New Moon in Virgo and Mercury Retrograde

New Moon in Virgo: 5:03am.
Solar Eclipse at 9 Virgo: 5:07am.

Mercury Retrograde in Virgo all month.
Sun, Moon, Jupiter and the North Node in Virgo. That’s a LOT of action in the skies right now where Virgo falls in your chart. You can find your chart here, or set up a reading with me here.
Saturn at 10 Sagittarius
Mars at 13 Sagittarius
Neptune at 10 Pisces

It’s time for us to get organized and clear on our priorities as the Earth turns towards Autumn. How do you want to live this Winter? With Saturn and Mars squaring this eclipse, and Neptune opposing, we need to get serious and assess where we put our energy. How do you spend most of your day? What have you been ignoring? Where are you in fantasy? Today is a giant reality check. This is heavy energy so be gentle with yourself.

The North Node (destiny) is in the middle of this eclipse, leading us to our future. This is a wonderful aspect, allowing us to let go of the past and clear a path forward. You can actually get a glimpse of your future if you pay attention.

And regarding the Mercury Retrograde? Don’t freak out. Just try not to sign anything important or make large ticket purchases. Hold off on doing mercurial Magick until it’s done.

Whatever starts today and this weekend will build over the next two weeks. Huge opportunity for healing but focus on being of service to others.

Jupiter is entering Libra on September 9th which sets off a two year cycle of focus on partnerships of all kinds. What was happening in your life 12 years ago? Those issues are about to be revisited in September. You can also connect with like-minded people.

"What is Mercury Retrograde?

Three times a year (sometimes four), the planet Mercury appears to move backwards in its orbit. Do planets really move backwards? No. But a difference in orbital speeds creates the illusion of Mercury moving backwards.

What does Mercury represent in astrology?

In astrology, Mercury is the planet that symbolizes speaking, writing, critical thinking, information, the five senses, education, the mind, travel, transportation, movement, contracts, the market, duality, twins, and siblings.

Of course I cannot tell you what you should and should not do, but these activities are considered inauspicious during Mercury Retrograde: signing contracts, buying electronics, buying a car, and traveling — all Mercury ruled activities.

Other things to keep in mind?

• The retrograde is about review.
• Mercury Retrograde should not cause anxiety. Don’t spend three weeks in total fear of making the wrong move. Fear is the lowest energy to create from and you are an aspect of the Creator made physical. Work with Mercury Retrograde. Go back to something that’s been on the back burner. Revise a manuscript. Try a different path. Meditate and reflect."

"A month with two eclipses and Mercury Retrograde is NOT for a sudden move - it is for staying grounded. Pace yourself."

Full Moon in Aries

The Full Moon in Aries, and the fiery red eclipse, occurred last night after 7:00pm Pacific. It’s still happening though! An eclipse of this magnitude takes three months to roll out into our lives, AND the Moon is still in Aries today. The Full Moon is still in effect, and Aries is the most spontaneous sign of all – it leaps forward without thinking of the big picture.

The message? Don’t do anything impulsive today! Or this week! Give things some time to mature before taking action – preferably after October 10, 2015 when the Mercury Retrograde is over.

This is a potent unfolding of energy – inspiring us to find a new direction. If something doesn’t feel authentic then we will release it in the next few months. It’s time to finally let go of whatever is holding you back – whether it’s a thought, relationship or situation. Be bold and courageous and follow your heart!

Here's some great horoscopes by Ed Tamplin:

Aries or Aries Rising: The emotional focus of the Lunar Eclipse is strongly affecting those born early in Aries, meaning the March born. This can play out in a shifting focus on relationships. It enables you to see the big picture on something, providing greater exposure as well as perspective. It also helps in bringing something to fruition in the areas of home and family change. The Moon’s accommodating aspect to pleasure planet Venus should also benefit birthdays around mid April early this week.

Taurus or Taurus Rising: The late September Lunar Eclipse suits taking a welcome and rejuvenating break from regular activities. If you’ve been burning the candle at both ends then you’ll certainly be noticing the after effects. This eclipsing energy also suits bringing a matter to a constructive conclusion and helping you finalize the overhanging details of an ongoing arrangement. The April and also early May born Taureans should feel the eventual benefits of this by midweek.

Gemini or Gemini Rising: ‘I would rather walk with a friend in the dark than alone in the light.’ They are the words of Helen Keller, the first deaf/blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. But it was her enduring friendship with inspirational teacher Anne Sullivan that totally transformed Helen’s once limited world. This week’s lunar eclipse casts light on your house of friends, bringing associates and associations increasingly into the picture. Something is putting you on a ‘universal wavelength’ of connections with a greater purpose.  

