Horoscopes October 2026: Your ex is typing…

Grace McGrade is an intuitive astrologer based in Los Angeles. She is the head astrologer of the app Psyche. Her sessions include birth chart readings, transits, energetic clearings, and psychic consultations. For more astrology, read her guide to rising signs and moon signs. Read an overview of what 2026 has coming up for us this year here.

October begins in Libra season, ordinarily a social, lighthearted and romantic time when we focus on charming our counterparts, fine-tuning our aesthetics and mastering the impossible art of being liked by everyone. The sign of the scales teaches us about ourselves through the medium of relationships, striving for fairness, balance and reciprocity. This is usually cuffing season, when we start shopping for someone to spend the colder months with, attending romantic dinners and convincing ourselves that a person’s ability to choose a good restaurant says something meaningful about their character. But this year, Venus, Libra’s ruling planet, goes retrograde on October 3, and suddenly we’re questioning our taste. 

Venus goes retrograde approximately every 18 months, and it’s without a doubt the most entertaining of all retrogrades. Who doesn’t secretly enjoy receiving a text from an ex? Even if you have absolutely no intention of replying, there is something deeply satisfying about discovering that the person who ruined your life is apparently thinking about you on a random Tuesday. This Venus retrograde, which starts in Scorpio and backtracks into Libra, brings old lovers, old friends, old desires, and old grievances back into circulation, giving us a chance to reconsider the things we once found irresistible. 

It is not the ideal time for major cosmetic procedures, self-inflicted bang trims or rekindling a relationship because the sex was good.

On October 10, the New Moon in Libra gives us a chance to reconsider how we show up in relationships. Are you genuinely easygoing, or have you simply been ignoring your needs because you would rather be liked than be honest? Caution is advised when Venus is retrograde. We can briefly enter a period of financial psychosis and spend an afternoon shopping for things we absolutely do not need, cannot afford, and will mysteriously hate in three weeks. It is not the ideal time for major cosmetic procedures, self-inflicted bang trims or rekindling a relationship because the sex was good. Instead, use the duration of the next few weeks to examine your relationship to what you desire, how you spend and what you’ve been pining after. Venus begins her retrograde in Scorpio, where we confront the more uncomfortable forces that can become entangled with our desires: jealousy, possessiveness, fear of abandonment, the hunger to merge, and the all-consuming obsessions that have depleted our energies.

On the 23rd, the Sun enters Scorpio and shines a discerning light on whatever has been festering beneath the surface. The following day, Mercury turns retrograde in Scorpio, and everyone becomes more investigative, a little less trusting, and considerably more interested in finding out the truth. At this point, things are truly getting unhinged. Seemingly innocent conversations can veer into taboo topics, we may conduct rogue investigations about who checked our stories or form complex conspiracy theories about our counterparts. While some of this is purely paranoia, secrets have a way of spilling out during a Scorpio retrograde, and important revelations are in store for the remainder of October. 

On October 25, Venus returns to Libra, bringing our attention back to the delicate art of give and take in our relationships. Imbalances and lapses in reciprocity we were previously too polite to call attention to become the topic of conversation. If something feels unfair, fake or superficial, we may finally decide that enough is enough and stop overcompensating for someone else’s lack of effort. 

The following day, the Full Moon in Taurus reminds us to focus on our values, self-worth and money, prompting us to take our energy seriously, asking whether the people and situations we continue to invest in are giving anything of value back. After a month of questioning our desires, scrutinising our relationships, and uncovering what has been hiding beneath the surface, we are left with a clearer sense of what we love.

Libra is your opposite sign, and this month, relationships have a way of teaching you the qualities you do not always enjoy practicing yourself: patience, compromise and waiting for another person to make up their mind. You are usually the one making the first move, sending the text, and getting things moving. But this month, Mercury and Venus retrograde are moving through your relationship sector, which can make imbalances harder to ignore. You may have less patience for one-sided dynamics, superficiality, or people who seem perfectly happy to let you do all the work. What once felt like a minor annoyance may escalate into a full-blown argument if you try to bottle things up.

Regardless, Mars, your planetary ruler, is moving through Leo, helping you move in accordance with your heart. Bravery, creativity and self-expression come naturally to you this month, despite any interpersonal dramas that may transpire. On the 10th, the Libra New Moon offers a fresh six-month cycle in your relationships, encouraging you to set intentions for connections where initiative goes both ways. You want chemistry, excitement and something worth getting dressed up for. 

