The Stars Are Like Letters…
“The stars are like letters that inscribe themselves at every moment in the sky. Everything in the world is full of signs. All events are coordinated. All things depend on each other. Everything breathes together.” – Plotinus
We see astrology as the art of exploring the archetypal correlations between the movements of the planets and human events. If you follow along long enough, you will learn to see archetypally, understand the human condition a little better, and perhaps gain enough freedom through insight to make more satisfying choices.
Follow the current transits with this planner. You can follow the moon cycles if the current transits don’t seem to apply to you (see Are You In the Hot Seat?). Following the moon is easy and will add richness to your experience of the sky. See the Guides for more on tracking your own personal cycles.
Post questions in the comments.
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Where Are The Planets This Month
September 22-October 23, 2021
All times are given for U.S. Eastern Standard Time (New York, NY).
☉ Sun: Libra
☽ Moon: Waning Gibbous in Aries → Last Quarter Moon in Cancer → New Moon in Libra → First Quarter Moon in Capricorn → Full Moon in Aries → Waning Gibbous in Taurus. This moon cycle highlights the Householder Cross of the Culture Bearer (also known as the Cardinal signs).
☿ Mercury: 24Libra28 – 25Libra28 Rx – 10Libra07 Dx – 11Libra56
♀ Venus: 13Scorpio38 – 16Sagittarius48, ☪Venus Evening Star 6th Gate: October 9, 2021 02°33′ Sagittarius 12:48 AM EDT
♂ Mars: 5Libra03 – 25Libra03
♃ Jupiter: 23Aquarius23 Rx – 22Aquarius22
♄ Saturn: 7Aquarius09 Rx – 7Aquarius00
⚷ Chiron: 11Aries08 Rx – 9Aries48
♅ Uranus: 14Taurus20 Rx – 13Taurus18 Rx
♆ Neptune: 21Pisces33 Rx – 20Pisces49 Rx
♇ Pluto: 24Capricorn 21 Rx – 24Capricorn23
Night Sky Views
Stars of the Sun in Virgo Sky from Stellarium https://stellarium-web.org/ This is the view without atmosphere, if you could see the stars and the sun at the same time 🙂 Read more about Sun in Libra on September 22, 2021. Note Mercury near the bright star Spica at the start of Libra Season. Spica is one of the very bright “royal” stars (it’s actually a binary star) and is located at 13h25m RA or 21.25° Libra.
Stars of the Sun in Libra Sky from In-The-Sky.org https://in-the-sky.org//skymap.php
Are You In the Hot Seat?
These transits will supercede any of the transits in this planner.
Do you have personal planets (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars), angles (Asc, MC, IC, Dsc), Nodes,
- or Pluto at 24-27° Capricorn, Cancer, Aries, or Libra? You’re in a Pluto transit.
- or Neptune at 20-23° Pisces, Virgo, Gemini or Sagittarius: You’re in a Neptune transit.
- or Uranus at 11-15° Taurus, Scorpio, Leo or Aquarius: You’re in a Uranus transit.
- or Saturn at 7-13° degrees Aquarius, Leo, Taurus, or Scorpio: You’re in a Saturn transit.
- or Jupiter 8-30° Aquarius or 0-8° Pisces: You’re in a Jupiter transit.
For more on the planets and how to find your natal planets, see the Transit Guides.
Outer Planetary Alignments
Saturn conjunct Pluto – Saturn is within 15 degrees of Pluto, simmering away after the full boil of 2020 when Jupiter, Saturn, Pluto spent much of the year much nearer to each other. Saturn will remain within 15 degrees of Pluto through December 2021 and within 20 degrees through mid-February, 2022.
- Saturn cj Pluto within 15 degree orb: October 18, 2018 – December 18, 2021 (excluding April-July 2021)
- Saturn cj Pluto within 20 degree orb: December 1, 2017 – February 17, 2022
This is heavy medicine. Deep transformation with lasting consequences, authoritarian clamp downs, war, confronting systems of power, confronting the shadow, even evil. The high This is heavy medicine. Deep transformation with lasting consequences, authoritarian clamp downs, war, cold war, civil war, confronting systems of power, confronting the shadow, even evil. The high potential is the transformation and evolution of the deepest structures of the social order–institutions, government, commerce, our moral concepts of right and wrong. Doing this work requires all our courage and moral resolve. These are still on the wind together with the more prominent Saturn square Uranus energy as we approach the end of 2021. I recommend this video from Richard Tarnas, author of Cosmos and Psyche, on YouTube: “Richard Tarnas on the Planets in 2021.” This link is queued to near the end when he speaks to the gravity of these times
The Circle of Elders – The outer planets remain loosely clustered in the same quadrant of sky, within 100 degrees, none closer to each other than 14 degrees, with Uranus slightly separated from the rest. Arrayed like this, they feel more like the Circle of Elders than ever, taking turns transmitting a teaching or administering a test for the initiates, as the faster-moving Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Mars take turns transiting the Circle of Elders.
