Monthly Vedic Astrology Forecast

Mercury Transits Virgo September 2 - September 22

When Mercury exits the rather crowded scene in the Sun's sign, Leo on September 2, we see him moving into his own earth sign, Virgo. Part of Mercury's action among the other planets is to take on the energies of other planets that influence him, usually by proximity. As Mercury pulls ahead of the Sun, we see him running out into the clear, unaspected and little influenced by any other planets. This gives Mercury the opportunity to be himself, unadulterated by the mostly serious agendas of the other planets. Given this freedom, Mercury in Virgo is bound to be busy taking all of the creative impulses he gleaned while in Leo and manifesting them in the material world. Virgo is a mutable earth sign, so expect Mercury to inspire change and reorganization in the physical realm. The trick Mercury shows us with his trip through Virgo is to realize that encased within the material realm that we can manipulate and perceive is the reality of the spirit that is free and transcends all manifestation. Mercury's humor encourages us to do our work in the material realm, but not to take it all so seriously. The few weeks that Mercury moves through Virgo will be a great time for projects that need energy, flexibility, or the injection of creative ideas.

Venus Resumes Direct Motion September 8

Venus returned to our view in the sky on August 21, transformed during her retrograde cycle from the evening star into the morning star. This cycle, beginning July 27, may have taken relationships into a space of review, reticence, or re-hash. Venus' trip into the underworld can be a dark time, bringing feelings of insecurity into our connections with other people. Love can seem to be lost, beauty and harmony thrown to the winds. Venus begins direct motion again on September 8 at 22° Cancer, joined by the waning Moon in it's own sign. Mark this day as a turning point for relationships that may have been under review during the past six weeks. Use the time before Venus begins to move forward again to get to the bottom of things and to heal any deep emotional wounds that prevent you from making a healthy connection to other people or partners. Venus' position in Cancer at this time indicate that old family patterns may stand in the way of personal evolution. Make the decision to recognize and dispatch any old energy that may prevent you from enriching your life through relationships.

Solar Eclipse New Moon in Leo September 11

A partial solar eclipse occurs this day, visible mostly to locations in South America or Antarctica. Because of the dastardly allure of eclipses in general, combined with the largely memorable date of this eclipse, we may pause a moment to consider the ramifications of such an occurrence. This new Moon occurs at 24° Leo, in the lunar mansion of Purva Phalguni, which is generally a pretty groovy nakshatra. Purva Phalguni supports rest, recuperation, marital happiness, and pleasure that revitalizes. Coming a few days after Venus' move forward, this could bode well as a time for new beginnings, relationship-wise. However, two factors make this story-book romance a bit more interesting. First, Ketu's inward-turning energy affects the new moon (this is what causes the partial-eclipse.) Second, Mars directly aspects the new Moon from his position in Taurus. These two factors bring in the energy of self-centered action, craving for stimulation or excitement, and the capacity for severe or aggressive behavior. Keep cool this day: choosing inaction over action may be wise, especially if feelings of anger or desperation are present. As it turns out, most storybook romances are actually adventure stories, so be prepared for dragons and villains standing in the way of true love.

Sun Enters Virgo September 16

The Sun joins Mercury in Virgo on September 16, but isn't close enough to disturb whatever it is that Mercury is busy doing this month. The Sun's month in Virgo is generally a time of movement and change, either externally or internally. The Sun will be aspected by Mars from Gemini during the latter half of September, which could be productive for us on many levels. We may feel energized and active, focused on personal projects as well as designing new ways to make our lives better.

Mars Enters Gemini September 17

Mars enters Mercury's air sign September 17 and settles in for an unusually long transit that will last through April 2008, including a retrograde cycle during January and February. That's over seven months, for anyone who's counting. Mars in Mercury's sign can be very interesting, especially in light of how the combination of those two planets' energy is so instrumental to the global village concept. Serious work that involves the Mars gifts of building, engineering and use of power, as well as the Mercury gifts of exchange, communication, and distribution could likely occur over the next seven months. From his position in Gemini, Mars will aspect the signs Virgo, Sagittarius and Capricorn, which means that his pushy influence will not be felt by Saturn or the nodes of the Moon (Rahu and Ketu) during the entire transit. This bodes well for averting the aggression that Mars tends to spray around. The focus and penetration of Mars can be a great addition to the rapid-fire idealism of Gemini, although one has to make sure that the ideas we choose to focus on are worthy. Discrimination is your friend during this time, that is, if you want to funnel your energy into efforts that will pay off rather than working hard on an idea or project that is fanciful and has no lasting power or utility. This is a brilliant time for work involving communications: anything computer or Internet related, writing of any kind, diplomacy, business, education.

Mercury Enters Libra September 22

Mercury enters Venus' air sign, Libra, on September 22, where he remains free to express himself in classic Mercury fashion, which is with alacrity and wit. Mercury and Venus are natural friends, so Mercury will function well during his trip through Libra. In fact, he's so happy there, he'll stay until late November and bless us with a retrograde cycle starting in mid-October. This could bode well for rebuilding communication in relationship and for exploring new modes of connection with other people. We may feel the challenge during Mercury's transit of Libra to create balance in our lives. Mercury's dual nature gives us the opportunity to see both sides, but it also gives us the tendency to want our cake and eat it, too. We may find it difficult to choose and make decisions, which is ultimately the difficulty that comes with creating a healthy balance in our lives. Walking the line between spirit and matter, relationship and independence, or past and future will be highlighted during the next few months. While Mercury gives us the flexibility for change, we also experience the capacity for vacillation. Try to balance too much thought with the injection of action, and use Saturn's gifts of detachment and objectivity to choose wisely. Saturn will aspect Mercury for his entire transit in Libra, urging us to slow down, to take our time, and to speak and move deliberately.

Full Moon in Pisces September 26

The full Moon occurs in the first third of Jupiter's water sign, Pisces, on September 26. Jupiter's aspect on his own sign gives the culmination of this lunar cycle a touch of hope and speculation. The Jupiter-Moon relationship during this full Moon foreshadows a positive arc to the current lunar cycle that began earlier in the month with a partial eclipse. The lunar mansion in which this full Moon occurs is Uttara Bhadrapada, which is called

Venus enters Leo September 29

Gaining speed slowly after her retrograde cycle, Venus moves into the Sun's sign for the second time this year, where she will transit through until the first week in November. Although the hot, dry environment of Leo can be somewhat wilting for sensitive Venus, the creative and vital nature of the Sun's domain can help to fuel some of Venus' activities. This could be a great six-week period for the pursuit of pure creativity. A combination of both collaboration and individual work is possible during this time, given the social nature of Venus, but also the solitary nature of Saturn, who also occupies Leo. It will be interesting to see where we let Venus guide us in our journey of balance with self and other. This is a time for establishing new threads in the way we relate to others. More on Venus next month...