By the time the Full Moon arrives in Taurus on October 26, your attention turns toward money, security, and the question of what your time and energy are really worth. This can bring a financial reality check, particularly if you’ve been overspending or subsidising things that aren’t worth your time. Try to conserve your energy for the things that you love. 

Aries Beauty Recommendation: Rhode Peptide Lip Shape in Flex

For the first few weeks of October, the Sun moves through your sector of work, habits and wellbeing, turning your attention towards how you take care of yourself. It might be time to take a look at what you are consuming, and ask yourself if you’ve been using food, substances or even workaholism as a way to regulate your mood. This is the chance to find new, glamorous and inventive ways to take care of yourself. 

Venus, your planetary ruler, is retrograde this month, beginning in Scorpio before returning to Libra. This transit is a powerful examination of your relationship to what you want. Old feelings may arise, exes may reappear to taunt you and unfinished business may require a second look. Mercury also stations retrograde on the 24th, backtracking through your partnership region, leading to the occasional miscommunication or delay in your dealings with others. 

The month culminates with the Full Moon in Taurus on October 26, bringing your attention firmly back to your own needs. After weeks of reconsidering what and who you are giving your energy to, you may have a much clearer sense of what makes you feel grounded, cared for, and at home within your body. 

Taurus Beauty Recommendation: Armani Dolci Blush in Cinnamon

Venus begins her retrograde in Scorpio, stirring things up in your sector of work, habits and wellbeing, offering you the chance to find more structure in your daily life. What are you consuming, doing or tolerating that is interfering with your creativity? A habit that previously seemed harmless may be depleting your energy. Or perhaps, a dynamic at work that has made you feel inferior suddenly needs addressing. This is the month to examine what’s been occupying too much of your time, especially if you have very little time left for the things you truly enjoy. 

Mercury also turns retrograde in Scorpio, making it hard to resist doing rogue investigative work, stalking an ex or spilling your guts at work. Try to channel this tenacious passion into self-care or researching an odd interest. When Venus retrogrades back into Libra, your attention shifts back towards pleasure, creativity and self-expression. You may be revisiting abandoned creative projects, examining your work through a new lens or feeling a sudden urge to let your hair down and relax. Remember that having fun is not a reward for finishing your work. It is part of the reason you are here.

The month culminates with the Full Moon in Taurus on October 26, giving you an excuse to disappear away from the world for a minute. After weeks of examining what you consume and how you spend your time, this lunation invites you to slow down, rest and reconnect with your intuition. 

Gemini Beauty Recommendation: Vesuvio Eyeshadow Palette

As this retrograde has everyone acting slightly out of pocket, you may have a strong urge to get away from everything, shut the door and hunker down at home. With the Sun moving through Libra, home, family and your inner world become more pertinent. You may be reconsidering where you live, how you live or whether your current surroundings still reflect the person you are becoming. Old family dynamics are ready to be healed this Venus retrograde, as you get a clearer view of the patterns you inherited and how they have influenced your relationships. 

On the 10th, the New Moon in Libra offers you the chance for a clean slate. You have an opportunity here to upgrade your experience of home, perhaps by moving, securing a new support system or setting intentions for greater self-love. When Venus and Mercury retrograde move through Scorpio, you start to look at what you’ve been unconsciously attracting. What do you actually want to create, and what are you unconsciously manifesting instead? Do you believe in your own power to attract what you deserve? The month culminates with the Full Moon in Taurus, amplifying your psychic abilities and helping you cut ties with anything that has been at odds with these desires.

Cancer Beauty Recommendation: Sweed Cloud Mascara

October begins with the Sun moving through Libra, putting a spotlight on communication, conscious thinking and the way you relate to the people around you. Your perception is a little skewed this month, which we can blame on Mercury and Venus’ retrogrades. You may feel unusually unheard, noticing how often you affirm others while getting nothing back, give away way too much information or spend too much time doing other people’s emotional labour. 

As Venus retrograde in Scorpio moves through your fourth house, you start to recognise that some of these habits did not begin in your adult relationships at all. They can be rooted in early family dynamics or even be ancestral patterns, where attention or approval became intertwined with being silent, agreeable or emotionally available. This is an opportunity to begin speaking your truth, even when it involves confronting the fear of not being liked. Understanding where these patterns came from gives you the freedom to stop reenacting them. 

The month culminates with the Full Moon in Taurus, leading to important developments at work. After doing so much private excavation, you may feel more confident and vocal about what you are worth. This is a moment of celebration and accomplishment, where you are able to reap the benefits of your hard work. Enjoy. 

