The sky this month

Events of the month — October 2026

What the month brings, in the order it happens: the phases of the Moon, the planets changing sign or turning retrograde, and the aspects that become exact.

by Dr. Alistair

Sky of the month →

Moon phases

October lunations

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4 Oct

Last Quarter in Cancer

The last quarter moon in Cancer invites an emotional letting-go, a chance to release what no longer nourishes before the cycle renews.

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11 Oct

New Moon in Libra

The new moon in Libra is an invitation to begin again in the realm of relationships, seeking balance and fair exchange with genuine intention.

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19 Oct

First Quarter in Capricorn

The first quarter moon at the very edge of Capricorn applies decisive pressure — the time for deliberation is passing and practical commitments are due.

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26 Oct

Full Moon in Taurus

The full moon at the opening degree of Taurus illuminates questions of security and material stability, asking what we have genuinely built versus merely imagined.

October

Themes of the month

4 Oct

Venus stations retrograde

Venus stations retrograde in Scorpio and later retreats into Libra, beginning a period of inward reflection on love, desire, and the true cost of what we value.

16 Oct

Pluto stations direct

23 Oct

Sun enters Scorpio

The Sun's entry into Scorpio shifts the seasonal tone from airy deliberation to deep, purposeful intensity — what is real and what is hidden becomes the central question.

25 Oct

Venus enters Libra

Retrograde Venus slipping back into Libra is a significant moment: she returns to her own sign, suggesting that what was lost or complicated in Scorpio's emotional depths may find more graceful resolution through honest dialogue.

25 Oct

Mercury stations retrograde

Mercury stations retrograde in Scorpio, complicating communication, contracts, and negotiations — with both inner planets now reversed, late October calls for patience above all.

♀ Venus Turns the Mirror Inward

Venus stations retrograde early in the month and then, in a striking move, retreats back into Libra, a sign she rules. Retrograde Venus asks us to revisit what we truly value — in relationships, finances, and self-worth. This is not a time to launch new partnerships or make significant purchases; it is a time to honestly reassess existing ones.

♂ Mars Drives the Month

Mars in Leo is unusually busy this month, forming a trine to Neptune, an opposition to Pluto, a sextile to Uranus, and a trine to Saturn in rapid succession. This sequence takes Mars from inspired and imaginative energy at the start, through a power struggle in the middle, and toward disciplined, focused drive by mid-month. The overall effect is productive if handled with self-awareness.

☽ Lunations: Reflection to Revelation

The last quarter moon asks for honest release before the new moon in Libra offers a clean relational reset. The first quarter in late Capricorn then pushes for concrete decisions, and the full moon in Taurus closes the month with an earthy call to consolidate — to honour what is real, tangible, and lasting over what is merely appealing.

☿ Mercury Retrograde Arrives

Just as Venus is already pulling communication and desire off course, Mercury stations retrograde in Scorpio late in the month. Scorpio's territory — depth, secrets, psychological honesty — becomes slippery ground. Agreements made now may need revision; conversations may circle back on themselves. Patience and careful listening will serve far better than rushed conclusions.

♇ Pluto Stations Direct

Pluto ends a months-long retrograde cycle mid-month, stationing direct in Aquarius. This is a slow, barely perceptible shift, but it marks a meaningful turn: themes of collective transformation and structural power that have been under internal review since spring now begin to move forward again. The Sun's square to Pluto shortly afterward sharpens this shift into a confrontation with what cannot be avoided.

Planetary aspects

3 Oct Mars trine Neptune Harmonious

Mars in Leo trines Neptune in Aries, lending idealism and creative vision to whatever actions are being taken — inspired effort is favoured here.

3 Oct Mars opposition Pluto Tense

Mars opposes Pluto across Leo and Aquarius, a tense confrontation between individual will and collective or institutional power that demands neither aggression nor capitulation.

3 Oct Mercury square Pluto Tense

Mercury in Scorpio squares Pluto, sharpening speech and thought to a sometimes uncomfortable edge — truths may surface that were better left unspoken, or conversations become coercive.

5 Oct Sun opposition Saturn Tense

The Sun opposes retrograde Saturn, a sober mid-autumn checkpoint where responsibilities feel heavy and external structures push back against personal desires.

7 Oct Mars sextile Uranus Harmonious

Mars sextiles Uranus, offering a welcome surge of ingenuity and practical originality — a good window for trying unconventional approaches.

16 Oct Mars trine Saturn Harmonious

Mars trines retrograde Saturn, steadying earlier impulsive energy into something disciplined and enduring — plans made with care under this aspect can hold.

20 Oct Venus square Pluto Tense

Retrograde Venus squares Pluto, an uncomfortable but clarifying aspect that can expose hidden power dynamics in close relationships and financial arrangements.

27 Oct Sun square Pluto Tense

The Sun in Scorpio squares Pluto in Aquarius shortly after Pluto stations direct, creating a pressure point where the desire for control — personal or collective — must be honestly examined.

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