Summary
Venus Retrograde in Libra October 2
Saturn Slips into Uttarabhadra October 9
New Moon in Virgo/Hasta October 10
Sun Transits Libra October 17 to November 16
Venus Inferior Conjunction October 24
Mercury Retrograde in Libra October 24
Full Moon in Aries/Ashwini October 25
Jupiter Transits Leo October 30 to January 21
November 2026 Headlines

Summary

For an in-depth analysis of specific planetary placements, please continue with the full planetary forecast.

Venus Retrograde in Libra October 2

There are a couple of notable planetary weather patterns forming that are making both a backdrop and a foreground in the picture of the coming months. First, we have the Venus and Mercury whirlwind in Libra, driven by Rahu’s strong and windy aspect from Aquarius. Both planets are well placed in Libra, both planets do well together, and gaining amplification from Rahu, this could be an exciting time. Exciting good or exciting bad? Yes, of course.

Next, we have the Mars – Jupiter – Ketu conjunction season ahead, which has already begun to gather, with Mars joining Jupiter in Cancer during September. This underlayment ramps up during October and by November, we see both Jupiter and Mars passing through the early degrees of Leo, where Ketu has been rooting down. There will be ebbs and flows of this trio’s dance through early 2027. It looks like waves of sudden, deep changes that are required to release the positive effects of a strong Jupiter. Buckle up.

The first stroke of the brush in October comes with Venus assuming retrograde motion in Libra on October 2nd. This retrograde phase starts with Venus at 15 degrees of her own sign, beginning to change the planetary lineup that has been led by Venus for most of 2026, bringing diplomacy, relationships, contracts, and arrangements into the spotlight.

Venus has reached great strength by the moment she pivots toward retrograde; nearby lies Mercury who approaches Venus for a tango-style planetary war on October 6 – 7. The conjoined energy of Mercury and Venus is extremely active, connective, and supportive of collaboration, exchange, and transaction. Open up to magical networking opportunities. If you think of someone, reach out. Mercury and Venus can only tickle your brain. It’s up to you to reach out and touch someone.

The retrograde phase of Venus does a couple of things. On an interpretive level, with retrograde Venus, we could see second chances with relationships, or past connections resurfacing. As a connective and creative energy, Venus retrograde will also support reclamation of resources, materials, and creative work.

On a physical level, through most of 2026, we have been seeing Venus in the evening star phase, setting in the west after sunset, and becoming a part of the graha malika yogas that we witnessed in the Spring and Summer. With retrograde, we will see Venus disappearing from view, slipping into the arms of the Sun, becoming excactly combust on October 23rd, and reappearing in the eastern sky before sunrise as the “morning star” in November.

This backstage costume change for Venus, that will get even more slippery when Mercury joins her in retrograde motion on October 24th , is already busy and exciting, and to add more spice and mystery, Libra, the scene of the tango, is receiving that compound aspect of Mars from Cancer and Rahu from Aquarius. This brings up images of big waves and big wind. We may find ourselves literally or symbolically needing to batten down the hatches.

On November 5th, retrograde Venus slips back to the late degrees of Virgo. On November 13th, Venus stations direct at 29 degrees Virgo and Mercury stations direct at 11 degrees Libra. Also on November 13th, Mars, Ketu, and Jupiter conjoin at 2 degrees Leo. Let’s put a mark on that Friday... By November 22nd, direct Venus regains Libra. Expect October and November to be dynamic. Be open for fleeting oppportunities, keep the schedule light, and don’t forget to eat.

Saturn Slips into Uttarabhadra October 9

Checking in with Old Faithful, Saturn, we see him in the middle of his retrograde phase in Pisces that stretches from July 27 – December 12, 2026. Saturn takes a retrograde cycle every year for about 4.5 months. Have you ever considered that the toughest, most relentless planet actually gives us almost a third of each year where he loosens up on the brakes?

Discipline, commitment, and responsibilites may take a little hit during these months, but just because Saturn is laying back, he’s still watching with that one eye and taking stock of all the karmic actions. It’s a good time to move heavy things and let go of attachments that aren’t supportive. But don’t take this as a hall pass, we still have to pay for what we consume and take accountability for what we do.

Saturn began retrograde in the final nakshatra of the zodiac, Revati. On October 9th, Saturn backstrokes into the waters of Uttarabhadra, a deep, grounded, and spiritual nakshatra that combines the structural strength of Saturn as nakshatra ruler and the expansive depth of Jupiter, ruler of Pisces, which entirely contains Uttarabhadra.

In Revati, Saturn had us focused on the finish line and on preparations that involved cycling the old into the new. This focus loosened toward the end of July, when Saturn began his apparent drift backwards. For the remainder of his retrograde cycle, Saturn will anchor in Uttarabhadra, reaching for the depths, having us all searching for stability in shifting sands.

After Saturn resumes direct motion on December 12, he begins to pull us out of Uttarabhadra, regaining Revati by the first week of February, 2027. With this new information, we won’t be surprised when the things we thought were getting to the final chapter sink back into needing foundational adjustment. This will be the story starting in October and continuing through January.

