Author: Amelia Shea

“Behind our existence lies something else that becomes accessible to us only by shaking off the world.” Arthur Schopenhauer

Mercury is slowing down to station retrograde on Monday  September 27 at 25 degrees of Libra – the sign of balance. The retrograde period will last through October 18.

For two or three days- both before and after a Mercury station -it’s wise to watch for insights that surface that represent a culmination of information, as the god of thinking and communication  reaches a significant milestone.

The retrograde period will last through October 18.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A person alone in deep gloom. Unnoticed angels are coming to his aid.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“Dawn points, and another day
Prepares for heat and silence . Out at sea the dawn wind
Wrinkles and slides. I am here
Or there or elsewhere. In my beginning.” TS Eliot

“New ways of thinking about familiar things can release new energies and make all manner of things possible.” Charles Handy

The Autumn Equinox, when the Sun enters Libra,  is Wednesday the 22nd . Throughout the world the solstices and equinoxes have been honored as significant threshold times as they  mark a time of ending and a time of beginning. It’s wise to honor what has come to an end in your life and what is new that is calling you into the future.

The Equinox chart is said to present a picture of the upcoming quarter. In general this looks like a time of surprises with Venus opposite Uranus. Mercury in Libra is squaring Pluto indicating that it will be a time of questioning and searching for answers. This alignment can also be associated  with the tendency to overthink. Thus providing quiet times that restore equilibrium and energy will be beneficial.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”The dawn of a new day reveals everything has changed.’

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“We live in a time when the greatest form of courage is to act as if our lives made a difference.” William Sullivan

The purple and white Michaelmas daisies are blooming now in New England. These tiny daisies which grow throughout meadows and fields and beside ponds, herald the arrival of the Autumn Equinox .

The Equinox, September 22,  marks the time when all the inhabitants of our small planet experience an equal amount of day and night. The Equinox also marks the time of the Sun’s ingress into Libra – the sign of equilibrium and diplomacy.

The time around the Equinox bodes well for looking back at events of the last season and charting your course for the upcoming one.

With the Equinox comes the Feast of Michaelmas – an ancient Celtic festival – which celebrates one of the quarter days of the year. These festivals in general are meant to bring us more closely in touch with the magic of the seasons, the rhythms of the earth and the earth’s connection to the cosmos.

Michaelmas celebrates the passage of the earth through the late summer meteor showers and the time when the northern hemisphere begins to tilt away from the sun.

In many Michaelmas celebrations a play is performed about how the lowly peasant George slays a fearsome dragon. During the course of the battle George is gravely injured. He collapses under the spreading  branches of an apple tree beside a small stream. When morning dawns his wounds are healed.

George was able to face great odds and persevere with great courage due to the help and guidance of the Archangel, Michael.

The celebration of Michaelmas is a reminder to cultivate courage for the sometimes daunting tasks we all face. And to rekindle the inner fire as we move towards the darkness of the season.

“Look at those dancers gliding around
Seems as if their feet
Don’t hardly touch the ground
Look at them smiling
Like they knew one another
And they never would come down.” Crosby Stills and Nash

“I sat, a solitary man,
In a crowded London shop,
An open book and an empty cup
Upon the marble table-top.
While on the shop and street I gazed
My body of a sudden blazed;
And twenty minutes more of less
It seemed so great my happiness,
That I was blessed and could bless.” WB Yeats

The week gets off to a bit of an ethereal start as Neptune, the sea god who governs  dreams and visions, opposes the Sun. The early part of the week is very good for daydreams and creativity as well as idealism and compassion.

But Neptune is also associated with illusion – and with the opposition to the Sun  it’s more easy for pragmatic judgment to be off and for trouble with details to occur. So it’s best to use more care with matters of this kind.

Mars moves into the sign of Libra on Tuesday and will transit this sign through October 30. Mars is not particularly comfortable in this sign and so it’s wise – throughout this time frame – to keep moderation and equilibrium in mind.

The Sun is moving up to a harmonious alignment with Pluto this week. This is a good aspect for reclaiming lost power and for inner growth. Pluto is associated with rebirth and wise to provide downtime for relaxation and rejuvenation.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A masked figure performs ritualistic acts in a mystery play.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“With the release of old stories a whole new perspective dawns. Fear can be transformed into presence and excitement. Confusion can open up interest. Uncertainty can become a gateway to surprise.”Jack  Kornfield

“In the beginners mind there are many possibilities. But in the expert’s mind there are few.” Shunryu Suzuki Roshi

Chiron, the asteroid of the Wounded Healer is prominent, not only in the sky now, but in general is an important influence in our time. One of the interpretations  of Chiron is that it governs the “stories we tell ourselves.” With Uranus, the planet of freedom in exact trine to yesterday’s New Moon, this Lunar Cycle (for the next month or so ) offers and opportunity to move away from outdated beliefs and into a new story for your life.

The New Moon in Virgo ushered in a time  which brings the focus to wellness. It is a good month to make improvements- if necessary- to establish a more healthy balance between body, mind and spirit. A more healthy diet, creating a daily routine that strikes a better balance between work and down time and taking the time to care for and nurture the body will be beneficial.

Venus in Virgo is aligning with Pluto this week. This combo can bring up feelings of loss and scarcity but it is also a powerful aspect for letting go, shedding or catharsis. It’s a good time for cleaning out closets and basements and letting go of things that are no longer needed. My friend and Boston based astrologer, Dietrich Pessin has written that Venus in alignment with Pluto provides a good time for purification rituals.