Cancer or Cancer Rising: When your ruler the moon gets totally eclipsed Cancer – you feel it emotionally. Okay squeeze the stress ball - you have the right to get crabby. Leading into this current lunar blackout, may not have been the easiest of times. Moreso if you are June born. Situations that cannot be avoided are forcing you into taking more decisive action. The corker? Sometimes you have to take a step backward in order to build greater impetus for your actual advance.
 
Leo or Leo Rising: When you’re driving, it pays to look at the car in front. But only looking at the car in front means you would soon lose your way. This eclipse is about reorientation. Have immediate events, or someone else’s priorities distracted you from your purpose? Have you lost sight of the big picture and ended up lost in the back roads. By Wednesday the Moon will favorably angle to Venus in Leo. It’s putting you back on track – allowing you to refocus on the important directions that will take you places. It’s even good for real travel too.

Virgo or Virgo Rising: Remember this. You don’t have to give it out. You have a claim to ownership and a right to privacy. This lunar eclipse affects what you’re willing to share. That’s why being more attentive to financial partnerships, loans and investments, dual occupancies, is a smart thing. Wherever the actions of others have an effect on your security or future resources is about as important as it gets. If it isn’t for mutual gain – then someone is getting deuced.

Libra or Libra Rising: This week’s illuminating lunar eclipse, is casting a new light upon an important alliance. Take note, especially if your birthday falls late September. The days ahead will provide valuable insights into someone close or offer new answers to old questions. Beginning October, the Libran Sun is hooking in with cerebral Mercury, meaning communication and negotiations are all the more significant. Deals or appointments made this week may have important developments three weeks from now.

Scorpio or Scorpio Rising: The Lunar Eclipse is spotlighting your house of habit, health and well-being. As with all eclipses when one light goes out, another one switches on. Old habits die hard but this is the week to begin that process. Take it one step at a time. The way you are doing something (and this is probably job-related) is now due for an urgent overhaul. You’re not meant to be a slave to the wheel – there are easier ways
 
Sagittarius or Sagittarius Rising: When the lunar eclipse shines a light into your house of leisure and pleasure, it’s time to live it up. It pays to get the essential chores out of the way giving you time to party in style. This eclipse also impacts positively on your romantic life and helps provide creative insights toward your natural gifts. It’s a signal to play to your undoubted strengths and develop your talents. It’s never too late to follow your bliss. 

Capricorn or Capricorn Rising: The end of the month is the time for juggling those important career decisions, and can put you in high achievement mode. The accompanying lunar eclipse is also asking whether you're in the right place or receiving sufficient emotional support. It can bring family, or a maternal influence, into the picture. In areas of relationship, this involves building stronger bonds, and is productive for working partnerships and those with a greater objective purpose.
 
Aquarius or Aquarius Rising: The Lunar Eclipse is acting like a reboot button affecting your communications and thinking. It may bring new information to the table that changes the equation. Situations can also be changing in the lives of siblings or within your immediate neighborhood. The overall effect may hold benefits for you, and the last week is a positive period for renegotiating something that didn't work out first time around. 

Pisces or Pisces Rising: The current lunar eclipse appears in your house of assets, earning capacity and financial futures. Full Moon eclipses are always an eye opener. This one concerns self-worth. Are you getting your just rewards, or do you feel that you’re selling yourself short on something. The only person that can fix that is you. It’s time to begin changing some values, re-arranging fiscal plans and this period can even be shedding some light on fresh income streams.

Venus Direct

This is a week of culmination.

The planet Venus returned to Direct (forward) motion on Sunday at 14 degrees Leo. Since June 22nd she's retraced her steps - setting off a purging of toxic sludge from our relationships. It's a 44 day re-calibration that happens once every two years.

Each of us experienced a transformation in how we view our partnerships. There's new clarity on what's working and what not. Some people shifted out of outworn relationships and still others found a soul mate. We were forced to let go and allow the universe to guide us to our next phase.

We've gleaned wisdom from our depths.

Now that Venus is direct we can assimilate all these wonderful insights. It's time to get real with yourself and what you really want - and with this event happening in Leo it's OK to put yourself first. In fact it's recommended you do that from now on.

Don't know the name or artist of this work!!! let me know if you recognize it.

Leo is the sign of the Sun and rules heart, meaning, playfulness, accomplishment and being noticed. Leo is the leader, wants the best of everything and demands dignity and respect. If you're not getting your fair amount of stage time and attention in your relationship, then sit back on your throne and kick that foolishness to the curb. Embrace the Queen or King in you!

