Nothing endures but change. -- Heraclitus c. 540-c.480 BC, from "Diogenes Laertius" -- Lives of Eminent Philosophers, bk. IX, sec. 8

Planetary Themes

The first week of September brings the seriously hard-working tone of Saturn conjunct Sun in Virgo on September 03 to give grounding to the airy Libra stellium of Venus, Mercury and Mars, along with another airy stellium in Aquarius comprised of retrograde Neptune, Chiron and the North Node of the Moon. Retrograde Neptune is sextiling retrograde Pluto in late Sagittarius, but Uranus in Pisces is squaring Pluto.

In public affairs, it is becoming obvious that the American public is once again being deceived concerning US international efforts at regime change.

Georgia now joins Iraq and Iran as nations that have been mischaracterized as needing US "humanitarian" military interventions to bring democracy to benighted areas of the world that just happen to have access to large oil reserves. The so-called New Cold War is proving to be the fraudulent and tragic segue between US political administrations whose politicians, both left and right, front for the oil companies.

Nevertheless, Venus in Libra rules this week so the general planetary mood is one of presently not feeling much pain, but rather enjoying the mellowing weather of the transition from summer into autumn and hoping for "change," even though we know that "the more things change, the more they stay the same."

The second week of September heats up the political debate between left and right factions of the US government with Jupiter in Capricorn squaring Mercury, Venus and Mars in Libra. Issues of fairness come into conflict with arguments favoring corporate growth that favors the executive suite over the factory floor. Towards the end of the week, retrograde Neptune in Aquarius trines the Libra stellium, creating a clarion call to a return to values of fairness.

Jupiter in Capricorn goes stationary direct on September 07, and Pluto in Sagittarius also goes stationary direct on September 08. It's likely that on these two days, many American citizens will make up their minds as to how to vote on November 04 and their decisions will probably revolve around their own personal relationships to the growth of the corporate governing class at the expense of the working class and middle class, as well as to the last eight years the USA has passed through in regard to its policy of foreign military adventurism or "Full Spectrum Dominance" under the false flag of fighting foreign religious extremism.

The third week of September finds us still under the rulership of Venus in Libra involved in a stellium that includes Mars and Mercury trining the idealistic Aquarian trio of Chiron, Neptune and the North Node of the Moon. Retrograde Uranus in Pisces is backing out of its square to Pluto in Sagittarius, taking a bit of the edge off of the explosive urges to finalize the rule of philosophical and religious extremists, both domestically and abroad.

Jupiter in Capricorn trines Saturn in Virgo, so we are getting more of the facts straight concerning what to believe about our governments. The Pisces Full Moon on September 15 will have us separating fact from fantasy in our urges to have peace and giving us some realistic techniques for re-establishing credibility.

The fourth week of September is marked by Venus' entry into Scorpio on September 23, where she is in her detriment. The soft mood of peace and beauty moves into one of intensely passionate expression of affection that runs the risk of veering into jealousy or greed. Mars conjuncts Mercury in Libra on September 23, further indicating an argumentative tone in the air.

In addition, Mercury goes retrograde in Libra the next day on September 24 until October 15. Mercury leaves the retrograde zone on October 30. During this time frame, it would be wise to avoid getting into new relationships or signing contracts because the mind will have a tendency to fluctuate or to become imbalanced in trying to establish a new equilibrium for itself within changing conditions.

In the public arena, scandals and stories about spying (Mars moves into Scorpio on October 03) are likely to appear, but such stories may be lacking in substantial evidence, or be merely part of a campaign of political dirty tricks in a heated election season.

Nevertheless, in spite of the confusing social and political atmosphere, the New Moon in Libra at the seventh degree on September 29 has us planting fertile seeds of peace. As Studs Terkel, the great American historian of the working class has reminded us, "Hope dies last."