Stopping the Pain
On Tuesday, October 6th at 5:10 PM Pacific Time, Mercury comes together in a conjunction with Venus at 8º13′ Scorpio. Mercury connecting with Venus when it’s retrograde and in Scorpio is a time for straight talk. Mercury in Scorpio sees deeply. It observes everything, and it doesn’t hesitate to approach difficult subjects in a raw and honest way.
If there’s anything in your life, especially in your relationships, that needs to be opened up and aired out, here is the day for it. Breakthroughs and healing conversations are the watchwords of the day, and especially about anything you haven’t wanted to talk about before because it feels the slightest bit taboo. That might mean taboo in a general sense, but it can also just be the kind of topic that feels taboo within your relationship. It’s something you just never discuss.
This is the same degree where Venus stationed retrograde last week, 8º30′ Scorpio, on the Sabian symbol 9 Scorpio, Dental work. And what I mentioned then goes double at this Mercury-Venus conjunction: To heal things and stop the pain often means digging in and getting rid of all the decay.
Tripping Over Debris
Sometimes, we have to get good and angry before we’re willing to make a change. This week, when Mars and Uranus come together in a sextile aspect (Oct. 7, 2026, 3:41 am PDT, 5º24′ Leo and Gemini), that change just might be coming. Mars is in the emotionally charged fire sign of Leo, and Uranus in fast-moving Gemini creates the ground-shaking energy that destabilizes things further.
Be cautious—this planetary combination can trigger impulsiveness and recklessness, especially in the language you use and in your driving style. It’s a time when changes to your usual patterns could lead to accidents, so step lightly and avoid unnecessary risks. Be mindful on the road, and keep emotional reactions in check. Once the world has been shaken up, it’s easy to trip over the debris that’s left behind.
Under Arrest
At the New Moon, folklore suggests we sow seeds of intention in a specific area of life. The New Moon in Libra (Oct. 10, 2026, 8:50 am PDT, at 17.21 Libra) marks the beginning of a new 12-month cycle of relationship. Whether you’re wishing to find a romance, trying to mend fences with a relative, negotiating a business connection, or hoping for a renewal of your marriage commitment, this is the New Moon for planting those seeds.
However, this New Moon is on the Sabian Symbol 18 Libra, Two men under arrest, and is marked by an opposition to Saturn; so don’t expect these seeds to flourish without a lot of hard work, delays, and perseverance. And though all relationships encounter conflict along the way, and sometimes a sense of confinement, this New Moon’s relationship seeds may contain a bit more of that than we’d like.
But the New Moon is sextile Jupiter, as well. Having done the work that Saturn requires (on boundaries, say), Jupiter offers a silver lining.
At this New Moon, let your intention be something like this: I’m willing to do the work and sacrifice necessary to make my relationships work, and I’m willing to compromise on some things… but by no means all. With the New Moon point in aspect to Jupiter as well, the opportunity is coming to receive loving abundance and abundant loving – but they must be gained on your own terms.
Old Grudges, Familiar Fights
Venus retrograde squares Mars this week at 7º21′ Scorpio and Leo (Oct. 10, 2:31 pm PDT). There are certain relationships that are extremely passionate, but may involve two strong-willed people who fight a lot. A square between Venus and Mars is one of these aspects, and especially in the fixed and willful signs of Scorpio and Leo.
These planets first formed a square to each other on July 29th in the signs of Virgo and Gemini, and the nature of the dispute between them then had to do with the difference between doing things perfectly and doing a lot of things well enough. But Scorpio and Leo, especially with Venus retrograde, can bring up old grudges, familiar fights, and a lack of willingness to meet each other halfway.
The two make a final square on January 16th, 2027, after Venus has moved on from Scorpio and Mars from Leo. At that square, they will be in Sagittarius and Virgo, which are two mutable signs, and maybe they’ll be more willing to let bygones be bygones.
© Words and Illustrations by April Elliott Kent
