September 2020 Horoscopes: Envisioning a More Empathetic, Diplomatic Future
Hello dear readers,
I hope you’re ready to wear your hearts on your sleeve this month.
The full moon in Pisces on the 2nd will have us opening our hearts, the new moon brings practical new beginnings. Mars also goes retrograde, giving us a tender start to Libra season at the end of the month. Listen, I know, dear readers, that its an emotionally charged time out there, politically, personally, globally. So much feels unknown. When will schools reopen? How can we create equity? What will happen with the election? How can we lift up all our economic futures? How do we lift each other up and out of the cold?
There’s a lot of questions about the future that are sitting heavy on our minds. This is why it's an important time to embrace empathy and get comfy with our emotions. We’re going to be feeling into and moving through our emotions A LOT this month. We’ll be better off if we help each other. This month trust in your emotions and your desire for sensitivity. It is a part of you...And it’s there for a reason, to push you, and all of us to be better, kinder, more empathetic people.
With that said, let's get into it.
The full moon goes into Pisces, a mutable water sign on the 2nd. Water signs get a bad wrap for being too “emotional”, but truly we are all emotional beings, we just emote differently.
A full moon in Pisces is a good reminder that every single one of us lives an emotional experience. Our emotions are present in everything we do. Emotions can run deep. They can be passed down from generation to generation. They can be as fleeting as summer rains. We feel our way through emotions, one moment at a time. Sometimes we can get stuck, as individuals, as a society in the middle of big emotions, the emotion can feel so vast, so seemingly impossible to cross that we feel it will never end. Grief is an example that comes to mind--we are seeing much public and community grieving over the loss of black lives and COVID victims. Pisces invites us to have empathy, to give space for our fellows, to recognize that mourning is a process unique to all of us; that we are going through this together. We must learn how to move through our grief, together, without getting stuck, so that we can build systems, and create a culture of equity and progress. We can feel our way through even the most difficult emotions by cultivating moments of joy, giving, and wonder. We can get through this by cultivating moments when we find ourselves learning new perspectives, relearning how our world works the way it works, choosing new possibilities, and envisioning new potential in the future we want to create.
In other words, oh generous hearts, we can change the world with our emotions. So, we might as well move in the direction of positivity and healing. I invite you, dear readers, to use the Pisces full moon to engage mindfully with moving through your emotions. Sometimes moving through such powerful emotions can be made easier by seeking emotional release in artistic expression, imagination, empathy, and acts of generosity. Write! Draw! Sing! Speak! Play! Do something kind for someone else, listen to their pain, and hold them close. It is our empathy, dear readers, that has the power to bring us closer together.
The Pisces full moon will bring out these desires for heartfelt connections and some of the signs will struggle with this more than others.
Luckily on the 5th Mercury moves into Libra, bringing in the fresh air of diplomacy to our communications. Listen to other’s emotions as much as you are expressing your own. Libra listens as much as speaks. Our selves are uniquely sensitive to the truth because we desire to live as authentic beings. We FEEL if something is true as much as we KNOW it is true. Which is why sometimes the truth can feel very subjective. Every person's viewpoint is based on their individual experiences with the world. Empathy is paramount to societal function. Empathy allows us to be open to other people’s truths. To walk in their shoes. To experience an emotion that originates from another life. Our heartfelt emotions are a beautiful gift.
Of course, dear readers, societal norms can make it difficult for us to share that gift. We all fear rejection, we fear that our emotions will not be reciprocated, or understood. We all fear that the lie is easier, that it’s too comfortable to give up. But if we never reveal our true selves and our true feelings, we never open ourselves up to true understanding. It’s time to open our hearts. To say we out here, we’re keeping it real, and we hope you’ll listen to us so that we can keep it real together. Empathy turns walls into doorways. So be ready to listen and to validate. And be prepared to be honest, even when it doesn’t paint a flattering picture.
