Retrograde Pre-Shadow Period Venus in Scorpio & Libra/Mercury's Pre-Shadow Period in Scorpio/Venus into Scorpio/Mercury into Libra/Venus in Scorpio opposite Chiron in Taurus/Uranus Retrograde/Mercury in Libra Quincunx Chiron in Taurus/New Moon at 18° Virgo

The Pre-Shadow Period of Venus Retrograde began August 31st, 2026. Venus Retrograde is unlike Mercury Retrograde in that it only occurs every 18 months, whereas Mercury Retrograde, occurs 3-4 times a year, depending on the year. This year, we will have Venus Retrograde AND Mercury Retrograde both in Scorpio at the same time! FUN! (Sarcasm!) I won't lie. It will be rough. We will get through it though if we choose to work on ourselves, our love lives, relationships, and finances, and our communications skills, during that time though. Since they are both in Scorpio, it will definitely be a time for Shadow work. Lots of introspection and looking within, being honest with ourselves about how we could show up better, not only for ourselves, but where we are not meeting others halfway in these areas of life. Love relationships also means the relationship you have with yourself, first and foremost. So, starting August 31, 2026, where did these issues regarding love, relationships, and finances start to hit your life? Also, remember my last blog where the Full Moon talked about needing to have honest, emotional communication with yourself and others and also the themes of Uranus (the sudden revelations, shock bringer, and revolutionary planet) throwing things into chaos regarding stability surrounding relationships, love, and money and building foundations with relationships, love, and finances. I will link it below if you would like to review it to catch up to this New Moon in Virgo we are having since that was the Lunar Eclipse (Full Moon, but much more powerful) in Pisces (they are opposite signs and linked). We also had some themes around identity/status and emotions/primal instincts, and again, our shock and sudden changes/revelations planet, Uranus which will come into play further into this reading. So, that is also something we are looking back and seeing how we are in relation to how that transpired for us in our lives. We had themes of nurturing versus turning inward and showing no emotion like the crab, which is the symbol of Cancer hiding in its shell and passive-aggressiveness. I mean, the Lunar Eclipse stuff was a whole hell of a ride and probably should be revisited because it will definitely matter for this next New Moon which I will cover later in this reading. As most of you know, I normally cover about a week's worth of transits at a time, but September 10th, 2026 which when all of these transits are happening, are enough for the whole update. It's gonna be a hell of day astrologically! So, if you are sensitive to the planetary movements, you're gonna feel this on Thursday, September 10th, 2026!

https://www.venusinleoastrology.com/blog/08-29-26-sun-into-virgo-lunar-eclipse-pisces