Assimilation is the key word for the rest of September as the Sun and Jupiter roll through Virgo together. They join up with the Moon this weekend for a New Moon Eclipse! This heralds a powerful rebirth towards achieving our goals.

This week is the dark of the moon... the prelude to Saturday's eclipse in Virgo. Wrap up loose ends and prepare for rebirth. It's time to clean up our mess and streamline our lives. Let go of people that suck your energy, and set boundaries with relationships that aren't going anywhere. Dig deep.

New Moon in Libra and Pluto Direct

This artist's view shows Pluto center, and its large moon Charon, as well as two of its four smaller moons (at top left and right). Pluto's four tiny moons are Nix, Hydra, Kerberos and Styx. Credit: David A. Aguila 

Pluto is a Planet. It's not a 'dwarf planet" it's the real thing. I know this because it's been a staring me down the past couple of days. Pluto went Direct in Capricorn on Monday after months of retreading old territory. Pluto went Direct on Monday at 5:36pm Pacific.

Pluto = The Truth. Facing Reality. Illusions utterly destroyed, and submerged emotions and repressed feelings (sadness, resentment) bursting to the surface. It can feel like a volcanic eruption. Pluto rules the underworld - our psychological foundations. Anything we haven't wanted to deal with is now clearly visible. Any backroom dealings, covert actions or secretive alliances are exposed to the light of day. The playing field completely shifts. Pluto is INTENSE.

Pluto feels heavy. It's your soul coming up to speak with you. It's what you know in your heart to be true, and it can't be denied. Happy, deluded fantasies get the ax. It's good for us in the long run. Avoid resisting or manipulating people right now, it will backfire and drag your energy backwards. Focus on acceptance.

Uranus (Freedom) continues to square Pluto adding a dose of rebellion to the mix. Uranus will not allow us to stay stuck in old patterns, so the vibe is focused on Revolution.

Pluto brings up issues around other people's money (i.e. loans, banks), power struggles, triangles and control. But with the Sun's entrance into Libra, we add Pluto - relationship issues - death, birth, sex and divorce.

It's a New Moon in Libra today: Tuesday at 11:14pm.

Libra = Relationships, relationships, relationships.

Balance. The Scales. Justice!

Libra is the time of year when we weigh our relationships. With the Pluto influence, we are looking at how they effect our evolution. Any undercurrents in relationships now rise to the surface to be healed and dealt with. If a person or situation has been stuck, ambivalent, indecipherable or stalling, the Truth now shines forth. No need to jump into action, just observe your transition.

Eventually this eye opening energy leads to a huge rebirth. Pluto tears down and destroys to prepare for regeneration. The symbol of Pluto is the phoenix - the mythical bird that sets itself on fire to be reborn from the ashes. It's time to take that first step on a new road.

Tell me in the comments below what you've been experiencing this week!

From the Cosmic Intelligence Agency:
 

Where the Sun goes, so goes our personal and physical energy. So we've had quite a bit of focus on work, health, animals, and paperwork where we've been showing up and taking the lead while in Virgo. Now in Libra we begin to connect or focus on key people and balance, justice or equality. Libra rules the romantic partners, business partners, agents, attorneys, advocates, specialists, experts, clients, audience, competitors, and opponents, so we begin our 30 day chapter pulled towards what we need to do personally or physically with them. It may involve our name, title, identity, body, brand, or image, as well as our personal needs. In 2 days we will get a New Moon here so the cosmos is going to get behind it for us if we are proactive.

Turning of the Seasons

The Equinox (equal day - equal night) arrives next week, and we are currently in the dark of the Moon.

This is a good week to let go of anything you've outgrown. As the Sun gets lower and the days get shorter, our primal energy turns toward surviving the winter ahead. We celebrate the current harvest season, but at the same time purify and simplify our lives.

Just do it.

image by Larry Carlson

Horoscopes for August - September

New Moon in Virgo this morning at 7:13am PDT. Today we start fresh and begin a new month long moon cycle. Virgo is about cleaning up and attending to details.

Now is when we focus on our health and start new, positive habits. Virgo contains the seeds of success! It's the first harvest sign of the year, and signals our first move towards Fall. It's time to get serious and decide what or who we want to bring with us through the Winter.

Virgo succeeds because it is practical. It attends to details and because of it's Airy nature it uses scientific thinking rather than emotional communication. Virgo is the main sign that can set a goal and take practical steps to achieve it - therefore assuring success. If there's something you want to create what are the practical, mundane things that need to occur for it to happen? Burn yellow, gold and green candles for wealth.

