This Week in Astrology: September 10 to 16, 2023

This Week in Astrology: September 10th to 16th, 2023

 

September 10-16, 2023

---

On this Page:

This week’s Moon
phase
Planets in signs and by aspect
Retrogrades
This week’s astrology calendar
Timing with the Moon
Romance & Relationship Report
Daily Trends

---

The NEW MOON occurs on Thursday, September 14th, 2023, at 9:40 PM EDT. 

On Thursday, the New Moon occurs as the Moon aligns with the Sun in the sign of Virgo.

A time of new beginnings, this New Moon presents an excellent opportunity for us to formulate some goals regarding “all things Virgo.” We’d do well to concentrate on new ways to get our day-to-day life organized. We might think about the keywords for this particular and earthy sign — such things as analytical, intelligent, reserved, critical, helpful, conscientious — and consider ways to enhance, develop, or incorporate these traits into our personalities.

Please note that Virgo is found somewhere in every person’s chart, and these are the areas of our lives most affected now.

The New Moon in Virgo is an excellent time to commit to personal goals that express the positive energies of the sign of the Virgin. These include:

• building our powers of healthy, constructive discrimination;
• rolling up our sleeves and getting down to some serious work;
• beginning a new project that requires attention to details;
• making lists, actively ticking off completed activities, and taking pride in our “little” accomplishments;
• starting a health regime, researching nutrition and nourishment, and paying attention to our diet;
• setting up specific routines that will help us manage our lives in constructive and mindful ways;
• and handling the finer details of our day-to-day life in an organized, step-by-step fashion so that we can free our minds of clutter.

We’re ready to make something special of our work, routines, or tasks. It’s a powerful time to transform our jobs, health, self-care programs, and habits. We’re filled with innovative, inventive, and unusual ideas. However, it’s an impulsive time and perhaps an unclear period (Virgo’s ruler, Mercury, is retrograde and approaching its station, and the New Moon is opposite Neptune), and it’s important not to jump into something too quickly. Fortunately, this New Moon harmonizes with Uranus, boosting our spirit for progress.

This phase of the Moon occurs at 21 degrees and 59 minutes of Virgo, affecting planets at approximately 18 to 26 degrees of the Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces) the most.

The above chart is excellent for seeing the fundamental influences and chart pattern of this New Moon. The chart below adds more details with additional points. Click to enlarge:

Extra points include Chiron, Eris, and the four major asteroids.

---

 

(Times are Eastern)

This week: The Sun is in Virgo; Mercury is in Virgo; Venus is in Leo; Mars is in Libra.

The Sun is in Virgo from August 23-September 23. Our focus shifts to the puzzle pieces–the little details of our lives. It is now time to take care of practical concerns. Attending to the details of everyday life may not sound like loads of fun, but it can certainly free us from unnecessary stress that results from “collecting” odds and ends of unfinished business.

This is an ideal time to get organized, do detailed work, and improve communications on the job. We take more pride in our work, chores, and health efforts. We also want to be more organized and informed during the Sun-in-Virgo cycle.

We’re learning humility and the benefits of developing skills, some level of perfectionism, and the importance of attention to detail. It’s a time of down-to-earth practicality when we prefer to invest our time and energy in things with realistic potential. We’re not inclined to ambition or “going big.” Attracting prosperity involves honest, careful, and attentive work and dedication.

Mercury is in Virgo from July 28-October 4. [This transit is longer than usual due to the retrograde of Mercury in Virgo from August 23rd to September 15th.] When Mercury is in Virgo, precision in speech, thought, and process are more important to us. This is a time when we analyze and decide what is useful and what we deem to be impractical.

Mercury feels right at home in Virgo, one of the signs that it rules (Mercury rules both Gemini and Virgo). Dealing with details is natural and easy now. We need to be careful that we don’t lose perspective if we find ourselves lost in details, however.

