Astrological Forecast for September 21 to 27, 2006

by Ellen Zucker

When a raindrop hits a puddle its impact causes ripples that form ever widening circles.

When a second raindrop falls, its impact causes ripples that form ever widening circles. And the circles soon cross each other.

Another raindrop falls. And another. Soon, the surface gets choppy.

Astrology studies the motion of various celestial cycles. Like a puddle in the rain, our lives often receive the impact of many cycles at any one time. And the rippling impacts the flow of our lives.

The intersection of celestial cycles is rarely neat. But that makes the challenges we face so interesting and ultimately unpredictable.

This week features the intersection of two cycles. The first is the second eclipse of our eclipse pair described here two weeks ago. But tomorrow's eclipse is a solar eclipse, this time a long eclipse, its total phase being over 7 minutes in duration.

This eclipse takes place at 29 degrees of Virgo, the penultimate degree of the sign.

Completion and tying up of loose ends is the theme of the very last degrees of any sign. When we see a placement here we know we have had time to work with the sign's energy. And we know the energy will change very soon.

Yet a solar eclipse is, essentially, a very powerful new moon. And new moons are new beginnings. So there is a paradox between the completion of the old and the beginning of the new.

And so the placement of this eclipse at 29 Virgo suggests that unfinished Virgo business may intrude into the new cycle ... kind of like bringing home a wonderful new Fall wardrobe and realizing we still have a few summer items hanging in our closets.

One example is the re-classification of Pluto - classification being an activity in Virgo's realm. Many astronomers not present at IAU's vote strongly disagree with its decision and are taking action to overturn it.

Adding another layer to the celestial patterns is the entrance of the Sun into Libra just hours later on Saturday morning.

This is not just any instance of the Sun changing signs. This is an equinox, a balance, when the hours of daylight and darkness are equal.

The Sun's entrance into Libra marks the official beginning of fall, a transition that is part of our cycle of the seasons repeated each and every year. We experience the rapidly shortening length of daylight and rapidly changing weather.

The change of seasons is a time of change. Thus the signs that coincide with the change of the seasons are called 'cardinal' signs. Their chief characteristic is initiating change. They take charge, begin projects and move quickly. But they lose interest just as quickly.

Think 'entrepreneur' versus 'operations manager.'

Libra is an air sign. Air signs are mental. Their energy promotes communication and social interaction. Libra emphasizes social interaction focused on one-to-one partnerships - marriage being only one example.