Quick answer: Scorpio season 2026 runs from October 23, 2026 (5:38 AM ET) to November 22, 2026 (2:23 AM ET). Mercury is retrograde from October 24 to November 13, Venus from October 3 to November 13, and the New Moon in Scorpio falls on November 9.
Scorpio season 2026 starts at 5:38 AM ET on Friday, October 23, and this year it arrives with an unusual setup. Mercury and Venus are both retrograde for most of the season, and both turn direct on the same day, November 13. If late October feels stuck, repetitive, or hard to put into words, that timing explains a lot.
This guide gives you three things: the exact dates in Eastern and Pacific time, a 30-day transformation plan built around the season’s two moons, and a Tibetan Buddhist way to frame change that most astrology guides skip. Every date below was checked against published astronomical tables, not copied from another horoscope.
Scorpio season is the roughly 30-day stretch when the Sun moves through Scorpio, the zodiac sign spanning 210° to 240° of the ecliptic. At PotalaStore, we work with Himalayan artisans on the malas and protection pieces our readers use in daily practice, so we write about this season from the practice side as well as the sky side.
A quick note: Astrology and crystal traditions are spiritual and cultural practices. They are not medical, psychological, or financial advice.
Table of Contents
When Is Scorpio Season 2026? Exact Dates, Times, and Sky Calendar
Scorpio season 2026 begins on Friday, October 23, 2026, at 5:38 AM ET (2:38 AM PT), when the Sun enters Scorpio, and ends on Sunday, November 22, 2026, at 2:23 AM ET. On the West Coast, that final moment lands at 11:23 PM PT on Saturday, November 21.
What time does the Sun enter Scorpio in 2026?
The Sun enters Scorpio at 5:38 AM EDT on October 23, 2026, which is 2:38 AM PDT and 09:38 UTC. The Royal Observatory of Belgium lists this moment in its 2026 table of the Sun’s passage through the zodiac signs. If you were born on October 22 or 23, check your exact birth time to confirm your Sun sign.
Why do some calendars end Scorpio season on November 21?
Some calendars say November 21 because the season ends at 11:23 PM Pacific time that night, while it ends at 2:23 AM Eastern time on November 22. Both dates are correct for their time zones.
U.S. daylight saving time also ends on Sunday, November 1, 2026. Times after that date are standard time (EST or PST), so an hour can shift if a source ignores the change.
Scorpio season 2026 key dates at a glance
Save this table. Times are Eastern and Pacific, with the November 1 clock change built in.
| Date | Event | Eastern (ET) | Pacific (PT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/23/2026 | Sun enters Scorpio | 5:38 AM EDT | 2:38 AM PDT |
| 10/24/2026 | Mercury stations retrograde at 20°58′ Scorpio | 3:12 AM EDT | 12:12 AM PDT |
| 10/25/2026 | Venus (retrograde) slips back into Libra | Date only | |
| 10/26/2026 | Hunter’s Moon (Full Moon in Taurus) | 12:12 AM EDT | 9:12 PM PDT on 10/25 |
| 10/31/2026 | Halloween (waning gibbous Moon) | All day | |
| 11/01/2026 | Lhabab Düchen; daylight saving time ends | Clocks fall back at 2:00 AM local time | |
| 11/04/2026 | Mercury cazimi (Mercury meets the Sun) | 9:37 AM EST | 6:37 AM PST |
| 11/09/2026 | New Moon in Scorpio | 2:02 AM EST | 11:02 PM PST on 11/08 |
| 11/13/2026 | Mercury turns direct at 5°02′ Scorpio; Venus turns direct the same day | 10:53 AM EST (Mercury) | 7:53 AM PST (Mercury) |
| 11/16/2026 | Mars meets Jupiter in Leo | Date only | |
| 11/22/2026 | Sun enters Sagittarius | 2:23 AM EST | 11:23 PM PST on 11/21 |
What Does the Sun’s Passage Through Scorpio Mean? Pluto, Mars, and Fixed Water
In Western astrology, Scorpio is a fixed water sign traditionally ruled by Mars and, in modern astrology, by Pluto. Its season is associated with staying power, emotional depth, and change that happens beneath the surface before it shows.
What does Scorpio season mean?
Scorpio season means a month when astrologers expect collective attention to turn toward what is hidden, shared, or unfinished. Fixed signs sit in the middle of each season and are linked with persistence. Water signs are linked with feeling and intuition. Put together, Scorpio energy is often described as feeling that refuses to stay shallow.
Mars, the traditional ruler, adds the nerve to face hard things directly. Pluto, the modern ruler, is associated with what gets buried and later resurfaces. Pluto turned direct on October 15 at 3°04′ Aquarius, a week before the season. Scorpio also sits opposite Taurus, so the season is often framed as a pull between comfort and depth.
Does Scorpio season only affect Scorpios?
No. Scorpio season affects everyone, because the Sun moves through a different area of every birth chart. People with the Sun, Moon, or rising sign in Scorpio tend to notice it most.
Scorpion, eagle, phoenix: three images of change
Scorpio has three traditional symbols, and each maps onto a stage of change. The scorpion stands for self-protection and the sting of an honest truth. The eagle stands for seeing a situation from above. The phoenix stands for rebuilding after something ends. The 30-day plan later in this guide follows the same arc: review, release, rebuild.
Double Retrograde, One Pivot: Why November 13 Changes the Plan
Mercury retrograde runs from October 24 to November 13, 2026, and Venus has been retrograde since October 3, so both planets turn direct on the same day, November 13. That shared station is the natural pivot of this season.
Is Mercury retrograde during Scorpio season 2026?
Yes. Mercury stations retrograde at 20°58′ Scorpio at 3:12 AM ET on October 24 and turns direct at 5°02′ Scorpio at 10:53 AM ET on November 13. The whole backward loop stays inside Scorpio. In a table of Mercury retrogrades from 2014 to 2033 compiled by astrologer Bonnie Sorsby, only the 2019 and 2026 cycles do that.
Mercury does not fully clear its retrograde zone, called the shadow period, until 10:17 PM PT on November 29 (1:17 AM ET on November 30). Midway through, on November 4, Mercury meets the Sun in a cazimi, a tight conjunction astrologers treat as a moment of sudden clarity. If you like wearing a physical reminder through these weeks, see our guide to protective jewelry to wear during Mercury retrograde.
Venus retrograde from October 3 to November 13
Venus spends 41 days retrograde this fall. It stations retrograde in Scorpio and slips back into Libra on October 25. Venus is associated with love, money, and what you value, so many astrologers suggest revisiting relationships and spending habits during this window instead of starting new ones.
Decide now, act after November 13
Use this split to keep moving without fighting the retrograde:
| Area | Before 11/13: decide | After 11/13: act |
|---|---|---|
| Contracts and leases | Read, negotiate, ask questions | Sign |
| Big purchases | Research and compare prices | Buy |
| Projects and launches | Draft, test, fix | Publish |
| Relationships | Have the honest conversation | Make new commitments |
| Personal goals | Choose one intention | Take the first visible step |
If a contract can wait until after November 13, let it. If it can’t, read every line twice and get the key terms in writing. The retrograde also lands differently in each chart, and our November 2026 horoscope for all 12 signs breaks it down sign by sign.
Keep your decision close: The Black Obsidian Protection Necklace ($43.95 as of September 2026) rests against your skin all day, so every time you touch it you get a quiet reminder of the boundary you set before the November 13 pivot.
Your 30-Day Scorpio Season Transformation Plan: Review, Release, Rebuild
The plan runs in three phases tied to real dates:
- Review (October 23 to November 8): List what keeps repeating, then release one item on the Hunter’s Moon, October 26.
- Reset (November 9): Set one private intention on the New Moon in Scorpio.
- Rebuild (November 13 to 22): Take visible action once Mercury and Venus turn direct.
Each phase has one job, and the calendar does the pacing for you.
Phase 1: Review (October 23 to November 8)
The review phase asks one question: what keeps repeating? Write down the patterns that have shown up since September, such as the same argument, the same late-night spending, or the same task you keep postponing. Keep the list to five items. Longer lists rarely get finished.
