The second Virgo New Moon this season takes place on September 21st, at 29° of the sign, at 9:54 pm, and is a partial solar eclipse. This lunation constitutes yet another in the series of extremely powerful New Moons this summer, due to the positions of the outer planets Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, all in the first or second degree of their respective signs. The New Moon, being so close to the 0-degree mark of Libra, a mere degree away, is again a triggering factor, and being a solar eclipse, this strong configuration will potentially last for the next six months. The Sun and Moon additionally participate, in their coming together, as part of an out-of-sign grand trine with Pluto and Uranus, in Air signs, and are in direct and same-degree opposition to Saturn at 29° of Pisces. They also bring in Neptune, at 0° of Aries, by close opposition.
As if these potent outer-planet aspects were not enough, we also have a strong Chiron in this New Moon configuration, being closely conjunct Eris and opposed to Mars at 29° Leo, plus also, by a 3-degree separation from exact, being inconjunct (quincunx) the New Moon degree. Chiron, the Wounded Healer, is thus also very much part of this eclipse configuration.
Of course, the major message of prominent Pluto is as a bringer of transformational opportunity, which at first might seem to play as difficulty and trial, and which might, however, eventually come to be seen as a necessary breakthrough; a new and better way of moving through your life. Accompanied by the visionary viewpoint of Uranus, in close trine and exacerbated by the New Moon degree, the Pluto presence comes to be experienced as rebellion against a petrified and out-of-date status quo ante, ripe for evolution into something more suited to your current situation. Uranus is always novel, always in favour of the sudden left turn that often proves revelatory and productive of new pathways. As we bring Saturn–Neptune to this ongoing party, active since the summer began, we begin to see that there will be a spiritual as well as a practical component in terms of setting new standards that take the mystical more steadily into account.
In this New Moon as well, we find Mars at 29° of Leo, thus in close semi-sextile to the New Moon degree, also in extremely close contra-parallel with Venus, so that relationship issues of one kind or another are also likely to further evolve in the wake of this new lunation cycle of the following thirty days, and potentially, due to this being an eclipse, for the six months that follow.
With Chiron in close conjunction with Eris, we are looking at another contribution of this New Moon configuration, of pain and suffering, with a soul-level purpose in mind. What, you may wonder, could that be? And one example is reframing. Whenever something happens that brings us pain, we tend to judge our situation as “bad.” What, though, if we instead began to teach ourselves to frame it more carefully? It is often the case that when we look back on our supposed troubles, they can be seen as the start of an important new phase, rather than a blessed turn or a downward plunge. We might as well begin early in attempting to achieve that point of view. Another way of looking at this is that pain is often a reminder of something amiss that needs correcting, and this goes for distress that is emotional as well as physical. When we read these signs with a positive vision, we might resolve – then and there – to make a significant change in our lives, and thus the situation can become beneficial. With the prominence now, as well as Trickster Uranus, this can be a terrific time to look at our lives in a new way. And we are reminded of the Grateful Dead line, that “Once in a while we can get shown the light/ In the strangest of places if we look at it right.”
Another factor that brings out the highlighted presence of Trickster Uranus, as symbolised by The Fool card in the Tarot, is Jupiter in forming a septile to Uranus at this time. Jupiter–Uranus is the astrological indicator for invention, as may be fully necessary to confront what we are encountering, and the aspect gathers strength leading up to its moment of exactness on October 1st.
Another strong factor here in this New Moon, as it was in the last one as well, is Haumea, at 1° Scorpio – representing profound connection to Nature and to a form of internal moral commitment, to right action and to telling the truth whenever possible. In the Pluto–Haumea square, which currently remains quite close and is manifestly triggered in this New Moon, the configuration also reads as presaging that the truth might well be coming out concerning certain issues from the past that were previously deliberately concealed. We have seen some of that in recent weeks already, and we might be seeing more over the following weeks and months.
In view of all the powerful indications from this New Moon eclipse, we have a lot to deal with as the summer turns into fall. This turning of the year may well bring further turning points to our culture, and to our individual lives, inspiring action within ourselves and without. May your choices be well-considered and look beyond your immediate circumstances to the longer view. And may they, as these new Nature planets conspire to tell us, also be kind. In any case, may they match what values you hold deep within, that are yours and yours alone to articulate and to act upon, as this climactic year begins to wind down. Blessings!
By Henry Seltzer for ASTROGRAPH Horoscopes
