"The sky through November 2026: two retrogrades, the October 26 full moon and a Scorpio new moon"
The last week of October and almost all of November 2026 run under an unusual pattern: Mercury and Venus are both moving "backwards" while the Sun sits in Scorpio, the sign of depth and honesty. Below is the general picture for everyone, not tied to your own chart, and a few dates worth noticing. All times are in Greenwich time (UTC); add three hours for Moscow.
The general picture
Since October 23 the Sun is in Scorpio. This is a time when you want to drop what is unnecessary and work out what really matters: in relationships, at work, in your plans. Conversations get more direct, hidden things come out more often, and shallow decisions quickly show their price.
The slow planets stay in the background: Saturn and Neptune in Aries are retrograde, Uranus in Gemini is retrograde too, and Pluto holds in Aquarius. This is the slow background of change that does not shift within weeks. For most people it feels like one general question: what am I ready to change, and what not.
Mercury and Venus go "backwards": October 24 to November 14
Mercury turned retrograde on October 24 in Scorpio and will resume direct motion on November 13. Venus is already retrograde and will also turn direct on November 14. Two "personal" planets, in charge of words, agreements, feelings and taste, turn back at the same time.
In plain words: for about three weeks, things that start with "re-" go well. Reread, review, recheck, return to an old conversation, an old acquaintance, a postponed project. Hasty beginnings from scratch go worse: contracts signed without reading, abrupt new acquaintances, purchases made on emotion. This is not a ban, just a hint about where energy goes.
Practical steps: recheck dates, addresses and amounts; leave a time margin; do not promise too much in words; be gentle with people who come back from the past.
Key dates
October 26, 04:12 (UTC): full moon in Taurus. The same day the Sun makes a square to Pluto: noticeable tension around control, values and "who is in charge here". A good day to finish what dragged on, and a poor one for ultimatums. Give emotions a day to cool before you answer.
October 30: Mercury square Mars. Words easily turn sharp. If a conversation heats up, stop for a minute: today "the truth straight in the face" hurts more often than it helps.
November 4: Venus sextile Jupiter. Gentle support, good news or a generous gesture. The same day Mercury passes the Sun: clarity of thought, a good moment to state honestly what you want.
November 9, 07:02 (UTC): new moon in Scorpio. A time for a quiet, deep intention. Not ten points, one sentence about what you want to see differently. A Scorpio new moon likes honesty with yourself.
November 10: Venus sextile Mars. A warm, lively day for closeness and shared projects.
November 13 and 14: Mercury and Venus move direct again. A feeling that the traffic jam has cleared: decisions that were waiting get momentum. The most important new agreements are better started after this date.
November 16: Mars conjunct Jupiter in Leo. Plenty of energy, courage and desire to show yourself. A good day to start if you have a plan, and a risky one for overreach if you do not.
November 18 and 19: the Sun square Jupiter and Mars. The temptation to take on more than you can carry. Keep a reserve of strength and resources.
November 22: the Sun enters Sagittarius. The tone shifts from depth to space: you want to plan, study, travel, widen your horizons.
November 24, 14:54 (UTC): full moon in Gemini. A time to sum up the month: what you understood in these weeks and what you want to keep with you.
What you can do with this time
- Until November 14, clear the "tails": finish, recheck, return to what was left for later.
- Speak more calmly on days with tense aspects (October 26 and 30, November 18 and 19).
- Use November 4 and 10 for warm conversations and gratitude.
- Plan big new beginnings after November 14.
- Write down one intention for the November 9 new moon and return to it at the November 24 full moon.
To see how these dates fall on your own chart, open Lilit: the calendar shows which of them touch your chart, and the daily forecast breaks down the current day.