Use that Libra energy, that justice-minded part of yourself to gain the courage to be truthful about your emotions. Sure, a lie might be easier in the moment but it doesn’t express the emotion-it doesn’t give it an opportunity to be released in a productive way. A lie doesn’t heal an emotional wound, it just covers up the truth, and the emotion has a way of bleeding through the band-aid. Which is why it is so important, to be honest in our emotions. And why we must examine that feeling of “it feels true” and weigh it against evidence at our disposal. When the two align we know we’re on to something.
And on the 6th, Venus moves out of Cancer and into Leo, lightening the load on our relationships, relieving some pressure, and bringing new surprises. Be open to having fun, don’t take yourself too seriously, use that Leo self-love to gain confidence in chasing your big dreams. Be flexible enough to believe in who you CAN be.
On the 9th Mars goes retrograde in Aries, bringing traffic to a slow down, illuminating a softer side to ourselves. Fall is on its way so it’s time to begin preparing for the shift in seasons. It’s a good time to reflect on everything we’ve accomplished and everything we still want to do.
On the 13th Jupiter goes direct in Capricorn increasing our motivation in retraining ourselves to be geared for endurance. I encourage you, dear readers, to challenge yourself to keep pushing towards your goals. Whether it’s taking care of your mental health, running for city council, or just running around the block- push yourself in the direction you want to go. Testing our courage also helps us build it.
Get prepared for action on the 17th, dear readers. Whatever intentions you set at the beginning of the month will be called to action on the 17th when the new moon in Virgo pushes us to turn our ideas into a reality through practical action. While Pisces can be a bit absentminded at times, too busy imagining new possibilities to take action, the Virgo new moon will take those big ideas and give them forward momentum. This is a time of turning self-reflection into resolve. We can rededicate ourselves to long term goals, with a new perspective. We can use the power of our compassion to open up to new ideas, to relearn systems we thought we knew so that we can see where the cracks are, and to build new more equitable, and sustainable systems and infrastructure.
On the 22nd, the fall equinox brings us into Libra season, bringing an increased softness to our edges, and the memory of crisp fall breezes to our minds. Libra brings out a sense of wonder in the world, a curiosity about the balancing of nature and our place in it. Libra wants to make things work, wants to make sure everyone has an equal chance at success, wants to help us find our own balance in an unsteady landscape. We’ll need that balance to carry us forward as emotional intensities increase on the 22nd when Mercury enters Scorpio. Self-discipline will get a boost on the 29th when Saturn enters Capricorn and will help us manifest our intentions of kindness and compassion by creating practical systems with which to implement change.
Overall if I can give you any advice on this month I would say: Call upon your deep well of emotional power. This power can be used for escape, for fantasy, for joy, for resolve, for forgiveness, and kindness. Trust that speaking truth will reveal more truth. That giving empathy will lead to receiving empathy. Reach for the truth outside of the societal circus ring; what lies in our subconscious minds, what dreams call to us there? What emotions come rushing forward swift as rivers? Which ones feel held behind a dam? Which emotions seem to span oceans? Are you having the same dream over and over? What does it mean-what emotion lies behind it? What can it teach you about yourself? What do you have to give that makes the world a kinder place? How can you use your imagination, empathy, and generosity to invite everyone to the table to work together? Carry this imaginative Pisces power with you into the rest of the month by setting the intention to do so. This month be tender with your relationships, even those that hold baggage, engage with your community in a generous, empathetic and meaningful way.
Empathy can turn walls into doors.
As always, I invite you to remember that astrology is a tool for reflection and self-awareness. It is a tool we use to take the temperature of the world and reflect on how we might respond. Horoscopes allow us to reflect on ourselves and our world. It helps us pay attention to our moods and relationships and opens us up to finding new ways to navigate our thoughts and actions. It’s important to remember that anything I write here is meant to be used as such a tool and not as a prediction. The stars and planets do a lot of talking, but ultimately we each must decide our own path in life.
