Astrology October 2018 – Venus goes Retrograde

The event of the month is, of course, Venus retrograde in Scorpio. Venus changes course on October 5 at 10° Scorpio and will stay retrograde until November 15.

This is one of the most intense Venus retrograde we have had in a while. Why? Firstly, because it’s in Scorpio. Usually, that’s ‘enough said’. Scorpio is the sign of change and transformation. After any serious Scorpio transit, something inside you changes forever. Once you emerge from the storm, you’re never the same person again.  

Scorpio is the sign of hidden things, so Venus retrograde will expose your most hidden secrets, especially those related to love and relationships. No matter how happy our relationships are, there is always stuff buried deep inside. 

Venus retrograde will dive into the Underworld to expose this buried stuff. When Venus is retrograde, she is in fact in a perfect alignment with the Earth and the Sun. Venus disappears in the rays of the Sun to dive into the metaphorical Underworld, where she gets purified.

When Venus is retrograde, the pull of self-transformation is so strong that we cannot ignore it. Whether or not you are aware of it yet, you too are ready to dive in.

Venus retrograde makes an intense opposition to Uranus, the planet of unexpected change, freedom, and liberation. Usually, one Uranus transit is enough to break the chains of illusion. But this time we have an unusually long Uranus transit, because of Venus’ back and forth motion.

Because it takes so long, Venus-Uranus will break the strongest chains – those chains you thought are impossible to break. Ultimately, the Venus-Uranus opposition will liberate us from the prison of our outdated Selves, so that we can have mature, meaningful and authentic relationships.

Let’s have a look at the most important events of October 2018:

October 2nd, 2018 – Mercury is Square Pluto

On October 2nd, 2018 Mercury is square Pluto. We all have obsessive thoughts from time to time. The reason they become obsessive is that there are certain aspects of our lives we believe we have no control over. And the anxiety of ‘not having control’ creates these obsessive thoughts.

Obsessive thoughts are thoughts that got caught in a loop because we’re not addressing the underlying cause that created them in the first place. 

Your challenge during this transit is to pay closer attention to these obsessive thoughts. Where do you feel powerless in your life, and why? Pluto always asks for the ‘why’ and will ‘torture’ you until you find out. Once you have found out, the simple acknowledgment of the ‘why’ usually solves the problem.

October 5th, 2018 – Venus goes Retrograde

On October 5th, 2018 Venus goes retrograde. Venus is how the world makes us feel. When Venus goes retrograde in Scorpio, the sign of the truth, you may discover some things in your life that aren’t that pretty.

But the worst thing you could do is to try to brush them off. That strategy, my friend, is not going to work. Scorpio EXPOSES. The more you try to hide it, the more it will come to get you.

Venus goes retrograde in Scorpio for a reason. We all have some skeletons in our closet. These skeletons get bored too, and once every 8 years, when Venus goes retrograde in Scorpio, they want to come out. The question is: are you going to build a stronger lock to keep them in there for 8 more years, or are you going to let them out?

Are you ready? Have no fear. You can actually thrive during this process, and I’ll show you how. Watch out for my announcement of the Venus retrograde course!

October 9th, 2018 – New Moon in Libra

On October 9th, 2018 we have a New Moon in Libra. This New Moon is square Pluto. Venus, the ruler of the New Moon, is in Scorpio AND is retrograde. This New Moon in Libra will feel very Scorpionic, so don’t expect love, peace, and chocolate.

New Moons come with new beginnings. This particular new beginning has a ‘retrograde’ flavor to it. There is some ‘unfinished’ energy about it. Something about this new beginning will require some digging into the past. If you start something new around October 9th, there is more to it.   

On the same day, Mercury moves into Scorpio, the most investigative sign of the zodiac. Mercury likes to go into the secret corners of your mind and expose the most creepy thoughts and feelings. These are things we usually hide from others and even from ourselves.

Mercury is an objective planet, and Scorpio is all about the truth. Not the objective truth of Libra, but the emotional and sometimes ambivalent truth of deep-water Scorpio.

Mercury in Scorpio is about applying radical honesty in your everyday life. Radical honesty doesn’t mean telling your friend “you look fat in that dress”. It starts with yourself. Are you really honest – with your own feelings – when you tell someone they are fat? What really drives you to say that? Is it honesty or something else?  

October 10th, 2018 – Mercury opposite Uranus; Venus square Mars

On October 10th, 2018 Mercury is opposite Uranus and Venus is square Mars. This is a high energy, erratic day. You can have an irresistible desire to speak your mind or to take decisive action in one of your relationships.

Taking action is always a good idea, as long as you take it from a place of confidence and alignment. If you are out of alignment, is not a good idea to rush in into an action you will end up regretting later.

On a positive side, these dynamic aspects can help you find creative solutions to some problems you’ve been avoiding.

October 12th, 2018 – Sun square Pluto

On October 12th, 2018 Sun is square Pluto. The Sun is in Libra and Pluto is in Capricorn – we have some serious cardinal action! Power struggles are usually the norm when the Sun makes an aspect to Pluto, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

Pluto only wants to show you that there is some higher truth about life that you may not be aware of yet. Pluto will push you outside your comfort zone to find this higher truth. It can be uncomfortable at first, but it is so much worth it. This is a great day for self-development or self-inquiry.  

