Happy Autumnal Equinox! Later tonight, the Sun exits Virgo’s intricate hedge-maze conundrum and strolls instead through Libra’s well-maintained gardens. These topiary structures are more concerned with eliciting a response from the heart and mind rather than material gain. Let’s take a look at some of the broad strokes that will inform the Scales’ canvas over the course of the coming solar month.

We should firstly address the fact that the Sun is classically thought to perform sub-optimally in Libra. Just as certain color palates do not suit certain skin tones, the Sun’s spotlight on the individual does not suit Libra’s broader mindset of designing a beautiful lighting pattern for the whole stage. Thus, the Libran may be a genuine appreciator of personalities, one who fiercely loves the Suns of others, but because it tends to define itself in relation to those stars (“I am ___’s child,” “I am ____’s spouse,”) they tend not to focus on who they really aside from that array of social connections. In fact, when someone takes too big a spotlight for themselves, a Libra is probably the first person to label them as being “a lot.” Libra prizes a beautiful arrangement, and if someone threatens that with their selfishness, they’re probably going to find themselves on the business end of a trademark Libran withering barb.

That all said, we are more than just our Sun signs, and this only defines one aspect of personality. I know plenty of Libras with personality that packs a wallop, and the point is not to generalize them as vapid, wishy-washy, or superficial. (Though I know a few of those, too.) All to say, as ever, mileage may vary based on other chart factors. We are all beautiful, strange snowflakes whose charts are exactly as they should be.

Disclaimers out of the way, let’s talk astro-weather. As discussed in this week’s Hump Day column, the Sun begins its journey through Libra “positioned across the board from Jupiter in Aries, which will likely challenge issues around identity, confidence, agency. The Sun is said to perform its worst in Libra, cobbling together identity through a series of personal contacts, and in that regard, Jupiter may encourage some to look past the expectations and desires of others to get down to what one really wants to do with themselves.” We also have a new moon on Sunday (9/25) that will likely center around these themes. The Sun will be opposite Jupiter from today until the start of next month, around the end of Mercury Rx on 10/2.

Tonight (9/23) also sees Mercury’s retrograde conjunction to the Sun, an event known as cazimi. Also pulled from yesterday’s column: “Late in the evening, the Sun will make its ingress into Libra. From about 9:30pm until 7am on Friday (9/23,) Mercury will be exactly conjunct to the Sun at 0 degrees Libra, and a condition known as cazimi will be active. The long and short of it is that, in this state, the planet is said to be in position to transmit clearly, visible as it is standing dead-center in the heart of the Sun, an ‘eye of the storm’ moment. So it may be that this time sees some vital information come to light. It could also be a good time to capitalize on the clear signal to have an important discussion or brain-work. By midday Friday, this will be over and Mercury will be back in Virgo, continuing its moonwalk back into the sign where it normally performs optimally…but note that the retrograde is still on into the beginning of October.”

Speaking of Mercury, he is continuing his apparent backwards movement through the sky, and shortly after his cazimi, he will dip back into Virgo, where he will begin locking into a conjunction to Venus, who has been having a difficult time. Pulling once again from Wednesday’s column: “Mercury is the stronger party here, even retrograde, and may be able to help rethink some ideas around…Venusian issues. This conjunction will persist until the coming Thursday, and will perfect before that on Monday (9/26.) The two are also in a harmonious relationship to Pluto, who may help in efforts to dig deep and ask the right questions, though there is a serious danger of getting lost down deep rabbit holes.” In short, Mercury does very well in Virgo, and even retrograde and hindered by an opposition to Neptune, he may be able to help Venus to work through issues of self-worth, impostor syndrome, doubt, etc. Her square to Mars in Gemini is waning, so she is likely coming off of beating herself up, if someone else wasn’t shouting her down.

Mars himself is moving on from his contentious connection to Venus, which while unpleasant, may be motivating some positive action. He is instead locking into a harmonious relationship to Saturn retrograde in Aquarius, a call toward active restructuring and more disciplined approaches. Alternately, if Mars has been feeling oppressed by authoritative pressures, this may be a call to find freedom within those structures, to cast off the weight and operate more easily. Mars, like Venus, is ruled by Mercury, who has been retrograde for a while now. There is a lot of opportunity for revisiting approaches here.

