Your October Horoscope Is Here
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Even as the days grow shorter and the nights seem to darken, we can still find sources of light if we’re willing to look for them. The two (yes, two) full moons this month, on the 1st and 31st, will help you keep this in mind. Where the first will remind you what you must fight for, the second will remind you of all the riches you already have. With these lunar phases serving as bookends for the rest of October’s astrological activity, it will be difficult to deny the fact that, despite the chaos, the uncertainty, and, at times, the darkness, there is still light to be found.
Your ability to find the light will be directly challenged on the 13th, when Mercury retrograde begins in Scorpio. Emotional oceans will churn as thoughts of self-sabotage and instances of betrayal rise to the surface. This will be a trying retrograde for everyone, but especially those who can lose themselves in conflict and drama. Guard your heart and stay the course — in doing so, you just might be able to draw all the light you need from within yourself.
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Aries (March 21 – April 19)
October begins with a mini tribute to you and your values, dear Ram: The full moon on the 1st occurs in your sign, spotlighting and celebrating your passionate approach to life. You’ll feel particularly empowered to speak your mind and advocate for your desires. Just remember, however, that this lunar phase will embolden everyone to say and do what they want. So, if you start throwing your weight around, be careful you don’t step on the wrong person’s toes.
RELATED: Your Aries Zodiac Sign Guide
The rest of the month will be decidedly less fiery. The Mercury retrograde that begins on the 13th will ask you to downsize — spend less money, keep social engagements intimate, put your time to more efficient use, and establish a higher baseline for your energy reserves. Your usual “all or nothing” attitude will not serve you here, Aries. If you don’t believe us just yet, Scorpio’s solar season, which kicks off on the 22nd, will all but prove it. For the next 30 days or so, your desire to live large must take a back seat to smaller, more practical needs — this is your annual opportunity to decide what is truly worthy of your intangible, emotional resources and direct them there.
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Taurus (April 20 - May 20)
Venus, your ruling planet, will teach you a valuable lesson in work and play this month, Taurus. First, it will move into your pleasure sector on the 2nd and generate a sense of ease in how you express yourself. Creative blocks will loosen, your charisma will flow, and a special someone or two may take notice of your good spirits. Difficulties will be cast in a newly flattering light and, for the time being anyway, you should welcome this rosy perspective. When Venus continues its journey into your sector of wellness and routine on the 27th, it’ll come in handy at work and in your everyday comings and goings. These aspects of life can often feel rote and dull, even for a sign that thrives on consistency like yours. There is joy to be found in meeting your fundamental needs, Taurus. Now’s the time to revel in it.
RELATED: Your Taurus Zodiac Sign Guide
Your very own sign will host the month’s second full moon, which is sometimes referred to as a blue moon, on the 31st. Where the full moon on the 1st likely found you in a rather quiet mood, this one will turn the Taurean volume up to 11. Amplify your needs, dear Bull, and if no one around you seems to be listening, find those who will. You have the power to create your own current to sail — and this full moon could be the thing that lights your way.
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Gemini (May 21 - June 20)
Mercury, cosmic messenger and your planetary ruler, will kick off its final retrograde of 2020 on the 13th. While this period is liable to pack a particularly emotional punch for some, your sign’s experience of it will likely be pretty textbook, illustrating the most basic effects that a Mercury retrograde can have. However, that does not mean it will be in any way easy, let alone predictable. Your schedule and routine will bear the brunt of the retrograde’s influence, with even your best-laid plans getting thrown into peril over an omitted detail or a mismanaged calendar. Do not try to swim against the current, Gemini. Follow conventional wisdom and work smarter, not harder.
RELATED: Your Gemini Zodiac Sign Guide
If you’re feeling stuck, the new moon on the 16th, occurring in fellow air sign Libra, ought to help dig you out of the cosmic mire. This lunar phase will highlight your strengths, show you where you may be able to apply them better, and, perhaps most importantly, remind you not to take everything so seriously. Keep your sense of humor handy for the rest of the month, Gemini, and use it when things appear insurmountable.
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Cancer (June 21 - July 22)
What are your instincts telling you, Cancer? You’ll be wise to lean into your intuition on October 13, when Mercury begins its last retrograde of the year. The messenger planet will kick off its backspin in Scorpio, dipping into Libra on the 27th before directing course on November 3. In other words, it will spend the majority of its time in a fellow water sign, giving you a (slight) leg up when it comes to navigating this period. Your empathy working in tandem with your natural inclination to retreat and listen before speaking will help you rise above petty squabbles and perhaps even more serious conflicts, as well.
