Overview
The long-awaited Venus retrograde is here, making it the most frenetic and erratic time of 2026. Venus backstrokes in Scorpio and Libra from October 3rd to November 13th, making our lives unpredictable and stressful. Uncuffing season has begun while exes lurk our social media. Welcome to the deep end of the ocean.
The three weeks when Venus retrograde will moonwalk in Scorpio bring power struggles. Venus squares Mars in Leo on October 10th, the day of the New Moon in Libra and the 10/10 portal of endings, highlighting the insatiable passion that lies beneath the surface and in our hearts. The caveat is that we may take our emotions to the extreme, arguing our feelings to get our way or letting go of a partnership because it’s not in alignment with our plans.
Venus and Pluto in Aquarius link up for the second of the three fraught aspects they share (the first was September 15th, and the third will be December 9th — look to September 15th to unlock the mystery of what is coming, as similar themes may arise). The combination of Venus and Pluto brings out our subconscious fears, resentments, and yearnings. Pluto thrives in triangular situations, so watch out for tea on cheating, secrets, and gossip to come out.
The best day of the backslide is October 23rd, when the sun and Venus come together, forming an aspect called “cazimi,” which translates from Latin to English as “in the heart of the sun.” This planetary association creates a Venus star point, a term coined by astrologer and author Arielle Guttman. We’re looking at an eight-year cycle in which Venus makes five conjunctions to the sun, forming a pentagram across the zodiac wheel. Here’s how it works: we look back every four years to pick up stories and plots that persist, so pay attention to what happened in 2022 and 2018, as well as every four to eight years before that.
Interestingly, Venus in Scorpio retrograde squared Mars in Aquarius on October 10th, 2018, and formed a Venus Star Point (”cazimi”) in Scorpio on October 26th, 2018. Expansive Jupiter was at the tail end of its journey in Scorpio. In 2022, the Venus Star Point in Scorpio transpired on October 23rd in certain parts of the world, days before the solar eclipse in Scorpio.
The claws of justice (which is the theme of Scorpio) will be alive once again, giving us the strength to reassess the role of controversial political and public figures that are behaving unsavory. Venus is the planet of social graces, and it’s opening our eyes by making us as a society aware of who doesn’t fit the bill. Basically, scandals are coming out, exposing those who’ve acted very badly or done humiliating activities.
Details
Venus backs up into Libra on October 25th, reaffirming and rebalancing relationships until November 13th. This is the messier part of the odyssey because we have the evidence and information from Venus in Scorpio; now we must decide what to do with it and whether we can move forward. Also, Mercury retrograde in Scorpio stretches from October 24th to November 13th, adding more confusion and uncertainty to the mayhem.
There is an opportunity to heal on October 28th, from Venus retrograde’s opposition to the centaur Chiron, which is in retrograde in Aries. However, we might uncover past traumas that cause more harm than good because they trigger wounds. October 28th is a temporary band-aid to prevent further damage. Still, the apologies and compassion will be short-lived — especially since October 26th’s Full Moon in Taurus reminds us of former and current heartbreaks. Exes will be ever-present, asking for one more chance or closure. Tread lightly and with caution.
The post-retrograde zone finishes on December 15th in Libra. The pre-shadow began on August 31st. As you can see, this is a long process of emotional building and development. Be kind to yourself by implementing self-care as a radical form of love. Protect your peace by being selective in who you give time to.
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Source
Originally published at www.refinery29.com.