While Mercury is in Virgo, we should also be aware of the possibility of expressing ourselves in a too factual manner, so much so that we come across as dry, critical, or unimaginative.

We gravitate to useful information, and we can enjoy helping others with our knowledge. It’s a time for analyzing and dissecting, but we need other influences to put the pieces together or to see the bigger picture as our confidence in so doing is not strong at this time. It’s a time of conservative thinking and a strong tendency to want facts and certainties.

Venus is in Leo from June 5-October 8. [This transit is longer than usual due to the retrograde of Venus in Leo from July 22nd to September 3rd.] Love is magnificent and grand while Venus is in Leo. We take pride in love, and we are generous with our money as well. This is a warmhearted, teasing, expressive, proud, and extravagant placement for Venus. Love is a bit of a game–a game that is perpetual, as Venus in Leo is forever stuck in the romance stage of a relationship. We feed on attention, acknowledgement, validation, and adoration.

Venus in Leo loves to be adored, pampered, and admired. Pride and passion are hallmarks of this cycle. We have a strong ego investment in our love lives during this period. The negative expression of this placement is overstating our feelings simply for the effect, as well as extravagance.

The Venus-in-Leo cycle can be a strong or profitable time for contests, lotteries, parties, recreation, drama, adornment, jewelry, costumes, art dealing, and all things golden. Generosity and warmth contribute to our ability to draw in the right resources. We can have a compelling desire to stand out, be remarkable, and feel special during this period.

Mars is in Libra from August 27-October 12. We tend to use our charm as a means to an end under the influence of this cycle. Because we can see many different sides of any given issue, we can be vacillating and indecisive about how to act. We don’t want to be the “bad guy” and rarely resort to force. Instead, we attempt to win arguments with style.

We are indirect in approach and inclined towards mental debates, yet we also try to make the opposition comfortable! Passive aggressiveness is the shadow side of this energy. We can be angry at ourselves if we’ve done too much conciliating.

We’re adept at predicting when problems and discord will occur well in advance and talented at compromise and conflict management.

We can be warriors for peace and justice during the Mars-in-Libra cycle. We strive for balance and avoid extremes. It’s an excellent time for strategy and teaming or partnering up to reach a goal.

---

Jupiter is in Taurus.

Jupiter begins its transit of Taurus on May 16th, 2023, and it will continue its transit of the sign until May 25th, 2024. Read more about Jupiter’s transit of Taurus.

Saturn transits Pisces from March 7th, 2023 until May 24th, 2025, and Sep 1st, 2025, to Feb 13th, 2026. Read about Saturn’s transit of Pisces.

Uranus is in Taurus.

Uranus transits Taurus from May 15, 2018, to November 6, 2018, and then from March 6th, 2019, until 2025/6. We approach money and personal possessions in new ways and learn to free ourselves from certain material constraints. Innovative ways to make ourselves comfortable emerge. We’re less inhibited about expressing sensuality, self-love, body love, and pampering. Above all, we’re challenging what we previously valued during this cycle.

There can be abrupt changes with money, valuables, possessions, and income that lead to a reshuffling of priorities or values. Income might come from non-traditional sources or ventures. In general, we’re bringing progressive ideas to the world of business. New ways of doing business, as well as making, viewing, and handling money, are likely. Our income and the energy we put into making money can be variable.

Pluto transitions from Capricorn to Aquarius in 2023 and 2024. Read about Pluto’s transit of Aquarius. Pluto has retrograded back into Capricorn, and is in Capricorn until January 20th, 2024.

Romance & Relationships

Venus is in Leo from June 5-October 8. Love is magnificent and grand! We take pride in love, and we are generous with our money as well. This is a warmhearted, teasing, expressive, proud, and extravagant placement for Venus. Love is a bit of a game–a game that is perpetual, as Venus in Leo is forever stuck in the romance stage of a relationship. We feed on attention, acknowledgement, validation, and adoration.

