Astrology for the Week of September 17 - 24

 

Virgo New Moon 

21 Virgo 59

September 14, 2023 

6:39pm PDT 

On Monday we continue the Virgo new moon so we still have opportunity to plant seeds. 

 

 

This focus:    What’s going on with your daily life?  How do you spend each hour?  Is your schedule efficient?  What is your exercise and health program?   Where do you need to bring a critical eye when you look at your daily life?  What I’s need dots, what T’s need crossing?   How are you tying up or improving loose ends?  How are you harvesting things that are ripe?  

 

Crescent Moon Phase

September 18, 2023

7:00pm PDT  

 

 

Focus on: What are you learning about power? What are you learning about shared resources?  What are you learning about taxes, debt, sex?  How are you learning about what needs to die in order for new to grow?  

 

Special Focus

9/19: Sun opposite Neptune:  Tap faith, intuition to anything that seems ‘off’.  Avoid collapsing into a tizzy.  But take a break. 

9/20: Sun trine Pluto.  Transformation that is both practical and visionary.  Unloading stuff in order to have a lighter path and future. 

 

First Quarter Moon 

September 22, 2023

12:31pm PDT 

 

Focus on:  How are you taking action that broadens your world?  What are you doing to get a higher perspective?  What are you doing to connect with others that have a wild different approach?  What actions are you taking that help you learn something new?  

 

 

Special Note

 

9/22: Equinox 11 :50pm PDT.  Happy Birthday Libra. 

9/23: Venus trine Chiron.  Practicality and joy around self agency & independence in some manner.  

9/24 : Mars oppose Chiron.  Actions for self-versus partner.  Where is the balance?  

9/25 : Mercury trine Jupiter.  New thoughts around beliefs can be fruitful and practical.   

 

September 15: Mercury Direct . Phew!

 

Mercury 

 

Sep 15:      Mercury station direct 8 Virgo 00

Sep 29:      Mercury shadow ends 

 

Mercury stationed direct the day after the Virgo new moon.   Once in direct motion, we would be well served to reflect what the last three weeks did to our detailed-oriented brain.  Did we rise to the occasion, or did sloppiness get in our way?   Is there stuff that now needs cleaning up?  Did any perceived kerfuffle turn out to help us?  What details need following up?  Can we use this Virgo new moon to do follow up work?  

 

Looking back on our calendar and schedule (Virgo’s domain) how did we spend our time?  Was it well served?  Or on reflection did it seem like we wasted time and would have been better served choosing another response or action?   Perhaps we learned something about our goals that got lost in the summer but now on the other side of the Mercury retrograde we are reconnected with a new discipline.  

 

Mercury in Virgo is always fine tuning us.  We won't have the next Mercury retrograde until the end of the year.   Let’s take what we learned in this one to fine tune us and maybe it will make the next one a wee bit easier.   

Virgo New Moon: September 14, 2023

 

Virgo Vestalis Maxima (National Roman Museum) Wikipedia

Virgo New Moon 

 

September 14, 2023

6:39pm PDT

21 Virgo 59  

The bigness, the drama and the boldness of Leo is in our rearview mirror.    Now we are at Virgo.  Instead of big, Virgo looks at details.  Virgo discerns.   Virgo looks around the joint and says how can we do more with less?   Virgo focuses on every minute, every hour and every day and gives it a critical eye.  Are we being efficient?   Can we do better?   Is this really working?  Virgo oversees the daily routines of life.   

 

Virgo is the Virgin.  In our modern world we use the word virgin to speak of one who has not had sexual intercourse or a wider interpretation, it is a person who has not done or experienced something.  But in the ancient world, Virgin was much more elevated than a chaste human.  For example, Vestal Virgins spoke of a whole class of people who were devoted to a task.   These women never married or had a family and instead oversaw the sacred fires of Rome.   Vestal Virgins kept the fires burning.   They sacrificed a lot for the community, and they were elevated in society and held in awe.  Ancient Rome understood that Virgo is connected to service that knits together the very fabric of society.    

 

The 29-day Virgo lunar cycle is an excellent cycle, perhaps the best to start a new diet or new exercise routine.  Virgo is medicine.  This is an excellent time to set medical appointments.  Even if the date falls out of the Virgo cycle, just making the appointment speaks to the power of Virgo.   Paying bills, setting appointments with the accountant will scratch Virgo’s itch for duty and diligence.   Being of service to others and self are important.   In the northern hemisphere Virgo connects to harvest season.  This is when we separate the wheat from the chaff.  Seed and chaff separation is critical because to process and eat the grain kernel the inedible hull needs to be removed.   We have the eye during this 29-days to remove that which no longer serves us. 

