The monthly Skywatch is free and comes with a translation into English! To sign up enter your email below:

All information contained herein is written by and the property of Lynn Hayes. You may include a portion of this information on your website without permission, but please be sure to include a link back to the article and clearly indicate the writer of the information.

9/3 Mercury square Mars
9/4 Full Moon at 12 Pisces, 12:03 pm
9/7 Mercury turns retrograde
    Venus sextile Ceres
9/11 Venus opposite Jupiter
    Pluto turns direct
9/14 Venus opposite Chiron
9/15 Saturn opposite Uranus
    Venus opposite Neptune
9/16 Jupiter trine Ceres
9/17 Mercury square Pluto
    Sun opposite Uranus
    Sun conjunct Saturn
    Mercury Rx into Virgo
9/18 New Moon at 25 Virgo, 2:44 pm
9/20 Sun conjunct Mercury
    Venus enters Virgo
    Venus trine Pluto
9/22 Mercury conjunct Saturn
    Sun enters Libra
9/23 Sun square Pluto
    Mercury opposite Uranus
9/24 Ceres trine Chiron
9/29 Ceres trine Neptune
    Mercury turns direct
9/30 Mercury sextile Saturn

Eastern time zone, please adjust for your own locality.

The big news for September is the third phase of the opposition between Saturn and Uranus in the middle of the month. This is a major planetary cycle that began on the US election day in November of 2008 and will have a total of five phases in which the conventional way of doing things (Saturn) will battle against new ideas and change (Uranus). Some of us are more conventional and conservative by nature (Saturnian), and some of us are more radical and rebellious (Uranian), and then there are those of us who are internally conflicted between the two. The opposition of these two planets is operating not only on a global level where it is affecting politics in nearly every country around the world, but also on a personal and psychological level.

Oppositions are polarities, and each side puts tension on the other. Just like a see-saw, sometimes one side is up and one side is down. The objective of the opposition is to create balance between the two. Saturn is like a stasis point where everything is predictable and known. Uranus comes to break apart the status quo that Saturn works so hard to preserve, destroying the old order and putting something new in its place. Oppositions follow the principle of dialectics, in which the thesis (in this case Saturn) must adapt to the antithesis (Uranus) in order to avoid destruction. Ideally, the useful aspects of the Saturn principle are preserved while the Uranian revolution occurs.

In our personal lives, especially if Saturn and Uranus are aspecting our own chart, this can feel very much like we're being pulled in two different directions. The natural reaction to an opposition is to allow ourselves to go to one extreme followed by the other, but this is not the most helpful approach. If we remember who we're dealing with here, we can face this planetary cycle in a conscious way that offers us the benefit of change (Uranus) while maintaining a sense of stability in our lives (Saturn). Saturn wants us to be responsible and disciplined and preserve order, and Uranus says forget the structures and start something new. Walking that tightrope is a challenge, but it can be done!

We also have Mercury going retrograde this month, and Pluto's change of direction as well. When planets appear to change direction, they slow down to a crawl before making that turn. We call that making a "station," because at that time the planet is virtually stationary. Stationary planets exert a powerful influence, and Pluto will be even more powerful this month at it changes direction at the zero point of Capricorn. This could bring about a severe reality check at a global level as it becomes obvious that the destruction and renewal (Pluto) of our financial systems (Capricorn) is not quite complete. Pluto seeks destruction only for those structures that are decayed and not serving their purpose, and if we remember that destruction must take place in order for the rebirth of something greater to occur we can embrace this process rather than fear it. Any Pluto cycle requires a certain amount of faith and trust in the natural order.

Chiron and Neptune are still within 2 degrees of a conjunction as they retrograde together, so this "call of the soul" is still powerful. Many of us are finding it more difficult to live a superficial life - the material world is less important now as we are cleansed (Chiron) of past wounds and seek a deeper connection to the realm of Spirit (Neptune).

During the first week of September we begin to enter the "shadow" of the Mercury retrograde period as Mercury slows down in preparation of its retrograde turn. During the shadow period we may begin to experience some of the communication challenges for which Mercury Rx is known so it's not too early to begin applying caution to all matters of communication and travel. Small equipment can also be affected by Mercury retrograde periods so be sure to read instructions carefully.

When Mercury is retrograde we sometimes must sign contracts and make other commitments and agreements that are not ideal under these circumstances. DO NOT FEAR!! Just take the necessary precautions and move forward in your life with confidence. If you plan a vacation and it rains, you don't cancel your vacation. Just bring an umbrella.

Remember also that Mercury retrograde periods are excellent times for meditation, writing, renovating, re-doing your website, re-writing a manuscript, communicating with old friends, cleaning out the garage.

The effect of the Mercury Rx period is likely to begin on September 3rd when Mercury (communication) forms a challenging square to Mars (aggression). Tempers are high now, and words can become reckless. Mercury is in Libra now where it tends to be rather polite and harmonious, but the square to Mars will take the gloves off and could result in some heated discussion. This heightened intensity will bring more focus to matters of the mental realms (Mercury) and activate the retrograde period.

This leads nicely into the Full Moon in Pisces on September 4 in which the conscious focus of the Virgo Sun, with its focus on the mundane details of life, is overcome by the light of the subconscious and instinctive desire of the Pisces Moon for a more soulful experience. The Full Moon is the peak of the waxing phase of the lunar cycle and begins the waning phase of completion, so this is a time of culmination of the dreams and ideals (Pisces) so that we can harvest the seeds that we have sown. The stationary Mercury reminds us that we are entering a time to look back and reassess the details of our life, but the Pisces Full Moon urges us to seek solace in the never-ending flow of the soul that forms the true center of our being.