Venus in Scorpio & Libra Retrograde Pre-Shadow Period. Okay, I started covering above and I shall continue down here. The last time Venus went Retrograde was March 1, 2025-April 12th, 2025 (and you can also check that blog on here as well). You might want to think back to that time of your life to what was happening at that time. That Venus Retrograde was in the sign of Aries, which is the opposite sign of what it will be in this time, as this time, it is covering both Scorpio AND Libra (opposite of Aries), so the themes will be very different, but you can get a basic idea of what Venus in Retrograde is below at the link. Venus is currently in the Pre-Shadow Period of the Retrograde phase, which means, if you have to make any major financial decisions, major beauty enhancements (transformative haircuts, Botox, plastic surgery), changes of style, major purchases, starting a new relationship, or getting married, it best to do them now, BEFORE the Venus in Retrograde goes fully into effect on October 3rd, 2026 at 3:16 AM EDT as you can read in my past blog or AFTER on November 13th, 2026 at 7:27 PM EST. It is not advisable to do these things during Venus Retrograde because these are things that Venus rules and Venus will be, in effect, going "backward" in the sky, although not technically, it's like when you are driving and the wheels on a car next to you appear to be spinning backward. The effect though, is that it creates havoc with all things that the planet rules. We have already come to see this with Mercury Retrograde if you are a follower of my page. If you need to catch up on that, go back and read ANY blog that has Mercury Retrograde in the title. Old relationships (friends or lovers) will probably pop up into your life and may want a redo of some type, but just like with any Retrograde planet, this is the time when we employ our "re" words like "Readvise", "Revisit", "Rethink", "Review", "Reconsider", "Reappraise" etc. This is NOT a time for action, but for planning and thinking about what action to take once Venus goes Direct on November 13th, 2026 AT 7:27 PM EST. There will also probably be some delays and distractions related to these areas of your life as with most Retrograde periods, so prepare for that now. Mercury enters its Pre-Shadow Period on October 4th, 2026. So, basically a day after Venus goes Retrograde. Now, remember sometimes the Shadow periods right before and right after the planet goes Retrograde or Direct (its when the planet is Stationary, meaning its not moving) is when the most happens. That is when you need to be on the lookout. So watch out for about 2 weeks before and after Venus goes Retrogrades and a few days when Mercury goes Retrograde. Mercury goes Retrograde in Scorpio on October 24th, 2026 at 3:13 AM EDT so plan for that as well, as that will interrupt communication, thoughts, technology surrounding communication, short-distance travel, commerce/sales, and networking. Again, NOT a time to take action, but to consider our "re" words like "Revise", "Reedit", "Reexamine", "Readjust", etc. Both Retrogrades are a time for going over projects or things that are already in progress, but not starting new things. It is definitely not advisable to sign contracts during Mercury Retrograde. If you have to, make sure you or a lawyer reads over the fine print very carefully so you are covered. Now, we are going to cover the fact that all of this is (mostly) happening in the sign of Scorpio! Now, Venus is in its Detriment in Scorpio (because it is ruled by two signs and Scorpio is the opposite of one). That means this is not a great place for Venus. It is not working to the best of its ability and because of Scorpio's energies, it is hard for it to function. So, you can probably expect some conflict within your one-on-one relationships, especially the love relationships. Some relationships may end at this time, but if they do, they were meant to end, and you should understand that you were meant to let go. Transformation is one of Scorpio's many qualities and keywords with it being ruled by Pluto. This will be a very transformative time in the Collective's lives with both Retrogrades in Scorpio at the same time. Mercury Retrograde will be completely in the sign of Scorpio, but you don't have to worry about that now, I will cover that later, because Mercury is just headed into Libra today. I will talk about that below. Venus Retrograde will be in the signs of Scorpio and Libra! Scorpio is the sign symbolized by the Scorpion. Scorpions have a stinger, which they will employ if you mess with them. They are also passionate, deep, mysterious, possessive, typically loyal unless other placements show otherwise, either the asexual type or the kinky type (no hate to either, just explaining), they can also be kind of stalkery, not gonna lie. I remember reading on an astrology forum about a Scorpio talking about his ex and how he was glad that she had blocked him because he absolutely would be stalking her if she didn't. I'm not saying all Scorpios are like this, but it does seem to be a lot of them. Scorpios can also be vengeful and ruthless. They also are usually pretty direct once you get to know them. They do have an exoskeleton much like a Cancer has a shell. They keep things hidden. Scorpios love deeply though and I do mean deeply. Once they get those pincers in you, they are stuck for life. A celebrity couple I can think of off the top of my that were both Venus in Scorpios are Ozzy Osbourne and Sharon Osbourne. They went through so much together, but there was nothing that was going to separate those two but death, quite literally. That is how Venus in Scorpio energy rolls. I have close loved ones with Venus in Scorpio and I am VERY familiar with this energy. They will die before they will be separated from their partners, come hell or high water. (Check your chart to see where you may have Scorpio placements or Pluto heavy in that chart! This may resonant. So, this is what we are coming into starting on Thursday, September 10th, 2026. Whether that is good or bad is up to you to decide. I guess it all depends on your partner, if you have one, and if the relationship is solid. I will talk about Libra energy below.

https://venusinleoastrology.com/blog/venus-retrograde

Venus (love, one-on-one relationships, finances, beauty, arts, actors, museums, lower back, banks, costumes, cosmetics, customers, feminism, friendships, gambling, gifts, indulgence, intimacy, laughter, juries, lymphatic system, music/musicians, modeling, singers, restaurant workers, STIs, wheat fields) moves into Scorpio on September 10th, 2026 and I already pretty much covered how that energy manifests above and this will last, again, until November 13th 2026 at 7:27 PM EST because of the Retrograde period.

Mercury also moves into Libra on Thursday, September 10th, 2026 and this will affect our communication, thoughts, ideas, technology surrounding communication (phones, computers, printers, etc), networking, sales/commerce, bookstores, education, libraries, nervous system, medical field, hands, androgyny, information, intelligence, journalists, lawyers, mathematicians, neighbors/neighborhoods, siblings, observation, thyroid gland, writers, and our youth regarding the themes of equality, diplomacy, justice, balance, beauty, the arts, companionship, love, relationships, juggling, partner, marriage or business; closets, social affairs/gatherings, lumbar region of the spine, and unions. Mercury will leave Libra to move into Scorpio on September 30th, 2026 at 7:44 AM EDT.

