Stargazer – astrology for Sept 2023
Image: Kari Shea| UnsplashAstrology for Sept 2023: Spring; farewell winter blues| Venus; the vulnerable heart| Virgo new moon; roll up your sleeves| Mars in Libra; balance, and more...
by Stella Woods
"When Venus starts moving forward again (4th Sept onwards) her energy will be more conducive to making decisions in love, relationships, finances, and creativity. We are eager to take on new commitments, leave the past behind, and make a fresh start. ...If you have felt stifled or lacking in joy and enthusiasm over the past few weeks, your mood should improve." Spring equinox – farewell winter bluesAs September unfolds, the days become longer, the weather warmer and spring is in the air. Birds are mating and building nests, gardens are blossoming, there’s a lightness of heart, and a growing feeling of optimism. On 23rd September we celebrate the spring equinox when day and night are of equal length and the sun moves into air sign Libra.

Libra, whose symbol is the scales, is all about balance – twelve hours of daylight and twelve hours of darkness – a moment of perfect equilibrium all over the world. The spring equinox is a time when we seek balance in our personal lives, release stagnant energy, and make a fresh start. No wonder so many of us change our diet, start a fitness regime, and feel like spring cleaning the house and garden at this time of year.
Yellow Emperor’s wisdomThe “Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine” is a medical text based on Taoist health principles, penned by Emperor Huang Ti, 4500 years ago. The emperor’s advice for early spring is to dress warmly, retire early, and rise early to walk, to absorb the invigorating spring energy.

In Chinese medicine, spring is associated with the liver, the element of wood, and the emotion of anger. When liver energy is in balance, we are able to make clear decisions, express emotional needs, and follow through with creative projects. Liver energy imbalance can show up as angry outbursts, workaholic tendencies, and feelings of agitation and frustration.

Take care of your liver this spring by eating fresh food, drinking plenty of water, and cutting down on alcohol and rich or processed foods. Reap the benefits of feeling lighter, brighter, youthful, and more energetic, and put a ‘spring’ back in your step!
Cleansing spring juice recipeIngredients
• 1/2 ripe honeydew melon
• 3 green apples
• 1 cucumber
• Handful of parsley
Preparation
Honeydew melon
• Remove outer skin and cut into pieces
• Juice melon slices with seeds
Green apples
• Remove stems and any stickers
• Juice apples whole with skin and seeds
• Cut in half or quarters if too big to fit into the juice chute
Cucumber
• Cut in chunks and juice with skin on
Parsley
• Roughly chop leaves and stems
• Juice handfuls at a time
Mix together and enjoy!
Full moon in Pisces – heightened emotion
September opens with a full moon in Pisces. The beginning of September is a time of heightened emotions and spiritual sensitivity. Dreams are both vivid and symbolic. Pisces, a water sign ruled by Neptune, is noted for compassion, imagination, intuition, and escapism.

Take advantage of the Piscean energy to nurture your creative side, meditate, and enjoy nature. If you feel overwhelmed, take time out to rest and reflect. Be gentle with yourself and others. With the sun in Virgo and moon in Pisces, though, try to strike a balance between being practical and grounded (Virgo) vs showing kindness and empathy (Pisces).
Venus and the vulnerable heartVenus is the planet of love, relationships, beauty, harmony, creativity, and abundance. When Venus is retrograde her energies are felt more intensely and we re-assess what and who we value.

On 23rd July, Venus began her 43-day retrograde cycle, travelling backwards through fire sign Leo and disappearing from view as she passed in front of the sun. Venus will complete her retrograde journey on the 4th September, reborn from darkness as the morning star.

During the six weeks of Venus retrograde (23rd July – 4th September) love, relationships, money, and aesthetics go under the microscope. Venus retrograde is a time to reflect on these areas and make adjustments. A time when truths both good and bad are revealed, often quite suddenly or unexpectedly. A time to reflect on our emotional vulnerability.
Relationship challengesSome will have found the past few weeks challenging. Relationship and friendship breakups and upsets are common during Venus retrograde, but only if those relationships were built on shaky foundations in the first place.

When Venus starts moving forward again (4th September onwards) her energy will be more conducive to making decisions in love, relationships, finances, and creativity. We are eager to take on new commitments, leave the past behind, and make a fresh start. There is an acceptance and understanding of recent events. If you have felt stifled or lacking in joy and enthusiasm over the past few weeks, your mood should improve.
New moon in Virgo – roll up your sleevesNew moons are all about new beginnings and on 15th September we have a new moon in earth sign Virgo. An opposition between the new moon and Neptune may cloud your judgement, making you believe that anything is possible. But then again, magic sometimes happens!

