September hosts 16 dynamic aspects: 5 squares, 3 ingresses, 2 direct stations, 2 conjunctions, one opposition, one occultation, a New and a Full Moon. Although other personal interests, such as love, friendship, nurturance, and protective concerns dictate our attention this month, ingenuity and commerce share the spotlight. A need to organize or evaluate, and a thirst for knowledge on all levels influence the collective consciousness.
9/5 Venus squares Pluto. 17:15 Virgo/Sagittarius, 2:31 AM. A dancing T-cross without a current opposition keeps the right hand from knowing what the left hand is doing. The immovable object (Saturn) and the irresistible force (Pluto) identified each other across the zodiac at 16:36 Gemini/Sagittarius on May 25, 2002, and interpersonal relationships have been dancing around since then, not always able to get resolved. Territorial disputes on all levels continue, and power and control continue to shift back and forth. The aim is to find a way to empower others without losing control of your own life. The dance continues.
9/7 Mars opposes Jupiter. 2:29 Pisces/Virgo, 1:00 PM. Time is right for focusing on the root of a problem and discerning right action for its solution. Knowing what you really want gives you a competitive edge. Moral or ethical causes arise that may vie for your attention. Reason out your responses before immersing yourself in such an enterprise. Far-reaching effects can come from todays conflict of philosophies.
Mercury Rx conjoins Venus. 20:46 Virgo, 10:31 PM. A spirit of compromise and agreement is possible. Harmonious interaction can be created with honest communication of ones basic values. Value clarity and honesty above all, and keep egos under control.
9/9 Moon occults Mars. 2:07 Pisces, 5:00 AM. An emotional inclination to act may become blocked. Take this time to honestly review your options, because, with this short interruption in full Mars energy, you may be able to make changes without consequence. Rely on spiritual principles to guide you to make right decisions and judgments.
9/10 Sun squares Pluto. 17:17 Virgo/Sagittarius, 2:36 AM. A general crisis in conscious awareness challenges you to define your sense of self. Issues of "trust vs. rivalry" put a strain on relationships. There is a need to become self-assured without reducing others self-confidence. The trick is to test yourself against your own potential, instead of against others to rise to a higher level of being.
Harvest full Moon. 17:34 Pisces/Virgo, west coast 9:37 AM; east coast 12:37 PM.
Challenges from powerful forces may lead to significant shifts in developmental processes. The need to reap the rewards for your hard work may make you vulnerable to criticism. Stick by your decisions, but be prepared to make changes to avoid losing the progress you have already made. So many variables exist (so many aspects have occurred at this degree) that it is difficult to be prepared for all possible outcomes. West coast issues deal with sudden changes to investments or relationships. Be sure to place your trust in those with whom you share values and interests. East coast situations include integrating domestic and career energies, and using your inner strength to carry you through.
Sun conjoins Mercury Rx. 17:56 Virgo, 6:58 PM. Up close and personal, your mental processes are given additional intensity and strength, providing the stimulus to communicate your ideas verbally or in writing. Take care to be open to other possibilities, as information will arise that may demand modifications in attitudes as well as your present course of action. Travel may meet with unexpected delays, which may turn into a blessing, giving you time to reassess your core identity.
9/11 Mercury Rx squares Pluto. 17:17 Virgo/Sagittarius, 10:42 AM. Critics and friends alike will feel the need to challenge your opinions. Impersonal energies too large to wrestle place us in a position that prohibits independent action. Avoid getting caught up in emotional turmoil about issues that cannot be resolved. Anchor yourself in the ever-present moment and deal with current conditions using tried and true methods. Déjà vu on 9/28.
9/15 Uranus Rx enters Aquarius. 2:20 AM. Revisiting the freedom based projects and independence supported mindsets of the past seven years gives us pause to evaluate our past actions. Inventive insights and original discoveries of that period may have left some unfinished business that can be addressed through the end of this year.
9/15 Venus enters Libra. 8:57 AM. Important relationships come to the fore, and can be consciously nurtured. The need for balance and harmony are great, and some will go to great lengths to attain those conditions. Beauty and creative function are worth aspiring to, even if you need to make adjustments in your lifestyle to achieve them.
