We have come to the end of a turbulent summer of angry eclipses and retrograde challenges. Now we can look forward to all planets moving ahead and a long Venus transit through its own home sign of Libra. All relationships will get a boost with both Mars and Venus placed in dignity this month.
Venus Transits Libra September 1 – January 1, 2019
Venus can breathe a sigh of relief as it leaves Virgo, its sign of debilitation, where it was transiting for a month under the harsh glance of Saturn. Now, Venus starts its long four month journey through its own sign, Libra, on September 1. Venus performs exceptionally well in Libra, even more so than Taurus, as Libra is its mooltrikona sign, the sign where Venus’ natural qualities are exhibited. So we can expect relationships to take centre stage for the next four months.
Venus is now free of all malefic influences and enjoys the first six weeks of her stay in Libra with the other great benefic, Jupiter, till October 11, when Jupiter moves to Scorpio. This adds to the blessings being flourished on relationships at this time. It is a good time to date, get engaged, or get married. In Libra, Venus teaches us how to be clean in our homes and businesses as well as fair in our politics and relationships. This last four months of 2018 will be graced by this teaching of what to sweep away in order to create a clean, fertile environment for our creativity and relationships with one another. This is also an auspicious time to undertake any new beauty regimens, change your appearance, add luxury items to your wardrobe as well as your home.
Among the planets, Venus shares the designation of “guru” with Jupiter. They are the two gurus, with Jupiter as the transmitter of “natural law” and Venus as the regent and instructor of “social law.” From the mythological perspective, Shukra (Venus) is the preceptor of the asuras (the dark path) and Guru (Jupiter) is the preceptor of the suras (the light path). Therefore, while not natural friends, Jupiter and Venus carry the same mantle of teacher and we rely on each of them for inspiration and guidance as we navigate both the natural world and the social environment that it contains.
The reason that Venus spends so long in Libra is due its retrograde cycle from October 5 till November 16, which is where we may have second thoughts about the people in our lives, particularly romantic relationships. This is a 40-day cycle where making any relationship official is discouraged. Once we move ahead in November, then we come out of our period of reflection and introspection about our relationships and can move forward with full confidence.
Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn can especially benefit from this placement of Venus as it transits in a kendra position from their sign and thus forms a Maha Purush, Malavaya yoga. All facets connected to Venus will get a boost, including sensual pleasures, relationships, luxury, and material comforts. Aries can look forward to better relationships; Cancer can look forward to a more fulfilling domestic life; Libra can look forward to better vitality and self-confidence; and Capricorn can look forward to career, image improvements.
Mercury in Leo September 2 – September 19
Mercury is moving in direct motion now and joins the Sun in Leo on September 2. Mercury will be in deep combustion from September 16 to September 24. Watch for communications at this time.
On September 19, Mercury after its speedy journey through Leo, reaches its own home, and sign of exaltation, Virgo. We can use this transit to put energy toward re-balancing our physical health and optimizing our homes. This is a good time for health therapies, detox cleanses, focusing on educational pursuits, communications projects, and all financial tasks.
Virgo and Gemini will benefit the most from this transit of Mercury as their ruler will be in exaltation. Whilst transiting its exaltation sign, Gemini, Pisces, Virgo, and Sagittarius can enjoy the benefits of a Bhadra yoga, considered a blessed time and great for getting organised, long-term planning, and making decisions.
Saturn Direct in Sagittarius September 6
After months of retrograde motion, finally Saturn moves direct on September 6 in the sign of Sagittarius, in the nakshatra of Mula. Saturn began retrograde at 15° Sagittarius in the nakshatra of Purvashada and turns direct at 9° Sagittarius in the nakshatra of Mula. This direct motion continues until Saturn’s next retrograde cycle, April 29 – September 17, 2019.
Retrograde planets in general tend to show a strong force that expresses an intense desire for something. Saturn in general wants to expose the illusion that life offers permanence and security and further wants us to take responsibility for our actions while traveling on this karmic plane.
Saturn will continue to give some pressure or difficulty in the domain of life that Sagittarius represents in individual charts. The signs of Aquarius, Gemini and Virgo are also receiving the aspect of Saturn, which often creates situations that evoke anxiety, fear, exhaustion, though at the same time, these affected areas will bring great opportunities for growth and change.
Saturn will stay in Mula nakshatra till 27 November when it returns to Venus’ nakshatra, Purva Ashada. In Mula, we are forced to uproot everything, as Ketu is the lord of this fierce nakshatra. Mula fuels a passionate desire to get to the truth, making this a good time for investigation and research. The ruling deity of Mula, Goddess Nirriti, brings the energy of loss and destruction to this nakshatra. At the deepest level, this destructive force can be used for surrender and transformation. Whilst in retrograde, Saturn could have also brought extreme reversals of fortune that may have involved painful transformation.
New Moon in Purva Phalguni, Venus’ nakshatra, on September 9
On September 9, at approx. 6 pm UTC, we have a new moon at 22 degrees Leo, in the nakshatra of Purva Phalguni. Mercury will join the Sun and Moon and will also receive a powerful aspect from Mars from its exalted position.
