Your Weekly Horoscope for October 17, 2021

Alex Sandoval

After three weeks of Mercury retrograde (or perhaps more, depending on how much you felt the lead-in period, aka retroshade), this week brings the beginning of the end of the madness. But we'll have to step through the fire to reach the calm.

On Sunday, October 11, the confident sun, still in cardinal air sign Libra, squares off against powerful Pluto, setting off any clashing of egos that's been bubbling under the surface.

The next day, you can breathe a sigh of relief when not only messenger Mercury goes direct after spurring three weeks of communication, technology, and transportation glitches but lucky Jupiter also ends its retrograde, which kicked off on June 20. From July 28 on, it moved back through Aquarius — where it spent a lot of 2020 — pushing you to reenvision how and when we should be prioritizing the collective over self. Now, it'll move steadily forward until it finally hits dreamy Pisces again on December 28.

On Wednesday, October 20, the full moon falls in cardinal fire sign Aries where it'll oppose aggressive Mars and square off against transformative Pluto, amplifying your desires — as well as power struggles.

As if that wasn't enough, Mars then squares Pluto on Friday, October 22, which could lead to aggressive confrontations. And on Saturday, October 23, the sun moves into intense fixed water sign Scorpio, kicking off a whole new astrological season that'll challenge you to flirt with the darker side of life. (See: How to Explore Your Dark Side with Shadow Work)

Want to know more about how you can personally take advantage of this week's astrological highlights? Read on for your sign's weekly horoscope. (Pro tip: Be sure to read your rising sign/ascendant, aka your social personality, if you know that, too. If not, consider getting a natal chart reading to find out.)

Aries (March 21–April 19)

Your weekly highlights: Relationships 💕 and Personal Growth 💡

Thanks to messenger Mercury ending its retrograde on Monday, October 18, moving forward in your seventh house of partnership until Friday, November 5, you can finally begin to smooth over any misunderstandings or confusion that's come up in your closest bonds. Collaborating one-on-one should get easier, so if you've been working toward a shared goal, you should be able to make more headway on it over the next couple of weeks. Just steel yourself for a slightly rocky road around Wednesday, October 20 when the full moon falls in your sign, igniting your internal fire for making progress on a big-picture personal intention. Think back to whatever you were meditating on or kicking off six months ago and honor the journey you've been on ever since. Even if you're not precisely where you want to be, chances are you've made real strides.

Taurus (April 20–May 20)

Your weekly highlights: Career 💼 and Wellness 🍏

Thanks to lucky Jupiter moving forward in your tenth house of career from Monday, October 18 to Tuesday, December 28, all the hard work and planning you've been putting in to get ahead on your professional aspirations could begin to pay off in the form of well-deserved recognition or advancement. Don't hesitate to step into the spotlight now. And around Wednesday, October 20, when the full moon falls in your twelfth house of spirituality, you'll feel like taking a step back from your usual grind to rest, recharge, and get lost in daydreams. This could make you feel a bit guilty about not putting your foot on the gas, taking aggressive action to accomplish your goals, but despite feeling that pressure, you'll actually do better to prioritize your mental and emotional well-being now.

Gemini (May 21–June 20)

Your weekly highlights: Love ❤️ and Relationships 💕

Your ruling planet, messenger Mercury, ends its retrograde and moves forward through your fifth house of romance and self-expression from Monday, October 18 to Friday, November 5. You can expect any haunting by ghosts from relationships past to abate while it'll be easier to share what's in your heart and make fun-loving plans with your S.O. and/or VIPs. And around Wednesday, October 20, when the full moon falls in your eleventh house of networking, you could find yourself butting heads with friends or colleagues or members of any group you're in. It could be that your connection has run its course, or you simply have to find a new way forward on a collaborative project. Remember that you get to choose the energy you surround yourself with, so if being on a particular team or association isn't aligning with your goals, it could be time to move on.

Cancer (June 21–July 22)

Your weekly highlights: Love ❤️ and Career 💼

Thanks to messenger Mercury moving forward through your fourth house of home life from Monday, October 18 to Friday, November 5, you'll feel like the last three weeks of introspection and getting in touch with your roots has actually served to bolster your sense of security. And leaning on that — and your nearest and dearest relationships — as you move forward can boost your success. Around Wednesday, October 20, when the full moon lands in your tenth house of career, you could be feeling fed up that you haven't been receiving the recognition you deserve for all your hard work. Or you could be at the tail-end of a major project that you hope will boost your public profile. Either way, you'll want to push forward to get the result you've been dreaming of. Just be sure to think through what makes the most sense in this moment, as enacting your game plan slowly and steadily serves you best. (Related: What Your Moon Sign Means About Your Personality and Life Path)

Leo (July 23–August 22)

Your weekly highlights: Wellness 🍏 and Personal Growth 💡

The last several weeks have had you feeling spread way too thin and preoccupied with tedious, backburnered to-dos that you likely had no choice but to buckle down and tackle once and for all, but once messenger Mercury moves ahead in your third house of communication from Monday, October 18 to Friday, November 5, you'll feel more self-assured, clear, focused, and prepared to handle the hustle-bustle of life. You might also be ready to prioritize a well-deserved, freakin' break (massage, anyone?). And around Wednesday, October 20, when the full moon is in your ninth house of adventure, you'll be feeling especially fed up with the humdrum routine you've had to stick to lately. Getting out of your comfort zone serves to mix things up and boost your morale.