On the night of the Hunter’s Moon, the Full Moon in Taurus that peaks at 12:12 AM ET on October 26 (9:12 PM PT on October 25), pick one item to release. Write it on a separate page, read it out loud once, and tear the page up. Full moons are traditionally linked with culmination and letting go, so this is a natural moment to close one loop.
A two- to three-minute sound session can open and close each review sitting. If you want a bowl for this, browse handmade Tibetan singing bowls.
Phase 2: Reset on the New Moon in Scorpio (November 9)
The New Moon in Scorpio on November 9, 2026, at 2:02 AM ET (11:02 PM PT on November 8) is traditionally used for setting a single, private intention. Scorpio is a private sign, so keep this one to yourself. Write it as a present-tense sentence of 12 words or fewer, such as “I say no to plans I don’t want.” Fold the paper and keep it where you’ll see it every day.
This new moon falls four days before Mercury and Venus turn direct, so you set the intention while the sky favors reflection and act on it once the pivot arrives.
Phase 3: Rebuild (November 13 to 22)
The rebuild phase starts the moment Mercury and Venus turn direct on November 13. Take one visible step toward your intention within 72 hours: send the email, sign the lease, or book the appointment. On November 16, Mars meets Jupiter in Leo, a pairing astrologers link with confidence and momentum, which suits bold follow-through.
A small physical cue helps you keep going after the first step. Our Natural Garnet Healing Bracelet pairs slim 4mm garnet beads with strawberry quartz, so it stacks easily with a watch and stays on your wrist as a steady nudge through the last week of the season.
How to do shadow work safely this season
Shadow work is the practice of noticing traits or feelings you usually push out of view, based on psychologist Carl Jung’s idea of the “shadow.” Journaling is the gentlest way in. Try three prompts, one per sitting:
- Envy: What do I envy, and what does it tell me I want?
- Silence: What do I avoid saying, and to whom?
- Balance: Where do I give more than I get back?
Stop after 20 minutes, even mid-sentence. If journaling brings up more than you can hold, pause and talk to a licensed therapist. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 any time if you’re in crisis.
Impermanence and Lhabab Düchen: A Tibetan Buddhist Lens on the Scorpio Month
Western astrology calls this season transformation. Tibetan Buddhism would call it impermanence, the teaching that all conditioned things change, and in 2026 the two meet on November 1, Lhabab Düchen. These are two separate traditions with different goals, and we don’t blend them. The overlap in timing simply gives you a second lens on the same month.
What is Lhabab Düchen, and why does it fall in Scorpio season 2026?
Lhabab Düchen is the Tibetan Buddhist festival marking the Buddha’s descent from the Heaven of the Thirty-Three, where tradition holds he taught his mother before returning to the human world. It is one of the four great Düchen, or “great occasions,” of the Tibetan year, and it falls on the 22nd day of the ninth Tibetan lunar month. In 2026, that day is Sunday, November 1, nine days into Scorpio season.
Tushita Meditation Centre in Dharamsala notes that, according to tradition, the karmic results of actions on this day are multiplied many millions of times. Practitioners mark it with prayer, light offerings, and generosity.
Impermanence adds something useful here: the stuck feeling of late October will not last either. Change is already happening, and practice is how you meet it with attention.
Using a 108-bead mala to hold one intention for 30 days
A mala is a string of 108 beads used in Buddhist practice to count mantras or repetitions. The larger guru bead marks the start and is not counted. Each day of the season, hold your mala and repeat your intention, or a short mantra such as Om Mani Padme Hum, once per bead for one full round. Thirty days of one round each adds up to 3,240 repetitions.
The count removes the guesswork. When you reach the guru bead, you’re done for the day.
Start your 30-day count: The 108 Mala Beads Bracelet uses 8mm wood beads (about 0.31 inch) on an elastic cord, so it wraps around your wrist between sessions and is always there when you sit down to count. It’s $25.95 as of September 2026.
Obsidian vs. Garnet vs. Topaz: Which Scorpio Crystal Fits Your Goal?
