October 12, 2026
Hunter's Moon 2026 Ritual: Full Moon in Taurus During Mercury Retrograde
The Hunter's Moon peaks on October 26, 2026 in Taurus, two days after Mercury turns retrograde. Meaning, exact times for the US and UK, and a simple ritual.
On October 26, 2026, the Moon turns full in Taurus: the Hunter's Moon, October's full moon. It arrives just two days after Mercury begins its retrograde in Scorpio, with Venus — the ruler of Taurus — retrograde as well. This is a Hunter's Moon that doesn't ask you to chase more. It asks which of your pursuits are actually worth the hunt.
When it happens and what's in the sky
- Date and time: October 26, 2026, at 04:12 UTC. That's 04:12 in the UK and 12:12 a.m. Eastern in the US.
- For the rest of the US: it peaks the evening of October 25, at 11:12 p.m. Central, 10:12 p.m. Mountain and 9:12 p.m. Pacific.
- Sign: Taurus (about 3°), opposite the Sun in Scorpio.
- Mercury: retrograde from October 24 to November 13, entirely within Scorpio.
- Venus: retrograde from October 3 to November 13.
- Eclipse: none. This is a clean full moon, with no shadow.
You don't need to be up at the exact minute. The Moon rises around sunset and looks full the night before and the night after, so any evening from October 25 to 27 works.
Why is it called the Hunter's Moon?
It's the first full moon after the Harvest Moon, which this year fell on September 26. With the fields cleared, hunters could easily spot animals searching for food before winter. The name points to one idea: this is the moon of preparing for the cold season.
Other traditions call it the Falling Leaves Moon, the Migrating Moon or the Travel Moon. They all say the same thing: something closes outside, and it's time to stock up.
Full moon in Taurus: what it means
In traditional astrology, the Moon is exalted in Taurus: it feels at home, nourished, in its element. Taurus is about the body, the senses, values, and whatever gives real security rather than the appearance of it.
Across from it, the Sun in Scorpio pulls the other way: transform, look at what's hidden, go through the intensity. Taurus wants to keep and enjoy what's tangible; Scorpio pushes you to release and renew. That tension is the heart of this moon.
The question it leaves hanging is simple: what do I truly need for this winter, and what am I hoarding "just in case"?
If you want to explore each side, see the horoscopes for Taurus and Scorpio.
Mercury and Venus retrograde: review before you hunt
Mercury turns retrograde two days before the full moon and stays in Scorpio until November 13. Venus, which also rules Taurus, is retrograde too. In evolutionary terms, this isn't a "bad streak" but a season for reviewing: values, relationships, money, what you say and what you leave unsaid.
A widely repeated tradition is to avoid irreversible decisions around Mercury's station days and to reread whatever you sign. It works less as a fear than as a practical reminder: this moon doesn't ask for impulse, it asks for judgment.
Mercury is also the planet of The Magician: communication and will. A good moment to ask whether you're using both well.
A Hunter's Moon ritual
Fifteen or twenty minutes, nothing elaborate. You'll need paper, a pen, soft light, and something that engages the senses, like a hot drink or a seasonal fruit: Taurus is the land of the senses.
1. Look at the moon. If the sky allows, step outside for a moment. If not, a window is enough.
2. What I'm hunting. Write three things you're chasing: a project, a relationship, a goal. Next to each, note whether you pursue it because you want it, or out of habit or fear. With Mercury retrograde, this question matters more than any quick answer.
3. What I'm storing for winter. Write three things you want to protect and keep: people, habits, savings, energy. This is the hunter's spirit: stocking the pantry.
4. What I'm releasing. Choose something you hold on to "just in case": objects, resentments, unfinished tasks. Write it on a separate piece of paper and tear it into small pieces.
5. A closing card. Pull a card from our free tarot reading with this question: "What do I need to get through this inner winter?". Let the image be a starting point, not a closed answer.
Keep the "what I'm storing" paper somewhere visible. And reread the "what I'm hunting" one on November 13, when Mercury goes direct again: you'll see what has changed.
Who feels it most?
People with planets or key points between 0° and 6° of the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius) tend to feel this moon most strongly. If you don't know your birth chart, it doesn't matter: a full moon's energy is felt by everyone, only the theme it stirs changes.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Hunter's Moon in 2026? October 26, 2026, at 04:12 UTC (12:12 a.m. Eastern, 04:12 in the UK).
What sign is the October 2026 full moon in? Taurus, around 3°, opposite the Sun in Scorpio.
Why is it called the Hunter's Moon? Because it's the first full moon after the Harvest Moon, when the fields were cleared and hunters prepared supplies for winter.
Does it overlap with Mercury retrograde? Yes. Mercury is retrograde from October 24 to November 13, 2026, so the full moon lands two days after it begins.
Is there an eclipse in October 2026? No. October's full moon is not an eclipse.
When is the next full moon? November 24, 2026, in Gemini.
Want to take this ritual one step further? Try our free tarot reading, ask the yes/no oracle, or check your card of the day. If you'd like to look back at earlier moons, read about the Sturgeon Moon eclipse and the Buck Moon.
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