You will find my full report  HERE. 

September 3 - 10: Astrology this Week

 

Disseminating

September 3, 2023

12:27am PDT       

     

 

Focus on:   What advice are you offering that speaks to independence?   Where are you seeking advice on independence?  How are you sharing the power of self-agency?   Where are you seeking information on new paths? 

 

 

 

Special focus:

9/3: Venus station direct (12 Leo 12)  (see separate post) 

9/4: Mercury trine Jupiter.  Very clever, new ideas, things that seem ‘foreign’ may be clever answers. 

9/4: Jupiter station retrograde (15 Taurus 36) (see separate post)

9/6: Sun conjunction Mercury thoughts and communication a bit more clear but not totally transparent.

 

 

Last Quarter Moon Phase

September 6, 2023 

3:21pm PDT    

   

 

Last Quarter moon:  Now we do the final adjustments to the seeds we planted on new. The final call, the final letters to send, we follow all the trails that came up that still make sense.  And we let the other parts lay fallow. It is a time of action but wise action.  It is a time for living “The serenity prayer” 

 

God, grant me the Serenity
to accept the things
I cannot change Courage to change the
things I can, and the
Wisdom to know the difference.

 

 

 

Focus on:

How are you gathering info?  How are you stepping up your communication abilities?   How are you taking action that connects with siblings?  What actions are you taking that impact your neighborhood?  

 

 

Special focus 

9/8: Sun trine Jupiter.  Joy can be found if we slow down and look at the details as to what brings us happiness? 

Jupiter Station Retrograde: September 4, 2023

 

Jupiter courtesy NASA/JPL 

Jupiter Retrograde  

June 11:  Shadow begins (5 Taurus 35) 

Sep 4:  Jupiter station retrograde Taurus 34 (15 Taurus 35)

Dec 30 : Jupiter station direct (5 Taurus 35) 

Mar 23 :  Shadow ends (15 Taurus 35) 

 

The day after Venus stops being retrograde, Jupiter begins its annual retrograde.   It takes Jupiter about a year to get through a sign and about 12 years to get through the zodiac.  Right now, we are revisiting the period between June 2011 and June 2012 when we last had Jupiter in Taurus.   Before that period, it was (roughly) June 1999 to June 2000.    Jupiter is the planet of big.   It is the largest planet in our solar system and so where Jupiter is in your chart you will see some “big”.   Transiting Jupiter through the natal chart will bring “big” temporarily to the house and any natal planets that it contacts.   Where was your big in 2012 and 2000?   Are you repeating themes now?      

 

On some level we are learning the gravity that comes with focused practicality (Taurus).  There is power of being measured and taking everything step by step.   Taurus understands foundations and building something from the ground up.   Ironically Uranus who can disrupt anything that is not working has been going through Taurus as well and will be wrapping up its period in 2026.   During Jupiter retrograde we may slow down and figure out what works and what needs patience.  This could be the perfect antidote and follow up to anything Uranus changed or broke since it entered Taurus in 2018.   

 

Where are you rebuilding?   If you are unclear what needs rebuilding the Jupiter retrograde may get your attention.   A lot with Jupiter is about philosophy and there may need to be some philosophies that benefit by being rethought.   Are your big opinions working for you and your goals of building something from the ground up?  Consider what comes up between now and December 30^th and if your opinions change and or become more practically aligned with your values.  

 

September 3: Venus Stations Direct

 

The Venus retrograde  has been the background music this entire summer.  Once it moved into Leo on June 5th it started talking to us.   

Venus Retrograde dates 

June 5:               Venus enter Leo 

June 5 :              Venus oppose Pluto 00 degrees 05 

June 8 :              Venus square nodes  3 degrees 05

June 11 :            Venus square Jupiter 5 degrees 38 

June 19 :            Venus enter shadow 

July 2 :               Venus square Uranus 21 degrees 46

July 22               Venus retrograde 28 Leo 36

Aug 9:                 Venus square Uranus 22 degrees 55

Aug 13:              Sun Venus conjunction 20 degrees 28 

Aug 22 :             Venus square Jupiter 15 degrees 18 

Sept 3                PDT  Venus direct  12 degrees 12 

Sept 16 :             Venus square Jupiter 15 degrees 19

Sept 29 :             Venus square Uranus 22 degrees 40

Oct 7                   Venus exits shadow 

 