9/20 Mercury stationary direct. 12:12 Virgo, 1:53 AM. A turning point! You get to choose which archetype to align yourself with: the Wily Coyote, who approaches objectives with guile, trickery, logic, and charm, only to ultimately fail; or the Magician, who uses personal transformation, spiritual guidance, and wisdom to gain his or her goals. Opportunities abound for those who have paid attention to the clues of the past six weeks. This paves the way for the next two weeks to construct a resolution for this cycle.
9/23 Sun enters Libra, fall equinox. 3:46 AM. Disparate energies vie for your attention. Use diplomacy and do your best to foment peace and tranquility. Peace talks and negotiations for fairness and balance may have extra support now.
9/25 Venus squares Saturn. 12:24 Libra/Cancer, 8:20 AM. Challenges arise that make obvious the need for nurturing the inner self. You may feel the need to distance yourself from others, however unity and balance in all things are important right now. You need not choose utility over beauty revere both and allow them to unify and integrate. Act with style and grace.
New Moon. 2:38 Libra. West coast 8:09 PM; east coast 11:09 PM. Begin new projects with care. Associates and critics alike may suggest that you make adjustments to meet their demands or requirements, while a caring associate or supporter will likely be in agreement with you. West coast residents may experience intensity in health and service issues. East coast people may experience intensity with domestic or property issues. Speculation may be a key factor in special undertakings.
9/27 Mars stationary direct. 0:07 Pisces, 12:53 AM. Powerful energies are at work, as systems turn to move in new directions. Work quietly to accomplish goals. Expect the unexpected, but meanwhile continue to build confidence and keep your highest values in mind as you work. When you allow duty and solid values to guide your actions, your energies will be compounded.
9/28 Mercury squares Pluto. 17:29 Virgo/Sagittarius, 9:24 AM. Now you face a changing perspective. Everything may now seem to be out in the open, and you may see the true challenges. Dont judge yourself too harshly. Take advantage of possibilities that have become available and move forward. Opportunities abound for those who have paid attention to the clues of the past six weeks. This paves the way for the next two weeks to construct a resolution for this cycle.
September 2003 Symbolism
September was originally named for the seventh month of the old Roman calendar. One of Septembers gemstones is the sapphire, which means beloved of Saturn. Sapphires come in all colors, (the red sapphire is called ruby) the favorite being blue. Ancients believed that the Earth rested upon a giant sapphire, which gave a blue color to the sky. Sapphires bound on the forehead were said to cure diseases of the mind, and dipped in cool water and placed on the eyes were said to cure vision disorders.
Septembers special days begin with Labor Day, the first Monday of the month, a day set aside to honor the common worker. Common people are associated with the Moon, and Monday is the Moons day. The Sun at that time is in the Saturn decanate of Virgo, the sign of labor. Saturn, associated with responsibility, was grandfather to the Horae. On Labor Day, we pay tribute to average workers and their steadfast work, of utmost importance in our world cultures. Unions were originally formulated to unite the goals of the workers with those of the company owners for the betterment and advancement of both.
In the Christian tradition, September first is the celebration of St. Giles, special patron of the disabled. Giles was wounded in the leg by an arrow when he protected a stag from being shot. Hospitals and Monasteries were dedicated to St. Giles.
September is sacred to the ancient Greek goddess Carpo, the Hora of Autumn (Thallo was the Hora of spring). The Horae, daughters of Zeus and Themis, were goddesses of time and order in nature. Carpo was venerated and invoked for the successful timing of the harvest, that the Earth be clothed in appropriate raiment.
In the Hawaiian Zodiac, Mahoe Mua and Mahoe Hope encompasses the month of September. People born in this time are an enigma. The saying is that their first conscious act dictates how they will conduct their life. A mischievous act will create a life filled with mischief, and a beneficent act will create a life of goodness. In Greek mythology, Mercury's first act was one of mischief.
The astrological year is divided according to the travel of the Sun through the ecliptical signs of the zodiac, which are offset from the modern calendar months. During the first two-thirds of September, the Sun moves through the last two decanates of Virgo, one of the signs associated with Mercury.