Perhaps we can leverage this anchor symbolism. With the squirrel circus opening in Libra and the transformational trio getting to work in Leo, we can remember that Saturn is slowly backstroking through Uttarabhadra, stopping to check the depth frequently, and favoring shoring up foundations over blasting forward into outer space.

New Moon in Virgo/Hasta October 10

The Moon and Sun share space at 24 degrees Virgo, in the final sliver of Hasta nakshatra on Saturday, October 10th. This is our new Moon moment for October, a good time to build in a pause, a rest, and a pivot.

There are both kinds of mind energy at work here, and with the new Moon designation, it could be a call to take a break both intellectually and emotionally. Hasta nakshatra is symbolized by a hand, but ruled by the Moon; it sits entirely within Virgo, Mercury’s earth sign. The thinking mind shown by Mercury and the feeling mind shown by the Moon really overlap at this particular spot in the zodiac.

October 10th falls on a Saturday. Saturn is the ruler of the day, and is the main influence on this new Moon, aspecting Virgo from Pisces in his retrograde motion mode. Saturn is retrograde, minimizing his application of pressure and possibly speeding up his lessons through mid-December. This is a less strict, less punishing Saturn. But he is still Saturn, and his job is to maintain karmic balance. Often making him the “bad guy,” but also enabling him to reward those who have worked long and hard to make things right.

With Sun and Moon joining up in a sign that supports activity, processing, and management, and with that sign’s lord currently doing a dance competition with the intention of saving the world, it may be very hard to find the time and space to pause at this new Moon.

Tap into Saturn’s wise advice to take it slow and triple check how deep the water is getting. The combined emotional and analytical wheels will be spinning fast, but the reality is that there is nowhere to physically go. Tap into your somatic practices and keep physical activity on the menu as a way to discharge any mental buildup.

Sun Transits Libra October 17 to November 16

The king among the planets, the great Surya, or Sun, moves out of the harvest work project in Virgo on October 17th, entering the ballroom of Libra, where Mercury and Venus are already twirling in a creative and social frenzy.

There are a few reasons why the king may not be surrounded by the attention of pomp and circumstance. First, the very ripe energy of Ketu in Magha creates a bit of solar vacuum. Magha lies in the Sun’s terrain of Leo, but is also ruled by Ketu, pulling us deep into the origins of royalty and power. Ketu’s influence at this time is stronger than the Sun’s.

Second, the Sun comes out of Virgo after a month of contending with Saturn’s direct aspect, being forced to answer for selfish actions that may have cost the collective too much in resources.

Third, the Sun reaches his debility in Libra, where the voice of the people, of the family, and of community demands to be heard. With Rahu currently amplifying the social network communications coming from Mercury and Venus, the Sun’s invidual demands will be hard pressed to get air time.

If there are any parts of your system that need to go through the process of stepping back, getting humble, or conceding to the group, the Sun transiting through Libra could be helpful from October 17 – November 16.

Beyond those three little factors that affect the shine, the physical reality for the northern hemisphere is that the Sun’s strength wanes noticeably during the Libra transit, which then pushes the Sun toward Scorpio and then into the solar nadir at the Winter solstice.

But just like retrograde Saturn is still Saturn, debilitated Sun is still the Sun. It is the brightest light in our sky and can foster life and growth, but also burn and scorch. We can use the diminished but still powerful Sun’s influence to fuel creative projects, social connections, and whatever the indications are of the house that Libra fills in our own horoscopes.

The weather in Libra, shaped by that compound Rahu – Mars aspect, is still a bit wild. With the Sun joining into the dance, including the combustion sequence with Venus and then Mercury, we could see ourselves in an entirely different scene when we make it to mid-November.

Venus Inferior Conjunction October 24

Let’s put a pin in October 24th, where we see a few different shifts. A week after entering Libra, Venus’ air sign, the Sun sees retrograde Venus pass through his halo. This is full combustion of Venus as she passes to the other side of the Sun in the transiting planetary lineup. We won’t see Venus until she emerges on the other side, appearing in the morning before sunrise starting in late November.

Also on Saturday, October 24th, Mercury starts a retrograde cycle in the late degrees of Libra, more on that in the next section of the forecast, but it does add weight to the ruffle of this day. Remember that Libra is still getting significant push from Mars and Rahu, which amplifies all of it.

The third note is the waxing Moon’s proximity to retrograde Saturn on this day, showing a swell of emotion that leads to a decision or action that could have lasting consequences, either positive or negative. Be aware that all of these factors on this day are indications that slowing down, being deliberate, and surrendering to the moment could be good choices.

Mercury Retrograde in Libra October 24

Mercury’s third and final retrograde of the year runs from October 24 – November 13 where Mercury moves backward through Libra starting at 27 degrees in the nakshatra of Vishaka and stationing direct at 11 degrees in Swati nakshatra in November.

The Mercury retrogrades of 2026 all occur in the air signs, which has been exciting so far, due to Rahu’s presence also in an air sign, enabling him to extend his chaotic instability into all of the air signs. The Mercury retrogrades of 2027 will all be in air signs, as well; the difference is that Rahu will be doing his dragon breathing on the earth signs in 2027.

