Your October horoscope! Venus retrograde asks what you truly love
I had the lovely pleasure to meet some of you recently at The Midst Los Angeles event, and what a treat it was! I hope what you find here continues to be helpful in your own pro-aging journeys. Here’s to the most intuitive chapter of our lives!
October opens up into the heart of Libra season, a time devoted to balance and beauty and the relationships that shape our lives. Libra is ruled by Venus, and this month Venus turns retrograde, inviting us to revisit what we love and what we value.
In astrology, each zodiac sign governs specific parts of the body, and as the Sun moves through Libra, we turn our attention toward the kidneys, lower back and skin. The kidneys are our great filters, and generous hydration supports them as fluid balance shifts during perimenopause. The lower back holds the weight we carry for others and responds to warmth and gentle stretching. The skin is the boundary where we meet the world, and as estrogen changes, a slow ritual with a rich oil or balm honors the body that has carried us so far.
Alrighty, let’s dive in!
Key Astrological Dates in October 2026
- October 3 Venus goes retrograde in Scorpio
- October 3 Mars opposes Pluto Retrograde
- October 10 New Moon in Libra
- October 15 Sun sextiles Jupiter
- October 24 Mercury goes retrograde in Scorpio
- October 25 Full Moon in Taurus
Aries (March 21 – April 19)
Aries, October asks you to look closely at what supports you. Early in the month, Mars, your ruling planet, faces off with Pluto, creating a powerful pull between a creative or romantic pursuit that sets your heart racing and the friendships that have long shaped your sense of belonging. Perhaps a passion project is claiming more of your evenings than your social circle would like, or a friend has strong feelings about someone new in your life. Let this tension refine what you truly want. Power struggles have a way of revealing exactly where we’ve outgrown an old arrangement, and you are wonderfully equipped to navigate this one with honesty and heart. Around the 10th, the New Moon in Libra seeds a fresh chapter in partnership. A true collaborator may step forward. Your independence stays beautifully intact when you share the load, and this lunation lets you feel how good that can be. With a Full Moon in Taurus later in the month, a deeper sense of worth reaches a turning point, and you may realize you’ve been shouldering the financial load alone for far longer than necessary. This is a beautiful moment to ask for what you’re worth.
This month, your lower back is highlighted. This is the place that bears our weight and keeps us standing upright. For you, it speaks directly to feeling supported, especially around money and self-worth. If a familiar ache shows up, treat it as a message worth taking the time to hear. A warm compress in the evening or a few minutes lying on the floor with your knees drawn toward your chest can release what you’ve been bracing against. As our bodies move through this passage, the lower back often asks for more tenderness than it once did, and you deserve to offer it generously.
Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
Venus, your ruling planet, turns retrograde early in the month, Taurus. This sets a reflective tone in love and partnership. Venus retrograde comes around roughly every year and a half, inviting us to revisit what we desire and what we value in the people closest to us. For you, a significant relationship comes up for gentle review. An old flame may resurface, or a current partner may raise a conversation you thought was settled long ago. Move slowly here. Decisions about commitment are best held loosely until Venus moves forward again in mid-November. When the New Moon in Libra appears on the 10th, your daily rhythm receives a refresh. This is a lovely moment to begin a new wellness habit, ideally one so indulgent that you’ll look forward to it each day. By the time our Full Moon occurs in your very own sign, something you’ve been growing within yourself reaches full bloom. You may feel the urge to change your appearance or finally celebrate how far you’ve come. Let yourself be seen in all your ripeness, Taurus. With Venus backing into the realm of work and routine around the same time, what you discover about your own worth may reshape how you spend your days going forward.
For you, any messages from your body may be experienced through the skin. This is the living boundary where you meet the world. Few signs understand touch the way you do, and your skin is asking to be adored. With the shifting hormones of midlife, many of us notice dryness or a new tenderness in our skin, and your earthy wisdom knows exactly how to remedy it. Warm a rich oil between your palms after bathing and press it slowly into your arms and shoulders. Wrap yourself in the softest fabric you own. These small rituals of pleasure remind your body that it is cherished.