Leo Beauty Recommendation: Jones Road Wide Awake Brightening Concealer in 18W

In October, the Sun traverses through your second house of money, resources and self-worth, illuminating the relationship between how you see yourself and what you are capable of earning. The Sun in Libra encourages you to recognise your talents and cultivate a stronger sense of material security, but Venus retrograde in Scorpio begins in your house of communication, bringing attention to any fears or patterns of negative self-talk that have been unconsciously hindering you. If you habitually minimise your abilities, second-guess your instincts or assume other people are more qualified, you end up missing out on opportunities you deserve. Doubts about your abilities can surface, but so can a clearer understanding of how much of your confidence has been dependent on external validation. This is also not the month for making drastic changes to your appearance because you suddenly decide you need a complete transformation. Put the scissors down.

A positive financial development may occur on the 10th, when the New Moon in Libra opens the door to new revenues of income, while amplifying your perception of the beauty in the world. Defeat imposter syndrome by setting some avant garde intentions for success. 

Later in the month, The Full Moon in Taurus on October 26 offers a more grounded energy, helping you recognise that self worth is something you build through faith, not something you receive from other people. As your perception of yourself becomes more honest, your relationship with money can become more intentional, too. 

Virgo Beauty Recommendation: Burberry Beyond Wear Radiance Primer

October begins with the Sun in your sign, which is generally good news for someone who knows how to light up a room. You are thinking about your image, your relationships and the things you want for the year ahead. Then Venus, your ruling planet, goes retrograde in Scorpio, moving through your money and self-worth sector and forcing you to examine what you are spending in pursuit of feeling desirable, how you speak to yourself and what you are energetically attached to. You may also find yourself reassessing the relationship between money and desirability: what you buy to feel attractive, what you think you need to look successful, and whether you’re being financially responsible.

The Libra New Moon on October 10 allows you to set intentions for your identity, appearance and personal direction, but Venus retrograde means you may not be entirely sure what you want. Old insecurities can resurface, along with old people who seem mysteriously eager to reconnect and rehash issues. Resist the urge to reinvent yourself overnight. You do not need a new look because you disliked one photograph of yourself.

When Venus returns to Libra on October 25, the attention turns fully back toward you. Suddenly, the question is less ‘How do I keep everyone happy?’ and more ‘Do I even like these people?’ The Full Moon in Taurus the following day brings a reality check around intimacy, shared money and emotional investments. You may finally gravitate towards the relationships that feel nourishing, versus the ones that feel like an elaborate subscription service you forgot to cancel. Your standards are not unreasonable.

Libra Beauty Recommendation: Dior Addict Lip Glow in Cherry

October supplies you with deep psychic insights about what you have unconsciously been attracting. With the Sun in your sector of spirituality and isolation, you spend most of October close to the veil, receiving downloads from the divine. You are more eager for solitude than usual and your dreams may become louder, while strange little coincidences are harder to dismiss. Venus begins her retrograde in your sign on the 3rd, inciting a personal investigation of your relationship to what you want. You may find yourself questioning the way you present yourself, what you are still attached to and the patterns at play in your dynamics. Old obsessions can resurface, along with old feelings and the occasional text from an ex, attempting to lure you back into a previous pattern. This is not about reanimating a dead-end dynamic. This is a chance to process what has already occurred and free yourself of any lingering psychic debris from the past. 

When Mercury also turns retrograde in Scorpio on October 24, the psychic volume gets even louder. Your mind may become consumed with decoding motives, revisiting conversations and figuring out what someone really meant when they said something completely innocuous three weeks ago. The month culminates with the Full Moon in Taurus on October 26, illuminating your one-on-one relationships and pointing you to the dynamics where reciprocity, trust and stability truly exist. After spending weeks looking inward, you may finally have a very clear answer about who deserves access to you.

Scorpio Beauty Recommendation: Sunday Riley Aquamarine Melt Hydrating Gel-Balm Cleanser

Libra season illuminates your sector of friendships, pushing you to reassess your networks, social scene, dreams and long-term goals. With Venus retrograde this month, you are inspecting how your career aspirations and friendships align. Are you wasting your time chasing acceptance and neglecting your work in the process? Are you being used just to get ahead? Use this time to inspect the balance within your connections, making sure they align with your mission.

