Welcome to your September 2016 forecast!   Click on “read article” and scroll down til you find your sign of the zodiac….

 VIRGO (AUG 22- SEPT 21) Oh my, there is a lot going on this month! September waltzes in with a big Solar Eclipse on the New Moon in Virgo on September 1^st. Nice way to start the month – new beginnings and all that! But – and you knew a ‘but’ was coming!— this lunation falls exactly on the Saturn-Neptune square. Remember that eclipses intensify the action of the lunation, so Virgos will really feel the effects of Saturn and Neptune. And Uranus too — did I mention that Uranus is involved in this planetary pigpile? Back to what it means: new moons truly are beautiful in terms of gathering up juicy creative potential, especially when they fall in earth signs like Virgo. That’s all good. The impact of the Saturn Neptune Uranus angles absolutely require a creative practice from you. Seriously! I know I have been saying this for months but it is especially true now because of the eclipse and the exact angles to the Sun and moon. And if your birthday is the 1^st 2^nd or 3^rd, listen up! Creative practice, spiritual practice, healing and cleaning up your act. That’s the drill.   (And for all you baby boomers born in 1953 who have a Saturn Neptune conjunction in your birth charts, you get to really crystallize that creative and healing energy!)   Okay, now for the rest of the month… Mercury is retrograde in Virgo til the 22^nd. It is conjunct Jupiter for the first few days of September which is excellent for communication even though the retrograde makes it a bit wacky. The Sun –Saturn Neptune effect continues for the first 5 days of the month so now is the time to set up those routines for yourself . By the 11^th the Sun in Virgo spends several days squaring Mars in Sagittarius and conjunct retrograde Mercury. You’ll be busy but watch your impatience level, especially as we approach the full moon on the 16^th which, by the way, is another eclipse. The Sun, Merc retro, and Mars combination might be a bit stressful and fractious for you. The good news is that the following week Venus in Libra opposes Uranus in Aries and that is always a fun combination for creative expression and romance. Enjoy! The Sun enters Libra on the Fall Equinox on the 22^nd making a pretty pairing with Jupiter, while Mercury turns direct. In fact, the Sun and Jupiter spend the rest of the month together, bringing you great relief from the rollercoaster of the first few weeks of September. And by month’s end Saturn starts pulling away from Neptune, thank you jesus…

LIBRA (SEPT 22-OCT21) September is a pret-ty crazy month, I must say! It does get better after the Sun enters your own sign of Libra so take heart… First of all, the month begins on September 1^st with a whoppingly complicated new moon in Virgo and solar eclipse. It’s complicated by exact angles to Saturn, Neptune, and Uranus, so your only option is to try to take concrete steps to harness the flood of inspiration heading right for you. The good news is that the Virgo part of this provides some earthy access to this wave of energy. Yes, it’s a big wave, but at least you have a boat, or a paddleboard, or a even piece of flotsam to take you through the water….So get to it, harness some discipline and you will be fine. The Saturn Neptune effect is quite intense for the first 5 or 6 days of September. And, by the way, Mercury is retrograde in Virgo, and makes a quick transit of Jupiter for the first few days of the month.   That’s fun. Then the week of the 11^th Mercury retro is conjunct the Sun and they both square Mars in Sag. Oh jeez – communication will be challenging and try not to drop your iPhone out of a car window. Be careful of miscommunication and short tempers, especially as we get close to the full moon in Pisces on the 16^th which will have emotions running high. Venus in Libra opposes Uranus the following week which is delightfully expressive. Mercury turns direct on the 22^nd, the day of the Fall equinox when the Sun enters your own sign, oh happy day. In fact, Jupiter also enters Libra this month and from the 22^nd on, the Sun and Jupiter are paired up. Nice! And Mars enters Capricorn at the every end of the month, squaring Jupiter, and bringing you a positive sense of accomplishment.

