By Basant El-Faramawy
Astrologers are dubbing this year's Halloween the "El Niño of Halloween" due to a rare celestial alignment featuring simultaneous Mercury and Venus retrogrades alongside a complex web of planetary aspects. The configuration, which began in 2025 and peaked in July, continues to create what Los Angeles-based astrologer and psychologist Dr Michael Lennox describes as an "extra intense" period of change.
Both Mercury, governing communication, and Venus, ruling love, are moving backward in the sky, a double retrograde that astrologers say complicates travel, communication, and relationships. Lennox notes the presence of a two-year grand sextile reflecting revolutionary global change, adding that "we ain't seen nothing yet" regarding the pace of transformation.
Halloween night on 31 October features a waning gibbous Moon in Cancer, which Lennox calls a powerful time for private rituals focused on home, tradition, and ancestral connection. Mercury's position in Scorpio is said to heighten intuition and psychic ability, while a 150-degree inconjunct between the Sun in Scorpio and both Saturn and Neptune offers a chance to release fixed outcomes and disbelief.
Zodiac-Specific Rituals for Halloween
Aries, ruled by Mars, should focus on fire magic such as protective rituals around a bonfire or candle, writing down and burning what they wish to release, including negative self-talk.
Taurus, ruled by Venus, is advised to work with existing crystals rather than buying new ones during the retrograde, concentrating on attracting abundance.
Gemini, ruled by Mercury, benefits from automatic writing — setting an intention to connect with the higher self and letting words flow without conscious editing.
Cancer should engage in Moon magic and ancestor work, perhaps building an altar with photos of deceased loved ones, family heirlooms, and white candles to welcome spirits.
Leo thrives on bold ceremony; using a Halloween costume as a spell by repeating self-empowering affirmations in front of a mirror aligns with their radiant heart energy.
Virgo, associated with healing and herbal remedies, finds potency in potion-making — any practice that combines parts into a whole for bodily healing.
Libra, focused on enchantment, can perform aura readings and love magic, but should avoid manifesting new romantic partnerships while Venus is retrograde to prevent regret.
Scorpio, comfortable in darkness, should pursue transformative rituals that bring real change, though Lennox strongly warns against revenge love potions.
Sagittarius, the seeker, should have rune stones and tarot cards ready for prophecy and divination to channel information into awareness.
Capricorn, ruled by Saturn, prefers practical tradition over New Age manifestation, ensuring Halloween customs like trick-or-treating are followed by the rule book.
Aquarius may receive flashes of profound insight and should express uniqueness through altered states of consciousness, paying attention to dreams as travel to other realms.
Pisces, the intuitive water sign, can practice deep trance-like meditation and serve as a natural medium, gathering friends for shared intuitive connection.
The Mercury and Venus retrogrades both turn direct on 13 November; until then, astrologers advise against rushing into new ventures or romantic partnerships.
