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Mars in Leo Aug. 27 – Oct. 13 Mars is in a strong position all month as it transits Leo. Strong isn’t necessarily a good thing, however. It depends on what is being strengthened. Mars' transit over the eclipse degree on September 5, while Mercury stations at this degree, is a particularly tense period. The tension between the planet of war and the planet of communication has some obvious pitfalls. Mars influences its own sign, Scorpio, where Saturn is currently stationing (slowly moving forward). This brings strength to deal with our weaknesses. Saturn's turning point marks a line that we do not wish to cross. Mars' influence tests that boundary. Boundaries of all kinds will be tested in September. Mars is forceful and determined while in Leo. It expresses its strength through the Sun and leadership roles which suit its need to display strength through domination. President Trump has the sign Leo rising, and he has Mars placed in Leo from birth. He will be particularly fired up in September and October due to Mars’ return to his rising sign. We must be aware of not pushing ourselves too hard, as Saturn’s mutual influence on Mars asks us to be more calculated and responsible in our actions. Mars and Saturn come into exact mutual aspect to each other by October 11. We need to find ways of venting our frustrations at the apparent setbacks at this time. Initially, Mars in Leo is strong and all set to go from the end of August. Its initial ingress into the sign is full of explosive tendencies as it transits the exaggerated impulse of the north node, Rahu. Gone are the emotional reactions and hesitancy in Cancer, to be replaced with determined actions in Leo. Mercury Stations Direct Sept. 5 Mercury’s station is full of tension, as Mars joins the planet of information and communication at the August solar eclipse degree. Something previously hidden gets pushed into the open. Mercury has something bitter to communicate to us thanks to Mars. Travel is another of Mercury’s significations, which makes the first week of September prone to accidents, malfunctions and a general sense of frustration due to this conjunction. Mercury’s station is itself enough cause for mental tension, but when Mars and the eclipse are taken into account, we have more possibilities of misunderstandings, heated exchanges and anger being expressed. And because Mercury is moving slowly in September, it moves alongside Mars for most of the month. This creates ever more possibilities for outbursts throughout the month. To what degree we each feel this will depend on our own make up. The general trend is one of heated exchanges, which leads to fighting. President Trump has his ascendant degree and his natal Mars very close to this configuration, so he will be full of fighting talk. Full Moon in Aquarius Sept. 6 We’ve reached a climatic point in relation to the recent divide between ‘them and us’ in the world: ‘them’ being those in power, and ‘us’, well, the rest of us. The Leo/Aquarius axis represents this polarization which is again highlighted during this full Moon phase, after the solar eclipse in Leo, along with Mars and a stationary Mercury, while the Moon reaches the opposite sign for this full Moon phase. Emotions run high around humanitarian issues. Our lights, the Sun and Moon, shine brightly for this full Moon in Aquarius (the Moon is at its brightest and the Sun is placed in Leo). The Moon's position in the north eclipse point’s lunar sign, Satabhisak, as the eclipse points are moving signs, creates uncertainty and emotional reactions to the necessary changes being brought about in September. True Nodes Change Signs Sept. 9 The north node (Rahu) moves into Cancer, and the south node (Ketu) moves into Capricorn, on September 9 (true nodes). This shift is but one of many changes happening in our lives in September, creating a sense of excitement and nervousness. Once the Moon follows Venus into the sign Leo on September 17, we have all of the visible planets, on one side of the nodal axis (Kal Amrita Yoga). This configuration is known to create divisiveness and imbalances in our lives. In 2016, this occurred from October 27 to December 5; a period of great uncertainty and upheaval on the planet. This configuration is active again from September 17 until January 13 2018, except when the Moon transits over either node and onto the other side, (Sept. 29 - Oct. 14, Oct. 26 - Nov. 11, Nov. 22 - Dec. 8, Dec. 20 - Jan. 5). When our lives are imbalanced, we have a strong desire to find balance, which may temporarily express itself as the complete opposite. Eventually, we settle down into equilibrium, once the extremes are experienced.  Jupiter in Libra Sept. 11 – Oct. 11 2018 Jupiter has been transiting Mars’ lunar sign Chitra, at the end of Virgo, and remains in this lunar sign until October 13, as it enters the sign Libra on September 11. It then enters the north node’s sign, Swati until December 16, at which time it enters its own lunar sign Vishakha. Jupiter is travelling fast through Libra, reaching the very end of the sign by the end of February, before stationing and retrograding at 29 degrees in March 2018. With Jupiter moving swiftly through each lunar sign, and in the air-dominant sign Libra, while influencing the other air signs, we can see much change in the months to come; change that can quickly happen in laws and policies related to diplomacy and equality, in particular. The benevolence of Jupiter is applied to the signs previously dried up by Saturn, like a balm to heal and repair these parts of our lives in the coming years. Libra is not Jupiter’s favourite sign, however. But it’s not its worst, either. Gone is the detailed oriented realm of Virgo – where our big ideas get bogged down – and in comes the more balanced approach of Libra. This requires some sort of negotiation, of course. Libra is ruled by Venus, the planet of love and harmony. Jupiter’s ideals and needs do not match up with Libra’s ideals. Relationships and negotiations become more of the focus, which can leave our innate knowing and connection to ourselves high and dry. We may know what we should do, for example, but because the focus is on others, we must also be open to other’s needs. In which case, we may not be able to do what we know to be right for ourselves. A sense of what is unnatural will be more apparent once Jupiter transits through Swati from October to December, at which time we experience the influence of the north node (Rahu) on Jupiter, while the nodes themselves hem in all of the planets. This period is very uncertain and things that happen will create much upheaval and upset in the world. But nothing is unnatural in a larger sense, only our inability to see the perfection of all routes, taken by all kinds of people. We must honour them all. Venus in Leo Sept. 15 – Oct. 9 Venus moves over the north node on September 15 and through the sensitive juncture between Cancer and Leo. This creates volatility in relation to Venus’ significations, i.e. finances, luxuries, comforts, celebrities, women and happiness levels in general. It creates more change in these areas as soon as it crosses the eclipse degree by September 19. Venus in Leo looks for validation in ways that just seem boastful. Being overly dramatic may be ways we seek to find this validation. However, we fool no one, least of all ourselves, by seeking something that we already are, i.e. loved. Pride (Leo) comes before a fall (Virgo), as Venus, the Sun, Mars and Mercury all move through Leo in September, before entering the sign Virgo in autumn. The fall comes in various forms, from natures drawing inward, to individual and global recessions, to relationship breakdowns. Venus, the planet of love, is least happy about this fall, and why more divorces are sought in the autumn months than any other time. For now, Venus in Leo is living it up and getting together with Mars, creating a passionate expression which can be overdone of course. And because of a withdrawal signaled on the horizon, we are impelled to have one last blow out for the summer. Sun in Virgo Sept. 16 – Oct. 15 The Sun is the first to move into Virgo in September, leading the shift into autumn and the need to recapture routines that are often lost in the busyness of the summer. Virgo is all about precision, as we open our diaries and structure our lives around the balancing point of the Equinox. Gathering our thoughts, we move ahead with plans to better ourselves in some way. Some take to exercise again, while others take on a new course of study. Many others may not feel the need to add anything, but simply begin to subtract as many distractions as possible, in the ongoing pursuit of a balanced life. The Sun highlights our need for order and perfection while in Virgo, as we gather together all the elements we need to improve our lives. New Moon in Virgo Sept. 20 This new Moon in Virgo and the lunar sign Uttara Phalguni, represents a new start in our lives for the autumn. As the need for flashy displays and dramatic visions subsides, we get on with the day-to-day work of seeing our visions through. Virgo may lack the pomp and show of Leo, but it is a very necessary part of seeing something come to pass. All of those big ideas, those plans you have envisioned, must be replaced with a practicality which may mean leaving some plans by the waste side, while doing what is possible, with the means you have at your disposal. Gather all you have learnt about the journey so far, and set out on a new course for this new Moon.  Equinox Sept. 22 As the Moon begins to wax once again, the balancing point in the latter half of 2017 arrives on September 22 during the Equinox. We may have to work harder at finding our balance in the midst of recent upheavals, however. All of the visible planets line up on one side of the nodal axis at this time, creating a shaky platform to find our feet. Find your center, around which everything moves. Mercury enters Virgo Sept. 26 Mercury enters its sign of exaltation by the end of the month. This represents an opportune time to get clear and precise, to learn something new, or perfect a skill. It represents a busy mental period, a time to network and make new plans. Mercury is no longer antagonized by Mars, or blinded by the shadows. It is no longer restrained by Saturn, leaving our minds to get on with the business of the day, the business that is our daily lives and how we manage ourselves. This transit represents a need to forge ahead and get on with our day-to-day routines. We realize how much time we waste on other things which simply distract our minds from the task at hand. Pluto Stations Direct Sept. 28
Pluto stops moving backwards from our perspective in Sagittarius, and it feels as if something has to give if we are going to be able to move forward at this juncture. Outworn beliefs must be relinquished if we are to find an appropriate way forward. With Jupiter placed in Libra at this time, some things may have to be negotiated. These include laws, policies and ethics. Study and foreign travel, including issues of immigration, are all on the table. Pluto is known as the ‘Lord of the underworld’. It represents a need to cut away, to disintegrate something for new growth to appear. The cutting away process leaves us feeling raw and exposed, but without this we would suffocate under the dead weight. We must be able to shed our skins, to shake off the excesses that burden us, if we are to feel light and alive, flexible and ready for change at every turn. OM TAT SAT |
