Hi Everyone

Hope you all had a good July and August. September and October have a lot of water and air energy with little fire and earth.  If you think about these pairs together you can see that they don’t get along very well. If you mix water and air, you get fog, or you get the battle between thought (air) and emotion (water).  And fire (enthusiasm, inspiration) and earth (practical, slow moving) are very effective ways to reduce the potential impact of the other.  Each month has an eclipse – the last pair of 2024, but their impact may last into 2025. Let’s look at each month in more detail.

September

The month starts with four planets moving in retrograde motion: Saturn, Uranus, who stations retrograde on the 1st, Neptune and Pluto. Uranus and Pluto are in earth signs (Taurus and Capricorn respectively), and Saturn and Neptune are in watery Pisces. Earth and water do well together: water softens earth and earth gives water some needed boundaries. When planets are retrograde, we tend to feel their energy more inwardly. So far, so good. On the 4^th Mars joins the water brigade, entering Cancer with an easy flow of energy to Saturn and Neptune in Pisces. Mars, the warrior, is uncomfortable in the watery, moody, emotional sign Cancer, ruled by the Moon. His fiery nature become much more subdued or, on the flip side, he could tend toward emotional outbursts.

If we were excited last month about a full blue moon, which was a super moon, how about a super moon eclipse? (A super moon, as it is called, is when the moon is closest to the earth and so appears larger in our skies.) On the 17^th there is a partial lunar eclipse at 25⁰ Pisces. We will be able to see it in the US. It starts at 8:40 p.m., and the best view will be at 10:45 p.m. It ends just after midnight, lasting about 4 hours, which means the potential impact of the eclipse will last about 4 months. A lunar eclipse is generally about being of service and also ending attitudes, beliefs, or emotional states that no longer serve us. Those with planets or other points in their charts at late degrees Pisces, Virgo, Gemini or Sagittarius may feel the impact of this energy more strongly than others. For those with placements in the other water signs, Cancer and Scorpio, this may be an easier release of feelings (emotions) which no longer serve our spiritual growth. The New Moon occurs on the 2^nd at 11⁰ Virgo.

The Autumnal Equinox, when the Sun enters Libra, occurs on the 22^nd at 8:44 a.m. Libra is an air sign and is the only sign whose symbol is an inanimate object – the scales. Libra seeks balance. (It rarely has it – it’s more like a teeter-totter.) It also seeks fairness. It can seek fairness (or balance) by taking the opposite position from yours – to create balance, you see.

Also on the 22^nd, Venus enters Scorpio, adding a little more water to the mix. We now have 4 planets in water. Glug, glug or emotions will be running the show.

October

October starts with a solar eclipse on the 2^nd. Both Sun and Moon will be at 10⁰ Libra.  We will not be able to see this annular solar eclipse in the US.  It will last about 5 hours, which means its impact will last about 5 months. Those with Libra, Aries, Cancer or Capricorn placements in their charts (from about 7-13⁰) may be more impacted by this eclipse. A solar eclipse can signify new beginnings and/or new ways of being and thinking with a new influx of energy.  Remember that Libra is about relationship and balance, but it is an air sign, so it thinks about these things. Libra isn’t always good at either when it comes to the practical side of relationships or balance.

Interestingly this eclipse is very near Saturn (the executive) in the US Sibley chart and could still be in “effect” at the time of the election in November. It also widely squares (a challenging relationship) the Sun in Cancer in the US chart.  And water and air generally don’t mix well.

On the 9^th, Jupiter changes directions and starts his retrograde period. He’ll be at 21⁰ Gemini. Jupiter is considered to be the planet of “good luck,” faith and expansion – fine if it’s not my waistline! His retrograde motion may delay or hinder his normal optimism. It may also be a time when we examine more closely what we believe.

On the 11^th, Pluto ends his retrograde motion, but will remain at 29⁰ Capricorn through the end of the month, sitting on top of Pluto in the US chart in our house of values (and money). Pluto rules deep-seated change, and Capricorn is the sign that rules systems, corporations, and the status quo. It is also a deeply spiritual sign, with its symbol (the goat) climbing steadily up the mountain of spiritual growth.

On the 17^th Venus moves into Sagittarius and will be the only planet in fire. So there may not be much enthusiasm or inspiration. Being the only planet in fire, Venus has no one to “play” with in the heavens, and she likes to make connections.

The Sun moves into Scorpio on the 22^nd at 6:15 p.m. – more water!! The Full Moon occurs on the 17^th at 24⁰ Aries.

I hope you have a great start to your fall!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret