Summary
Outer Planets Hold the Frame
Aquarius Full Moon Total Lunar Eclipse September 7
Mars Transits Libra September 13 – October 27
Venus Transits Leo September 14 – October 9
Mercury Transits Virgo September 14 – October 3
Sun Transits Virgo September 16 – October 16
New Moon in Virgo Partial Solar Eclipse September 21
October 2025 Headlines

Summary

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

Outer Planets Hold the Frame

When we talk about outer planets in Vedic astrology, we focus on the slowest moving visible and invisible planets: Saturn, Jupiter, and the nodal axis known as Rahu and Ketu. Saturn stays in each sign for 2.5 – 3 years, Jupiter stays for one year, and the nodes stay for 1.5 years. Between late March and late May 2025, all of those planets shifted signs, setting the scene for the remainder of the calendar year and through May 2026, when Jupiter moves to Cancer.

There will be an interesting little preview in October and November that may bring a few clues about how things may shift after next May, when Jupiter changes signs. Jupiter will move out of Gemini and into Cancer on October 18th, pushing forward just one degree into Cancer before starting a retrograde cycle on November 11th, which returns Jupiter to Gemini for the remainder of that transit on December 5th.

In September, the nodal axis gets some air time, with two eclipses landing at the full Moon of September 7th and the new Moon of September 21st. Rahu, currently in Aquarius, is strongly placed to do his best work: foster instability, innovate through problems, and find common ground in the ever changing environment that we know as life in the modern world. Rahu’s aspects carry his turbulent energy into Gemini, Leo, and Libra at this time, as well. These are all active, outgoing, and masculine signs, holding the energies of communication, leadership, and connection. This is “go for it” energy, especially for the four signs mentioned: Aquarius, Gemini, Leo, and Libra. Leaps, or even hops, of faith after at least some form of risk assessment are recommended. This vibe continues through late November 2026.

Ketu’s energy tends to pool strongly where he is placed, so the obstacles and blockages which Ketu brings, as well as the solutions and liberations, are strongly rooted in the sign of Leo through November 2026. Think of those suddenly dropped road blocks as an invitation to let go of something you were too dense to realize you don’t need any longer. Reversing course, trying again from another angle, turning left instead of right, launching a rocket ship, sitting down with your tangles... Anything goes, but look at those stubborn situations as problems to solve for the purpose of finding some freedom, not punishments for wrongdoing or mistakes.

Saturn entered Pisces on March 29th, 2025 for an almost three year stretch. This placement asks us to find our own weight and purpose as we navigate larger cycles of endings and beginnings. Pisces is a watery, shifting, and expansive environment where the offer of liberation can be overwhelming when just meeting each day’s responsibilities is calling relentlessly. Saturn affects Pisces the most, followed by Taurus, Virgo, and Sagittarius, where his aspect and energy extend. Knowing when to let go and what to let go of is the trick at this time. Until late November 2025, Saturn remains in retrograde motion, which could make it evident that some of your things and situations have only perceived legacy value, not relevant, current value... which could make releasing them a bit easier.

Jupiter continues to bounce through Gemini like Tigger, which could cause rapid shifts when it comes to big things like educational trajectories, spiritual work, and stable growth. May 2025 – May 2026 is the year of big ideas. Write them down, make vision boards, and throw spaghetti at the wall as you test drive, realizing that not every seed that sprouts makes it to the fruiting stage.

The sign of Sagittarius is receiving the energy of both Saturn and Jupiter, gaining the power of sculpting just the right amount of sustainable growth. Find Sagittarius in your chart and tap into the combo platter of expansion and contraction being offered at this time.

The signs of Aquarius, Gemini, and Libra are all receiving amplified growth energy due to the resonating aspect between Rahu and Jupiter. Especially during the first two weeks of September, we could feel a surge with the aspect between the two becoming exact.

