Tag Archives: Aspects

New Moon in Sagittarius

The last few lunations (new and full moons) we’ve had have been very intense (that Gemini full moon a couple weeks ago was crazy!), and this upcoming new moon in Sagittarius is no exception (and neither is the full moon in Cancer later this month). 

This new moon, which occurs on December 12th a little after 6:30 pm EST, is fiery. While the sun has pulled away from its conjunction with Mars, Mars is still co-present in the same sign as this sun-moon combo. But with Mars in the mix and not currently making any hard aspects to other planets right now, this new moon is a good one for harnessing our energies and focusing them on our lofty goals and global views (in true Sagittarius spirit). However, the moon is making a hard aspect with Neptune, the planet that shrouds circumstances in uncertainty and vagueness, so you may find it hard to get clarity on what you actually want. 

Venus, now in Scorpio, is currently separating from an opposition to Jupiter in Taurus. Venus doesn’t usually like being in deep, dark Scorpio, but its movement through this sign gives us the opportunity to dive deep into our relationships, face hard truths, and strategize about our finances and our resources. Opposite expansive Jupiter, Venus is a little more powerful and friendlier in Scorpio than it would normally be. 

However, Mercury retrograde looms. Mercury is stationary when the new moon occurs, which means it’s at a virtual standstill. It starts to go retrograde overnight on the 12th/13th. When a planet is stationary, its influence is felt even more than usual, so our communication and our tech activity is going to be very prominent during this new moon. If you haven’t already, you may start to experience the usual Mercury retrograde mishaps. A package I mailed to a friend in Virginia last Monday somehow passed through Virginia on Wednesday and sailed on to Florida. Florida! She ended up getting it, just several days later than anticipated. 

The good thing about Mercury being retrograde in earth sign Capricorn is that there’s a grounded quality to it, so it’s not going to feel a mile minute. Capricorn is a take-charge cardinal sign, so even though Mercury retrograde encourages reflection and reassessment, in Capricorn, you’re likely going to feel hard-pressed and want to forge ahead regardless of the retrograde. Just know that anything you move forward with now will likely need to be revisited again and potentially revised in January. 

To learn more about where this new moon will play out in your chart, read below for your rising sign and your sun sign. 

Sagittarius & Sagittarius Rising: You’re renewed at this time. This new moon is an excellent time to harness that energy of renewal and plant seeds for the next year. The Mercury retrograde encourages reflection prior to manifesting anything new, so look backward before looking to the future, but it’s still a good time to think about your goals, your desires, and your dreams. Sagittarius, ruled by Jupiter, is about the big picture, so mood board or journal your loftiest goals. It’s also a good time to think about a new look, e.g., coloring your hair or zhuzhing up your wardrobe, if you’ve been feeling stagnant and wanting a change. 

Capricorn & Capricorn Rising: New moons generally have us feeling more tired, but this may be particularly true for Caps and Cap risings this time because it’s occurring in your 12th house. Mars’s energy could offset some of the darkness of the new moon, so you may find yourself with some erratic sleep schedules around this time. Rest as much as you can, hydrate, and with the nights getting longer now, use the opportunity for hibernation and self-reflection. Mercury is going retrograde in your sign, so it’s time to get introspective. 

Aquarius & Aquarius Rising: This is occurring in the part of your chart concerned with friendships, community, and hopes and dreams. Think about what you’re giving to and getting out of your friendships and your larger networks, and consider whether you should make adjustments. It’s also a good time to spend some QT with your friends. Go to people’s parties, even if you feel out of your comfort zone. You may end up planting seeds and making connections that will be fortuitous down the road, and even if not, you’ll have a good time. Take a tip from one of my all-time favorite Joni Mitchell lyrics and wreck [your] stockings in some jukebox dive.

Pisces & Pisces Rising: For you, this new moon may signal a new career opportunity. Even if no offers or interview requests come your way, you may try to lay some groundwork for career growth through small actions, such as setting a new LinkedIn alert or reaching out to an old colleague that you haven’t spoken to in a while, that leads to a new opportunity. With the Mercury retrograde, reassessment is key, so you may want to revisit your resume/CV and make some edits that are more reflective of where you are now.

Aries & Aries Rising: Have you been feeling some sort of spiritual calling, or a desire to study a topic that intrigues you? Or is the cusp of winter making you get the urge for going? This new moon may have you both seeking deeper meaning in life and craving adventure. Aries folks are impulsive, but this is an apt opportunity for some soul searching. And whatever you embark on at this time, whether it’s going back to school, signing up for a meditation retreat, or checking out international job boards, could influence or result in a new income stream in the future.

Taurus & Taurus Rising: Things may be feeling particularly heavy around this new moon, as it is occurring in an area of your chart that relates to finances and resources, which can be tangible assets, time, or energy, that we receive from others or that we owe. A new moon represents the new phase of a lunar cycle, and with Mercury retrograde, it’s a good time for reviewing not only your bills and spending habits, but also the mental and emotional resources you share with others. Take stock of how you give and take, and make adjustments where necessary or advantageous for you.

Gemini & Gemini Rising: This new moon is occurring in the area of your chart concerned with partnerships. Against the backdrop of your ruler, Mercury, about to go retrograde, it may have you feeling some extra stress or facing some questioning thoughts about your relationship. Reassess the give-and-take of your relationship(s) and make some changes if you feel an imbalance. This new moon could also mean that you are beginning a new phase of your relationship with your partner, or that you’re meeting someone with whom you’ll build a relationship. It could also indicate the beginning of a new phase or change for your current partner; where this will play out for them depends on where this new moon occurs in their own chart. 