 

The Venus retrograde wrapped up halfway through the Leo Lunar Month on September 3, but the shadow continues until Oct 7.   We still have the final Venus and Jupiter square: Watch the spending, eating, socializing and partying.   Both Venus and Jupiter (depending on signs) can tap bacchanalia.  When they are pushing on each other there can be an environment of too much – too much.   It may be good to ask what has come up since June 11^th, August 22 and the final round Sept 16. Where have we been or tapped ‘too much’?  On August 22^nd, right in the middle of the Venus retrograde and on the Leo waxing moon, may be a good reminder that there is a way to be authentic with your appreciation and express love to others, or self, without going over the top.   The final round of this aspect will be on September 16.  By then we will have learned a lot about love and appreciation and what we are supposed to do about it.  

 

Pisces Blue Full Moon: August 30, 2023

 

Welcome to a Pisces Full Moon.  

August 30, 2023

6:35pm PDT

7 Pisces 25

  

Because this is the second full moon of the month it is also a blue moon.  Additionally, it is a supermoon. The moon should be big and gorgeous and will appear 14% larger as it will be the closest full moon to Earth this year.   It will get our attention.  

Pisces, a water sign, is opposed to the Sun in Virgo, an earth sign.   On one hand there is no bigger enemy to earth than water.  A trip to the Grand Canyon exemplifies how water can cut through hard ancient dirt.  But the earth must not fear water.  The sustenance that comes from a rich, verdant earth starts with seeds and every seed needs water.  In astrology water speaks to our emotions and intuition.  Earth connects us to stability and practicality.  The opposition calls for a nuance connection between earth and water, where we respect both elements often by being smart about our emotions.   However, if we cut off our emotions then we are missing the point of the full moon.  Find the tender in the full moon but do not collapse.  

The big aspect for this full moon is Saturn conjunction Moon in Pisces.  

In early 2023 Saturn entered Pisces  launching a new 2.5 year cycle.  When there is a Saturn aspect on the full and new moons, it is an opportunity for Saturn to flex its Pisces muscles and for us to offer a fresh response.  Saturn in Pisces is asking a number of questions:  

What is our intuition telling us and how are we responding in a sensible manner?   

What new discipline are we tapping that speaks to humanitarianism?   

How are we showing up with a new appreciation for humanity?  

How is our psyche seeking replenishment?     

How is being the big person in the room who shows compassion the answer?     

How are we the captain on the bumpy seas of a Pisces Full moon?  

The last time Saturn was in Pisces was: 1993-1996, 1964-1967 and 1935-1938.   Some people may see themes in their personal lives that may echo off the previous passes of Saturn in Pisces.  And certainly we could see a repeat of topics on the world stage.

There are no other big aspects in the full moon chart. Looking at Mercury the ruler of Virgo, we see an inconjunct with Chiron in Aries.   Chiron’s trek in Aries is pushing on all of us to find our independence and tap self agency.  Many people think of independence as loneliness. This is a narrow vision and misses the point of Chiron in Aries. Because when we tap the skills, the talents, the thoughts that are ours and not someone else's, we become more authentic.   Tapping what is real and true in us, may disrupt stagnant patterns and relationships where it only works if we are ‘this way’ or ‘that way’.  This robs us of the opportunity of fuller richer relationships including the one with self.   One note of caution, Mercury is retrograde so our thinking and communication may be fritzy.   Are we shooting off our mouths because we MUST BE HEARD?   Maybe. Or is an insecurity in the mix?   Mercury is pretty dang critical in Virgo but it is also at home in Virgo. Perhaps take the full moon to acknowledge any insecurities (Virgo) and consider being a bit more humane to the person in the mirror and maybe a few other people as well.  

One note, this full moon falls four days before Venus FINALLY stations direct on September 3rd after a long retrograde.   Venus in Leo and the retrograde has been igniting people to find what they care about and do all they can to amplify that love (it is Leo, for god sakes). This Venus retrograde is protecting, cherishing, loving with passion and also standing up for our values. This full moon may accent some areas that still need that Venus retrograde juju.   After September 3rd we will begin the long unwinding and during that time we may think back on this full moon as important to our journey on this Venus in Leo summer. 

Enjoy the gifts of Pieces on this full moon.  It is okay to be kind even if you are fierce.   Just sayin’.

