Scorpio season 2026 may feel 'more intense than usual' for four star signs in particular, according to Nebula's astrologer and spiritual advisor Polina Arutiunian. The season runs from October 23 to November 22, and this year it begins while Venus is retrograde in Scorpio.
Mercury turns retrograde in Scorpio on October 24, Venus moves back into Libra on October 25, and a Full Moon in Taurus follows on October 26. In astrology, these transits are associated with reflection on relationships, trust, money, old conversations, and unresolved decisions. Their overlap may make some of these themes feel especially relevant.
What Scorpio season means
According to Arutiunian, Scorpio is a Water sign traditionally ruled by Mars and also associated with Pluto in modern astrology. Its themes include intimacy, trust, vulnerability, power, transformation, and how we respond to things we can't fully control.
That's part of why Scorpio season has a reputation for intensity. It can be a time to look beyond appearances and notice what feels true underneath. That doesn't mean everyone should expect a dramatic breakup or a life-changing revelation. Sometimes the realisation is quieter: a pattern, relationship, belief, or version of ourselves may no longer feel like the right fit.
Why this year feels more intense
This year, Scorpio season begins during two retrograde periods. Venus has been retrograde since October 3, beginning its retrograde in Scorpio. In astrology, Venus is associated with love, attraction, money, pleasure, and personal values. Astrologers often use its retrograde as a prompt to revisit what – and who – we value.
Then, on October 24, Mercury turns retrograde in Scorpio. An unresolved relationship topic might return to the conversation. An old decision might deserve another look. Or you may find the words for something you've been turning over privately.
There's an interesting overlap between the two retrogrades. Venus asks: What do I value? Mercury asks: What might I need to reconsider or say differently? Together, these themes may make this part of Scorpio season especially reflective.
Relationships as a key theme
Scorpio is associated with trust, intimacy, and emotional honesty. With Venus retrograde, these may be useful areas to reflect on in your relationships. People sometimes reduce retrogrades to 'your ex is coming back'. A more grounded way to look at it is that old relationship patterns may come back into view.
That could involve an actual person from the past. It could also mean noticing a dynamic you keep repeating with different people. On October 25, retrograde Venus moves back into Libra, putting more emphasis on Libra themes of fairness, balance, and reciprocity, alongside Scorpio's focus on intimacy and vulnerability.
How to prepare and which signs are affected
Scorpio season can offer space for honest self-reflection. Journaling, quiet time, and thoughtful conversations can help you put these thoughts into words. That may feel especially relevant during the first part of the season, when both Venus and Mercury are retrograde. Reflection doesn't require immediate action – if an old feeling, conflict, or person resurfaces, you can take time to consider what it means before deciding what place it should have in your future.
The four fixed signs – Scorpio, Taurus, Leo, and Aquarius – may find these themes especially relevant. In astrology, fixed signs are associated with steadiness and persistence, and the Sun's time in Scorpio forms aspects to these signs. For Scorpio, identity and personal direction may be on your mind. For Taurus, relationships and partnerships may come into focus, especially around the Full Moon on October 26. Leo may see focus on private life, emotional foundations, home, and family. Aquarius may reassess career, public identity, and long-term direction, distinguishing between goals you genuinely want and ones you've simply grown used to pursuing.