Cancer & Cancer Rising: New moon, new routines. For Cancers and Cancer risings, this new moon marks an opportune chance to review your daily schedules and rituals relating to work and your health. Are you slacking off in some area? During this new moon, you should be able to harness the energy of Mars to change it up. If your work life is feeling stale and stagnant, now’s the time to focus on what you can do to switch up and energize it so that it doesn’t feel like drudgery. You’re also primed to assess your diet, your exercise plans, and your sleep schedules and make changes. 

Leo & Leo Rising: If you have kids, this new moon could signify a new phase for them. Maybe they start a new project, make a new friend, learn new things that delight you, or suddenly seem like an adult. With or without kids, this lunation marks a chance to reevaluate your attitudes around joy, fun, creativity, all the good stuff, the stuff that brings you pleasure. Think about how you’re structuring your daily life and how you can carve out space for the stuff you do purely because you like it. Sex? Have it! Wine? Drink it! Painting? Buy new brushes. 

Virgo & Virgo Rising: It’s a good time to reevaluate your commitments to your family and your home and make sure you’re taking enough time for yourself. Striking the balance between what you want to do and what you are obligated to do can be difficult. With your ruler, Mercury, going retrograde, now is the time for introspection and reevaluation. You may also feel compelled to get in touch with your roots, which may involve booking some international travel. Start a new adventure, but just make sure to triple check any reservations you book from now through January so that you can minimize Mercury retrograde-type snafus. 

Libra & Libra Rising: You may have a heightened awareness of your everyday routines and communication at this time, and with Mercury about to retrograde, this is an especially opportune time to reflect on how you interact with the people with whom you surround yourself. There may be some frustrating misunderstandings that occur, or expectations you have of others or vice versa are not clearly stated. Try to be as clear as you can with others and ask for details and specifics from them, so no one is left guessing. Also be conscious that Neptune is going to have people feeling anxious and sensitive, so it’s all about being explicit but striking a balance by also being diplomatic (which, as a Libra, is your forte).

Scorpio & Scorpio Rising: The focus of this new moon is on your finances, your resources, and how you make your money. Take a look at your bank account(s) if you haven’t in a while, and consider carving out a dedicated savings account for something you’re striving for. Mercury retrograde is all about those “re” activities, so you may want to wait until January to make any big moves, but this is a great time to review your finances and your assets and think about how to configure or reconfigure them so they are helping you achieve your long-term goals.

As always, horoscopes are for entertainment purposes. so take them with a grain of salt. These are based on my interpretation of the transiting planetary positions. Unfortunately, I cannot predict the future. 

Sagittarius Season and the Full Moon in Gemini

On November 22nd, the sun moved into Sagittarius, so we are now in the swing of Sagittarius season. And in true Sagittarius fashion, this post is very late. 

Sagittarius is a mutable fire sign. As a fire sign, Sagittarius has an inherent need for action, and as a mutable sign, Sagittarius can go with the flow and transition easily. Of the fire signs, Aries is like a spark; Leo like a campfire; and Sagittarius is like a wildfire–traveling, shifting, and ranging.

Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, rules Sagittarius. Jupiter is about growth and expansiveness. This gives Sagittarius its own larger than life quality. Sagittarians are known for being adventurous. They want experiences, they want to learn, to travel, to live life to the fullest. I think of the famous “mad ones” quote from On the Road as distilling the Sagittarian essence (and not surprisingly, Neal Cassady had a Sagittarius moon.)

Sagittarians can sometimes get a reputation for being flakey because once they feel like they’ve fully immersed themselves in something, their desire to learn more about the next thing compels them to move on. Sagittarians are known for their forthrightness, which can sometimes come across as abrasive or uncouth, but a lot of times, it’s charming. Sagittarians are charmers. Sonja Morgan is a Sag.

As soon as Sagittarius season kicked off, because Saturn is at 0 degrees of Pisces, the sun formed a square (an aspect that causes dynamic tension) to Saturn. Then Mars followed shortly behind, moving into Sagittarius on November 24th and also forming a square to Saturn. Mars, the planet of action, wants to goooooo, especially in Sagittarius, and Saturn, the planet of boundaries, wants to pump the brakes, so in the few days around November 24th-25th, we may feel stymied or limited in ways that are incredibly frustrating. This can be especially emotional around the full moon, which occurs at 4 degrees of Gemini on November 27th at 4:16 am EST. 

The Gemini-Sagittarius axis is an interesting one. Gemini is ruled by Mercury, and as an air sign, it’s about quick thinking and talking; Sagittarius is a sign that’s about intellectualizing and philosophizing, so it isn’t as diametrically different from Gemini as some of the other opposite-sign pairings. However, it’s a fire sign, and it’s ruled by Jupiter, the planet of expansion, so Sagittarius is all about big ideas. Sagittarians dream big and leave the details to others. I once had a boss who said, when describing herself, that she isn’t a workhorse, but that she meets people and comes up with ideas, but she leaves the work to her team. That feels very Sagittarius. Sagittarians can experience Geminis as too micro; Geminis can think Sagittarians are unrealistic blowhards.

The full moon in Gemini, opposite the sun, finds our emotional selves needing to tend to the prosaic details. We want to make to-do lists and find shortcuts. But the sun in Sag causes some tension with this need, as we may have our heads in the clouds, or we may be blowing past others’ need to talk it out and get the necessary info. 

