September 15th ~ 22nd
“Hermes” by W. B. Richmond
In the chaos of difficulty at the beginning, order is already implicit. So too the superior person has to arrange the inchoate profusion of such times of beginning, just as one sorts out silk threads from a knotted tangle and binds them into skeins. In order to find one’s place in the infinity of being, one must be able both to separate and to unite. ~ The I Ching
On Friday, September 15th, Mercury stations direct, finally ending its retrograde phase. This is when we return to what we usually associate with being normal once again. This is also when those seeds that were being planted at the inferior conjunction on September 6th will be allowed to grow. It is at the time of the direct station that the necessary pieces of information come together so that we are then better able to make sense of the insensible.
Giving the station of Mercury an extra boost, was Thursday’s New Moon in Virgo. And so this week is permeated with a sense of new beginnings, of finally being able to sort things out, getting back on track, and getting our lives together.
But as the direct station can also bring a bustle of energy and commotion, much as the retrograde station did, it is helpful to remind ourselves of the advice given at the beginning of the retrograde phase on August 23rd. And that is that we can feel overwhelmed with a number of responsibilities, an abundance of information, as all sorts of expectations are showered upon us. But if we were to step back, and focus on one task at a time, putting one foot in front of the other, step by step, we can then make our way through the mountain of tasks.
The New Moon at 21º Virgo 59’ was at the same degree as Mercury was when it stationed retrograde at 21º Virgo 51’ on August 23rd. At that time Mercury was trine Uranus, just as the New Moon is now. Illuminating. Daring us to stretch out of our habitual responses, we are being asked to consider new possibilities, new ways of doing things, new ways of being. And to be able to see solutions where previously we only saw problems and obstacles.
By the end of September when Mercury is moving at a good clip and approaching its trine to Jupiter, this will be when we have the greatest potential to fulfill the seed ideas being planted within the retrograde phase. And perhaps that will be the best time to make agreements or important decisions.
Having both Mercury and Venus in their retrograde phases at the same time can bring us pause, and make us feel like we need to redo some things in our lives. Perhaps fix things the right way. But now that Mercury is stationing direct, it can bring us a little more clarity and direction. Nonetheless all of the outer planets are still in their retrograde phases. This can still make it challenging to further our goals in the outer world, but it can offer us plenty of opportunity for our own personal self-development.
On September 19th the Sun will shine its light on Neptune which is currently at mid-cycle in its retrograde phase. This is when the Sun shines a light on the area of our lives where we are feeling especially vulnerable, drained, and perhaps even deceived. It is not unusual to feel as if we are being plunged into a wave of doubt and uncertainty as a result. We ask ourselves, What am I not seeing? Where was I led astray? What am I in denial about? What am I avoiding?
Rather than filling in the empty spaces with misinformation, wait and see what is being revealed. Things may not be what you assume them to be in this weather. And it will be difficult to see the whole picture. Be wary of misinformation. Neptune rules things like fogs, delusions, glamour and confabulation. So it is easy to get caught up in either seeing only what we want to see, or creating conspiracies out of whole cloth. This is fine when you want to elaborate on a story in order to entertain, but for the purposes of creating trouble, deception or pretense, it will only create chaos.
Mercury direct in Virgo is adept at creating order out of chaos. Therefore use the strength of the direct station of Mercury to sort through any misconceptions, make sense of that which is not making sense, and to discriminate between falsehoods and reality.
It is best not to try and fight the wave of uncertainty that the opposition to Neptune can bring. For this can and often will only create more confusion. But do pay attention to whatever is being brought to light. For little remains hidden when the Sun shines a light into the darkness. It is also wise not to take things too seriously, for things often are not what they appear to be when shape-shifting Neptune is in the picture.
Rather than fighting any illusive demons and wraiths, why not embrace Neptune where she resides and thrives? Meet Neptune in the world of: Dreaming, Channeling, Fantasizing, and indulging one’s Imagination. Use the Neptune energy to be inspired, to visualize a higher ideal, to wistfully wonder. Listen to music. Indulge your senses. Immerse yourself in nature, art, beauty or the world of the imagination, and visualize a better, more compassionate and understanding world in which to live.
For next week’s horoscopes, click below: