October 2026 Elections

Welcome to October! This month is another tricky challenge when it comes to finding ideal election conditions, mostly because of the double whammy of Venus and Mercury’s retrogrades. Jupiter enjoys several dignities through triplicity, terms, and face, but we have to be cautious as Mars creeps up on him in Leo as well as the fact that any elections with Jupiter on the Ascendant would occur in the middle of the night for most of us.

We also have the Exalted Full Moon in Taurus this month, though it happens during the Retrogrades. It occurs within the Moon’s degree of Exaltation, the third degree of Taurus. The catch here is that a Full Moon implies an opposition with the Sun, which is technically an affliction. To do a Full Moon election would be more akin to a folk ritual than to astrological magic. That doesn’t mean you can’t do it, it’s just a distinction to keep in mind. The Full Moon occurs on October 26 at 12:10 AM ET if you don’t mind a late night. It is even during Moon hour and approaches the Midheaven. Be aware, though, that her next applying aspect is a square with Mars.

In the spirit of keeping within the criteria of astrological magic and election rules, I chose an election for Jupiter this month.

Here is what we are working with in October:

• The Sun begins the month in Fall in Libra until he ingresses Scorpio on October 23
• The Moon visits each sign, as always
  • Waning from 3 Gemini to 17 Libra
  • Waxing from 18Libra to 2 Taurus
  • Waning from 3 Taurus to 27 Cancer
• Mercury remains in Scorpio throughout the month due to their Retrograde October 23 – November1
  • Mercury’s Retrograde degrees are between 16 Scorpio – 21 Scorpio
• Venus also begins her Retrograde Detriment in Scorpio October 3 – 25 then in Domicile Libra until November 13
  • Venus is in her pre-retrograde degrees between 22Libra – 8Scorpio
• Mars spends the entirety of the month in Leo
• Jupiter is Direct in Leo throughout the month
• Saturn is Retrograde and in Fall in Aries throughout the month
  • Saturn stations Retrograde July 25 – December 9

For review, we are looking for a basic election with the planet of choice well dignified, rising or culminating during their own hour and preferably day, and for the planet and the Moon to be unafflicted.

Our election is not suitable for a talisman, but it does have Jupiter culminating with an applying trine from the Moon in Sagittarius. This trine connects the 10th and 2nd houses, making this election especially suitable for career matters.Jupiter is dignified by Triplicity and Terms and it is Jupiter’s day, though not Jupiter’s hour. Again, we are making the best of what we are given this month.

Here is an overview of the chart calculation and ritual process:

October 15, 2026 @ 9:11 AM ET

(NOTE: Be sure to adjust your chart for your location with Jupiter culminating the the Moon applying to Jupiter by trine)

Example Intentions (source: Lilly):

• Charity
• Honorable Dealings
• Spirituality
• Wealth

Ritual:

• Prepare ritual space, using 4 Blue, Purple, or Ash-colored candles and dressing in similarly colored clothes.
• At elected time, light the candles and burn sweet-smelling incense
• Perform the elected action.
• Recite the Hymn to Jupiter, meditate on the desired outcome.

Orphic Hymn to Jupiter:

O Jove, much-honour’d, Jove supremely great,

To thee our holy rites we consecrate,

Our pray’rs and expiations, king divine,

For all things to produce with ease thro’ mind is thine.

Hence mother Earth and mountains swelling high

Proceed from thee, the deep and all within the sky.

Saturnian king, descending from above,

Magnanimous, commanding, sceptred Jove;

All-parent, principle and end of all,

Whose pow’r almighty shakes this earthly ball;

Ev’n Nature trembles at thy mighty nod,

Loud-sounding, arm’d with light’ning, thund’ring God.

Source of abundance, purifying king,

O various-form’d, from whom all natures spring;

Propitious hear my pray’r, give blameless health,

With peace divine, and necessary wealth.

(source: www.renaissanceastrology.com)