This full moon is also opposite Mars, right on the sun’s heels in Sagittarius, and the sun/Mars and the moon are in a T-square with Saturn. This means that this frustrating Mars-Saturn square that we’re feeling over the weekend causes conflict and tension with our emotional and physical needs during the full moon.

At the same time, there’s a Mercury-Neptune square happening, which adds some extra confusion around this full moon. Gemini is a Mercury-ruled sign, so the moon is answering to Mercury, and in a tense aspect with Neptune, the planet of murkiness, boundarilessness, and confusion, there’s a general fog over everything. We may feel not only frustrated by our limitations this new moon, but we may also not be able to think clearly and understand quite why. Lovely. 

The good news is that after the full moon, the sun and Mars continue to progress past their squares with Saturn, helping things flow more easily. And on December 1st, Mercury moves into brass-tacks, earthy Capricorn, which enables us to focus on getting stuff done. However, Mercury is currently in its retro shadow, and it goes retrograde on December 13th, so get your holiday plans set and your shopping done before then! 

Scorpio Season

On October 23rd, the sun moved into Scorpio, joining Mercury and Mars there. The Scorpio energy is potent.

Scorpio is about death and transformation, about intensity and depth. In the Northern Hemisphere, Scorpio season marks the time of the year when autumn steadily progresses toward its colder reaches. It gets darker, the leaves fall, and we fall back into standard time.

A fixed water sign, Scorpio can be symbolized by a deep, dark lake, seemingly still with a lot going under the surface. Mars rules Scorpio, which may seem counterintuitive because Mars is the planet associated with action and drive, but whereas Aries is the outward expression of that, Scorpio is the internal. Scorpios have ambition and drive, but they aren’t impulsive like Aries folks; they are more patient and focused. They lie in wait and then strike with precision when the time is right.

That doesn’t mean that Scorpios are all dark and brooding. As water signs they can be very sensitive and emotional but not necessarily emo. They want deep connections and have an intensity of feeling that can manifest in various ways, including profound love and righteous anger.

Scorpio season coincides with a time of the year when many of us turn more inward. It brings us Halloween and the pagan holiday Samhain, when there’s a focus on the spirit realm and the veil between it and us. We decorate our homes with skeletons and ghosts (well, I do). It’s a time for being attuned to those rhythms of life and death, the underworld and otherworlds.

Lou Reed’s beautiful “Halloween Parade” is a perfect encapsulation of Scorpio season. He wrote it in the late 80s at the height of the AIDS epidemic in NYC. You go to the Halloween Parade, a jubilant event, and don’t see the people you know because they’re now dead. It’s poignant and brutal. “This Halloween is something to be sure, especially to be here without you.” RIP Lou Reed (a Pisces king).

As we move through Scorpio season, there are some notable astrological transits occurring over the next few weeks. Appropriately, it’s going to be intense.

As soon as the sun enters Scorpio on the 23rd, it’s forming a trine, or helpful aspect, with Saturn at 0 degrees of Pisces, and this is exact on the 24th. We start Scorpio season with some steadiness and seriousness, with a focus on creating structures and boundaries.

On October 28th, Mars opposes Jupiter, and there is a full moon and lunar eclipse in Taurus. This the very last lunation of the Taurus-Scorpio eclipse cycle that started in November 2021, wrapping up whatever cycle of new beginnings you’ve had in your life between then and now. The energy is heightened and expansive. There’s a push and pull between our drives/deepest desires and the need for stability.

On October 29th, Mercury meets up with Mars, making our thinking and our communication with others extra potent and possibly sharp-tongued. We may see our words sting or cut deep, even if that is not the intent. This weekend is a good time for being mindful and conscientious about what you say to others.

On November 8th, Venus moves into Libra, its domicile, where it’s able to best express its energy. Jupiter and Uranus are still in Taurus, a Venus-ruled sign, which will now be answering to Venus in Libra. The vibe is super Venusian, which is helpful, given some of the other astrology coming up. If you have a Venus-ruled chart (Libra or Taurus rising), especially, you’ll feel a little more comfortable and lit up once Venus goes into Libra.

On November 10th, Mercury moves into Sagittarius, a mutable fire sign, and squares Saturn. Mercury doesn’t love Sagittarius because Sagittarius thinking is very big-picture, broad-stroke, and Mercury wants details. Especially with the square with Saturn, there may be some frustrations around our desire to get answers and details and systems or big structures making that difficult, causing some conflict. As Mercury progresses through Sag, we’ll see amplified communication about big, lofty ideas, but for those of us who want brass tacks discussions with nitty gritty details, this may be a challenging time.

On November 11th, Mars, still in Scorpio, opposes Uranus in Taurus. Then on November 13th, there is a new moon in Scorpio, meaning the sun and moon meet in the sky, and as they do, they approach that Mars-Uranus opposition. The energy is volatile. Whatever cycle that the new moon is kicking off, Uranus, the great disruptor, is doing what it can to fuck up the best laid plans. This new moon, even though it’s not an eclipse, has an eclipse-like vibe to it. The sun then chases Mars for several days, right on its heels but unable to catch it until November 18th. That whole week is going to feel extra charged.

More to come as we approach the new moon in a couple weeks. Check back for your new moon in Scorpio horoscope, and happy Halloween to those who celebrate.

The Solar Eclipse in Libra & the Astrology of Late

This Saturday, October 14th, there’s an annular solar eclipse in Libra. Annular solar eclipses are the ones where the moon is at its farthest point from earth and it doesn’t fully block the sun, so instead of total darkness you can see the glow of the sun around the perimeter of the moon, making it look like a ring of fire. 

