Pluto has been retrograde since early May this year, but it finally stations direct on October 15. Here’s what you can expect as this transit ends.

What Is Pluto Retrograde?

According to Antonella, a professional astrologer and numerologist at Psychic World, “Pluto retrograde is an annual astrological period where Pluto appears to move backward in the sky, shifting its energy from external power struggles to deep internal reflection and transformation.”

In astrology, Pluto is known as the planet of power, transformation, and the underworld. When it’s retrograding, it highlights power imbalances, areas that require growth, and suppressed emotions.

“Pluto retrograde forces you to look inward at your hidden fears, things you’ve been suppressing, and any guilt you carry,” says Antonella. “This period is about purging toxic patterns or habits that no longer serve you. It makes way for you to experience a personal evolution.”

What to Expect When Pluto Retrograde Ends This Week

As Semisonic says in its iconic song “Closing Time”: “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” Pluto retrograde’s conclusion brings swift changes and new opportunities, especially to those who have used this time to reflect and process their grief.

“As Pluto ends its retrograde, we can expect the previous months of internal moving forward to be put into motion,” Antonella explains. “Rather than feeling stuck in old cycles, you’ll feel a sense of renewal and clarity to cut ties that no longer serve you. It might be easier to set boundaries now, because situations or hidden feelings are coming to the surface.”

Retrogrades are notorious for stirring up old patterns we may have otherwise turned a blind eye to, so that we can heal them for good.

“This retrograde might have forced you to confront suppressed fears, old conflicts, or issues with control, and as it ends, it asks you to apply those realizations rather than staying stuck in self-doubt,” Antonella states. “Pluto is moving through Aquarius now, so themes around community, technology, social systems, and personal freedom will continue to evolve rapidly. The ending of Pluto retrograde urges you to abandon outdated habits, roles, or group dynamics that no longer align with your core identity.”

Navigating the Conclusion of Pluto Retrograde

As Pluto retrograde ends, you can work with its energy to attract new opportunities aligned with your growth and personal progress.

“Focus on moving from introspection to manifestation,” says Antonella. “Whatever internal [work you’ve done] since May can be translated into real-world choices and forward momentum.”

If you faced difficult realizations or hard lessons during Pluto retrograde, don’t repress that knowledge or the grief it might have triggered.

“Acknowledge the issues or habits that have surfaced during retrograde; resist the temptation to ignore them,” says Antonella. “Instead, use what you’ve learned as the foundation for your goals moving forward.”

What This Means Collectively For Society

According to Astrologer Constance Stellas, as Pluto retrograde ends, it exposes hidden power grabs and internal power conflicts.

“There’s no more curtains. There’s no more hiding. The naked power explodes, exposed to everyone’s viewpoints,” she says. “We have to understand that the raw naked power of Pluto has been misused for many, many years all over the world. And the pinpoints of light that we are trying to move towards will be more in evidence when Pluto goes direct on the 15th.”

“You might be interested to know the last time Pluto was in Aquarius, which it is in now, was the French Revolution. So I think that says it all,” Stellas adds. “We’re looking for a better way to organize society, and many people are capitalizing on the way it was and not going forward into the light. But I believe it will come to pass. Sooner or later, we will have light and not dark as we dredge the bottom layer of society.”

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The new moon in Libra will occur on Saturday, October 10, at 11:50 a.m. ET, when the moon reaches 0% illumination. From our view here on Earth, the moon will seem to “disappear” from the sky, but astrologically speaking, its impact will be hard to ignore.

About the Upcoming Libra New Moon

This new moon occurs in Libra, bringing an air of romance and harmony. Ruled by Venus, the planet of love and beauty, Libra focuses on dating, relationships, justice, and fairness. When the new moon falls in this sign, expect opportunities, clarity, and perhaps even closure in your closest relationships. This might look like deep, healing conversations, exciting meet-cutes, or much-needed breakups.

This new moon also falls during the powerful Venus retrograde in Scorpio. If you know anything about retrogrades, you know they’re thought to stir up chaos and conflict—so you can finally work through old wounds once and for all. But with the planet of love retrograding in Scorpio, a passionate, possessive water sign, you might feel more intensity in your love life. Think: exes resurfacing, misaligned partners calling it quits, insecurities popping up, etc.

This Libra new moon can help you clarify your wants and needs in relationships. Use it to ground you during an otherwise unstable period.

How to Work With the New Moon in Libra Energy

1. Find Ways to Bring Balance and Harmony to Your Life

The new moon in Libra is a great opportunity to find more balance in your life. Libra is all about harmony and fairness, so make sure you’re not giving more than you take—or vice versa—right now, especially in your closest relationships.