SCORPIO (OCT 22-NOV 21) The first few weeks of September are quite challenging, but relief is coming. September starts with a bang – literally. There is a new moon and solar eclipse in Virgo on the 1^st with intense aspects to Saturn, Neptune, and Uranus. This usually delightful Virgo new moon will really crystallize your need to get yourself disciplined and address matters of health and well being. Thank god Virgo is an earth sign, giving you some concrete tools to approach situations which would otherwise feel overwhelming. Oh, and did I mention that Mercury is retrograde? So we have 3 weeks of that weirdness, but remember that t is wonderfully rich for creative and intuitive process. You just have to go with the flow and not force anything. The Sun-Saturn-Neptune effect is strong through the 5^th or 6^th, and you should let Mercury retrograde lead you to insights about self-care. During the week of the 11^th Mercury retrograde pairs up with the Sun and they both square Mars in Sagittarius. You’ll be busy and everyone will be very edgy. Watch out for miscommunication, especially as we approach the full moon in Pisces on the 16^th. The following week things start to shift. There is a fun and exciting Venus-Uranus aspect, and on the 22^nd, Mercury goes direct while the Sun enters Libra for the Fall Equinox. The good news is that Jupiter is also in Libra and the Sun and Jupiter make the end of the month satisfying and more peaceful. Mars enters Capricorn on the 27^th and together with Jupiter brings something to fruition.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV 22- DEC 21) Oh baby, what a month!   It starts with a bang (let’s hope not literally!) on the 1^st with a solar eclipse on the Virgo new moon. This is a big one because eclipses always intensify the moon’s effect, and this lunation is lined up exactly with the Saturn –Neptune square. (It is especially big for you if you’re born around December 1^st.) As you may recall, this pesky Saturn Neptune square has been with us all summer, at times overwhelming and at times inspiring. The Virgo new moon will absolutely force us to get a grip on it, to engage Sagittarian hopefulness in the face of what seems like a wave of negativity. It is time to apply those muscles of Sagittarian wisdom and use the Virgo energy to set up systems and routines that are healing and productive. We have no choice in the matter! A Virgo new moon is a beautiful thing – let’s use it! The Saturn Neptune effect is very strong for the first week of the month. Mercury is retrograde for a good part of September, also in Virgo. It pairs up with the Sun during the week of the 11^th and makes a square to Mars in Sag. You will be incredibly busy and you have to watch out for stress and edginess. Keep up your meditation, Tai Chi, or yoga during this week especially so you don’t entirely lose your cool in the run-up to the Pisces full moon on the 16^th. Then things shift – Venus in Libra opposes Uranus the following week. Now that’s a fun combination for relationship and creativity. Mercury goes direct on the 22^nd, the same day as the Fall Equinox when the Sun enters Libra. Jupiter and the Sun move in tandem through the end of the month, which is a welcome relief. Jupiter squares Mars in Capricorn at the very end of September, bringing something to fruition.

 CAPRICORN (Dec 21-Jan19) September will test your mettle, that’s for sure!   The month begins with a very complicated new moon in Virgo and solar eclipse which line up exactly with the Saturn-Nepetune square. Remember that eclipses intensify the effect of the lunation, and this is a powerful lunation in its own right. This creative and healing new moon will crystallize whatever issues Saturn and Neptune have been stirring up for you around addiction and codependence, around accountability and integrity, creative and spiritual practices. Small stuff like that. It is a really good time to organize a routine for yourself that is healing and healthful, one that brings your life into balance. This earthy new moon allows you to be very concrete about how you will move forward. The Saturn-Neptune effect is strongest for the first week of the month. And, Mercury is retrograde this month, also in Virgo. During the week of the 11^th, Mercury retrograde pairs up with the Sun and squares Mars in Sag. Be careful of arguments, impatience, and of being overly critical. Feelings will run high for everyone in advance of the full moon in Pisces on the 16^th. Then the energy starts to shift—Venus in Libra opposes Uranus in Aries for a few days of fun and wild self-expression. Mercury turns direct on the 22^nd, the day of the Fall Equinox when the Sun enters Libra. Jupiter and the Sun move together for the rest of the month, ringing in some settledness. Mars enters Capricorn on the 27 and squares Jupiter, which will bring you a real sense of completion.

AQUARIUS (JAN 20-FEB 19) September is a quite challenging month, but interesting – I’ll say that much! It begins with a whopping new moon in Virgo and solar eclipse on the 1^st. This is usually one of my favorite new moons of the year – earthy, productive – and this time it lines up exactly with the Saturn Neptune square. Keep in mind that eclipses intensify the effect of the lunation, so this new moon/eclipse is like Saturn and Neptune on crack, as it were… What to do? Use the earthiness of Virgo to access and organize oneself around Saturn Neptune issues of healing, creativity and spirituality. In other words, it’s time to get organized around self-care and clean up one’s act. This is the last month that the Saturn Neptune angle will be as exact, and the Virgo new moon is saying, use it.   It’s time to set up practices and routines that engage Neptune’s watery inspiration. And did I mention that Mercury is retrograde and also in Virgo? So let your intuition guide your approach to this Neptunian wave of inspiration.. Saturn and Neptune’s effect is strongest for the first week of the month, and then the week of the 11^th Mercury retrograde catches up to the Sun and squares Mars. Uh oh. Watch out for miscommunication and argument. Feelings will run high in the week leading up to the Pisces full moon on the 16^th.   Then the next week brings fun and creative expression with a Venus Uranus opposition. Mercury turns around on the 22^nd, the day of the Fall Equinox when the Sun enters Libra. Jupiter and the Sun pair up for the rest of the month, bringing more ease and a sense of completion. Whew!