People generally seem to get a little nutty when the eclipses approach, even though they occur several times a year. But as human beings, we likely have some genetic instinct to freak out a little around eclipses. Can you imagine living in a time before there was an understanding of astronomy, and every so often, the sun just disappeared? It would have been terrifying! Eclipses are loaded with meaning and inspire both anxiety and wonder. 

The eclipses, astrologically, mark a time when major events unfold. However, as I’ve written before, even though we may experience some major life changes around eclipse time, much of that depends on our specific birth charts. Some eclipses will be felt more deeply by you than others. Most people don’t experience jolting, life-altering events between 4 and 7 times a year, every year of their lives. Generally, personally, we tend to see themes play out in our lives over the entirety of an eclipse cycle (the 1-2 year period when the eclipses take place in a set of opposite signs). There are milestones and changes but they are a little more fluid and gradual.

During this Aries-Libra eclipse cycle, which began in April, the same themes I wrote about during the Aries full moon are the same ones that will play out in a more protracted way between last April and March 2025. To see if this particular eclipse may strongly affect you, check your birth chart to see if you have any personal planets (sun, moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars) or angles (ascendant aka your rising, descendant, midheaven, or IC) on or around 21 degrees of Libra, Aries, Cancer, or Capricorn.

In the world at large, though, eclipses are usually accompanied by some big news. And this time seems to be no exception. This week has been tumultuous and scary on a geopolitical level. However, there’s been a lot going on astrologically beyond just the coming eclipse on Saturday (and there’s a lunar eclipse in Taurus on October 29th), so I did want to call out that the intensity of this moment is not solely related to the upcoming eclipse. 

Last Sunday, Mars, the planet that represents action, drive, and aggression, formed a 90-degree angle with Pluto, the planet of life and death and transformation. The aspect the two planets were making (called a square) can be a tough one, marked by some conflict and usually a turning point. Definitely some parallels between these significations and global events.

Pluto, which had been retrograde since May, also stationed on Tuesday, at 27 degrees of Capricorn, which is exactly the same degree of Pluto in the US’s chart, and is now direct again. It’s the last gasp of the US’s Pluto return. Mars gained strength on October 12th, when it moved into Scorpio, a fixed water sign and its home base, where it can utilize its resources. Mars in Scorpio is about precision, intensity, and stealth.

On the 13th, Mars makes a helpful aspect to Saturn in Pisces. When Saturn, the planet of structure, discipline, and responsibility, is boosted by Mars and both are in water signs, this could be a time for building emotional support structures, both for ourselves personally and for the the community. This is especially important with everything that’s going on. 

Between the Mars and Pluto activity and the two eclipses, October is a wild month astrologically, and as they often are, the skies are a reflection what’s happening here on planet Earth. It makes for interesting days ahead. Hang in there.

Libra Season

The sun moves into Libra on September 23rd at 2:50 am EDT, and thus begins Libra season. Mars has been in Libra since late August and is still there, so we have already been feeling some of this Libra energy. Mercury enters Libra on October 4th to join the sun and Mars.

Libra is a cardinal air sign. The cardinal signs occur at the beginning of seasons. Libra season marks the start of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, and it’s a time when our mental faculties are energized. There’s a buzz in the air. Even though the beginning of fall heralds the return of the darker, cooler months, it still feels like a beginning.

Libra is ruled by Venus, the planet that rules relationships, love, values, resources, art, and beauty. Libra is about charm. Libras are disarming, and Libras (particularly Libra risings) are known to be attractive.

The symbol for Libra is the scales, and a keyword of Libra is balance, which makes sense given that Libra season starts on the equinox, when day and night are equal, with a perfect balance between light and darkness. This is a time for assessing and communicating our ideas about balance in our lives. How much time do you spend working vs. not, and is that right for you? Do you feel like your relationships are balanced, or are you giving or taking too much?

The balance that Libra encourages also lends to the diplomacy that is so associated with Libras. Libras are fair, seeking out points of view and considering the thoughts and feelings of others. Libras can see all sides and weigh them judiciously, making them excellent peace brokers. Air signs are about communicating ideas, intellectualizing, and connecting mentally, and Libras are smart and deliberate in their thoughts and expressions. This penchant for diplomacy is what helps Libras excel at relationships. They are generally well liked and attract others. People want to be around them.

The balance exhibited by Libra also lends to its discerning eye. Ruled by Venus, Libras often have great appreciation for art and beauty and carry that through various aspects of their lives (often depending on where Libra falls in their chart): their professions, their own physical presences, through decorating their homes, etc.

The shadow side of Libra, though, occurs when these qualities get unbalanced. The need for diplomacy, conflict avoidance, and the concern for others can take over, causing Libras to not really have a defined sense of self or to sacrifice their own needs for the good of others or for general harmony. Sometimes keeping the peace means selling themselves short.

Libras also get pegged as being wishy washy. They can weigh things too much, and the scales go up and down and up again. And when things are being balanced against each other, how can you can make a decision to go with one option and not the other? Indecision can plague Libras and those with major Libra placements.

For VPR watchers, Tom Schwartz, who has a Libra sun AND moon AND four planets in Libra, exhibits major Libra traits. The more evolved traits are his charm, his diplomacy, his ability to weigh different points of view, and his intelligence. He tries to make others comfortable, even to his own detriment sometimes, and will defend others when he perceives them as being maligned. However, the shadow traits commonly associated with Libra are also on full display with Schwartz. There’s his unwillingness to commit in his relationship with Katie, even to the point of “losing” and not filing their marriage certificate after their televised wedding. On the surface, he’s a people pleaser; he tries to appease everyone (except his partner), and people like what they perceive as his good-naturedness, but ultimately, a lot of that is because he himself feels uncomfortable making decisions or setting boundaries. If you want to see a master class in Libra’s shadow side, go back and watch clips from Schwartz’s most recent appearances on Watch What Happens Live.

