The September 2007 Forecast

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Past forecasts

            We may remember September as the month when everything changed. It is full of important planetary events: Three major events occur by the 8^th, and the rest of the month is sure to titillate as well.

Saturn Moves into Virgo on September 2.

           If you have a sense of completion right now, there’s a reason. Saturn is on the verge of leaving the sign of Leo, where it has been since mid-July 2005. Saturn always brings out in stark profile the ways in which we are misusing the energy of the sign it’s in. While in Leo, the focus was on social issues arising from values. People’s selfishness and lack of concern for others became more apparent. In the ways that are under our control — our own behavior — we have been able to see such tendencies at work in our own lives and correct them.

            We will continue to work on being better at using Leo energy; once Saturn has moved on, the lightbulb will go on and we will see how we can do Leo better. Then we’ll need to shift our focus to our Virgo weaknesses.

            Since Saturn is about the structures in our lives, we feel it in the institutions and other non-physical structures we participate in, like government and religion. Virgo is the sign most closely associated with health (although all signs participate in our well-being on all levels). Thus it should not surprise you that the health care crisis will ripen and beg to be resolved over the next three years that Saturn is here (through July 2010). Other ways in which it will be experienced is in highlighting the ways in which we are not being community-minded, because Virgo is that. Virgo is all about service to others, putting others first. While it is often difficult to see our self-centeredness, we will be challenged to do so. The implied result is that we may be called upon to make sacrifices. While this is likely to come in the form of not being able to buy absolutely everything we want just when we want it, or encountering shortages (water, electricity, gasoline, healthcare).

            We can already see it, feel it. I’ve noticed a different current running through the stream of consciousness: A number of sources have been comparing the American lifestyle to that of other cultures, who see Americans as piggish and self-indulgent. I feel somewhat embarrassed by my big-screen TV and closetful of clothes. I am reminded of a book called An Embarrassment of Riches, which is about the Dutch, who became wealthy during the 17^th century despite placing a high value on thrift and modesty.

            Not that Americans will feel many pangs of guilt, but it wouldn’t hurt to lose the widespread (but not universal) feeling of entitlement. Modesty, guilt, austerity, humility are all places Virgo can go, even if they are not her sole domain. The Puritans (who sought refuge in Holland from England) were decidedly Virgoan in the expression of their religion (with a strong dose of Capricorn thrown in, to be sure).

            While we’re not likely to sprout a new crop of Puritans any time soon, the religious groups that already exist may display some Puritanical tendencies. They may begin to emphasize literalism and sacrifice for the community. If they also highlighted their humility (a contradiction in terms) and willingness to serve others without reward, they would be exhibiting some of the tolerance for which Virgo is also well known.

            We can strive to be all these good things and to give less energy to the negative manifestations of Virgo. Virgo is known to be driven by analysis and fact — and we certainly could use a little more of each in the “information” that is shared between us. (Bias is a potential Leo quality.)

            Much of how we experience a Saturn transit through a sign is determined by what other significant planetary encounters it has on the way. While Saturn was in Leo, it connected with Chiron, Neptune, and Pluto. It also had a particularly challenging contact with Mars and Jupiter. The result was a potential for feeling as if we were constantly besieged by circumstances or people out to stop us. Saturn in Virgo will not make many such contacts. In fact, its sojourn in Virgo is characterized by several near misses. The exception is a contact with Uranus, in 2010.

Saturn and Jupiter, Again

            They’re always dancing with each other, and this year they were close to being in perfect harmony. Jupiter will finally catch up with Saturn, making a pleasing trine. Pluto won’t be far out the picture either, suggesting that, even though a sobering sanity has tempered the economy and the crazy lending industry, there’ll be a soft landing in general that could still be hard on individuals. But life will go on, even if borrowing and the unreal estate market are curtailed. Other good things to come of this: Our new ventures will work well with the structures we have already established. In other words, the ideas we come up with now will be things we will actually be able to accomplish. What a concept!

Saturn in Your Life

            So, maybe you’re breathing a sigh of relief as Saturn leaves Leo. You’re saying, “Finally! Now life will be easier!” The trouble is, when Saturn leaves one sign, it enters the next one, and we have another set of responsibilities to face. That doesn’t mean it needs to be unpleasant. If you’ve been steadfastly pursuing your true heart’s desire, it will be a pleasure to dig into what Virgo’s Saturn has to offer. You will find your life reaching a plateau if you have planets in Taurus or Capricorn. If you have planets in Virgo, you are at the beginning of a new 30-year cycle. If you have planets in Gemini, Sagittarius, or Pisces, you and your long-term projects will be tested. This testing will make sure that what you are creating is going to work out. While it’s likely that you’ll make some changes in direction, they need not be major. If you have been working from a firm foundation, your efforts will weather the challenges; if you are on shaky ground, it may be necessary to make more dramatic changes to reach your goals.

If you were born in the Sixties . . .

. . . this is a watershed period for you. For the next year (starting September 07), those born in 1958–63 will get the “makin’ it real” clarion call. From September 08–September 09, those born in 1963–67 will have their turn. The following year those born in 1966–71 will be stimulated.

