August 23rd
Sun enters Virgo: 1:27AM EDT
People forget that Virgo is actually the last sign of summer. The days are
noticeably shorter as they approach perfect balance at Equinox. The harvest is
coming in and we are instinctively drawn to preparation. For some of us Virgo is
the back-to-school sign; for others we thing about putting up peaches or
stashing acorns for the winter. Virgo is a transition sign. As we transition
from summer to autumn what is it we should preserve for the months ahead when
the days will grow short, dark and cold?
August 24th
Full Moon: 1* Pisces 1:05PM
It is as foolish to neglect the soul when
attending to the realities of the body as it is to neglect the body when trying
to perfect the soul. Such is Virgo/Pisces wisdom. We are called to balance
practical service with compassion for others who may not be as fortunate as we
are. Victims of fire, flood and mud slide are everywhere.
August 26th
Sun trine Pluto
As you organize and prepare consider if you
are doing it in a sustainable way. Will those who come after you, either next
week, next year or next generation benefit from your efforts?
September 3rd
Mercury retrograde conjunct Sun
The heart of every Mercury retrograde
period is the day it conjuncts the Sun. On this day Mercury is precisely caught
in the great heart of the solar system – neither morning nor evening star. Pure,
essential mind (Mercury), fired in the heart of the Sun. Add the fact that it is
in Virgo and you have a brilliant ability to fit the pieces of the puzzle
together and create a working life. No struggle today. Let the mind show you its
power.
September 4th
Venus trine Neptune
‘Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life’. Such is the dream of Venus in Libra trine Neptune in
Aquarius.
Goodness and mercy, kindness and beauty, world
without end.
September 5th
Venus enters the shadow of its retrograde period.
Between now and October 8th when
Venus actually goes retrograde we can get a preview of what the issues will be.
Desire is the theme; how do we get what we want in a world where so many want so
much? What is appropriate to want? What chance do we have of directing our
desire in a sustainable way?
September 8th
New Moon 15* Virgo 06:31AM
Venus enters Scorpio
Let your intention be to create a
meaningful life – as you live it from moment to moment, not just in theory.
Venus is on a mission at the moment. As she ends her period as evening star in
the sign of Scorpio we can expect to be pulled by the powerful strings of
desire. It is human nature to want things. It is also the root of all suffering
as well as pleasure (which often seems more fleeting than suffering). The Venus
theme deepens: Soon we will be challenged to step up and do what we must to have
or keep what we desire. Now is a good time to purify those desires so as not to
waste your efforts later.
September 9th
Jupiter (retrograde) enters Pisces
Mars trines Neptune
Jupiter has been in Aries since June 6th,
heating up more than the weather. As it retrogrades back to Pisces where it is
at home we get to reflect on what Jupiter in Aries meant for us. Consider how
the best philosophical wisdom arises from a base of loving-kindness. Jupiter in
Aries is highly individualistic. As it returns to Pisces (until January 22nd
when it will enter Aries again) we can practice laying the groundwork of loving
kindness beneath the rugged individualism of Jupiter in Aires. When the
earthquake hit Haiti Jupiter was in Aquarius – a humanitarian sign - and the
world poured love, money, compassion and attention into it. As Pakistan is
devastated by floods Jupiter (and Uranus) were in Aries; a distinctly different
reaction.
September 12th
Venus sextile Pluto
Mercury stationary direct
A positive look at passion is
possible today. Don’t fight it, don’t act on it. Let it move through you;
could be amazing.
Perhaps you have been aligned with Mercury
retrograde since August 20th. You have cleaned up, organized,
prepared. You have made ready. But for what? We all go back to school today:
Pencils sharpened, notebooks ready, clean behind the ears. There is much to
learn.
September 13th
Pluto stationary direct
Take even just one minute and experience
yourself as alive on Planet Earth. You arose from nothing and you will return
there. But in between you are an amazing powerful complexity of matter,
conscious matter.
We are truly of the Earth.
September 14th
Mars enters Scorpio
Mars is at home in Scorpio. He likes the
intensity and focus of it. Desire (Scorpio) fuels will (Mars) and creates an
ability to do what must be done. A potent moment will come in early October when
Mars conjuncts Venus. Until then, temper action with strategy. Sometimes we
don’t get a second chance.
September 18th
Jupiter conjunct Uranus
Mars sextile Pluto
Denial is NOT a river in Egypt. It is a
condition that eventually causes a river to flood and break its banks. Jupiter
and Uranus in Pisces are about Big Water. Water is about feeling. There is
great upheaval in the feeling realm. When we are unaware of the past and how it
affects us we are most vulnerable to the negative effects of feelings.
There are many opportunities today to do
the right thing and do it well for the benefit of others as well as yourself.
September 21st
Sun opposite Jupiter
Sun opposite Uranus
The theme from the 18th
continues. We are challenged to deal with powerful feelings, waves of inevitable
consequences from our past behaviour. Surely there is a way to contain intense
feelings without denying them.
