September opens with the usual Back-to-School vibe, when the hopes of the new clash with the experience of reality. The full Moon on September 8 sees us wrestling with our hopes and fantasies, and what's possible to achieve in the immediate moment. Rarely is this equation either/or; we need both imagination and pragmatism to navigate life well. It's your job to figure out the balance point for yourself.
In the second half of the month, the cosmic energies ramp up their fiery ambitions. After several years with a strong water element in the sky, those with fire-cracker temperaments – Aries, Leo and Sagittarius – may finally feel a sense of homecoming.
Mars enters Sagittarius on September 13, and the following week Jupiter in Leo makes a harmonious trine with Uranus in Aries, all setting the stage for a very hot and spicy October. Fire is perfect for breaking into new territory, creative inspiration, and re-energizing yourself for what's next. It's not always ideal for teamwork though; be careful not to burn bridges in your personal quest for fire.
The last two weeks of September are a great time to get things in motion before Mercury heads into retrograde at the beginning of October. There are some especially auspicious days between the new Moon in Libra on September 23 and the Mercury retrograde on October 4. The good days continue into October, if you don't mind the communication god Mercury on holiday. (More about this next month, I just know fire likes to look ahead.)
There are still a few extra-long void-of-course Moons in September. You may want to mark the dates September 11, 18, 23 and 30 on your calendar as days to pull back. These are great for catching up or resting, but not the best times to launch something new.