Artwork: Denae Manion
Aries
Quick-thinking Aries, you don’t do things halfway, but strangely the times between the seasons are some of your favorites, personally I think you enjoy the opportunity to rush towards the next thing, to witness the changes that happen, sometimes early, sometimes late, but always eventually. You are always where things are happening. You're always present, this can mean you sometimes rush through your emotions too, trying to speed up the process, which doesn’t always leave you time to process your emotions properly. This month feel into those compassionate depths. How can you give yourself permission to feel into things? To emote in new ways that trust in emotion and are kind in our words. Instead of rushing past the moments. Try to savor the journey. What more can you find in each moment when you choose to really be there?
Artwork: Denae Manion
Taurus
Hardworking, daydreaming Taurus, sometimes when things get tough you like to shut down your emotions and throw yourself into your work. And then other times you get lost in daydreams and lose sight of your work. I get it, you've got big luxurious dreams, and you want to make them a reality. So it makes sense you bounce between the two. Well this month, try to find some balance between having your head in the clouds and your nose to the grindstone. You're feeling especially prone to imagination and fantasy right now. Lean in. Who knows what you can achieve. Seasons are shifting, so can your routines. You'll feel more grounded if you set a goal for yourself this month and stick to it. Stay true to your favorite things about yourself and give back to your community.
Artwork: Denae Manion
Gemini
You’re quite the dreamer right now popular Gemini. You’re a cool kid and you can find the fun in fall. Your talent shines bright later this month, as we move out of hardworking Virgo season into diplomatic Libra season. Your diplomatic communications skills will be especially powerful this month if you can harness the truth of your emotions. September can be a reminder of the bittersweet end of summer is on its way and if you’re itching for one last summer hurrah, take it, so you can return to your most important work refreshed. The Pisces full moon will bring inspiration and imagination your way and might help you find your way forward on something you’ve been stuck on. Adapt to new ways of looking at things. Later in the month you will feel called to seek resolutions and renew self-discipline.
Artwork: Denae Manion
Cancer
Romantic Cancer, snuggle season is just around the corner. Whether you’re social distance snuggling with only yourself, or at home on the couch with your favorite people- use the Pisces energy of this month to imagine your ideal emotional space. In what ways can you make yourself comfortable in your emotions? Can your emotions be like warm comfy pillows keeping you warm, or cool shade on a sandy beach? What is happening in your world that calls upon your special empathetic powers? What intention can you set to turn emotion into actions that create more positive emotions? When Venus moves out of your sign and into Leo be on the lookout for ways to build confidence in yourself and your relationships. You’ll end the month feeling strong dear Cancer.
Artwork: Denae Manion
Leo
You radiate warmth, vibrant Leo, the summer is your season! But you love cool fall breezes too-after all you can go with the flow as long as you’re leading. And you’re always leading. But sometimes the little mouse of doubt has a way of scaring even the bravest lions. Doubt is just an emotion. Fear is just an emotion. Keep teaching yourself how to rely more on inner truth than outer pressure. Let go of old grudges this month. Release pain. They say the first step is the longest journey. But investing in your emotional well being is an investment in yourself and your success. You are a solar warrior, the sun rules your sign. The power of the sun is yours to give. How can you use your light to warm others? Where can you lend your strengths? This month you will emote with increased diplomacy. This month think of ways you can create larger scale emotional well being in your life. What ideas bring forth joyous emotions can you invite into your life and the lives of those around you?
Artwork: Denae Manion
Virgo
It’s still your season for a bit longer dear Virgo! Your sign is often considered the healer of the group. Which has to be especially hard on your sign with everything that is going on in the world right now. You are a sensitive soul beneath all your hard-working stoicism. You want to fix things, heal things! And you do. And you can. Your ability to hold space for others and listen to their grievances makes you a great friend and an even better policymaker. By using your empathy to really understand someone else’s troubles you create healing on small and large scales. There is plenty of creative and get’r done energy happening this month and you thrive in those conditions! So keep pushing towards your goals and live generously. Just remember to take a break from working so hard and to spend some time being tender in your relationships.