The personal planets and outer planets are still in separate quadrants of the sky, but moving closer to each other. The seesaw pattern of late summer with its corresponding call and response, alternating between extremes, is dissipating as the personal planets (Sun, Mercury, Venus, and Mars) move into predominantly trine and square aspect to the outer planets. Personal and transpersonal perspectives begin to ever so slowly converge.
Saturn square Uranus 7 Aquarius-14 Taurus. This long-lasting square begins Libra season at a rather wide 7 degree orb before Saturn turns direct on October 11. Over the rest of October and November, it will tighten back up in preparation for the last exact square on December 24, 2021. The long-lasting pressures to rewrite norms and rules, break down institutions and structures, and the air of general conflict and periodic grim collapse may ease up a bit before a crescendo at the end of the year. For those who have enjoyed the tumult and opportunities to change the way we live and work in innovative ways brought by these times, you can look forward to a milder version of this ongoing influence through 2022 as the square continues to pass in and out of 5 degree orb through 2022. Read more about Saturn square Uranus in last month’s planner. Anyone with personal planets or Saturn at 7-13 degrees Aquarius, Leo, Taurus, or Scorpio is undergoing a Saturn transit complicated by this Uranian square. Anyone with personal planets or Uranus at 11-15 degrees Aquarius, Leo, Taurus, or Scorpio is undergoing a Uranus transit, likewise complicated by this Saturnian square. See Transit Guides for more.
Saturn sextile Chiron ~7-11 degrees Aquarius-Aries. Although this sextile remains mostly within 2 degrees during 2021, and will make another exact sextile around Thanksgiving 2021, it begins Libra season at a 4 degree orb, contributing a milder background harmony between the Master Wounded Healer and the Lord of Structure and Karma. They support each other, one mitigating the consequences of the other, particularly whenever the Saturn square Uranus alignment is triggered by transit.
Neptune sextile Pluto – This aspect marks the Postmodern or Modern Era depending on your reference, from the end of World War II until 2037 (using a 5 degree orb). During this time, the world’s spiritual, psychological, and human developmental belief systems opened up and embraced a great variety of forms. Previously hidden esoteric knowledge can now be found easily online. Psychological language and profiling have become part of the common vernacular. Its very long lasting nature makes it hard to see, but we will get to experience life without this gentle sparkling influence within 15 or 16 years.
The Mars-Venus Saga
If you aren’t noticing the Mars-Venus activations, this means that your personal transits are top priority.
Mars conjunct Sun October 8, 2021, 12:59 AM EDT 15°05′ Libra – (Sun conjunct Mars within 2 degrees Oct 1-14). Not everyone will be activated by this cycle, but someone in your life probably is! Read more.
Anyone with sensitive chart points ~13-17° Libra is sure to be activated by this Mars-Venus cycle. Likewise, anyone turning 15, 30, 32*, 47, 62, 64*, 79, or 94 this year is going through their Mars Return. If you have a Libra sun, this is likely to be a very significant time indeed. *Ages 32 and *64 are especially special as they feature a simultaneous Mars and Venus Return and tend to be juicy times – red letter years!
☪Venus Evening Star 6th Gate October 9, 2021, 3:37 PM EDT 02°33′ Sagittarius – Read more.
Anyone turning 24, 32, 40, 48, 56, 64, 72 (a multiple of 8) this year is going through their Venus Return. If your birthday is sometime between mid-October to mid-November, this is likely your personal Venus Gate! Tune in and receive a direct transmission from this Venus Evening Star on September 10 and throughout the rest of the month until the next gate. The Goddess, your personal capacity to call to you what you love, is incarnating now at a deeper octave within you – open your arms wide to embrace her!
The Power of Venus – What can you do when Mars, your agency, your ability to set and achieve goals, goes offline or all your plans keep going up in flames (August 23-November 22, 2021)? One solution is to turn to Venus, which is far less understood in our culture than Mars. As a friend recently pointed out, “Ours is such a Martian culture!” and it is! We have a lot to learn about the transformative power of our love.
