September 2022 forecast

The month begins with Mercury in a strong position in Virgo, opposing Jupiter and Neptune in Pisces. This is good for planning, as long as you are more creative, and aware that your plans are likely to change. Mercury's retrograde from Sep 10 requires an open mind. It may be confusing, but the potential is for a highly creative period. Mercury opposes Jupiter on two occasions before and during its retrograde, on Sep 3 and Sep 18, before opposing it one last time on Oct 12 as it makes its way through the finer details at last. 

The Sun opposes Neptune by mid-month, as Neptune returns to Aquarius on Sep 12. The Sun then enters Virgo. This adds to the stark contrast life is throwing up now; between the everyday details and the fantasy. The Sun then opposes Jupiter in Pisces on Sep 26. This is a more confident configuration, although it may add to an idealism that finds it hard to make it to dry land.

Speaking of dry, Venus moves into debilitation in Virgo from Sep 24. While Venus is less than happy focusing on problems, at least it's helped out by Mercury. This may be expressed as being able to talk about the things that bother. Yet Mercury is busy trying to figure things out while retrograde and the mind is likely overburdened. This can lead to miscommunications. If that were the case, Venus in Virgo could add to a critical spin and test relationships. 

​This is a downturn period of the year in many ways (it is called The Fall, after all!), but we can pick ourselves up by being more productive and organized, propped up by Mercury and Jupiter's strengths in Virgo and Pisces, as well as the Sun's strength in Leo and Saturn's strength in Capricorn. Whatever you are doing, make sure you are more adaptable and can see the wood AND the trees.



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Full Moon in Aquarius (Pūrvā Bhādrapada) Sep 10
​The Moon reaches the opposite degree of the Sun in Leo by Sep 10, in Aquarius and the lunar mansion that bridges both Aquarius and Pisces. This lunar mansion represents a journey to find truth, beyond science, statistics, and forms. 

Pūrvā means 'former', bhādrapada means 'auspicious steps'. It is ruled by a fierce form of Śiva, likened to a lightning bolt, which is symbolic of its visionary nature. It is symbolized by a man with two faces, a sword, and the front legs of a funeral cot; all symbolizing a cutting away; of big themes of life and death; making distinctions between what is real and what is false. ​

The themes of two-faced can express itself in many ways. It can either show having two apparently contrasted thoughts or feelings on a subject, or having one thought and saying something completely opposite. 

A Full Moon in this lunar mansion highlights the contrast between Leo and Aquarius, between our desires to shine and our need to become part of the group; between our own desires and the desires of the group, which may oppose our own. And yet, this lunar mansion is about surrendering our desires to the group, and realizing we get what we want, when everyone gets what they want. 
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Mercury Retrograde Sep 10 - Oct 2
Mercury opposes Jupiter on Sep 2, as it begins to slow down and comes to apparent halt in the middle of Virgo. This is an interesting mix of seeming contradictions. On the one hand, Mercury is so powerful in the centre of Virgo, its exact degree of debilitation. The degrees after this, from 15 to 20, is seen as its root strength, where it functions incredibly well, too. However, Mercury is also stationing retrograde and will backtrack before it gets there, moving back to the very first degree of the sign. This means whatever we have begun must be redone. The flipside to Mercury's strength is also possible; that is, an inability to effectively communicate and assimilate the details. 

You can imagine Mercury retrograde in Virgo as if being in Pisces, where it is lost in the mix of the many things to consider. The mind can become overly burdened by details, that you may find yourself overwhelmed at times. Yet Mercury is not in Pisces, no matter how much it might seem that way. It's in Virgo, where it is so strong. So, there may be a sense of overwhelm, but you can also do the necessary and deal with the issues. 

While Mercury retrogrades are period of review in a general sense, and not a time to plough ahead as you have been, this one offers distinct advantages - but only if you are willing to keep an open and creative mindset. This is because of Jupiter's opposition in Pisces. Jupiter's conjunction with Neptune in Pisces - also both retrograde - is asking us all to refuel what we find meaningful and purposeful, to go back to what fills us with hope. 

Ask yourself: Why do I want this? What do I find meaningful? If you do that, you may still get bogged down in the technical hiccups or missteps, but you are more likely to put up with them, even laugh them off. When you know why you are doing something, you are more likely to stick it, knowing that there is something important in it - not just for you, but for everyone. 

