Important astrological energies for the month of September 2016:

• Annular Solar Eclipse (NM), with Sun and Moon in Virgo, occurs on September 1, 2016.
• Jupiter enters the sign of Libra on September 9, 2016.
• Saturn in Sagittarius forms a square to Neptune retrograde in Pisces on September 10, 2016. This is the last square between Saturn and Neptune in this sequence. The first time it occurred was on June 17, 2015. The second time it occurred was on November 26, 2015.
• Penumbral Lunar Eclipse (FM), with Sun in Virgo and Moon in Pisces, occurs on September 16, 2016.
• Mercury in Virgo turns stationary direct on September 22, 2016. It went retrograde on August 30, 2016.
• Sun enters the sign of Libra on September 22, 2016 and the Vernal Equinox occurs.
• New Moon, with Sun and Moon in Libra, occurs on September 30, 2016.

So Much Going On

By Misty Kuceris ©2016

The month of September 2016 is so full of energy that you’ll need to find ways to catch your breath. The month starts with Mercury in Virgo already retrograde. It went retrograde on August 30, 2016. This is a retrograde time period where you need to understand what’s important and hold your actions accountable. You’ll find new information coming at you from all sides. You’ll want to focus on your goals, but you may also deal with fears from the past. Just by itself, this Mercury retrograde time period from August 30, 2016 until September 22, 2016 is so important that I’ve written a special article just on the Mercury retrograde. To read that article, go to Mercury in Virgo Retrograde Article.

As the month begins, an annular solar eclipse occurs on September 1^st. A solar eclipse occurs during the time of a new Moon. In this case, the Sun and Moon are in Virgo. This eclipse is part of the Saros 135 series and will be seen in Africa and the Indian Ocean.

A solar eclipse occurs during the time of a new Moon, normally the time when you start new projects. But, eclipses tend to obscure matters. It’s more difficult to know how to begin a new project. This is especially true since the Sun and Moon in Virgo create a mutable T-square by forming an opposition to Neptune retrograde and a square to Saturn and Mars.

With this eclipse, you feel as if you are all over the place. You want to focus on important matters that need to be taken care of. But either you don’t have all the facts or you’re being forced into making a decision before you can understand all the implications. You may even feel as if the responsibility of the decision is too much.

Be very cautious if other people are trying to get you to help them out. If you’re not careful, you’ll find yourself in the position of doing things for them while neglecting your own needs. You don’t want to put yourself into a position where other people can victimize you.

Although it won’t occur until tomorrow, Mercury retrograde is applying towards a conjunction to Jupiter and you’ll start to feel this energy even during the eclipse. You may want to share your goals with other people, but it’s important to keep a lot of information to yourself. You don’t want to give too much away. Or, you may find that goals you thought you achieved need to be readdressed and changed. Those goals may not be as important anymore.

The best way to use the energy of this eclipse is to realize that life is in a state of flux right now. The information you’re receiving is not quite accurate. You need to do more research before you make a firm decision. Sometimes when the Sun and Moon oppose Neptune retrograde, some old information surfaces and reveals a truth that you didn’t know before. In the mundane world, don’t be surprised if a scandal is revealed in the media.

The conjunction between Mercury retrograde and Jupiter is exact on September 2^nd. This is not the first time this conjunction occurred. The first time this conjunction occurred was on August 22, 2016 when Mercury was direct. If you keep a journal, you may want to see if anything important occurred around that time period.

If you didn’t deal with matters of importance at the end of August, you’ll be forced to find solutions today. If you tried to keep any secrets over the past several weeks, you’ll find they are revealed today.

When Mercury, especially in retrograde motion, forms a conjunction to Jupiter, it’s time to consider your long-term goals and establish milestones that act as a map for your success. Even though you don’t want to give out too much information, you need to consider asking help from others. The tasks you want to achieve could be overwhelming if you’re doing it all on your own.

