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by Lilly Roddy

[ART: David’s illustration for Libra]

September is going to be one of the more difficult times for this year. Not only is Mercury retrograde, but we are also having some very troublesome planetary alignments. And the first two weeks of the month are the most intense. Tempers could be very raw at this time, both personal and worldwide. And the full moon on the 10th could bring some news about our country that will make us all very unhappy. Even though these planetary alignments will affect us nationally, they will also affect each of us individually. Issues will come to a head, and this can bring about an ending to relationships, business partnerships, and some real conflicts with bosses or clients. The tension levels lessen after the third week, and Mercury will be direct by that time. Breathe and try to keep a good sense of priorities. • The Sun begins the month in Virgo and enters Libra the first day of fall on the 23rd. Mercury begins the month retrograde in Virgo and goes direct on the 20th and continues the rest of the month in Virgo. Venus is also in Virgo and graciously enters her own sign of Libra on the 15th. Mars finally finishes his retrograde motion on the 27th while in the sign of Pisces. Jupiter is newly into Virgo. Saturn continues her journey through Cancer. Uranus toys with the boundaries of Aquarius and Pisces on the 14th. Neptune is floating through Aquarius. And Pluto is seeking the truth in Sagittarius. • Good days to stick your head above ground are the 23rd, 29th, and 30th. And the days to avoid your shadow are the 4th, 5th, 7th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 20th, 25th, 27th, and 28th.

ARIES (March 21–April 19). September is your month to organize your office, your files, your health, and past karmic issues with your partner. You can expect to find problems in these areas of your life. And this is the month to do something about them. Don’t let the breaking awareness bring you down but energize you into action. You are very aware of your emotional and family security. And you feel like you are in charge of making the decisions. But are you? You are more interested in others and relationships by month’s end.

TAURUS (April 20–May 20). You are certainly not in a mood to be pushed or pulled. Things have to fit your notion of ease and comfort and play. You are in a very creative period, but only if you are having fun. You are still questioning your career path as you are seeking something that really makes you feel complete about your work. You can find help or support from friends or business associations. They can really introduce you to brand-new ideas. The best time to approach these groups are after the 22nd. By the end of the month, you are ready to get back on track.

GEMINI (May 21–June 21). Family and emotional reorganization are on your agenda this month. Your nest is messy, and you need to get it cleaned up. Emotionally, you are questioning your previous commitments in relationships and career avenues. You will not have any patience for authority figures. Be careful that you don’t set yourself up. You don’t want to be in a power struggle that has you choosing between the frying pan and a bigger frying pan. Before you take any life-altering action, you will want to wait until your ruling planet Mercury is direct after the 22nd. At that point, it may be a good time to look for fresher air.

CANCER (June 22–July 22). Wipe that serious grimace off your face! Go ahead. Just try. You will be living up to your animal reputation as the Crab. Your tolerance factor for BS is at an all-time low. This month, you are reviewing your thoughts and ideas and just how to get your point across. You may be trying to solve too many problems at one time. You don’t have to find the perfect solution—just a resolution that will get you through December 2003. At the end of the month, you are shifting that glare to your family and your home and getting them in order.

LEO (July 23–August 22). Your mind is definitely concentrating on financial matters. You are counting your money and considering what you are going to do with your finances. You may be experiencing some problems with your partner in the area. You may want to save, and your partner may want to spend. Issues will come to a head this month. Either you come up with a compromise, or you will be separating. This same energy will affect your salary and fees that you charge your clients.

VIRGO (August 23–September 22). What a birthday time for you! Your ruling planet, Mercury, is retrograde, and you can’t get your head out of your past to see what good things might be out there for you. And you want everything right now. Your composure is a thing of the past. And Goddess forbid anyone would be late to a meeting that you are attending. You will be speaking your mind. In fact, you will be more than happy to share what you think with any and everyone you encounter. Personal relationships may seem to take the brunt of this incendiary vigor.

LIBRA (September 23–October 23). You are taking a break from all the action and should be relaxing in your spa with a glass of your favorite beverage. Just what is the meaning of the Universe? You are fully ready to answer that question. And you are more sensitive than usual and cannot be around all your admirers this month. If you have to work, then be careful, because this is where your irritation might rear up and punch someone in the headlines. You awaken from this deep sleep by the end of the month ready to embrace the world.

SCORPIO (October 24–November 21). This is a great month to review your progress in your business life. You are more objective and ready to correct your mistakes rather than beat yourself up over them. If you belong to business or community organizations, you are reviewing their effectiveness. And if they don’t live up to your standards of necessary productivity, you are marking them off your day planner. By the end of the month, you are ready for a break.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22–December 21). I hope you are ready to join the circus and become that juggler that you always wanted to be. Otherwise, you are going to be pulled in several different directions at the same time. Work is taking 100 percent of your time. Home and family are taking 100 percent of your time. And personal maintenance is taking 100 percent of your time. Seems as if you are a bit over committed. You may be headed for a breakdown if you don’t get a handle on what is best for you rather than all those great things you do for others. You will be ready for a big breath by the time the Sun enters Libra.

CAPRICORN (December 22–January 19). Mostly this is a good month for you. You are productive, and your efforts seem to bring positive results without you having to try too hard. You are a bit impatient, especially when you are driving your car, and you get bored easily by anything that doesn’t get to the point quickly. It would be wonderful if you could take some time away from your routines and relax. You need some pleasant mental stimulation. Reading or watching favorite movies could also do this for you. At the end of the month, you get back on the treadmill ready for action and results.

AQUARIUS (January 20–February 18). You are feeling challenged this month by your desires for the things that you want and your sense of feeling trapped by these desires. You can be so irrefutable about your ideals, and even that can make you feel trapped. Just whose values are running your space ship? A romantic partner or good friend may be able to help you mirror back your feelings so that you can understand that you made up the rules to begin with. You just have to do what pleases you, and you will live up to your ideals.

PISCES (February 19–March 20). What a crazy last couple of months for you with this month as the culmination. You have been immersed in self-introspection, searching for the way out of the maze of self-chosen denial. When will be OK to put you at the top of your list? The answer is September 2003. Relationships of all sorts may seem way too demanding even if they are just being the same. You are not. You may want to look up boundaries in the dictionary so you will know what you have to do. It does ease up some by month’s end.

A professional astrologer for nearly 20 years, Lilly Roddy counsels individuals and teaches classes. Her website is www.hermesfoot.com.

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