The Virgo new moon only happens once a year. It is a time for setting intentions, focusing on practical matters, and striving for self-improvement. Virgo is associated with organisation, attention to detail, health, and productivity. During this phase, you can harness the new moon energy to initiate activities that align with Virgo's qualities and make positive changes in your life. Here are a few suggestions:

• Set clear achievable goals for the month ahead along with a plan for making them happen.

• Declutter and organise your home, workplace, and digital devices for increased efficiency.

• Start a new health, wellness, and fitness routine.

• Launch new work projects, especially those that require attention to detail, precision, and meticulous planning.

• Learn a new skill or take a course that enhances your knowledge and expertise.

• Take stock of your recent accomplishments and challenges. Reflect on what's working well and what could be improved.

• Incorporate self-care routines that address your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

• Volunteer or help out your local community or a cause you care about.

• Start a craft project, design something, or engage in any activity that requires precision and attention to detail.

• Review your financial situation, create a budget, and set financial goals.

• If you struggle with time management, use the Virgo new moon to establish better routines, prioritise tasks, and allocate your time more effectively.

Mercury changing direction – take time to adjustThe infamous Mercury retrograde is an astrological event that occurs when the planet appears to be moving in reverse motion, as observed from earth.

On 24th August, in the middle of his transit through Virgo, Mercury came to a halt and began travelling backwards through the zodiac. Just over three weeks later, on 16th September, Mercury will start moving forwards again. This phase of the Mercury cycle is known as ‘Mercury direct’.

The advice from late August and for the first half of September is to be more cautious in your communications, avoid making major decisions, and double-check details, as Mercury retrograde can bring misunderstandings, miscommunications, and technical glitches.

As Mercury turns direct on 16th September the energy of the Mercury retrograde period starts to wane, enabling clearer communication, smoother travel, and more straightforward decision-making. But continue to take things slowly in the second half of September, giving yourself time to adjust, as Mercury picks up speed and moves back into its regular orbit.
Image: Carolin Thiergart | UnsplashMars in Libra – balance in all areas of lifeMars, the dynamic action planet of the cosmos, entered air sign Libra on 27th August and will be cruising through Libra for the whole of September and first half of October.

Libra is all about harmony and seeking balance in all areas of life, including personal relationships, work, family, and health. With the sun joining Mars in Libra in late September and the spring equinox, balance is a major theme this month.

Here are a few ideas for making the Mars in Libra energy work best for you.
Diplomacy and communication:Mars is known for its assertiveness and energy, but in Libra, these qualities are often expressed in a more diplomatic and cooperative manner. Now is a good time for engaging in negotiations, discussions, and conflict resolution.
Social interaction:Mars in Libra can enhance social interactions and the desire to connect with others. A favourable time for networking, forming new friendships, and attending social events. Libra's charm and Mars' assertiveness could give you an edge in communication.
Aesthetic pursuits: Libra is associated with beauty and aesthetics. During this transit, you may find yourself drawn to creative and artistic activities, or enhancing your physical appearance.
Indecisiveness:The desire to weigh options and consider all perspectives before making decisions might be more pronounced during this transit. While it's good to be thoughtful, avoid overthinking to the point of inaction.
Avoiding confrontation: Mars in Libra tends to avoid direct confrontation and seeks more peaceful solutions. However, there is the potential for passive-aggressive behaviour if feelings of frustration or anger are not addressed directly.
Cooperative endeavours:Collaborative efforts can be rewarding during this transit. Now is a good time to work with others on projects, as the Libra influence encourages compromise and cooperation.
Full moon in Aries
The full moon in Aries on 29th September brings a burst of fiery and dynamic energy. Aries is a cardinal fire sign associated with assertiveness, initiative, courage, and leadership. During the Aries full moon, you can tap into this powerful energy to take action, make decisions, and assert yourself in various areas of your life.

A tense line-up between Venus and Uranus at this full moon will test the stability of relationships through sudden changes or an impulsive need for excitement.

Take stock of the goals you set at the Virgo new moon mid-month and check your progress. Express your thoughts and opinions with confidence and clarity. Now is the perfect time to have honest conversations and communicate your needs and boundaries.

Engage in physical exercises that invigorate your body and release pent-up energy. This could include a challenging workout, a brisk walk, dancing, or any activity that gets your blood pumping.
About the author:
Stella Woods is an astrology teacher, writer, and consultant. Contact Stella at stella@stellastarwoman.com or www.stellastarwoman.com or
www.facebook.com/stellastarwoman
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