Whatever areas of life you experience Virgo and Pisces, keep it in perspective as you review and reassess. Try not to lose sight of the bigger picture. If you find yourself with more time on your hands when plans fall fail, use the time to think more creatively. And if you have something practical to rework in your life, use the time to go back over something. If you attempt to forge ahead with new plans, you are likely to find it hard going. Mercury retrogrades favour stepping back a bit. 

Be especially mindful of its station on Sep 10, which just so happens to be a Full Moon. As the Moon then joins Jupiter and Neptune in Pisces for a couple of days after this, let go a little bit more; at least, for a while. Surrender how you think it should be, and you may be pleasantly surprised at how things turn out. And if you can do this throughout the Mercury retrograde in September and into October, you will not only be rewarded with more creative ideas and solutions to our problems, you will avoid a meltdown when things don't seem to go to plan. 

There's a bigger plan and picture to keep an eye on right now. 


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Neptune re-enters Aquarius Sep 12
Furthering the theme of backtracking, Neptune leaves Pisces, returning to Aquarius for one last time. It will finish here by Feb 18 next year finally, after 15 years in the sign. 

What has Neptune brought to Aquarius in the past 15 years? A whole lot of confusion, for one! Yet Neptune is still within the lunar mansion that bridges both Aquarius and Pisces; that is, Pūrvā Bhādrapada, the 'latter auspicious steps'. And while all that sounds nice, coming to a truth of who we really are, from a spiritual perspective, is anything but. This is one of the fierce lunar mansions, ruled by a fierce and destructive form of Shiva. It's about riding ourselves of falsehoods, which means being acutely aware of them as they are detoxed from our system. Neptune blurs the lines of what is true and what is false, of course.  

The word 'confusion' is an interesting one. It means 'to fuse with'. The mind cannot handle this, of course, which is one reason Mercury is unable to be practical and efficient in Pisces. Neptune, on the other hand, is right at home in Pisces and is said to rule the sign in modern-day astrology. As Joseph Campbell said, “The psychotic drowns in the same waters in which the mystic swims with delight.” There are much delights awaiting us in the coming years! Make sure you are orientated towards mysticism or you may find yourself drowning in confusion in Pisces. 

Neptune in Aquarius has brought a lot of awareness of disparate parts. So at least Neptune in Pisces begins to blend things together again. The past 15 years has brought us many delights in the form of humanitarian crisis, broadcast for all to see on social media platforms and channels such as YouTube. The many voices that would never have had a platform have given us many possible views, many of which are merely a distraction form the truth of who we really are. Neptune rules film, of course. Its transit in Aquarius has made filmmakers of us all. 

​Neptune's retrograde in Aquarius, until it stations here on Dec 3, is a time to recount some of these viewpoints. It's a time to take one last swipe at what is possible in Aquarius, for our individual lives, and for humanity. This means looking at Aquarius by house position in our own charts, to see what is possible. By next year, Saturn will enter Aquarius to make it clear what is doable and what has been merely a distraction, a fantasy. It may also be a time to make real our dreams, as long as we are aware of what is real, and what is false. 



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Sun in Virgo Sep 16 - Oct 16
The Sun enters the earthly realms of Virgo by mid-month, moving from its place of strength in its home sign, into a neutral territory. Day and Night are finding balance, leading to the Solstice, as extraversion and introversion find equilibrium, as the masculine and feminine, the assertive and the receptive, gain equal footing. 

Sun in Virgo is a time of year to take stock. This may literally be the case if you work in a company that requires this during the change of season. Personally, it's a time to take stock of our lives, to weight things up. It's a time to weight and measure, and to share the harvest with others. 

Look to the sign Virgo to see where you are focused, as Mercury has just begun to review this area of your life in a big way, with the Sun now shining a spotlight. By the time Mercury joins the Sun at the same degree in the sign, on Sep 23, you may get an inkling of how all of this will pan out eventually. But still, Mercury is not done moving back over things until Oct 2, so you must be patient with your plans. And you must be open to alterations throughout.

Think of it as a stock-take and you'll probably fair better. When you count your blessings, and your failings, as well as everything in between, you may need a recount as you balance the books. And if you are favored by Mercury at this time, you may do so dispassionately, practically. If you are more favored by Jupiter, you can also gain access to a operating system that can do much of the work for you. Okay, enough with the analogies, I can hear you say! Basically, the Sun's transit to Virgo, with Mercury retrograde and Jupiter opposite, is a good time to slow down, step back and reevaluate. 

