Astroblogick

Harvest Moon

[Please note: This week's installment is being posted remotely which means it probably contains blatant typos and format errors, at least until I have a chance to make additional corrections at home. If you find any of these typos, you don't need to tell me.]

    This week we have the usual mixture of alignments and what appears to be a general build-up ahead of the Pisces Full Moon, taking place late Friday night or very early Saturday morning, depending on your time zone. Closely tied to the Full Moon we see one of the more potentially confusing or deceptive contacts in astrology as Mars moves opposite Neptune one hour after the exact time of the Full Moon. In addition, Mercury and Venus will be conjoined at the last degree of Virgo which speaks to critical evaluations within the context of relationships or matters involving finances until the end of September. 

    By itself, the Harvest Moon is considered a time to take a long look at what we’ve set into motion, not only over the prior two weeks, but since the beginning of summer in order to glean essential truths out of lessons learned. Here we find the Pisces Moon in opposition to the Virgo Sun speaking to a need for vision, imagination and spiritual insights in contrast to a desire to form sharp, delineated facts and critical evaluations. Ideally, this speaks to our ability to take the products of our deepest inspirations and turn them into concrete forms or applications that can be put to use in our daily lives. The Full Moon illuminates the late degrees of Pisces and Virgo (21Pis/Vir05) on Friday night (9:33 pm PDT/12:33 am EDT); whatever is in place at that time will reverberate until the New Moon.

Saturn Station

    Although this is something that will become more noticeable next week, Saturn is slowing ahead of ending retrograde on Sept. 18, hovering opposite the location of the Sun’s position in the United States chart (13Can18). Because the Sun in national chart represents the chief executive, we should expect a major development with regard to Trump over the course of the next two weeks. This might involve the proverbial Last Straw, or more likely, him completely leaving the rails in some kind of psychotic breakdown which might point to a constitutional crisis. Whatever it is, stationary direct Saturn typically points to blockages, impasses, difficulties and consequences which will have a strong impact on the United States as a whole.

    At the same time as Saturn’s station, Trump will experience his Progressed New Moon on Sept. 19, a major event in a person’s life which occurs once every 30 years, meaning he’s at the bitter end of a period of closure which began when he first announced his candidacy for president. Although I would expect we’ll see more developments in his slow-motion demise, he’s defied so many predictions so far, I believe we’re dealing with a demon here. I just know that when it does all come crashing down, it will be nothing short of spectacular. We’ll take another, closer look at his Progressed New Moon and what it might symbolize next week.

Lunar Gardening Report

    All day Sunday and a good part of Monday are good for planting stuff that needs strong root development as well as enriching soil with the Moon waxing in Capricorn. The Moon then moves into agriculturally-barren Aquarius on Monday at 5:30 pm when we’re encouraged to give our gardens (and ourselves) a rest until Thursday. The nearly-full Moon in Pisces favors all manner of planting and fertilizing Thursday through late afternoon Saturday, when the focus shifts to weeding, cutting, mowing and pest control when the Moon begins to move through Aries after 6:30 pm.

Daily Forecast (For all signs)
(Times are Eastern Daylight/-0400UTC)

Sunday, Sept. 8: The morning hours might feel like pressing the accelerator and the brake at the same time as the Capricorn Moon tweeks Mars and Saturn at once. Otherwise, one of the more expansive contacts takes place today, providing a boost of optimism and a sense of humor (Sun square Jupiter). This can also point to over-the-top bombast as well as excess and waste if it isn’t properly directed. Deep, probing insights emerge in the evening hours; ideal for research, investigation and general sleuthing (Mercury trine Pluto). Also growing strong as the night progresses is another contact encouraging us to act with circumspection and caution (Mars trine Saturn). This contact also speaks to the need to take full responsibility for our actions and behaviors.

Monday, Sept. 9: Heads-up! The Moon is void-of-course (VOC) in Capricorn until 5:25 pm, citing hazards for important decisions and agreements but is entirely fine for any kind of routine work or the need to be productive. Although the Moon waxing in Aquarius tonight is about clear-headed thinking, an overnight contact speaks of idealism, gullibility, deception, vision or matters involving drugs, water or serial liars (Sun opposed Neptune).

Tuesday, Sept. 10: The day could be off to a woozy start with the Sun-Neptune opposition messing with our early morning projects and any need for clarity. Once we move into the second half of the day, things become more clear with little in the way of obstacles to complicate things. Better to use today to set things into motion than to wait until tomorrow when the Aquarius Moon will be VOC for the entire day.

