Mercury, Venus and Mars retrograde cycles from August 2026 to July 2027. The timeline shows their pre-shadow, retrograde and post-shadow periods, including the overlaps between cycles. By the time Venus and Mercury turn direct in November 2026, Mars will have already entered its pre-shadow period. Mercury will turn retrograde again during Mars retrograde in early 2027, followed by another Mercury cycle beginning before Mars leaves its post-shadow period.

Venus(R) (28°14′ Libra) opposite Chiron(R) (28°14′ Aries) at 07:34 GMT, October 28, 2026. This opposition may bring unresolved emotional wounds to the surface, particularly in relationships, self-worth, and the balance between personal needs and those of others. With both bodies retrograde, past experiences may be revisited, offering opportunities for reflection, understanding, and healing.

Sun (4°48′ Scorpio) quincunx Uranus(R) (4°48′ Gemini) at 05:29 GMT, October 28, 2026. Established plans or routines may require adjustments as circumstances change or new information comes to light. With Uranus retrograde, earlier developments or unresolved questions may resurface, particularly those involving communication, information, or differing approaches to change.

Moon enters Gemini at 01:01 GMT, October 28, 2026. Attention may turn toward conversation, learning, movement, and the exchange of ideas. There may be more interest in what is happening around us, along with a desire for variety, information, and social interaction. With Gemini's ruler, Mercury, retrograde in Scorpio, past conversations, unanswered questions, or information that requires further examination may also come back into focus.

Sun (3°05′ Scorpio) square Pluto (3°05′ Aquarius) at 12:11 GMT, October 26, 2026. Questions of power, control, and authority may become more prominent, particularly where competing interests or established positions are challenged. Attempts to impose one's will on others could intensify tensions and lead to stronger resistance.

Full Moon at 2°45′ Taurus at 04:11 GMT, October 26, 2026. A moment of heightened emotions and awareness of our need for stability, security, and comfort. With the Sun opposite in Scorpio, this Full Moon may also highlight tensions between holding on to what feels familiar and confronting deeper emotional concerns or unresolved issues.

Moon enters Taurus at 23:34 GMT, October 25, 2026. The Moon is exalted in Taurus, where emotions may become more grounded and steady. This placement favors patience, stability, comfort, reliability, and life's simple pleasures. Just a few hours later, the Full Moon at 2°45′ Taurus, opposite the Sun in Scorpio, brings emotional needs and questions of security into sharper focus.

Stars, Lines and Space: Weekly Astrology (October 26 - November 1, 2026) This week begins with a Full Moon in Taurus, bringing attention to the balance between emotional security, stability, and the deeper concerns associated with Scorpio. The Sun continues its journey through Scorpio, while Mercury remains retrograde in the same sign. Venus, also retrograde, has returned to Libra after its recent passage through Scorpio. With both Mercury and Venus moving backward, the week emphasizes reconsideration, unresolved matters, and the need to reassess previous decisions, particularly in relationships and personal affairs. When possible, it may be wise to postpone major new decisions until these retrograde periods have ended. The Full Moon at 2°45′ Taurus opens the week, highlighting the opposition between the practical, security-oriented nature of Taurus and Scorpio's tendency to examine what lies beneath the surface. Matters involving possessions, resources, emotional attachments, and personal priorities may become more prominent. With Mercury retrograde in Scorpio, information or conversations from the past may also influence how current circumstances are understood. The Sun in Scorpio forms a square with Pluto in Aquarius, bringing questions of power, control, and competing interests into focus. Tensions may arise when established positions are challenged or when individuals and groups resist changes that affect their influence. This configuration can expose underlying disagreements and make compromise more difficult, particularly when neither side is willing to reconsider its position. Venus retrograde in Libra opposes retrograde Chiron in Aries, potentially bringing unresolved sensitivities to the surface, particularly those involving personal needs, independence, and the expectations of others. Past relationship experiences may become relevant again, offering an opportunity to reconsider patterns of interaction and unresolved differences. The Sun forms a quincunx with Uranus in Gemini, introducing an element of unpredictability into plans and established routines. Differences between Scorpio's preference for depth and control and Uranus in Gemini's inclination toward change and experimentation may require adjustments, particularly in communication and the handling of new information. Mercury retrograde in Scorpio squares Mars in Leo, increasing the potential for disagreements, impatient reactions, and confrontational communication. Strong opinions and personal sensitivities may make discussions more difficult, especially when earlier disputes or unresolved questions return. It may be worth reviewing information carefully before responding or making decisions based on incomplete understanding. As the week draws to a close, the Sun forms a quincunx with retrograde Saturn in Aries. This aspect may highlight a mismatch between current priorities and existing responsibilities, requiring adjustments to plans, expectations, or commitments. Progress may depend on recognizing practical limitations without abandoning longer-term objectives. The Moon travels through Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, and Leo during the week. Following the Full Moon in Taurus, its passage through Gemini brings greater attention to communication, information, and everyday interactions. In Cancer, emotional and domestic concerns become more prominent, while its movement into Leo toward the weekend shifts attention toward self-expression, creativity, and personal recognition. Overall, as Scorpio season continues, the combination of retrograde Mercury and Venus with the week's challenging planetary aspects may bring unresolved issues into focus, some of which could resurface after the retrograde periods have ended. Disagreements or competing interests may complicate matters further, but not every issue requires an immediate resolution. Daylight Saving Time ends on October 25 across most of Europe and several other regions, with clocks moving back one hour. On November 1, most of the United States and parts of Canada also return to standard time.