On September 3^rd, Venus forms a quincunx to Ceres. Normally Venus and Ceres operate in harmony; but not today. Venus represents the passionate aspect of the feminine while Ceres represents the warrior and protector aspect of the feminine. There are several ways that this energy can play out. Venus in Libra wants to put relationships first. Ceres in Taurus wants to put possessions first. You may need to decide whether some of your possessions are getting in the way of your relationships. Or, you may feel as if you are being possessed by others and you don’t have a say in relationships. In fact, this could be a difficult day for relationships if you feel as if you’re not being respected. You’ll fight for your rights. You won’t let other people control or manipulate you.

Situations in your life still revolve around relationships on September 7^th as Venus forms a sextile to Saturn and a quincunx to Neptune retrograde a few hours later.

When Venus forms the sextile to Saturn, you feel as if you have a supportive relationship with that special person in your life. You can share goals and ethical values. But with Venus forming the quincunx to Neptune, you’re not totally certain that the other person is being honest with you. You may feel let down by something the other person said or did. Actually what you’re experiencing is a realization. If you had a person on a pedestal, that person will fall off. If, however, you viewed the relationship realistically, you’ll find that your and that individual share more spiritual values than you realized.

Jupiter enters Libra on September 9, 2016 and remains in this sign until October 10, 2017. The last time that Jupiter was in Libra was from September 24, 2004 until October 25, 2005. This cycle occurs approximately every 12 years and remains in a sign for about 13 months, just a little over one year.

When Jupiter is in the sign of Libra, you feel a desire to improve your relationships with other people. You see the value of doing things with others. You really don’t want to do everything by yourself. Also, you’ll see laws coming into being that are directed at the general population, not the individual.

As it comes to rules and regulations, government agencies will reach out to more corporations to create alliances. There will be a pull towards less government involvement in ventures which can be shared with private industry.

Perhaps one good thing that could come out of Jupiter entering Libra is that more emphasis is placed on the balance of liberty and equity. Governments become more concerned with cybersecurity. Corporations become more concerned with maintaining privacy if only to protect themselves from invasive government rules and regulations.

As Jupiter enters Libra, you realize you can’t do everything alone. You’ll realize that it’s important to build alliances due to strength in numbers. You’re more willing to compromise in order to achieve your goals. You won’t expect everything to be done your way. Commitments, especially in relationships, will be more important.

As the day continues, Mercury retrograde forms a quincunx to Uranus retrograde. This is the second time that Mercury forms a quincunx to Uranus retrograde. The first time it occurred was on August 19, 2016. The last time that it will occur is on October 2, 2016 when Mercury is in direct motion. This is what I call a triad sequence. A triad sequence is a term I coined when three aspects occur between two planets because of the faster planet – this this case Mercury – going retrograde.

When a triad sequence occurs during a Mercury retrograde, it impacts you in subtle or subconscious ways that you don’t realize. First, this triad sequence began on August 19^th before Mercury was retrograde. And, it ends on October 2^nd when Mercury is once again direct. This means that the Mercury retrograde period is actually extended from August 19^th to October 2^nd. Since Mercury is in Virgo, matters of accountability are very important during this time period. You need to pay attention to events that impact your life. You need to make certain that other people aren’t taking advantage of you. You also need to keep your records straight, especially those pertaining to financial matters. You’ll also find that since this is a quincunx between Mercury retrograde and Uranus retrograde, you’ll be hearing unexpected information which may create changes in the direction of your life. And, what’s more important is that when Mercury makes a quincunx to Uranus during these time periods, it also makes an opposition to Chiron either just before or after the quincunx occurs.

When you receive unexpected information, don’t expect it to be very clear. As a matter of fact, it may be confusing and contradictory. Don’t get into arguments with others because you won’t be able to find a solution. This is especially true with the aspects that are coming up over the next few days. Every time you think you understand what the other person is trying to say, the information changes. You really need to protect yourself and not take any risks.

The following day, September 10^th, Mercury retrograde forms an opposition to Chiron retrograde less than two hour before Saturn forms a square to Neptune retrograde a few hours later. Again this is another triad sequence. The first time this opposition occurred was on August 19^th when Mercury was direct. The last time this opposition occurs will be on October 1^st when Mercury is direct.

