Astrology of September 2010 by Henry Seltzer (www.astrograph.com)

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The Astrology of September features Mercury, Venus and Mars, plus another powerful Full Moon toward the end of the month, bringing the Pluto-Saturn-Uranus T-square, now temporarily fading, back into a brief but sharp prominence.

Mercury is still retrograde as the month begins, remaining within its shadow period until nearly the end of September. This has so far been a particularly strong Mercury retrograde period, especially for those with planets in the Mutable signs of Virgo, Gemini, Pisces and Sagittarius. Mercury conjuncts the Sun on Friday morning, September 3rd and returns to direct motion on the 12th. These are two highlights of this retrograde period, times when the usual madness will be at its peak: missed connections, mechanical breakdowns and having to redo everything. When Mercury stations direct on Sunday, September 12th, it makes aspects to Pluto and Saturn, so this is sure to be a particularly dicey day.

Meanwhile Venus and Mars continue their dance into Scorpio, where Venus is preparing to make a rare retrograde of her own as early as October. They were conjunct in Libra during the last half of August, and will be conjunct again in Scorpio as Venus slows down, during late September and on into October. Relationship-oriented Venus together with Mars, in Mars' own sign of Scorpio, will be interesting to say the least. We will be looking under the covers of all types of partnerships, attempting to discern the deeper motive. Intensity of emotions and also of desire becomes our relationship watchword. As Venus retrogrades on October 8th we will be refining and revisioning our concept of the relationship energy that we have for others and with regard to specific partners in our lives also.

Another even more significant dance being played out by the planets throughout the years of this very climactic decade is of course, the square of Uranus with Pluto. Even though Uranus has slipped back into Pisces, remaining there for the next few months, this square is still a potent factor in the astrology of our times, reflecting the collective and individual angst that we all feel in the face of massive and dramatic change. Uranus in late Pisces is still only 4 degrees away from its square with Pluto during September. Uranus in Pisces is however definitely somewhat muted in its effects until March, when it once more enters Aries, shepherded in by Jupiter. The Uranus-Jupiter conjunction remains active in Pisces all during the intervening time, an inclination for breakthrough which accents the transformational component of the Uranus-Pluto square. Thus a quieter and more empathetic and compassionate energy that wills new ideas into being is still a potent factor for change throughout the winter months and on into spring. In that point the impulse for radical changes in ourselves and in the surrounding society becomes much stronger.

The Full Moon of Wednesday night and early Thursday morning, September 22nd and 23rd, occurs exactly on the Aries point, and is therefore coincident with the Fall Equinox. This configuration briefly re-emphasizes the Uranus-Pluto square – and these planets in T-square with Saturn – just as the fullest intensity of this aspect from the summer months begins to fade slightly. At the time of the Full Moon we therefore might expect a resurgence of the urge for transformation in our lives that supersedes every other factor, even personal safety. In another way of looking at things, we aren't really safe as long as we remain stuck in dysfunctional patterns that do not ultimately serve us. It's a question of experiencing the slow and lingering death of our most cherished ideals versus the relative danger of seizing the moment for change and choosing to ride it; for change after all is the essence of life itself.

September 1st Last Quarter Moon
This is a time of reassessment, looking back over the cycle of the last three weeks and summing up the wisdom contained therein, stemming from the successes and especially from the failures of our enterprises. Together with the Mercury retrograde still in full swing this configuration brings a certain rueful energy to the very first day of the month.

September 8th New Moon
This positive New Moon energy in Virgo contrasts with the tentative nature of the Mercury retrograde period. Venus also enters Scorpio this day, where it will soon be joined by Mars. Relationship action heats up and gets deeper.

September 14th First Quarter Moon
This is traditionally a time of relative tension in our process, wherein we recognize the potential drawbacks of the course we undertook from the time of the recent New Moon. Mercury, now direct, is making up its lost Zodiacal ground over the next two weeks. Eris is Aries is activated, bringing out the warrior impulse in all of us.

September 23rd Full Moon
This Full Moon coincides with the Fall Equinox that precedes it by a few hours. This is an especially powerful Full Moon, in the first degree of Aries and Libra, since it triggers the Uranus-Pluto-Saturn T-square for one last time before the spring. These power planets remind us that we are in transition as individuals and as a culture as well, and the wheel is still in spin. Where we will emerge is anybody's guess, and is up to the very necessary advances in consciousness of each one of us. But it isn't going to be anything at all like Kansas anymore.