Artwork: Denae Manion
Libra
Beautiful Libra, the journey you’re on is nearing an important turning point. This month, feel deeply and speak mindfully. Your compassionate heart drives you to manifest equity everywhere you go and when mercury moves into your sign on the 5th, you’ll find yourself especially able to negotiate for what you want. While others may struggle with not knowing how to ask, Libra’s know that diplomacy, even as basic as please and thank you go a long way. Be affectionate in your close relationships, be honest in the bedroom, and speak truthfully about your emotions. At the end of the month when the sun moves into your sign you will find yourself highly self-aware. Be gentle with every part of yourself, good and bad.
Artwork: Denae Manion
Scorpio
Caretaking Scorpio, Your fellow water sign, Pisces will rule the full moon this month. But while the rest of the zodiac is feeling into their emotions, you’re already there, doing that work. This month focus on the mercurial nature of emotion. Just because you felt one way doesn’t mean you have to feel that way now. Pay attention to which feelings are changing, and how you can soften some of your more painful emotions by moving through them instead of holding on to them. Mars, one of your ruling planets goes retrograde this month which might cause you to lose your balance for a minute. Good. When we find ourselves on unsteady ground we get an opportunity to relearn balance. Chill out. Get down to the water, recharge. If you’re feeling vulnerable, reconnect with an old friend who knows you.
Artwork: Denae Manion
Sagittarius
Truth-seeking Sagittarius, you’re often considered the least hot-headed of the fire signs, which is a good thing. You do a pretty good job of maintaining your sense of self, and your individuality. This helps you do a pretty good job of seeing others as unique individuals too. Lean into that perspective when dealing with others this month. If the full moon in Pisces is a bit too watery of a time for your fiery self- try turning those emotions into creative projects. You’ve got emotional depths and you like to make sure you know where you stand before you send your feelings out into the world. Creative expression can help you figure out how. When Libra season arrives, you’ll be feeling quite social again so plan a social-distancing party with the squad!
Artwork: Denae Manion
Capricorn
You’re a sturdy one Capricorn, you tend to have a certain way you like to do things, with good reason, they work! But when the full moon enters Pisces you may find yourself dreaming up new lifestyles, new habits, new pathways to success. When Mars goes retrograde you may find yourself taking more naps, and scheduling fewer appointments. Invest in your physical and emotional pleasure. Be honest with yourself-what are you really seeking in your relationships? How can you communicate those needs in a direct way with a soft voice? Jupiter goes direct in Capricorn on the 13th, increasing your stamina and dedication to those goals and on the 17th you’ll get that extra boost you need to start taking practical steps towards your goals. You’ve got the self-discipline and you’ve got the time, which means you can achieve anything you set your mind to.
Artwork: Denae Manion
Aquarius
Revolutionary Aquarius, my sweet visionary, there is so much action you want to see in the world, and it feels like it can’t happen fast enough. But this month we’re learning that sometimes to get things done right, we have to slow down. Now is a good time to reorganize behind-the-scenes, re-envision long term goals, and put time and energy into making sure you’re set-up to be able to sustain your forward motion. Take some time to reflect on how far you’ve come and where you want to go. Let go of relationships that will not engage you with compassion. Embrace those around you who engage with your emotions in empathetic and constructive ways. When Venus moves into Leo things may heat up in your love life. When Libra season begins, you’ll be feeling especially charming.
Artwork: Denae Manion
Pisces
Imaginative Pisces, every sign is feeling your influence in their lives this month. You’re manifesting your power in so many directions at once. But that doesn’t mean you’re any less centered in yourself. Celebrate yourself and take care of your health by hosting a social distancing dinner! Pay attention to prophetic dreams, reconnect with the water, engage in sensuality. Become aware of yourself. What hurts? What feels good? How can you communicate anger in a way that feels productive? There’s so much hurt in the world right now-how are you taking care of yourself? Set boundaries with people who refuse to engage with you in an empathetic way. You deserve healthy relationships.
