September 2007: Saturn Enters Virgo and Other Major Shifts

On September 2, 2007, a major paradigm shift occurs as Saturn moves from Leo into Virgo. This is a 28- to 29-year cycle that lasts for about 2.5 years.

In personal astrology, Saturn represents the cycle of growth that focuses your energy on developing your role in society as a productive member of a specific community. Some people feel that Saturn represents the father image. Other people feel Saturn represents constrictions that society places on you. Metaphysically, however, Saturn represents how you take information you learned in your life and develop a life plan to become a member of society. Constrictions that are Saturn related often arise when you let the thoughts of other people dictate your life instead of letting your own personal choices create your life. Symbolically, Saturn represents cultivated gardens where you create a plan, determine the needed outcome, plant the right seeds or plants, and enjoy the harvest that this garden brings forth in your life.

Saturn entering Virgo is important because of its role in shifting from one energy to another. The signs of Aries through Virgo represent where you need to understand who you are in order to move forward in life. The signs of Libra through Pisces represent where you need to express who you are in your relationships with others. In many ways, all the mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces) are the shape shifters. They take what they have learned before and change it for current or future use. Of these mutable signs, Virgo and Pisces are the more important because they represent the shifts you need to make from either introversion to extroversion or extroversion to introversion.

Symbolically, Virgo is the sign of harvest. As Saturn passed through the introverted signs of Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, and Leo, you needed to learn lessons that related to expressing your true nature. Now, with Saturn entering Virgo, it is critical for you to review your daily life and determine if your life reflects who you are. It is through this understanding that you are able to develop healthy and loving relationships in your life.

It’s interesting to note that when Saturn is in Virgo, its influence feels a little longer than just 2.5 years. Technically, Saturn will be in Virgo from September 2, 2007 to October 29, 2009 and again from April 7, 2010 to July 21, 2010. It’s even more important this year because by Saturn entering Virgo there is a major emphasis on the mutable energy until December 18, 2007. This major influence is shown by the presence of several energy points found in mutable signs: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Pluto, and the Moon’s North Node. Neptune is the only planet from Jupiter on out that is not in a mutable sign. It is in a fixed sign, although it is in mutual reception with Uranus. A mutual reception means that the planets work well together because they are in each other’s ruling sign. Therefore, even though Neptune may appear to be out of harmony with the other mutable energies, it is actually pulled into harmony with the planets because of its mutual reception with Uranus.

What this means is that between September 2, 2007 and December 18, 2007, you’ll need to determine what is important in your life and well worth holding onto and what is interfering with your life and needs to be tossed out. Whether this time period generates turmoil in your life is actually within your control. You may feel that Saturnian (i.e., societal constrictions) are preventing you from experiencing the type of life style that you want. If this is the case, you will experience turmoil because other people are controlling your life. Or, you may see that your Saturnian garden is producing the very harvest you expected in life. If that’s the case, this time period will be one where you feel good about your decisions. Either way, if there are changes to be made, they will occur quickly.

In mundane astrology, Saturn represents authority figures, people known as “centers of influence,” infrastructure, past debts possibly leading to inflationary or deflationary problems, agriculture, and historic memories. It also represents the senior members of society whose wisdom has much to offer other members.

Virgo represents administrators who do the daily routine of governance, such as government employees, police officers, and military personal. It represents what may be called the “common jobs” that are needed to make certain your life operates smoothly. The majority of these jobs is found in the service industry and can represent the wait staff in a restaurant, the gardeners who take care of the land, and the individuals who clean hotel rooms and buildings. Since Virgo is the transitional sign from introversion to extroversion, it also represents professions dealing with analytical abilities, such as chemists, research scientists, or accountants, and professionals dealing with the health of individuals, such as dieticians, and the land, such as farmers.

Historically, the greatest concern is workers’ rights. In the past workers have gone on strike for their rights. Countries have passed legislation increasing the rights of both the working and middle classes. Even the benefits, such as health and retirement, become important. As costs, especially for health care, keep escalating, concern over your benefits could lead to legislation which not only helps you with health care but also improves your working conditions. More health insurance companies will see the financial benefit of prevention programs, such as massage. More companies will begin to learn that the loyalty of employees will increase if they receive benefits beyond just their salary.

Another area of change that occurs historically is in the leadership of governments. Since quality of life is very important now, people are unwilling to maintain the status quo of their elected officials who fail to improve quality of life. Countries that had liberal ruling bodies now vote for conservative representation. Countries that had conservative ruling bodies vote for liberal representation. No current ruling body is safe from being removed from office.

The infrastructure that Saturn in Virgo represents can be found on a micro scale when you consider roads and bridges, and sources of utility distribution both above and underground. The infrastructure that Saturn in Virgo represents can also be found on a macro scale when you consider that the greatest infrastructure found has no boundaries. This infrastructure is called “Planet Earth.”

When Saturn is in Virgo, it’s important to see where aging structures need replacement. If those structures aren’t replaced, more accidents involving those structures will occur with serious and deadly consequences. Not only could this have an impact on various modes of travel and energy resources, it could have an impact on the structure of the earth itself. Weather patterns are already creating stress to human lives as well as economic difficulties. This could lead to extreme problems that involve not only the micro infrastructures but also the macro infrastructures such as safe drinking water.

When a planet, such as Saturn entering Virgo, occurs, you continue to see these external changes over the next few years. However, on September 3rd, the day following the Saturn ingress, Mercury in Virgo forms a square to Pluto retrograde in Sagittarius and Mars forms a square to Uranus retrograde. This will be a very intense day. You may feel as if people aren’t listening to you. You may feel that you need to fight for your beliefs. As difficult as this sounds, try not to take yourself too seriously. Rather, try to use this day as the first in many over the next few months where you become aware of what is important in your life and what isn’t. Any fights that are started now will only bring you more turmoil. This is also true for the following day when Venus retrograde forms a quincunx to Uranus retrograde. If you try to argue with someone, you’ll be attacked personally. Other people will question your motives. Even on a global level, the stock market will continue to be very erratic on September 3rd and 4th.

When Mercury enters Libra on September 5th, you’ll start thinking more about your relationships. If you argued with a love one over the past few days, you’ll regret it today. If you had difficulties in the work place, you’ll need to try and use diplomacy to smooth over the problems.

Pluto in Sagittarius turns direct on September 7, 2007. Normally changes in motion with Pluto are not so obvious because Pluto tends to operate behind the scenes. This time it’s different because Pluto is turning direct on 26° near the galactic center. World events are very important right now, especially dealing with military operations and economic situations.

On a personal level, you’ll only see or feel the impact if you’ve been trying to hide secrets from others. Actually, you may even feel relieved when those secrets are revealed.

Venus in Leo turns direct on September 8th at 16 degrees. This is important because it turns direct at a degree that is close to forming a quincunx to Uranus retrograde in Pisces. The actual quincunx occurs on September 10th, but the energy of this quincunx will be felt today and last until it becomes exact on the 10th. This can represent several things: financial adjustments, especially where the stock market continues to be erratic; relationship adjustments, especially where the relationship was near the breaking point; and value adjustments, where you need to re-evaluate your ethical stand on various issues. What makes matters more confusing is that on September 9th, Mars forms a trine to Neptune retrograde indicating that it’s more difficult for you to make decisions and take firm actions. Be very cautious with starting anything new during these three days and also signing any contracts.

Tension continues in the air on September 11, 2007 when a partial solar eclipse occurs. This is the last eclipse for the year 2007 and will be seen in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Antarctica, and the South Atlantic. Solar eclipses occur during the time of the new Moon and in this case both the Sun and Moon are in Virgo.

With Saturn now in Virgo and the Moon’s North Node in Pisces, government leaders continue their increased concern about “easy credit” and its effect on the housing market. In the United States, financial leaders increase their concern about the bond market and the foreign investors currently involved in the bond market. The eclipse on September 11th does not bode well for the stock market or investors. It started having difficulties in August as the last solar eclipse occurred. Now there is increased confusion over the market place creating a very erratic and unstable market.

This is a time when you need to review your aspirations and determine how realistic your dreams are and whether those aspirations are creating the happiness you expected. While you may not be ready to make changes in your life at this time, this is a good time to meditate on your recent choices to determine if they are bringing you your desired result. With Venus now direct it will be easier for you to understand what is of value in your life.

Some relief seems to be in sight when Mercury forms a sextile to Jupiter on September 13th. In some ways this can be a lucky day. Things seem to be happening easier and there’s a sense that life is taken a reprieve. You’ll be able to communicate your needs. People will feel excited about your choices.

When, on September 18th, Mercury forms a quincunx to Uranus retrograde and also a trine to Neptune retrograde, you may feel very scattered. You may not be able to focus on things that you think are important. If you were pushing yourself too much over the last few days, it’s very important for you to rest today.

What is interesting about today is that you could actually be in touch with your higher self. This means that you may receive some insight into questions you’ve been asking for a while. If you are an artistic person, this is a good day for creative work. Just let those creative energies flow.

On September 21st, Mars forms an opposition to Pluto and Venus forms an opposition to Neptune retrograde. Try not to force solutions today. While you may be focused in your activities, you may also be confused about the value of those activities. Again, this is a good day to rest. Any negotiations that you do today may not work out very well. Either you’ll push your point too hard and alienate some important people, or you’ll fail to consider all the financial consequences of your actions.

The fall equinox occurs on September 23, 2007 when the Sun enters Libra. This time of year is always a good time to assess your situation. It’s a good time to praise yourself for successes and to view mistakes as learning experiences. The need to assess your situation is stronger this year than in previous years because Saturn is now in Virgo.

When Mercury forms a sextile to Pluto the following day, you’ll find that it continues to be easier to assess your situation. It’s very difficult for you to deceive yourself. It’s also difficult for other people to deceive you. If there have been secrets operating in your life, those secrets will be revealed at this time.

The full Moon that occurs on September 26th is another good day for you to determine if you need to make changes in your life, especially in the area of relationships. The full Moon, with Sun in Libra and Moon in Aries, makes a quincunx to Saturn indicating that you may feel constricted by your relationships. You may feel that you have obligations that are not allowing you to do what you want in life. If the constrictions or obligations are not supportive, you may need to review the value of that relationship. On the other hand, you may find that having the obligation is something you’ve decided is part of the relationship. If that’s the case, it’s all right and you don’t need to make any changes.

If you want to discuss your relationships and obligations with other people, wait until the following day, September 27th, when Mercury enters Scorpio. Mercury is not really comfortable in Scorpio because there is a desire to keep secrets. Yet, Mercury in Scorpio also enables you to hear what people are saying. Even other people are more willing to listen to what you have to say.

The month of September ends with Mars entering Cancer on the 28th. Mars is not that comfortable in the sign of Cancer any more than Mercury is comfortable in the sign of Scorpio. It’s interesting that both of these extroverted personal planets are now entering water signs where holding back information and listening is more important than aggressively pushing forward with life.

The emphasis with Mars in Cancer is on developing your nurturing side. This is a time when you need to understand what other people either want or need from you. You could feel frustrated thinking that you’re giving up some important things in your life. But, that may not be so bad. It may help develop stronger relationships with others if you can just listen to what other people need. And, you may be able to find ways to compromise that enable you to reach your goals.