            This means that you’ll have the chance to take those pie-in-the-sky ideas and bring them down to earth. You’ll be able to create something that feels like it’s what you were born to do. The bonus is that it will also be of use to others.

            Each of us has a story that is tied into any major planetary events in our life. As the sixties babies get their Saturnia awakening, an old story will come to life — one of your major life themes. You will have a clue as to what it represents because of what you experienced 30 years ago, when you were in your teens. A good astrologer can help you ferret out the issue and get clear on what your options are for creating new dreams-come-true.

The Sixties Cultural Movement Revisited

            Our culture will get the same “hits”. Remember all those ideals of the sixties? Power to the people! Women’s rights, Indian rights, the civil rights movement, gay rights, the peace movement, the ecology movement (as they were called then) all got a boost and a breakthrough. It felt to me like the earth was entering its last days if we didn’t change, and I expected that we would. We did for a while, but not enough and not for long. Now we are going to have to make up for lost time and curtail our wasteful behaviors or kill ourselves and our planet in the process.

            Saturn in Virgo brings that reality to the forefront again, as Virgo is the sign of preserving the planet. Virgo was the grain goddess and the priestess who guarded the seed to be planted each spring. She is also the maiden who gathered the seed from the fields at the time of harvest. It is also within her realm of responsibility to maintain the earth that the crop grows in. She’s the closest we have to an earth goddess in the Zodiac.

            The next three years will give us the means and methods by which we can make the transition into the next phase of loving our planet. The culmination of this process comes in 2010–12. What we can accomplish between now and then will shape our future for many years beyond. This pertains to the balance of political power in the world, as well as the use of resources and transitioning to sustainable fuel sources, among other things.

This Year’s Saturn Cycle

            Each year, we have a new cycle associated with each of the planets beyond Mars. Saturn’s new cycle began on August 21, but we are not likely to feel what the next Saturn year truly holds until it goes into Virgo. In essence, this means that the new cycle will feel like it’s starting on September 2. Key events related to this cycle will occur on or near November 30, December 19, February 24 (08), and May 2 and 22. Note especially what you are up to over the first few days of September (and the end of August) to see what seeds you’re planting for the coming year of accomplishment. Remember, Saturn is the planet that delivers lasting success, so it’s worth all the effort you put in.

Mutability Rules.

            If you looked at the Saturn Chart B, you’ll see a near-box in the chart. The planets that are connected are located in the mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces). When we see a configuration like this, the universal force represented by these signs comes to the foreground. This can be called the integrating force. It demands flexibility and quick-wittedness for us to respond to all the stimuli that will barrage us over this time. We are likely to feel like we have too much information running through our heads, with the potential for headaches, confusion, and stress reactions. It may be a time when we’re trying to learn something new. We may add a project to our normal load of activities. Even though temporary, the added commitment means that we have less time to ourselves and could result in overdoing it.

           There is a series of planetary events that tie into this overall pattern. When these occur, we will experience peaks of activity and events. We can expect that, in addition to the activities we choose to engage in, some unexpected events will come from random external sources to spice up life even more. ;-)

          There is much that can be said about the integrating force. For instance, when under pressure, we will tend to avoid an obstacle rather than standing up to it or attempting to break through it. Sometimes this is the best approach, but we have to be free to use the other two approaches as well. The question we have to answer in our lives at this time is, “How do we know when it’s complete? When is it time to give up?” Generally, we will feel like giving up or crumbling under pressure when this pattern is dominant, when persevering is a better response to the situation.

Pluto’s Slide Downhill

            On the 7^th, Pluto returns to forward motion, when it begins its final passage through the end of Sagittarius before it moves into Capricorn. Although it will dip its toe back into Sagittarius for a few months next year, we’ll experience the shift of energy to the new sign from its initial ingress on January 25.

            Look for a feeling of release on or around the 7^th related to the transformative efforts you’ve been working on since last December. I know for myself that I been developing clarity about what form my next business enterprise should take. Much of this involved eliminating possibilities as well as completing projects from the past that were nearly done. We have until December 20 to complete this year’s endeavors.

Venus, One More Time

            On the 8^th, Venus returns to being her usual, mild-mannered self, moving in forward (direct) motion. She is now a brilliant morning star that can be seen high in the eastern sky until the Sun bleaches it out at sunrise. It’s worth a look! The Babylonians considered her to be warrior-like in personal expression now, although this can be attributed to the fact that she appears reddened at this phase of her cycle. Since Mars, the god of war, is a red planet, the association is understandable.

            We’ve just completed a “values renewal process”. That is, based on new realizations about what we value, we adjust our agreements with others, and frequently make major purchases or plans to makes those acquisitions. Relationship agreements made now are generally good to go for 18 months, and involve an active process for improving the relationship.

The Good Thing that I Missed

            I wrote in last month’s forecast about the challenges we’ll be dealing with in the coming months as part of a continuum since June. However, there’s something much nicer happening in the middle of all this, and it’s going on from the beginning of the month through the 28^th if you know how to catch the wave.

