The Hunter’s Full Moon in Taurus blossoms on October 25, with the Venus-tinted petals of her light permeating the night sky to their fullest extent at 9:11 pm US/Pacific. Venus joins the Sun (exact October 23) to oppose the Full Moon, while Pluto’s depth and intensity join this conversation in a stressful square aspect, bringing up the power and paradox of love.
We may touch on the connection between love and grief as the skies create a poignant atmosphere for the season of Samhain, All Souls’ Day, Ilgės, Día de Muertos, Dziady, and other cultural celebrations of the vital connection between the world of the living and the mysterious realm of the dead. Meanwhile, Venus’ retrograde motion has been stirring the pot of relationships, connections, finances, and unspoken agreements. The upcoming Hunter’s Moon could have us climbing through a dense forest of desire, tracking the footprints of all our misgivings, suspicions, or jealousies. The power of Venus’ love will then emerge from the underworld of her retrograde phase as a morning star, becoming visible in eastern morning skies in early November. By the end of November, she will reach her maximum brightness of 2026, becoming a startlingly bright diamond in our sky.
The Full Moon in Taurus
Venus Opposite Chiron
The October 25 Hunter’s Moon arrives to illuminate the thinning of the veil between our ordinary reality and the mysterious other world of ancestors and souls, reaching its exact opposition to the Scorpio Sun at 9:11 pm US/Pacific. Curiosity permeates this emotional high tide in the collective, as our interest is piqued by what lies behind closed doors or closed hearts. Venus’ social expectations hold sway over the Taurus Full Moon, and with her retrograde motion just entering her home sign of Libra on the same day, many will be sensitive to double standards, hypocrisy around rules or agreements, and simply not in the mood for anyone’s nonsense. Venus’ concern with appearance opposes Chiron's sore spots (October 28 and November 28), which means insecurities could surface before resolution can happen. Some of us may be exceptionally sensitive to remarks about our own looks, or deeply re-evaluating our own relationship to mainstream beauty standards.
Mercury Retrograde in Scorpio
Mercury Square Mars & Jupiter
It’s a rather confrontational few days around the Full Moon in Taurus, with messenger Mercury not only making an argumentative square to Mars (exact October 30) but also stationing retrograde on October 24 to join Venus’ reverse motion in the passionate sign of Scorpio. This is a classic setup for misunderstandings and crossed wires. Whether that sparks a quarrel or we’re just having to argue a point, words are sure to fly.
Be wary of telling tall tales to yourself or others, as Mercury’s square to inflationary Jupiter can make you blow things out of proportion. Another possibility is receiving good news during this time, perhaps a welcome reconnection with people from our past that foreshadows the focus of Mars’ incoming retrograde period.
The retrograde motion of planets emphasizes reviewing, revisiting, and reworking (or reconsidering), so auspicious circumstances are more likely to unfold slowly than to roll out quickly. There may also be some less-than-ideal components to the scenario; for example, a faltering volunteer community effort gets going again but splits into factions. It’s wonderful to reignite a project, yet it’s complicated. Persistence and patience can win out if we stay committed to visions and intentions that extend beyond selfish interests. We should take as much time as possible to review and consider any agreements we make or contracts we sign, and ideally completely review all details on a couple of different days.
Sun Square Mars & Jupiter
Mars conjunct South Node & Jupiter
Mars Retrograde
Mars' initiatory energy verges into its own retrograde period on November 3 as it starts down a path it will later retrace through extroverted Leo and detail-oriented Virgo. During this retrograde shadow period, we may begin to glimpse what Mars’ retrograde will bring into our lives, whether we encounter people, events, or inspirations that return with significance at the beginning of 2027.
In mid-November, the Sun energizes the Mars-Jupiter-South Node conjunction by making a stressful square aspect (exact November 18 to 19). Mars-Jupiter is an exuberant energy, often championing ideals or life philosophies. This can show up as big egoic energy, but its proximity to the Moon's South Node suggests a refinement of our confidence, pride, or ambition. Avoid overestimating your capacity right now, and don't promise more than you can deliver. Many of us may also be questioning the company we keep, perhaps severing ties or forming new associations that better fit this season of life.
Venus Retrograde
Venus’ retrograde motion has certainly made the topic of social ties, including our most intimate connections, prominent for October and November. Former lovers, ex-partners, good friends, and even colleagues who were once closer to us tend to reappear in some way. Some of us will welcome the reunion, while others get a potent reminder of what was problematic about those connections. Subtle power plays, covert agendas, hidden motives, and toxic forms of manipulation are likely to be exposed or more apparent in ourselves and others.
