Horoscopes: Oct. 13-19, 2023

Illustration by Ash Cheshire

Aries: Your ruling planet, Mars, moves into Scorpio and highlights your transformative, sensual and secretive eighth house. There are heavy emotions at play. It is a time of revealing your inner workings and desires to yourself and to others and they might in turn reveal things to you as well. The next four weeks under this transit follow a theme of “shadow work” as you learn to see difficult or strange things in a more dynamic and understanding light, without fear or judgment. The new moon and solar eclipse in your partnership sector on the 14th brings harmony and balance to your romantic and plastic relationships. You seek to cultivate peace during this powerful transit.

Taurus: Your ruling planet, Venus, is in fellow earth sign Virgo this week and in the next few weeks. Love has to feel practical, mutually beneficial and fulfill a specific role in order to appeal to you and have visible results when added to your life. It isn’t in a greedy or cold way. You just know that life is hard and the meaningless fluffy words, dreams and feelings of infatuation usually add up to nothing. If you are single, you might be looking for someone that meets a certain criteria or has a certain skill that you feel you can “work together” with. If you are already committed, you might find yourself bending over backwards trying to please your partner, as it becomes some sort of project for you to do so. The new moon and solar eclipse in Libra on the 14th is a fresh start. You might be setting aside a grudge or reaching a compromise on a long-standing issue. 

Gemini: You’re showing your affection through acts of service as Venus enters practical Virgo. This Venus placement is sensual, reserved and slightly cautious. It’s certainly not spicy or extravagant but there is a subtle charm and humble romanticism to it. If you look beyond traditional expectations, you may find something even more meaningful and special. It can be hard to articulate your feelings through words at this time, so it’s important to find the most direct route to the point and to be bold and transparent. The new moon and solar eclipse in Libra on the 14th inspires you to imbue your environment with comfort and beauty and to seek balance and resolution in your interactions. It’s a good time to let go of grudges you’ve held against others or yourself. 

Cancer: Good vibes abound as Venus in Virgo transits your communication and socialization sector. You’re feeling the love for your friends and the people around you. You may be particularly focused on what you can “do” for people to show that you care. It feels good to put in effort and time into your relationships. The new moon in Libra, along with a solar eclipse on the 14th, highlights peacemaking, renewal and creativity. You may be starting a new art project or newly becoming a part of a team of some kind. This lunation can also make us overly concerned about the approval of others, so that’s something to watch out for.

Leo: There is a new moon and solar eclipse occurring in Libra on the 14th. As your sign is ruled by the sun, you are particularly attuned to this astrological occurrence. It is a time when you let go of the past and in which new information about personal matters comes to light that might help you to change your perspectives. The new moon inspires you to seek balance and to reconcile opposing ideas. Mars in Scorpio highlights your fourth house and you find that you have more energy and get more done when you don’t have an audience.

Virgo: You’re feeling bold, outgoing and direct as Mars in Scorpio energizes your communication and social sector. You’re booking yourself in advance as you take an interest in many projects, events and happenings. Mars in Scorpio is an intriguing transit that warms you up and stimulates the mind and the emotions. It can also be a bit much at times as it can make you prone to heated debates, arguments and impulsivity. Take care as you forge ahead. The new moon in Libra accompanied by a solar eclipse on the 14th is a time for releasing past grudges, making peace and starting over. Delusions are removed.

Libra: Mars in Scorpio highlights your second house of money and material possessions this week. You are interested in optimization and maximization as you play to your strong suits when it comes to working, earning and acquiring. Beware of material obsession. The new moon/solar eclipse in your sign is a chance to do some deep self reflection and to come up with new goals for how you want to present yourself to the world and what kind of person you want to be. Generosity, empathy and compassion are high on the list. There is renewal in relationships as one or both parties lets go of something from the past. 

Scorpio: Mars, the planet of energy, assertiveness and passion, enters your sign this week. You get a boost of confidence and decisiveness in the coming weeks. More than usual, you are taking initiative instead of waiting to be summoned. Beware of being argumentative or bossy as Mars has a tendency to heat us up in ways that might be easy to lose track of. A competitive streak can be a good thing if it’s not taken too far. The new moon and solar eclipse in Libra on the 14th releases you from an old resentment.

Sagittarius: Mars in your 12th house brings fire and energy to your subconscious, your dreams and your deepest emotions. You feel that you are full of ideas and that you are brimming with secrets. There is a tendency to have trouble falling asleep when Mars transits this area of your chart. On the plus side, you are feeling intrigued and inspired by the mysteries of life and what the world has in store each day. Others may be drawn to your pensive and simmering vibe. The new moon and solar eclipse in Libra on the 14th inspire you to change up your communication style and to take a new approach to friendships and partnerships. You might come to value a specific relationship more than ever as new light is shed on it. 

Capricorn: Being part of something and quietly contributing feels oddly fulfilling these days. You find that you can add more and be more yourself when you aren’t in the spotlight or making every decision on your own (at least for now…we know you’re a creative director at heart), while Mars energizes your 11th house of groups, collaborations and ideologies. Networking, volunteering and helping are fulfilling activities. Beware of overloading your schedule with these things though, because burnout is real. The new moon and solar eclipse in Libra on the 14th bring new insight that hits the refresh button on your mindset. You are becoming more aware of your true potential and the steps you want to take to unlock it.

Aquarius: After a rough patch of feeling lonely and a bit stuck, the new moon and solar eclipse in Libra on the 14th reinvigorates your initiative and your imagination. You’re more likely to speak from the heart, make the first move and connect with others on a spiritual level. Earnestness and authenticity become second nature and despite the vulnerability that accompanies it, it is totally worth it. Mars in your 10th house motivates you to accomplish something big.

Pisces:  You’re feeling bold and adventurous as Mars highlights your ninth house of travel, higher learning and spirituality. You seek out novel experiences and new topics to study. The next few weeks are a time of exploration and experimentation as you seek to expand your mind and broaden your horizons. Getting out of your comfort zone can be empowering. Think about where fear or insecurity has been holding you back. The new moon and solar eclipse in Libra on the 14th help you to let go of the past. The following day bodes well for starting new projects or initiating a getting together with friends to socialize.

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