On the 10th, the Libra New Moon invites you to rethink your wider vision for the future and the people you want beside you when you get there. Choose your alliances accordingly. When the Sun enters Scorpio on the 23rd, followed by Mercury retrograde, your intuitive faculties become especially acute. Rather than entertain external dramas, you are encouraged to spend time practicing inner listening, delving deep into your subconscious. Dreams, memories, synchronicities and strange little flashes of knowing may reveal what you need to let go of. This is a powerful time for meditation, solitude, journaling and getting brutally honest about what your intuition has been trying to tell you.The Full Moon in Taurus on the 26th has you feeling more grounded, capable and physically present, giving you the vitality to get to work and deal with the practical stuff you have been avoiding. After weeks of living in your head, you may find something deeply comforting about doing what needs to be done, taking care of your body and getting your affairs in order.

Sagittarius Beauty Recommendation: Merit Beauty Brow 1980 in Black

October has you inspecting your career and long-term goals, as Libra season brings increased visibility and important developments in your professional life. Venus retrograde asks you to reassess what you want out of your career. You may find yourself yearning for more balance, inspecting how much you take on at work. Perhaps, you are realising that certain opportunities look impressive on paper but leave you wondering why you are working so hard to impress people you do not particularly like. Pay attention to what still feels worth pursuing and what goals have lost their allure. 

Your beliefs about how you are received by the public, particularly by superiors, gatekeepers or VIPs in your chosen field, may also need to be reassessed. You may carry old stories about being overlooked, undervalued or manipulated by people in positions of authority. This month allows you to heal past hurt and flip the script. Not every room is judging you, and not every powerful person is withholding something from you. You may be ready to stop anticipating rejection and start taking up space as though you belong there.

The Full Moon in Taurus on October 26 brings your attention back to pleasure, creativity and generally having a good time. You have been thinking a lot about work and where you are headed. Make sure you are still making room for fun. 

Capricorn Beauty Recommendation: Shark CryoGlow LED Face Mask

October has you inspecting your beliefs, opinions and personal philosophy. As Venus is retrograde, you may start questioning ideas you once accepted, especially if they have left you cynical, distrustful or weirdly committed to expecting the worst. It’s time to develop a more romantic worldview, reinstating your faith in the universe. Your curiosity is heightened, making this a good time to travel, study, obsess over some obscure subject or fall down an internet rabbit hole at 3am. On the 10th, the New Moon in Libra encourages you to expand your horizons and make room for a more positive perspective.

Mercury retrograde in Scorpio on the 24th has you asking deeper questions about the future, particularly when it comes to your professional direction. Old goals may need updating, and superficial desires you were once certain about may suddenly feel less relevant. You may also find yourself reconsidering your professional direction or how many responsibilities you’ve taken on, especially if you have outgrown a particular power dynamic at work.

The Full Moon in Taurus on October 26 brings you back to earth, reminding you that your body requires food, sleep and contact with nature. You can spend the month contemplating the meaning of existence, but eventually someone has to buy groceries.

Aquarius Beauty Recommendation: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Setting Powder

October takes you straight into the complicated territory of sex, intimacy and emotional entanglements. With Venus retrograde in Scorpio, you may find yourself reconsidering why certain connections have such a powerful hold over you. Old lovers or unresolved dynamics can resurface, along with questions about trust, vulnerability and how much of yourself you allow others to see. Your intuition is unusually sharp, so pay attention to what you pick up on beneath people’s words. 

The Sun enters Scorpio on the 23rd, followed by Mercury retrograde on the 24th, sending you even further down the rabbit hole. You may become obsessed with uncovering hidden motives, researching something you cannot stop thinking about or asking questions you previously avoided. Secrets have a tendency to surface under this kind of astrology.

The Full Moon in Taurus on October 26 brings you back to the immediate world, grounding all that emotional excavation in your everyday life. After spending weeks investigating what other people are feeling, wanting and withholding, you may decide that you have had quite enough of everyone else’s psychological material. Go outside. Call a friend. Refocus yourself on your individual emotions. You don’t have to carry everything. 

Your life-force is ready to be applied to ambitions with longevity. If you apply yourself, you’ll find a harmonious balance between ambition and practicality. This transit encourages you to set realistic goals and create a solid foundation for your aspirations. You may feel more disciplined and focused, allowing you to make steady progress toward your objectives. Embrace this time to take responsibility for your choices and establish boundaries that support your growth. Your hard work and dedication will pay off, paving the way for long-term success.

Pisces Beauty Recommendation: Chanel Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour in 419 – LÉGENDE