October heavily focuses on Venusian matters, meaning matters of the heart. These aren't the lighthearted heart matters of this past summer, however, but the shadow sides of love that most people want to leave in the dark. There are opportunities for deep healing and breaking free of beliefs that we find no longer serve us, but it’s through the underworld that we must go first. This one goes out to all the heartbreakers and the heartbroken.

On October 3, Venus goes retrograde in Scorpio until November 13, where it will end in the sign of Libra. Relationships will be tested in relation to secrets, intimacy, and shared resources. As noted in last month’s Cosmic Forecast, Venus in Scorpio is always intense. Evoking the themes of this placement is the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Orpheus goes on the tough journey to the underworld to reunite with his wife, his music convincing Hades that they may return to the land of the living under one condition—that Orpheus does not look back at Eurydice on the journey up, as a test of faith. Tragically, he does look back, and Eurydice ends up staying in the underworld. Orpheus’ journey to be with the one he loves is an example of the sometimes beautiful tragedy that comes with following your heart’s desires. As the song “Wait for Me (Reprise)” from the musical Hadestown goes:

“You got a lonesome road to walk
And it ain't along the railroad track
And it ain't along the blacktop tar
You've walked a hundred times before
I'll tell you where the real road lies
Between your ears, behind your eyes
That is the path to Paradise
Likewise, the road to ruin"

Many people aren’t familiar with the intimacy of sitting with their emotions because, out of fear, they don‘t dare explore that deep, instead looking outside of themselves for validation and distraction. But if we don’t do this work, how will we know what we really need and want? How will we know who we really are?

October 10 marks a New Moon in Libra, bringing pleasure and passion to the forefront. It encourages us to find a target and go full-heartedly in the direction of it, asking: how far are you willing to go for the ones you love and the dreams you desire?

When you know what you want, the process can be risky and daring—sexy, even, and seductive. It’s like that moment in your career when you are so close to reaching your goal only to not get it. Or maybe you do, but you still don’t feel deserving. When something means a lot to us, it’s easy to lose ourselves in fear and doubt. Our hearts detach from our minds, and we start to ask “Who do I think I am to do this?” It’s in knowing ourselves that we can silence that doubt.

Are you drowning or exploring? Sometimes we’re so lost, it’s hard to tell the difference. In the end, is the journey worth it? As Broadway’s Hermes says about the story of Orpheus and Eurydice in the song “Road to Hell (Reprise),” “It’s a sad song, it’s a sad song, it’s a tragedy. It’s a sad song, but we sing it anyway.” We can’t return to the past, nor erase it, though our ego wishes otherwise. It’s normal to want to forget about something or someone when we’re hurt, and most people in this fast-paced, instant-gratification, distraction-heavy world think they’re well, when in reality their wellness is performative. It‘s a band-aid.

The Sun moves into Scorpio on October 23, moving away from seeing how our external world shapes us to reflect on how we contribute to these relationships. This isn’t meant to be a journalling type of exercise, but a deeper kind of reflection that can only be found in solitude.

A few days later, on October 24, Mercury goes retrograde in Scorpio until November 13, the same day Venus goes direct. Mercury retrograde happens a couple of times a year, causing communication delays, technology malfunctions and miscommunication. Passing through Scorpio, there will be a focus on refining our intuition and deepening our soul work.

The Full Moon in Taurus on October 25 is the same day Venus moves back into Libra. Opposing Chiron in Aries, there will be opportunities to develop an even deeper understanding of what we truly need after the hard work has been done.

The major stars of October are Venus and Mercury in Scorpio, creating a dark, deep and turbulent emotional environment that can shake our faith in ourselves and in one another. Expect October to test the depth of your safety net and your tenacity. The planets in Scorpio don’t want you to romanticize toxic situations, although it can be easy to, especially at the start of these transits. Instead, they want you to remember that there are opportunities to get beneath the surface, to the core of your soul, and to change old narratives—perhaps even intergenerational ones that have been around for a long time. With October comes the energy to completely change your life.

Glossary / Legend:

Transit: The ongoing movement of any given planet through the zodiac.

Retrograde: When a planet moves backwards. In astrology, the energy of a retrograde planet turns inwards.

House: An astrological chart is divided by 12 houses that each rule different subjects such as the self, home, relationships, and career.

Zodiac:

Aries: A Fire sign ruled by Mars, Aries is known as a natural leader, instinctual, and courageous. This sign naturally rules the 1st house, representing the body, approach to life, and how you came into this world.

Taurus: An earth sign ruled by Venus, Taurus is known for their sensibility, stubbornness and patience. This sign naturally rules the 2nd house, representing material possessions, values, and finances.

Libra: An air sign ruled by Venus, Libra is known for their sociability, attention to aesthetics and care for justice. This sign naturally rules the 7th house, representing personal relationships, balance, and what it means to be a mirror for others.

Scorpio: A water sign ruled by Mars, Scorpio is known as being intuitive, intense, and deep. This sign naturally rules the 8th house, representing secrets, shared resources, intimacy, and death/rebirth.

Planets:

Venus: This planet governs matters related to love and material. Its position in your chart signifies your romantic style as well as where you love to pour in your resources in relation to lifestyle. For example, pouring into luxury goods, social events, travel, etc.

Moon: This planet governs matters related to the home, the mother, childhood, and emotions. It is also the fastest moving planet in astrology, changing signs after about two days, which is why her movements are felt on a more personal level, especially on new moons, full moons, and eclipses.

Mercury: This planet governs the mind, including how we think, speak, write and process. Its placement in one’s astrological chart reveals one’s unique style of communication.

Mars: This planet governs your drive and conflict style. This influences how you assert yourself, how you act when you are angry, and how ambitious you are.

Sun: This planet represents the part of your identity you aim to embody in life, and it is most connected with your ego. In contrast to the Moon and Ascendant in your natal chart, whose energies show up more naturally, the Sun shows up in more intentional, effortful expressions of self.

Chiron: While not fully a planet and more of an asteroid/comet, Chiron represents the Wounded Healer in astrology, and its placement in a natal chart represents one of the deepest traumas someone will experience, which also has the potential to be a source of deep healing.

Author Bio:

Carmela (she/they) is a writer, artist, and astrologer. She is a second-generation Filipino-Canadian currently settled in “Vancouver, BC.” Her interests lie across the intersections of art, technology, and astrology. You can check out her website to book an astrology consultation and follow her @ohtheblooming on Substack and many social media platforms.

Artist Bio:

Monica (she/her) is an illustrator and graphic designer born and raised in Vancouver, BC. Her work spans multiple mediums and is rooted in nature and emotional storytelling. By toying with surrealism and realism, she creates imagery that captures mood, feeling and quiet moments of reflection. Follow her on Instagram @moninthemaking and www.monicadiaz.ca.

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Cosmic Forecast: October 2026