I have been writing a lot about the Uranus-North Node connection lately, a volatile conjunction that has the power to create some major shifts in the world. Saturn, the paragon of structure and authority, is in a contentious relationship to these revolutionary forces, so we may have more earth-shaking on the docket. That said, Uranus and the North Node are beginning to drift apart. The conjunction is still active, but its power will wane as Uranus slows down and ceases its retrograde motion. That’s still a ways off (direct in January,) but the drama shouuuulllld be starting to wind down. The moon’s movement may trigger some activity, however, and I will endeavor to point out the dates where that is likely.

On Thursday (9/29, Michaelmas) Venus will leave its conjunction to Mercury behind, as well as its harrowing shame-walk through Virgo. Venus makes her ingress into Libra here, one of her seats of power, and will join the Sun in its focus on aesthetics, manners, and propriety. Though Venus is strong here, she is considered to be weakened by proximity to the Sun, who drowns out and swallows the light of planets that get too close to him. However, Venus will be accompanying the Sun through his entire walk through Libra, and there seems to me to be great beauty in this arrangement, like a capable and elegant consort taking the Sun by the hand and guiding them through an unfamiliar setting. Venus will also go through her own cazimi period, exactly conjunct the Sun on 10/22 – 10/25, accompanying him right into his Scorpio ingress. During this period, desires, preferences, and artistic sensibilities may come through very clearly. A great time to make art, make love, or just get in touch with what you really want. People think they know what they want, but often find it much more difficult if pressed to write down specific, actionable wishes.

Also on 9/29, Mercury will station direct, and his retrograde will properly end on 10/2. By the time it does, he will be in a contentious relationship to Mars in Gemini, and there is a general danger of bickering on this day, especially since Mercury’s connections to Pluto and Neptune will persist in looking very deeply into matters and not being able to reconcile with fantasy, respectively. But Mercury is Mars’ master here, and if cooler heads prevail, there is potential to get a lot done here, especially since Mars has just made an exact trine to Saturn at 19 degrees. A good day for making plans or putting them into action!

Mars will also be conjunct a powerful fixed star from 9/29 – 10/15 – this would be Capella, “the little she-goat,” which is said in nativities to make people persistently inquisitive. With Mars, it is said to make natives “inquisitive and learned,” but that this gift may be wasted on “low subjects.” Make of that what you will. Sounds like a good time to crush at bar trivia.

We have a Full Moon in Aries on 10/9, which will happen right on top of Chiron, and in harmonious connection to Mars and Saturn. Aries Moon is one that thrives on acts of service, both received and performed, a rally cap of emotional courage. Chiron throws a bucket of cold insecurity on all of that, but along with the other planets involved, may open avenues to confront healing that is both necessary and possibly long-overdue. Pluto also goes direct on this day, ceasing its retrograde motion through Capricorn. It is still tightly configured to Mercury here, and may show some wise seekers how to properly navigate power, and/or how to uncover what is hidden. News-wise, one hopes that systemic corruption is called to account – not a prediction, but a hope.

Shortly after, Mercury will make his ingress back into Libra on 10/11, once again opposing Jupiter and beginning to chase down the Sun and Venus. He won’t quite catch up with them until Scorpio season, but he’ll run through the remainder of his retrograde shadow degrees, likely putting the final touches on any issues brought up by the retrograde around 10/15.

A final note on Jupiter. Though it won’t happen in Libra season, he is also retrograde, and he’ll soon move back into his home in Pisces for a short time. More on that next month.

Those are the major moves as I see them. I’ll list some more granular goings-on below. Once again, Happy Fall to All!

9/22 – Sun’s ingress into Libra, Mercury Rx cazimi in the evening. Sun will be opposite Jupiter through the beginning of Oct.

9/23 – Sun will be in a cross-sign conjunction with Mercury and Venus after Mercury goes back into Virgo through 9/27. Mercury conjunct to Venus, opposite Neptune, trine Pluto. Mars-Venus square waning, but Mars trine Saturn Rx locking in. Saturn is also square to Uranus-North Node.

