September 2023 Astro-Highlights: A Refreshing Respite!

In spite of the fact that we have five planets in retrograde as the month begins, September does end with a distinct shift in the energies and a feeling of momentum after two inner planets, Venus and Mercury, finally start to move forward.

The month kicks off with Venus stationing direct in Leo on September 3rd, helping us embrace a renewed sense of self-confidence and reclaim any Venus-related money or relationship issues that may have seemed askew during Venus’ retrograde cycle.

On the 4th, Jupiter stations retrograde in Taurus, kicking off four months of inner expansion that will help us release areas where we’ve over-done it on the material plane and commit to a strategic financial plan that spans the long term.

At mid-month, we welcome a powerful New Moon in Virgo, imbued with the perfect energy for bringing our intentions into full manifestation IF we're willing to do the work! The following day, Mercury stations direct in its home and exaltation sign of Virgo, giving us an opportunity for a deep mental reset!

The Sun then enters Libra, marking the Autumn Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and bringing our collective attention to our close relationships and the overall sense of harmony we may (or may not) be experiencing.  

The month concludes with a Full Supermoon in Aries, which acts as an emotional prelude to next month's eclipse season, lighting a fire within each of us and inspiring us to blaze our own trail.

Energy Most Challenging for Sun/Moon/Rising in: Aries, Libra 

Energy Most Positive for Sun/Moon/Rising in: Leo, Virgo

Mixed Energy for Sun/Moon/Rising in: Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces

Maximum Intensity for Sun/Moon/Rising in: Aries, Libra

September 3, 2023: Venus Stations Direct in Leo at 12°

September 4, 2023: Jupiter Stations Retrograde in Taurus at 15°

September 14, 2023: New Moon at 21° Virgo

September 15, 2023: Mercury Stations Direct at 8° Virgo

September 23, 2023: Sun Enters Libra

September 29, 2023: Full Moon at 6° Aries

Venus Stations Direct in Leo at 12°

Exact on September 3, 2023, at 7:20 pm MDT

Active from September 3 through October 8, 2023

After a 40-day retrograde period, Venus stations direct in the dramatic and expressive sign of Leo. Venus has been transiting Leo since June 5, upgrading this area of our lives with powerful, ongoing squares to Jupiter and Uranus in Taurus. The squares to Jupiter and Uranus have been testing our self-confidence while awakening an intense need for more authentic self-expression, joy, and freedom in our finances and romantic lives.  

As one of the more significant astrological events of the year, this highly-anticipated shift in direction has Venus holding steady in an extended square with Jupiter, which is stationing retrograde in Taurus the following day. Venus square Jupiter brings palpable feelings of optimism and needed momentum to matters close to our hearts and our wallets! Any uncertainties regarding relationships or financial issues that have come to the fore throughout this retrograde will begin to resolve themselves in beneficial ways we could never have anticipated at the onset of this cycle.  

Jupiter Stations Retrograde in Taurus at 15° 

Exact on September 4, 2023, at 8:11 am MDT

Active from September 4 through December 30, 2023

As benefic Jupiter stations retrograde, it does so in a tight square with Venus, newly direct in Leo, initiating a 4-month period of introspection, internal growth, and enhanced self-awareness in the area of our lives ruled by Taurus. Jupiter stationing in a square to the ruler of Taurus is an ideal time to reconnect with nature, indulge in self-care, enjoy simple pleasures, reflect on our idea of abundance, and foster harmony in our personal and professional connections.

Additionally, Jupiter’s retrograde in Taurus is a time to nurture our finances by embracing Taurean qualities like determination, practicality, and long-term planning in order to build a solid foundation for our financial future. Using this time to review our financial goals and investments will help cultivate a more profound sense of stability and secure the bountiful opportunities that await as Jupiter transits this abundant sign.

New Moon at 21° Virgo

Exact on September 14, 2023, at 7:40 pm MDT

Most active from September 9 through September 19, 2023

The Virgo New Moon is the moon for MANIFESTING! The New Moon in Virgo is always the perfect energy to work with when we want to refine our routines, focus on physical well-being, or get things organized and running efficiently in the area of our lives ruled by Virgo. However, this particular New Moon has some extra strength behind it!  