Venus is the Goddess of Beauty and Love, the archetypal feminine. But it is also non-gendered as embodiment, as nature, as our possessions, and as the so-called material world which we are beginning to remember is always radiant with energy and presence. Venus at its deepest essence is the unity of spirit and matter: the anima and the anima mundi. The physical world is made up of molecules and atoms on down to the smallest irreducible particles of matter. Glenda Green in Love Without End: Jesus Speaks calls these adamantine particles and describes them as commanded by love. The deeper your love, the more complete your command. Thus did Jesus turn water into wine, command the storms, and rise from the dead.
You can cultivate the power of your love to magnetize what you love into your life. The simplest way is to find a clear and simple love that lights you up with joy, then remind yourself of it whenever you need a boost. If “the power of your love” doesn’t feel readily available, then try focusing on the current Venus Gate (the throat from Sep 10-Oct 8, the brow or vision from Oct 9-Nov 7) to clear out contradictory beliefs and desires, to forgive and let go, to find unity so that you can reclaim your vestments of power.
The 2020-2021 Venus Cycle – The current Venus Cycle began on July 3, 2020, entered the Morning Star phase from July 9, 2020 to February 12, 2021, Underworld phase from February 13 to May 2, 2021, Evening Star phase from May 3, 2021 to January 1, 2022, and completes on January 8, 2022.
If you have natal points aligned with (conjunct) any of the key points in the Venus Timeline, these will reveal more about your own personal activation during this cycle. The most important points would be the two times when Venus was aligned exactly conjunct the Sun: at the beginning of the cycle at 13°35′ Gemini and at the heart of the Underworld phase at 5°50′ Aries. But all alignments with points during the cycle have information which can help frame your experience.
Mercury
Mercury has been chasing after Venus, following in its path and undergoing all of the same outer planet alignments as Venus since late July, but now turns retrograde on September 27 and drops swiftly back to the horizon and into the sun’s glare to join Mars in the Underworld. Unlike Mars, Mercury is immune to the dangers in the presence of Great Mystery, and becomes enlightened when passing within 10 degrees of the sun. Before this, however, Mercury spends about a week in the evening sky moving retrograde and wreaking havoc on social and transactional norms as Trickster! This (Sep 27-Oct 4) is the dreaded Mercury retrograde phase when nothing seems to work as it should and small or large problems bedevil communication, travel, commerce, and all manner of social interactions. The best strategy is to go with the flow, take the havoc as helpful or interesting, and see if it doesn’t actually serve your interests in the long run despite evidence to the contrary. On October 4, Mercury moves within 10 degrees of the sun and into the early part of its Alchemical phase. Going back over old notes, correspondence, digging out your archives, and reconnecting with old friends can prove very fruitful during this time. By October 8, Mercury will be approaching the hot zone of its Alchemical phase and the simultaneous Mars exact conjunction with the Sun. This is followed by the 6th Evening Venus Gate (the Vision gate) on October 9.
Astrology Planner
September 2021
September 2021
22 – WEDNESDAY
🌖 Waning Gibbous (Day 17) 13°07′ – 25°34′ Aries – The moon lies a fistwidth east of invisble Chiron tonight.
⦿ Mercury square Pluto Rx 24°21′ Libra-Capricorn 9:11 AM EDT – Frustrations, anger, mental blocks all relate to deep unspoken motivations, the condition of the life force, or places where you can grow in consciousness. This is the first of two exact squares to Pluto, this one moving direct, the next going retrograde!(In orb September 12-27)
⦿ Sun 0°00’ Libra 3:21 PM EDT – Libra, is one of the Culture-Bearer archetypes, and thus highly recognizable. That means that it describes a constellation of collectively assumed values, attributes, lifestyles, and areas of focus. Some call these mainstream, real-world, householder, or even “muggle” values, but this overlooks some of their shining virtues. Of the four Culture-Bearer archetypes, Libra encompasses all aspects of the culture which rely on relationships among people including: partnerships, marriage, community, social life, civic life, politics, government, culture, and art which expresses the widespread values of a people or humanity.
Fairness, balance, equity, harmony, community, and egalitarian love which supports people to be themselves typify the high aspirations of Libra. Powerful examples of Libra’s highest ideals include the Declaration of Independence (by intent, rather than application), as well as the kind of deep democracy and inclusion which embraces and allows for all places on the wheel. In one-on-one relationship, the notion of conscious equal partnership embodies Libra’s highest ideals whereas committed monogamous cisgendered pair-bonding represents its normative expression.
