The bigger picture -

For the last four months, Jupiter has been appearing to move backwards through Capricorn, and, during this time, we tend to feel the progress of our projects slowing down or even stopping altogether. We’ve had these months to make adjustments to our plans so that they are more in accord with what we will be needing in the future. For the last two months, Pluto has been back in Sagittarius encouraging new solutions to the problems that began to arise from the beginning of this year. These difficulties will re-assert themselves from late November this year, when Pluto continues its 15-year progress through Capricorn. As long as we take seriously the early warnings about finance, housing, fuel costs and so on, our new directions will be wonderfully blessed for the next three months.

On 8 September, the very day that Jupiter stops moving retrograde, Saturn trines it – that is to say, that the energy arriving to kick start our new plans, will be focused on those projects that have been carefully thought out on a practical level. (At first Saturn moves ahead of this connection, but as Jupiter speeds up they will connect once more on 21 November.)

Three months of growth

September is a great time for clearing your space, sorting out what you really need, and letting go of the way you have done things before. Public transport rather than individual cars, community farms rather than plastic covered food from far away, being involved in our children’s activities: we are waking up, and reconsidering what we want, checking what is really most important for us now and in the near future. It is helpful if contact with the old sleepy ways is minimised, so that we are not distracted from our up-to-date thinking.

During October and November, the different stages of growth continue to unfold. As we reach the second half of November it will be important to hold expectations loosely, so that quick change is not a shock if it becomes necessary. Growth and success are almost assured, but we cannot know just how they will look.

AND it is extremely important to realise that this whole period is propitious for us all, so what will work best for each one of us are those things which are in accord with what works for humanity as a whole. As both Jupiter and Saturn are in earth signs, we are most likely to feel the benefit around any practical issues, and when working responsibly with the earth herself. So, during the next week or so, think about how you might be able improve the life of others through what you want to achieve - and the planetary blessing will be with you.

This New Moon

At 7 Virgo, the Sun and Moon are very close to Saturn and trine Jupiter so, for the first week in September, the Sun will be encouraging us. Rather than allowing our plans to be blocked by difficulties, we simply need to adjust our focus and intention as we discover what works and what doesn’t. From 8 September, we should be feeling a definite movement stirring, helping us as we clear the past away and organise ourselves for the development our project, or the start of a new one.

Virgo – the helper

Virgo is the most helpful of the signs because it contains within its gifts the knowledge of what will really work. There is a natural desire to improve life all round, and particularly each person Virgo focuses on. This can show up as an uncomfortable critique of that person’s way of life, but equally it can be quiet support in practical activities.

In the Virgo character there is a brilliant, and often unconscious, ability to scan any situation to pick out the useless from the valuable, and to spot the problem and sort it out. This focus can become painful for the Virgo as they realise that they can’t sort out the whole world, and it’s the whole world that needs sorting out. However, Virgo supports itself by knowing when it needs to stop for the sake of its own well-being. By avoiding burn-out, Virgo is still available when needed again the next day.

Virgo’s effort to get things ‘right’ has a down side in the assumption that there is only one right way. And another problem can be a tendency to feel that ‘rightness’ and ‘perfection’ are the top priority in all situations and for all people. But there are dozens of possible top priorities, like comfort, or family peace, or someone else’s happiness. My favourite word to give to Virgo is ‘appropriate’ rather than ‘perfect.’ Perfection in the moment requires being aware of, and responsive to, every element of a situation – including oneself and ones relationships with those involved. Only this much awareness will enable the appropriate action to arise, and only an appropriate action creates the win-win results that gladden the Virgo heart.

It takes a fine person to apologise

September could be a month for sorting out whatever may have gone wrong towards the end of August (Venus squared Pluto). This could be about the state of your home, your finances or your relationships. There may have issues that brought up jealousy and possessiveness in a close relationship, and consequent desire in the other to break free. Loving communication could well be on the way (Venus and Mercury in Libra). But beware of wanting harmony too early, before the problems have been fully faced.

One of the sticking points in healing wounds inflicted through words or actions is the need for the one who spoke or acted to own up to the fact that they are responsible for triggering the pain. To apologise meaningfully and express the sincere hope of being forgiven can melt the heart of one who was feeling badly treated, and the past can be washed away. Virgo hates to admit to being ‘wrong,’ because of a fear of being judged badly, but the effect of such an admission to a loved one is far more likely to be gratitude. True healing begins with the acceptance of state of things, and this month healing is more than usually spiritually blessed and assisted (Chiron and Neptune very near the North Node).