Weekly Metaphysical Forecast 9.20.23
Natural Equanimity
WHAT?
After a little Neptunian chaos, Virgo gives over to the diplomacy and ease of Libra this week, ushering in a new sense of space and balance alongside the autumnal equinox.
Before we get to the delicious, gooey center of rewarding astrology awaiting us this weekend, we must chew through some brittle, outer shell irritation. There is a hard aspect happening with Neptune and our sun that has turned many of us into flaky messes from Sunday through Thursday. Our various disappointments might seem so overwhelming that we impede progress with paralysis, with the key word here being 'seem', as Neptune is the planet of illusion. Plans could be cancelled at the last minute, people will fail to follow up on agreements, and getting anyone to return a phone call before Thursday will be impossible.
Don't despair - Friday ushers in a moment of balance and clarity in the form of the autumnal equinox, giving us a chance to reap what we've sown over summer. We will feel the need to reset ourselves, and our goals, for completion in 12 weeks as we barrel toward the darkest part of the year. We feel a compulsion to ask ourselves - what could be accomplished by then? And how can we make space in our lives for Libra-centric priorities like love, art, and increased prosperity?
When the sun moves into Libra and strikes the perfect balance of sky time with the moon, we move officially into autumn. Like the breath at the top of an exhale, the equinox is anticipatory of descent and can help us approach endings or release with optimism instead of anxiety. There was so much breath holding at various points this past spring and summer that we can consider the next 12 weeks both a lush exhale and a reprieve from drastic transformations...at least until January.
The sun crosses into Libra while chilling in the fourth house of home and family
WHY?
Libra is the sensible, balanced, diplomatic flirt of the zodiac, and she knows it. Last season was a deep dive into the obsessive Virgo values of servitude and diligence, which, like the equinox, also makes our cross over into Libra season feel like an exhale. Metaphorically, if Virgo is a long day of work, Libra is the moment we all get home, take our shoes off, and hug a loved one.
On Friday, our sun beams these decidedly different vibes onto our heads, boosted by the scales of justice in both astronomy and astrology, as well as the R.W.S. tradition of tarot. One of the cardinal signs, fair and just Libra also acts as a kickstarter, which is why we might be feeling oddly invigorated to either begin or complete projects this weekend. Under a sun in Libra, people of all ages tend to be struck by back-to-school type zeal. We might find ourselves excited again, the way we were as children - meaning that when we think of our future during Libra season, we see optimism and possibility, as opposed to the more typical adult framing of disappointment and anxiety. This foray into the warmest and most beautiful part of autumn is a moment for us to balance our pleasure with equal parts discipline; to look ahead and behind ourselves all at once and complete an important part of our cycle.
It is not coincidental that Libra season heralds the autumnal equinox - that moment in our northern hemisphere which bestows equal amounts of sunlight and darkness onto our collective faces. Ancient agricultural society used this equinox (AKA Mabon to the Wiccans and Gardnerian pagans out there) as a signal to complete one final harvest before the frost set in, because in the words of the doomed Ned Stark, winter was coming. Even under modern stressors, our diurnal, mammalian brains will feel an ancient need to prepare for the long night, while we concurrently harvest and celebrate previous successes. This foray into the warmest and most beautiful part of autumn is a moment for us to balance our pleasure with equal parts discipline; to look ahead and behind ourselves all at once and complete an important part of our cycle as we exhale and release the friction of 2023.
WHEN?
Neptune was engaged in perfect opposition to the sun on 7.19, but his wacky, delusional influence should be well waned by Thursday morning, 7.21. Libra season and the autumnal equinox descend upon our Northern Hemisphere right before midnight on Friday 7.22.
TAROT
We continue to spark with the energy of 2 of Wands as it carries over from Tuesday to Wednesday...if anything, Tuesday was a rough draft for the real initiative that could be forged on Wednesday. By Thursday, the Knight of Wands shows up and adds fuel to our productivity fire by actualizing some key goals, and things will be temptingly close to our grasp. Something could derail our momentum on Friday, though - and it brings rough news, doomscrolling, and general 2023 anxiety in the way only 9 of Swords can.
Crappy news will continue on Saturday, but this time with a twist of familiarity that catches our awareness. It's almost as though we've experienced this cycle of a Wheel of Fortune reversed before, and are now recognizing a need to break from it.
Don't allow professional issues, collective events, or the 'public' mood to affect life at home or with loved ones. The Hermit reversed will make withdrawal and self-flagellation seem like a solution, but it is not. Give people plenty of grace on Monday, as projects and passions will invariably be delayed or stuck in stasis, thanks to the Ace of Wands reversed. Don't despair, we have a full moon coming next weekend that doesn't accept failure as an option.
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