Venus in Scorpio Opposite Chiron in Taurus happens at 1:15 PM EDT on Thursday, September 10th, 2026. This is a very iffy transit for the first transit right of the bat of Venus moving into Scorpio. So, I am linking another blog below where I talk about Chiron in depth. Chiron is known as the Wounded Healer and you can learn more about Chiron in the blog below. That blog talks about a Venus Conjunct Chiron aspect. This happens to be a Venus Opposite Chiron aspect, so slightly different as Oppositions cause conflict while creating opportunity for growth. You gotta work for it. Now, you're learned the themes of Venus in Scorpio already, so now you need to learn about Chiron in Taurus. For general Chiron in-depth knowledge, check the link below. For Chiron in Taurus specifically, since Chiron has to do with inner wounds and traumas and also, where you can heal others and yourself from those inner wounds and traumas and Taurus has to do with the body, the senses, luxury, material possessions, wealth, finances, talents, and self-worth, you may see issues surrounding those areas during this transit connected with relationships, love, and finances. So, this could be healing, because like I said, Chiron is the Wounded Healer who healed others despite his own outcasting and pain, or this could be something that could re-traumatize you, if you let it. Keywords there. With Scorpio and Taurus involved, there is always an element of control involved, so you always have a part of yourself in the driver's seat whether you know it or not. It's actually actualizing that and using it to your best interest, but not hurting anyone else in the process that is the key.