Uranus Retrograde: August 28, 2023 7:38pm PDT

 

image

Uranus Retrograde 

May 7 – Uranus shadow 14 Taurus 56

Aug 28 – Uranus station retrograde 18 Taurus 55  at 7:38pm PDT

Jan 22 – Uranus station direct 14 Taurus 56

May 9 – Uranus shadow ends 18 Taurus 55 

 

 

Ding, ding, ding.   Uranus stations retrograde on August 28 brings the retrograde planets to a total of seven.    Venus will turn direct on September 3 but the very next day Jupiter stations retrograde, continuing the number to seven.    Just to be clear the personal planet retrogrades which are Mercury and Venus (in this case), always create more sturm and drang in our lives than the outer planets, however there is still a certain amount of unrest with all these planets in retrograde.   You will be forgiven if it feels like there is movement or anxiety in areas that normally seem staid.  

 

Uranus in Taurus on a global level speaks to all the artificial intelligence discussions and the fight many workers are forging through their unions.   Workers, food, real estate, money, local banks are all Taurus.   

 

I do wonder about the WGA and SAG strike and if there is relief when Venus stations direct at 12 Leo on Sept 3.  I will be curious if there is some movement between the time Uranus is retro on Aug 24 and Sept 3 when Venus stations direct.  

 

People with personal planets at 14-18 degrees of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius are well aware of Uranus as it is forming tough aspects.   It can be a shakeup. Uranus may disrupt but it also brings innovation.     It is important to remember that any disruption that Uranus brings may serve a purpose far later down the road after it has left Taurus

Astrology Notes for Week of August 20 - 27

 

Crescent Moon Phase

August 20, 2023

5:23am PDT  

 

Crescent:  We will receive information, we will research a bit more, perhaps get feedback on stuff that we planted on new.  Perhaps get some information that will help down the road on a seed we planted a while ago.  We can collect some data now.  Even if you think you are not getting information, stop, and re-look at everything.  Who called you?  Even the silliest things when they come up during Crescent are note worthy.  A parking ticket.  An argument with a spouse?  A refund check from the phone company?  All of it needs to be considered a message from the universe.  How can this information help you?

 

Focus on: What are you learning about your relationships?  What are you learning about partnerships?  What are you learning about the power of negotiations?  What are you learning about the importance of balance? 

 

Special Focus

8/22: Venus square Jupiter.  Watch the overspending, overeating, over big opinions.  

8/22: Mars opposite Neptune.  Actions may not be based on accurate truth.   Meditate before doing any big action.   How is trust working in your life before you act?  

8/23: Sun enters Virgo - Happy Birthday, Virgos 

8/23: Mercury station retrograde (21 Virgo 51)  (see above) 

 

First Quarter Moon 

August 24, 2023

2:57am PDT 

 

 

First quarter: We do more actions based on the information that we just received. Or we feel our instincts guide us on something.  We pursue again.  We make another call, or we see someone. We mail something.  We stir the pot again.  This can be a time when we realize that the goals, we planted on new need more action from us, perhaps actions that involve breaking away.   Are there people who say they have our best interest in heart but fear us growing away from them?  Maybe we need to get help from others not the usual suspects.  Some independence may need to be exerted. 

 

 

Focus on:  How are you taking action that broadens your world?  What are you doing to get a higher perspective?  What are you doing to connect with others that have a wild different approach?  What actions are you taking that help you learn something new?  

 

 

Special Note

 

8/24: Mars trine Pluto.  Great aspect to act and have a big evolution.   

 

 

Gibbous Moon

August 27, 2023  

2:18pm PDT  

 

 

Gibbous:

We refine our information.  We pick and choose, we discriminate, and we organize to be ‘Virgo’ like.  We sort through details.  Have we missed something?  How are we sifting through the information?  Go back and make sure something hasn’t been neglected.  Refine our actions.  

 

Focus on:  How are you refining your executive abilities?  How are you refining your inner CEO?  How are you sorting through your place in the world?   

  

Special focus

8/27: Sun opposite Saturn.  Low energy, details matter but they can feel overwhelming.   Finding prayer and faith may help.   Truth may be fuzzy.   

