Welcome to your weekly horoscope! We are now fully in the Venus retrograde phase, and one theme that has stood out to me so far is the return of quite a few female friends into my life. Mostly, it’s reconnecting with friends I haven’t seen or spoken to in quite some time. I have also found myself questioning certain connections, and in some instances, some toxic dynamics with someone I thought I had healed my relationship with have come to the surface. Other than that, I ordered two clothing items during the Venus pre-shadow period, which I now want to return because they don’t suit me, but the return process seems very complex, so I’ll have to deal with that next week. We still have weeks of this retrograde, so I’m sure there’s more to come!
In the coming week, the first half is relatively quiet, then on Thursday and Friday three important events occur one after another: first, the Sun forms a sextile to Jupiter, then Pluto stations direct after several months of retrograde motion, and finally Mars forms a trine to Saturn.
Let’s start with Thursday, October 15th, when the Sun in Libra forms a sextile to Jupiter in Leo at 22°. The Sun is the planet of vitality, identity, and confidence, and Jupiter is the planet of growth, generosity, and good fortune, so this is a warm, encouraging aspect, a supportive time to accept an invitation, share good news and engage in something that you’ve been hesitant to take part in.
In traditional astrology, we would say that Libra is the sign where the Sun is in its fall, considered weakened. Jupiter, meanwhile, is in Leo, the Sun’s own sign (the Sun rules Leo), so the greater benefic is a guest in the Sun’s house, offering support exactly where the Sun needs it. That is why this sextile is more than a pleasant energy, as it carries real encouragement.
On Friday, the 16th, Pluto stations direct at 3° Aquarius. When a planet turns direct from a retrograde motion, the days around it often feel concentrated, either unusually intense or unusually heavy and still. Pluto turning direct will not necessarily produce an immediate external development. The practical results of a Pluto station will likely unfold over the following weeks, so use Friday to notice what has become clear rather than expecting a sudden change. Pluto will remain in Aquarius for almost two decades, so the house it occupies in our charts is a theme to watch for a long time.
Also on Friday, the 16th, Mars in Leo forms a trine to Saturn in Aries at 10°. Mars is the planet of drive and action, and Saturn is the planet of discipline, patience and structure. When these two planets are in a harmonious aspect, energy and discipline work together instead of against each other, which favours steady, well-planned effort, finishing what we have started, and building something that lasts.
In traditional astrology, Saturn is in his fall in Aries, which means he is moving through a sign that does not suit his natural pace. Aries wants to act quickly, while Saturn prefers patience, caution and structure. Mars is not especially strong in Leo, but from there he can still support Saturn while Saturn moves through Mars’ sign. Put simply, Saturn is an uncomfortable guest, and Mars is a host doing what he can to help. This makes a difficult task more manageable, but it does not make the difficulty disappear.
The second Venus–Pluto square approaching
This week, Pluto’s station sets the stage for the next major event, whether that falls next week or the week after if you are reading this today, on Sunday. If you have been following the Venus–Pluto cycle from recent newsletters, you may remember that Venus squares Pluto three times between September and December 2026. The first square took place on September 15th, the second arrives on Tuesday, October 20th, while Venus is retrograde in Scorpio, and the third follows on December 9th. The October 20th square happens at exactly 3° Aquarius, the same degree where Pluto stands still this Friday. The Sun enters Scorpio on the 23rd, followed by Mercury turning retrograde the next day. However, this is just a preview of what’s to come; more on this aspect in next week’s newsletter.
Now let’s see what all of this means for your rising sign! The full rising-sign readings are for my paid subscribers on Substack. Become a paid subscriber to read the rest and get every premium forecast in your inbox.