Venus Retrograde in Scorpio and Libra (October 3rd – November 14th, 2026): The Heart of the Matter

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Venus Retrograde is upon us, and with it, interesting events in our love lives, finances, and more. October 3rd to November 14th, 2026, this event turns our lives inside out… and prepares us for the future. Let’s jump right in!

Shortcuts: Dates, What is a Venus Retrograde?, Venus Retrograde in Scorpio and Libra, Personal Advice Sign-by-Sign, Further Reading.

Dates:

Pre-shadow: August 6th, 2026.

Dates: October 3rd – November 14th, 2026.

Venus Retrograde in Scorpio: October 3rd – 25th.

Venus Retrograde in Libra: October 25th – November 14th.

Post-shadow: January 7th, 2027.

Explanation for astro-nerds: pre- and post-shadow are timeframes when we feel the energies build up before/gradually dissipate after the event is done. They’re not comparable in intensity with the actual event, but we may see the same themes pop up or resolve in the shadow periods that we engage in in the actual retrograde.

What is a Venus Retrograde?

What is Venus?

Venus is a planet that astrologically signifies themes around love, relationships, women, arts, beauty, and money (among other things). It goes into retrograde once every 1 ½ years, which lasts only 6 weeks each time.

What is a Retrograde?

A retrograde takes place when a planet seemingly changes directions in the sky: instead of moving through the zodiac signs in their usual order, it moves backwards. Retrogrades are times in which the themes of a planet’s area of influence work differently than usual: in Venus’s case, relationships may be affected, we may feel more or less social than usual, creativity and themes around the arts, money, and beauty may be impacted.

A Note for Women:

Just as Mars especially impacts men, Venus especially impacts women. This means that women feel this more intensely than men, and that we all, regardless of our gender, need to keep a special eye on the women in our lives as they’re impacted – and impacting us by default – by this energy.

Venus Retrograde in Scorpio and Libra

This Venus Retrograde starts in the sign of Scorpio, a sign of transformation and seeking the truth, of engaging in the shadow work of revealing the taboos we’d like to dabble in (or are dabbling in and don’t tell anyone), and shows the entanglements of emotions we’re getting into as human beings… especially where themes of power or desire are involved.

Venus retrograde is always a time when our relationships are reviewed. With Venus retrograde in Scorpio, it’s a time to not only review, but to deal with everything that we avoided looking at before. The proverbial basement is unlocked. Let’s see what lives there and deal with that.

Intuition is running especially high, and secrets can be lifted at this time. Transformation and processing of truly deep themes is possible, including of betrayal that was revealed and secrets that came into the light before this point in time. Don’t worry, not everyone will turn the proverbial key and find Bluebeard’s Wives in a hidden room – sometimes, it’s good to remember that the integrity of the people you involve yourself with determines how much can or can’t be found here – but it’s equally as important to turn the key when you find it.

Trust and power, especially in intimate relationships, are also major themes of this Venus Retrograde in Scorpio. Where do you hold it? Where do you cling to a (false) sense of control so you don’t have to trust? And how is that serving you – or damaging your relationships?

Also, as a final point, this is also a good time to keep an eye on money, especially on shared resources and inheritances.

Preparing for Mercury Retrograde

On October 24th, Mercury joins Venus in retrograde – though the planet of communication, logistics, plans, and thinking remains in the sign of Scorpio and only retrogrades until November 13th, creating a much shorter event than Venus retrograde.

But this Venus retrograde prepares the way for Mercury’s journey, which is, shall we say, interesting. Since Mercury in Scorpio deals with revealing truth and demanding a personal way of living the truth, this Venus retrograde remains highly affected by in-depth conversation and secrets coming to light, even once it leaves Scorpio itself on October 25th. (There will be an article on Mercury Retrograde in Scorpio released soon!)

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Venus in its own Sign: Libra

Venus returns to its own sign (still in retrograde) on October 25th: now in Libra, the topics of relational agreements and prioritizing kindness and politeness over the depth we need to make a relationship work bring an interesting dynamic to this astrological event.