Aquarius Full Moon Total Lunar Eclipse September 7

The Moon waxes through the first week of September, becoming full at 22 degrees Aquarius on September 7 – 8th (depending on location), in the nakshatra of Purvabhadra. Joining the Moon in Purvabhadra is Rahu, which lines up the Moon, Earth, and Sun exactly for a total lunar eclipse. Opposite the Moon and Rahu will be the Sun, Ketu, and Mercury in Leo, specifically in the nakshatra of Purvaphalguni. This eclipse will be visible in Australia, Asia, Europe, and Africa. https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/2025-september-7

Purvaphalguni means “full ripening” while Purvabhadra implies “full prosperity.” Add to this the vibes of the full Moon, and we perceive the promise of harvest, gain, and payoffs. When we lay the shadowy energy of eclipse on top of this, perhaps what manifests is actually the opposite; where there is a promise of fulfilment and prosperity, we may find a blockage or destabilization that sabotages our realization of long term gains.

Remember that eclipses are temporary and only occur for a short time. The shadows cast could be a warning or foreshadowing that also inspire us to make changes to our course so that inconsistencies outside of our control don’t knock us off our path.

Purvabhadra nakshatra, which spans between 20 degrees Aquarius and 3 degrees 20 minutes Pisces, will be the host to the Moon and Rahu who are just a few degrees apart in the late degrees of Aquarius. Aquarius is co-lorded by Rahu and Saturn, making Rahu particularly strong during this 1.5 years transit between June 2025 and November 2026.

Purvabhadra is ruled by Jupiter, who is also currently strongly placed in his own Punarvasu nakshatra and exactly aspecting Rahu during this time. This aspect is mutual; both Rahu and Jupiter cast aspects in the same way and are bringing forward the energy of truth and illusion competing for attention. Layered truths and artifical intelligence are making it very difficult to perceive what is real and true during this time. Use the shifting light and shadow to find clues that are hidden within those layers of truths and falsehoods. Discernment and judgement may be the best tools for navigating out of stuck places and dangerous waters.

Counterbalancing the Jupiter expanded lunar eclipse are the Sun, Mercury, and Ketu in Purvaphalguni, a Venus ruled nakshatra that sits entirely within Leo, the Sun’s sign. The individuality of the Sun contrasts to the common ground of Venus, bringing forth the conflicts that come when trying to operate independently in the context of contract or relationship.

Don’t underestimate the power of diplomacy and negotiation that can occur internally and behind closed doors. Sometimes wrenching under the hood is what is required, not rearranging the furniture on the deck.

Mars Transits Libra September 13 – October 27

The friction and pressure may lessen some when Mars moves out of Virgo on September 13th. Saturn’s gaze can create a feeling of anxiety or pressure that drives us out of fear; that energy is coming into Virgo strongly due to Saturn’s opposition aspect from Pisces. With Saturn still in retrograde motion, this pressure could be variable, which has its own element of frustration.

The early weeks of September, with the Saturn – Mars opposition loosening up but the Jupiter – Rahu aspect tightening, the Mars in Virgo energy could be used for fixing, problem-solving, and re-fitting so that plans and strategies can be salvaged without a catastrophic loss of resources. Mars in Virgo is focused on data analaysis to maximize yield and productivity so that long term strategies can be tweaked based on current conditions.

From September 13 through October 27, Mars in Libra will show our power and energy shift toward relationships, contracts, and trying to maintain a stance of business as usual. This plan sounds logical, but Mars is also attempting to forge ahead in a shifting environment that is both hot and expansive due to the strong energy of both Rahu and Jupiter beaming into Libra.

With Mars added into the mental field already being churned by Rahu and Jupiter, we could see ideas unfolding very quickly, but not always in a productive way. A great time for brainstorming and powerful creation, but realize that not every seed will sprout nor every spaghetti stick to the wall. What happens in the think tank may not always escape the walls of the think tank. Be judicious about taking things from theory to practice.

