Written by Belinda Lai
September begins just after the trine between Jupiter in Leo and Saturn in Aries at 13°41′, which became exact on the last day of August (GMT). The feeling of optimism tempered by caution and pragmatism is still very much alive as the new month starts.
1 September: Mars squares Saturn, Mercury sextiles Mars
Self-assertion meets delay and restraint. Caution and patience are called for as frustration builds where energy is blocked. Pressing for a win at any cost may cost more than it gains.
Mercury is exactly sextile Mars on the same day, which helps. Some of that Mars energy can be channelled into dialogue and active listening rather than confrontation.
10 September: Venus trines the North Node, enters Scorpio and opposes Chiron; Mercury enters Libra; Uranus stations retrograde
A very busy day in the skies. Venus in late Libra first trines the true North Node in late Aquarius, showing how social connection can open up new ground. She then enters Scorpio, suggesting a deeper engagement with relationships and shared resources, and a willingness to get to the bottom of things.
Vulnerabilities may surface as Venus also opposes Chiron exactly. Self-acceptance, independent of external validation, may offer a constructive way through. Chiron’s process moves from vulnerability towards confidence.
Mercury also moves into Libra, emphasising diplomacy and fairness in communication and negotiation.
Uranus stations retrograde at 5°42′ Gemini and retraces its steps until 8 February next year. This can be a useful period for revisiting earlier experimental and original ideas.
11 September: New Moon in Virgo
The New Moon at 18°26′ Virgo offers an opportunity to establish new health and work routines, improve skill sets and address what isn’t working.
Virgo is concerned with analysis, practical usefulness and the development of technique, skill and craft. Its ruler, Mercury, is in Libra, so ideas around restoring balance, harmony and fairness could help shape the new approach.
12–14 September: Mercury aspects the outer planets, Sun sextiles Mars
Mercury in Libra engages in a flurry of activity. On the 12th it trines Pluto and opposes Neptune within the same hour, then trines Uranus on the 14th, completing a Kite with these three outer planets.
The push for diplomatic solutions and dialogue based on mutual respect may expose where perception has become coloured by idealisation or illusion, with Neptune as the Kite’s focal point.
Adding to this planetary picture is the Sun-Mars sextile on the 14th, boosting vitality and willpower.
15–16 September: Venus squares Pluto, Neptune sextiles Pluto
Venus squares Pluto, intensifying relationship dynamics and questions of power and control. Competition over shared resources may sharpen.
Meanwhile, Neptune in Aries exactly sextiles Pluto in Aquarius at 3°16′. This is one of a series of exact sextiles between these two slow-moving planets over the coming years, suggesting a long, gradual process of transformation working through the collective.
18 September: Chiron retrogrades into Aries, Mercury opposes Saturn
Chiron began its retrograde motion in Taurus on 3 August and returns to Aries on the 18th. Lingering themes of vulnerability around identity and self-assertion receive one last airing before Chiron settles into Taurus in April next year.
Meanwhile, Mercury opposes Saturn. One side may try to speak out while the other holds the line. Where that becomes frustrating, stepping back to reformulate is often more productive than pressing on.
21–22 September: Mercury sextiles Jupiter, Jupiter sesquiquadrates Neptune
The Mercury-Jupiter sextile opens up the opportunity to see the big picture. It is also excellent for learning and gathering wide-ranging views.
However, Jupiter also sesquiquadrates Neptune, suggesting a need to distinguish expansive vision from wishful thinking or over-idealisation.
23 September: Sun enters Libra
A light shines on issues relating to justice, equality, balance and peace in the month ahead.
Libra is concerned with fairness, diplomacy and finding a point of balance between opposing ideas or positions.
The Sun’s entry into Libra also marks the Autumn Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and the Spring Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere.
26 September: Sun opposes Neptune and trines Pluto, Full Moon in Aries
The Sun opposes Neptune, highlighting a tension between clear purpose and illusion, while its trine to Pluto may bring greater awareness of what has been operating beneath the surface.
The Full Moon at 3°37′ Aries forms a striking Kite configuration. The Sun in Libra trines Uranus in Gemini and Pluto in Aquarius, while the Moon, closely conjunct Neptune in Aries, opposes the Sun and sextiles both Uranus and Pluto.
The lunation also forms softer aspects with Mars and minor hard aspects with Jupiter. This complex Full Moon may bring uncertainty and the dissolving of previous boundaries while stirring courage and optimism at the same time.
27–28 September: Mars squares Chiron, Mars enters Leo, Sun trines Uranus
Mars square Chiron may expose vulnerability where self-assertion is involved, but it can equally spur greater self-awareness and the work of integration.
Mars then enters Leo the following day, lifting confidence, creativity and leadership. As the Sun trines Uranus, innovation, originality and flashes of inspiration may come more readily.
29–30 September: Mercury trines the North Node, opposes Chiron and enters Scorpio
Mercury trines the North Node, aligning thinking and learning with the chance to step into an unfamiliar but potentially rewarding experience in the long run.
It then opposes Chiron before moving into Scorpio. This may be best used to give voice to what has been overlooked and to delve beneath the surface through deeper or investigative work.
Written by Belinda Lai
Belinda Lai is a full-time astrologer based in Hong Kong and a former student of the Faculty of Astrological Studies.
She studied with the Faculty in the 2010s and holds four university degrees, including qualifications in psychology and counselling.
Her recent research explores ways of incorporating concepts and techniques from mundane astrology and traditional Chinese culture into natal astrology, with the aim of expanding its interpretive framework.
For more, visit:
https://www.facebook.com/belindas.astropastures