Match the stone to your phase, not your mood:
| Stone | Traditionally associated with | Best phase | Mohs hardness | Care note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black obsidian | Honesty, grounding, shadow work | Review | 5 to 5.5 | Volcanic glass; store apart from harder stones to avoid chips |
| Garnet | Courage, commitment | Rebuild | 6.5 to 7.5 | Warm water and a soft cloth |
| Topaz | Clarity; modern November birthstone | Reset | 8 | Warm soapy water; skip steam and ultrasonic cleaners |
If your goal this season is shadow work, black obsidian is the stone most practitioners reach for. If your goal is follow-through, choose garnet. If you’re a November Scorpio who wants a birthstone, choose topaz.
Black obsidian for shadow work
Black obsidian is natural volcanic glass that forms when lava cools too fast to crystallize. Crystal traditions tie its mirror-like surface to seeing yourself honestly, which is why black obsidian and shadow work are paired so often. It chips more easily than quartz, so keep it away from keys.
Rainbow obsidian shows soft bands of color under light. Our Green Eye Obsidian Healing Bracelet uses natural rainbow obsidian, which gives you the same stone in a lighter look you can wear to work every day.
Garnet for courage and follow-through
Garnet is a family of silicate minerals, best known in deep red. It is traditionally linked with courage and steady commitment, which fits the rebuild phase after November 13. At 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, garnet handles daily wear well.
Topaz for November Scorpios
Topaz is the modern birthstone for November, so it suits Scorpios born from November 1 onward. It rates 8 on the Mohs scale, harder than garnet or obsidian. One buyer’s note: the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) states that blue and green topaz colors are almost always the result of treatment. That is normal and stable, but a good seller should disclose it. For color meanings and the other stones tied to this sign, read our Scorpio birthstone guide to topaz colors and meanings.
What crystals are good for Scorpio season?
The crystals most often recommended for Scorpio season are black obsidian, garnet, topaz, labradorite, smoky quartz, and malachite, all traditionally tied to depth, protection, or change. To compare picks across the zodiac, start with our guide to the best crystals for every zodiac sign, matched by element.
Frequently Asked Questions
Try not to sign major contracts or launch big projects between October 24 and November 13, when Mercury and Venus are both retrograde. Use those weeks to review and decide, then act once both planets turn direct.
Yes. Halloween on October 31, 2026, falls in the first week of Scorpio season, five days after the Hunter’s Moon. Many people use it as a night for protective dark stones like black obsidian.
Topaz is the birthstone most often linked to Scorpio, especially for November birthdays. Scorpios born in late October share October’s birthstones, opal and tourmaline.
Sagittarius season begins on November 22, 2026, at 2:23 AM ET (11:23 PM PT on November 21). Before it starts, take five minutes to reread the intention you set at the November 9 new moon.
The bottom line: Scorpio season 2026 rewards people who decide in October and act after November 13. Review until the new moon, set one intention on November 9, and rebuild in the final nine days. By November 22, you can step into Sagittarius season lighter, with one pattern released and one real change underway.
Start your Scorpio season practice
Browse PotalaStore’s spiritual practice tools, from singing bowls to healing crystals, and choose one piece for the phase you’re in.Shop spiritual practice tools
⚠️ Important Note: This guide reflects astrological tradition and Tibetan Buddhist cultural practice. Descriptions of crystal and planetary influences are based on traditional beliefs, not scientific evidence. Crystals and malas are tools for reflection, not treatments. For emotional distress, contact a licensed professional or call or text 988 in the U.S.
📚 References
- Sun ingress times for 2026: Official table of the Sun’s entry into each zodiac sign, used for the Scorpio and Sagittarius start times. Royal Observatory of Belgium
- Mercury retrograde dates: Retrograde and direct station dates for 2026. The Old Farmer’s Almanac
- Full Moon calendar 2026: Dates, times, and traditional names, including the October Hunter’s Moon. Farmers’ Almanac
- Lhabab Düchen 2026: Date and traditional significance of the Buddha’s descent from the Heaven of the Thirty-Three. Tushita Meditation Centre
