September 22: Mercury conjunct Saturn at 25º34 Virgo; the Sun enters Libra at 09:20pm.

The conjunction occurs while Mercury is retrograde so this is a good day to take care of outstanding practical details that are specifically related to areas involving health and work. The Sun is the only planet in Libra until Mercury enters that sign on October 10th, followed by Venus on October 14th. Until that time, both these planets are in Virgo, so relationship dynamics are very much centered on job-related areas of your life. Virgo has a lot to do with methods of self-improvement (not the least of which is health), so this may be another area of life in which to pay attention.

September 23: Sun squares Pluto at 00º42 Libra/Capricorn; Mercury opposes Uranus at 23º57 Virgo/Pisces.

What a good time for elimination! This square can help us move forward by getting rid of those objects, ideas, and relationships that do not move us ahead in life. Nothing with Pluto comes easily and people by nature have a strong “cling-on” disposition. But check out what and who has to go and then do your best to release. This will be especially true for all of us that have any important placements at 0 to 1 degree of the cardinal signs in our natal charts. As for Mercury opposing Uranus, there is tendency to try to do too many things at the same time, especially as the opposition happens in mutable signs. The mind is just moving along too quickly! Of course you should take a look at where this falls in your natal chart as the houses so affected will reveal where confusion may enter the life.

September 29: Mercury goes direct (yes!) at 21º37 Virgo at 01:15pm.

OK, give the Little Herm a couple of days to get his wings flapping correctly ahead and then move forward with those plans and projects.

October 1: Mercury sextiles Mars at 21º58 Virgo/Cancer.

This is a great aspect for getting domestic projects underway and for general house-related improvement activities. Of course its full effects are experienced by those of us that have the 21st-22nd degree of the earthy and watery signs in important positions in our natal charts.

October 4: A busy day in the heavens means a busy day on earth. The Moon is Full at 11º10 Aries at 06:11am; Mercury sextiles Mars (again!) at 23º38 Virgo/Cancer, Mercury opposes Uranus (again!) at 23º57 Virgo/Pisces; Mars trines Uranus at 23º57 Cancer/Pisces.

Please note that the Moon is full in Aries and Mars is making strong aspects while in the Moon’s sign, Cancer while Mercury is now truly direct and very busy in his own right. There is thus a continued strong emphasis on domestic and house-related activities. All of us who have 23-24 degrees of the earthy and watery signs prominent in our charts will be especially busy with things to do and improvements to make. These same degrees if found in the fire and air signs can result in an overactive schedule and a lot of potential conflicts of interest and direction.

October 5-7: Saturn then followed by Mercury trine the Northern Node at the 26th and 27th degrees of Virgo and Capricorn respectively.

Trines to the lunar nodes stimulate interpersonal activity in terms of the signs and planets involved. Here we have some very practical influences at work (Saturn/Mercury and Virgo/Capricorn), so get out the scrubbing and paint brushes, the accounting and date books and get to work! There is a lot to achieve and the heavens will back you up. Where you will do this work is always revealed through the house positions of the planets and points involved.

October 8: Mercury conjoins Saturn (again!) at 27º32 Virgo.

All of us with 23-28 degrees of the signs in important positions in our charts have certainly been getting the business! And contrary to popular belief, although Virgo is the sign of work and details, most of them hate the former and feel forced or compelled to do the latter. (And Pisces just tries to go with the flow and not make any waves—Not!) Any way, I personally like this conjunction (my Mercury and Saturn are sextile in my natal chart) as it definitely helps to get things organized, prioritized, and clearly mapped out.

October 9: Venus opposes Uranus at 23º46 Virgo/Pisces; Mars conjunct the southern node at 26º33 Capricorn; Mercury enters Libra at 03º47am (on the 10th GMT—on the night of the 9th throughout the USA and Canada.

Party time and look at all your unusual friends and guests! Some people may show up who you don’t even know and haven’t invited—or you may be such a “guest” yourself. Well at least Mercury joins the Sun in transiting Libra and some of the emphasis moves out of work-related relationships and into the more personal variety.

October 10: The Sun trines Jupiter at 17º11 Libra/Aquarius; Mercury squares Pluto at 00º53 Libra/Capricorn.

Praises for Sun/Jupiter trines as they always make for happy days and playful nights (especially for those of you fortunate enough to have 17-18 degrees of the air and fire signs prominent in your charts). Those of you still squirming about with 0 degrees of the cardinals (like yours truly, an Aries with Scorpio rising and Mars at 00.22 Cancer in the Eighth!), the Mercury square Pluto is just no fun at all. At least it may help you to uncover some secret communication or a thought long buried.

October 12: Mars sextiles Saturn at 28º05 Cancer/Virgo; Jupiter turns direct at 17º10 Aquarius.

Positive Mars/Saturn aspects are always good for applied effort and diligence in accomplishing your goals. Jupiter is really having a good old time at 17-18 Aquarius where he has been since September 20th and where he remains until November 4th. Those of you with that degree in the air and fire signs should already be aware of expansive, positive (or wasteful!) events in the house positions so activated.

October 13: Venus conjunct Saturn at 28º09 Virgo and sextile Mars at 28º32 Virgo/Cancer.

A very practical day where a lot of positive work and domestic-related activities may be accomplished. Always check the house positions where these or any transits fall to see where you can make the most out of Venus’ more pragmatic gifts.

October 14: Venus enters Libra at 10:47pm

Until the Sun enters Scorpio on the 23rd, the Sun, Mercury, and Venus are all in Libra (as is the Moon for 2.5 of these days—see below). The emphasis naturally shifts to our personal and business relationships.

October 16: Mars enters Leo; the Sun trines Neptune at 23º47 Libra/Aquarius.

Mars likes to roar in Leo and usually has one great time of it. The question is will you? You will if you respond well to an exaggeration of the fire element (like the Sun and/or Mars in Aries, Leo, or Sagittarius natally) and you will not should the forcefulness of this position be somewhat intimidating (strong Taurus, Cancer, and Pisces charts). Or perhaps in the case of the latter category, you will use the Warrior Lion to push you ahead in life especially in the house position in your chart where he is found. Sun/Neptune trines in air indicate wishful, idealistic visions that are pleasant enough but not often as substantial as one might wish. Enjoy the inner views!

October 18: The Moon is New at 24º59 Libra at 05.34am and the Sun squares the Cancer/Capricorn lunar nodes from his position at 25º37 Libra.

As mentioned above, the Moon joins the Sun, Mercury, and Venus (actually since around 10am GMT on the 16th) so today and for the past couple of days relationship dynamics have probably be on the top of almost everyone’s priority list (they are always up there for Libra in any event!). The solar square to the nodes says that some “repair work” may have to be done on such relationships if they center on one’s career or domestic life.

October 20: Mercury trines Jupiter at 17º16 Libra/Aquarius.

A very nice day indeed to join friends for a journey or a simple outing to an educational event. Enjoy the sharing!