Despite Libras’ reputations for being social creatures that are fair minded, they can be internally exhausted by having to be social, and Libras can actually be very judgmental. They usually just don’t show it outwardly unless pushed. Think about Schwartz‘s confrontation with Lala this season, and his past fights with Katie where he got truly vicious. When the nice-guy, diplomatic routine fails him, he lets his true judgments fly. Libras judge and can remain steadfast in their judgement of someone, even nurturing grudges. 

This Libra season, let’s try to utilize the more evolved Libra energies. Give all choices full consideration, but call on the cardinal-ness of Libra to move forward with the best option instead of giving into indecisiveness. Use wise judgment but don’t be too quick to judge, and be flexible in changing your mind, but don’t go back and forth on everything. 

During the next month, there’s some lively lunar activity. There’s a full moon in fire sign Aries on September 29th. Eclipse season arrives as well, with a new moon that’s also a solar eclipse on October 14th. We may see some big shake-ups in the areas of our chart that are on the Libra & Aries axis. More on that to come. 

Read below for the general themes that will likely be highlighted for you over this next month, depending on your rising and sun signs. You’ll feel it more if you have any major placements (sun, moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, the ascendant, or the midheaven) in cardinal signs (Libra, Capricorn, Aries, and Cancer). If you want to know more, book a reading with me!

Libra & Libra Rising: If you’re a Libra rising, the next month is all about you. If you’re a Libra sun, it’s your birthday month! This season gives you an extra oomph and your personality shines through. It’s a time for me time. Assess your wants, your needs, your inner desires, and how you’re balancing those against what others are asking of you. If you aren’t carving out enough space for yourself, Libra season marks the time to take it back. And with Venus finally direct and almost out of its retrograde shadow, you can use this opportunity to change up or beautify your physical self. If you’ve been putting off getting a facial or a haircut, now’s the time!

Scorpio & Scorpio Rising: Libra season marks the beginning of the sleepier months, and this transition into fall will likely find you more tired than usual. Lean into nesting and resting, and pay extra attention to your dreams. As the nights get longer, you’re well served by plumbing the depths of your subconscious through journaling and/or therapy.

Sagittarius & Sag Rising: Sagittarians are social creatures, and with the sun (and later Mercury) in your 11th house, this time of the year lends itself to making the most of your gregariousness to network and to socialize with your friends. Connecting with others is especially beneficial for you right now, so get out there and go to parties (or host them) and/or go to networking events this month. 

Capricorn & Cap Rising: Libra season puts a spotlight on your career and how you make a name for yourself. If you’ve been on cruise control in your professional life, this is a good time for reassessing the balance with what you’re putting into your profession vs. what are you getting out of it. If it’s not fulfilling you, this is the time to investigate other opportunities and work on your resume. 

Aquarius & Aquarius Rising: You may be taking on new academic pursuits or finding yourself cast into the role of a teacher, possibly through serving as a mentor, or offering trainings at work or elsewhere. This is also a time for more spiritual pursuits, whether that’s diving deeper into a spiritual concept that interests you, or recommitting to a spiritual practice or routine that brings you peace.

Pisces & Pisces Rising: With Libra ruling your 8th house, autumn is a time when you’re thinking about death, mortality, and decay. That’s not necessarily as macabre as it sounds, though. Pisces are very sensitive and highly spiritually attuned, so it’s a time of reflection on the cycle of life. This is a time where you may find yourself particularly focused on others instead of yourself. People may be coming to you with their baggage, looking for some sage advice, or you may be helping someone sort through their finances this month.

Aries & Aries Rising: Libra rules your 7th house of relationships, so there will be an extra spotlight on your one-on-one partnerships, whether it’s a romantic or love relationship with a partner or a business partnership or a close collaborator for a project. There’s a push and pull between your relationship and yourself, so Libra season is the time for calibrating those scales. Are you offering too much of yourself, or are you withholding? Try to find the balance between give and take. 

Taurus & Taurus Rising: This month, your self-care routines are illuminated and up for evaluation. Are you carving out time for yourself to relax, to rest, and to exercise? Do you take the time you need to take care of yourself, whether it’s doing a daily skin routine or making your morning smoothie (or both)? This is the month to focus on those routines that nourish yourself and your health. It’s also a good time for getting in some extra vitamin D or starting your morning sun lamp routine to try to minimize the seasonal depression that winter may bring for you.

Gemini & Gemini Rising: Lean into the Venusian qualities of Libra to focus on your creative pursuits over the next month. The sun and Mercury can help you clear any writer’s or artist’s block you have been facing residually as a result of the recent Venus and Mercury retrogrades. You may be feeling extra amorous this month as well, so take advantage and lean into your romantic side.

Cancer & Cancer Rising: Libra rules the roots of your chart, so the sun will be highlighting home and family matters. You may be encouraged to dive deep into your ancestry or connect with elders in your family. This is also a good time for engaging in some home beautification or repair projects to improve your living space and make it more cozy, safe, and inspiring. 