August 23- September 15: Mercury Retrograde

 

Mercury Retrograde Dates :

Aug 3:        Mercury shadow  8 Virgo 00

Aug 9:        Mercury trine Jupiter 

Aug 23:     Mercury station retrograde 21 Virgo 51

Sep 4:        Mercury trine Jupiter 

Sep 15:      Mercury station direct 8 Virgo 00

Sep 29:      Mercury shadow ends 

 

  

Mercury retrogrades in general are a reminder that we all benefit by paying attention to the details.   One overlooked item, missed note, snappy comment, can come back and bite us in the rear during retrograde.   Got it?  Yes of course you got it.   But now consider a Mercury retrograde in Virgo, the MOST detailed sign of the zodiac.   DETAILS matter during the 3-week retrograde.   It is also important to note that the Mercury retrograde impacts this Leo lunar month AND it will be retrograde for the Virgo new moon.  Mercury does not turn direct until the day after next month’s new moon so that means it is doubling down on DETAILS on that 29-day cycle as well.   

 

Where should we focus our detail-oriented brain?   Great place to start is when any insecurities pop up.   If you are feeling less than on any topic, bring some measured discipline.    Watch the details.  If you get it right, it could make a solid impression.   Also look at your calendar.   Who are you seeing or making connections with and why?  Does this bring you joy?   Or is it based on insecurity?    “If I don’t do this then ____ will happen” is of course fear.  It is fine if some of the things on the to-do list are based in obligation but figure out a way to make it joyful or reframe your motivation out of love.   And if it is still only an obligation, then what can you do to shift the paradigm?  Is it a conversation that clears the air?   Just be thoughtful.    There is no reason to be yelling at anyone this Mercury retrograde, we all benefit by taking responsibility for any confusion we bring to the story.   As always be thoughtful about any email or text you send out.   Sharp tones may need to be soften.   Watch the snark.   Above all --- take a breath before responding to anything that has got your anger up too high.   The anger may be justified but the communication needs to be …here it that word comes again, “thoughtful.”        

 

Leo New Moon: August 16, 2023

 

House of Intuition Leo Candle 

I have just posted my report.  

Leo New Moon 

 

August 16, 2023

2:38am PDT

23 Leo 17  

Welcome to the 2023 Leo New Moon. 

 

Once a year we have an opportunity to launch passion, pleasure, joy, creativity, and self-esteem on the Leo New Moon.   After 29 days where so much of our actions in the Cancer cycle were done based on what felt ‘comfortable’.   With Leo, our actions are bold and are driven by desires so strong that we are willing to get out of our comfort zone and do something.   

 

Leo is connected to the Sun which is critical to life on our planet.  Leo understands that which is vital and worth protecting and is associated with acts of bravery.   Even when scared, Leo says, “time to be brave.”      This year we have already been circling the power of Leo since July 22 when Venus began its retrograde in Leo.   Every eight years the Leo New Moon is influenced by a Venus Leo retrograde cycle.    During this Venus retrograde we are really centering and answering the questions: “What do I love doing?  What do I love experiencing?  How am I expressing my love through my creativity?   “Am I being appreciated?  Is my value understood?”    

This is all Leo and we have been percolating in it since the end of July and will continue until mid-September.  So, it makes sense that a Leo New Moon launching in this landscape is a bit more juiced up then the usual Leo New moons.   Going back 50 years, you may want to think back what was going on with you around the mid-summer of 2015, 2007, 1999, 1991, 1983, 1975 and 1967.   What do those summers say about creativity, love, joy, being bold, being big, being the center of attention, being valued, being brave?   

....the new moon report continues HERE. 

Venus Cazimi - August 13

 

Stock image | Photo by Unsplash, St. George News

Cazimi is a term out of the work of ancient astology where it is an exact conjunction between the Sun and planet. Cazimi is an Arabic term for "heart of the Sun."  Many astrologers work closely with cazimis and although it has not been my focus I appreciate their work.  

On August 13th there will be a potent Venus cazimi.  I want to do a shout out to astrologer Chani and her write up about the upcoming cazimi.   I encourage everyone to read the whole piece. 

 

Venus cazimis can happen two ways: 1) during Venus’ retrograde, when the planet is between Earth and the Sun, or 2) when Venus is moving in direct motion and it’s on the other side of the Sun, as far as it can be from Earth. The Venus cazimi on August 13th is the first kind, marking the halfway point of Venus’ backward trek.

During Venus’ retrograde — in 2023, that’s from July 22nd to September 3rd — the planet’s proximity to the Sun means that it temporarily disappears from our sky. The ancients mythologized this vanishing act as an underworld journey. Venus’ underworld descent corresponds to our own journeys to retrieve an essential facet of our intimate or creative nature. This period forces us to review our intimacy patterns, relationship with desire, and sense of inner or outer beauty. Trudging through the lessons can be tough, and our natural vibrancy might dim during the 40ish days of Venus’ retrograde. ..... (the piece continues at link)