https://venusinleoastrology.com/blog/sun-conjunct-neptune

Uranus turns Retrograde in Gemini at 2:27 PM EDT on Thursday, September 10th, 2026. As we become quite familiar on this blog, Uranus is the planet of sudden revelations and changes, revolution, shake-ups out of the blue, unpredictability, electricity, eccentricity, humanitarianism, the collective, liberty, legislation, microphones, liberation, freedom, detachment, tracking/trackers, boycotts, astrology, astronomy, audacity, healing and healers, hurricanes, infidelity, intuitive intellect, inventions, nerves and nervous system, psychism/psychics, earthquakes, trade unions, uprisings, volcanoes, votes/voters, zealots, and socialism. Again, as we know, Retrograde motion means that the planet operates differently for a period of time. For Uranus, because it is an Outer Planet and it does it about half its time, it will be Retrograde for about 5 months from September 10th, 2026 to February 8th, 2027. During the time Uranus is in Gemini it will be a time of invention, revolution, liberation, and discovery in the fields of communication, education, higher thinking, intelligence, technology related to communication and all of the Gemini (Mercury Ruled) fields. Scroll back up for what Mercury rules. During this time of Uranus Retrograde, however, there will be much introspection in your life regarding these themes what they mean to you and how they fit in with the rest of the other planetary themes playing out currently. Your personal belief system and your values may come up for review as to if they are still fitting with the rest of your values and lifestyle. There will also probably be some delays related to this area of your life as there usually are with Retrogrades. The first thing I notice right away is the Kite Formation sitting dead center in the chart. The Kite Formation is an indicator of good fortune and luck. You all know by now that a Trine is a easy, harmonious aspect that requires little work. A Grand Trine is 3 Trines (120°) forming an Equilateral Triangle and the top of the Kite Formation is 2 Sextiles (60°) connecting to the top Trine to form a point. We're gonna be mathin' since that's pretty much all astrology is because I really enjoy a challenge. So, we have 2 60° aspects forming a tent with a point at the top sitting on top of an Equilateral Triangle (Grand Trine) made of 3 120° Trines. That is your Kite Formation. Plus, it also has an Opposition of 180° going right down the middle of the Kite at the top of the point where the 2 60° Sextiles meet all the way down to where the point of 2 of the 120° Trines meet. So, just a straight line through that Kite. Also, in the Uranus Stationary Retrograde chart (meaning the exact time that Uranus goes Retrograde), Uranus Retrograde is in that lovely Grand Trine with Uranus Retrograde in Gemini at 5° (sudden, revolutionary changes) with Mercury in Libra at 0°, the (start of fair and diplomatic communication, possibly in love, relationships, or finances, as 0° is the starting point of any sign and is a Cardinal degree and we learned about Cardinal energy being the Initiators), and also, Mercury in Libra at 0° is in a Trine to Pluto (which is Conjunct Juno at 25° Capricorn, the ideal partner who has traits of being business oriented, goal-driven, straight-forward, lascivious like a goat, which is the symbol of Capricorn, dark & dry-humored) in Aquarius at 3° which Pluto (the ruler of Scorpio) whose keywords are transformation, control, power, obsession, regeneration, The Phoenix, defiance, floods, BDSM, the state of ecstasy, sex) back in the themes of Aquarius which is ruled by Uranus, so again, revolution, eccentricity, non-conformity, homosexuality (LGBTQIA+ community as a whole), science, psychology, astrology/astrologers, cooperation, co-ops, explorers, electricians, freethinkers, photography/photographers, the progressive, radio/television broadcasting, research, rebellions, wireless, and one's wishes. Then, Pluto in Aquarius at 3° (Conjunct Juno in Capricorn at 25°) is in a Trine right back to Uranus Retrograde in Gemini at 5° as the wings of the Kite which makes up the 3rd Trine. So, Pluto in Aquarius (Conjunct Juno in Capricorn at 25) Trine Uranus Retrograde in Gemini would have themes of transformation and regeneration (rising from the ashes (The Phoenix), possibly obsession and control around an ideal partner related to sudden changes, revolution, non-conformity and breakthroughs regarding communication, education, networking, and new ways of thinking (look above for more themes). The point at the top of the Kite is the Apex planet and here we find an Opposition between Mercury in Libra at 0° and Neptune at 3° in Aries. Neptune in Aries is the Apex planet at the top of the Kite. (Making Mercury in Libra the point at the bottom of the Equilateral Triangle). The Apex planet is where we find what will put the motion in the ocean of this lucky and fortunate aspect with the work added. Because, remember, Trines are lazy, and Grand Trines very lazy because they are harmonious that very little work is required. Sextiles bring balance and harmony, but require some work, but the Apex planet which comes from an Opposition is where, with work, the focus is put in this formation to make it all come together. Mercury in Libra opposite Neptune in Aries is where we find this focus, mainly the Neptune in Aries part. The Mercury in Libra Opposition to Neptune in Aries is about Communication, thoughts, ideas, education, technology around communication, sales/commerce (see more themes above) in the areas of love, relationships, romance, unions, finances, marriage, partnerships, both business and romantic; beauty, the arts, museums, in conflict with room for growth, with the work necessary, to Neptune in Aries which is imagination, intuition, psychics, spirituality, clairvoyance, idealism, dreams, creativity, film/movies, escapism, substance use/abuse, addictions, delusions/illusions, lies, fog/haze, not seeing people clearly, but at the same time, Neptune in Aries is THE Spiritual Warrior, because Aries is the Warrior, the innovator, the trailblazer, the instigator, bold, feisty, romantic, the lover, the brain (body part), the head/skull (body part), diamonds, inflammatory diseases, adrenalin, acne, baldness, insomnia, leaders/leadership, surgery/surgeons, one's temperament, the avant-garde, and accidents. So, if you find a way to focus on Neptune in Aries and these particular themes through this Uranus Retrograde for the next 5 months and also, use this as a good backbone for the rest of the New Moon in Virgo chart below, then you know what to focus on for future because they are exactly 9 hours apart, so some change, but not terribly much in the grand scheme of things.

Mercury in Quincunx (150°) Chiron in Taurus will go exact at 3:49 PM EDT on Thursday, September 10th, 2026. So, we already had a Chiron aspect on this day, which may or may not be pleasant. Now, we have a Mercury aspect to Chiron which I can say will probably not be pleasant because it is a Quincunx and we learned during the Lunar Eclipse blog up above, Quincunxes have absolutely nothing in common. They share no commonalities and cannot relate to each other, so communication about inner wounds and trauma, and the healing of them in the areas of Libra (love, relationships, and finances) and Taurus (material possessions, wealth, the body, luxury, talents, self-worth), (see above for more themes, will be very hard to communicate about. If you prepare for this though, it will be easier to mitigate and don't think you shouldn't try just because it will be hard. This is coming up BEFORE the New Moon in Virgo. So that is something to watch for.