Sept. 14 is the Egyptian Feast of Lights, honoring the gods who protect the tombs of the dead. September 19 is a daylong fast to propitiate Thoth (the Logos), the Egyptian god of wisdom and magic, and their name for Mercury. Mercury was known in Greece as Hermes. Hermes had a reputation as The Trickster,which is still evident in modern times. There was once an asteroid that was named Hermes, but it disappeared two weeks after it was discovered, never to be observed again. The trickster is a shapeshifter who takes the form of the coyote, and several birds, such as the crow. The crow, a remarkably clever bird has a propensity for thievery, and has been known to outwit humans. They are the most sociable of all bird species, bonding not only with their own families, but with humans as well. Crows have been known to mimic human words, and are one of the loudest and most raucous of all birds. It is said that Cicero was forewarned of his death by the presence of a raven (cousin to the crow.) Odin, another form of Mercury carried a raven on each shoulder. During the First World War, ravens and crows followed the troops and feasted on the battlefield carnage, to the dismay of the surviving soldiers. When the angry soldiers shot at them, the birds deftly stayed out of range of their artillery. Groups of other birds are referred to as a flock of geese, a charm of finches, or convocation of eagles, but a group of crows are referred to as a murder of crows." A crowbar is a tool that provides a lever arm enabling entry into a difficult place without a key. The term eating crowcame from the humiliation and insult suffered from watching casualties being devoured by the birds.
Sept. 8th is the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Not unknown to other religions, the Israelites called her the divine Sophia, manifesting in the scrolls of the law, called the bride of the faithful. Celebrated as the festival of Sukkoth (Tabernacles), Alexander Susskind of Grodno (1780) observed When a man sits in this dwelling, the shadow of faith, the Shekinah spreads out Her wings over him from above.Known as Fatima or Mary in Islamic tradition, the Divine Feminine is honored: Woman is a beam of the divine Light. She is not the being whom sensual desire takes as its object. "She is Creator," it should be said, "She is not a Creature." Jalaluddin Rumi, Mathnawi Book 1.
On September 11, may we pause and reflect. This is the second anniversary of the vicious attack on America that tried to replace our consciousness of freedom with a mindset of fear. In remembering that day, join me in sending healing to those who lost loved ones, and also to all those afflicted with hate for their fellow humans. May we flood our Earth with the Light of the Creator, and consciously create a universe filled with peace and caring.
In Jewish tradition, Rosh Hashanah, also known as the Jewish New Year is commemorated on September 27-28. September 21 through 29 marks the festival of Sukkoth, from the blessing of the Jewsjourney of escape from Egypt, and the temporary shelters in the desert that God provided. These holy days are all known as moveable feasts, as their dates change each year. In the Hebrew tradition the day begins at sunset on the previous day. Is this any less logical than beginning a day in the dark of night (at midnight)?
Although the traditional name for the September pleniluna (full Moon) is the Harvest Moon, the Wiccan ritual refers to it as the Wine Moon, or the Barley Moon, in thanksgiving for all that the revered nature spirits have allowed during the growing season. September provides a home to the autumnal equinox, this year on Sept. 23, celebrated in all ancient religions honoring the hunting and fishing deities, after adult animals have reproduced. Entrapment of young animals was forbidden. In Celtic tradition it is the festival of Mabon (Welch for son), when, at the equator, sunrise is due east, and sunset is due west and daytime and nighttime hours are equal. It is the festival that marks the point of transition between light and dark halves of the year, and the second harvest (that of fruits).
The autumnal equinox is the second station of the year. It is sacred to the mother and daughter Greek goddesses Demeter and Persephone, who embody the growing and resting seasons; the Irish goddess Carman, patroness of poetry; and the Norse fertility god Frey, and Freya, goddess of love and beauty. It is the transition time between the mother and the crone, the second and third faces of the triple goddess. When we choose to move into a new framework, it must be done from within, as perception paints our consciousness.
As William Blake wrote:
The greatest discovery in our generation is that human beings,
by changing the inner attitudes of their minds,
can change the outer aspects of their lives.