Venus in Leo loves to be adored, pampered, and admired. Pride and passion are hallmarks of this cycle. We have a strong ego investment in our love lives during this period. The negative expression of this placement is overstating our feelings simply for the effect, as well as extravagance.

This week: Venus ended its retrograde on September 3rd, and is recovering from the retrograde cycle this week. Venus is in its post-retrograde shadow (like a hangover) until October 7th. Slowly but surely, we’ll discover that Venus-ruled endeavors, such as money, beauty, art, romance, and pleasure, are getting back to a normal pace.

While Venus was retrograde in Leo, we may have questioned whether we were getting the romance, ego boost, or attention we need from our relationships and experiences. Read more about Venus retrograde in Leo from July 22nd to September 3rd, 2023.

This week, on Saturday, the 16th, we may be going overboard as we seek more meaning or new horizons. We should watch for overcommitting or overstating.

Venus, the Goddess of Love: Highlights in the Coming Week:

Venus in Leo Romance becomes an end in itself as a new cycle begins for you. It marks a time when love, creativity, and self-expression satisfy a deep yearning to be appreciated and admired – needed, even. A flashy, flirty, stylish splash of color and warmth.

Venus semi-sextile Mercury September 7. It may be all too easy to say things we don’t mean/feel.

Venus square Jupiter September 16-17. We experience a strong desire for more pleasure in our lives, which can be excessive. Take care not to overstate your feelings or to set up unrealistic expectations in your partnerships. As well, take what your partner says with a grain of salt. There is no malicious intent involved, but feelings of elation can cloud our judgment, and we can promise more than we can deliver.

Venus trine Chiron September 22-23. A commitment-friendly transit. Love can heal old wounds. We are open to romantic feelings.

The Void-of-Course Moon this Week:

Void-of-course Moon on Sunday, September 10th, from 8:47 AM EDT, with the Moon’s last aspect before changing signs (an opposition to Pluto), until the Moon enters Leo at 12:37 PM EDT.

VOC Moon on Tuesday, September 12th, from 11:06 AM EDT, with the Moon’s last aspect before changing signs (a square to Uranus), until the Moon enters Virgo the next day, Wednesday, September 13th, at 1:18 AM EDT.

VOC Moon on Friday, September 15th, from 9:49 AM EDT, with the Moon’s last aspect before changing signs (a trine to Pluto), until the Moon enters Libra at 1:44 PM EDT.

September 2023:

Timing with the Moon – Better Periods this Week for Electing New Initiatives

It’s important to note that there are more factors to consider in addition to the windows listed below. The following windows are starting points. For example, you generally don’t want to elect a new venture when a very challenging aspect is applying, and it’s preferable to elect a time when a particularly positive aspect hasn’t yet perfected (is applying rather than separating).

The Moon is waning this week until the New Moon on the 14th, which is generally considered unfavorable for new beginnings, but with exceptions. (See Best Time to Start a Business for more details). The Moon is waxing this week after thew New Moon on the 14th–considered favorable for new beginnings, also with exceptions.

According to principles of timing with the Moon, a window of opportunity occurs during the Cazimi Moon on Thursday, the 14th, from approximately 9:15 PM to 10:05 PM EDT. Another window occurs from approximately 7:40 AM to 9:45 AM EDT on Friday, September 15th, while the Moon is in Virgo. However, Mercury is stationing retrograde during this second window, and it’s too soon after a New Moon for perspective.

Next week, a window occurs from Tuesday, September 19th, at approximately 9:50 PM EDT, until Wednesday, September 20th, at approximately 6:15 AM EDT, while the Moon is in Scorpio.

See also the following articles and tables: Timing with the Moon and Opportunity Periods with the Void Moon for times and techniques.