The New Moon at 18° Virgo (Moon Conjunct Sun) occurs at 11:27 PM EDT on Thursday, September 10th, 2026. So, you read ALL about the Kite formation already up at the Uranus Retrograde section plays a huge part in the New Moon chart. Glad we already covered that and since Uranus goes Retrograde on the same day (which is today, since I have been writing for two days now, and it is technically Thursday, September, 10th, 2026.) it will have a huge part in this New Moon. WHOOO! More Uranus, who's excited?! New news- The New Moon is sitting down by the Opposite of the Apex planet (Mercury in Libra at 0°), the bottom of the Kite, at 18° Virgo, but too far out of Orb to be considered a Conjunction. The New Moon in Virgo at 18° is making a Sextile to Mars exactly Conjunct Child at 19°. We have identity/ego/status and emotions/primal instincts/motherhood/mothers revolving around themes of health, celibacy, job, employment, public health, routine, GI system and related illnesses, schedules, medical professions, healers (not just medical), teachers, hospitality and restaurant workers, editors/editing, perfectionism, meticulousness, nit-picky, and being detail-oriented in a generally balanced and fluid aspect that requires some work, but is beneficial (Sextile 60°) to Mars (planet of war, anger, aggression, sex drive, drive, ambition, and energy) Conjunct Child (an asteroid related to the Inner child where you feel most safe and can play and let your hair down) in Cancer (the sign of the Crab, which is known for nurturing, caring, family-oriented, being sensitive, intuitive, dreams, passive-aggressive, hiding in its shell when it feels attacked, moodiness, crabbiness, can also be vengeful like Scorpio -It's a Water placement thing, it's all those emotions. Not all Cancer placements, you know if it's you. LOL. (No hate to the Water placements) So, from that Mars/Child Conjunction we have a Square (90°, difficult placement that creates tension which with a lot of work can lead to opportunities for growth) to Saturn at 13° Aries. This is a difficult placement because it is hard on the Child asteroid in Cancer as Saturn in Aries is authority, boundaries, restrictions, stability (not bad), foundations (also not bad), and Saturn can also provide boons with hard work and this is all in the sign of Aries which can be brash, an instigator, but it can be bold, an innovator, and a trailblazer, so it just depends on how the energies play out here, because with the Mars placement Conjunct Child, which is good and bad for the Child placement. Mars and Saturn can either be really good together or really bad. They just don't have an in-between. Saturn is like authoritarianism and Mars is war. But Saturn is also business and Mars is ambition and drive. And then you throw Child in there and it's a free-for-all, unfortunately for Child, but it could be in the positive! There is always hope! Moving on, we have Jupiter in Leo at 15° in a Trine to Saturn at 13° Aries. So this is a positive aspect for business and anything related to growing a business or a foundation of any kind. As we learned last week, Jupiter expands, grows, multiplies, and brings fortune/luck to anything it touches and in the sign of Leo, we have the star, the theater/the arts, the creative, children, romance, sex for pleasure, (Pluto is sex for procreation), passion, drama (both theatrical and the other kind), and crafts in an easy and positive aspect to Saturn in Aries which is authority, business, foundations, buildings/building, stability, boundaries, restrictions, government, bankruptcy and abandoned places in relation to boldness, rashness, impulsivity, risk-taking, instigators, innovators, trailblazers, warriors, and fighters. Venus at 0° Scorpio Quincunx Neptune at 3° Aries can bring feelings of low self-worth, issues with self-image, a haze or fog around love or love interests, insecurity around financial matters, It can cast a beautiful romanticism around some of these themes, but give the illusion that they may not be real. Be on the lookout for this so you can do what you can to avoid it as much as possible. For the last aspect of the New Moon in Virgo at 18°, we have again, Venus at 0° Scorpio, the beginning of passionate, deep, and obsessive love season Square (difficult aspect that if worked on, can create room for growth opportunities, 90°) Pluto in Aquarius (Conjunct Juno in Capricorn, the ideal partner). Pluto being transformation, rising from the ashes to start over, regeneration, The Phoenix, obsession, control, power, BDSM, domination, sex for procreation and also known as The Destroyer in relation to revolution, non-conformity, eccentricity, humanitarianism, liberation, freedom, rebellions, boycotts, trade unions, psychology, astrology/astrologers, and freethinkers. So, that sums up the New Moon in Virgo at 18° for you. I will be writing to you all sooner than you think!