Venus is also making a favorable alignment to Jupiter – the planet of hope and expansion. This is associated with happiness, pleasure and abundance.
it’s a good time for socializing and enjoying the pleasures of life.

As we approach the Fall Equinox (on the 22nd) it bodes well to cultivate inner light as the days grow  shorter.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”The sight of an autumn leaf brings to a pilgrim the sudden revelation of the mystery of life and death.”

 

 

 

 

“In atomic physics, we can never speak about nature without at the same time, speaking about ourselves.” Fritjof Capra

The Boston astrologer and author, Isabel Hickey, referred to times in astrology when the cast of characters in  your life can change as “when the train pulls into the station, some people get on and some people get off.” This week is such a time with the Sun in Virgo squaring the Lunar Nodes at 6 degrees of Sagittarius and Gemini. It opens a doorway  for new people to come into your life and others to assume more distance. With the Nodes involved it indicates there may be karmic connections involved with the relationships. of people both coming and going.

It’s is a crossroad of sorts too indicating the importance of using discretion in the area of relationships.

On Monday Mercury changes signs – moving into the relationship sign of Libra. Mercury will have a long stay in Libra this year – for almost two months due to the Mercury retrograde period which starts on 27th of September and runs through October 18. This period provides good timing to review partnerships of all kinds. It is a time also when important relationships can come into your life.

Mars continues to travel in opposition to Neptune – gathering strength as it moves up to an exact opposition on Thursday. Mars governs power and Neptune governs fog. Under this influence there can be more confusion, illusion  and things can fall apart more easily than anticipated. It’s a good time to strengthen the immune system which can be more vulnerable.

It bodes well all week to stay grounded and keep pragmatism in the picture.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”An expressionist painter making a futuristic drawing.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda hill

“When we create a better future we redeem the past.” Jack Kornfield

“All we are is the result of what we have thought.” Siddhartha Gautama

Mercury, the god of thought and communication, is busy in the sky now, connecting with Pluto and Jupiter. This configuration indicates a powerful time for transforming of habitual, disempowering thought patterns from the past.

This will be helpful in clearing the path ahead.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A woman is gaining secret knowledge from an ancient scroll she is reading.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

 

“Wisdom is born of the overlapping of lives, the resonance between stories.” Mary Catherine Bateson

“The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference.” Elie Wiesel

August’s second Full Moon in Aquarius is  Sunday the 22nd. On Saturday night as the Sun sets, the Moon will rise with Jupiter. If there are clear skies where you are, it is a great opportunity to see a beautiful celestial event.

There are very good aspects for all kinds of relationships at this time. The Moon conjunct Jupiter speaks of increased optimism, generosity and pleasure.

Saturn will be making a favorable aspect to Venus.  This aspect bodes well for responsibility, practicality and longevity in partnership. Under this influence increased stability can be brought to existing relationships. Relationships started under this influence tend to be long lasting and often are karmic in nature.

Mars trine Uranus can increase courage and  a sense of adventure. It is often a time when people are willing to take risks and explore territory  that would open up new horizons. With Mercury in good aspect to Uranus there can be breakthroughs in thought and communication.

The recent Uranus station and  the second Full Moon in Aquarius with a strong  Jupiter influence speaks about humanity and a the need to see ourselves as a global community. It is a good time to envision a healthy sustainable future for the planet.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”Moonlit fields, once Babylon are  blooming white .”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

 

 

“Uranus has an affinity for Aquarius which comprises the whole community of creation. Intuition connects us the larger dance of creation and through the agency of synchronicity, keeps us all in touch with each other.” Caroline W. Casey

“We draw upon Mars for courage, dynamism, passion and kinship with life.” Caroline W. Casey

Uranus, the planet of the future and the unexpected, is a strong influence now as it stations retrograde on Thursday. The influence of Uranus comes early and it’s usually a time of unexpected events.

Mercury and Mars will be travelling together this week in Virgo. This is a great time for organizing and executing projects as Mercury in Virgo gives good discrimination and Mars adds energy and drive.

The Sun in Leo will be opposing Jupiter this week . This influence is associated with increased optimism and hope. Just watch for overdoing as Jupiter is  is also the sign that tends towards excess.

Uranus will station retrograde  on Thursday at 14 degrees of Taurus and will travel retrograde for five months , turning direct at 10 degrees of Taurus on January 18. This time period provides good time to explore innovative ideas and to grow in awareness about how to express  your uniqueness.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”An old man is attempting with a degree of success unsuspected by him, to reveal the mysteries to a motley group.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

 

 

 

 

 

“The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.
Don’t go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you really want
Don’t go back to sleep
People are going back and forth across the doorsill
Where the two worlds touch.
The door is wide and open
Don’t go back to sleep.” Rumi

Mercury is now in Virgo through the end of the month. This opens up a new cycle that bodes well for planning and organizing. It’s a good time for strategy and clarity of thought. It’s best to take advantage of this alignment before August 20 when Mercury will move up to an opposition to Neptune.

Mercury is moving up to a conjunction with Mars now and this adds extra energy to get tasks done. This will be in effect through the 2oth.

Venus has been making a favorable alignment to Pluto- providing a good time to get in touch with what you feel passionately about. It is also a good influence under which to bring change or transformation to financial matters or relationships.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,” a fine lace ornamental handkerchief.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill