This October’s Retrograde Season (And Why It Might Be a Gift)

Mercury retrograde.

Just reading those words might make your shoulders tense a little. It has a reputation, mostly for chaos: crossed wires, delayed flights, exes texting out of nowhere. But there’s a gentler way to work with this season, one that doesn’t require canceling your plans or bracing for disaster.

What’s Actually Happening Up There

On October 17th, the Sun moves into Libra, the sign of balance, relationship, and fair exchange. He’ll stay there through mid-November.

Venus has already been retrograde since October 2nd, and she’s been drawing closer to the Sun as the month goes on. On October 24th, she and the Sun meet exactly, what’s called an inferior conjunction. That same day, Mercury stations retrograde too, joining Venus in this backward-moving pause.

Then on October 25th/26th, a Full Moon rises in Aswini, directly opposite this whole cluster, illuminating it from across the sky. None of this is random or ominous. It’s simply what the sky is doing this month, and in Jyotisha (the Vedic science of light and time), a stacking like this is generally read as a season for review rather than forward motion.

What This Actually Means for You

Venus retrograde tends to turn our attention toward relationships, values, and what we spend ourselves on, whether that’s money, time, or affection. It’s less about new beginnings and more about honest reassessment. Where has the exchange in a relationship or a commitment stopped feeling balanced?

Mercury retrograde asks something similar of the mind. It’s a season for finishing, editing, and reconsidering, rather than launching something brand new. If a conversation has been left unresolved, or a decision feels rushed, this window offers a natural pause to revisit it.

The coming Full Moon tends to bring things into clear view. Whatever review work Venus and Mercury stir up in the days before, the Full Moon has a way of showing you plainly where you actually stand.

An Ayurvedic Companion to This Season

This time of year falls within Sharad Ritu (“sha-rud RI-too,” the autumn season), part of the classical Ayurvedic seasonal calendar. As the heat of summer fades and the air turns cooler and drier, this is traditionally a time to gently steady vata (“VAH-tuh,” the air and movement quality) and calm any lingering pitta (“PIT-tuh,” the fire and transformation quality) built up over the summer months.

A Sharad Ritu Recipe to Warm You Through This Season

Golden Squash and Fennel Soup

This soup follows the SVA cooking sequence of warm fat, then aromatics, then spice, then whole foods, and finishes bright and grounding rather than heavy or cold. Fennel helps cool and support the liver as the season shifts, while the squash and mung dal bring steadying, sweet-tasting warmth.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons ghee or olive oil

1 tablespoon fennel seeds

1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

Soma Salt, to taste

1 small butternut squash, peeled and cubed

½ cup split mung dal, rinsed

4 cups water or vegetable broth

Fresh cilantro or fresh parsley, chopped, optional, to taste

Lime wedges, for serving

Method:

Warm the ghee in a soup pot over medium heat.

Add the fennel seeds, ginger, and cumin. Let them bloom for about a minute, until fragrant.

Stir in Soma Salt to taste, letting the spices toast together for a few seconds more.

Add the squash, mung dal, and water or broth. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce to a simmer.

Simmer uncovered for about 30 minutes, until the squash is tender and the dal has softened into the broth. Stir in the fresh cilantro or parsley, if using, during the last few minutes of cooking so it cooks into the soup rather than sitting raw on top.

Ladle into bowls and finish with a squeeze of lime.

Best enjoyed as an early, warming dinner, well before 7 PM, to let the body settle into rest for the evening ahead.

A Few Ways to Meet This Season

You don’t need to do all of these. Choose whichever calls to you.

For Venus retrograde, a relationship check-in. Set aside a quiet evening. Ask yourself honestly where your relationships, your work, or your commitments feel balanced, and where they don’t. You might simply journal on it, or have an honest conversation with someone you trust.

For Mercury retrograde, a communication slow-down. Before sending an important email or message this window, consider letting it sit overnight. Revisit old projects that got set aside rather than starting new ones. If you can, back up anything important on your devices.

For the Full Moon, a moment of quiet reflection. On or around October 25th, take a few minutes to simply notice what feels clear. You might light a candle, sit outside, or place your hand over your heart and breathe.

For the season itself, a grounding Ayurvedic practice. A warm oil Abhyanga (“ah-byung-guh,” Ayurvedic self-massage) before bed, or simply slowing your pace and layering warmer foods into your meals, can help steady you as Sharad Ritu settles in.

An Invitation, Not a Warning

If this season feels like a lot, that’s because it is a lot, astrologically speaking. But a full sky doesn’t mean a difficult month. It means an unusually rich opportunity to pause, take honest stock, and steady yourself before moving forward again.

You don’t have to fear this window. You’re invited to meet it gently.

Fill your cup first 🍵💕,

Jennifer Misterka