When Libra’s aesthetic sensibilities bloom, they lean toward culturally-celebrated ideals of beauty and even perfection. In civic life, we see the Libran aesthetic in building projects like the City Beautiful movement which created many of our grand federal buildings, including the the U. S. Supreme Court building, the U. S. Capitol building, the Lincoln Memorial and the National Mall in D.C. and countless monumental courthouses and public buildings from the turn of the 20th century. They share in common the Libran aesthetic for symmetry and order, as well as the elevation of civil society through architecture which inspires, orders, beautifies, and brings grandeur to the public space.
People who are carry strong Libran energy tend to be very attuned to other people, both when entering into one-on-one relationships and when moving in social circles and crowds of people. They are naturally even-tempered, fair-minded, and skilled at diplomacy.
The Shadow of Libra is as well or perhaps more well-known than its highest ideals: indecision, loss of self in the other, needy dependence on relationship, an insistence on harmony at the expense of justice or inclusion, and a Stepford aesthetic built around total conformity to a single social vision.
⭐ This is the September Equinox, known in the Northern Hemisphere as the Fall or Autumnal Equinox and the beginning of Fall. In the Southern Hemisphere, it marks the beginning of Spring. Today, the day and night are equal in length, and the sun rises due East and sets due West. But the sun is moving very fast from north to south along the horizon, so this is the only day to see the sunrise and sunset equinox alignment. The sun’s equinox position is 11h58m RA, +00°07′ declination.
23 – THURSDAY
🌖 Waning Gibbous Moon (Day 18) 25°34′ Aries – 07°47′ Taurus- The moon lies a fistwidth west of invisible Uranus tonight.
⦿ Venus opposite Uranus Rx 14°19′ Scorpio-Taurus 5:41 AM – Venus completes her oppositions to the outer planets this cycle. Now she has faced the full Circle of Elders, received their trials, tests, advice, or blessings. Uranus flashes with themes of sudden change, shock, surprise, excitement, glamour, higher consciousness or technology. (In orb September 15-October 1)
24 – FRIDAY
🌖 Waning Gibbous Moon (Day 19) 07°47′ – 19°48′ Taurus – The moon rises still near Uranus tonight, just to the east of it.
25 – SATURDAY
🌖 Waning Gibbous Moon (Day 20) 19°48′ Taurus – 01°40′ Gemini – The moon rises on its own North Node.
⦿ Mars trine Saturn Rx 07°04′ Libra-Aquarius 5:50 PM – The trines must be actively tapped or tend to lie dormant. Common sense, pragmatism, structure, order, authority, systems of power can be of assistance to Mars undergoing transformation by trial right now. (In orb September 17-October 4)
26 – SUNDAY
🌖 Waning Gibbous Moon (Day 21) 01°40′ – 13°28′ Gemini
27 – MONDAY
🌖 Waning Gibbous Moon (Day 22) 13°28′ – 25°16′ Gemini
⦿ Mercury Retrograde 25°28′ Libra 1:10 AM – This (Sep 27-Oct 4) is the dreaded Mercury retrograde phase when nothing seems to work as it should and small or large problems bedevil communication, travel, commerce, and all manner of social interactions. The best strategy is to go with the flow, take the havoc as helpful or interesting, and see if it doesn’t actually serve your interests in the long run despite evidence to the contrary. On October 4, Mercury moves within 10 degrees of the sun and into the early part of its Alchemical phase.
28 – TUESDAY
🌗 Last Quarter Moon (Day 23) 25°16′ Gemini – 07°10′ Cancer
🌗 Last Quarter Moon 06°09’ Cancer 9:57 PM EDT
29 – WEDNESDAY
🌘 Waning Crescent (Balsamic) Moon (Day 24) 07°10′ – 19°15′ Cancer
⦿ Venus trine Neptune Rx 21°22′ Scorpio-Pisces 12:14 PM – The trines must be actively tapped or tend to lie dormant. This aspect favors creativity and spiritual affiliations. (In orb September 24-October 4)
⦿ Sun trine Saturn Rx 06°59′ Libra-Aquarius 6:19 PM – The trines must be actively tapped or tend to lie dormant. This aspect favors structure, order, institutions, systems of power, practical approaches, developmental change, natural hierarchies. (In orb September 23-October 5)
30 – THURSDAY
🌘 Waning Crescent (Balsamic) Moon (Day 25) 19°15′ Cancer – 01°37′ Leo
⦿ Venus square Jupiter Rx 22°49′ Scorpio-Aquarius 7:31 PM (In orb September 24-October 7)
1 – FRIDAY
🌘 Waning Crescent (Balsamic) Moon (Day 25) 01°37′ – 14°19′ Leo
⦿ Mars opposite Chiron Rx 10°44′ Libra-Aries 9:00 AM – The warrior hero within and without faces their vulnerability and is shown how to heal and grow by becoming greater than the level at which their wounds were created. (In orb September 16-October 15)
⦿ Mercury Rx square Pluto Rx 24°19′ Libra-Capricorn 10:27 AM – This is the second exact square from Mercury to Pluto this month, this time while Mercury is moving retrograde! Let’s call this bedevilment at its most delicious, cross our fingers and hope for the best! See Mercury retrograde September 27. (In orb September 27-October 9)
(Sun conjunct Mars within 2 degrees Oct 1-14.)