Venus is particularly strong in Libra, bringing us good things when it comes to kindness, social niceties, and romance in general... but its shadow is also amplified and, under this retrograde in particular, highlighted so we can resolve it. That shadow consists of manipulation instead of choosing conflict, sweeping what’s harsh and ugly under the rug, and trying to bully people in the name of harmony and compromise that benefits us but not them. False peace – one that avoids present conflict for future catastrophe – is a shadow of Venus in Libra, and the “Black Sheep” that dares to utter its unfairness is often ostracized.

But under this retrograde, this shadow isn’t only revealed so we can resolve it… it’s also going to be revealed, so we can revisit this in January-April of 2027. This Venus retrograde does not end with Venus changing directions once more, which is unusual. But it actually prepares us for the first major event of 2027, which is Mars Retrograde in Virgo and Leo from January 20th to April 1st, 2027.

Preparing for Mars

This upcoming Mars retrograde is huge. I’m so tempted to name it “The Big Boom,” but I will probably find a name that’s less simplistic for it with time. But long story short, it absolutely brings the change and the reality checks we have been avoiding… and it gives us a receipt of how we engage with this Venus Retrograde, and the shadow potential of just ignoring what isn’t working. Especially the ways we handle conflict and treat men will come back to haunt us, should haunting be necessary. (There will be an article on Mars Retrograde coming out soon.)

For now, let's leave this here and look at personal advice via Sign!

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Personal Advice By Sign

This section works for your Sun and Rising Sign (ASC). The Rising Sign holds more impact than the Sun Sign. Please note that these are generalized predictions that don’t take your unique astrological blueprint into consideration, though that may of course modify the effect of this retrograde. Please book a reading with a skilled astrologer for a comprehensive and holistic view of how you’ll experience this event.

Shortcuts: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Further Reading.

Aries:

This astrological event starts in the deepest, most profound area of your chart: the one that deals with the world hidden in this world, the most private part of life where truth lives and secrets thrive. The power of transformation and of power and desire themselves are magnified until October 25th, when the focus shifts: now, your one-on-one relationships and the commitments you make are especially highlighted, and the people you love and the women you interact with may teach you something you didn’t know you longed to know. If this article helped you, please consider supporting my site directly to help keep it running and ad-free! Thank you so much for your generosity!

Taurus:

This astrological event starts out with your one-on-one relationships and the ways you commit to people… and how that’s going/where you’d like that. Money and its impact on relationships is also a theme, as is levels of commitment – or whether you want to dissolve commitment that isn’t going well. Come October 25th, it shifts to your health and wellbeing and the ways relationships, beauty, money, and creative endeavors impact them. Your work, daily chores, minutiae, and habits are also highlighted at this time, including your relationships with people at work/people who work for you/people you serve. If this article helped you, please consider supporting my site directly to help keep it running and ad-free! Thank you so much for your generosity!

Gemini:

This astrological event starts out with your health and wellbeing and the ways relationships, beauty, money, and creative endeavors impact them. Your work, daily chores, minutiae, and habits are also highlighted at this time, including your relationships with people at work/people who work for you/people you serve. Come October 25th, the focus shifts toward what brings you joy in life as well as your children/fertility (if applicable), creative endeavors, and your romantic life. If this article helped you, please consider supporting my site directly to help keep it running and ad-free! Thank you so much for your generosity!

Cancer:

This event impacts your creative life, romantic life, children (if applicable), and fertility (if applicable) first, as well as the things you do for fun. This event may reveal the truth of romantic relationships and what it is you truly want and desire. Come October 25th, the focus shifts towards your home, family, and roots. This is a time to keep things closer to the chest and to ask yourself whom you truly trust to be vulnerable and build a life with. Relationships with family members are highlighted as well. If this article helped you, please consider supporting my site directly to help keep it running and ad-free! Thank you so much for your generosity!