Wednesday, Sept. 11: With the Moon VOC in Aquarius until tomorrow morning, it would be good to tread lightly while sticking with routine business. Even though there isn’t much activity to speak of today, I suspect we’ll be contending with a general sense of restlessness or agitation ahead of a contact perfecting tomorrow morning. Stay chilled!

Thursday, Sept. 12: We may find ourselves feeling a little more emotional as we move through the day under the auspices of the surging Pisces Moon ahead of tomorrow night’s Full Moon in this sign. Overreacting or overdoing things are possible this morning with little in the way of balance, particularly during the first half of the day (Mars square Jupiter). Innovative insights are possible late afternoon while tonight is favorable for movies, concerts or a quiet night at home.

Friday, Sept. 13: If today isn’t your lucky day, it might have more to do with a growing cluster of astrological factors than the fact that it’s Friday the Thirteenth. Relationship matters come into focus in the late morning hours while conversations involving love, sex or money might also be central (Mercury conjunct Venus). The use or abuse of power could become an important theme as we move further into the day with some people making a positive difference through the wielding of such power (Sun trine Pluto). Emotional intensity levels are likely to be high with tonight’s Full Moon in Pisces, becoming exact at 9:33 pm (PDT) and 12:33 am (EDT).

Saturday, Sept. 14: The Full Moon brings the cycle launched two weeks ago to some kind of culmination in the latter degrees of Pisces (21Pis05) at 12:55 am. This could signal heightened emotional sensitivities as well as the potential for mystical experiences or attunement to deeper layers of our psyches. About an hour later, one of the stranger contacts takes place as Mars moves opposite Neptune (ruler of Pisces) where something is likely to go wrong as we move through the morning hours. Odd sensations, unaccounted-for hostilities, covert acts of violence, accidents caused by inattention or inebriation, deceptive actions, underhanded behaviors, epidemics or violent weather systems are default manifestations of Mars-Neptune. It’s most positive expression can be found through selfless and compassionate actions. Smoothing things out as we move further into the morning hours, both Mercury and Venus will cross the cusp into Libra where a more peaceful vibe comes into play. Things might grow more animated as we move into the evening when the Moon makes its way through Aries along with the tendency to shoot first, ask questions later. Be safe out there, folks!

Copyright 2019 Gary Paul Glynn

Storm Warnings

    There is little in the way of any single astrological feature to focus on this coming week but that isn’t to say nothing is going on in the heavens as we have an outgrowth from last Friday’s New Moon in Virgo, accompanied by Mars, Venus and Mercury still gathered in Virgo. This is a time for close scrutiny and with Virgo’s ruling planet, Mercury, forming a total of seven separate aspects to other planets throughout the week, we'll see something on the order of non-stop coverage of breaking news.

    Of these aspects, the one we need to watch closely involves Mercury and Mars joining one another on the far side of the Sun, creating a syzygy: Earth-Sun-Mercury-Mars. This somewhat rare alignment is very high energy and could result in significant developments, particularly where the executive function (Sun) is concerned. Angry words, damning evidence, accidents, breaking news, natural and manmade disasters, saber rattling, threats and white male privilege could all be on display this week.

    Venus is also active this week, which in the big picture represents values, relationships, sexuality and financial instruments. On a mundane level of expression, Venus also has an association with precipitation and is often found making strong contacts when we see copious storms and major flooding. With Hurricane Dorian expected to make landfall midweek, this will be coincidental with Venus opposed Neptune/Posei

Summer's Last Blast

    Closer to home, the Labor Day Weekend is upon us with lively aspects keeping things moving at a brisk pace. The freshly-hatched New Moon takes on a sliver of light in Libra on Sunday and Monday, ideal for social gatherings and entertainments as Municipal Summer comes to a close. Have fun, but keep your eyes open as the contacts I spoke of above come home to roost this week and there could be some very volatile energies at work in even the most peaceful settings.

    Once we see Labor Day retreating in the rear-view mirror, we have a number of opportunities to set projects in motion while being alert to the waxing Moon entering extended void-of-course (VOC) periods swallow every other day. Setting something important into motion? Watch your timing and you should be good to go.

Lunar Gardening Report

    If you’ve been hanging back from planting until we got on the other side of Friday’s New Moon, the lights turn green for fertilizing, planting and growth beginning Sunday morning with to a four day planting streak. As you probably know, the Libra Moon is ideal for planting flowers and other ornamentals through Monday. Monday night through Wednesday sees the Moon in the uber-fertile sign of Scorpio and a good time to plant just about anything, not to mention enriching soil with compost and manure. Yard and gardening tasks switch Thursday and Friday with the Moon moving through the fire sign of Sagittarius and a good time for cutting, clearing, weeding, mowing, harvesting and turning compost. Favorable planting conditions return Saturday and Sunday with the waxing Moon in Capricorn, particularly when it comes to anything requiring strong root development.

Daily Forecast (For all signs)
(Times are Eastern Daylight/-0400UTC)

Sunday, Sept. 1: September gets off to a loud start while the Libra Moon puts some distance between itself and the Virgo Sun in the wake of Friday’s New Moon in Virgo. Revelations, discoveries, revolutions and breaking news explode on the scene with Mercury forming a flowing, trine aspect to Uranus. This is the first of seven major aspects Mercury will form with other planets in the coming week, suggesting nonstop coverage. Accountability and consequence loom large when it comes to love, sex and money, with a special emphasis on grown-up relationships (Venus trine Saturn). I suspect that this might possibly signify a dose of the Bitter Truth in the wake of the earlier, Mercury-Uranus breakthrough. Delays, obstacles or heavy emotional displays dominate the late afternoon while a lighter, more upbeat signature emerges tonight; ideal for dates and/or pleasant social gatherings under the Libra Moon.

Monday, Sept. 2: Labor Day. This would be a good day to do very little in the way labor if you can help it with the Moon VOC in Libra until 7:35pm, at which time the Moon enters Scorpio. Easier said than done with the morning hours dominated by a high-energy signature suggesting the impulsive desire to act on just about anything (Sun conjunct Mars). Of all the planetary combinations, Sun-Mars represents masculine, ego-centric behaviors as well as the potential for cruelty and violence at its most extreme. Amplifying this theme, Mercury is in the process of joining Mars on the far side of the Sun, signaling major developments involving persons in high places, resulting in furious reactions and an increase in overall insanity and mayhem on a global scale of expression. If that weren’t enough, another aspect places an emphasis on finance and currency markets, wasteful spending or something completely different, such as an overabundance of precipitation (Venus square Jupiter). Hopefully, the latter manifestation doesn’t rain out your Labor Day picnic.

Tuesday, Sept. 3: Another high-intensity day under the auspices of an emotionally-intense Scorpio Moon in its waxing Crescent Phase, signaling a surge of momentum for projects and initiatives we put on hold last week. We might also be seeing the psychic landscape radically shift in the early morning hours, with saber-rattling and furious tweets dominating the second half of the day (Mercury conjunct Mars). We should expect dissonance and misinformation to escalate with every instance of important news being obstructed, delayed, distorted or overshadowed by powers-that-be as we move into this somewhat rare syzygy (Earth-Sun-Mercury-Mars).

Wednesday, Sept. 4: Watch your step! The Moon is VOC in Scorpio from 7:00 am until 11:08 pm when it enters Sagittarius, citing the usual hazards for agreements and decisions. Relationships and/or finances are likely to be under some kind of spell with the potential for confusion, deception or a stroll down the garden path in La La Land (Venus opposed Neptune). A mundane manifestation of this aspect can be found in the way of intense weather conditions, especially involving torrential rainfalls, tropical storms and their flooded aftermath. Be safe out there.

Thursday, Sept. 5: The waxing Sagittarius Moon lends a more upbeat tone to the proceedings while matters of a legal or political nature find greater expression, especially in light of recent developments. We now have an opportunity to take a step back from the news cycle and get our personal bearings even as the need for accountability increases (Mercury trine Saturn). Impatience, irritability and arguments are possible later tonight, just before the Moon enters into its First Quarter Phase, signaling a time to adjust our attitudes ahead of next week’s Full Moon. News and information stage a revival with an emphasis on legal issues alongside exaggerations, magnifications and bombast (Mercury square Jupiter).

Friday, Sept. 6: It’s likely we’re still being pummeled by news and information as Mercury continues it’s square with Jupiter into the morning hours. Differences in tastes or outlooks are possible come lunchtime when the Sagittarius Moon goes up against Venus. All this is takes place with Venus obsessing over the details, particularly when it comes to love, sex or money when she locks-in (trine) with Pluto later tonight. This is can be a hot and steamy combination given the right circumstances, but in another context it could seem kinda creepy; it’s important to remain transparent and honest regarding true intentions (Mercury opposed Neptune). We can fool ourselves into believing just about anything, which is probably fine as long as we refrain from acting upon them without gathering more facts.