The Virgo New Moon creates a powerful Grand Earth Trine between Uranus in Taurus and Pluto in Capricorn, bringing exciting breakthroughs and lightning-fast manifestations with whatever we seed at this time.

With the energy of a Grand Earth Trine, we have a much easier time working with our intentions and making them tangible. This New Moon energy assists us in being more practically-minded to establish more structure in our lives and understand the steps we need to take to reach our big-picture goal. The involvement of Uranus and Pluto, in particular, promises unexpected developments and transformation.

Additionally, the Virgo New Moon is ruled by Mercury, which is soon to station direct in opposition to Saturn in Pisces. Mercury opposite Saturn gives a disciplined, but potentially rigid way of thinking about things. However, the New Moon itself opposes Neptune in Pisces, which suggests that it is essential to strike a balance between our logical minds and our imagination.

Mercury Stations Direct at 8° Virgo

Exact on September 15, 2023, at 2:21 pm MDT

Active from September 15 through October 4, 2023

Mercury stationing direct in Virgo is when we'll feel like things are finally moving forward, especially in the Virgo and Gemini-ruled areas of our charts and lives. This retrograde period has been a necessary slowdown for examining and breaking down our systems to understand how they work. Now that we have re-visited essential information, we can begin putting the pieces back together in ways that help us become more organized and efficient.

Throughout this retrograde period, Mercury has been in an ongoing trine to Jupiter in Taurus, helping us grasp the bigger picture while gaining insight into the smaller moving pieces and parts. Having used this energy to streamline our systems, we will likely experience a sense of positive momentum as Mercury begins its forward motion and connects with Jupiter exactly once more. Mercury will move on to trine Uranus in Taurus and Pluto in Capricorn before it leaves the sign of Virgo, bringing quantum leaps forward in our day-to-day activities and a true sense of transformation.

Sun Enters Libra

Exact on September 23, 2023, at 12:50 am MDT

Active from September 23 through October 23, 2023

As the Sun begins its yearly transit of the peacekeeping sign of Libra and kicks off the Autumn Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, it showcases our innate human need for balance and harmony. The Sun in Libra illuminates the energy of fair judgment, cooperation, diplomacy, and social grace to establish needed equilibrium.

Committed relationships and contractual agreements come into sharper focus during Libra season. Still, this year, there is a palpable energy of change and transformation in the air as the Sun conjuncts the karmic South Node in Libra while squaring Pluto in Capricorn at an Annular New Moon eclipse toward the end of Libra season. This Libra season, it is essential that we use discernment to assess our important relationships and release ourselves from any karmic contracts or agreements that feel outdated or no longer bring a sense of harmony to our lives.

Full Moon at 6° Aries

Exact on  September 29, 2023, at 3:57 am MDT

Most active from September 24 through October 4, 2023

The Full Super Moon in Aries is an active and emotional energy intensifying our urge for more independence, space, and freedom. With a Full Moon in Aries, our focus is on ourselves and our own wants and desires. We want what we want, and if we're not getting it, at this Full Moon, many of us may conclude that it's better if we go our separate ways to get it.   

This Full Moon is ruled by Mars, which is conjunct the South Node in Libra, where Mars is at its detriment. Additionally, Mars is sextile to Venus in Leo and square to Pluto in Capricorn, making it abundantly clear which relationships bring us joy and are in equilibrium, and which have become outdated or possibly even toxic.  

With the Full Moon in Aries, we crave something new, fresh and exciting. This craving is magnified with Mars' conjunction to the South Node in Libra, which indicates a severing of outdated bonds, contracts, and relationships. Any relationships that are no longer harmonious or fair, whether romantic, business, or platonic, are reaching a natural and fated end.

Mars in Libra tends to set its own desires aside in favor of keeping peace. However, doing this too often creates discord within and can lead to outbursts of bottled-up frustration. With Mars's square to Pluto, that discord gets stirred up, and anger or resentment could rise from deep within at this Full Moon.

The Aries Full Moon marks a decisive turning point, being the last Full Moon before eclipse season begins. Actions taken now lead us into fated new territory.

Written by Stephanie Weiss, edited by Heather and the Astrology with Heather team