Leo:

This event highlights your private life, home, family, and roots in general. This is a time of seeing how your relationships impact your family and vice versa, and to also build/rebuild relationships with family members (where that’s appropriate and safe to do, of course – as not everyone has a family they’re safe with, unfortunately). This is a time to figure out whom you’d like to have or build a home or family with… and whom you wouldn’t want that with. Women in your family may also be particularly impacted. Come October 25th, the focus shifts to your art, the way you express yourself, your mind, communication skills, and local/life siblings. You may learn more from other people than usual… if you’re receptive. Say what needs to be said: don’t let “niceness” trump the truth. If this article helped you, please consider supporting my site directly to help keep it running and ad-free! Thank you so much for your generosity!

Virgo:

This event impacts your capacity for communication (especially once Mercury Retrograde joins in), perception, ability to learn, your local life, siblings (if applicable), and your mind in general. This is a great time for creatives and for marketing. Once October 25th rolls around, the themes change towards monetary endeavors and your financial situation, what you place your worth in, and your values… as well as the ways relationships impact these things, or are impacted by these themes. If this article helped you, please consider supporting my site directly to help keep it running and ad-free! Thank you so much for your generosity!

Libra:

This event highlights your finances and monetary endeavors first, as well as your self-worth and your values… and in which ways they’re impacted by your relationships. Sometimes, we can be in relationships with people (and not just romantically) who have different values than us: that is okay, if this doesn’t contradict or compromise our innate values. If that happens, you need to ask yourself some tough questions. Come October 25th, the focus shifts towards you. What is your relationship to yourself like? How are your relationships impacting you – and your life as a whole? Whom do you want to take with you or call in? This is a very impactful time for you. Libra is the most impacted out of all the zodiac signs. If this article helped you, please consider supporting my site directly to help keep it running and ad-free! Thank you so much for your generosity!

Scorpio:

This event impacts your relationship to yourself and your own identity (especially so if you’re a woman, but also if you aren’t one) and your lifepath as a whole. This is a time to pour into yourself and ask yourself how your creative life, relationships (and not just romantic ones), and your finances are impacting you. Come October 25th, the focus shifts towards your spiritual life, need/desire for rest and letting go of control, for trust and acceptance. What needs to end ends during this time: this is also a time of surrendering to what is. If this article helped you, please consider supporting my site directly to help keep it running and ad-free! Thank you so much for your generosity!

Sagittarius:

This event starts out with a big emphasis on the spiritual implications and “rules” of love, themes of soul mates and higher design, as well as a need to resolve things in the past and rest a while. This is not a good time to start dating someone, as the need for rest (relationally) is amplified. Come October 25th, this changes: your friends, community, and hopes and dreams for the future, as well as your long-term vision for your relationships, become a bigger theme. So do themes around practical artistry/creativity and long-term endeavors with money. If this article helped you, please consider supporting my site directly to help keep it running and ad-free! Thank you so much for your generosity!

Capricorn:

This event first highlights your social life (especially with women, but not only with them), your friendships, and the rules of society. Your hopes, dreams, and plans for the future (especially where they intersect/contradict each other in your relationships) are also highlighted. Whom do you want to take with you into old age? Act accordingly. Come October 25th, the focus shifts to the ways you make money, your public life and role in society, your work, career, and the themes of authority and leadership. If this article helped you, please consider supporting my site directly to help keep it running and ad-free! Thank you so much for your generosity!

Aquarius:

This event impacts your career, work, mission (and the ways you make money/relate to the people involved in that), and your public life in general. Authority and leadership may become a theme in love and relationships. Come October 25th, the focus changes to your belief systems, values, and search for meaning. Adventure may be possible, and shared belief systems (or contradictory ones) may play a greater role. You may learn something new about life. If this article helped you, please consider supporting my site directly to help keep it running and ad-free! Thank you so much for your generosity!

Pisces:

This event first highlights your beliefs about love, relationships, and yourself (and women, if applicable). It also impacts your search for meaning in life, for adventure, and may confront you with a different point of view about life than what you’re used to. Come October 25th, the focus shifts to deep processing and excavating truth, untangling yourself from dynamics you wish to change/leave, and to trust more deeply where trust and intimacy are possible. Themes around money and desire may be highlighted. If this article helped you, please consider supporting my site directly to help keep it running and ad-free! Thank you so much for your generosity!