Planetary Stations & Sign Ingresses:

Jul 28, 2023
, 5:31 PM, Mercury enters Virgo
Aug 15, 2023, 3:29 PM, Juno enters Leo
Aug 23, 2023, 5:01 AM, Sun enters Virgo
Aug 23, 2023, 3:59 PM, Mercury Retrograde at 21 Virgo 51
Aug 27, 2023, 9:20 AM, Mars enters Libra
Aug 28, 2023, 10:39 PM, Uranus Retrograde at 23 Taurus 05
Sep  3, 2023, 9:20 PM, Venus Direct at 12 Leo 13
Sep  4, 2023, 10:11 AM, Jupiter Retrograde at 15 Taurus 35
Sep 13, 2023, 12:35 PM, Pallas enters Libra
Sep 13, 2023, 7:22 PM, Vesta enters Cancer
Sep 15, 2023, 8:47 AM, Ceres enters Scorpio
Sep 15, 2023, 4:21 PM, Mercury Direct at  8 Virgo 00
Sep 23, 2023, 2:50 AM, Sun enters Libra
Oct  4, 2023, 8:08 PM, Mercury enters Libra
Oct  8, 2023, 9:10 PM, Venus enters Virgo
Oct 10, 2023, 9:09 PM, Pluto Direct at 27 Cap 53
Oct 12, 2023, 12:04 AM, Mars enters Scorpio
Oct 17, 2023, 9:27 AM, Juno enters Virgo
Oct 22, 2023, 2:49 AM, Mercury enters Scorpio
Oct 23, 2023, 12:21 PM, Sun enters Scorpio
Nov  2, 2023, 9:52 PM, Vesta Retrograde at 7 Can 30
Nov  4, 2023, 3:02 AM, Saturn Direct at 0 Pisces 31
Nov  8, 2023, 4:30 AM, Venus enters Libra

See also: Astrology of Today – an overview of the day (this takes you to my other site, Astrology Cafe).

See also: The Astrology of 2023 – Overview and The Astrology of 2024 – Overview.

Note: Times given are Eastern Time (ET).

 

This Week’s Calendar

This Week’s Aspects

Sun quincunx Chiron. Doubting ourselves and our effectiveness, as well as guilt for not facing important issues, can subtly undermine our confidence under this influence. Self-expression can be choppy and unnatural as a result.

Sun trine Uranus. An original, unique approach to life is in order with this transit, and works to our benefit. Flexibility is the key to success at this time, and pleasant changes are in store. We may make some creative changes and discoveries, experiment with new possibilities, or invent a new way of doing things. This is a dynamic and exciting period, one in which taking advantage of unusual or unconventional opportunities may reap rewards.

Note: Times given in the table/calendar above are Eastern Time (ET).

Daily Trends Calendar

See below for day-by-day forecasts and planets in signs. See also Transit to Transit aspects.

See also: Astrology of Today – an overview of the day – Astrology Cafe.

See also: The Astrology of 2023 – Overview and The Astrology of 2024 – Overview.

Astrology Chart of Today/Now in my Free Report section shows the current chart with interpretations.

---

What’s In Store By the Stars – Daily Astrology Trends

(as featured on the site’s main page and in our Daily Trends Calendar)

See also the Astrology Trends Calendar that includes these daily trend overviews and other astrological events such as ingresses, stations, and lunations.

SEPTEMBER 10

The Moon continues its transit of Cancer until 12:37 PM EDT, and we’re focusing on our needs for nurture, familiarity, roots, support, and a sense of belonging in the first half of the day. We may revisit an old struggle between our attention to our personal affairs and outside obligations today with the Moon’s opposition to Pluto this morning. The Leo Moon from 12:37 PM forward is bold and expressive, encouraging our honorable, proud, and loving qualities. We seek channels for expressing personal emotional drama or creative potential. With creative Mars aspects in play today, we’re especially motivated to produce, take action, grow, and improve, and we’re ready to make our own luck. Redesigning or reorganizing things can be in focus and quite successful. We are highly resourceful and enterprising. Competition can motivate us to improve our situation.