2 – SATURDAY
🌘 Waning Crescent (Balsamic) Moon (Day 26) 14°19′ – 27°25′ Leo
⦿ Venus sextile Pluto Rx 24°19′ Scorpio-Capricorn 3:47 AM – The sextiles tend to pop up unanticipated. When Venus and Pluto touch, passions (the fun kind) tend to flame up. They’re usually releasing lost or trapped life force energy, though, and not of the enduring sort. (In orb September 28-October 4)
(Sun conjunct Mars within 2 degrees Oct 1-14.)
3 – SUNDAY
🌘 Waning Crescent (Balsamic) Moon (Day 27) 27°25′ Leo – 10°56′ Virgo
⦿ Sun opposite Chiron Rx 10°39′ Libra-Aries 11:51 AM – This is Chiron’s annual “full moon,” when the sun (Great Mystery) highlights the Wounded Healer and Master Teacher, and Chiron swings around closest to Earth this year. Sometimes our deepest wounds hold our best opportunities for mastery. Basically, if you can master them, you graduate! Sometimes mastery doesn’t look like you think, however. Sometimes being willing to be vulnerable, willing to be “a hot mess,” willing to “fail” – opens a doorway into the sacred heart. Chiron rises at sunset, invisible but tracking across the sky through the course of the night to set at sunrise. (In orb September 23-October 13) See the stars of Chiron opposite the sun.
⦿ Mercury Rx trine Jupiter Rx 22°40′ Libra-Aquarius 8:05 PM – Starting tomorrow, Mercury retrograde moves into the sun’s gaze and out of ordinary reality into extraordinary reality. Will he pull off a grand prank tonight with Jupiter’s oversized help? If so, look for ways that this serves the greater good… even if you’ve got egg on your face! (In orb September 27-October 9, Mercury Dx trine Jupiter from September 13-27)
(Sun conjunct Mars within 2 degrees Oct 1-14.)
4 – MONDAY
🌘 Waning Crescent (Balsamic) Moon (Day 28) 10°56′ – 24°52′ Virgo
⦿ Mercury Rx <10 ° Sun – Mercury moves into the sun’s glare and into the early part of its Alchemical phase. Between now and October 8, going back over old notes, correspondence, digging out your archives, and reconnecting with old friends can prove very fruitful during this time.
(Sun conjunct Mars within 2 degrees Oct 1-14.)
(Mercury conjunct Mars within 10 degrees October 4-16.)
5 – TUESDAY
🌘 Waning Crescent (Balsamic) Moon (Day 29) 24°52′ Virgo – 09°08′ Libra
⦿ Mercury Rx quincunx Neptune Rx 21°13′ Libra-Pisces 9:53 AM (In orb Oct 3-7)
(Sun conjunct Mars within 2 degrees Oct 1-14.)
(Mercury conjunct Mars within 10 degrees October 4-16.)
6 – WEDNESDAY
🌑 New Moon (Day 1) 09°08′ – 23°40′ Libra
⦿ Mars quincunx Uranus Rx 13°55′ Libra-Taurus 5:26 AM (In orb Oct 3-9)
🌚 New Moon 13°25′ Libra 7:05 AM EDT
The moon cycle which begins with this New Moon contains the epic exact alignments between the Sun and Mars, followed the next day by Venus conjunct the Moon and South Node, and Sun conjunct Mercury Rx, also known as Mars in the Heart of the Underworld with Alchemical Mercury, and Venus at the 6th Gate in the Evening Sky on the South Node! Projects begun at this time will resonate most strongly with partnerships, civic works, politics, community building, and all aspects of the culture which rely on relationships among people (Libra). They will also be powerfully infused with this month’s INTENSE transformations and initiations! See October 8 and 9.
