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9/7 Mars square Jupiter
9/8 Mercury square Jupiter
      Jupiter trine Saturn
      Mercury conjunct Mars
      Jupiter trine Saturn
      Pluto turns direct
9/9 Venus square Jupiter
      Jupiter turns direct
9/11 Venus conjunct Mars
9/12 Mercury trine Chiron
9/13 Venus trine Chiron
9/14 Mars trine Chiron
       Mercury conjunct Venus
9/15 Full Moon 22 Pisces 5:13 am
9/17 Venus trine Neptune
9/19 Mercury trine Neptune
9/21 Mars trine Neptune
9/22 Fall Equinox – Sun enters Libra
       Venus sextile Pluto
9/23 Mercury conjunct Mars
       Venus enters Scorpio
9/24 Mercury turns Rx
9/28 Mercury trine Neptune
9/29 New Moon 5 Libra 4:12 am

The beginning of September finds us with a shortage of the fire and water elements, with a predominance of earth and air. Ever since Mars left Cancer in May, there has been a shortage of the water element in the placements of the major planets, and the fire element has been missing since the beginning of August. Water is the element of emotion; it adds sensitivity, compassion and creativity. Fire gives us inspiration and motivates us to action – it facilitates physical activity and enthusiasm. The combination of earth and air creates an environment where practical (earth) ideas (air) come to fruition, but the more personal emotions (water) are not easily understood and there is less pure energy available with which to accomplish our goals and put our ideas into motion. This is exacerbated by the high number of retrograde planets, so for now don’t be surprised if your ideas and plans do not immediately find their manifestation, especially when Mercury turns retrograde later in the month.

Jupiter and Pluto will turn direct in early September, and both have slowed down to a virtual standstill (a “station”) in preparation for that change of direction. This means that their influence is felt more powerfully, and those of us who are experiencing planetary cycles involving these planets will be affected most directly. The Jupiter experience is pushing for expansion of a sense that life has meaning and is full of opportunities. The positive side to this is a general feeling of good fortune; the negative side, especially since Jupiter is now in Capricorn which is very success-oriented, is frustration if we have not yet achieved our goals. Under a Jupiter influence we want to be King of the Gods and feel limited in our ordinary humanity.

Pluto of course is more powerful in its influence and on a personal level we are being pressured to surrender to the flow of life and let go of anything that no longer serves us. The Pluto station can be experienced very intensely and we often find wars and conflict playing themselves out on the global stage even more than usual. Pluto has traveled less than three degrees all year as it moved into Capricorn in January and then traveled back into Sagittarius in its retrograde journey. When it turns direct on September 8 it will head back towards Capricorn where it will begin to transform the world’s social and governmental structures. (See Pluto in Capricorn article.)

Chiron, which has been conjunct the North Node since May, is nearing the end of this partnership. The North Node is a signpost pointing towards our future evolutionary direction, and Chiron (the Wounded Healer) in close alliance to the Node has been bringing old wounds that are holding us back into the conscious mind so that these wounds can be healed once and for all. This is happening all over the world, and while it is not always a comfortable process, it is a necessary one. Painful experiences hold energy and until these experienced are thoroughly digested and released, we cannot really move forward in our lives. Chiron will be conjunct the North Node into mid-October, so we have plenty of time to complete this work!

During the first week of September, Venus (relating to others) is approaching a conjunction to Mercury (communication) and Mars (aggression). All three planets are in Libra which is the sign of relationships and balance, so there is a strong effort now to bring opposing factions into alignment and harmony. This is made more difficult by a square from Jupiter to the Libra planets on September 7 which will expand our confidence and perhaps cause us to take on more than we can handle. With Mercury conjunct Mars and square Jupiter, we may find it easy to become involved in arguments and disagreements, but this will be ameliorated by the trine of Saturn to Jupiter which adds a disciplined focus and humility. Balance is the key throughout the month of September.

This first week of the month offers tremendous potential but there is a need to apply conscious intention to the energy that is available now. The square from Jupiter is a challenging aspect and the danger is that Jupiter’s beneficence may be lost or blown away by a lack of attention. This influence will be felt from the 2nd or 3rd of the month through the 10th or so when Jupiter turns direct and completes the process.

