Hi Everyone

Good news! September will be quieter than August – no solar eclipse! For most of the month, until the Autumnal Equinox on September 22^nd, there will be a lot of Virgo energy. Virgo, an earth sign, is the sign of the harvest and has a lot to do with gathering all the different parts of ourselves into one integrated whole. She is discerning, discriminating, analytical and can get lost in the details. However, she’s also the one who will remember the forks and napkins for the picnic! I believe we can use this time to integrate the insights gained during last month’s volatility. We need fire energy to wake us up, but now comes the time of assimilation and integration.

Hallelujah! Mercury goes direct on September 5^th at 7:30 a.m. He’ll be at 28⁰ Leo, but will move into Virgo on the 9^th. Mercury does well in Virgo; he likes to analyze and categorize. However, this also means that we can get into analysis paralysis easily and just spin without moving forward. Having said that, Mercury’s energy can also help us organize the gains made last month.

The Sun enters Libra on the 22^nd at 4:02 p.m. Libra is the sign of balance – they’d like to have some, but most often Libra’s energy works like a teeter-totter. Libra can’t stand to be by him/herself; it is the sign of the “other” as we move outward from ourselves to others – for Libra, one at a time. S/he hates crowds. While this is the sign of relationship, it is the only sign with an inanimate object as its symbol – the scales. For me this speaks to the fact that Libra is about relationship in the head – the ideal of “perfect” relating to a “perfect” other. Smelly socks, gym clothes and dirty hands are not included in Libra’s vision! Libra is an air sign, after all, and air loves the realm of ideas.

Lest we think we can kick back and eat bonbons this month, Pluto, planet of deep seated transformation, the underground, all that we’d like to keep hidden from ourselves and others, goes direct on September 28^th at 3:33 p.m. (I was struck by the time she goes direct. I’m sure numerologists would have something to say about three at three levels.) Pluto’s been retrograde since April, so the gains made during this long, inner transit can now be expressed more outwardly. She’ll be at 17⁰ Capricorn where she’s been for the last two months and she’ll stay at that degree through October and most of November. Speed demon she’s not! Those who have planets from 12-22⁰ in Libra, Aries, Cancer or, of course, Capricorn may feel this shift in direction more strongly. On a larger scale, Capricorn rules structures and systems. Issues, which have been brewing below the surface for the last five months, may become much more obvious and volatile with this change of planetary direction.

The Full Moon occurs on September 6^th at 13⁰ Pisces, right next to Neptune. The Moon, as you know, rules the tides and Pisces and Neptune rule the sea. Water may be, or continue to be, an issue. Also water and the Moon are associated with emotions, which may be running very high during this time.

The New Moon occurs on September 20^th at 27⁰ Virgo, providing a fresh start in our continued integration efforts.

Let’s joyously welcome the new season!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret