Astrological Forecast for October, 2026

If you like to dig in the dirt and expose the hidden, ugly stuff about our society, this is the month for you. Scorpios will love it!

Pluto, the planet that rules Scorpio—and taboos, secrets, power, and the hidden, intense, transformative parts of life—is slowing down. He is hovering around 3 degrees of Aquarius this month, getting ready to turn direct on the 15th. Pluto corresponds to Hades in the Greek pantheon.

On October 3, Venus is retrograding in Scorpio, digging up nasty facts about women, movie stars, and the modeling industry. Mercury is also in Scorpio and gets locked into a T-square with Pluto in Aquarius and Mars in Leo.

Mercury is trying to tell us what he is finding out, but Mars and Pluto are doing their best to muffle or censor him. Then, on the 23rd, the Sun enters Scorpio, drawing us toward everything concealed, suppressed, secret, or forbidden.

Mars is in Leo, squaring Venus and Mercury all month. Leo and Scorpio don’t particularly like each other. Leo is light, playful, dramatic, and loves an audience. Scorpio is dark, profound, secretive, and would rather know where the bodies are buried.

Leo represents the king, the queen, and royalty; Pluto represents the powerful Mafioso boss operating behind the scenes. They both want power, and neither is particularly fond of sharing it.

In the myth associated with Leo, Phaeton was driving the chariot that pulled the Sun across the sky, feeling very confident and perhaps showing off a little, until he encountered the Scorpion and dropped the reins. In that story, Scorpio wins.

We may see this same battle played out this month between Mars in Leo and Venus and Mercury in Scorpio.

As I am writing this, Jeffrey Epstein keeps popping into my mind. So I looked at his birth chart, and I can see why. The transits this month are hitting major points in his chart.

His Sun is in early Aquarius, where Pluto resides all month. His Midheaven—the point connected with reputation and public standing—is at 2 degrees Scorpio, where Mercury, Venus, and later the Sun will travel this month.

His Moon is in Aries, ruled by Mars, which is very active in Leo and locked in a struggle with Pluto. His chart appears to be telling a story that could play out this month involving news about him, connected to money, and women.

There may be more revelations or additional files released concerning Epstein. As Jung said, birth charts keep working even after we are “presumably” dead.

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From October 4 through October 9, Jupiter will be at 20 degrees Leo and will trigger the eclipse we had back on August 12, 2026.

Whatever the August 12 eclipse brought up may be due for a do-over—or, at the very least, a return of the themes that arose around that time.

Mars will hit that same eclipse point next month, on November 5. Mars tends to bring eclipse symbolism out of the background and into action.

Something that was quietly developing around the eclipse period can suddenly become urgent, visible, or decisive—or require you to actually do something about it rather than merely contemplate it.

The August 12 eclipse in Leo involves self-expression, pride, creativity, leadership, recognition, children, romance, or simply the need to act from your own will rather than constantly accommodate everyone else.

Jupiter may enlarge whatever the eclipse started. Mars may make sure we can no longer ignore it.

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Highlights for this month:

Note to my Astrology Clients. Use your Planetary Placement and Ascendant sheet to find if you have a personal planet (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, or Mars) or the ascendant within 2 degrees of the degree of the transits listed below. If so, the transit will have a significant impact on you.

Oct 2 – Mercury square Mars at 2 degrees of Scorpio/Leo. Someone has a sharp tongue, is irritable, and is looking for a fight. Is this you? Well, it could be if you have any personal planets from 0 to 4 degrees of Scorpio or Leo.

Mercury square Pluto at 3 degrees of Scorpio/Aquarius. You are probing and intense. You keep trying to dig up other people’s secrets. You could come out with things that should not be said in polite company. You could get a bit paranoid and controlling with this one. This is a good time for investigative journalists to dig up some dirt.

Mars trine Neptune at 2 degrees of Leo/Aries. We get a brief break with this aspect. Go on a retreat, do some yoga, listen to music, and visit the beach. Mellow out and get ready for the rest of the month, ’cause it ain’t over.

Oct 3 – Mars opposite Pluto at 3 degrees of Leo/Aquarius. This depicts a battle. This is not looking good for war. Leo is the king or ruler, and Aquarius represents the people. We may see more protests around the world. In your personal life, you or someone close to you may become an obsessive fanatic seeking revenge.

Venus turns retrograde at 9 Scorpio. Venus rules money, love, art, beauty, and women. We will see some of these values come up for review. Think twice before purchasing clothes, art, homes, or beauty products. This will affect you if you have personal planets within 2 degrees of 9 Taurus or Scorpio. Be careful about starting a new relationship, and don’t even think about going back to your ex. Stay with what you’ve got, as unpleasant as that may be. The two of you could negotiate a better balance in your relationship.

Oct 4 – Sun opposite Saturn at 11 degrees of Libra/Aries. Leaders could experience a loss of control. Personally, we could find ourselves stuck deciding between compromise and a fight.

Oct 6 – Mercury conjunct Venus at 8 degrees of Scorpio. Mercury with Venus can be charming and diplomatic. But in Scorpio, it could also describe someone who is cunning and manipulative.

Oct 10 – New Moon at 17 Libra. A fresh start for balancing and harmonizing your relationships. This begins a month of cooperation and peacemaking.

