I could not seem to shut up in my Libra Season write-up last week, so for both our sakes, I’m going to endeavor to keep remarks brief. In fact, I’m going to blatantly recycle some of that text, so buckle up.

Wednesday has explosive potential, with the Moon in Scorpio getting some folks deep in their feelings. It’s okay to look inward, but don’t get lost down there. This is especially true with Venus in arguably her weakest position in all of the zodiac – self-worth and self-image issues may be exacerbated. Mercury is slowing down right on top of Venus, and though retrograde, is powerful here. Assess the situation with a cool head, not a muddy heart. Mars is stronger, having made contact with a powerful fixed star, and has the ability to put some elbow grease behind some big changes, now locked into Saturn through a partile trine. But Mars’ influence could also add some pepper to an already volatile mix, so again, let cooler heads prevail.

Thursday (9/29) is kind of a big day: Venus moves into a position of relative strength, rekindling charm and aesthetic. But Venus is also very close to the Sun here and may find herself outshined. Some artists may need to be brilliant in obscurity for a while longer. But hey, if you want to make a big splash, sometimes a period of secret labor is just the thing to build up a beefy portfolio that will knock their socks off. This may apply to a web of contacts, really to lots of things that fall under Venus’ realm. While still retrograde, Mercury is slowing to a stop, and you may feel any Merc Rx-related madness start to do the same. If the past few weeks have been chaotic, ask yourself: what can be gleaned from the mayhem? Are there ways to prevent it in future, or lessons to be learned from it? Was it fun? Sometimes it can be.

Friday (9/30) and Saturday (10/1) sees the moon’s movement through Sagittarius. There, it will first make contact with Jupiter on Friday, spurning growth, optimism and good times; then with Chiron the following day, which may chafe a bit more, but could open avenues to working through grief and insecurity, especially around personal agency and capability. Saturday will also see the Moon in Sagittarius oppose Mars and square stationing Mercury. We may not feel prepared to act. If it cannot wait, take a moment to gather yourself.

Jumping back to Friday briefly, the Sun will make an antiscial connection to Neptune. A good day for getting swept up in fantasy and letting boundaries around sense of self be redefined. In subsequent days, Venus and then Mercury will also make this connection. A lot of folks don’t use antiscia, but I find them very valuable. I encourage you to seek out Kate Flückinger’s work for more information.

Sunday (10/2,) we finally get Mercury direct. Mercury will park in a position that may have some sweating deadlines, or just feel like they’re administrating under pressure – this comes from his square to Mars, as well as the intensity modifier from Pluto, which can help with deep research. On the other hand, 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. Maybe the brain-work waits until Monday.

Speaking of Monday (10/3,) the Moon in Capricorn will have moved onto 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.

On Tuesday (10/4,) Venus gets her turn to be antiscia Neptune. A good day for Tolkein-esque high fantasy. The Moon in Aquarius supports this and encourages you to get real weird with it. Some great potential for creative exploration here, even if it just means taking a chance on some art or entertainment that wouldn’t normally be your thing.

Until next Hump Day!