Leo & Leo Rising: Libra season has you focusing on the local. You’ll be more inclined to do stuff in the neighborhood, and you may find some opportunity in switching up your daily routines. This is a good time for checking out a new restaurant or forging new connections with neighbors. Or you may try to change up your commute and find that a certain route or train makes your life more pleasant. Small changes to your everyday life can go a long way.  

Virgo & Virgo Rising: This season your focus is on finances and your resources. The sun illuminates the part of your chart that deals with how you earn your money. You may get a boost in your financial life, or you may just be putting some extra energy into money matters, investments, and the things you own and hold dear. Investing now in things you care about can pay off in the long run.

As always, these horoscopes should be taken with a grain of salt. They are not fortune telling, but rather they’re my interpretation of the sun’s movement through the various houses of the birth chart. 

New Moon in Virgo

On Thursday, September 14th, at 9:40 pm ET, there is a new moon in Virgo. A new moon, which occurs when the moon meets up with the sun, marks the beginning of the monthly lunar cycle. With the moon in Mercury-ruled Virgo, a sign that’s all about service and taking care, it’s encouraging us to think about fresh ways to serve and take care of ourselves.

Mercury itself is still in Virgo, its home base, but has been retrograde since August 23rd, so circumstances these past few weeks have made it ripe for us to reexamine and reevaluate our processes, the ways we think, and the ways we work. An example from my own life: I was sick for a couple weeks, and I felt like it was a personal failing. After being annoyed by myself and my body, which I felt betrayed me, I tried to channel the “re” rule of Mercury retrograde and reevaluate why I would feel this way. It helped me accept that I can’t control everything, and I shouldn’t beat myself up. The universe made me rest.

The new moon on Thursday offers a new beginning, and Mercury stations direct the next day on September 15th (huzzah!). This new moon, think about what has come up during this Mercury retrograde for you. What flaws in your systems have been made visible? What fallacies in your thinking have been laid bare? How can you create new routines that will better allow you to fulfill the Virgoan activities of working hard, analyzing, iteratively improving, and nurturing yourself and your goals? For me, I’m going to try to ride the sense of acceptance I learned from my bout of illness into the new moon.

The moon, which will be at 21 degrees of Virgo, is making a helpful aspect with Uranus, which is currently retrograde in Taurus. Uranus is the planet of disruption but also innovation, which can give new beginnings under this new moon an element of surprise or uniqueness. Virgo is a sign for getting things done; the new moon bolstered by Uranus can lend some innovation to the things we are trying to accomplish or the intentions we set during this phase. It’s a great opportunity for manifesting, if that’s your thing. Write your list of goals down, but also write down some steps you can take to try to accomplish those things. There’s a good chance ingenuity will strike, but with the sun, moon, and Uranus in earth signs, it helpfully will be grounded and practical.

The only potential downside of the new moon is that it’s within 5 degrees of being opposite Neptune in Pisces. Neptune casts a fog. We may find that our emotions and our feelings create some illusion or delusion around the goals that are set at this time, which is also why thinking through the tactical steps to achieving your goals will be useful. It’s important to lean into the Virgoan qualities of discerning and critical thinking to counteract any emotional overwhelm you may feel. 

To see the areas of your life where this new moon will potentially bring about a fresh start or a new way to thinking, reference your Virgo season horoscope.

Mercury Retrograde in Virgo

For the past two weeks, Mercury has been slowing, gearing up for its retrograde, and on Wednesday, August 23rd, it begins its retrograde journey through Virgo. This will last until September 15th, when it will once again station and start moving direct. 

The Mercury retrogrades this year have all been in earth signs, which has made them a little more grounded than they would be in the other elements. Mercury is the ruler of Virgo and it’s also exalted there, which means that not only is Mercury not answering to another planet during this time, it’s in the sign it loves to be in. So while the typical Mercury retrograde is very annoying, this one should be a little less so (one hopes). 

The start of it may be rocky, as Mercury stations retrograde while approaching a conjunction with Mars, which is still in Virgo and a day prior (August 22nd) formed an exact opposition to Neptune in Pisces. Mars wants action, and Neptune represents delusions and doubts, so when tough Mars-Neptune aspects hit, we feel irritable and unsure. This is the state of things at the start of this particular Mercury retrograde. However, as Mercury backs away from Mars and Mars continues to head toward Libra, that should dissipate. 

When Mercury is retrograde, as always, it makes for a time of reflection and reconsideration. Is that stuff that’s going haywire totally out of the blue, or can we make it easier for ourselves in the future by, say, leaving a little earlier before we’re scheduled to be somewhere, or by cleaning out the gunk in our sink drains before everything backs up? I use those two examples because Virgo is a sign generally associated with punctuality and cleanliness, so Mercury’s lessons during this retrograde may manifest in those two areas.

Virgo is all about routine, so it’s time to rethink your everyday routines to mitigate future snafus. 

On September 4th, Mercury makes a nice aspect to Jupiter, the planet of growth and expansion, which will be at 15 degrees of Taurus. Then right around 7 am EDT on September 6th, Mercury is exactly conjunct the Sun (in cazimi). Those are the only major aspects it makes during the retrograde, and those are generally pretty pleasant. 

The rule of Mercury retrograde is patience. Frustrations may present themselves, but you knew they were coming. Be patient and remember that Mercury retrogrades don’t last that long.

Venus Cazimi

We are nearing the halfway point of the Venus retrograde period, and a Venus cazimi will occur on Sunday, August 13th, at about 7:10am EDT. “Cazimi” is an astrology term that refers to the configuration formed when a planet is conjunct the Sun, or “in the heart of the Sun.”