When there is a mingling of Mars and Venus energies, we often have access to some form of creative passion. In this case, we have the functional design talent of Mars immersed in the open-minded creative flow of Venus’ Libra. This is a good transit to find the balance between fashion and function.

Venus Transits Leo September 14 – October 9

As the Sun prepares to move out of his own sign of Leo with Mercury in tow, Venus enters on September 14th for a breezy trip through the Sun’s fiery teritory until October 9th. Breezy or hurricaine force, actually? With Venus joining Ketu and inviting Rahu’s gaze, we may feel as if we are entering into an intense wash cycle, bleach and all.

Remembering that we’ve got powerful Mars transiting through Venus’ territory, we refer back to Venus’ current situation as we try to predict how Mars will produce. Venus gets into the creative hot seat in Leo, with the challenge of collaborating in the field of solo artistry.

Additionally, Venus encounters tricky Ketu, whose essence involves standing in the way of material ease for the purpose of forcing us to look up and out of our earthbound attachments. With all things Venus during late September and into October, we may encounter obstacles that force us to find creative solutions that may not be pleasant but could result in some shade of beauty.

Venus things include relationships, which tend to be an integral part of some other very big things, including business and politics. Venus will be the last of the inner planets to scale the wall that Ketu builds, leaving us all alone with our thoughts of liberation for awhile. No planets will come to visit Ketu again, save the monthly check up from the Moon, until July 2026 when Venus herself leads the pack that will break up the instances of Kala Amrita Yoga that will pop up from April – June 2026.

For the Venus things, mark this time in late September 2025 and see if there is a level up or wrap up that comes in July 2026. It could be a Venus in Leo encountering Ketu thing! At this time, Venus is rising before sunrise in its “morning star” phase. Venus will move past the Sun in December 2025 and January 2026, initiating a transition to “evening star” phase, where we will begin to see Venus in the western sky after sunset in March 2026.

Whatever creative trajectories are initiated from this Venus and Ketu encounter, you can build in a rest and rise period when Venus goes dark in November, blazed out by the brightness of the Sun for the superior conjuntion in January 2026. Venus reappears as evening star during Spring 2026. During this disappearance of Venus, heading for the heart of the Sun, we may find ourselves plunging privately into potent and creative energy from November through February.

Mercury Transits Virgo September 14 – October 3

Mercury’s Autumn itinerary has him galloping through Virgo and Libra, followed by a slowing down as he reaches Scorpio for a longer stay due to a retrograde cycle in November. Mercury moves into Virgo on September 14th, just after passing through deep combustion with the Sun who enters Virgo right behind Mercury.

The rapid transit of Mercury through Virgo could be quite potent from mid September until early October. Mercury is in his own sign of Virgo and also acts as exalted there. With the fancy sculpting power of Saturn beaming directly into Virgo, this could be a great time to shore up personal practice routines that require some discipline. This could also be a good time for diagnostics and finding clues and answers about what is working to maintain health.

Mercury in Virgo brings even more enthuiasm to the dual signs that are currently hosting both Saturn and Jupiter. The energy of dual signs is as you would assume; not committed to one path only, while recognizing that bumps in the road can become directional suggestions, asking us to analyze our plans, learn more when we need to, and let go when its time. This is a great stretch for spreading out the data and running the numbers as you decide how to tweak your daily routine for maximum fun and efficiency.

Sun Transits Virgo September 16 – October 16

The Sun’s annual transit through his own sign of Leo puts the Sun into strength, which can bring clarity and the ability to make right choices that keep us on the appropriate pathways. This year, we experience a bit of a twist due to Ketu’s current position in Leo, as well. The brightest star in our sky, the Sun, confronting shadows created by a specific alignment on his own turf can certainly confuse the perception of what is the right thing to do.

This condition prevails for the first half of September, highlighted by the total lunar eclipse of September 7th. This creates some challenge for Leo in the way of Ketu creating a sense of insurmountable problems; additionally, Ketu’s presence also invites the direct aspect of Rahu, adding to a sense of confusion or powerlessness in the face of situations beyond one’s control.

