Almost everyone knows about astrology’s 12 signs. The signs are indeed important in astrology, but their popular use belies astrology’s real breadth and depth. One of the most useful and universally applicable applications of astrology is the “weather forecast” of energies we can see when we watch the planets move through the signs. As they do so, they connect with each other. As above, so below—here on earth, we see the drama of the macrocosm played out in the microcosm. It doesn’t matter what sign you are—knowing the lay of the land up ahead gives you a great perspective on your life and experiences.

September is an interesting month. Complicated, but full of energy.

September 1-6
September opens with kisses. Love is in the air, as Venus and Jupiter meet up in Libra, one of Venus’s favorite signs, then Venus carries Jupiter’s abundant optimism to Pluto, the ruler of the murky depths of the underworld. It’s a good time to do deep research, healing or therapy, or to have that deep talk you have been putting off. Also a good time for mortgages, loans, banking and financial deals of all sorts. September 1 and 2, during the balsamic Lunar phase, are the best days of the month for letting go of a bad habit, such as smoking. It’s easier during the balsamic Moon than any other time of the month. A new Moon in Virgo brightens things up and re-shuffles the emotional deck on the afternoon of the 3rd.

However, things may still feel a bit heavy and off. Saturn sesquisquare Pluto builds in power until the date it’s exact, September 9. It’s a minor aspect, but these are heavy planets. There is tremendous power in this combination that brings frustration of the highest order, but also brings important breakthroughs. You must be willing to let go of the unimportant details, and hang in there with matters of great importance. You may meet more resistance to your plans than you thought you would. Avoid engaging in pointless arguments.

September 10, a yod forms in the sky, which lasts until the 16th. For the technically inclined, a Yod happens when two planets are sextile each other, and a third planet forms an inconjunct to each. Bil Tierney’s excellent book Dynamics of Aspect Analysis has an entire section on yods. (This book mainly addresses aspects in the natal chart, but the basic ideas are still applicable.)

The best encapsulation I ever heard of the Yod came from a sports astrologer. As a point of reference, she told me that great football players tend to have t-squares in their birth charts. A t-square is a very tense and powerful formation of planets. When they are in the sky, it’s a time when we have to power through obstacles, conflicts and turmoil, which challenges and ultimately strengthens us. People born during these times have conflicting needs or circumstances which require great strength and hard work to overcome. (There isn’t a t-square in the sky now, but there will be a grand cross—a relative of the t-square—in force in December and January.)

On the other hand, great basketball players tend to have yods in their birth charts. A person who has a yod in the natal chart has a special gift, which takes some time to master. But once they get good at it, they are very skilled and capable. Basketball games have a much faster pace than football games. Yods in the sky signal times when we have to be like basketball players—creative, in the moment, quick on our feet, and adaptable to changing conditions and circumstances. Finesse is more important than brute strength with yods. At the apex of mid-September’s yod formation is Mars. You have to find that “sweet spot” where you’re assertive enough, but not too hasty or aggressive. It’s a high energy sky this week—it can be a very productive week where a lot gets done. We all just have to be a little more flexible.

September 14-22, Saturn forms an inconjunct with Uranus. Here we have the old and conventional meeting up with the new and rebellious. If you’re “rebel without a cause” revolutionary, your point gets lost. Those at the top who are too rigid, might break. September 24-26, another yod forms. This one involves Mercury and may bring surprises or disruptions in commerce and transportation.

In late September, our physical energy, initiative, and ability to move forward is on the wane as the planet Mars (action) slows down in preparation for his retrograde period. This is the rarest retrograde of all, coming just once every 2 years. It is also the longest, lasting 10 weeks—from October 1 to December 9. Accidents, arguments, delays, low energy and conflict describe the downside of this retrograde. There’s still some excitement in the air in October as we observe a semiannual pair of eclipses on October 3 and 17.