Astro Notes for New Moon in Virgo cycle (Sept 2-Oct 2)
I like to frequently refer to the bigger astrological picture to help understand the significance of any given monthly cycle. As readers of this column have heard me say many times, I believe the overriding astrological process governing our times is the epochal shift from the Age of Pisces to the Age of Aquarius. This great shift involves a change in the fundamental organizing principle of society from one of top-down hierarchies to that of decentralized, peer-to-peer networks. While this transition has been taking place for some time, I think that the years 2020-2026 represent a critical fulcrum point that is propelling us into the Age of Aquarius proper.
In 2020, Saturn, Pluto, and Jupiter met in a once-in-a-thousand year triple conjunction that correlated with the pandemic and our unprecedented global meta-crisis. From November this year through to July 2025, all five outer planets will change signs, ushering in a period of astonishingly rapid cultural change.
In my essay last year that looked at the astrology of the next 3-5 years, I argued that the period of 2020-2026 could be understood in terms of a birthing process, with 2020 being when the waters broke and 2025/26 representing the final push out of the birth canal and the beginning of a new era.
So here we are in September 2024, poised on the eve of this unbelievably epic time of historic change. It's simply an enormous moment.
The next ten weeks represent in this context an extremely potent time of inward preparation for the rapids we are about to enter.
For the first several months of 2024, all (or almost all) of the planets were moving forward, correlating with a period of accelerated outer progress toward our visions and goals. In April, we had the boon of Jupiter meeting Uranus in Taurus, a transit associated with creative breakthroughs and quantum leaps forward on many levels. Many new projects and visions came through in that time that can be seen as seeds that will bear fruit in the dawning age.
As of today (September 2), however, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto -- all of the astrological heavyweights -- are all moving retrograde. Yesterday (September 1) Pluto moved back into Capricorn one final time (before it will re-enter Aquarius in mid-November and stay there for the next twenty years). The next ten weeks or so thus bring a very special opportunity for a surgical process of inner preparation for the fast-moving times to come. I get the image of the drawing in of the ocean before a great tidal wave of change breaks on the shore.
Many of us are exhausted after living through the past four (or more) years of permanent crisis. Pluto's final visit to Capricorn is our last chance to let go of the old patterns and structures that will not work for us in the Aquarian age. Yet many of us are too tired to care. We just want to be done with the continuous struggle. Paradoxically, this can turn out in our favor, since we have nothing left to resist the forces of transformation. As Leonard Cohen famously put it:
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in
Today's (September 2) new moon in Virgo is opposite Saturn and square Jupiter. It is thus re-activating the Jupiter square Saturn transit that was the dominant energy last month, bringing a major test to our dreams and visions, requiring us to re-evaluate our approach to life in some fundamental way. This process of review continues throughout this month's cycle, informed by our felt sense that deep changes are coming and that our life priorities are shifting accordingly.
Also today Uranus turned retrograde. The annual 155-day period of Uranus moving retrograde is a time to make internal shifts that pave the way for outer changes to occur when Uranus moves direct again. Often these inner shifts are preparation for outer actions that bring us a greater sense of personal freedom and autonomy. These Uranian themes may be especially pronounced around this time as Uranus changes direction.
Along with the outer planets in retrograde and Pluto re-entering Capricorn, this month's cycle also features an extraordinarily powerful eclipse window. There is a full moon lunar eclipse on September 18 and a new moon solar eclipse two weeks later on October 2. The best way, in my opinion, to work in sync with the universe at this time is to engage yourself in some kind of structured process of inner transformation. Eclipse windows are always powerful times to work with the shadow. This eclipse window is all the more potent for being the final one in our lifetimes to occur during Pluto in Capricorn. What's more, the lunar eclipse of September 18 is conjunct Neptune and sextile to both Pluto and Uranus. The most powerful transpersonal forces of our solar system are working with us at this time to supercharge our eclipse healing journey.
On September 22, shortly after the lunar eclipse, the Sun enters Libra, signifying the Autumn equinox in the northern hemisphere and the Spring equinox in the southern. There is a reason ancient cultures universally convened major rituals and ceremonies at the equinoxes and solstices, as they knew these days to be special portals through which to align with the greater cosmic powers. As Libra represents the principle of balance and harmony, the equinox is a beautiful time to meditate on these qualities and call them in more to your life.
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