The Plan
Mercury makes the last of three trine aspects to Jupiter this week (Sep. 25, 2023, 5:10 am PDT, 14º51’ Virgo and Taurus); the first two in the series were on Aug. 9 and Sep. 4. These trines in earth signs have emphasized naturalness and practicality. In fact, the first in the series was on the same degrees as this final aspect, and the same Sabian symbols: Mercury on 15 Virgo, An ornamental handkerchief, and Uranus on 15 Taurus, A man muffled up with a rakish silk hat.
Jupiter has a lot of big ideas, and in Taurus many of those ideas may have to do with things we want to buy, upgrades to our lifestyle, increases to our income. Mercury in Virgo is naturally drawn to putting together a practical plan for how to make that happen, complete with spreadsheets, timelines, researching deals, and ideas for parlaying our existing skill set into higher income.
If you’ve done your homework during the previous two trines, you should have a good sense by now of what’s really important to you. So turn to Mercury in Virgo’s spreadsheet for an overview of practicalities and logistics; then, you’ll know how much is left in the budget for Jupiterian ornamentation and rakish silk hats.
Lighted on One Side
The Aries Full Moon (Sep. 29, 2023, 2:57 am PDT) highlights the balance between Libra, the sign that puts others first, and Aries, which symbolizes how we assert our own needs.
The Full Moon lets us know very clearly whether this polarity is in balance in our lives, or whether we need to emphasize one side or the other a bit more. Even the Full Moon’s Sabian symbol, 6 Aries: A square brightly lighted on one side, hints at an imbalance. If we find that we’ve been putting ourselves first too often, it’s time to pay attention to what others need. And if we’re paying too much attention to what others require at the expense of our well-being, well, it’s time to light up the Aries side of the square.
The Aries Full Moon is a decisive one. The Sun’s Sabian symbol is 6 Libra, The ideals of a man abundantly crystalized. We know full well what’s important to us, it’s just a matter of claiming it – and in this, Aries excels. Fortunately, Aries’ ruling planet, Mars, is currently in Libra, offering us the tools to assert ourselves as needed without waging an all-out war!
“Me” time and “We” time
Venus completes a series of square aspects to Uranus this week (Sep. 29, 2023, 10:52 am PDT) at 22º40’ Leo and Taurus. (The previous two in the series were on July 2 and Aug. 9.) This series of squares has awakened us to what we value, how we value ourselves, and how we are being treated by others.
In relationship, Venus’ hard aspects to Uranus highlight the tension between togetherness and independence. I was speaking recently to a woman whose husband has recently retired after months of disability leave. I knew she worked from home, and wondered if it had been awkward to get used to her husband being around during the day. “I’m getting used to it, and it actually is nice to spend more time together,” she said, “But I do kind of miss having my ‘alone’ time!” If something similar has come up for you during the previous two exact squares, now is the time to negotiate a better blend of “me” time and “we” time.
Venus is a symbol of money as well, and its aspects to Uranus can indicate sudden windfalls or unexpected expenses. Perhaps something that you spent money on back in early July, and then found a problem with in early August, will finally be resolved. (Ask me how I know, and I’ll tell you all about my carpet!)
Training and Reward
Mercury trines Uranus this week (Sep. 30, 2023, 9:55 am PDT) at 22º38’ minutes Virgo and Taurus. Mercury’s Sabian symbol is 23 Virgo, An animal trainer, and Uranus is on 23 Taurus, A jewelry shop. These are two symbols we’ve seen quite a lot in recent weeks, and in each instance we’ve been asked to “train” some part of ourselves in order to access Uranus’ jewelry shop of creative inspiration.
On August 16, when Mars made this aspect to Uranus on the same degrees, the challenge was to get a handle on our temper and focus our physical energy. Then, on September 15, the Sun was trine Uranus at these degrees, and it was the ego that needed to be reined in so that Uranus could work his inspirational magic.
Now Mercury is trine Uranus, and the key to winning Uranus’ inspiration and creative breakthroughs lies in focusing our minds. Here’s your week for brainstorming and coming up with creative solutions to almost any kind of puzzle that needs solving – the right inspiration just seems to show up at the right time.
The influence of this combination can be felt a couple of days in advance. So between, say, the 28th and into those early couple of days of October, sit down with your notepad and your favorite pen and make lists; I’m pretty sure you’ll come up with one or two gems.
Writing and images © 2017-23 by April Elliott Kent
For more on this week’s planetary news, listen to my podcast!
