It starts with Venus squaring Pluto before entering Scorpio, and it ends with the Sun squaring Pluto before entering Scorpio. Epic bookends like those, along with a Venus transit of the fixed water sign, portend a more intense Sun through Libra cycle than usual. It all gets underway on September 22nd, when the Sun journeys to the cardinal air sign and domicile of Venus, and kicks off autumn 2024. Providing some insight for the unfolding season, the Messenger planet is set to make key connections with all three outer planets while it’s still in practical Virgo. On September 24th, Mercury will trine Uranus, and on the 25th it will oppose Neptune, prior to trining Pluto. The best laid plans may be challenged by unforeseen events on the 24th. Neptune will either provide useful vision or see delusory schemes fall to pieces. The final earthy collab, between Mercury and Pluto, will move solid solutions forward. On that cooperative note, Mercury will ingress into the sign of partnership on the 26th and begin forming the conjunction with the Libra Sun that will be exact on the 30th and one with the new Libra Moon on the 2nd. By the way, that new Moon comes with the final eclipse in the cardinal series that began on April 20, 2023.
In the background, on October 2nd a grand water trine involving Mars will be in motion, as the planet on a quest quietly crosses the shadow point of its forthcoming retrograde in Cancer and Leo. On September 30th, Mars will trine Saturn, as will Venus on October 4th under a Scorpio Moon, and on the 8th Venus will trine Mars. Modern astrologers consider Pluto to be Scorpio’s ruling planet, while followers of ancient astrology assign the task to Mars. Either way, ruthlessly honest Scorpio is an uncomfortable place for gracious, diplomatic Venus to reside. Factor in that malefics Mars and Saturn are the other players in this series, and these days are likely to be emotionally strenuous, to say the least. In the context of Mars touching the initial critical point of its forthcoming retrograde, attempts to paper over significant problems are not recommended. The time to have it out is coming, and probing Mars is pushing all of the emotional buttons on issues seeking examination and resolution. This retrograde starts on December 6th at 6° Leo 10’ and lasts until Feb 23, 2025, when Mars stations at 17° Cancer 01’. On October 2nd, Mars will cross that Cancer point, and it will take until May 2, 2025 for Mars to exit the outbound retrograde shadow point in Leo. Mars is identified with anger and aggression. A fitting mantra for its sojourn between tidal Cancer and courageous Leo might be, “Get mad, ask why and change what needs transformation”. Following its Libra transit, the Sun will of course move into the passionate, purifying water sign of Scorpio. Under Scorpio skies, true feelings are on course for further intensification as themes of death and renewal are activated. What begins to emerge now will benefit from the elegance of the Sun in mediating, harmonizing Libra.