October 15th, 2018 – Mercury conjunct Venus

On October 15th, 2018 Mercury is conjunct Venus at 8° Scorpio. Venus is making her last appearances as an evening star. In just a couple of days, she will disappear under the beams of the Sun, ready to be transformed in a morning star. Mercury, on the other hand, has just emerged from the beams of the Sun. He has a message for Venus. This is the call for transformation.

The Sumerian myth of Inanna begins with Inanna deciding to attend her sister’s husband’s funeral. This is her pretext to go into the Underworld. Venus will indeed disappear from the sky 3 days later, on October 18. This pretext, or call to action, is Mercury. He will bring you the message. What is YOUR call to action? 

October 19th, 2018 – Mercury trine Neptune; Mercury square Mars

On October 19th, 2018 Mercury is trine Neptune and square Mars. You can have lots of ideas thanks to the harmonious Mercury trine Neptune aspect, but the dynamic square to Mars will help you put them into practice. If you are more reserved, this transit will give you the impulse you needed to bring your ideas into the world. If you are very extroverted and confident, you can become a little bit too much in love with your ideas and try too hard to push them on others.

October 23rd, 2018 – Sun enters Scorpio

On October 23rd, 2018 Sun enters Scorpio. When the leaves start falling, and Halloween approaches, you know that the Scorpio season is about to start. Scorpio is the sign of change and transformation that can lead to inner strength. October/November is also the season when we usually get the flu. Getting the flu is not pleasant, but it can, in fact, help your immune system get stronger.

And this is how Scorpio operates. It creates a bit of discomfort so that you can become stronger, better and enjoy life even more. Venus (retrograde), Mercury and Jupiter are already in Scorpio. When the Sun joins in, you will become aware of what exactly you need to transform in your life so you can become stronger and better.

October 24th, 2018 – Full Moon in Taurus

On October 24th, 2018 we have a Full Moon in Taurus. The Full Moon in Taurus is on high voltage! This Full Moon should be called the “AC/DC Full Moon” as it is exactly conjunct Uranus.

The Moon and Uranus are in the first degree of Taurus, and Sun is in the first degree of Scorpio. The ruler of the Full Moon, Venus is retrograde and approaching the conjunction with the Sun. Something is in the making. 

Taurus and Scorpio are FIXED signs are they RESIST change. Uranus is the planet of change. What do you think it will happen? When it comes to Uranus, I don’t make any predictions. Prepare for a revelation. Something needs to change. You may not know what exactly, but you already feel it coming.

October 26, 2018 – Venus conjunct Sun

On October 26th, 2018 Venus retrograde is conjunct Sun and a new Venus cycle begins. The interior conjunction with the Sun basically means the end of the Venus current cycle and the beginning of a new one. This is the most important day of the Venus retrograde and one of the most important days of the year.

Venus throws herself into the arms of the Sun. This is where she gets purified, where she sheds her old skin. And this is where she gets clarity and where she seeds her intentions for yet another 19-month journey.

And this is where she will metamorphose from an evening star into a morning star. Today is a turning point. Mark this date in your calendar. Pay attention to what happens around this date. Journal it.

October 29th, 2018 – Mercury conjunct Jupiter

On October 29th, 2018 Mercury is conjunct Jupiter at 27° Scorpio. This is the last aspect a planet makes to Jupiter in Scorpio before Scorpio moves into Sagittarius. Jupiter moved in Scorpio in October last year and brought us the #metoo movement.

Mercury is the planet of news and announcements so we can expect the big announcement of the Jupiter in Scorpio transit.

In your natal chart, you will get some information about the area of your life ruled by Jupiter. If you are a Gemini ascendant for example, and Jupiter rules your 7th house, you will get some news about your relationships.

October 30th, 2018 – Mercury enters Sagittarius

On October 30th, 2018 Mercury enters Sagittarius. Sagittarius may not be Mercury’s favorite sign, but it’s certainly an interesting transit.

Mercury is the planet of factual information. Mercury only believes in what he or she can see, hear, touch, taste, and smell.

Sagittarius, on the other hand, is the planet of abstract knowledge, of dogma, of what we believe without questioning. Sagittarius is the sign of philosophy and religion.

Where Mercury sees the details, Sagittarius sees the big picture. In the coming weeks, you may struggle with seeing the forest for the trees. That’s unless your natal Mercury is in Sagittarius or Pisces… in this case you will feel at home with this transit.

Nevertheless, by striving to find details in the big picture, to see the concrete in the abstract, you can have some revelations. This transit is great for studying and any kind of intellectual work where a fresh perspective is needed.

October 31st, 2018 – Venus opposite Uranus 

On October 31st, 2018 Venus is opposite Uranus. Venus makes another exact opposition to Uranus (the 2nd) and shortly after Venus leaves Scorpio and moves back into Libra. After the exhausting process of digging into the depths of our souls, Venus moving back into Libra will feel like the light at the end of the tunnel.

Finally, there is hope. Finally, you will be able to see the silver lining of this heart-shattering transit. Not only Venus moves back into Libra, the sign where she feels at her best, but on the same day, Venus rises again in the sky. This is the first appearance of Venus as a morning star. She’s alive, and ready to start again. And so will you be!

• Astrology transits