Mercury, Venus and Mars will remain in tight conjunction from the 7th through the 23rd, but most intensely on September 11th when the three planets will make a brilliant show in the sky. These are the three most personal planets, regulating the processing of information (Mercury), how we relate to others (Venus), and how we express the assertive urge (Mars). Watch for a more personal focus during this period, and a need for individuals to be heard and recognized. Between the 11th and the 14th, the triple conjunction will form a trine to Chiron which will facilitate the healing of any rough edges that may have arisen during ego conflicts of the Jupiter square.

The Full Moon on the 15th is in the sign of Pisces. During the Full Moon, the Sun opposes the Moon, and there is a tension between the conscious mind and the more lunar instinctive emotions. With the Sun in Virgo, the tension in this Full Moon is between creating order out of our mundane reality (Virgo) and a yearning for something more transcendent and mystical (Pisces). As spiritual beings living on the earth plane, it is imperative that we learn to perfect this balance, and this Full Moon is a wonderful time to integrate the details of our lives with our spiritual awareness.

The chart for the Full Moon incorporates the Chiron trine, illustrating the healing energies that are available now, and also a close conjunction from the Moon to Uranus, the planet of innovation and change. Here again, there is a polarization between the desire for change as presented by Uranus, and the need for order and security that is prized by the Virgo Sun. Change is inevitable, and the presence of Uranus reminds us to let go of the things in our past that restrain us or keep us from moving forward.

The Full Moon chart also includes the trine from Jupiter to Saturn. This is a powerful alliance that helps us to integrate the confidence and opportunities that Jupiter provides with the discipline and achievement that Saturn fosters. This combination will help give form to our endeavors.

For several days following the Full Moon, our intrepid trio of planets (Mercury, Mars, Venus) enter into a lovely dance (trine) with Neptune, planet of mysticism and spirituality. This is a beautifully creative time during which the soul can truly sing as long as the Mars energy is integrated properly into our lives. Mars is pure energy and can be directed in positive or negative ways. If we use its energy to express our needs appropriately, defend our boundaries peacefully and power our bodies physically, Mars is not likely to create too many problems but we may find ourselves in disagreements or arguments that require balance and negotiation. Mars and Mercury will remain in alignment with Neptune until the 24th or so, but the Venus influence here will last only a few days.

The Autumn Equinox occurs on September 22 when the Sun enters Libra. Venus forms a sextile to Pluto that day and enters Scorpio the next, intensifying interpersonal relations and offering the possibility of deepening our contacts with others.

Mercury conjuncts Mars on the 23rd and turns retrograde the following day. Mercury retrograde periods are times to look back and reconsider our past experiences. They are not usually good times to begin new projects or take on new responsibilities because our attention is turned inward and we are less observant of the small details that help to facilitate new beginnings. During its retrograde travels Mercury will form a second trine to Neptune on the 28th, making this a great time for writing projects and any other pursuits that involve creativity or spirituality (Neptune) and the exchange of information (Mercury).

The New Moon on September 29th is in Libra, with the Sun and Moon aligned in the sign of relationships and balance. The chart for the New Moon only incorporates one planetary aspect: the trine from Jupiter to Saturn. The New Moon is the beginning of the lunar cycle: the Sun (conscious mind) conjuncts the Moon (instinctive emotions) and there is a new focus and the introduction of a new energy dynamic. In Libra, relationships are the pathway to awakening and understanding – balancing the differences between people, using diplomacy to bridge interpersonal gaps. This New Moon, and for several days before and after, is a wonderful time for team retreats, conferences, and difficult conversations. It is also a beautiful time to reconnect with your loved ones and explore new ways to build more harmony into the relationship.

During September, use the balance of the triple Libra conjunction and the trine from Jupiter to Saturn to stabilize yourself as much as possible. This strong emphasis on relationships suggest that our connections with others are important for us to begin to prepare for the changes that are coming as Pluto enters Capricorn once and for all at the end of December. Let us be aware now of adjustments we may need to make in our interactions so that our web of support becomes stronger and better able to aid us and our communities. By the beginning of October, the influence of the upcoming Saturn/Uranus opposition may begin to shake us up and you will want to be prepared!