Gemini (May 21 – June 20)
Gemini, the first half of October carries a bright, social spark for you. The New Moon in Libra on the 10th stirs your romantic and creative life, planting a seed of play that feels long overdue. Let yourself flirt with a new hobby or a new person, and follow whatever makes you laugh out loud. Mid-month, the Sun forms a lovely connection with Jupiter, the planet of expansion, which is currently moving through the part of your chart tied to communication. Your words will carry real reach during this window. A pitch or a heartfelt message you’ve been circling could find the right audience, so speak up while the wind is at your back. Late in the month, Mercury, your ruling planet, turns retrograde. If you’ve noticed your work life moving at a slower pace than you’re used to, this will feel a little more exaggerated. Please know this slowness is temporary. Think of it the way you think of breath in conversation. Every beautiful sentence needs a pause between phrases, and that pause is where much of the meaning comes in. Communication is a living thing, and like us, it needs breath too. Use this stretch to revise your work and tidy your daily systems, trusting that momentum will return when Mercury moves forward in mid-November. By the Full Moon in Taurus, your inner world takes center stage. Your dreams may grow vivid, carrying messages from a part of you that speaks best in symbols. Keep a journal by your bed and let those nighttime visions guide you.
Your body may communicate through the kidneys this month. They are our natural filters, which decide what we keep and what we let flow away. You take in more information in a single afternoon than most people absorb in a week, and your kidneys mirror that busy intake. Support them with plenty of water throughout the day, perhaps with a slice of cucumber or lemon. As hydration needs change during perimenopause, this ritual serves body and mind alike.
Cancer (June 21 – July 22)
As a child of the Moon, Cancer, you feel this month’s lunations with special intimacy. On the 10th, the New Moon in Libra plants a fresh seed at home. This could look like rearranging a room until it finally feels like yours, or welcoming someone new under your roof. Whatever form it takes, your sense of sanctuary is being renewed. And with so much attention on your home, this month’s message may show up through the lower back. You are the one so many people lean on. This month invites you to set some of that weight down. Notice how you sit at the end of a long day and whether you ever let yourself lean back fully. A pillow tucked behind your lower spine or a long soak in warm water can work wonders, and so can asking a family member to carry a little more responsibility too. During this chapter of womanhood, our backs deserve the same nurturing care we so freely give to everyone else.
Venus goes retrograde in fellow water sign Scorpio early in the month. This draws your attention toward romance and the creative joys that once lit you up. A past love may drift back into your thoughts, or an abandoned creative project may call to you again. Revisit these with an open heart. Late in the month, Venus slips back into Libra, carrying that same reflective energy into your home life, so the romantic and domestic threads of October may weave together in surprising ways! The Full Moon in Taurus shines on your friendships as the month closes. Someone in your circle may reveal just how deeply they value you, or a group you belong to may reach a meaningful milestone. Receive that affection fully, Cancer. You deserve to be nurtured by your community as much as you nurture it.
Leo (July 23 – August 22)
Leo, Mars is blazing through your sign as the month gets underway, and early on it faces off with Pluto in your partnership sector. Someone close may push back against your plans, or a relationship dynamic that has simmered for some time finally asks to be addressed. Strong wills meet here, and yours is magnificent. Channel that fire into honest conversation and the tension can reshape the partnership into something far more balanced than before. The New Moon in Libra on the 10th sparks new ideas in your everyday conversations. You might sign up for a class that has been calling to you, or reach out to a sibling with a warmth that surprises you both. Mid-month is your moment to shine. The Sun, which is your ruling planet, connects with Jupiter, which is currently moving through your own sign. Opportunities feel generous, and your natural radiance draws people and possibilities toward you. Say yes to what excites you, Leo, because the universe is clearly in the mood to spoil you!
Your sign has long been associated with the back and spine, so it feels fitting that the lower back carries your body’s message this month. With Mars in your sign, you may feel called to push harder and carry more than your share. Though you may do this with a smile, remember that strength also includes knowing when to soften. Pay attention to your posture as you work, and give your lower back the gift of gentle movement each morning, perhaps a slow cat and cow stretch on the floor before the day begins. During this transition, our bones and muscles ask for steady devotion, and your body will reward that care with a regal ease.
Virgo (August 23 – September 22)
Virgo, October begins with a fresh look at your finances and the things you hold dear. On the 10th, the New Moon in Libra brings a new beginning around money and personal values. This is an ideal moment to set an intention around earning more or investing in something that reflects who you are becoming. Perhaps a purchase you’ve been debating finally feels right, or a new source of income begins to take shape. Late in the month, Mercury, your ruling planet, turns retrograde in the part of your chart that governs everyday communication. Messages may cross, and you could find yourself rereading old texts with new eyes. This is a lovely time to revisit a conversation that ended before it felt complete. A heartfelt apology or a belated thank you could mend something meaningful. Double check your calendar and give yourself extra time for errands around town, since small delays are likely to pop up. The Full Moon in Taurus shines on your sense of adventure as the month concludes. A course of study or a spiritual path you’ve been exploring reaches a meaningful turning point. You may feel your worldview widening in ways that delight you, and the steady earth energy of this Full Moon makes that growth feel grounded and trustworthy.