When Mercury, especially in retrograde motion, forms an opposition to Chiron retrograde, there’s a tendency to dwell on past pains, especially if you got into any arguments yesterday. You can try and resolve those matters today, but it’s better if you wait a while. You may not be able to communicate your needs and other people may not feel like listening. It’s better to meditate and reflect on the direction that you want to take with your relationships without making any judgments at this time.

If you rushed into situations yesterday without thinking, you might be suffering the consequences today. You need to determine if you have to ask someone for forgiveness. You also need to clear out any past pain so you can move on with your life.

On September 10^th, less than two hours after Mercury retrograde formed the opposition to Chiron retrograde, the last square between Saturn and Neptune retrograde occurs. The first time that this square occurred was on November 26, 2015. The second time it occurred was on June 17, 2016.

When Saturn forms a square to Neptune, you find that many of the old rules don’t apply but the new rules are quite implemented. You feel as if you’re not certain whether to try new approaches in life or to become even more entrenched in old ways of doing things. Globally there were many upheavals the last two times that Saturn formed a square to Neptune: Donald Trump leading in the polls against Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, and Carly Fiorina in October 2015; the horrible coordinated attacks in Paris, France killing 129 people and wounding hundreds of others in November 2015; and, the British vote (Brexit) to leave the European Union in June 2016 are just a few.

You want to have stability in your life right now. You want to understand how things work in your life. You don’t want to be controlled by fear or pain. While it’s not easy, it’s important that you find ways to create foundations in your life that let you feel your spiritual nature. It’s important to acknowledge what works and doesn’t work in your life.

Venus forms a square to Pluto retrograde on September 11^th. You feel as if other people are trying to tell you what to do. You want to be involved in relationships. At the same time, you don’t want to give up your identity. It’s very important to understand your values and remain true to those values. If you’re asked to compromise on your values that could be the worst thing you do. Take a close look at any person that asks you to compromise on your values and determine whether that individual is really someone you want in your life. It may be a good time to end any relationships which are not based on mutual respect.

September 15^th is another day to re-evaluate your relationships as Mars forms a square to Chiron retrograde. There’s a tendency for old pain to surface during this square. With Mars in Sagittarius and Chiron in Pisces, you’ll find it easier to let go of that pain and move into healing. Just don’t let any fears from your past prevent you from moving forward. As much as you may try to avoid dealing with relationship problems, you will be forced to resolve them.

The last eclipse of the year, a Penumbral Lunar Eclipse, occurs on September 16^th during the time of the full Moon when the Sun is in Virgo and the Moon is in Pisces. This eclipse is part of the 135 Saros Series and will be seen in Africa and the Indian Ocean.

Both the Sun and Moon in this eclipse forms a square to Mars indicating that energy will be very erratic and frustrating. People will feel as if they have to fight for their dreams without really understanding what the fight is all about. Meanwhile, the Sun in this eclipse forms a quincunx to Uranus retrograde indicating that egos are clashing.

You may feel frustrated by what you see in the world right now. You may want to rush into situations, yet you don’t have all the facts. You may even feel as if you have to protect yourself from unknown circumstances.

Do the best that you can not to get into too many fights. You may regret any actions you take since the Sun is forming an opposition to Chiron and the Moon is forming a conjunction to Chiron. It’s possible that you’ll hurt yourself more than you hurt other people.

But, what’s interesting about this eclipse is that Mars is applying to a trine to Uranus retrograde. When the unexpected does happen, take the experience and find ways to apply it to your spiritual goals. Find ways to see the diversity in people. Try to understand how the differences you see can help you find new ways to achieve goals. Take a wait and see approach to life instead of rushing into circumstances you don’t understand.

On September 17^th, Mars forms a trine to Uranus retrograde while Venus forms a quincunx to Chiron retrograde later in the day.

With Mars forming the trine to Uranus retrograde you are more willing to take risks because you’re open to new ideas. You want to find ways to achieve things. You don’t want anything to stand in your way. At the same time, you need to be careful. You might be too aggressive. You may find that other people don’t appreciate your enthusiasm for situations. Sometimes a trine makes is easier for accidents to happen. Just be very careful today.

This is especially true as Venus forms the quincunx to Chiron retrograde. While you may be open to taking risks with Mars forming the trine to Uranus retrograde, you need to be careful that the risks you’re taking aren’t going to injure you, especially financially. You don’t want to put yourself in harm’s way. You also need to be very careful around people who aren’t listening to your needs. If an accident does happen today, it could be very costly.