Saturday, Sept. 7: Yesterday’s forecast bleeds into today with some question about clear-headed thinking and the possibility of being played filling the air. That aside, the Moon’s entrance into Capricorn around sunrise may be helpful in that it tends to cut to the chase and doesn’t abide willy-nilly approaches when there’s work to be done. Speaking of work: the Capricorn Moon is also a favorable signature for plowing into projects that we’ve been putting off all summer. Offbeat forms of entertainment are highlighted tonight while we might want to keep it low-keyed - we have another barrage of planetary aspects incoming tomorrow and we’ll want to be clear-eyed when we greet them.

Copyright 2019 Gary Paul Glynn

Virgo Confab

    Here in the Midwest, we’re experiencing end-stage summer, coinciding with an anxious feeling of having to outrace the Sun to make up for such a late start. The torrential rains of spring and early summer created so much flooding, my favorite local beach has stood four feet under water up until three weeks ago. Needless to say, it put a crimp on one of the few summer indulgences that doesn’t cost any money; for those of us equating summer with water, sun and sand, it's high time. So you’ll excuse me if I’m brief this week, I have some serious floating still to do.

King of the World

    We’re currently seeing a cluster of faster-moving planets gathered in Virgo after Venus, the Sun and Mars crossed the cusp from Leo to Virgo last week. Note that when these planets passed over Regulus (the “Star of Kings” as well as Trump’s Mars Rising) we saw Trump’s retweet about of being “the Chosen One” and “the King of Israel” as well as telling a group of veterans he’s considered the idea of giving himself the Medal of Honor. I mean, you can’t make this shit up. I can hardly wait to see what comes out of his mouth when Mercury crosses this same point on Wednesday; whatever it is, I know it will be brilliant!

Super New Moon

    The main focus this week is Friday’s New Moon, setting-off a powerful new cycle in early Virgo while joined with Mars. Before that takes place, it’s important to note that the days leading up to the New Moon are all about endings, completions, releases, eliminations and consolidations while any new business set into motion this week is on the wrong side of the equation. If you want to build strong forward momentum, you’ll need to wait until after the current forecast period to commence in earnest.

    Back to the Virgo New Moon: when in conjunction to Mars we can expect to see a strong surge of energy or activity, setting things in motion that will reverberate up until the Full Moon, perhaps longer. Mars’ most common default is the release of anger, aggression or violence, although in Virgo the response might be a bit more muted. We should also note that this lunation also happens to be a SuperMoon (perigee: the Moon’s orbit brings it close to the Earth), suggesting a strong tidal surge here as well. 

    Looking at the chart for the Virgo New Moon, we see Venus, Mars, Sun, Moon and Mercury all crammed into Virgo, while forming flowing, trine aspects with Uranus, speaking to significant discoveries and revelations this week and in the weeks to come. No matter how hard the Trump White House, the DOJ and the Republicans fight to keep the truth from being uncovered, I think this might be where the dam begins to crack and the dirty truth floods the halls of Congress like so many rubles. 

    On a more personal scale of expression, this coming solar-lunar cycle indicates greater attention to detail, particularly wherever we’ve seen ambivalence this past summer. Organization and efficiency are major themes at work which can be applied to one’s work or daily routine with an added emphasis on one’s health and well-being. The New Super Moon takes place on Friday at 6:37 am (Eastern Time) in the early degrees of Virgo (06Vir47) with the Cazimi Window for new beginnings a half-hour on either side of the lunation. Chances are good this time will be too early to set much of anything in motion besides coffee; in which case, you’ll want to wait until Tuesday, Sept. 3 to commence with your endeavors.

Lunar Gardening Report

    This is a poor week for any kind of planting under the Balsamic Moon, even in its fertile sign of Cancer on Monday and Tuesday, all bets are off. It would be much better to focus your attention of harvesting, cutting, mowing, clearing and other work before the lights turn green for planting late season crops in the first four days of September.

Daily Forecast (For all signs)
(Times are Eastern Daylight/-0400UTC)

Sunday, Aug. 25: Considering the dark Moon is void-of-course (VOC) in Gemini until 5:00 pm when it enters Cancer, last minute plans are sketchy at best when it comes to unfolding according to expectations. Otherwise, we might be encouraged to look more deeply at wounds, inflicted or sustained, within the context of sexual expression and other relationship dynamics (Venus-Mars quincunx Chiron). There may be a carry-over from yesterday’s activities dominating our attention, especially this evening when the Moon’s occupation of Cancer acts as a trigger for some kind of emotional release.