For example, if you’re in a relationship, do you feel you’re both investing equal effort, or is one person carrying more of the weight? Are certain parts of your life (work, school, chores) getting more attention than others (movement, health, and pleasure)? Be honest as you evaluate your priorities and relationships.

2. Get Clear on Your Must-Haves in Love

Because Libra deals heavily with love and romance, this new moon is the perfect time to write a relationship manifesto. In other words, define your ideal partner or relationship by writing down the qualities you’re seeking in a significant other: kindness, patience, empathy, passion, a good sense of humor, etc. Include details regarding how you’d like to feel within this connection. For example, you might want to feel safe, secure, and supported; or you might be seeking chemistry, excitement, and casual commitment. Whatever the case, get clear on what you want and how you want it to show up for you.

3. Prioritize Self-Care

Self-care is crucial during Libra season, as this air sign is known for over-giving. Sometimes, Libra forgets to set boundaries that protect their energy. Use this new moon to show yourself some extra love and care. Of course, this doesn’t mean you have to neglect your loved ones; however, make sure you’re not neglecting yourself, either. Make time for rest, pleasure, creativity, and romance—and treat yourself every once in a while.

The post Today’s New Moon Will Have You Rethinking Your Love Life, According to Astrology appeared first on VICE.

Just in time for spooky season, we’re entering an intense, mystical astrological period this October and November: a double retrograde. This autumn, both Venus (the planet of love, beauty, and money) and Mercury (the planet of communication and intellect) will be in retrograde, causing us to question everything and everyone around us, including ourselves.

Here’s what you can expect from the upcoming double retrograde—and how to navigate this sensitive time.

@kateastrology

my take on three things you SHOULD and CAN do during Venus retrograde #venusretrograde #astrology #astrologytiktok #venus

♬ original sound – kateastrology

Venus Retrograde: October 3 to November 13

We are currently in the midst of Venus retrograde, which will last until mid-November. This astrological event might trigger romantic shifts, new approaches to finances, and reprioritization of our values.

“We entered the Venus retrograde on October 3rd, starting in the sign of Scorpio, and it will move back into Libra by October 25th and station direct again by November 13th,” says Astrologer Kate Hubbard, aka @kateastrology on TikTok. “Venus retrograde is a time for reflecting and replanning what we value in ourselves and others, our aesthetic taste and personal appearance, our relationship with money, and our ideas about femininity.”

Scorpio is a passionate and intense sign, especially when it comes to love, romance, pleasure, and money, while Libra is a harmony-seeking, charismatic sign. With Venus retrograde occurring in both Scorpio and Libra, expect some energetic upheaval over the next month and a half.

“In Scorpio, this comes up as themes around rethinking our trust in relationships, our trust [in] money, [and] our trust [in] ourselves. Scorpio energy seeks the truth out even if it makes everyone else uncomfortable; it tests boundaries (and people); it investigates to get to the deeper layers of what actually feels intimate,” Hubbard explains. “In Libra, this brings up themes of justice, equality, our ability to create harmony and what we sacrifice to keep it, beauty, and romanticization. Libra energy asks us: What are we trying to keep pretty that really isn’t that pretty underneath the glamorization?”

Thankfully, we will endure the first half of the Venus retrograde without Mercury retrograde co-occurring (though we will be in its shadow period). However, once the planet of communication and intellect stations direct, it will add even more intensity to this transit.

Mercury Retrograde: October 24 to November 13

In the middle of Venus retrograde on October 24, Mercury will enter its retrograde period—and we all know what that means. 

“Mercury rules communication, information, health, day-to-day commutes, technology, and the routine tasks we perform,” Hubbard says. “Mercury retrograde will only be in the sign of Scorpio, and this will happen after Venus has moved back into Libra. So, after Venus retrograde has made us question: who do we trust and who do we not trust, how far are we willing to go into the deep end for intimacy and connection, and what are we willing to sacrifice for it?—Mercury then asks us: did we communicate this clearly? Are we giving people tests they don’t know they’re taking? Was the entire truth told?”

Because retrogrades can trigger deep self-reflection, unhealed wounds, and past issues, you might feel extra sensitive or nostalgic during this period. However, it will shed light on what still requires healing or a different approach.

As Hubbard concludes, “This is a great time to reframe the way you think [about] your relationships, your money, your communication skills, and most importantly, yourself.”

The post What to Expect from This Fall’s Double Retrograde, According to an Astrologer appeared first on VICE.

Contractors working for the city of Sheffield, England, have repainted the street sign for Pool Square at least eight times since being awarded a highway maintenance contract there, reports The Star. It's more likely than not they will do so on any given year. — Read the rest

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