The Moon is void from 8:47 AM EDT, with the Moon’s last aspect before changing signs (an opposition to Pluto), until the Moon enters Leo at 12:37 PM EDT.

SEPTEMBER 11

The Moon spends the day in outgoing Leo, and we’re affectionate, bold, and proud. However, a Sun-Chiron quincunx today suggests some wavering of confidence. We may doubt our inner guide and face situations that seem to test our vulnerabilities. Some indecision is possible, and self-expression can be choppy and unnatural in spots. We can also experience guilt about not dealing with problems head-on. However, our attempts to manage doubt and guilt today can help clear the path for opportunities.

SEPTEMBER 12

The Moon spends the day in the sign of Leo, encouraging us to elevate our thoughts and activities. We’re motivated to play, share, act, express, and create. We are proud and prefer to take the high road today. Creativity blossoms, we are romantic and generous with our feelings, and we take particular pride in our accomplishments. We want to be appreciated, even applauded, under this playful influence. With the Moon’s square to Uranus late morning EDT, we find it hard to take rules and limitations.

The Moon is void from 11:06 AM EDT, with the Moon’s last aspect before changing signs (a square to Uranus), until the Moon enters Virgo the next day, Wednesday, September 13th, at 1:18 AM EDT.

SEPTEMBER 13

The Moon leaves Leo early today, at 1:18 AM EDT, and moves into Virgo. We crave a sense of order and organization with a Virgo Moon. It can be satisfying to handle practical matters. We want to be useful and productive, and focusing on details seems the best route to making headway. As we deemphasize the larger goals in favor of everyday matters, we get to manage essential tasks that help fortify and support our endeavors. The Moon is Balsamic, with a New Moon occurring tomorrow in the sign. It’s best not to begin a new project, relationship, or other important initiative during the Balsamic phase of the Moon, as it is a time of endings and symbolic descent into unconsciousness. Reflection is favored over innovation now. It’s generally better to wind down than wind ourselves up.

The Moon continues its void period until the Moon enters Virgo today at 1:18 AM EDT.

SEPTEMBER 14

The New Moon occurs in the sign of Virgo today at 9:40 PM EDT. As a time of new beginnings, this New Moon presents an excellent opportunity for us to formulate goals regarding “all things Virgo.” We’d do well to concentrate on new ways to get our day-to-day life organized. We might commit to personal goals that express the positive energies of the sign, such as building our powers of healthy, constructive discrimination or beginning a new project that requires attention to detail. We might set up specific routines that will help us manage our lives in productive and mindful ways. Freeing our minds from clutter can be an important goal. Striving to improve can be a wonderful challenge as long as we don’t allow ourselves to become overly focused on flaws to the point that we feel guilty or stressed. Because the New Moon forms a trine to Uranus, we’re filled with innovative, inventive, and unusual ideas. However, it’s an impulsive time and perhaps an unclear period (Virgo’s ruler, Mercury, is retrograde and approaching its station, and the New Moon is opposite Neptune), and it’s important not to jump into something too quickly. Fortunately, our spirit for progress runs high.

SEPTEMBER 15

Mercury stations and turns direct today after retrograde motion since August 23rd. We’ve been in a good position to reevaluate our routines and habits during this retrograde cycle, and we’ve given more thought to the meaning of our work or services. Now, Mercury retraces its steps, and information unclogs. Over the coming weeks, recent problems with communications and decision-making should improve. The answers we’ve been waiting for can arrive. Further, plans or projects that have stalled might now resume. However, energies that are hard to make sense of can flood in during the shift today, and it’s a better day to take in than to take action. It’s also a good idea not to rush conversations or share observations. At the same time, we have a strong sense of progress. The Sun forms a trine to Uranus, promoting changes and encouraging us to embrace the new. Unique or unconventional opportunities might emerge. An original approach to life is appealing and works to our benefit. This transit can detach us just enough from a situation to move forward. We might make exciting discoveries, and our willingness to take a few creative risks and experiment may be the key to success. We’re ready to embrace new plans and get rid of deadweights. It’s a time to celebrate the unusual or non-traditional.

