We are now on the other side of the eclipse cycle of August, and can begin to relax into the cooling temperatures (here in the Northern Hemisphere) and comparatively stable astrological weather.
Post-eclipse season there is often a freshness that feels something like the air after a storm has passed. The intensity of what I like to call the ‘squeeze’ of the eclipses has loosened its grip, allowing us to re-enter relative normalcy. For those who are sensitive or for whom the eclipses impacted significant places in their chart, such as their natal Moon, the time period around eclipse events can feel like a bit of a dream-state.
The influence of the shadow planets on the luminaries brings both disorienting confusion and piercing insights. It is important to take a moment to sift through whatever may have arisen during that time. Post-eclipse is a very potent period to act on any revelations which may have been unearthed in the later half of last month.
Pitṛi Pakṣa
September will bring Pitri Pakṣa, which is the annual period dedicated to honoring the ancestors. This year it begins September 26th and runs through October 10th and is an excellent opportunity to address negative ancestral karma through prayer, pujas and offerings. For anyone with what is called a Pitṛi Doṣa or ancestor affliction in their natal chart, this is the most powerful time of year to address it.
Pitṛi Doṣas are essentially blocks in life that are caused by negative karma generated by one’s ancestors, up to seven generations back. Pujas to address this are performed at the Ganges for 15 days and are done for the benefit of the departed ancestors themselves as well as the living individuals who have inherited their karma. These pujas can be life-changing and take one full year from the date of completion to fully resolve the karma or blockages. I’ll be sharing some examples related to this as we get deeper into the month.
Pitṛi Doṣas can sometimes be recognized even in the absence of a birth chart, when there are addictions, abuse or mental health issues that run down a family line, or when there are obstacles that cannot be understood which block marriage and/or children. There are also many other ways these can come through, depending on the details of what they are influencing in the natal horoscope.
Whether or not you have a Pitṛi Doṣa, Pitṛi Pakṣa is a wonderful time to connect with your ancestors, embark on some lineage research, look through family photo albums and generally open your heart and mind to those you descended from.
The Astrology of September
The second half of August, and the first half of September was and will be highly impacted by a conjunction in Leo which is bringing up a lot in relation to identity. Sun and the lunar node Ketu have been conjoined here since August 16th, and entered an exact conjunction on August 22nd. Sun is happy in his own sign in Leo, and Ketu also is happily placed in Leo, but the two have somewhat opposing aims and so this conjunction can create some deep internal tension as a result.
Sun is concerned with identity, visibility, the structure of one’s personality and of one’s life as well as power and authority. Ketu, on the other hand, wants to tear it all down and disassemble and sacrifice the self and public persona in order to reach his spiritual goals.
This conjunction, together with the recent eclipse themes, may have brought up some personal reflections on one’s identity and how it may or may not be serving one’s larger goals as well as the well-being of others and in particular one’s lineage. The next couple of weeks are fertile for explorations regarding what may need to be sacrificed on a personal level in order to be of better service to something larger than oneself. Where are you still hung up, wasting energy, or not even seeing your role clearly? This conjunction allows us to go deeply into this question and come back with some honest responses which can inform how you move forward.
Meanwhile, Venus was in debilitation for all of August and will move into her own sign on September 2nd—a very happy placement for the planet of love, pleasure and beauty. This is a long stay for Venus, since she will go retrograde October 3rd, briefly back into Virgo and again into Libra from November 22nd until January 1st.
A strong Venus helps us feel more connected to and inspired by life, particularly through relationships of all kinds (in Libra) and through involvement with one’s own senses. This is an opportunity to re-connect with one’s own enjoyment of beauty, taste, sounds, touch, and one’s experience of inhabiting a body in general. It is also a good time for Venus remedies such as mantra, puja and donation—especially if you have an afflicted Venus in your natal chart. In general, this is a good time to look for partnership or enhance and revive existing partnerships (both business and romantic).
Mid-month, Sun will move into Virgo and shift the solar themes from identity and power to organization, details and problem-solving. Around the same time, Mars moves into his debilitation sign in Cancer to join an exalted Jupiter until November 12th. This is a complex placement and will tend to ‘reverse’ the impact of Mars’ debilitation over the course of the transit due to Jupiter’s positive influence. Jupiter’s full beneficence may have to sink a bit in order to accomplish this.
Because Jupiter is still moving so quickly through Cancer (at over 200% of his normal pace!) Mars will not share the same degree as him (the condition for a planetary war) until they both make their way into Leo in November.
A Jupiter-Mars conjunction is considered to bring a lot of energy, enthusiasm and capability. The courage, drive and strategic intelligence of Mars combined with the wisdom, patience and good guidance of Jupiter can be a very helpful influence. It supports competition, taking on a challenging task, and anything requiring a little extra courage from you.
The reversal of the debilitation may come through in a new, more positive and effective approach to dealing with anger and resentment, which are emotions that tend to get distorted when Mars is debilitated. It may also produce an altogether ‘strategy’ for approaching your emotional world.
Auspicious Dates
-
9/12: ojas/energy gaining strength from today until the full moon on the 25th
-
9/13: supports enjoyment, romantic relationships, artistic endeavors
-
9/15-17: supports making commitments
-
9/20: overall very auspicious day for beginning new ventures
-
9/23: very high ojas/energy, take care to direct it since there is also a combination for anxiety and worry
Sensitive Dates
-
9/4: chaotic energy, depleting
-
9/6-10: waning ojas/energy, lower social battery
-
9/10: empty moon—inauspicious day for beginnings, beneficial only for offerings and getting rid of things (excellent for deep cleaning and fasting)
-
9/14: associated with obstacles
-
9/17: sun sankranti (moving signs)
-
can make it difficult to get things done (unplanned obstacles)
-
-
9/18-19: chaotic energy + moon gandanta
-
instability in mind and emotions
-
-
9/24: high emotional energy as well as emotional and energetic blockages
-
9/26-10/10: Pitṛi Pakṣa—beneficial for worship of ancestors but not for starting new wordly or material things *