⦿ Pluto stations direct 24°18′ Capricorn 2:29 PM – Pluto has been in reflection and introspection mode, preparing the soil as it were. Now it moves into action mode. The fact that this happens on the New Moon only underscores the intense transformational arc of this whole moon cycle!
⦿ Sun quincunx Uranus Rx 13°54′ Libra-Taurus 7:11 PM (In orb Oct 4-8)
(Sun conjunct Mars within 2 degrees Oct 1-14.)
(Mercury conjunct Mars within 10 degrees October 4-16.)
7 – THURSDAY
🌒 Waxing Crescent Moon (Day 2) – 23°40′ Libra – 08°20′ Scorpio
⦿ Venus moves into Sagittarius 0°00′ 7:21 AM – The goddess shimmers with enthusiasm and adventure in Sagittarius, seeking the horizons of thought and experience as philosopher or explorer, and ratifying the heart’s love for the mystery of the quest! Outspoken, truth-seeking, fiery, generous, and fun-loving, the Sagittarian goddess needs to rein in the enthusiasm when it runs roughshod and speaks with too brutal honesty.
(Sun conjunct Mars within 2 degrees Oct 1-14.)
(Mercury conjunct Mars within 10 degrees October 4-16.)
8 – FRIDAY
🌒 Waxing Crescent Moon (Day 3) 08°20′ – 23°02′ Scorpio
⦿ Mars conjunct Sun 15°05′ Libra 12:59 AM EDT
(Sun conjunct Mars within 2 degrees Oct 1-14). Not everyone will be activated by this cycle, but someone in your life probably is!
October 8, 2021, 12:59 AM EDT 15°05′ Libra – Mars reaches the heart of its Underworld journey today and the stakes are laid bare. The metal is molten. This is Christ dead on the cross, Aslan the lion lying bound and dead on the stone. In this profound moment, there are no guarantees, but still, reason for hope. Mars Underworld processes almost never include a physical death, because there is a resurrection at the end of this process.
Interestingly, Venus was exactly conjunct the Sun in March in Aries, the sign that Mars rules. Today, Mars aligns exactly conjunct the Sun in Libra, ruled by Venus. This is a classic mutual reception – yin and yang complementing each other. Venus had to stand up in her warrior’s courage earlier this year, die to herself in order to claim her truer identity. Mars faces a different kind of challenge, one requiring civility, aesthetic sensitivity, cultured sophistication, compromise, and consideration of The Other (partner) or Others (group or society). He will have to allow important relationships to die in order to claim his true society–literally as in leaving a long marriage, or internally as in letting go of cultural ideals. Or we will have to. This does not have to be a gendered story. We all have a Mars, we all have an animus, we are all our own heroes.
The theme of Mars-Venus reciprocity was doubled or emphasized by the past three weeks’ (from mid-September to October 7) Mars in Libra with Venus in Scorpio mutual reception (Mars is the old ruler of Scorpio and Venus is the ruler of Libra).
9 – SATURDAY
🌒 Waxing Crescent Moon (Day 4) 23°02′ Scorpio – 07°39′ Sagittarius
⦿ Mercury Rx conjunct Sun 16°35′ Libra 12:18 PM
⚚ Alchemical Mercury – Mercury Cycle begins (105 days) Every time Mercury retrograde lines up with the Sun, it has swung around between us and the sun until at the exact alignment…we begin a new Mercury cycle. As it passes through the sun’s glare, it is receiving transmissions from Great Mystery, downloading the codes of life, the information needed for the next 3-4 months (in this case, 105 days).
While it passes within 2-3 degrees of the sun, it is especially potent, opening direct portals of transmission, the capacity for gnosis or direct experience of the divine. If you seek to understand the deeper mysteries of the universe, now is the time to lean in and receive that information which Great Mystery would grant you access. This kind of transmission tends to emerge with intent and awareness until it’s just there in your mind. (I am speculating a bit, will this one be as potent as the June cycle which happened on the North Node in Gemini?)
This Mercury cycle begins during the fierce fiery heart of Mars’ Underworld pinnacle, as well as Venus’ 6th Gate this Mercury cycle begins during the fierce fiery heart of Mars’ Underworld, as well as Venus’ 6th Gate initiation in the evening sky. This whole next 105 days is going to be intense! Visionary content may focus on the past with Venus’ initiation occurring on the South Node.