 PISCES (FEB 20-MAR 19) Oh honey! September is a wild month! First of all, it begins with a new moon in Virgo and solar eclipse on September 1. This is normally a beautiful and creative new moon and this time, it lines up exactly with that pesky Saturn Neptune square. Because of the eclipse, the Saturn Neptune business is really exaggerated. On crack, in fact – but this isn’t a bad thing. (And if your birthday is around March 1^st it’s hitting you like a ton of bricks!)   What it means is that the Virgo new moon gives you a kind of earthy access to what would otherwise feel overwhelming. I think of it like a giant wave, and the Virgo new moon allows you to figure out how you will negotiate the wave – a surfboard? A boat? A paddleboard? Let Mercury retrograde (also in Virgo) guide you to identify how you will approach this wave of inspiration in all its unsettled glory. Because the Saturn Neptune square forces us to find a way in to Neptune, the planet of oneness with all of life, or else we get slammed by it. The first week of the month is when the Saturn Neptune effect is strongest, so take the week to meditate on this and develop routines for yourself around, healing, self care, art and spiritual practice. I’m not kidding. Then the week of the 11^th Mercury retrograde catches up to the Sun and squares Mars in Sag. Be careful about arguments and miscommunication and try not to drop your iPhone in the toilet by accident. Feelings will run high in the run up to the full moon in Pisces (and another eclipse) on the 16^th. This is a potentially fractious full moon because of the Mars effect.   Then the energy shifts the following week and Venus and Uranus bring some fun. Mercury turns direct on the 22^nd , the day of the Fall Equinox when the Sun enters Libra. Jupiter and the Sun pair up for the rest of the month, bringing some relief. Mars finally leaves Sag and enters Capricorn at the end of the month, aspecting Jupiter and bringing more completion. Yay.

 ARIES (MAR 20-APRIL19) Oh wow, September is a wee bit… complicated. It begins with a bang (let’s hope not literally), a new moon in Virgo and solar eclipse that lines up exactly with the Saturn Neptune square that has dominated the heavens for the whole summer. Oy! This really exaggerates the Saturn Neptune effect for everyone. But here is the good news – a new moon in Virgo is a beautiful thing in an earthy and creative way. Virgo’s skill is one of discernment, and you get to apply discernment to whatever your Saturn Neptune conundrum is. Saturn and Neptune are like a giant wave – sometimes overwhelming and sometimes inspiring and definitely not easy to deal with. The Virgo new moon helps you figure out an approach. Do you need a surfboard or a sailboat? A flotilla? So if you have been struggling this summer with a Saturn-Neptune inspiration and having trouble accessing it, this lunation will help you get a grip, set up or solidify a practice or routine. The Saturn Neptune effect is strongest in the first week of September. During the week of the 11^th Mercury retrograde (oh did I forget to mention that?) catches up to the Sun and they both square Mars in Sag. What a set up for miscommunication ! Be careful! Feelings will run high in the run up to the full moon in Pisces on the 16^th. Then the next week things start to shift. Venus in Libra opposes Uranus for some fun and wildness, and then on the 22^nd Mercury turns around while the Sun enters Libra for the Fall equinox. Jupiter is also in Libra by this point and it pairs up with the Sun for several days of stability and completion. Mars enters Capricorn at the end of the month, bringing something to fruition.