The general wisdom given for navigating Mercury retrograde cycles remains in place. Mercury or any planet in retrograde can be unpredictable, giving us more or less of their usual, or even acting opposite of what we expect. Results of retrograde planets are difficult to predict.

With this in mind, the Mercury related things tend to run much of modern life. Communications technology, markets, media, and medicine all fall under Mercury’s umbrella. It’s good to make sure that anything related to this domain of life be checked for function prior to the retrograde cycle.

While Mercury is retrograde, it is common for Mercury related items and functions to go haywire. Pack plenty of patience and extra humor as you witness and wait for Mercury’s antics to play out so that you can get on with your day.

With the backdrop of Libra at the moment, including retrograde Venus, debilitated Sun, Rahu’s breath and Mars’ force, this could be a Mercury retrograde on steroids. If it so happens that you are at a juncture where choices need to be made and directions need to be chosen, don’t force yourself to pick the first or easiest things.

With this much weather, new sets of waves will roll in quickly. The trick will be to feel the click when the right thing lands and to trust that it is right. If we wait for the last wave to roll in, we may have missed our best one...

This could be a time when nothing makes sense intellectually, which is Mercury’s realm. Remember we also have Ketu in Magha as an internal anchor. Our recent efforts at tuning in to our native intuition could be called upon to perform for real. With so much churning, it’s a good time to fall back on trusted gut instincts.

Full Moon in Aries/Ashwini October 25

Shining brightly from the stars of Ashwini nakshatra, the Moon becomes full at 9 degrees Aries, opposite the Sun at 9 degrees Libra, who is nearing his deepest debilitation at 10 degrees Libra, in Swati nakshatra.

The waxing Moon will have just weaved through the currently complicated signs of Aquarius and Pisces where Rahu and Saturn are currently positioned, and then pushed through the permeable barrier into Aries, currently unoccupied by other planets, giving the Moon and all of us, some clear perspective of the tango/circus/ballroom scene going down in Libra.

This full Moon asks us to identify what can be healed, repaired, or deployed quickly. The right piece of information could trigger the intuitive hit that leads you to the next helpful step.

Full Moon in Aries also improves Mars’ condition temporarily by putting Moon and Mars into an exchange of signs around the full Moon, giving power to emotions but also strategy to the mind. It could be very tempting to follow impulses during this time. A better choice could be finding a quiet seat at the top of the amphitheater where you can watch the big picture of the show that is unfolding while you nourish and refresh yourself.

This also sets the scene for the last week in October, when the waning Moon will move through quiet signs of the zodiac as the great guru, Jupiter, prepares to move signs. Identify what can be done to keep advancing, despite the static and chaos that could be happening simultaneously.

Jupiter Transits Leo October 30 to January 21

On October 30, Jupiter transits into the sign of Leo, ending chapter 2 of Jupiter’s current Cancer transit which began on June 1. Chapter 3 starts on January 24, 2027, when retrograde Jupiter returns to Cancer. Jupiter retrogrades until April 12, resuming direct motion at 23 degrees Cancer and then advancing again into Leo on June 25, 2027, which ends the five month long Chapter 3. Chapter 2 was five months of direct Jupiter, all the way through Cancer. Chapter 3 looks a bit more complicated but also powerful and transformational.

But the story of Jupiter in Leo for November, December, and January could become quite rich. Jupiter is a positive influence, promoting growth, abundance, knowledge and lineage. When Jupiter moves out of Cancer, the aspect he was throwing at Saturn will dissipate, but Jupiter’s influence on Saturn remains through his rulership of Pisces.

Moving into Leo, Jupiter runs directly into Ketu, which creates a notable conjunction of Jupiter, Ketu, and Mars on November 13. Around that time, we could see events that significantly change our course, so be ready for the rumblings that could start deep below our feet.

Jupiter running into Ketu means running into Rahu, as well. From Leo, Jupiter’s positive regard shifts to Aquarius, putting Rahu in Jupiter’s sight. This could cause a cascade of truth that may have been dammed up or hidden cleverly. Revelation of truth will be fantastic for some but painful for others. This opposition of Jupiter to Rahu only lasts through November, which sees the nodal axis shifting late in November and early December, accounting for both True and Mean Node calculations.

September felt like setting up the pieces on the game board. October sees the game begin. Momentum could surge at times during the month, whether we are in control of the ship or not. Change is inevitable, adjust to that fact by collecting the right pieces in order to compensate for expected or unexpected shifts.

November 2026 Headlines

Retrograde Venus Returns to Virgo November 5
New Moon in Libra/Vishaka November 8
Mars Enters Leo November 12
Mercury Direct in Libra November 13
Venus Direct in Virgo November 13
Sun Transits Scorpio November 16 – December 15
Venus Transits Libra November 21 – January 1
Full Moon in Taurus/Krittika November 24
TRUE NODES Shift November 25: Rahu in Capricorn, Ketu in Cancer