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Equinox Sep 23
The Equinox occurs at 02:03 BST on Sep 23 this year, and although this is the exact timing, there's a lead up to, and away from, this balancing point. This means we have the possibility of reaching a state of equilibrium in our lives, between doing and being. 

You may find yourself redoing many things at this time of course, but if you cannot take some time out and step back from the details, you are not making the most of the potentials. If you focus solely on problems (Virgo), for example, you cannot see the meaning in it (Pisces). If you are too orderly, wishing to be more productive and efficient, you may miss much of the wonder of spontaneity. 

In finding your balance, you can take a pause for a time, suspended in space, as you appreciate the harmony that is possible. And appreciate is certainly the choice word, as the day after the Equinox Venus moves into its fall. Many things may fall away at this time, many dreams you had about the way you thought your life should be. Be if you can let go of the need to hold onto things that are falling away, you are more likely to make space for something else. 




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Venus in Virgo Sep 24 - Oct 18
While Mercury is happiest working and reworking things in Virgo, with the Sun happy to go along with sharing out the spoils, Venus is least happy getting bogged down here. It doesn't matter how well you reorder your life if you don't enjoy it, does it?! 

Venus in Virgo is debilitated. It doesn't function well here. It's harder to find appreciation for someone or something you are weighing up. Venus in Virgo is someone making a list for the perfect partner, as if making a shopping list. Not only do you not get all that's on the list, but when you get to know them better you see the goods are either spoilt or something's off. Okay, enough with the stocktaking analogy already! Simply, Venus is not happy in Virgo. While it transits the sign, we are not either. 

Yet. Yet, there is an upside this time around. That is, Mercury is transiting alongside Venus in Virgo, which props Venus up. Yes, Mercury itself is pulled down by Venus' bad mood, effecting communications, but at least we are trying to talk about it. It's less of a walking away from a person or situation, then staying to try to work out. Problems begin when all we focus on is problems!

Mercury's retrograde, opposite Jupiter, adds to the confusion, the theme of this month, apparently. Yet if you can take your time with these transits, you can find something to appreciate, even if it's simply that you can dream another dream. 

One of the downsides of Venus in Virgo, now fueled by Jupiter's opposition, exact by the end of the month and early October is not feeling loved or appreciated. You may find yourself overindulging to try to get that sparkle back, forgetting that you are not just loved, you are love. You were born from an act of loving-making. You're literally a product of love. 

So, make love, not war, even when disagreement is probably going to be the more obvious expression of this configuration. The arguments that take place behind closed doors are reflections of the breakdown in diplomacy in the world around us. 

Look for what you want to see, without ignoring problems. While Venus in Virgo can find fault in even the most desirous setting, it's also a good time to improve things. Find your dreamy sunset, your 5-star resort holiday in the Sun, by all means, but realize you don't have to run away to enjoy your life. If you cannot enjoy yourself in your life, no amount of 5-star, gold-studded, diamond-encrusted bling is going to cut it. 

And when the economy most likely dips, along with the mood in late September and October, find appreciation in the little things. While these things may be a problem at this time, and a case of ''you don't know what you got til it's gone'', you can find happiness whether things work out. ​Fill yourself up so you are overflowing, without overindulging. But don't leave yourself feeling spent either. 




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New Moon in Virgo (Uttaraphalgunī) Sep 25
This is a lunar mansion that is all about friendship and partnership, sharing gifts, wealth, and resources. It bridges both Leo and Virgo, taking the gifts of Leo to the practical realms of Virgo.

​One of the sign's symbols is the head of the marital bed, while it is ruled by the god of marriage, representing co-operation and commitment in relationships. It's one of the more auspicious lunar mansions, one of the best for getting married.  

Now, that must come with a caveat: I would certainly not get married with Venus in Virgo (Sep 24 - Oct 18). And I wouldn't get married on a New Moon either. Perhaps this New Moon in this auspicious lunar mansion is a time to reset intentions about what or who you want to commit to. Decide on this before signing on the dotted line. 

As always, the New Moon is a drawing the attention inward as the energy wanes and reboots for the coming lunar month, one that has within it the potential to overdo it when you feel a lack of some kind. Instead of focusing on lack, focus on what you can let go of, so you can start again. 


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As always, I wish you the very best for the month ahead. ​

Om Tat Sat
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