Cazimis happen fairly regularly, but this Sun-Venus alignment, which will occur at 20 degrees of Leo, is noteworthy because it marks Venus’s transition from evening star to morning star, as it crosses the sun in its retrograde journey.

It’s also an opportune time for reflection, clarification, and manifestation. This is because of the combination of energies that will be present with the Sun and Venus meeting up. 

The Sun, which represents the true self and our purpose, meets up with the planet that rules relationships, love, beauty, money, wealth, and that which we value. This conjunction will assist us in sussing out our hearts’ true desires from what we don’t actually want. Venus will still be retrograde until September 3rd, but this second phase of that trajectory should feel a little easier than the first and should offer more clarity on anything Venus-ruled you have been feeling confused about over the last 3 weeks. Use this cazimi’s influence to reflect on what you really, truly want in your life and put that out into the universe.

Full Moon in Aquarius: Self-Assessment

Leo season always brings with it an Aquarius full moon. This year’s Aquarius full moon falls on August 1st, at 2:32 pm EDT. The full moon occurs when the moon is opposite the sun, which will be at 9 degrees of Leo.

Leo is hot fire and Aquarius is cold air. The Aquarius full moon acts as a cooling agent, offering a chill in the midst of this extra heightened Leo season.

At the same time, Jupiter is at 13 degrees of Taurus, so it’s broadly forming a t-square with the sun and the moon, meaning that it’s close to 90 degrees (give or take) away from both. Jupiter is the planet of expansion, and squares are angles that cause tension but ultimately usher things along. With Jupiter forming squares with both the sun and the moon, there’s friction, potential conflict, and momentum with the expansion of both our egos and our emotions. Full moons typically bring about cathartic releases and often they’re accompanied by acting out because emotions are boiling over, so with Jupiter in the mix, we may feel a greater emotional need to break out of any sort of repression we’re feeling.

However, with the moon in Aquarius, this should be a little more tempered. And Mars, which is still in Virgo, is making a helpful aspect to Jupiter, both in earth signs, lending some additional pragmatism to the moment. 

This full moon is an opportune time for a self-assessment. Using the Aquarian lens of cool detachment, you can take a step back and assess your ego and your emotions. What are you feeling, how are your needs being met, and what needs to be realigned so that you’re feeling emotionally fulfilled? It also allows us to take a step back from the ME!-ness of Leo season to consider how our needs and desires fit with the greater collective, which is Aquarius’s concern. 

Also on August 1st, Mercury, which is now in Virgo, the sign it rules and loves, is making an exact opposition to Saturn in Pisces. A Mercury-Saturn opposition creates some tension between our communication and the structures of our lives. We may feel like the rules or the systems within which we’re forced to operate are oppressing our expression of ourselves. However, there’s some helpfulness here in relation to the full moon. You can work with Mercury and Mars both being in Virgo to edit, declutter, and clean house, to ultimately move forward in a way that fills the gaps you’ve taken stock of. A word of caution is that Virgo can sometimes pedantically be focused on details, but Aquarius wants us to pull back and see the forest for the trees, so be conscious of not getting too micro and try to be a bit more macro in your thinking.

(“See the forest for the trees” always makes me think of the song Different Drum, written by Michael Nesmith of the Monkees and performed by Linda Ronstadt and the Stone Poneys, which, if you haven’t heard it, is great, and has a song ever been more appropriate for Venus retrograde?)

Another thing to note about a Mercury-Saturn opposition is that this can also see some technological roadblocks and clamp downs. Don’t be surprised if you reach your iCloud storage limit or get suspended from Twitter or whatever it’s called now this week.

This full moon will be felt more impactfully if you have any personal planets (the sun, moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars) or sensitive angles (your ascendant, descendant, Midheaven, or IC) near 9 degrees of Leo, Aquarius, Scorpio, or Taurus. But even if you don’t, given the multiple planetary aspects in the sky at this time, you’ll likely be feeling a lot around this full moon. As always, try to rest up as best you can and take care of yourself in the midst of all the activity.

It’s Leo Season

This past week was wild, astrologically. There was a new moon in Cancer that was followed by the nodes shifting signs, going from Taurus and Scorpio to Aries and Libra (where they will be initiating the start of a new story in our lives over the next couple years), then a Mars opposition to Saturn, the Sun opposing Pluto, and Venus stationing retrograde. So if this past week has felt intense for you, you’re not alone! Big shifts, stops and starts, power struggles, relationship drama, and deep introspection are all afoot. 

Pluto is in Capricorn at 29 degrees, so as the Sun ingresses into Leo, it’s also pushing past its opposition to Pluto, so between that and the transition out of Cancer season, we should feel a little bit of an emotional catharsis now. As of the evening of July 22nd, we are out of the moon-ruled, emotional territory, and we have entered the realm of the sun. It’s daylight.

Leo is the only zodiac sign ruled by the sun. The sun is the life-giver of the solar system, with the planets all revolving around it. Similarly, Leos are often the center of attention. Leo is a fixed fire sign. It’s like a campfire or a fire burning in the hearth. And Leos attract others, who bask in their warmth. 

Leos are confident, and they are natural leaders. They got this. The tarot card associated with Leo is Strength, and it usually depicts a woman taming a lion. Tame a lion? Step aside, non-Leos, and let a Leo handle this.