Virgo (August 23–September 22)

Your weekly highlights: Money 🤑 and Sex 🔥

Thanks to your ruler, messenger Mercury, ending its retrograde and moving forward in your second house of income from Monday, October 18 to Friday, November 5, you can finally begin to plow forward on moneymaking projects that've been on hold. If you've been having issues connecting with that prospective client, hearing back about that dream job you applied for, or updating your investment portfolio, you can expect fewer obstacles and more growth now. And around Wednesday, October 20, the full moon in your eighth house of emotional bonds and sexual intimacy can have you in your feelings about what you need from your closest relationship. A burst of self-assuredness makes it easier to speak up and make a bold move — or set boundaries — if necessary.

Libra (September 23–October 22)

Your weekly highlights: Personal Growth 💡 and Relationships 💕

The last three weeks have been dedicated to perfecting personal goals and dealing with business from the past, Libra, and thankfully, during this last week of your season, messenger Mercury moves forward in your sign. From Monday, October 18 to Friday, November 5, you'll have more clarity around your big-picture aspirations — and hopefully, begin to see noticeable progress as a result of taking the time to go back to the drawing board. And around Wednesday, October 20 when the full moon falls in your seventh house of partnership, you'll be prepared to address any lack of reciprocity or imbalances in a one-on-one relationship. In fact, you could be feeling much more fiery than usual and even act before thinking, which a.) isn't your style and b.) could create more drama than you're looking for, so before taking action, take a step back to reflect on the most effective way to proceed.

Scorpio (October 23–November 21)

Your weekly highlights: Personal Growth 💡 and Wellness 🍏

The last three weeks have presented a blur of daydreams and hopes but very little concrete evidence that you're on track with your goals. Thankfully, as messenger Mercury moves forward in your twelfth house of spirituality from Monday, October 18 to Friday, November 5, you can get an even better read on your intuition. Trust this as you move ahead, and as we move into your SZN, which kicks off on Saturday, October 23, you'll gain a much better sense of direction. And around Wednesday, October 20, when the full moon is in your sixth house of wellness, you could be ready to make bold moves to change up your daily routine in a way that feels more balanced and supportive of your overall well-being. Be aware that there could be some unresolved anger or resentment fueling your intentions, so spending a little bit of time on self-reflection now can have you feeling centered and even more prepared to create positive change. (See: This 5-Step Method Will Help You Shift Dysfunctional Emotional Patterns)

Sagittarius (November 22–December 21)

Your weekly highlights: Relationships 💕 and Love ❤️

Thanks to messenger Mercury moving forward in your eleventh house of networking on Monday, October 18, you'll be able to make strides on a collaborative effort — and hopefully start to see more of friends who've been tough to connect with over the last several weeks. You could be reminded just how integral these connections are to feeling grounded and supported. Around Wednesday, October 20, when the full moon is in your fifth house of romance and self-expression, you'll want to express yourself and have fun instead of putting your nose to the grindstone on work. You'll be all about sending flirty sexts to someone special or planning an impromptu date. But rebelling against must-dos could set up fiery reactions from anyone who expects you to be sticking to the script, so do your best to get any responsibilities out of the way before letting loose. (Related: Fall Date Ideas That Are Tailored to Every Zodiac Sign)

Capricorn (December 22–January 19)

Your weekly highlights: Career 💼 and Relationships 💕

Mercury, the planet of communication, has been retrograde in your tenth house of career since Monday, September 27, slowing your progress or nudging you to tie up loose ends on big-picture professional goals. Finally, from Monday, October 18 to Friday, November 5, you'll be able to move forward again, pitching new projects, stepping into the spotlight in a rewarding way, and feeling seen by higher-ups. Bet that's music to your hard-working ears! And around Wednesday, October 20, when the full moon is in your fourth house of home life, you might find yourself butting heads with family members or dealing with drama around the house. The moment is also ripe for power struggles, thanks to the presence of transformative Pluto in your sign, so do your best to keep your cool and pinpoint productive opportunities to talk through tense — and intense — emotions that come up now (which is so not your fave but is so necessary).

Aquarius (January 20–February 18)

Your weekly highlights: Personal Growth 💡 and Wellness 🍏

Once messenger Mercury ends its retrograde in your ninth house of adventure and moves forward there from Monday, October 18 to Friday, November 5, you can start getting out and broadening your horizons more than you have had the chance to lately. Whether you're diving into new books your friend recommended, taking an online course, or planning your next long-distance trip, any eye-opening opportunity can feel deeply satisfying. Around Wednesday, October 20, when the full moon lights up your third house of communication, you could be feeling stretched to your limits with work commitments, tedious everyday chores, and get-togethers with friends. In turn, you'll probably want to scream and throw yourself into a grueling workout away from all the chaos. That's cool, but don't push too hard. A controlled approach that involves cultivating an inner sense of calm is likely the best way to navigate this stressful moment.

Pisces (February 19–March 20)

Your weekly highlights: Sex 🔥 and Money 🤑

You've been exploring deep-rooted emotions, possibly linked to expressing yourself sexually, over the last three weeks. From Monday, October 18 to Friday, November 5, messenger Mercury's forward movement in your eighth house of sexual intimacy nudges you toward expressing what you've been reflecting on — of course, once you're fully prepared and comfortable. Around Wednesday, October 20, when the full moon falls in your second house of income, you could be feeling extra driven to get ahead on moneymaking goals — so much so that you're tempted to dive into an agreement, offer, or game plan before you've done your research. As much as you want to trust your heart, approaching any financial situation with the perfect balance of passion and rationality makes it possible to cope with any unforeseen curveballs.

Maressa Brown is a writer and astrologer with more than 15 years of experience. In addition to being Shape's resident astrologer, she contributes to InStyle, Parents, Astrology.com and more. Follow her Instagram and Twitter at @MaressaSylvie.