TAURUS (APR 20-MAY 20) September has its ups and downs—or should I say, downs and ups? It starts with a bang (figuratively speaking, I hope), a Virgo new moon and solar eclipse on the 1^st which lines up exactly with the Saturn Neptune square. Oy gevalt! A Virgo new moon is a beautiful thing, all about earthy creativity. The Saturn Neptune effect is very intensified by the eclipse, however, so you have an opportunity to use the Virgo energy to help you organize yourself around self care and creative and spiritual practices. The Saturn and Neptune square can feel overwhelming and unsettling, so use the Virgo new moon to make a plan. But then again, Mercury is retrograde (did I mention that?) in Virgo so you can’t make a plan in the usual linear kind of way, It will have to bubble up from your unconscious…. Speaking of Mercury, it catches up to the Sun the week of the 11^th and squares Mars in Sagittarius. Be careful of arguments and miscommunication that week. You could be impatient and blurt something out you regret later. You also may want to be ready for travel glitches that week…Feelings will be running high for everyone in the week approaching the Pisces full moon – and another eclipse.   The energy shifts the following week, however. Venus opposes Uranus and you’ll be itchy for change and innovation. Mercury turns around on the 22^nd, the day of the Fall equinox when the Sun enters Libra.   Jupiter and the Sun pair up for the rest of the month, which will bring something to fruition, aided by Mars in Capricorn on the 27^th. Then by the end of the month Saturn begins to pull away from Neptune – finally.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20) Oh me oh my oh!   What a month! It begins with a new moon in Virgo and solar eclipse on the 1^st that lines up exactly with the Saturn Npetune square. This is a very big deal – especially for mutable signs, and especially if your birthday is around June 1– because eclipses intensify the effect of the lunation. This lunation is a biggie because of Saturn and Neptune which have been driving you crazy all summer. Feeling a bit stuck, are you? A bit overwhelmed or unsettled? Those feelings are intensified right now, but here is the good news: the Virgo new moon gives you earthy access to figuring out how to approach Saturn and Neptune. If you focus, this earthy new moon can help you deal with Neptune, which isn’t easy since Neptune is what is unknowable. It is the divine. Use this new moon to structure access to music, art, spiritual practice as opposed to relying on default patterns that may not be so useful… And keep in mind that Mercury is retrograde also in Virgo so let your notions of reorganizing your life bubble up from your unconscious. This can’t be forced. Speaking of Mercury, during the week of the 11^th it catches up to the Sun and squares Mars, so be careful of miscommunication and stress. And make sure you don’t drop your iPhone in the ocean while you’re kayaking … There is a big full moon in Pisces and another eclipse on the 16^th and everyone will be feeling sensitive. Then the energy shifts and we have a few days of a fun and silly Venus Uranus opposition. Mercury turns around on the 22^nd, the day of the Fall Equinox when the Sun enters Libra.   Jupiter and the Sun pair up for the rest of the month, which rings more ease and enjoyment. Mars enters Capricorn on the 27^th helping you bring a project to fruition.

CANCER (JUNE 21- JUL 21)  What a month! September begins with a bang – let’s hope a figurative one– in the form of a new moon in Virgo and solar eclipse .   Eclipses always intensify the effect of lunations, and this is an important new moon because it lines up exactly with that pesky Saturn and Neptune square. So we have Saturn and Neptune on crack this month. It’s interesting, though, because the Virgo new moon is a beautiful thing, bringing concrete earthy creative potential to the fore and helping you structure some routines to deal with Saturn and Neptune inspiration. Remember that Saturn and Neptune can feel like a tidal wave of unconscious material heading straight for you – it can be overwhelming. The Virgo new moon helps you cut it up into manageable bites so you can ingest its numinous meaning. Be sure to use the first week of September for this effort while the Saturn and Neptune influences are at their strongest. During the week of the 11^th Mercury retrograde (oh! I forgot to tell you!) , also in Virgo, catches up to the Sun and squares Mars in Sagittarius. This is great for being busy, for getting a lot done, but be careful of stress and impatience. Miscommunication can easily happen this week, and everyone is thin- skinned in the run up to the Pisces full moon on the 16^th. Then things shift—Venus opposes Uranus for some edgy creative expression. Mercury turns direct on the 22^nd, the day of the Fall Equinox when the Sun enters Libra. Jupiter in Libra marches in tandem with the Sun for several days, which is easeful and a helluva lot more fun. Mars in Capricorn brings something to fruition at the very end of the month.

LEO (JUL 22-AUG 21) Oh well – September is a tad complicated! It begins with a momentous new moon in Virgo and solar eclipse that line up exactly with the Saturn Neptune square. Remember that eclipses magnify the effect of lunations, and so we get Saturn and Neptune on crack… Yes, complicated. The Virgo new moon in combination with Saturn and Neptune mean you have no choice but to deal with Saturn and Neptune, to deal with your unsettledness, your desire to lose yourself in something bigger than yourself. Virgo is an earthy hard working sign and so under the influence of this new moon you have help. It will aid structuring your access to this Neptunian wave of the unknown. You’ll be able to break it into manageable pieces.   Set up a routine and set of practice for yourself. Baby steps. During the week of the 11^th Mercury retrograde (in Virgo, of course!) catches up to the Sun and squares Mars in Sag. Well, this is a set up for being stressed and irritated so be careful. Use Mercury retrograde for inspiration and follow your intuition but be careful of Sagittarian put-foot-in-mouth disease. Everyone will be thin-skinned in the approach to the Sept 16 Pisces full moon. After that the energy shifts – a Venus Uranus opposition makes for creative expression. Mercury turns direct on the 22^nd, the day of the Fall Equinox when the Sun enters Libra. Jupiter in Libra marches in tandem with the Sun for several days – nice!   You’ll be calmer and more productive. Mars in Capricorn aspects Jupiter as well at the end of the month, helping you bring something to fruition.