October 2025

I just returned from four days in the Appalachian foothills of north Alabama, where I spent my birthday forest bathing.All the photos in this letter are from that lovely trip. I was filled with a sense of quiet peace as I hiked through the woods, splashed in a creek, and watched the leaves fall. It was a perfect ending to September, accompanied by my sweet dog and a dear old friend.

While Eclipse Season is coming to an end, the faster-moving planets are quite active in October. It’s a busy month, and the last third of the month brings an emphasis on the Water signs (Scorpio, Cancer, Pisces) that will dominate the rest of the year.

THIS MONTH AT A GLANCE

Oct 1: Mercury square Jupiter

Oct 6: Full Moon in Aries, Mercury enters Scorpio

Oct 7: Mercury square Pluto

Oct 8: Venus sextile Jupiter

Oct 11: Venus opposite Saturn

Oct 13: Venus enters Libra, Venus opposite Neptune, Pluto stations direct

Oct 14 : Venus trine Uranus & Pluto

Oct 17: Sun square Jupiter

Oct 20: Mercury conjunct Mars

Oct 21 : New Moon at 29° Libra

Oct 22: Neptune enters Pisces, Sun enters Scorpio

Oct 24: Sun square Pluto, Mercury trine Jupiter

Oct 25: Mercury trine Saturn

Oct 28: Mars trine Jupiter

Oct 29: Mars trine Saturn, Mercury trine Neptune, Mercury enters Sagittarius & opposite Uranus

Transit of the Month: Grand Water Trine

The trine aspect (120 degrees) brings smooth, flowing cooperation between planets. Obstacles are removed and conclusions are rapid. It’s considered an easy aspect because it brings flow instead of friction. That doesn’t mean it’s pleasant, things can move in any direction where force is applied.

Jupiter in Cancer connects with Saturn and Neptune in Pisces by trine, while faster-moving planets through Scorpio activate this pattern repeatedly—like pressing a button again and again. In October, Mercury and Mars are the activators. Next month, it will be the Sun, Mercury (again) and Venus.

Because the planets are in Water signs, this formation brings strong emotional currents with rapid changes. Think of water's ability to reshape landscapes: it adapts to any container, dissolves rigid structures, and creates new pathways. The energy flows quickly but can also feel overwhelming, like being caught in a flash flood of feelings, insights, or circumstances that demand immediate response.

Oct 1-6

Ripples from the Sept 21 Solar Eclipse continue, bringing situations to a head or pointing you in new directions. Mercury is the only planet forming major transits, making a square from Libra to Jupiter in Cancer on October 1. It’s an aspect for big ideas and news stories.

Your move: Stay flexible with your plans. New information or shifting priorities may reveal better opportunities than what you originally had in mind. Trust your ability to adapt.

Oct 6-12

On Sunday, there is a Full Moon in Aries and Mercury moves into Scorpio, joining astrong Mars, and square Pluto. The Mars-Pluto square may be reignited. How were the days from Tues (9/23) to Thurs (9/25) for you? I was irritable and every email pissed me off.

When Pluto is involved in a hard aspect, your survival instincts are strong. It often invokes a struggle for power, literal or symbolic. With the Moon in Aries, watch for urges to fight, flee or fawn. The current circumstances might warrant that response, but you also might discover that your impulses are based on old patterns and not what is necessary today. Back on Sept 24, I determined that my frustration was better directed to eliminating the source of an unpleasant kitchen odor, and I disinfected the microwave.

Wednesday the Moon moves into Taurus, where it plucks at Pluto, Mercury and Mars – so people’s positions may be entrenched. Thursday is great for reaching out and you may well find a solution by end of week.

Your move: Identify your top priorities and choose your battles wisely. When an impulse to speak up or act out arises, pause and ask yourself: Does this really matter? Channel heated energy into practical action that actually improves your situation.

Oct 13-19

Imagine that you’ve been away for months and you come home to find someone has moved all the furniture and changed the lighting. While it is discomforting at first, the changes are also exciting, you see the space with fresh eyes. Within a few days, you make some adjustments, and settle in. However, you notice that changing the flow in the house has inspired you to make other changes that that ripple out into your social environment.

This is how I think of Venus, who has an awkward return to her home sign of Libra. Saturday, Venus opposes Saturn in Pisces. Sunday brings an opposition to Neptune in Aries,and Monday are trines with Uranus and Pluto in Air signs.

By Thursday, the Sun in Libra makes a square to Jupiter in Cancer. While squares provide friction that encourage you to adapt, the Sun-Jupiter combo can bring a sense of goodwill and optimism. It encourages the resolution of conflict and authentic self-expression.

Your move: Embrace the discomfort of adjusting to new circumstances in relationships, desires or styles. What initially feels awkward may reveal fresh possibilities you hadn't considered. Give yourself time to settle in before making major decisions.

*Natural Bridge Park, AL, with rock formations shaped by water.*

Oct 20-26

Water energy dominates this week as Mercury and Mars come together in Scorpio. This is a powerful combination combining your mind, messages and drive. Be strategic with your words and actions, because there is the potential for a far-reaching impact.

Monday's New Moon at 29° Libra marks completion before moving into new territory. It can be a powerful reset for relationships of all kinds. Tuesday adds Neptune re-entering Pisces and the Sun joining Scorpio. More water heightens your intuition and sensitivity but can potentially blur boundaries.

Thursday's Sun square Pluto may surface buried tensions while Mercury connects with Jupiter and Saturn, activating the featured Grand Water Trine.

Your move: Use this intense energy to dig beneath surface issues and address root causes. Set intentions that align with your core values and honest desires, not just what looks good on paper.

Oct 27-31

Keep an eye on the weather this week. It wouldn’t surprise me if there are environmental manifestations of wind and rain. Emotions are also likely to be stormy, and people feel “flooded”

On Monday and Tuesday, Mars follows Mercury with the trine to Jupiter then Saturn. Heat and action follow messages and ideas.

Meanwhile, Mercury trines Neptune on Wednesday then slips into Sagittarius, opposite Uranus and sextile Pluto. Watch for unexpected developments, revolutionary words and innovations. It’s worthwhile to note that Mercury’s next retrograde starts November 9, so these aspects will be repeated. The next retrograde zone is 21 Scorpio to 7 Sagittarius.

Your move: Prepare for the emotional intensity and rapid shifts in perspective. This can impact you directly or through the people in your daily life. Create extra space in your schedule for processing feelings or unexpected developments.