October could surprise you with what you want next. Not only is Venus retrograde, but the new and full moons fall in her homesigns Libra and Taurus. Love, money, pleasure, beauty and desire are all getting a second look this month.
This could mean that something you were certain you wanted might lose its shine, while an old idea, forgotten pleasure or completely unexpected desire suddenly becomes much more interesting. Give yourself permission to change your mind.
The Libra new moon on the 10th puts relationships in the spotlight, but this isn't only about romance. Look at the people you spend your time with, what you give and receive, and the little compromises you've stopped even noticing.
This is a month to ask for what you need. Maybe it's time to strengthen a boundary or make plans with people you love that you haven't seen in a while. With Venus in Scorpio for most of the retrograde this is about healing the shadow and what triggers you most. Small changes in how you relate to people can completely change your relationship game.
Venus retrograde is also brilliant for rediscovery. Wear that perfume again. Dig out the ridiculous dress. Revisit the abandoned idea. Go back somewhere you used to love. October could reconnect you with a pleasure, ambition or part of yourself that got lost somewhere along the way. You don't have to bring everything back, just notice what still feels good.
The Taurus full moon on the 26th turns our attention to money, pleasure, the body and self-worth. With Chiron and Pluto involved, it could reveal where you've made feeling good unnecessarily complicated. Cook something gorgeous. Buy the flowers. Accept the compliment. Take the afternoon off. Not everything enjoyable needs to be earned, justified or turned into something productive.
And with Mars and Jupiter in Leo approaching the south node, notice where you're doing things for applause rather than because you genuinely enjoy them. October is a good month to become a little less interested in being impressive and a lot more interested in building a life that actually feels good to live.
Inside October’s Ivory Gloss you’ll find a Desert Rose for the Libra new moon and a Rose Quartz Orgone Pyramid for the Taurus full moon.
October is a brilliant month for a personal taste audit. Look at what you buy, wear, watch, eat, decorate your home with and do for fun. How much of it still feels like you? Venus retrograde is a great excuse to stop automatically choosing what you've always chosen and see what you're drawn to now.
Revisit before you replace. Before buying something new, look at what you already own. Before abandoning an idea, open it again. Before deciding you've grown out of something, try it once more. Retrogrades are excellent for finding value in things we've overlooked and occasionally confirming that yes, we really are done with them.
Be a little more protective of your attention this month too. Mars and Pluto can make everything feel urgent, while Venus retrograde can make certain people and desires unusually compelling. You don't have to pursue everything that fascinates you. Give the interesting things enough time to reveal whether they're genuinely good.
And make pleasure ridiculously easy. Put the good chocolate where you'll actually eat it and wear the nice clothes on an ordinary Tuesday. October doesn't need another list of things to improve about yourself. Add more things to your week that make you glad you're in it.
Join the membership for this month’s new and full moon rituals, guided meditations, crystal guidance and journalling prompts. The planets may set the mood, but what you do next is entirely up to you.