The actual retrograde turn of Mercury occurs just after midnight on September 7th. On that day, Venus (love and beauty) makes a harmonious sextile to Ceres (nurturing and our relationship to the planet). This is a wonderful day to take some time to connect with the Earth: Sit peacefully in a grove of trees and feel the majesty of the Earth beneath you. Dig in the dirt or plant a flower. Prepare a delicious meal for yourself and those you love.

During this week Pluto has reached its station, moving less than one minute of arc throughout the week. Expect intensity - embrace your passions, feel the power that flows through you to create change in your life. Pluto can cause us to feel obsessive and intense, but it also provides a laserlike focus that allows us to experience the truth of life and death. If we attempt to resist Pluto's power to transform our world, we usually will not like the results. Pluto requires surrender and a willingness to absorb that power into our own being in a way that connects us to Source and permits us to utilize that power for the good of all rather than for our own personal Will. Pluto turns direct on September 11th.

Also on September 11, Venus opposes Jupiter (faith and optimism), activating the Triple Conjunction of Jupiter, Chiron and Neptune in a more personal way. The Venus/Jupiter combination enhances our ability to find the faith and trust that we need to bring the other, larger planetary influences into balance within ourselves and helps to bring a general sense of goodwill.

On the 14th and 15th, Venus opposes Chiron and Neptune. The opposition to Chiron opens up any wounds that we may be experiencing as we relate to others in our life (Venus). This can be more problematic because we are already hyper-sensitive to issues of Power with the Pluto station, but if we approach the people in our life today with sensitivity and understanding, we will be able to work through any obstacles. The opposition to Neptune stimulates a desire to experience our relationships with others (Venus) in a way that deepens our connection to the Divine (Neptune). However, it can also cause us to indulge in fantasies about the people around us, or to become attached to our illusions about them. On the positive side, though, these few days are wonderful times of creativity and well-suited to artistic endeavors.

Ceres is approaching a trine to Jupiter now as well, and this aspect will culminate on the 16th. Jupiter brings a sense of fulfillment and confidence into the equation, and harmonizes with Ceres in a way that helps us to feel better integrated into the planetary environment in which we live. This will help to soften the influence of the tug-of-war between Saturn and Uranus described above which culminates on the 15th.

Expect some intensity and arguments on the 17th when Mercury (communication) forms a square to Pluto (power and secrets). This could also be a time when secrets of all kinds are exposed. The Sun also opposes Uranus that day which can lead to surprises (Uranus), setting off the Saturn/Uranus opposition and illuminating areas of life where we are out of balance between our longing for the past (Saturn) and our desire to begin anew (Uranus).

Mercury, still retrograde, will travel from Libra back into Virgo on the 17th. Details will become more important and it will become easier to analyze the events that are occurring now on so many levels.

The New Moon in Virgo occurs on September 18th, and it conjuncts Saturn within one degree. Virgo is an Earth sign and tends to be more conservative because of its need for order, and Saturn, with its penchant for discipline, hard work, and the moral structures that form the basis of our society, is conservative as well. Virgo is not comfortable with what it perceives as being a reckless disregard for routine and that which is familiar, and that is exactly what Uranus represents. This New Moon, therefore, will activate this conflict between that which is new and unknown (Uranus) and the established order (Saturn).

The influence of the New Moon will likely begin a couple of days before the actual event because of the connection to Saturn and Uranus. This begins the new lunar phase and there will be a tremendous amount of energy available to us now for beginning new projects that act to improve (Virgo) the old and familiar (Saturn) in ways that incorporate new and fresh ideas (Uranus). In this way we can balance and integrate the disparate influences of this lunar event.

On the 20th, the Sun conjoins Mercury, helping to clarify our vision and our thoughts for a day or so. Even though Mercury is still retrograde, this period from September 18 to 23 will be well-suited for business ventures or agreements. Venus (relating to others) enters Virgo on the 20th and we become more interested in serving others (Virgo) and in taking care of the small details that make up our everyday reality. Venus forms a harmonious trine to Pluto on the 20th, intensifying our feelings and giving us an opportunity to achieve a deeper level of relating with others.

On the 22nd, Mercury conjuncts Saturn and continues the period of good mental focus and productive outcomes. We are more serious for a couple of days now, and if we are able to apply Saturn's discipline and diligence we will be able to be very effective in all of our ventures.

The Sun enters Libra on the 22nd as well. For the next month or so we are more aware of the need for balance and harmony in our lives, and more easily able to see where accommodations need to be made for that balance to occur.

That sense of balance will be challenged over the next couple of days, though, as the Sun forms a challenging square to Pluto and reveals power conflicts and imbalances that can create some intense experiences. Combined with the retrograde Mercury, and the stressful opposition from Mercury to Uranus today which encourages disputes and the breakdown of equipment and travel plans, expect challenges to occur in many areas of life between the 22nd and the 24th or so.

Things start to balance out on the 24th with a harmonious trine of Ceres to Chiron which helps to ground us and create awareness of the natural wisdom that is always available to us. This Ceres connection that connects us to Planet Earth is intensified over the next few days as Ceres trines Neptune as well, activating the "call of the soul" that the combination of Chiron and Neptune is creating within us. This is a beautiful period of integration within that can be used for any kind of spiritual experience. Harmonious planetary events do require a certain amount of conscious attention to get the most out of them.

Mercury turns direct on September 29 - listen for the collective sigh of relief as everything appears to go back to normal. Communication will be particularly clear on the 30th with a harmonious sextile from Mercury to Saturn.

We will have a bit of a break from the planetary intensity in October. We'll need it though, because the planetary energy will heat up again in November when Saturn moves into Libra and prepares to face off against Pluto. Now is the time to prepare our internal resources and achieve greater integration and balance between the Mind, the Physical, the Emotional and the Spirit within.