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Horoscope: September 24 to 30, 2018

Astrologer Pam Younghans writes this weekly astrological journal based on planetary influences, and offers perspectives and insights to assist you in making the best use of current energies. This column is not intended as prediction. Your own experience will be more specifically defined by transits to your personal chart.

Highlighted Aspects for This Week

All times listed are Pacific Daylight Time. For Greenwich Mean Time, add 7 hours.

MON: Sun quincunx Uranus, Full Moon 7:52 p.m. PDT
TUE: Sun square Vesta, Mercury semisquare Jupiter, Sun square Saturn, Chiron enters Pisces, Mars conjunct South Node
THU: Saturn conjunct Vesta, Mercury conjunct Ceres, Sun trine Mars
SAT: Sun semisquare Jupiter
SUN: Mercury quincunx Neptune, Pluto stations direct

THE LAST WEEK of September begins with a Full Moon that perfects at 7:52 p.m. PDT on Monday, at 1°59? Aries. This is our annual "Harvest Moon," being the Full Moon that occurs closest to the September Equinox. But, seeing that Chiron is closely aligned with the Moon at the time of the lunation, we might instead refer to it as our "Healing Moon."

Synchronistically, this morning I turned the page to the next chapter of a book I am reading, Acutonics for Dogs & Cats. Knowing that Chiron plays a significant role astrologically this coming week, I was astonished to see that the new chapter is entitled "Chiron, the Wounded Healer."


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The author writes:

"As an immortal who gave up his immortality, Chiron represents the merging of our human identity with our spiritual identity ... We can use the energy of Chiron as a shamanic link to assist both ourselves and our companion animals in reconnecting to source and realigning with the abundant health and well-being that it provides."

WITH CHIRON and the Moon in Aries, we are in the process of healing core issues of self-determination and self-confidence. Chiron in Aries can reveal a deep uncertainty or fear. When the wound is very deep, we may be disassociated from our desires, not knowing what we really want in life. We may question our right to even have needs, much less to ask for those needs to be met. 

This is especially complicated for those who are other-oriented, or who have embraced the belief that it is selfish or "unspiritual" to want something for oneself. If that belief is deeply ingrained, even when a person learns to ask for their needs to be met, the fulfillment of those needs can be blocked energetically.

At the other end of the spectrum, Chiron in Aries is also healing how we use assertiveness, and the emotions of aggression and anger. In essence, while Chiron travels through the first sign, we are working to heal the masculine aspect of our nature, to bring it into balance in our individual lives and in the world. 

It appears to be very important, the timing of this Aries Full Moon and its alignment with Chiron. If it were occurring just 24 hours later, Chiron (currently retrograde) would have already stepped back into Pisces, and we would no longer have quite the same emphasis on this healing process. Cosmic timing and intention are definitely in play this week.

A CARDINAL T-SQUARE is formed at the time of the Full Moon. This growth-accelerating configuration is formed by the Moon and Chiron in Aries; the Sun, Mercury, and Ceres in Libra; and Saturn and Vesta in Capricorn.

Astrologer Bil Tierney writes that a cardinal t-square can be very energizing, but can keep us "in a constant rush or frenzy on the action level." He cautions that "we will need to develop greater self-discipline, inner timing, outer patience, and a general sense of thoroughness and organization if we are to succeed."

Saturn is at the apex point of the t-square, indicating that we can expect to deal with some frustrations if we push for results too soon. The delays that occur under this influence are meant to teach us patience and maturity.

Apex Saturn reminds us of the importance of thinking carefully about our long-term objectives, rather than focusing merely on what will satisfy our in-the-moment needs. And, with the asteroid Vesta at the same degree as Saturn, we have the discipline to fully commit to a longer-term course of action and to see it through to its successful completion.

TIRED as we are of endless rhetoric, words are again a theme with this week's Full Moon. Mercury, the Communicator, is aligned with the Sun and Ceres, and all are part of the t-square configuration. 

These three planets are in harmony-seeking Libra, arguably the most other-directed of the signs. While tact and diplomacy are among Libra's most valued qualities, there is a point at which words become meaningless, if their only purpose is to appease. With this t-square, we are being challenged not to fall prey to the need for the appearance of harmony, if in actuality, truth is not being served.

We will want to be especially cognizant of what lies beneath others' words, as well as our own. Is it truth, or are we being manipulated? Is it live, or is it Memorex?

(It is interesting that the new book, These Truths: A History of the United States, was just released last week -- on the same day as the final Uranus-Mars square. I haven't read the book, only heard NPR's interview with the author, but I am intrigued by the timing of its publication.)

ALSO IN THE CHART for the Full Moon, and exact on Tuesday, Mars is once again aligned with the South Node in Aquarius. This is the third such alignment, with the first two being on June 7 and July 20. For the past four months, we have been confronting deep karmic issues related to our use of the masculine qualities of assertiveness and direct action. We have also been dealing with patterned responses of fear, anger, or avoidance when facing challenges.

In many ways, this Mars-South Node conjunction builds on some of the messages conveyed by the Moon-Chiron alignment in Aries. Mars represents masculine principles and is the planetary ruler of Aries. Its alignment with the karmic South Node is another sign that if we are to evolve as individuals and as a species, we must elevate our use of masculine principles.

POWERFUL PLUTO is another player in this week's dramas. The dwarf planet comes to a standstill on the very last day of the month, completing its retrograde phase and beginning to move forward once again.

Whenever a planet slows to change direction, its influence is heightened. As our planetary psychotherapist, Pluto is known for its ability to dig deep, revealing what has been hidden so that it no longer controls us from behind the scenes. Currently in Capricorn, Pluto's job is to expose where there is decay in the foundations of governments and societies, and to show clearly where those in authority actually have feet of clay. These revelations may not be comfortable, but they are a necessary step in the process of transformation.

IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THIS WEEK: You are emerging from a time of serious reappraisal. Since January, Saturn has been in strong aspect to your Sun, pulling you inward so that you could see yourself more clearly and objectively. As a result, you may have felt alone or lonely. But, the questioning and doubts have served their purpose, and you will soon be ready to move forward, having trimmed away what does not work for you, both internally and externally. Over the coming year, you will be learning to communicate your truth more directly. As you move out into the world again, remember the lessons of self-care you have learned, and do not to lose yourself again in the needs of others. Continue to put your needs as equal on the scales.

About the Author

Pam YounghansPam Younghans is a professional astrologer, editor, and writer. She lives in a log home northeast of Seattle, Washington with her beloved animal companions. She has been interpreting charts professionally for over 25 years. If you are interested in an astrology reading, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or leave a message at 425.445.3775. For more information about NorthPoint Astrology offerings, please visit northpointastrology.com or visit her Facebook page.

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