The Sun moves into Virgo on September 16th, just a few days after Mars departs, walking steadily at his pace of one degree per day through an opposition with Saturn that is exact on September 21, the same day as the partial lunar eclipse we look at in the next section.

Because the upcoming eclipse is partial, that means there is some space between the nodal axis and the luminaries. In this case the nodes and the luminaries are in adjacent signs, but about 9 – 10 degrees apart. Energetically, this bundles in some extra planetary input into the partial veiling that Ketu causes on the Sun and Moon as they conjoin for the monthly new Moon.

With the nodal axis, we have Rahu in Aquarius and Ketu in Leo, joined by Venus. With the luminaries, Sun and Moon in Virgo, we have exalted and own sign Mercury, as well as a very tight and direct aspect of retrograde Saturn at 5 degrees Pisces.

Because of Rahu’s involvement, and the current mutual aspect of Rahu and Jupiter in the air signs, both Jupiter in Gemini and Mars in Libra are swirled into the mix, bringing all nine planets into focus during this partial eclipse.

This could feel like a pivotal moment where revelations sneak through despite conscious attempts to confuse and cover. Where the total lunar eclipse had the Sun positioned in Purvaphalguni, this partial eclipse of the Sun itself happens in Uttarphalguni, where a ripe situation either gets harvested or wasted.

During the remainder of the Sun’s transit through Virgo, we may be dealing with the fallout of events around the equinox, which kicks off the autumn months until the winter solstice. The autumnal equinox occurs with the Sun in the earth sign of Virgo, showing the earth element theme that plays out as winter approaches, where we consolidate resources born of the power of the summer Sun and prepare to head into the winter season, resting, restoring, and nourishing from the current harvest.

New Moon in Virgo Partial Solar Eclipse September 21

At the new Moon, we lose sight of our consistent night light, which lines up with the Sun and vanishes briefly from our observation. The Sun and Moon conjoin at the new Moon, which some mark as the beginning of the lunar cycle.

When any other planet passes through the heart of the Sun, we call that “combustion,” known to challenge the voice of the planet passing through the brilliant orb of the Sun. The Moon does it monthly, which reflects in feelings of release and renew as we wind down one cycle and start another physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Our point of reference for these monthly new beginnings actually lies with the location of the Sun, which advances at the rate of one sign per month. For this partial eclipse, we see Virgo, the earth sign ruled by Mercury as the scene. Virgo is associated with health, service, work, and practice, as well as with the flip side of all of those things: illness, entitlement, laziness, and bad habits.

On September 21st, the Sun and Moon join at 5 degrees Virgo opposed exactly by retrograde Saturn at 5 degrees Pisces. The south node of the Moon, Ketu, sits close enough away in Leo to cause a partial solar eclipse. https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2025-september-21

With each of the planets somehow connected to this partial curtain call at the turning of the season, all of the cards are on the table during this new Moon. Uttarphalguni, which spans between Leo and Virgo, is ruled by the Sun. The power of this nakshatra has to do with prosperity gained by union. The deity called Bhaga rules Uttaraphalguni, bringing the concept of right use of wealth and resources to mind.

We are in it, but not enough to remain completely blind or shielded from the truth. The Ketu factor asks us to feel into our bones, to sit with our resources, our connections, and our habits. Now is the time to realize and recreate. To untangle and separate from that which makes us unwell. Go deep and listen keenly. The answers are there, are in fact in your hand already... Open one eye and take a peek.

October 2025 Headlines

Mercury Transits Libra October 3 - 24
Full Moon 20 deg Pisces/Revati October 6
Venus Transits Virgo October 9 – November 2
Sun Transits Libra October 17 – November 15
Jupiter Enters Cancer October 18
New Moon 4 degrees Libra/Chitra October 21
Mercury Transits Scorpio October 24 – November 23
Mars Transits Scorpio October 27 – December 8