⦿ Moon conjunct Venus 02°33′ Sagittarius 3:37 PM EDT
☪Venus Evening Star 6th Gate – In the Myth of Inanna, the Queen of Heaven reclaims her sixth center of power here at the sixth gate where Venus makes its sixth conjunction with the waxing crescent moon in the evening sky since it rose as Evening Star in May. The best time to see the bright Evening Star and crescent moon as always is before full dark when only they and the very brightest stars are visible in the twilight glow. And in this case, the evening of October 9 will be the closest alignment for viewing from North America.
The 6th center of power is traditionally associated with the brow or third eye center of vision. This year, the initiation happens in Sagittarius, an archetype well-acquainted with vision, farsight, and true-seeing! Furthermore, extraordinarily, the alignment occurs nearly exactly (within 1 minute of arc) with the South Node!! It’s a dizzying synchronicity that fills the imagination with visions of prophetic visions from the past coming true, profound visionary soul retrievals, and validation of truths seen and spoken before but perhaps not believed at the time… 🙂
⦿ Mercury Rx conjunct Mars 16°16′ Libra 6:48 PM EDT
Unlike the Mercury-Mars conjunction of August, Mars and Mercury line up with the sun in the Underworld where Mars lacks Mercury’s immunity to that fiery light. It infuses the flurry of intense, manic communications, correspondence, socializing, ideas, social media campaigns, and gnostic insights with unexpected underworld consequences. Catharsis? Ego death? Compost? Within 10 degrees October 4-16.
(Sun conjunct Mars within 2 degrees Oct 1-14.)
(Mercury conjunct Mars within 10 degrees October 4-16. Read more on Oct 9)
10 – SUNDAY
🌒 Waxing Crescent Moon (Day 5) 07°39′ – 22°06′ Sagittarius
⦿ Saturn stations direct 06°52′ Aquarius 10:17 PM – Saturn joins the outer planets all turning direct one after the other like dominoes… The Lord of Structure and Karma begins to interact directly with events. Have you been a good boy or girl? 😉 Are you willing to let go of judgment and move into love?
(Sun conjunct Mars within 2 degrees Oct 1-14.)
(Mercury conjunct Mars within 10 degrees October 4-16. Read more on Oct 9)
11 – MONDAY
🌒 Waxing Crescent Moon (Day 6) 2°06′ Sagittarius – 06°21′ Capricorn
(Sun conjunct Mars within 2 degrees Oct 1-14.)
(Mercury conjunct Mars within 10 degrees October 4-16. Read more on Oct 9)
12 – TUESDAY
🌓 First Quarter Moon (Day 7) 06°21′ – 20°21′ Capricorn – The moon crosses the threshold with Pluto
🌓 First Quarter Moon 20°01’ Capricorn 11:26 PM EDT
⦿ Mercury Rx quincunx Uranus Rx 13°43′ Libra-Taurus 1:29 AM (In orb October 10-14)
(Sun conjunct Mars within 2 degrees Oct 1-14.)
(Mercury conjunct Mars within 10 degrees October 4-16.)
13 – WEDNESDAY
🌔 Waxing Gibbous Moon (Day 8) 20°21′ Capricorn – 04°06′ Aquarius – Find Saturn east of the moon.
⦿ Sun quincunx Neptune Rx 21°00′ Libra-Pisces 11:32 PM (In orb October 11-14)
(Sun conjunct Mars within 2 degrees Oct 1-14.)
(Mercury conjunct Mars within 10 degrees October 4-16.)
14 – THURSDAY
🌔 Waxing Gibbous Moon (Day 9) 04°06′ – 17°37′ Aquarius – Saturn and Jupiter shine to either side of the moon tonight.
⦿ Mercury Rx >10 ° Sun – Mercury rises in the morning sky. Herald, Harvest of the Hermetic phase of Mercury, articulation of the cumulative insights, things coming to consciousness of a progressive nature. (Speculative, will this be similar to the June 2021 phase which was conjunct the North Node?)
(Sun conjunct Mars within 2 degrees Oct 1-14.)
(Mercury conjunct Mars within 10 degrees October 4-16.)
15 – FRIDAY
🌔 Waxing Gibbous Moon (Day 10) 17°37′ Aquarius – 00°54′ Pisces – Jupiter shines close and to the west of the moon.