Your body will hold messages through the kidneys this month. These are the organs that know what to hold and what to release. Few people are as skilled at processing as you are, and yet you sometimes keep hold of every detail long after its purpose has been served. Consider the standards you set for yourself and the expectations you carry for others. Which of these still nourish you, and which are ready to flow away? A warm cup of herbal tea each morning can become a small ceremony of release, a daily reminder that letting go is its own form of medicine. As our bodies move through the menopausal years, the kidneys and bladder often ask for extra kindness, and this simple practice honors them beautifully.
Libra (September 23 – October 22)
Happy birthday, October Libras! Your season has begun, and the universe greets you with a gift. The New Moon in your own sign on the 10th offers the most personal fresh start of your year. Set an intention for the person you wish to become, and let it be as lovely as you are. Venus, your ruling planet, goes retrograde early in the month, asking you to reconsider what you truly value. The journey begins in the part of your chart tied to money and possessions, so you may find yourself questioning a purchase or rethinking how you spend on beauty and pleasure. Near the end of the month, Venus slips back into your own sign, turning that reflection inward toward your appearance and self-image. This is a wonderful time to reconnect with a style you once adored. Mid-month, the Sun in your sign reaches out to generous Jupiter in your friendship sector. An invitation from a dear friend or a community you adore could lead somewhere delightful. By the Full Moon in Taurus, a relationship built on deep trust reaches a meaningful moment. An intimate conversation or a matter of shared finances comes to a head, and you’ll know exactly where you stand with someone close.
This month, your body will hold messages through the skin. As the sign of beauty, you understand its language instinctively. For you, skin speaks to how you present yourself and how open you are to receiving love. As estrogen shifts in these years, our skin often grows thinner and drier, and this is a beautiful invitation to tend it with reverence. Consider a slow evening ritual with a rich balm, massaging your face and neck in upward strokes while you speak kindly to your reflection. Rosehip oil can become a treasured ally.
Scorpio (October 23 – November 21)
Scorpio, October has a very inward-facing chapter in store for you. Venus turns retrograde in your sign early in the month, and Mercury follows late in the month, so two retrogrades share your sign during a single season! This is a profound invitation to revisit how you love and how you express yourself. This may show up as old desires resurfacing. Around the same time, Mars opposes Pluto, and since both planets are your rulers, you’ll feel this one pretty deeply. The tension pulls between your career and your home life. A professional demand may collide with a family need, leaving you toggling in two directions at once. Trust your remarkable instincts here. You have always known how to transform pressure into power. As the New Moon in Libra occurs on the 10th, you’ll be given a period of retreat before your birthday. Spend this time planting seeds you’ll tend in private…for now. When the Full Moon in Taurus rises opposite your sign on the 25th, your partnerships come into the light. Someone close may reveal their true feelings and the conversation could reshape the relationship entirely. Meet this moment with the depth you’re known for.
Your body carries its message through the kidneys, which ancient Chinese medicine says hold our fear. With so much stirring beneath your surface, some old fear may rise to be released, and you can let it move through you. A hot bath with mineral salts or a warm hand resting over your lower back, where the kidneys sit, can help your body let go of what it has stored for years. As the change reshapes our bodies, courage often grows alongside it, and you are becoming braver than you realize.
Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21)
Your social world is on fire this month, Sagittarius. On the 10th, the New Moon in Libra refreshes your friendships and the groups you belong to. A new circle may form around a shared passion, or an old friend could reappear with an idea worth pursuing. Mid-month, Jupiter, your ruling planet, receives a warm and lucky embrace from the Sun. Jupiter is currently traveling through the part of your chart devoted to adventure and higher learning, while the Sun lights up your friendships. A friend could open the door to a journey you’ve dreamed about for years, or a conversation within your community may widen your philosophy in the most thrilling way. Book the trip. Enroll in the class. Your optimism is contagious right now, and the people around you will happily follow your lead wherever it goes! The Full Moon in Taurus rounds out the month by illuminating your daily habits and wellbeing. A routine you began earlier in the year reaches a turning point, and you’ll see exactly which practices truly sustain you. Keep the ones that feel like joy, and release the rest with gratitude for what they taught you.
