The month opens with Venus in Scorpio standing still in the sky before it goes retrograde on October 3. Venus retrograde periods are immensely consequential for reevaluations of tastes, relationships, and finances. In the sign of Scorpio, Venus is encouraged to explore themes of intensity, merging, and the hidden realms of life. If there are skeletons in your closet, this retrograde (along with Mercury’s retrograde in Scorpio on October 24) will find them.
On October 10, we receive a new moon in Libra. A new cycle for relationships, contracts, and agreements begins! This is a great time to set new intentions in all matters of negotiating and harmonizing with others. Just remember that Libra is a Venus-ruled sign, and at this time Venus will be backpedaling through the dark dimensions of Scorpio. We may have to revise or deepen older agreements, and break through layers of diplomacy to understand what we’re actually involved in.
The sun enters Scorpio on October 23 and we enter the realms of the underworld. How can we best honor—even celebrate—decay and death? Whether we’re admiring trees letting go of their leaves or participating in rituals that pay respects to the dead, allowing ghosts of the past to exist among the living is Scorpio season’s mandate. A full moon in Taurus on October 26 punctuates the idea of integrating life and death as it squares Pluto, Lord of the Underworld. At this point, Pluto is standing still in the sky after completing its retrograde, making it extra powerful. This full moon demands transformation, and the price is allowing something to die so that something else can live. As with all things of a Scorpionic nature (Pluto is the modern ruler of Scorpio), there are no half-measures.