RELATED: Your Cancer Zodiac Guide
Speaking of retreating, the new moon on the 16th will gently — but firmly — call you home. Your comfort zone needs your attention, Cancer. Namely, it’s time to wonder whether your home is still the haven it once was, and how you can update and restore its cozy atmosphere. Does it need a little sprucing up? Would it benefit from, say, a furry companion or cohabitating with a significant other? Prioritize and plan around your sense of safety and security, Cancer.
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Leo (July 23 - August 22)
Last month’s celestial activity urged you to get your finances in order, Leo, and hopefully you heeded the call at the time, because October could see you loosening the purse strings regardless of your cash flow. Items of both the splurge-worthy and sensible variety will catch your eye, as if to suggest that you simply don’t have stuff at the moment. There’s nothing inherently wrong with wanting new things, but before you add anything to the cart, make sure you’ll actually use it when it arrives.
RELATED: Your Leo Zodiac Sign Guide
The sun, your celestial ruler, will take your mind off money and remind you of what really matters on the 22nd, when it moves into your sector of home and hearth for a month-long stay. Memories will emerge from the mines of your mind like little gems, reminding you of precious wisdom and bygone moments. Treasure them, but don’t let their shine blind you to any timely lessons they may have resurfaced in order to teach — how can these moments from your past help guide your choices in the future?
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Virgo (August 23 - September 22)
You’re normally the type to shoot straight from the hip, Virgo, but the skies this month will show you how a gentler approach may suit you just as well. When Venus, planet of love and beauty, moves into your sign on the 2nd, a sudden warmth, a generosity of spirit, could come over you. Snappy replies may be replaced with open ears; understanding may take precedence over eye rolls (or at the very least you’ll wait to roll your eyes in private). In short, you’ll find greater joy in finding common ground with others than in proving yourself right. Try a little tenderness and see where it gets you.
RELATED: Your Virgo Zodiac Sign
Your ruling planet, swift-footed Mercury, begins its final retrograde of the year on the 13th and sets its sights on the logistics and communications that, at the risk of sounding dramatic, help shape your everyday life. Double- and triple-check your itineraries and to-do lists, and don’t lose your head if changes come up at the last minute. This period will push your practical sign’s patience to its very limits, but it’ll also give you a chance to demonstrate how nimble you can be, even as the ground beneath you buckles and shifts.
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Libra (September 22 - October 23)
Happy (ongoing) birthday season, Libra! The first half of October, before the sun moves on from your sign and Scorpio season begins on the 22nd, is yours for the taking. You’re feeling about as confident, capable, and, well, like yourself as you will all year. In other words, seek out and prioritize tasks and activities that suit your skills. There’s nothing wrong with showing off a little during your solar season — those around you are probably already enjoying the breezy, Libran vibes anyway. Just don’t feel slighted if someone doesn’t “ooh” and “ahh” to your heart’s content. More than anything, this is a chance to prove your strengths to yourself.
RELATED: Your Libra Zodiac Sign Guide
If you haven’t made that connection by the 16th, the new moon that evening will make sure it hits home. This withdrawn lunar phase will occur in your very own sign and it won’t just help you see where you naturally excel — it’ll demand that you recognize those gifts within yourself and push you to take them to the next level. Take some time to reflect on matters of self-improvement and resist the urge to dwell on your shortcomings. Focus, instead, on the potential for growth that the future holds.
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Scorpio (October 23 - November 21)
Your sign will be hosting Mercury when it kicks off its final retrograde of the year on the 13th, placing you squarely in its crosshairs. That said, this is not the worst place for Mercury to be. Where other signs may have to deal with the retrograde revisiting and rehashing annoyances in their external lives, you will mainly feel its effects on your inner self, drumming up questions of your self-presentation and means of expression. It’s a much quieter experience than the one others will have — we urge you to take advantage of it. This is a great time to adjust how you’ve been approaching a problem or even retrace your recent decisions to get to the root of an ongoing issue. The retrograde is putting you under a microscope, but you have all the tools you need to change what you see, Scorp.
