Quote of the week

“If you can see your path laid out in front of you step by step, you know it’s not your path. Your own path you make with every step you take. That’s why it’s your path.”

― Joseph Campbell

Last week we discussed the need to get to work and be of service. While this theme will continue, this week you could be tested to endure through your tasks in the face of declining energy and motivation levels. Venus and Mercury are setting into the beams of the Sun, while Neptune opposes the Sun,  which could make you feel overwhelmed and acutely aware of a greater force overpowering you. 

Could it be a long list of things-to-do that feels impossible to attend to? A struggle with an authority figure / boss / corporation that feels like a David and Goliath battle? Dealing with an emotionally dominating person? Facing a stubborn and perennial issue that’s been grating on you? Whatever this may be, chances are it’s not going to go away quickly. Sometimes, we’re forced to surrender and submit to something in order to transform ourselves and that situation. 

New perspectives and approaches are needed but you might not be ready or aware of them right now. As Venus and Mercury walk into the bright glare of the Sun, you too are called to step blindly towards an unknown path that lies ahead. In fact, the term ‘path’ would be too well defined in this case; it’s more of a formless void that you’re approaching. Later, you’ll come to realise that this void is a necessary step towards a reinvention or rejuvenation. But for now, you need to trust that this process will wipe away any current expectations that may be limiting you. It’s time to surrender and see what new insights can be gained from entering a void where new forms of creative endeavours will burst from. The Sun Neptune Opposition (17 September) will help you with this surrendering process.

In the case of Venus’ Morning Set (15 September), this marks the beginning of a 77-day invisibility period that sees Venus move from Morning Star to Evening Star. (Astro nerds can check out my lecture, Delineation Tools: Planetary Phases for a deep dive into this topic). Out of the 584-day Venus cycle, these 77 days will be the most intense and challenging, but rewarding. The general areas of life that Venus governs are relationships, finances, creativity and fertility. Venus is responsible for bringing charm, grace and a sense of social connection to our lives. She is also a natural significator of women and lovers. Therefore, all of these topics will be tossed into a furnace from this week so expect a couple of months of heated discussions and intense focus around these matters. 

As Venus is heading into this zone, it’s good to think about the health of your personal relationships and financial situation. In general, these are the two major areas that can be subject to volatility and heightened emotions during this time. At the root of this could be your sense of power (or lack of) which could influence the way you react to any potential relationship or financial issues arising. Try to prepare for this time by proactively engaging in your own shadow work around relationships and finances this week. The more you can understand about your subconscious reactions, the less likely they are to flare up into bigger issues. Some journal questions could be:

• • Do you put up a wall when you’re being confronted with certain topics within relationships and finances? What are they and why?
  • Do you use a different persona with certain people or situations? How would you feel about exposing your true self in that situation?
  • Do you have healthy relationship boundaries? How could they be stronger? Do you respect others’ boundaries?
  • What is your relationship with money? Is it a source of self worth? Or one of shame?

In the case of Mercury’s Evening Set (18 September), this is much less intense than Venus’ as the invisibility period is much shorter (11 days) and we go through this phase around three times per year. Mercury rules communication, transactions, travel and movement. It’s responsible for connecting us to people, ideas, places and messages to help us stay in touch. When it sets this week, we can sometimes feel fatigued, brain fog, confusion, irrationality and a lack of motivation to get out and about. Writer’s block can be a common symptom of a sleepy Mercury.  Get plenty of rest as you may need more sleep while Mercury is sleeping too. The Sun Neptune Opposition (17 September) will also drain one’s vitality and leave our boundaries open to physical and psychic infections. It will be wise to keep a low profile while this is happening.

The Venus Mars square (17 September) happens at the same time as the Sun Neptune Opposition. I’m not going to lie – this looks like hard work. Mars squaring Venus will require a lot of effort and sheer hard work from us, but the Sun Neptune Opposition can demotivate and overwhelm us. This week, you may feel as though you’re working against yourself – ie. being your own worst enemy, sabotaging your own efforts, making things harder for yourself than what they need to be. The root cause of these symptoms could be based on poor clarity about a situation, an over exaggeration of your abilities / capacities as well as a conflicted internal state.

As Mars is now in the ‘shadow zone’ where it will return back to when it’s Retrograde, chances are that the efforts you’ll go to this week will be revisited around mid December. By then, you’ll have hindsight to realise how you could have done things differently to save you the trouble. If you’re getting frustrated trying to navigate your plans in the midst of a deflated attitude and self-sabotaging efforts, try to find an outlet or task that can help you let off some steam to satiate your need to do something. Find something unrelated, like an easy job, that can offer you the illusion of progress and a sense of value for your time and effort. Like all transits, this one will eventually pass too.

The waning light of the Third Quarter Moon in Gemini will also add to the declining energy of this week although your internal mind could be quite busy with worry and anxiety as you face many options and choices about where you’re heading. You may be considering the need to let go of certain things, but at the same time, worry about what you might do instead. Ease the monkey mind this week with lots of meditation. Just like the messages of this week’s transits, the point is not knowing where you’re going – just trust the process of becoming.

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See you next Sunday for the next installment of planetary news.

Shu xx