Monday, Aug. 26: There could be a dramatic shift with regard to love, sex and/or money today with breakthroughs and breakdowns impacting personal tastes and values (Venus trine Uranus). There are any number of ways this signature might manifest in the big picture: from freak storms to unhinged financial markets reacting to fallout from this past weekend’s G7 gathering in France. Closer to home, Venus-Uranus might correspond with the need to break free from confining situations or perhaps inadequate emotional responses within the context of intimate one-to-ones. A bold and daring move could open up a world of possibilities in the realm of relationship and healthy sexual expression. Episodes of blockage or impasse in the late afternoon give way to a more elevated sense of emotional sensitivity ramping-up alongside home and family concerns.

Tuesday, Aug. 27: Although there is little to report in the way of planetary or lunar aspects, it’s likely our emotional bodies are sensitized as we turn our attention inward with the Cancer Moon entering its Balsamic Phase; a three-day period of endings, completions, finalizations and eliminations. In a more outward sense, this is a time for loose-planning, but a no-go for implementing new projects or initiatives. We begin to pull out of a brooding state after the Moon enters Leo at 8:00 pm, with an opportunity for upbeat engagements and creative activities.

Wednesday, Aug. 28: Surprises may be in store for us today, beginning in the morning hours when the Moon and Mars both aspect Uranus. Revolutionary and reactionary impulses blast onto the scene; something upturning the status quo in a number of areas, particularly where there is any kind of struggle to be free of constraints (Mars trine Uranus). Expansive impulses appear strong in the evening hours, favoring lighthearted and playful forms of activity as an antidote to taking things far too seriously for far too long. With Mercury crossing the final degree of Leo and the fixed-star Regulus (both of which happen to be in the same location as Mars rising in what’s-his-name’s chart), we should expect more mindless bombast being spewing into the psychic atmosphere where it has a tendency to turn into bad things.

Thursday, Aug. 29: Ahead of tomorrow's New Moon, the combination of the Moon in its darkest phase while being VOC in Leo until 8:00 pm is a good reason to stick with routine work while avoiding agreements or major decisions that need a future. The emphasis is now on release, elimination and finalities, clearing the slate and making space for what’s to come after the Moon starts another round with the Sun. Even though Mercury broke new ground a week ago after it emerged from its retrograde shadow, it still remained in Leo where it's been on and off since late June; at least until today when it crosses the cusp into Virgo which happens to be Mercury’s analog sign. Information, news, the media and telecoms now come under the magnifying glass with much greater scrutiny and discernment being applied to these things than we’ve experienced so far this summer. Breakthroughs and breakdowns are indicated later in the day when the Sun follows the lead of both Venus and Mars in forming a trine to Uranus; perhaps an echo from a major development that might have transpired in recent days. Looks like a whole lotta shakin' goin' on!

Friday, Aug. 30: The New (Super) Moon opens a brand new lunar cycle this morning at 6:37 am in the early degrees of Virgo (06Vir47) where we enter a month of critical thinking and closer attention to detail. With this New Moon joining Mars, there are some rather feisty energies to contend along with an element of anger or frustration, perhaps in light of inconvenient truths being exposed; which will continue to build over the course of the next two weeks. The Cazimi Window will be open 30 minutes before and after the exact time of the New Moon (6:07-7:07 am) for setting new initiatives into motion, made more powerful by the Moon being perigee (super) and within a degree of Mars. If you miss this narrow window, it would be best to wait until after this Labor Day Weekend to make your move, otherwise, you might find yourself getting in your own way. The remainder of the day and evening sees the Moon forming a string of alignments: matters involving tastes and values in the early afternoon, followed by temporary delays or blockages before sunset which could find release through insanity and/or inebriations on our final approach to Midnight. Have fun, be safe!

Saturday, Aug. 31: On this final day of August, we see the Moon VOC in Virgo all day, at least until 7:00 pm; meaning agreements or plans made today could turn out much differently than we expect. But hey, don’t take my word for it, see for yourself! And I might add that this isn’t necessarily a bad thing as a disruption in our expectations sometimes turn out to be better than whatever was planned. Anyway, for those of you living in North America, enjoy your Labor Day Weekend, and the last, sputtering days of summer!

Copyright 2019  Gary Paul Glynn