Your body holds messages through the lower back this month, which sits right alongside the hips and thighs your sign has always governed. For a born explorer, the lower back holds the story of your freedom, the part of you that carries you forward toward every new horizon. When it tightens, the whole body feels the pull. Stretching becomes a devotional act for you now. Try a slow hip opener in the evening or a long walk at an easy pace, and notice how movement loosens more than muscle. As hormones shift through this rite of passage, flexibility asks for daily attention, and you’ll discover a lovely sense of liberation in giving it.
Capricorn (December 22 – January 19)
Ambition runs through your October like a golden thread, Capricorn. On the 10th, the New Moon in Libra plants a fresh intention in your career and public life. A new role or a professional reinvention could begin to take shape, and your reputation is ready to grow along with it. Early in the month, Venus also turns retrograde highlighting your friendships and the communities you belong to. A friend from your past may reenter your life, or you may reconsider which groups still reflect your values. Late in the month, Venus backs into your career sector, echoing the New Moon’s theme and asking you to revisit what you truly love about your work. A former colleague could resurface with an opportunity worth considering, so keep your heart open to familiar faces. The Full Moon in fellow earth sign Taurus lights up romance and creativity as October ends. A creative project may reach completion, or a love affair may deepen in a way that surprises you. Let yourself play, Capricorn. Pleasure is a worthy pursuit, and you’ve more than earned it.
Your sign has long been linked with the skin, making this month’s body message especially personal. You’ve built a wonderfully thick skin over the years, and it has served your ambitions beautifully. This month invites you to let that protective layer breathe. Skin often becomes drier and more delicate in these middle years, and it responds best to nourishment. Treat it to a hydrating mask or a rich cream pressed in slowly after your morning shower. As you care for your outer layer, consider where softness might serve you professionally as well. Warmth can be every bit as powerful as resilience, and those who work alongside you will feel the difference.
Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)
Pluto has been reshaping you from the inside out, Aquarius, and early this month Mars opposes it from your partnership sector. A partner or close collaborator may challenge the new version of yourself you’ve been bringing forward. This friction carries a meaningful purpose, though. It asks you to show up fully as who you’ve become and trust that the right people will rise to meet you. Heartfelt conversations will serve you well here, even when they stretch you. The New Moon in Libra on the 10th opens a fresh window for learning and exploration. A spontaneous trip or a new philosophy that captures your imagination could expand your horizons beautifully. As the month draws to a close, the Full Moon in Taurus shines on home and family. A domestic matter reaches a natural conclusion, and you may feel a renewed sense of belonging within your own four walls. Let your home hold you as you continue this remarkable transformation.
Your body’s messages will be highlighted through the skin this month. The skin represents the surface where we are touched and where we let others near. With so much focus on partnership, this is a tender time to consider how comfortable you feel being held. Perhaps a lingering hug or a hand on your shoulder feels more meaningful than usual. Honor that. Our skin changes as we cross this threshold, often growing more sensitive, and it deserves gentle attention. Try a silk pillowcase or a fragrant lotion applied slowly before bed, and let yourself savor the simple pleasure of touch, both your own and that of the people you love.
Pisces (February 19 – March 20)
There is a tidal quality to October for you, Pisces. The New Moon in Libra on the 10th awakens something new in your most intimate bonds and in the resources you share with others. A deeper connection may form, or you and a partner could begin a new financial plan together. Early in the month, Venus goes retrograde in fellow water sign Scorpio. This moves through the part of your chart tied to faith and distant horizons. A spiritual path you once walked may call you back, or a place you’ve traveled may beckon again in your dreams. Revisit your beliefs with tenderness, and notice which ones still make your heart sing. Mid-month, the Sun and Jupiter have a moment, which blesses your daily routines and wellbeing. A new health practice or a shift in your work schedule could bring welcome relief along with real joy. With Jupiter commending your routines, it may soon become a favorite part of your day. The Full Moon in Taurus closes the month by illuminating your everyday conversations.
Your body highlights the kidneys this month, and as a water sign, you know intimately how vital flow is to life. The kidneys keep our waters moving and balanced, and they thrive when we replenish them with care. Make hydration a sacred ritual. Fill a beautiful carafe each morning and sip from it throughout the day, perhaps with a few fresh mint leaves floating on top. As our bodies navigate the hormonal tides of perimenopause and menopause, fluid balance shifts in surprising ways, and this daily practice brings you back into rhythm with your own inner ocean.