I think Mother Nature is communicating with us too with that huge earthquake in Napa yesterday. Virgo is an earth sign ruled by Mercury, and I found it interesting that the earth shook the day before this new moon.

The horoscopes below show the focus for the next month. Read your Sun sign, but look at your Rising sign or Ascendant too. This gives me the most accurate read for the month.

Aries:  The Ram
The Sun and Mercury are traveling through your House of Work and Health for the next few weeks. You will shine at work and it's a great time to negotiate with your boss. Try not to get swept up in other people's objectives and stay focused on your goals. Meanwhile, Jupiter, Venus and Lilith are hanging out in your House of Romance and Creativity - so that corner of your life should be getting a HUGE boost right now.

Taurus:   The Bull
This is a great time of year for you! Mercury and the Sun are traveling through your House of Romance! It's the most important part of life for Taureans. Your creativity is being activated the next few weeks too so write some poems for your sweetheart. Jupiter (luck), Lilith (equalizer) and Venus (love) are traveling through your Home, giving you the energy to redecorate the places you feel most secure - including yourself.

Gemini:  The Twins
The strong current of fortunate opportunity is running through your home life for the next few weeks. You can attract the people and resources you need to feel more secure... not just your Home but your state of mind too. It's a very powerful time for Gemini people. Jupiter (good luck) is now forging a path through your House of Communication. Expect harmonious negotiations with people.

Cancer:  The Crab
Good fortune will come to you through Communications over the next several weeks. This means person to person, but also through the computer. It's a great time to start an online business or other project. Reflect on your current path. With the Sun and Mercury here, the conditions are ripe for you to achieve a new level of fulfillment. Meanwhile, Jupiter (luck) and Venus (love) are in your Money House tossing financial opportunities in your direction for the next year.

Leo:  The Lion
You are a VERY lucky lion. Two fortunate planets - the Sun and Mercury - are moving through your Money House the next few weeks. This sends you great financial luck. September will be a great month and you will finally get some traction with money issues. Not only that but Jupiter (luck), Venus (love), and Lilith (rebellion) in your sign supercharge your life for the next year. This doesn't happen often so make the most of it.

Virgo: The Virgin
Happy Birthday! This is a fantastic time of year for you. Your ruler Mercury is in Virgo - giving you a lot of forward motion. Over the next few weeks you will go through your solar rebirth. It will touch on your appearance, how you interact with others and your overall approach to life. What would you like to see happen in your life over the next year?

Libra:   The Scales
You have some fortunate planets moving through your House of Spirituality. This brings the opportunity to undo your self sabotaging behaviors, which I think is the best gift of all. With Saturn and Mars in residence in your Money House, it's definitely time to get serious about your money goals in life. Prepare to have some obstacles cleared from your path. 

Scorpio:   The Scorpion
Good Fortune and Romance come through your social circle this month! This applies to contacts you make over the internet too. Meanwhile Jupiter (luck), Venus (love) and Lilith (bitch goddess) are moving forward through your Career House sending great opportunities your way. But the big news is your ruler, Mars (courage) and Saturn (responsibility) sitting in Scorpio. You're feeling intense drive to make solid strides in your goals. Busy month ahead.

Sagittarius:  The Archer
CAREER. PROMOTION. MONEY!! These are your buzzwords for the next month! The benefics (fortunate) planets, the Sun and Mercury, are in your Career giving you INCREDIBLE opportunities and luck! This part of your chart also rules the public face you show to the world, so it can mean a rise in status too! Jupiter (luck) is moving forward in your House of Other People's Money, so it's a fabulous time to negotiate agreements. You can't lose.

Capricorn:  The Sea Goat
The Sun and Mercury are moving through your House of Perspective and Travel over the next few weeks! You will gain new insights about your life, both in the present and where you're headed. Pay close attention to any revelations you have in September! Higher education is also enhanced so if you're heading to school you will have a blast - socially and in the classroom.

Aquarius:  The Water Bearer
The focus for September will be Banks, Credit and Shared Resources. The Sun and Mercury are beneficial influences in this area for you, so if you need a loan now's the time. If you're in the market for a new house, you will find the perfect one. Financial arrangements line up in your favor for the next month so make the most of it.

Pisces:  The Fish
Virgo is beaming some glorious relationship mojo your way for the next few weeks. It's a special time because Virgo is your polar opposite, meaning partnerships are highlighted. With Mercury and the Sun traveling through Virgo, you have strong positive force on your side. This is the month to find that special someone, or to deepen the bonds you already have with a partner. Business relationships will also be harmonious, and you can attract resources and prosperity.