In the Stars October 18-25, 2026 . . . Shining Light on the Astrology of the Week
The Sun ingresses into Scorpio on Friday, October 23. This new month invites us to go inward, to feel deeply, and take some solitude for ourselves. This inward time is important for restoration, as the following month, with the Sun in Sagittarius, will be full of social invitations! The month ahead with the Sun in Scorpio is a time of introspection, research, and change.
Mercury turns retrograde on October 24 at 20 degrees of Scorpio, and will be spinning backwards in the zodiac until November 13 when it stations at 5 degrees Scorpio. Mercury’s shadow period began October 4 and will continue until November 30 when Mercury returns to 20 degrees Scorpio. At the beginning of the shadow period seeds were planted regarding current issues and opportunities in your life. During the three-week retrograde period, you are invited to re-consider, restart, re-connect, revise, re-do, and renovate. This can be a fruitful time, but it is best not to make new contracts and commitments during the retrograde period, as it is a time for re-thinking and revising your life and current plans. It is a good time to clean up your desk and take care of old business, and to clean up your email in box.
Venus remains in retrograde motion through November 13, inviting us to re-examine our values, desires, and relationships. There may be some deep soul-searching over the next month with both planets in deep relational territory (Venus in Scorpio and Libra, and Mercury in Scorpio).
There are two long void-of-course Moon periods in the coming week, as follows, in Pacific Time:
· October 18: 9:12 am-6:39 pm (Moon into Aquarius)
· October 22 at 8:31 pm through October 23 at 12:53 pm (Moon into Aries)
When the Moon is void it is not making a major aspect with other planets, and thus, not much is happening. We have a hard time making up our minds about matters, and meetings and connections often do not come together. These times are best for tending to routine tasks and doing things like gardening, reading, or processing email.
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This Week:
Saturday through Sunday evening at 6:39 p.m., October 17-18, the Moon is in Capricorn. The weekend is framed for productive work. Mars in Leo makes an exact trine to Saturn in Aries, adding focus and desire for accomplishment. This is a weekend to clean up your yard or garage, or tackle a looming project.
Sunday evening through Tuesday, October 18-20, the Moon is in Aquarius. These days invite gathering with friends and broadening your perspectives, and perhaps doing something unique and out of the ordinary. Monday, October 19, Venus squares Pluto, confronting you with choices around your desires. The Moon squares Mercury on Tuesday, presenting a dilemma between your heart and head. Allow the Aquarius Moon to pull you in a new and different direction.
Wednesday through midday Friday (12:53 p.m. PDT), October 21-23, the Moon is in Pisces. These days are colored for dreaming, imagination, and inspiration. Sweeping us into other realities, the Pisces Moon may enlarge our vision of what is possible as we churn with the deep work of Venus and Mercury retrograde. Thursday the Moon in Pisces inconjuncts Mars in Leo, stirring desire to engage with something that stirs our heart strings. Friday the Sun enters Scorpio tropically, ushering in a month of strong feelings and strong passion for what deeply matters to us.
Friday midday (12:53 pm PDT) through Sunday afternoon (4:34 pm PDT), October 23-25, the Moon is in Aries. Friday evening the Sun conjuncts Venus, a passionate aspect that could make for a deeply romantic evening. Saturday Mercury turns retrograde for the next three weeks, inviting reconsideration of issues and desires in our lives. We may get some new ideas and begin to see some issues differently. The Moon in Aries is a call for adventure and activity, and fresh starts.
Sunday evening through Tuesday, October 25-27, the Moon is in Taurus. These days are for attending to practical matters. Review your finances, and beautify your surroundings. Play inspiring music, and indulge in delicious food. Walk in the beauty of nature.
Planetary Pointers for the week ahead:
· Prepare for the Mercury retrograde period that begins Friday when you will want to give space for reconsidering, re-checking, and revising plans and projects.
· Consider your spending habits: too much or too little?
· Consider your relationships—what you value and how you want to change them or be changed.
· Sunday, October 18, and Friday morning, October 23, the Moon is void of course. These days are good for gardening, reading, checking email, and puttering.
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To book an astrological consultation, contact Cathy at ccoleman829@gmail.com or visit her website at cathycolemanastrology.com.
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Ten Things to Do with Venus in Scorpio (September 10-October 25 and December 4-January 7; Venus is retrograde October 3-November 14)
1. Love deeply.
2. Write a poem to express your deep feelings.
3. Review your investments and research options.
4. Make a commitment to increase your savings and investments.
5. Listen to provocative music that taps into deep feelings.
6. Purge your stuff and give things away.
7. Get a massage.
8. Listen deeply and more, and say less.
9. Read a deep, transformative biography, or a mystery.
10. Take some solitude.
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Moon Void of Course: This is the time when the Moon makes its last major angular aspect with a planet before it moves into the next zodiacal sign tropically. This void time, when the Moon is not aspecting a planet, but rather floating on its own, is a time when things don’t come together and it is difficult to make good decisions. Purchases made during void Moons often turn out to be unsatisfactory and not work out. Appointments often don’t come together, and meetings don’t result in progress or sound, lasting decisions. We more easily get lost or meander in trying to get somewhere. The VoC Moon times for the next month are listed below so that you can plan meetings, decisions, and purchases at times when the Moon is not VoC; and use the void times for gardening, reading, and routine task work.
Void-of-Course Moon times for the month ahead (one lunar cycle):
Pacific Standard Time:
October 18: 9:12 am-6:39 pm (Moon into Aquarius)
October 21: 1:42 am-5:35 am (Moon into Pisces)
October 22 at 8:31 pm through October 23 at 12:53 pm (Moon into Aries)
October 25: 3:59 pm-4:34 pm (Moon into Taurus)
October 27: 7:51 am-6:01 pm (Moon into Gemini)
October 29: 2:43 pm-7:05 pm (Moon into Cancer)
October 31: 2:59 pm-9:18 pm (Moon into Leo)
November 2 at 4:10 pm through November 3 at 12:27 am (Moon into Virgo)
November 3 at 10:57 pm through November 5 at 6:38 am (Moon into Libra)
November 7: 5:19 am-2:39 pm (Moon into Scorpio)
November 9 at 3:25 pm through November 10 at 12:35 am (Moon into Sagittarius)
November 12: 3:29 am-12:27 pm (Moon into Capricorn)
November 14 at 10:55 am through November 15 at 1:24 am (Moon into Aquarius)
GMT:
October 18 at 16:12 through October 19 at 1:39 (Moon into Aquarius)
October 21: 1:42 am-5:35 am (Moon into Pisces)
October 23: 3:31-19:53 (Moon into Aries)
October 25: 22:59-23:34 (Moon into Taurus)
October 27 at 14:51 through October 28 at 1:01 (Moon into Gemini)
October 29 at 21:43 through October 30 at 2:05 (Moon into Cancer)
October 31 at 21:59 through November 1 at 4:18 (Moon into Leo)
November 2 at 4:10 pm through November 3 at 12:27 am (Moon into Virgo)
November 3 at 10:57 pm through November 5 at 6:38 am (Moon into Libra)
November 7: 5:19 am-2:39 pm (Moon into Scorpio)
November 9 at 23:25 through November 10 at 8:35 (Moon into Sagittarius)
November 12: 11:29-20:27 (Moon into Capricorn)
November 14 at 18:55 through November 15 at 9:24 (Moon into Aquarius)
Copyright @ 2026 Cathy Coleman; all rights reserved.
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