Sept 10: Full Moon in Pisces, 2:58 am (17:41 Pisces)

Sept 25: New Moon in Libra, 2:54 am (2:48 Libra)

Sept   4:  Venus into Virgo

Sept   5:  Pallas Athene enters Cancer

Sept   9:  Mercury in Libra stations retrograde, 8:37 pm (8:55 Libra)

Sept 22: Sun into Libra, 6:03 pm

Sept 23: Mercury retrograde revisits Virgo (5:04 am)

Sept 29: Venus enters Libra, 00:48 am

Sept 29: Ceres into Virgo, 1:55 am

**All times listed are PDT. Please check your local time.

Mercury in Libra turns retrograde on September 9:

Need to enlist others, attract more interest, or to get your message across? The first few days of the month are good for setting it into motion. Mercury, freshly into Libra, is well aligned with Mars in Gemini (in trine aspect).

Mercury’s transit through Libra can enhance communication tracks, relatability, and same page accord. As such it is a good transit for negotiations and for collaboration projects. This transit also enhances agility, eloquence, gracefulness, and artistry in motion. It is a signature for both the councillor and the diplomat, for speaking with greater finesse or selling it with greater persuasiveness. Mercury tenants Libra to September 23, and again from October 10 to 29.

At the start of the month, Mercury picks up significant added momentum from an opposition to Jupiter retrograde in Aries (exact on September 2). Mercury/Jupiter continues to keep the conversation on rising inflation, equal pay, justice, and getting what you deserve. Are you making it into a bigger deal than it is? Are they? Under this transit, there is a propensity to jump to conclusions, or to expect a lot (or more than you are presently getting).

On another note, Mercury in opposition to Jupiter retrograde heightens awareness regarding the need to play it/price it/package it right. Want to get them to come on board with you, to cut you extra slack, to give you more consideration or accommodation? The gentle touch/soft approach can do more for you than you may anticipate. Let others take the lead and you could find yourself in much better position. Added finesse is required to navigate your way through relationships, negotiations, or an edgy situation. Mercury/Jupiter can signal a time to refinance or to renew a contract. Go by feel. Remain flexible with plans, intentions, budgets, and timetables. You have a short window to get yourself up and running before Mercury begins a four-week retrograde cycle. That happens from September 9 to October 2.

To September 4, Venus in Leo (and Mercury/Jupiter) sets a good backdrop for making the most of your playtime. Go camping, get out in nature, play sports, or indulge yourself in whatever way you enjoy best. This transit is also good for moving camp (i.e., a change of residence or taking on a new job or roll).

Perfectly timed for back to it month, Venus tenants Virgo from September 4 to 29. It is time to clean up your act, to set yourself to task on the necessary and desired improvements, to get back on track with your health regime, and other good-for-you routines. Together, Mercury retrograde and Venus in Virgo will target what has been missed or overlooked, what needs correction, improvement, upgrades or healing. Do not hesitate to consult a specialist, seek counselling, get a second opinion, etc.

By now you are likely to know what to expect out of Mercury retrograde. Even so, there is no harm in repeating the advice. Pay added attention to details, be flexible with plans and expectations, ask more questions, double-check and triple-check, anticipate sidetracks or backtracks. Revisit, revise, redo. When in doubt or uncertain, stay open-ended, keep your options open. Temporary or short-term measures or thinking is best during Mercury retrograde. Double check the return or refund policy. If you can, delay on big ticket items, important contracts, and commitments. If you can’t, so be it, there is probably a good reason your soul has chosen this moment in time for taking it on.

Full Moon in Pisces, Sept 10:

The moon rises full in Pisces just a few hours after Mercury begins retrograde. You may experience a night or two of an active dreams or astral travel. Please keep safety in mind if you are making your way home late Friday/early Saturday. Know your limits/play within it. Don’t get behind the wheel if are too tired to drive, or if you have indulged in alcohol or recreational drugs (and watch out for folks on road who may have). There is added potential for traffic accidents, for losing your way, or loss (through theft, misplacement, miscalculation, distraction, etc.). The full moon could also prompt confusion, misunderstanding, or a misread of situations or people. To the plus, it could spark romance or a conversation that needs to happen. Someone could resurface, memories can too. Surprise reconnections and unexpected news are typical of Mercury retrograde. Music, movies, a sabbatical, spiritual retreat, or timeout to heal, regroup, rest, or replenish yourself are also a good way to navigate through the full moon and start of Mercury retrograde. Do not underestimate the value of peace and quiet!