Such reconnections with the past can teach us how to approach love and care in ways that are truly nourishing. Part of this is taking ownership of our vulnerability and recognizing how we try to exert control or avoid pain; part of it is growing discernment about who we choose to share our most tender parts with. The question may revolve around who is worthy of knowing our deepest, truest selves—and how our attractions reflect our own sense of self-worth.
We might gain valuable insight into why we were ever attracted to certain people or social scenes, and what ultimately drives us away from intimacy or sustained contact with them. As emotionally painful as some of these revelations may be, we too could emerge from this retrograde period like the morning star Venus, brighter, wiser and more beautiful than ever.
The Moon describes your most profound capacity to connect with others. It also reveals much about your soul's shape. We’ll use the symbolic system of tropical astrology to see how the current Full Moon in Taurus energizes your Moon placement. Full Moons amplify energy and emotions. Here’s what might be in store for you this lunation!
♈ Aries Moon
Issues of worthiness and lovability may surface around values or resources you share with others, or perhaps debts you owe, Aries Moon. The Taurus Full Moon could free you from feeling you must go it alone, if you would see your own value more clearly.
♉ Taurus Moon
This is your Full Moon of 2026, Taurus Moon! So much is being set aright in your relational sphere, and you may occasionally be shocked by what you discover lurking in the subconscious. Trust that these discoveries support the inner guide that lies within you, whether on your inner journey or in your work in the world.
♊ Gemini Moon
What’s worth fighting for, Gemini Moon? You may find your commitment to service and higher ideals sorely tested under the Full Moon in Taurus. It may help to reorient by touching base with your unique spiritual destiny or calling.
♋ Cancer Moon
If any part of you thinks it’s irresponsible to play, to seek enjoyment and pleasure, the Taurus Full Moon is bringing it to light. You might experiment with letting yourself feel free to play and enjoy, Cancer Moon, and see what happens.
♌ Leo Moon
Words may get away from you under the Full Moon in Taurus, but try to decode the meaning behind any outbursts. Your heart seems to be longing for something more satisfying, and indeed prosperity and abundance are trying to find you, Leo Moon.
♍ Virgo Moon
The Taurus Full Moon isn’t calling you incapable, Virgo Moon; it’s trying to temper your enthusiasm for taking on everything just to get it all done—correctly, of course. Backing off from overcommitment could bring unexpected gifts.
♎ Libra Moon
Success comes through collaboration, Libra Moon, as this lunation brings up insecurities around working with others. The Full Moon in Taurus can help you release old stories or agreements that inhibit your creativity, and align you with a vital new creative cycle.
♏ Scorpio Moon
Repressed desire may rise to the surface under this Taurus Full Moon, prompting you to reconsider some of your obligations. How and with whom you spend your time, especially in your more public roles, may change significantly, Scorpio Moon.
♐ Sagittarius Moon
The Full Moon in Taurus wants you to look very closely before you leap into your next grand adventure. Opportunities are afoot, and whether they come through former acquaintances, lovers, or other important karmic connections, know your limits, Sagittarius Moon.
♑ Capricorn Moon
New dimensions of your beauty are coming to light under the Taurus Full Moon, especially regarding your work and public reputation. According to the Romantic poet John Keats, beauty is truth, and as uncomfortable as exposure may feel at first, you have nothing to fear.
♒ Aquarius Moon
The Full Moon in Taurus looks to provide a bit of course correction for you, Aquarius Moon. A deepening of your philosophy, or a recalibration of your values, is emerging from recent transformations, bringing the blessings of all your labors.
♓ Pisces Moon
The power of speech to both hurt and to restore may emerge under this lunation, Pisces Moon. Whether you must mind your own words or deal with others’, connecting to your powerful capacity for gratitude can bring blessings through the Taurus Full Moon.
Venusian Botanicals for the Art of Slow, Sensuous Living
In astrological herbalism, Venus—the planet of love, beauty, pleasure, and harmony—rules Taurus and Libra and is exalted in Pisces. Her botanical allies are traditionally associated with emotional warmth, the senses, and cultivating beauty and balance in our daily lives.
Venusian plants invite us to soften, reconnect, and make room for more tenderness in how we care for ourselves and one another. Ruled by Venus, Taurus reminds us that the sacred is often found in the simplest earthly pleasures and the luxury of slowing down enough to truly receive.
You don’t need to be a Taurus to seek out nature’s heart-nourishing rituals this season. Our Full Hunter Moon Collection brings together botanical allies that invite you to pour more light into your connection to the body, the Earth, and the cycles moving through us all.