Continue to be very cautious with your finances on September 18^th when Venus forms an opposition to Uranus retrograde. This is another day where you don’t want to take any risks. Whenever Uranus is involved, the unexpected happens. This is a day where you won’t put up with anyone who doesn’t give you emotional support. This is also a day where you may decide that it’s time to end relationships which aren’t supporting you.

On September 20^th, Mercury retrograde forms its second trine to Pluto retrograde in the triad sequence. The first time that this trine occurred was on August 10, 2016 when Mercury and Pluto were in direct motion. The last time this trine occurs is on September 23^rd when Mercury is in direct motion and Pluto is in retrograde motion.

When Mercury formed the trine to Pluto retrograde on August 10^th, you realized that you could focus on matters that are important. You had a drive to succeed. You wanted other people to understand what you mean, not just what you said.

Now that Mercury retrograde is forming the second trine to Pluto retrograde, you feel this drive to succeed again. You can focus on important matters in your life. Just don’t be so single-minded that you miss out on unexpected opportunities that are lurking around you. Let your mind be open, if at all possible. If you open your mind to possibilities and maintain that high level of focus you’ll gain critical insights. You’ll be able to connect those dots to questions you have. And this ability to gain critical insights will continue into September 23^rd when Mercury in direct motion will form its third trine to Pluto retrograde.

Mercury turns stationary direct at 1:31 am EDT on September 22^nd and the Sun enters the sign of Libra at 10:22 am EDT signifying the beginning of the autumnal equinox.

Mercury in Virgo initially turned retrograde on August 30, 2016. During the time period that Mercury was retrograde, you needed to re-evaluate your daily routine and make changes in your approach so that you could work more efficiently. Some of those changes involved either organizing your paperwork or throwing out files that were no longer important. Basically, you needed to clear your mind of clutter. But re-evaluation was a roller coaster ride this time and won’t totally end until October 2^nd when Mercury forms its third quincunx to Uranus retrograde. Every time you thought you had answers, new information surfaced or old pains needed to be dealt with. You couldn’t decide whether to do things on your own or ask for help. Life will get easier, but there’s still more re-evaluation to come.

When the Sun enters the sign of Libra, half of the astrological year is over. The autumnal equinox in the Northern hemisphere, also called the vernal equinox, is a time when you look at the various relationships in your life and determine which ones are important.

The entry of the Sun into a cardinal sign, such as Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn is very important because it indicates the significant undercurrents that exist in the world. In the charts set up for the capitol of the United States, the Ascendant when the Sun entered Aries, Cancer, and Capricorn was Sagittarius. This indicated that people wanted to reach beyond their limitations. They wanted to bring in new solutions to old problems. The chart set up for when the Sun enters Libra, the Ascendant is in Scorpio. This means that for the next three months you’ll find people very cautious and skeptical. They’ll talk about conspiracy theories. They’ll wonder if others aren’t out to get them. They’ll feel that secrets must remain, yet in the interim, scandals will be revealed.

With Mercury just turning direct earlier in the day, you’ll feel as if a lot of information that was bottled up is now coming out. You may not know what to believe. You feel as if people are doing a “core dump” when they are talking. This means that people are saying everything that was bottled up inside them.

Metaphysically it’s important to point out that the Sun forms a conjunction to Jupiter, ruler of Sagittarius, at this time. So, while Sagittarius is no longer the Ascendant in this chart, it still plays a key role. You need to fight for what you believe in. You need to go after your goals. You need to find ways to shift through the garbage that’s out there and still come up with the truth. This may not be the easiest of three months for you.

Scorpio on the Ascendant of this chart indicates that mudslinging in the current presidential campaign will increase. People are even going to work behind the scenes to try and get the information out there. With the Ascendant forming a trine to Neptune retrograde, you need to research all the information to find the actual facts.

If you live in another country, use the capitol of that country to determine the Ascendant of this chart so you can understand the underlying theme for your nation.