Venus square Mars at 6 degrees of Scorpio/Leo. Today, you or someone close to you may be demanding, aggressive, and tactless. You know those people who are never satisfied? Well, you may be surrounded by them today.

Oct 15 – Pluto turns direct at 3 degrees of Aquarius. There may be an upwelling of information that we really don’t want to see.

Oct 20 – Venus square Pluto at 3 degrees of Scorpio/Aquarius. This could indicate a passionate entanglement or an inner compulsion to manipulate or humiliate your partner. Someone is sly, compulsive, jealous, or perverse. Not a good day to go on a dating app.

Oct 23 – Sun enters Scorpio until Nov 22. Scorpio is the sign of depth and extremes. Scorpio hates superficial people and superficial ideas. It’s a month to “get real.” Pluto came up from the underworld for healing, so some powerful positive transformation could take place for you this month.

Sun conjunct Venus at 1 degree of Scorpio. I’m running out of nasty things to say about Scorpio, so I’ll switch to her better traits. She can be a great healer or psychotherapist. With Venus, she can be a museum curator or an art appraiser. Pluto’s symbol is the eagle, which can soar above the world and see and understand the plight of mankind.

Oct 24 – Mercury retrograde at 20 Scorpio. He will stay retrograde until Nov 13. Before you all freak out about Mercury retrograde, think about the positive side. You will have time to quiet your monkey mind and review or revise plans you’ve made, edit your writing, or just take a breather. But don’t start anything important right now. You may have a few hiccups along the way.

Oct 25 – Venus enters Libra until Nov 13. Venus, in her home sign, loves to flirt, dress up, and socialize. You may have an urge to be graceful, elegant, and charming. Get your hair cut. And wipe off that Vampira makeup you’ve been wearing all month.

Oct 26 – Full Moon at 2 degrees of Scorpio/Taurus. This Full Moon squares Pluto in Aquarius. Taurus wants personal comfort—maybe a massage or a day spent cocooned at home. But Pluto is messing everything up again. This brings intense emotional tension between the desire for personal comfort and deep, forced transformation. How much transformation can we take in one month? I’m exhausted. Back off, Pluto.

Sun square Pluto at 3 Scorpio/Aquarius. Here we are again. You could be obsessed with a thirst for power. This is an all-or-nothing aspect. No compromise—no kissy face—just brute force in dealings with others. Scorpio/Aquarius can be one very intense combination.

Oct 30 – Mercury square Mars at 17 Scorpio/Leo. You are edgy and nervous today. You keep interrupting people when they speak. No one wants to hear your sardonic, satirical, dark opinions.

Oct 31 – Halloween. Tonight, let’s try to propitiate Pluto. According to Wikipedia, propitiate means to appease, calm, or win the favor of a god to avoid their anger or gain their blessing. Offer Pluto a gift of dark chocolate or an ebony stone.

OUTER PLANET TRANSITS FOR OCTOBER 2026

JUPITER is in Leo until July 26, 2027. This transit is especially important for those with natal planets between 19 and 24 degrees of Leo or Aquarius. Jupiter in Leo expands confidence, creativity, generosity, and the desire to be seen for what is special and heartfelt in you. It favors performance, teaching, leadership, romance, children, art, play, and any situation where warmth and personal radiance matter. At its best, this is a big-hearted placement: proud but encouraging, dramatic but inspiring, loyal and life-giving. The caution is overdoing pride, needing applause, or turning every situation into a stage. The gift is learning to shine in a way that gives others permission to shine too.

SATURN is in the fiery sign of Aries. This month, he moves retrograde from 11 to 9 degrees of Aries. Saturn governs structure, discipline, and the material realities of life. If your Ascendant or personal planets fall between 7 and 13 degrees of Aries, you may face lessons involving responsibility, courage, and self-reliance. Saturn in Aries asks you to act—but not foolishly. That is the annoying part.

URANUS is in Gemini until August 13, 2040. This month, he is moving retrograde from 5 to 4 degrees of Gemini. Uranus symbolizes change, awakening, and liberation. If Uranus forms strong aspects to your Ascendant or personal planets—especially between 3 and 7 degrees of Gemini or Sagittarius—you may feel a powerful urge to break free from stale patterns. Something in your thinking may shift suddenly. You may surprise yourself and possibly everyone else. This can be a powerful period to embrace change intentionally rather than resist it.

NEPTUNE travels through Aries all month and remains at 2 degrees retrograde. Those with Ascendants or personal planets between 0 and 4 degrees of Aries may experience heightened sensitivity, uncertainty, or a search for direction. Neptune can blur boundaries, but it can also inspire vision and compassion. After spending many years in Pisces, Neptune’s move into Aries marks a shift from passive dreaming to active imagination. The question is: What dream are you willing to fight for?

PLUTO remains in Aquarius until 2043/2044. This month, he is retrograde until Oct 15 and stays at 3 degrees of Aquarius all month. Pluto’s influence is deep and transformative, often bringing psychological material to the surface so it can no longer be ignored. Those with Ascendants or personal planets between 1 and 5 degrees of Aquarius, Leo, Taurus, or Scorpio may feel this energy most strongly. Pluto’s process can be intense, yet it ultimately supports empowerment by revealing what must be released.

Try to stay above the fray this month,

Janet Kane