Venus(R) re-enters Libra at 09:09 GMT, October 25, 2026. Returning to one of the signs it rules, Venus shifts the focus toward balance, cooperation, and relationships, while existing commitments and agreements may require review, particularly with Mercury also retrograde. It will continue retrograde to 22°51′ Libra, stationing direct (SD) on November 14 (GMT), before re-entering Scorpio on December 4.

Mercury stations retrograde (SR) at 20°58′ Scorpio at 07:12 GMT, October 24, 2026. Mercury will remain retrograde until November 13, when it stations direct (SD) at 5°02′ Scorpio. Its post-retrograde shadow period will then continue until November 30. In Scorpio, this period may bring renewed scrutiny of sensitive information, confidential matters, past decisions, and unresolved discussions. Questions of trust and underlying motives may require closer examination.

Sun conjunct Venus(R) at 0°45′ Scorpio, at 03:44 GMT, October 24, 2026. This inferior conjunction marks Venus's transition from Evening Star to Morning Star, bringing questions of trust, emotional attachments, and relationship dynamics into focus. It is the final Scorpio conjunction in an 8-year series dating back to 1930, with a longer 251-year cycle linking it to 1775. Venus returns to Libra about a day later.

Juno enters Aquarius at 02:40 GMT, October 24, 2026. Its return to Aquarius shifts the focus toward independence, equality, and shared principles within partnerships and alliances. Existing commitments and agreements may be reconsidered, particularly where individual interests and collective expectations differ.

Moon enters Aries at 19:53 GMT, October 23, 2026. Emotions may become more direct and immediate, with a stronger desire to take initiative and move things forward. Energy and enthusiasm may increase, though patience may be in shorter supply.

Sun enters Scorpio at 09:37 GMT, October 23, 2026, beginning Scorpio season. Attention shifts toward deeper emotions, trust, determination, and matters beneath the surface. The Sun is approaching a conjunction with retrograde Venus at 0°45′ Scorpio, while Mercury is preparing to station retrograde in the same sign. Previous decisions, relationships, and unresolved matters may come under renewed scrutiny. Happy birthday to all Scorpios!

Venus Retrograde Cycle in Libra and Scorpio, August to December 2026. This chart illustrates Venus's movement in zodiac degrees throughout its pre-shadow, retrograde and post-shadow periods. It highlights the station retrograde on October 3, the conjunction with the Sun on October 24, and the station direct on November 14, showing how Venus moves between Scorpio and Libra before returning to Scorpio. All dates and times are based on GMT.

Sun (28°32′ Libra) opposite Chiron(R) (28°32′ Aries) at 22:26 GMT, October 21, 2026. Tensions between personal needs and the expectations of others may bring underlying sensitivities to the surface, particularly in relationships. With Chiron retrograde, past experiences or unresolved emotional issues may influence how disagreements and differences are perceived.

Moon enters Pisces at 12:35 GMT, October 21, 2026. Emotions may become more sensitive and intuitive, with greater attention to imagination, compassion, and what is felt beneath the surface. Boundaries may also feel less defined during this lunar passage.

Venus(R) (3°04′ Scorpio) square Pluto (3°04′ Aquarius) at 06:56 GMT, October 20, 2026. Underlying tensions in relationships may come to the surface, particularly around trust, control, and power dynamics. With Venus retrograde and Pluto having recently stationed direct, unresolved issues and established patterns may require closer examination.

Moon enters Aquarius at 01:39 GMT, October 19, 2026. Emotions may become more objective and future-oriented, with a stronger need for independence and personal space. Different perspectives and unconventional ideas may gain more attention, along with connections to friends and groups.

Saturn(R) conjunct Pallas Athena(R) at 10°11′ Aries, at 23:57 GMT, October 18, 2026. This conjunction brings together Saturn's focus on structure, responsibility, and long-term planning with Pallas Athena's strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities. With both retrograde, it may favor reassessing existing strategies, reviewing past decisions, and reconsidering approaches to unresolved problems.