs healing, release, or renegotiation. | I can honor my inner truth and meet others honestly. |
Sagittarius | Reevaluate community and future goals while adjusting routines that affect your energy and capacity. | My community and commitments can support the life I want. |
Capricorn | Review professional direction and visibility while making room for creativity, romance, and pleasure. | Achievement and joy can belong in the same life. |
Aquarius | Question a belief, plan, or path while tending to changes involving home, family, and emotional security. | I can expand without losing my center. |
Pisces | Revisit shared resources, intimacy, or emotional obligations while an important conversation reaches a turning point. | I can ask deeper questions and trust myself with the answers. |
Click HERE if you’d like to book your personal chart reading with me.
An October Tarot Spread: The Turning Wheel
Take 3 deep breaths. Shuffle your deck while asking:
What is this turning point inviting me to understand?
Draw seven cards:
The cycle: What pattern or chapter is reaching a turning point?
The return: What from the past needs my attention?
The shadow: What feeling, fear, or truth have I avoided?
The value: What matters most to me now?
The relationship: What needs to be understood or renegotiated?
The release: What am I ready to stop carrying forward?
The inner voice: What does my intuition want me to remember?
If a card feels unclear, resist the urge to pull several clarifiers immediately. Sit with its imagery. Write what you notice before consulting a guidebook. Your intuition often speaks when you give it a quiet moment to come through. Be mindful of any judgment or doubts that could be clouding your inner voice.
Journal Prompts
What relationship pattern keeps returning, and what might it be trying to teach me?
Where have I mistaken intensity, familiarity, or longing for compatibility?
Which of my values are visible in my current choices?
What do I need in order to feel emotionally and materially secure?
Where am I trying to control an outcome because I am afraid of what uncertainty might reveal?
What truth have I sensed but not yet named?
Which agreement needs to be clarified or renegotiated?
What would reciprocity look like in practical behavior?
What am I ready to forgive without reopening the same door?
What part of myself is asking to be reclaimed?
A Ritual for Release and Remembrance
This ritual can be practiced around the Libra Full Moon (10/ 10) Taurus Full Moon (10/26), Halloween (10/31), Samhain (10/31-11/1), or whenever you feel ready to honor a transition.
You will need:
A candle (flame or LED)
A bowl of water
Two small pieces of paper
A pen
A meaningful object, photograph, flower, or natural item
1. Create a Quiet Space
Place the light beside the bowl of water.
Add your meaningful object as a symbol of someone, something, or some version of yourself you wish to honor.
Take a few breaths and let the room become still.
2. Honor What Brought You Here
On the first piece of paper, write:
I honor what this cycle taught me…
Name what you learned, received, endured, or discovered.
You do not need to call a difficult experience “good” in order to recognize what you now understand.
3. Name What Will Not Continue
On the second piece of paper, write:
I release the need to continue…
Choose a pattern, expectation, role, or attachment that no longer represents your values.
Tear this paper into several pieces or burn it safely. Dispose of or recycle it after the ritual.
4. Choose What Remains
Touch the bowl of water, swirling clockwise with your finger and say:
I honor what has ended.
I remember what matters.
I release what cannot travel with me.
I trust the wisdom that remains.
Pour the bowl of water on a houseplant or somewhere outside.
Keep the first piece of paper somewhere private.
Let it remind you that release does not erase what was meaningful.
If you use a real candle, extinguish it before leaving the space.
Crystals to Accompany Your Reflection
Crystals can serve as energetic anchors within your spiritual practice.
Use these crystals by holding close to your heart during meditation, place them on your desk or nightstand, keep them in your purse or car, or have them nearby when you’re journaling.
Obsidian: A symbol of honest self-reflection, shadow work, and seeing beneath appearances. Also a protective crystal and good for healing and clearing old energy.
Rose Quartz: A reminder to bring compassion, self-love, and self-respect into every relationship and to foster the relationship with yourself.
Smoky Quartz: A grounding companion when emotions or uncertainty feel intense (great for Mercury rx!)
Lapis Lazuli: A symbol of intuition, third-eye wisdom, and connection to the Divine.
Green Aventurine: A symbol of renewed possibility, abundance, heart-centered choices, and transformation.
Black Tourmaline: A reminder of boundaries and the right to protect your energy.
October’s Closing Message
October does not need us to have everything figured out.
In fact, you may be rushing through the messages and lessons of the month if you try. Instead, give yourself the space and grace to take things slow and really search your soul within.
Notice what is coming up, returning, being revealed, or even your own reactions to things. You don’t have to judge yourself; remain curious and objective when possible.
The Wheel of Fortune is here to remind you that healing is not linear.
Sometimes things cycle so you can approach old wounds in a new way. Notice what is resurfacing and trust that change is happening whether you see all the pieces or not. Your decisions are portals to your next level.
The High Priestess is here to remind you to go within for your answers.
Support and guidance are nice but when your decisions or validation are constantly outsourced, your self-trust dwindles. Have courage to trust your heart, desires, and intuition.
Let the old reveal the new.
Let change clarify what is stable.
Let relationships show you how deeply you deserve to be loved; and if they don’t, love yourself enough to let them go.
You don’t have to force anything.
Focus on your relationship to yourself and you will have more to bring to everything and everyone around you.
What opens up when you trust your intuition?
With love,
Comments