9/24 – Moon in Virgo may trigger the Uranus-NN conjunction, especially since it will square Mars.

9/25 – New Moon in Libra, opposite Jupiter.

9/26 – Sun-Jupiter opposition is partile. Mercury-Venus conjunction is also exact. Grand Air Trine caused by Moon in Libra trining Mars and Saturn and opposing Chiron. Hermetic Air (intellectual activity, socialization, freedom of thought) is at a premium.

9/27 – The moon squares Pluto, the people/mood grate against power, corruption, emotional identity against repression and secrets.

9/28 – Venus is in a terrible mood, both fallen and anaretic. Get under a blanket and eat some chips. The Moon in Scorpio will be on the South Node and may trigger the Uranus-North Node volatility. Mars begins its conjunction with Capella.

9/29 – Venus makes her ingress into Libra, accompanying the Sun through the sign very closely. She will oppose Jupiter through the first week of Oct. Mercury stations at 24 degrees Virgo, slowing to a stop. The connection between Mars and Saturn is exact here, giving structure to action.

9/30 – The Sun is in an antiscial connection to Neptune. A good day for getting swept up in fantasy and letting boundaries around sense of self be redefined.

10/1 – The Moon in Sagittarius opposes Mars and squares stationing Mercury. We may not feel prepared to act. If it cannot wait, take a moment to gather yourself.

10/2 – Mercury goes direct in Virgo. The Moon in Capricorn creates a T-Square with Sun-Venus in Libra and Jupiter in Aries, which may throw the day’s focus onto what is comfortable, familiar, nurturing.

10/3 – The Moon in Capricorn is now with Pluto, and will create a Grand Earth Trine, throwing focus onto practical matters. The players involved indicate this will not be a placid affair, as Pluto, Mercury, and Uranus are more likely to figure out how best to take care of business. On the same day, the square between Saturn and Uranus is partile, so there may be some big structural shake-ups. A good day for creating or revising a budget, or other such administrative necessities.

10/4 – Venus gets her turn to be antiscia Neptune. A good day for Tolkein-esque high fantasy.

10/5 – A strong potential trigger date here, as the moon in Aquarius is right on Saturn, which may set off Uranus-North Node. The Moon will also make contact with Sun-Venus in Libra before contacting Mars in Gemini, which is when things are likely to get volatile. The Sun-Venus conjunction moves away from Jupiter and into an opposition with Chiron, bringing up uncomfortable, sensitive matters around agency and sense of self. (The trine with the Sun becomes partile on 10/7, Venus on 10/10.) They also move into a trine with Saturn.

10/7 – The Moon is with Neptune, opposing Mercury. An enchanted heart would rather dream than think.

10/9 – Full Moon in Aries. Pluto goes direct in Capricorn.

10/10 – Mercury is at 29 degrees, anaretic. Though it is strong in Virgo, this weakens its influence. The Moon in Aries squares Pluto, possibly a re-visitation of issues from 9/27, as Pluto has since become direct.

10/11 – Mercury makes ingress into Libra, opposing Jupiter, who may show the gaps between what we know and what we want to know. Even in opposition, Jupiter is supportive, and will likely cast an aspirational tone on any such divide. The Moon is in Taurus and will make contact with Uranus-NN, potentially triggering the array. Sun-Venus moves into a trine with Mars.

10/14 – Another Grand Air Trine, as the moon in Gemini makes contact with Mars and Capella.

10/15 – Mercury gets its turn at antiscia with Neptune. Another good day for navigating fantasy, lucid dreaming, gaming.

10/17 – The moon in Cancer creates a t-square terminating in Aries. The day may take on an Arien tone of action, brash enthusiasm, drive to accomplish. Mercury begins to oppose Chiron, bringing the mind to wounds and insecurities, possibly introducing novel approaches to healing them, or at least using them to artistic effect. The Sun is exactly trine to Mars, Venus will be tomorrow.

10/19 – The Moon in Leo creates a Grand Cross, a tense day. It may also trigger Uranus-NN.

10/21 – Venus’ cazimi begins, active until 10/25. Venus will walk the Sun out of Libra and into Scorpio.