No matter what country you live in, this equinox chart emphasizes the importance of understanding relationships with others. You need to find ways to develop alliances if you want to succeed. There is a wide mutable grand cross in this chart indicating situations are in flux. It’s important to pay attention to information and research the truth. You need to listen to what others are saying without criticism before making any important decisions. You also need to approach activities slowly. Things are going to change and you need to be flexible in order to know when to act on those changes. The good news is that once you have all the facts and understand the implications of those facts, you’ll be able to move forward with conviction and make those necessary changes in your life.

Mercury forms its third trine to Pluto retrograde and Venus enters the sign of Scorpio on September 23^rd. The energy of the Mercury/Pluto retrograde trine was already felt yesterday during the Vernal Equinox which is why you’ll be able to move forward with conviction today.

When Mercury in direct motion formed its first trine to Pluto retrograde on August 10^th, you realized that you could focus on matters that are important. You had a drive to succeed. You wanted other people to understand what you mean, not just what you said. You were able to go into the depths of your subconscious mind and pull out the most important knowledge you have. The same was true when Mercury in retrograde motion formed its second trine to Pluto retrograde on September 20^th.

Today, on September 23^rd, you’re feeling very intense, especially with Venus entering the sign of Scorpio. You feel passionate about your commitments. You are able to focus on important matters. In many ways, the sign of Scorpio can be difficult for the planet Venus. When Venus is in Scorpio, you don’t always want to let go. Sometimes you hold on to anger at the expense of the relationship. But there is also a positive side to Venus in Scorpio. You may feel so passionate about an important matter that you decide now is the time to take charge and resolve any problems surrounding the situation.

On September 26^th, Venus forms an opposition to Ceres retrograde. Venus and Ceres usually have a symbiotic relationship. Venus represents the side of passion while Ceres represents the side of mothering. But that may not be the situation today. Both planets are in signs which deal with possessiveness and self-preservation. Venus is not comfortable in the sign of Scorpio because Venus wants to love without feeling controlled by others. While Scorpio can often be seen as a sign of passion, it is usually passion driven by the desire for control. Ceres retrograde in Taurus indicates that you feel as if you need to take care of everything and you can’t rely on any other person. You want to make sure that you’re being taken care of but you don’t trust that the other person will do that. For this reason you feel as if you need to take care of situations yourself.

When these two planets form an opposition, you are fighting between your desire to preserve your way of life without being controlled by others and your need for other people to confirm who you are. If you’re not careful, the very thing that you fear could happen. You might let other people take control and manipulate you into situations you don’t like. Be very cautious with any individuals who don’t support your individuality.

On September 26^th, Pluto turns stationary direct. You may not feel the change too much because with Pluto everything is below the surface. What you’ll feel is a subtle shift in how you approach matters. You’ll be more willing to listen. You’ll look for the subconscious cues to understand situations better. You won’t be quite as stubborn although you will stick to your inner most beliefs.

When Mars enters Capricorn on September 27^th, you start developing concrete goals in your life. You create a path to follow with milestones that are achievable. You’re even willing to make changes with your goals so they are more realistic.

The month of September comes to an end when a second new Moon of the month occurs on September 30^th. The first new Moon of the month was the annular solar eclipse that occurred on September 1, 2016. Unlike second full Moons, there is really no “name” for this event. Rather, this means that you have another opportunity to start new things in life.

Both the Sun and Moon are in Libra at this time and forms a conjunction to Jupiter, a square to Mars, and a quincunx to both Ceres retrograde and Neptune retrograde. You feel a sense of optimism even if you don’t know what’s going on in your environment. You’ll need to pay attention to any changes in your environment. You may not have as much control as you’d like. At the same time, you’ll find relationships with others improving. People are tired of feeling alone and not knowing what’s going on.

The key to understanding what’s going on in your own life is to understand the energy of Saturn forming a square to the Moon’s Nodal Axis in this chart. Saturn represents the need to make certain your foundation is well-built. It also indicates that you need to cultivate your most important assets and find ways to nurture their growth. With the square to the Moon’s Nodal Axis, you need to look at your past experiences and decide what’s important to keep in order to move forward into the future with a solid base. It’s finding that balance between spiritual desire and reality living.