Cosmic Forecast September 2023
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Illustration by Jess Stanley
The energy entering into September feels a bit like we’ve moved houses, but we’re still unpacking. Most of the summer’s retrogrades will linger throughout the month, so there are many things we are not quite finished working through. There are plenty of lessons to integrate and lots of reflecting to do, but it might feel like there’s too much going on for you to clear your head. It’s likely that even though things may be chaotic, you might also be feeling a sense of stagnancy—like you can’t escape or change the situation you’re in right now. With so many planets moving backwards through the sky, it’s paramount to be patient with yourself, with others, and with the course of your life.
As the month begins, Venus, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto are all retrograde. Mercury joined them in their retrograde motion on August 23rd and Uranus went retrograde as well on the 29th. Venus finally heads direct on September 3rd, but Jupiter jumps into the retrograde party on the 6th. With all of the big generational planets retrograde for the remainder of September, the collective energy will continue to be heavy and strange. On a global level, it feels as though we’re wading through a bog.
On a personal level, we might experience delays of all kinds when it comes to the larger themes of our lives: long-term commitments might feel stagnant, careers might feel stuck at a crossroads, and you might be having a hard time making big decisions. It may not be the best time to think about the future or to make plans you hope will play out over the next three to ten years. The energy is shifting and reorganising many things, and you may come out of these retrogrades with a totally different perspective or direction.
The Sun will move between Virgo and Libra this month. In these signs, the Sun illuminates our relationships with others and the everyday interactions we have with both our inner circle and our community. Virgo is the sign that rules order and organisation, project management, and cooperation. Libra rules harmony, open and non-judgemental communication, and above all, balance. These signs help us come together and relate to each other in a meaningful way.
With the Sun in Virgo, we’re invited to see our mundane chores and everyday interactions as sacred—to regard doing the dishes with reverence, to pay particular attention to how we care for the natural world, and to treat those we love with deep gratitude. The New Moon in Virgo on the 13th invites us even deeper into this energy. It’s a great lunation for cleaning and clearing your space or preparing a healthy meal for yourself and people you love.
Mercury Retrograde ends on September 15th, giving us a little bit of room to breathe as things start flowing and falling into place. With both Venus and Mercury heading direct this month, things in your love life and your friendships might feel easier to understand. As both these planets move through what’s called their “shadow period”—the two-week phase at the beginning and end of a retrograde where a planet switches directions—it’s a good time to get honest with yourself about what you need from romance and companionship. Mercury in Virgo inspires direct but empathetic communication, so it’s a good time to set boundaries or ask to have your needs met.
On the 16th, the Sun in Virgo creates a Grand Earth Trine with Uranus in Taurus and Pluto in Capricorn. Experiencing this transit is like being in the centre of an ancient earthen mound. Uranus and Pluto are transformative planets–their influence shakes things out, rearranges, confuses, collides. Neither of them are at home in the Earth signs. The Sun’s Trine with these two planets is a positive, easy aspect. This means that we might feel more open to contradictions and chaos; we might be able to embrace our lack of control; we may be able to surrender. This Trine will last until the 29th, when Mercury takes the Sun’s place in the transit.
Libra season begins on the 23rd, the Autumn Equinox. Libra’s balanced scales represent the perfect balance between light and dark on the equinox. The Sun joins Mars, which has been in Libra all month. With Mars in the sign opposite the one it rules–Aries–and the Sun in the sign of the scales, there’s a sense of equilibrium. A Full Moon in Aries on the 29th underscores the even-keeled energy. This is not a time to be going to extremes in any part of your life, it’s not a time where you need to feel pressure to make major moves. It’s a time for feeling like everything is already enough as it is. As the month ends, the planets prompt us to find comfort and purpose exactly where we are.
Keagan (she/her) is a writer, tarot reader, and astrologer. Find her on Instagram @moonsingemini to book a reading. Subscribe to her monthly tarotscope newsletter here.