Nakshatras, or star constellations, are passive forces, which need the planets to activate them. To reflect on the deeper meaning of life, it is vital to note the nakshatra placements as this will reveal the inner motivation of the planet that resides there. The nakshatra ruler of Purva Phalguni is Venus and the ruler of Leo is the Sun, both planets strongly placed in their own signs in September. Sun is the soul, our life purpose and direction, and personifies our ego, our place in the world, exemplifying the “Me.” Whereas in contrast, Venus signifies relationships, our need to connect to others, personifying the “We.” With Sun and Moon in Venus’ nakshatra and Venus sitting in its own sign with Jupiter, it is a very positive time for relationships.
The ruling deity of Purva Phalguni is Bhaga, one of the twelve Adityas (solar deities), also referred to as the God of delight, who bestows affection and sexual passion. Venus, the planetary ruler of this nakshatra, brings an appreciation for relationships, beauty, and luxury. This is truly a star of relaxation and recreation. Purva Phalguni, literally translated as “already red” implying ripe or ready gives the energy of renewal and contentment.
This new moon represents an ideal time for new beginnings, and a great time to begin a new relationship. Relationships will have all the positive qualities of Venus, Sun, and Mars, making them ripe with passion, purpose, and love at the forefront of all interactions at this time. It is also a great time for taking a relaxing holiday. If you have been thinking of a new beauty regimen or you want to change something about your appearance, this would be a good time to do so. With Venus in dignity, you would get favourable outcomes for improving your appearance or your wardrobe. Even if it involved surgical improvements, with Mars’ exalted aspect, you would be delighted with the results.
Sun Transits Virgo September 17 – October 17
The Sun moves from Leo to Virgo on September 17, where it will receive the aspect of its arch enemy, Saturn. This may bring forward the classic tension we feel when the Sun-Saturn theme comes up, which involves a bit of struggle to create a balanced, healthy ego. There may be a desire to bring healing and balance to self-esteem, individuality or self-image. The effective way of doing this is to find the willingness to let go of self-defined restrictions as an act of healing which leads to wholeness and integration.
The aspect from Saturn is the strongest for the first 9 days. Mercury then joins the Sun and this can boost the Sun’s strength as it is now with the sign’s ruler. This can lead to quick decision making and a productive month.
Full Moon in Pisces, in the nakshatra of Uttara Bhadrapada, on September 25
After leaving the Nodal axis, the Moon moves into Jupiter’s sign of Pisces as she becomes full on September 25 at approx. 4 am UTC. The Sun is in Uttara Phalguni and the Moon is in the nakshatra of Uttara Bhadrapada, ruled by Saturn. This full moon is being aspected by Rahu, the north node.
“Uttara” means higher level and “Bhadra” means auspicious, blessed and beautiful. This nakshatra has a strong connection with past life deeds. The good deeds done in previous births will come back now as good luck. This nakshatra is ruled by Saturn and deity is Ahir Budhaniya, one of the eleven rudras associated with water and darkness. Water here is the deep ocean of spirituality and it is dark at the sea bed. Ahir budhaniya represents the serpent which lives in the dark, mysterious ocean, and can come back to the surface with invaluable secrets. Any time the serpent (kundalini) energy is invoked, it can bring up toxic thoughts from within, and being this is in Pisces, it makes us want to escape. So be watchful for thoughts of powerlessness, toxic emotions, and the need to escape from painful realities into the world of drugs and alcohol.
But with Saturn as a ruler, it forces us to go deeper, surrender, and then think about placing foundations in our lives to allow positive transformation. This gives us the desire to examine things at depth, making it a good time to commit to anything that you have been contemplating the past few months, whether it is a new idea, relationship, or practice in your life.
Mars Direct in Capricorn August 27 & Mars Ketu Final Conjunction September 22
Exalted Mars resumed direct motion at 4° Capricorn on Monday, August 27, allowing a sense of relief at the promise of a more calm environment after the strong agitation of Mars during this retrograde cycle which has marked July/August 2018.
Now, Mars moves toward a final meeting with the south node of the Moon, Ketu, around the autumnal equinox, on September 22 at 1 pm UTC. After this meeting, we should be able to really enjoy the power and force of a well-directed, exalted Mars as he marches through Capricorn until November 6, when he moves to Aquarius. Mars is exactly exalted at 28° Capricorn on November 3.
Mars moving direct in Capricorn can be harnessed to bolster our strength, determination and perseverance as we implement our plans. The only planet to receive Mars’ direct planetary aspect will be Rahu in Cancer. This serious and heroic Mars may put some focus on clearing the roads of obstructions that have come about during the chaotic eclipse season that was underpinned by a bunch of retrograde planets. Rahu tends to obfuscate, manipulate and masquerade; however, Mars being the stronger of the two can help us excavate the truth and destroy the falsities as we plow forward toward our goals.
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