The Moon is void from 9:49 AM EDT, with the Moon’s last aspect before changing signs (a trine to Pluto), until the Moon enters Libra at 1:44 PM EDT.

SEPTEMBER 16

The Moon continues its transit of Libra all day. With this transit, we’re interested in bringing more balance, harmony, and pleasantness to our lives. We’ll go to great lengths to make things fair and to compromise if needed. The Moon aligns with Mars today, suggesting strong emotions and desires and some tendency to impulsiveness. This aspect awakens emotional desire and stimulates a sense of urgency. Libran ruler, Venus, is heading to a square with Jupiter, exact very early tomorrow. There can be misjudgments or overblown expectations, especially regarding our feelings, pleasures, and desires. This transit exaggerates things, leading to overdoing or overstating our feelings. However, if we keep this in check, it can be helpful for entertaining new ideas and approaches related to entertainment, money, and love.

 

 

If it’s your birthday today, see our feature, If Today is Your Birthday Forecasts, for a free forecast for the upcoming year.

Moon Signs This Week:

When the Moon is in Cancer

 The restlessness of the Gemini Moon gives way to an instinctive need for peace and quiet. A feeling of belonging and safety is what motivates us under this influence. The Moon feels right at home in the sign of Cancer, as it rules the sign. This Moon position has much healing potential. Although insular by nature, our feelings run deep, making it an ideal time to get in touch with what motivates us.

The Moon in Cancer generally favors the following activities: Domestic activities, those that involve awareness of personal needs. Home decor, family get-togethers.

When the Moon is in Leo

The Moon in Leo speaks to our "inner child". It's a warm, generous, whole-heartedly loving position. Pride keeps us from pettiness, but it can also prevent us from opening up and revealing how we are truly feeling. We are on stage, our feelings are grand, and we appreciate some drama in our lives. We are easily threatened by anything that seems to be impersonal. This is a time when we seek attention--when we want to stand out for our special qualities. It's a strong time for romance and any creative activity as well.

The Moon in Leo generally favors the following activities: Creative activities, activities involving children, generous undertakings, undertakings in which personal recognition is desired, and risk-taking.

When the Moon is in Virgo

We instinctually gravitate towards practical activities under the influence of a Virgo Moon. In an urge to set things right, we might easily find ourselves re-organizing and rethinking plans. Emotional satisfaction comes from solving problems, making order out of confusion, and helping others. Health matters might come into focus. We notice the smaller parts that make up the whole, and instead of letting nagging details bother us, we might work on ironing them out so that we can feel more confident moving ahead.

The Moon in Virgo generally favors the following activities: Mental pursuits, work activities, services, and routines. Activities that would benefit from tending to details.

When the Moon is in Libra

Creating order is the focus, not necessarily through tidying or organizing as was the case while the Moon was in Virgo, but rather through pleasing interactions with others and aesthetics in our environment. We tend to solve problems through diplomacy, and we are more able to put aside our own emotions in order to achieve the peace we crave. The tendency now is to avoid direct confrontations. Decisions do not come easily. Seeing both sides to any given situation is the main reason for hesitation. Fear of losing others' approval is another.

The Moon in Libra generally favors the following activities: Relationship and partnership issues, activities involving teamwork and cooperation, activities that involve self-examination, activities related to beauty.

 

Upcoming Weeks: Calendars

 

 

What’s In Your Forecast?

Take a peek at the year ahead with in-depth Future Forecast Reports from Cafe Astrology.

---

BACK TO THIS WEEK IN ASTROLOGY MAIN/CURRENT

See also:

The Astrology of 2023 – Overview

The Astrology of 2024 – Overview

Monthly Calendar

This Month in Astrology

This Month’s Ephemeris

This Month’s Transits