RELATED: Your Scorpio Zodiac Sign Guide
A break from the work comes on the 22nd when the sun enters your sign and your birthday season begins! Put your tendency toward self-deprecation and self-sabotage on the backburner for the next month and, instead, go after what you want in earnest, with your full weight behind your efforts. You just might be surprised how they pay off.
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Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21)
This month’s two full moons will serve as point and counterpoint to an ongoing, highly Sagittarian conflict for you, dear Archer. Namely, where should you send all your fiery energy? The first full moon, arriving on October 1 in fellow fire sign Aries, will place you squarely in your playful, ebullient element, filling you to the brim with kinetic creative energy. You’ll be eager to channel these good feelings into your relationships (or at least your favorite flirtations) as well as your hobbies. You’ll seemingly only have the attention span for lighthearted pursuits, driven purely by your passion.
RELATED: Your Sagittarius Zodiac Sign Guide
The second full moon will take place in Taurus on the 31st and imbue you with more of the same zealous energy, but it will urge you to find a more, shall we say, practical outlet for it. You’ll need to glean the same joy from acing a project at work or committing to a new self-care routine as you did from fun and games at the start of the month. If you heed the messages of both full moons, this month’s lunar activity can show you how to apply your drive to all areas of your life in equal measure.
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Capricorn (December 22 - January 19)
The full moon on the 1st will remind you of the importance of rest. Recharge before the month ahead and actually take time to enjoy the comforts of your home. When Mercury retrograde begins on the 13th, you’ll be glad you did. Problems within your wider social network could come to the fore during this period. It’ll be in your interest to stick to direct, in-person communications, with written confirmations where necessary. Jokes, agreements, and delicate matters could very easily get lost in translation, so don’t worry about being too flowery or cute when trying to get your point across. Stick to the basics, Capricorn, and show others a little patience as they try to do the same.
RELATED: Your Capricorn Zodiac Sign Guide
The second half of the month will highlight your career’s trajectory — and make you wonder whether you’re aiming high enough in your professional aspirations. Spend the new moon on the 16th reflecting on your current goals at work. Are they in need of an update? Are you taking advantage of all your resources and skills in order to reach them? Adjust your plans as you see fit. Ambitious sign that you are, you likely have an image of success already fixed in your mind. What else can you do to bring that image into reality? Breaking out the old Capricorn charm could do the trick — don’t worry, coquettish Venus sliding into your work zone on the 27th will give you a much-needed boost.
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Aquarius (January 20 - February 18)
The 13th will see 2020’s final Mercury retrograde begin, with its sights set directly on your career. You could be in for a difficult few weeks at work, Water Bearer: Office gossip could turn nasty, managers may become more demanding, and clients might nitpick your efforts all the way back to the drawing board. You have two options: You can lay low until the messenger planet directs course or you can take this as an opportunity to flaunt your ability to deliver under pressure. The former is by far easier (and should spare you a tension headache or two), while the latter will grant you bragging rights for weeks to come. Which will you choose?
RELATED: Your Aquarius Zodiac Sign Guide
You’ll be able to unplug from the rat race during the new moon on the 16th. This lunar phase will ask you to nurture your (very Aquarian) thirst for new knowledge and innovative ways of living. This is a wonderful time to delve into an unfamiliar subject that’s caught your interest (explore your options for online courses!), take a new routine for a spin, or research what it might be like to live somewhere completely different. Don’t be scared to get experimental and playful with your thinking — there is comfort in the ordinary, but there is freedom in the unknown, Aquarius.
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Pisces (February 19 - March 20)
The full moon on the 1st will help you align yourself with your material needs and desires. The ongoing Mars retrograde in your money sector will dampen any desire to go on a spending spree and it will leave behind an immense sense of gratitude for the creature comforts that you already have. The second full moon on the 31st will snap you back to reality, as your to-do list will appear to grow exponentially and seemingly everyone in your life will need a favor, but don’t forget this message of appreciation from the first full moon.
RELATED: Your Pisces Zodiac Sign Guide
Venus will move into your relationship house on October 2 and shove material matters to the back of your mind, making plenty of room for matters of the heart. You and your partner may find each other especially candid, warm, and agreeable during this time, and thus end up spending more time just the two of you — you may reach a new level of intimacy or mark a romantic milestone as a result. This openness of the heart will show itself in your platonic partnerships, as well, as you’ll be inspired to seek out quality conversations with your closest friends. Those whose company you crave the most may surprise you.
