Sudden Awakenings and Radical, Revolutionary Change
By Catie Cadge PhD
September opens with an industrious New Moon in Virgo at 11°04’ on September 2nd at 6:55 pm Pacific time. Moon and Sun loosely oppose Saturn at 16°25’ Pisces. Look to see where Saturn is moving in your own natal chart. Saturn wants you to “mature” and step into a “new pair of shoes.” Somewhere you have outgrown yourself. Like Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter writes, “it’s time to matter…Tom Banjo,” “Mountains of the moon, Electra, mountains of the moon.”
Where do you need to face obstacles or challenges in order to put some hard work into the next step of aging in life? Pisces is a visionary, mystical sign and can often be the part of our birth chart where we need boundaries, compassion or creative imagination. A Virgo New Moon in the opposite zodiac sign from Pisces says let’s make plans and think critically about what skills we need to polish or what practical works of service bring us to that inner mystic, visionary artist.
September 1st , Uranus, at 27°15’ Taurus, turns retrograde, appearing to move backward. The planet of sudden awakenings and radical, revolutionary change continues its retrograde dance until the end of January, 2025, giving all of us another chance to really reflect in our hearts about what it is that we value most and what makes us calm down and find peace in our lives. Some things may need to go or change. Taurus is ruled by the planet Venus, so this may involve our partners, our artistic projects or our money and resources. What needs to shift or morph to make us feel totally satisfied, secure and happy in life’s journey?
Meanwhile, also on September 1st, Pluto, retrograde, reenters Capricorn for one last trip through late degrees of the sign of the sea goat. For folks with important degrees of their chart in late Capricorn, outdated, worn-out structures might be finally torn down so the slate is cleared for new mountains to be climbed. What mountain top is worth aspiring to and best as your life’s big achievement? “More than laurel, you may sow…” In the larger scheme of things, some old symbols of the patriarchy or shackles of outdated political systems need to fall.
On a lighter note, early September sees Mercury in Virgo, moving forward, reaching beyond its “shadow” (after passing over degrees from its recent retrograde period) by September 11th. Some practical matters, day-to-day business communications and details regarding our plans may seem to level out now and go smoothly after potential mayhem in August.
September 17th, we have a partial lunar eclipse and supermoon, with the Full Moon at 25°41’ Pisces at 7:34 pm. A supermoon is the Moon at perigee, when the Moon is closest to the Earth. If the Moon triggers important areas of your chart, the eclipse can usher in change and/or new beginnings roughly six months before or after the eclipse. The Moon appears big and bright early evening right after sunset, a beautiful harvest Moon for a beach stroll or drive along the coast.
A Full Moon in Pisces is a watery, lunar time, potentially very emotional, when we often feel profoundly the moods and feelings of those around us and also in psychic, spiritual planes. This particular supermoon amps up the intuitive, mystical Piscean vibe because the Full Moon is conjunct Neptune, a planet naturally in tune with Pisces energy. Some may try to flee the intense feelings through drugs or alcohol, so watch out for too much indulgence through escapism. Rather seek an escape through your imagination, creative play, in nature or through meditation. Some people are very sensitive and may need a good cry now. Be supportive and comfort others. We all feel this lunar time deeply. “Lost is a long and lonely time. Fairy Sybil flying. All along, the all along. The mountains of the Moon… Bend to me.”
Equinox occurs on September 22nd, when Sun enters Libra. Welcome to autumn, Santa Cruz star gazers! Moon is in Gemini and Venus enters Scorpio on the 22nd, so equinox parties offer fun conversation along with sensual play and deep bonding. Maybe it is time for one more beach fire this year? Enjoy!
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Catie Cadge, PhD
Catie Cadge is Dean of the Forrest Center for Evolutionary Astrology. Classes and more information: forrestastrology.center. Read about Catie and her work at caraevolutionaryastrology.com.