⦿ Sun trine Jupiter Rx 22°20′ Libra-Aquarius 7:46 AM (In orb October 9-21) – The trines must be actively tapped or tend to lie dormant. Here, Life, Great Mystery, holds open a doorway onto broader horizons, onto a landscape of deeper abundance for a wider world if you can dream big and see the opportunities. If this doesn’t fit your situation, Jupiter may be asking YOU to be the blessing, to give greatly, to grow larger, and to work to uplift humanity.
(Mercury conjunct Mars within 10 degrees October 4-16. Read more on Oct 9)
16 – SATURDAY
🌔 Waxing Gibbous Moon (Day 11) 00°54′ – 13°57′ Pisces
⦿ Venus trine Chiron Rx 10°03′ Sagittarius-Aries 2:49 PM (In orb October 11-22) – The trines must be actively tapped or tend to lie dormant. Healing and mastery can be had for the Goddess on her journey to retrieve her vision.
⦿ Mars quincunx Neptune Rx 20°56′ Libra-Pisces 8:32 PM (In orb October 13-19)
(Mercury conjunct Mars within 10 degrees October 4-16.)
17 – SUNDAY
🌔 Waxing Gibbous Moon (Day 12) 13°57′ 26°47′ Pisces – The swelling moon shines near invisible Neptune.
⦿ Sun square Pluto 24° 20′ Libra-Capricorn 8:12 AM – Powerful conflicts of a deep and subterranean nature, trapped life force strains for release, sudden eruptions, volatile transformations will tend to dominate this two week period. (In orb October 9-25)
18 – MONDAY
🌔 Waxing Gibbous Moon (Day 13) 26°47′ Pisces – 09°24′ Aries – The moon lies just to the west of invisible Chiron tonight.
⦿ Jupiter stations direct 22°19′ Aquarius 1:30 AM
⦿ Mercury stations direct 10°07′ Libra 11:17 AM – Mercury is virtually still today (the Stillpoint), then tomorrow begins it’s Morning Star phase – Apollo, logical, understands thought.
⦿ Mars trine Jupiter 22°19′ Libra-Aquarius 10:36 PM – The trines must be actively tapped or tend to lie dormant. Faciliates action, adventure, fun, progress for the greater good. (In orb October 9-28)
19 – TUESDAY
🌔 Waxing Gibbous Moon (Day 14) 09°24′ – 21°50′ Aries – The moon shines a fistwidth to the east of Chiron.
⦿ Venus quincunx Uranus Rx 13°26′ Sagittarius-Taurus 7:15 PM (In orb October 17-21)
20 – WEDNESDAY
🌕 Full Moon (Day 15) 21°50′ Aries – 04°03′ Taurus
🌕 Full Moon 27º26′ Aries 10:57 AM EDT
21 – THURSDAY
🌖 Waning Gibbous Moon (Day 16) 04°03′ – 16°07′ Taurus – The moon aligns nearly perfectly with Uranus tonight.
22 – FRIDAY
🌖 Waning Gibbous Moon (Day 17) 16°07′ – 28°02′ Taurus
⦿ Mars square Pluto 24°22′ Libra-Capricorn 12:19 AM – Volatile tensions, anger, explosive action of a surprising and titanic nature, skirmishes and wars.(In orb October 9-November 3)
23 – SATURDAY
🌖 Waning Gibbous Moon (Day 18) 28°02′ Taurus – 09°52′ Gemini – The moon aligns near its own North Node.
⦿ Sun 0°00’ Scorpio 12:51 AM EDT
Working with the Transits
How to Find Your Transits this Month
- Look at the transiting planets this month and note the locations by degree (number).
- Look at your natal planets, nodes, and angles, and note their locations by degree (see “Finding Your Natal Planets” below). Find any transiting planets that match within 1 degree of any of your natal planets. Next, make note of any which match within 5 degrees. You may download the printable worksheet here.
- Use the “Aspects Chart” below to determine the aspects. The 0-1 degree alignments are the most powerful, while the 2-5 degree alignments move into the background (sometimes adding emphasis or coloring other transits)
- Advanced: Next, you can rank your transits by importance. This is a complex art that takes years to master, but we have created a guide you can use to get started, below called “Ranking Transits by Importance.”
- A personalized transit reading by an experienced astrologer would give you information you can’t find here, but we encourage you to dive in and track the astrological transits for yourself. You are the best mediator of your life, and there is a richness and subtlety that comes with following the astrological seasons directly for yourself! Keep a journal (use the print version of this planner or your own journal), and enjoy the ride!
Questions?
Post them below or email katy at katymorikawa.com. Subscribe to the newsletter for updates 🙂