Post Full Moon transits:

The sun’s trine to Uranus on September 11 can set a positive backdrop for clever thinking, innovation, an instant rapport, finding better avenues or solutions, a swift bounce-back, and for making the time you spend more worthwhile. Synchronicity is in full swing. Communication tracks open and flow well. September 18 (sun/Pluto trine) and September 19 (Venus/Uranus trine) are also good for all the above. Theses dates are for social activities, getting a productive move-on/making good strides, for putting time and resources to good use. (Does your birthday fall on these dates? How nice for you. These transits suggest significant growth/start your year ahead from an opportune launchpad.)

Thinking about signing up for a course, scouting for a new job, place to live, a new hire, or someone to help? On September 16, Venus in Virgo and Mars in Gemini move to a next phase. Venus/Mars can play out regarding relationships (communications, plans, interactions), work, studies, health, improvement mandates, and the mundane, everyday stuff (schedule, budget, expenses, rent, etc.) The sun’s opposition to Neptune on this same day is good for surrendering to the moment. That could mean easing up on the throttle, (i.e., packing the workday in early), or giving up on something you were hoping for. (Disney tune in my head “let it go”.) Sun/Neptune is good for conjuring, wandering, or drifting off. You could get lost in a movie, romance, or a creative process. Time can evaporate. On the other hand, the sun’s opposition to Neptune could clue you in or expose something you missed seeing previously. If it wasn’t built on a solid base to begin with, this transit could produce a reality check, a loss or disappointment.

More on Mercury/Jupiter:

Along with the sun/Pluto trine of September 18 Mercury retrograde opposes Jupiter for the second time this month. Sept 2 marks the first of three alignments, October 12 completes this transit cycle.

What’s around the bend? Are you facing a challenge, conflict, or battle? Either you feel it, or you see it – a growing impulse, trend, objective, or attention-getter. The influence of Mercury/Jupiter singles it out or targets it (or them, or you). You may wrestle with something or someone you need to or want to confront. While both planets are retrograde, it is wise to make extra sure to stop, look, and listen before crossing the street. To respond rather than react is the artist’s way.

Allow 6 weeks for sorting through a particular circumstance, project, or concern, a growth and learning curve, an observational track, or a negotiation. It’s an experiential process/developmental curve leading to greater insight/knowledge and better bearings. Watch for the action track to move to the next level or phase with the final Mercury/Jupiter opposition of October 12. Note the timing of this Mercury/Jupiter cycle regarding the hot topics of the day, and as a precursor to more full-tilt campaigning regarding USA midterm elections (on the total lunar eclipse of Nov 8).

Finishing out the month:

The sun enters Libra on September 22 in the evening. Just under six hours later, Mercury retrograde will oppose the sun (could be September 22 or 23 for both transits, depending on your time-zone). This opposition marks the midpoint of the retrograde cycle and the start of a next phase of development and implementation. We can witness this shift in a subtle and illuminating, obvious, or unexpected way. Libra month puts added attention on how we interface with others and the world around us, (at all levels, personal, social, public, political). The sun in Libra also puts added attention on what is fair, just, imbalanced, or one-sided. Venus, touring Virgo to September 29, keeps the focus on shortfalls and necessary improvements. To the plus, Venus in Libra, starting September 29 can set a positive trend to assist you to smooth out some of the rough edges, to spruce up projects or presentations, and to make gains in general. Moving forward from here, it can set a more harmonious backdrop for communications and relating.

September 25 to 27 hosts a good run of stars, starting with a Venus/Pluto trine (September 25) and ending with Mars/Saturn and Mercury/Pluto trines (September 27). These transits can be lucrative, productive, energizing, and opportune. On September 26 Mercury and Venus put head and heart on the same fresh page. Set yourself on task, get more than you bargain for. It is time to recommit, to honour a personal promise (to yourself or another), to fix it or heal it, do right by yourself and the moment in a more upfront and centered way.

Also on September 26, Jupiter retrograde in Aries opposes the sun in Libra. This is the midpoint of Jupiter’s four-month retrograde cycle. (The retrograde cycle started on July 28 in Aries and finishes on November 23 in Pisces.) The first half of a retrograde cycle is an information gathering time, the second half is for sorting it out. Where to go from here? The sun/Jupiter opposition shines a brighter light on an evaluation process, on the balancing act, on personal and relationship dilemmas. Mercury retrograde stays on point/is well targeted as the month finishes out. Mercury/Venus in new phase can set a good backdrop for solutions and improvement. Mercury/Pluto in trine sharpens awareness, heightens astuteness and strategic talent. Mars/Saturn in trine, a results-driven combo, is excellent for taking initiative, forging ahead, and for putting ambition to work.

In conclusion: overall, Mercury retrograde is ready to assist you to make improvement where you need it and want it the most. Get to work, stay observant, check in with yourself often, stay on top of it, put good effort forward. You are likely to find you gain better ground as the month advances. As stated above, the month ends on an upswing with a lucrative run of stars.