With the sun in Leo, it is in its domicile, the place it feels most comfortable. With Venus also in Leo the entire time the sun is here, it’s a potent combination. The Leo energy will be strong. This will be especially true on August 13th and the couple days before and after, when the sun and Venus form a conjunction. Both will also be making a square to Uranus at that time, so we may be compelled to push forward with changes we’ve been considering during this Venus retrograde, or forces outside of ourselves may take care of that for us. If you have been feeling the effects of the Venus retrograde in a way that’s been draining, this may bring a bit of relief. An oasis in the midst of the Lawrence-of-Arabia-esque journey that Venus is undertaking in the sign of the sun over the next few months. (Not surprisingly, T.E. Lawrence was a Leo.)

Read below to see the themes this Leo season is illuminating for you. I recommend reading for your rising sign first, if you know it, because those themes will resonate during the month. Then read for your sun sign, because those themes will likely play out for a briefer period of time, as the transiting sun aspects your natal sun.    

Leo  – It’s your season, but you already knew that, I’m sure. For Leo suns, your solar return is coming, so happy birthday (month). For Leo risings, the sun is moving through your first house, lighting you up, illuminating you and making you even more radiant than usual. Use the vitality you feel over the next month to think about your goals and go after what you want.

Cancer – The sun is going into the area of your chart that deals with money, values, and resources, so you’ll find your attention focused there at this time, especially with Venus, the planet that rules those same things, in this part of your chart. With Leo as the ruler of this area for you, it means that you can make money by being yourself, so you may find yourself curating a successful Poshmark or Depop closet or leveling up one of your hobbies or interests to earn an income off of it.

Gemini – Leo rules your 3rd house of socializing, communications, siblings, and neighbors, so you’ll feel rejuvenated in this area. It’s the time of year for you to be out and about. You are a social person generally, but at this time of year, that’s what really fortifies you. You’ll also feel more inclined toward self-expression than usual, so this is a productive time for putting your thoughts and your projects out into the world. 

Taurus – This part of the summer usually pulls focus on your home and your family. You may be traveling to see family now, and you’ll likely be thinking about putting down roots as Venus is retrograding through this area of your chart. The sun gives you some extra energy, so this is a great time for doing stuff to make your home feel like a source of vitality for you.

Aries – Aries is a fellow fire sign, and the sun also loves Aries (it’s exalted there). So Aries risings and suns may be feeling a boost when the sun is in another sign it relishes. With the sun moving through your 5th house of creativity, fun, and joy, this is a time to live your bliss. It truly could be the summer of love for you, with a new romance blossoming or your sex life getting energized. Get out of the house and have fun.

Pisces – It’s time to work. For most, the dog days of summer are a time of relaxing and taking vacation, but especially for Pisces risings, it’s a natural time to focus on your routines. While others are off and disconnected from work, you may be feeling an enhanced ability to get stuff done and improve your work habits and productivity in the quiet times. This is also a great time to commit or recommit to a health routine, which will in turn give you more energy.

Aquarius – This will be a time of focus on your relationships. Aquarians have some natural resistance to Leo qualities. Leo is about the self, Aquarius is about the collective. For example, many Aquarians find the concept of a birthday month absurd. However, this is a good time to embody some of those Leo qualities in your relationships. Focus on you. What do you want to get out of a relationship, and what do you need to feel emotionally fulfilled and vital? The Venus retrograde will have you thinking through these issues. Use the sun in Leo to lean in to the “me” of “me and you.”

Capricorn – With the sun in your 8th house, you will likely be seeing a focus on the resources of others during this period. It could be that your partner has some change to their finances during this time, or that investments of yours begin to pay dividends for you. You may also be considering refinancing or realigning your portfolio in some way. With Venus retrograde, it’s an auspicious time to take stock of your investments and your obligations, but you’ll likely want to hold off on actually making changes or taking action until Venus goes direct in September. 

Sagittarius – The sun will be lighting up themes that are already very resonant for your sense of self: study, adventure, and travel. With Venus retrograding through this area of your chart, you may be thinking about how what you learn (and/or teach) matters to you. It may be a time to sign up for classes or lay the groundwork to go back to school. You’ll also feel energized by planning some travel. It’s a great time, especially during the earlier part of Leo season, to think about taking a trip to a country or continent you’ve never been to before. 

Scorpio – You’ll be feeling some extra energy in your area of career or how you want to leave your mark on the world. You’re likely contemplating what is important to you in this area of your life as Venus is retrograde here, but the sun gives some extra boost to these considerations. This is a good time for putting yourself out there, on display, and trumpeting your own talents and experience, to make strides in your career or your legacy. 

Libra – For Libra risings, you’ll feel strengthened through your friendship groups and communities this month. This is a time for being social. The Leo sun and Venus will both be making helpful aspects to your ascendant, if you’re a Libra rising, or sun, if you’re a Libra sun, giving you some extra shine and energy this month. People will want to offer help if you need anything, so don’t hesitate to put out feelers. This is also a good time for focusing energy on your longer term goals and discussing them with friends and acquaintances, because they may be able to help set those wheels in motion. 

Virgo – You may be thinking more introspectively than most during the next month, as Leo rules your 12th house of inner thoughts, the subconscious, and things that are hidden. It’s a very good time to pay attention to the dreams you have. Especially as your ruler, Mercury, moves into Virgo at the end of July, you should write down what you can remember of your dreams and plumb their meanings, as they will likely give you some insights on your deepest feelings and fears. 

As always, take these horoscopes with a grain of salt. These are based on my interpretation; astrology is not fortune telling. Also, the transitory impact of the sun and other planets depends on your entire birth chart, so some of the above may or may not hold true for you depending on what else is going on. (If you’d like a full birth chart reading, email me at dreamlogicastrology@gmail.com!)