“By all these lovely tokens, September days are here,
with summer’s best weather and autumn’s best of cheer.”
– Helen Hunt Jackson
We are in that golden time of the year; the sweetness of summer lingers on while autumn sneaks in, seducing us with its cool nights,the scent of ripe apples, the early morning mist on ponds and streams, smoke rising from the chimneys. For a few brief weeks we have the best of both summer and fall, that dreamy, melancholy place between the seasons.
Since ancient times, September has been viewed as the beginning of the spiritual New Year by several diverse cultures. Jews observe the High Holy Days: Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) begins at sundown on September 29th. Ten days later, the year’s transgressions are forgiven on Yom Kippur (October 8th), the Day of Atonement (at one ment). It is the most solemn and sacred festival of the Jewish calendar; a day of withdrawal from the world in order to become right with God and others.
Nuwatiegw, “The Great New Moon Ceremony,” is the Cherokee New Year celebration when the world is recreated. Tribal women perform a spiritual dance while the crescent moon remains visible. The Chinese celebrate the Nine North Star Spirits Coming to Earth during the nine nights following the new moon. The Hindus welcome Kali into their homes at this time to consume the past year’s discord. All these traditions and celebrations point to the same thing: this is the season for reflection and resolution. We take the time to review our lives, release the past year and ask forgiveness of ourselves and others so life may be renewed with passion and purpose.
“The beauty of autumnal resolutions is that no one else knows we’re making them. Autumnal resolutions don’t require horns, confetti, or champagne. September resolutions ask only that we be open to positive change.”
-Sarah Ban Breathnach (Simple Abundance)
The full moon in September is called the Harvest Moon or Wine Moon and took place on the 15th. Like last month’s lunar eclipse, all three of the outer planets were involved; radical Uranus, inspirational Neptune and all-or-nothing Pluto. These planets are powerful and they mean business; you could (and still can) feel their impact in the extreme weather, political bombshells, and economic fall out. It’s time to break the trance, they seem to say; we can’t afford to be passive or play small. “Not to dream boldly may turn out to be simply irresponsible. –George Leonard
During the mid-Sixties, Uranus (the planet of rebellion) and Pluto (the planet of transformation) made their historical conjunction in Virgo (exact in 1965 & 1966) and everything changed. It was a time of enormous social, political, and cultural turmoil as well as dazzling creativity. Tremendous energy was unleashed and powerful wheels were set in motion; civil rights, women’s rights, Camelot, Vietnam, Vatican 2, the Beatles, Bob Dylan, assassinations, proclamations, peace marches, flower power, and moon landings. Task master Saturn, then in Pisces, got into the act when it opposed the explosive Uranus/Pluto conjunction in 1965 & 1966. An echo of the Sixties can be heard now. On November 4, 2008 (Election Day) conservative Saturn (now in Virgo) will oppose revolutionary Uranus (in Pisces). They will make two more exact oppositions in 2009 as well as in 2010. Saturn, the old and traditional (represented by John McCain) verses Uranus; the new, the radical, and the outsider (represented by Barack Obama).
This is a wake up call for all of us. The vision that was planted and the momentum that was begun in the 1960’s is being challenged. During that time people got involved, spoke up, marched, protested and fought for what they believed in. It made a difference then; it can make a difference now. “What we remember can be changed. What we forget we are always.” –Richard Kehl
The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. Don’t go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you really want. Don’t go back to sleep.
People are going back and forth across the doorsill where the two worlds touch.
The door is round and open. Don’t go back to sleep. - Rumi
What does that mean personally? One word: CHANGE! This is especially true for those of you with planets in mutable signs (18 degrees of Gemini, Sagittarius, Virgo, and Pisces). For those of you born during the Sixties and experiencing your midlife transition; you hold an important piece of the puzzle. Every aspect brings challenges as well as gifts. The Saturn/Uranus opposition is the perfect time to break away from old habits, jobs, or relationships that are holding you back. Mid-November brings opportunities to integrate these changes and create new alliances. “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change.” Charles Darwin
“It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power.” – Alan Cohen
Extravagant Jupiter (in Capricorn) and get-real Saturn (in Virgo) made a favorable and formidable trine on September 8th; they will make another exact trine on November 26th. During the next two months they will be traveling within a few degrees of this trine. This is BIG! If there is something you want to do, be, or have – now is the time to put it into motion. Take positive action before Mercury goes retrograde on September 24th, then use the retrograde period (through October 15th) to refine your plans and projects.
Fall Equinox, Mabon, the Sun enter Libra: September 22nd
“The old Norsemen viewed the equinox as a time when all things were in balance for one brief moment, including the forces of good or evil. Like the Jews, they also believed one’s fate for the coming year was sealed at this time, and the Norse often spent the day and night just prior to the equinox in fasting, prayer, and asking for forgiveness.”
