As the Sun enters Libra, the cardinal Air sign, the Autumn Equinox is ushered in. Berries, fruits, and all the extravagance of the harvest sing their resplendent song of full self-expression. Do you take a hint from Nature, bringing  forth your own fruits, your own harvest? I was drawn into the depths of this elderberry bush (Sambucus), so full and overflowing with its rich colors and abundant offering. Elderberries make for an excellent cough syrup and expectorant, soothing your breathing with their emollient caress. A perfect berry to align with Libra – soothing the air flow.

I always feel enlivened in the Autumn, finally free of the stifling summer heat, which I find exhausting. At last I feel like I can take a deep breath as I feel my own cells primed for the riotous colors and ecstatic joy of the Autumn. Bring it on! And if you are living in a more tropical zone the seasonal changes are more subtle, but present. And for my dear friends and clients living south of the Equator – happy Spring! Wherever you may find yourself on the planet these days change is in the air as the light from the Sun and cosmic dance of the planets and their moons affect everything we experience in our environment.

As we enter the relational sign of Libra, often seen depicted as a scale or as blind Justice balancing the scales of right and wrong, the concept of BALANCE is front and center in our collective consciousness. A beautiful and powerfully poignant time to reflect on the various relationships in your life, specifically how you yourself are showing up as part of that relationship. Whether it’s a relationship with a person, an animal, your home, the Earth, this New Moon in Libra invites you look at how you engage in relationships, especially the one you have with yourself. I was thinking the other day how if we treated our friends as badly as we sometimes treat ourselves we would not have any friends! Creating peaceful, harmonious relationships begins with creating peace and harmony inside yourself. Your outer circumstances are a clear reflection of your inner condition. Tuning in to what’s happening in your relationships will show you exactly what needs aligning in yourself.

Jupiter moving retrograde at 3 degrees Aries forms an exact opposition to the Sun and Moon at 2 degrees Libra, the New Moon in   Libra. Jupiter in Aries has a pretty distinctive me-me-me vibe, This New MOON highlights the focus on balance between ‘it’s all about me’ and ‘it’s all about you’. Working towards compromise, with a hefty dose of compassion for yourself and others, helps you navigate the complex journey of relationship with more ease and grace. A welcome relief!

Mercury retrogrades back into Virgo on September 24 and will be re-visiting the degrees of Virgo it has already passed until October 10th. Mercury stations DIRECT (holds at 24 degrees Virgo) on October 2nd. Until October 2 Mercury joins Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto all moving retrograde. If you can slow yourself down from a frantic pace to a more subdued skip you will be more aligned with the cosmic slowdown typical of retrograde cycles. The more aligned you are with the cosmic flow, the more relaxed you will naturally feel.