Forecast Sep 21-27, 2020: About Those Hatches

This week the Sun is moving into what promises to be one of the most eventful Libra Sun cycles in decades. Over the next month we’ll see Saturn and Pluto turn direct, a full Aries Moon, a Jupiter Neptune sextile, the start of our next Mercury retrograde, in Scorpio, and two cardinal t-squares. Libra is the cardinal air sign that represents balance, partnership and justice. Thus far, 2020’s signature event has been January 12th’s Saturn Pluto conjunction. Back then the two powerhouse planets joined forces in cardinal Capricorn, and sent shockwaves around the world. Now both are preparing to emerge from their long retrogrades. Can you say revelations? Because Libra is one of astrology’s four cardinal signs, planets traversing its sector activate the other bodies in cardinal signs. This week is no exception. Indeed, as the Sun moves into objective, judicious Libra, a tense t-square takes shape between Mercury and astrology’s bad boys Mars and Saturn.

Something big is not only brewing, but about to begin boiling over. The autumn equinox takes place on Tuesday, when the Sun enters Libra. The Sun’s presence in a cardinal sign will take on greater significance later in the cycle, when its degree interacts more closely with those of Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto. For this week, Mercury is the planet to track. On Wednesday, it will cross the shadow point of its oncoming retrograde, at 25 degrees of Libra, and it will square Saturn. That retrograde shadow point is important because we will return to it on November 3rd (Election Day). Mercury’s square to Saturn reactivates the Saturn Pluto conjunction. Next, Mercury will oppose Mars on Thursday and square the Capricorn Moon Friday night. The combination of Mercury and Mars sitting opposite of one another, with Saturn and a passing Capricorn Moon positioned at 90 degrees to both, is what is called a t-square. Because this one involves malefics Mars and Saturn and it is being catalyzed by communicative Mercury, in the sign of relationships, the stakes are high.

Libra strives for equanimity, symmetry and grace. With the slew of clashes that are on tap for this week and the coming month, Libra’s altruistic values and mediation skills will be tested. The other Libra conundrum that we will be presented with is the sign’s natural emphasis on the needs of others versus our desires. Passionate Mars in “me first” Aries will directly confront Mercury this week and the Libra Sun in October. In the audacious, self-oriented fire sign, Mars will express the importance of individual needs. Before Pluto was discovered and became the ruler of Scorpio in modern astrology, probing Mars ruled the fixed water sign. On Sunday Mercury will move into Scorpio, where it will be in residence until October 27th. This is when dishonestly going along to get along will stop working. Scorpio drills down deep in its relentless quest for the absolute truth, and the truth is powerful. Adding to the intensity, Mercury is preparing to go retrograde in Scorpio. Libra wants everyone to play nicely, while Mars and Scorpio want to win. Together, they will leave us to wrestle with fairness and honesty.