– Edain McCoy (Llewellyn’s The Witches’ Calendar, 2003)
The Fall Equinox coincides with the solar festival of Mabon, also known as the Celtic Festival of the Vine. Mabon marks the transition from light to the dark half of the year and celebrates the harvest. In ancient cultures it was the time to store food for the coming winter; today the harvest is symbolic as we focus on the fruits of our inner labors. What aspects of your life to you want to preserve and what parts do you need to discard? Mabon also teaches us about letting go. As summer fades and flowers go to seed, we release our efforts of the past year, our successes as well as those projects and plans that didn’t manifest. Symbolically we separate the wheat from the chaff.
September 24th: Mercury turns retrograde until October 15th: Mercury retrograde gets such a bad buzz; it needs a public relations expert! Sure, communications breaks down, information gets lost and cars and computers malfunction. And you don’t want to make major purchases or sign contracts. On the other hand it takes some pressure off; it gives us time to pause and go back over our work and fine tune it. Remember the prefix “re”- review, rethink, revisit and rewrite.
The Libra New Moon – September 29th
“All you need is love.”-The Beatles
A new moon is a new beginning; we plant a seed, set something in motion then watch is flower at the full moon two weeks later. The sun and moon are in Libra, the sign of love, beauty, and diplomacy. Libra teaches us about harmony. Harmony between colors is art; between sounds is music; between people is love. Libra is all about creating beauty, tranquility, and balance. The shadow aspect of Libra is creating harmony at any cost.
Elegant Venus, goddess of love and ruler of Libra is currently in intense Scorpio encouraging us to look beneath the surface and not turn away from what is difficult or dark. “Look a long time at what pleases you; look longer still at what pains you.” –Colette
Mercury, the communication planet (retrograde in Libra) is strong during this new moon. It makes a positive trine to inspirational Neptune, the higher octave of Venus, and a creative quincunx to “expect the unexpected” Uranus, encouraging us to reach out to friends during this time, especially those we have been out of touch with or estranged. Libra, an air sign, is in many ways the most social of the twelve signs. With all the chaos and fear in the world right now friends, family, and community can be a catalyst for healing. We can do more together than we can alone. “We are all in the same boat, in a very stormy sea, and we owe each other a terrible compassion.” G. K. Chesterton
September 29th is Michaelmas: “Archangel Michael, spiritual judge and protector, returns to oversea the fall harvest, to help humanity discern what is worthy and what should be discarded. Michealmas is a time of joining with friends to share the fruits of the growing season.” – New World Cycle of Celebrations
September 30th is Rumi’s Birthday: The great Sufi poet and mystic, Jelaluddin Rumi, was born on September 30, 1207 in Balkh, in what is now Afghanistan. When he was still young his family fled and eventually settled in Konya, Turkey where he spent most of his adult life. Known as the poet of love it is perfect that he would be a Libra.
The minute I heard my first love story
I started looking for you, not knowing
how blind love was.
Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere.
They’re in each other all along. - Rumi
Dear Friends, These are challenging times. Even if you haven’t been hurt in the stock market, had your home damaged by
a hurricane, or lost your job it’s hard to ignore the destruction, confusion, chaos that surrounds us. The effect trickles down;
no one is immune. Even more reason to take good care of yourself; get lots of rest, eat well and spend time in nature;
be grateful for the daily miracles and small pleasures. Love & blessings, Virginia
Please visit my website for more information and inspiration: www.virginiabellastrology.com
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Mercury Retrograde Sept. 24- Oct. 15, 2008
Mercury goes retrograde (appearing to reverse its course) three or four times a year. Mercury is the planet of mental activity and language; it rules all forms of communication, information, and learning. During the retrograde period, communications can break down and typically problems arise with computers, faxes, and phones. Don’t be surprised if plans change suddenly and things get misplaced or disappear. Mercury also rules ground travel so when making plans, allow for delays and schedule in extra time.
It is not a good time to initiate important projects, sign contracts or make major purchases (especially homes, cars and computers). It is best to take care of old business and get your “ducks in a row.” Keep in mind the prefix “re” - rethink, review, rewrite and revisit. Think of this time as a period of redirection.
A great way to use the Mercury retrograde period is to let go of what you no longer need: clutter, old clothes, old projects, even relationships that no longer serve you. Although it is best not to buy new things it is excellent for finding old items, either at thrift stores or flea markets. It is also the perfect time to take care of the tasks and chores you have been putting off.
Mercury retrograde periods teaches us about the power of timing and the wisdom of waiting. As Buddha said, “Those who cannot wait cannot win.” It is valuable time that allows us to polish and perfect rather than forge ahead. So, use patience, be flexible, go with the flow, and enjoy the down time. And don’t forget to back-up your computer!
When fisherman can't go out to sea,
they mend their nets.
FALL ASTROLOGY 2008
by Virginia Bell
Virginia Bell
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