            This is an unusual harmonious contact, since Venus is retrograde (traveling backward from our Earth-bound vantage point) yet it makes a soft connection — one good for reconciliation, healing, and recovery. This suggests to me that if we can perceive what we need to correct inside ourselves and humbly do so, we will be rewarded. With Venus in Leo, the key question is, “What am I doing (have I done) that is ostentatious, presumptuous, or opinionated? Where do I expect (have I expected) something from someone or have (had) a feeling of entitlement?” Any of these feelings are based on fear and block the heart center, which is the source of Leo’s flow.

            Through objective inquiry and communication (Mars in Gemini), we can resolve situations and heal relationships that have gone astray because of these emotional masks. If we harbor no expectations of others, then everything they give us is a gift by which our relationship is constantly renewed. If we presume to know or have nothing that is not yet truly ours, we will not fool ourselves into relying on shaky ground. If we do not strive to show our good qualities, we exude quiet and unshakable confidence. All these approaches to our life result in progress and positive outcome in our current endeavors. These lessons can stay with us beyond this month and bring lasting benefit.

Let Us Not Forget the Solar Eclipse!

       Of course, no description of September’s planetary events would be complete without addressing the solar eclipse that is occurring on September 11. That date by itself conjures concern because of the grave events that occurred in 2001. An eclipse on that date does indeed give one pause, and I can’t dismiss the possibility that a major world event could happen then. This even makes sense in the real world, since al Qa’eda displays a preference for making strikes on significant (to them) anniversary dates. The chart of the moment for the eclipse (Chart B, set in Washington DC to find events of national importance) shows significant contacts to both the US chart and the chart for the first of the 9/11 attacks (the crash into the WTC North Tower). This supports the possibility of an attempted attack. However, the type of contacts also suggests that law enforcement and military will be at the ready for such an attempt and are capable of thwarting it. If you know your astrology, you can see what’s going on with the chart found here.

         For us personally, what might this bring? First, it’s good to know that this isn’t the first time we’ve experienced an eclipse at this point. The last time we felt this was on September 11, 1988. If you want to know how you will feel this eclipse and how you may want to use it, it will help to recall what happened and what you did with the 1988 eclipse. This is particularly significant if your birthday falls within 3 days of the 11^th or if you know you have a planet at 15–21 degrees Virgo (or Gemini, Sagittarius, or Pisces to a lesser extent).

            Independently, we can say that there will be a higher level of tension than usual, but there are releases for it if we are open to those opportunities. A solar eclipse represents an energetic black hole rather than a culmination that requires release. It points out an area where we need (get) to begin again. Solar eclipses are like rebooting your computer. They erase old, corrupted energies and give us a fresh start, with less likelihood that something will go wrong. We can use this time to reinforce and affirm this process at the eclipse occurs by applying thoughtful, serene focus at the time of the eclipse (anytime on that day).

A Climax of Inspiration and a Call to Action

            There’s a bigger event that we’re moving toward now, a climax of inspiration and a call to action. In case you were wondering, it has to do with Jupiter and Uranus. Jupiter, the planet of expansion and enterprise, is closing in on Uranus, making a triggering contact on October 9. These slower moving planets have a 13-year cycle, which means that whenever they connect, it’s part of a major cycle of innovation in our lives.

         Simply put, this means that something you started in February 1997 has borne fruits that you are now assessing and using as the inspiration for new initiatives. This will fuel your life in two ways: First, you will use it to create something new that is the result of your growth over the past 9 years. Second, in will go into your psyche as deep background for what you start 3 years from now, when the next Jupiter -Uranus cycle begins. (That occurs on January 4, 2011.)

           For example, a person I know began a process of business exploration and professional education that now makes it possible for her to put together a new business enterprise based on this experience.

Start Paying Attention.

          On the 15^th, Mars enters its retrograde shadow — the area of the Zodiac over which it will move backward later this year. At that point, we begin to get signals as to what potential lies in the Mars retrograde period for us. The Mars retrograde starts on November 15 and runs through January 30. Keep track in your planner or journal what issues come up starting on the 15^th, especially those having to do with communication and nurturance.

Planetary Waves to Ride.

            Besides the Venus-Mars contact accessible all month, Mercury and Jupiter are in play with each other from the 5^th through the 23^rd. These planets can be used to make important connections and agreements. Although these connections turn on and off each day hour to hour, if you consult an astrologer or use your intuition, there are plenty of good energies flowing in spite of the challenges that also exist.

            If we step back from the minutiae of life for a while, we will see that larger processes are at work during September. If we get lost in the details, we’ll miss the significance of this moment and miss the potential for nobility in our efforts. Remember to create distance between yourself and your experiences regularly (how about at least every Monday before your start work?), and you’ll find it easier to stay in synch with your true path and purpose.

Significant Planetary Events

Venus, Chiron, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto are retrograde. Mercury and Jupiter are in rulership. Mars and Saturn are in detriment.

All dates are based on Pacific Time.
Blue = harmonious/Red or orange = challenging/intense
Events in bold are more significant.