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September has arrived. The heightened energy from the two eclipses in August still lingers; the lunar nodes have barely moved. Collectively, the world continues to change, and this is likely to be true for many of us on an individual level as well.
Venus and Mercury are transiting signs where they feel at home, but Mars will move into Cancer, the sign of its debilitation.
Let us continue to explore the transformative month of September.
Ketu is the shadow planet that connects us to past karma. Throughout September, Ketu remains at 5 degrees Magha Nakshatra, a lunar constellation spanning 0 to 13°20' of Leo, while Rahu remains at 5 degrees Aquarius.
Ketu rules Magha, a nakshatra representing lineage and ancestral karma. Magha's symbol is a royal throne.
At this time, Ketu is stationed near Regulus, a bright star in the early degrees of Leo, within Magha nakshatra. Known as "the little king," Regulus is associated with leadership and power. It is said to bring a mix of ambition, generosity, and noble ideals, along with courage and the ability to overcome great challenges. Since ancient times, Regulus has been considered a royal star.
However, some darker qualities in this otherwise bright star can also surface, including pride, arrogance, and revenge. Although Regulus can raise a person up and bring great success, ancient astrologers cautioned that excessive pride and a hunger for revenge can lead to a sudden fall.
Several current world leaders have planetary placements near Regulus, a reminder of how this star's themes of power, ambition, and duty continue to play out on the world stage today.
Ketu's deeper purpose is to free us from past karma and to bring inner liberation. Paramhansa Yogananda's Moon was near Regulus, and his Ascendant was in Magha Nakshatra.
There is a paradox between worldly power and spiritual freedom. Worldly power, meaning control, wealth, or status, can trap the inner spirit. It demands constant maintenance: chasing attachments and then protecting them. Spiritual freedom, by contrast, requires non-attachment, which brings inner peace and contentment.
Ketu's long stay in Magha, near the star Regulus, is instrumental in the changes and challenges we experience on the material plane today. Ketu's energy is quick and can strike suddenly.
This is an important time to practice even-mindedness and to connect with our inner wisdom. Even though we are met with tests on the material plane, spiritually, there is a deepening connection to lineage and inner guidance.
As September begins, three planets are transiting Leo: Ketu, the Sun, and Mercury. Leo is a fire sign, and Ketu and the Sun both carry fire's qualities, so the fire element dominates the early part of the month.
On September 6, Mercury moves into Virgo, a cool and nurturing Earth sign. Mercury feels intelligent, practical, and analytical here, well-suited to sorting out details.
On September 16, the Sun joins Mercury in Virgo. The Sun is nurturing in this sign, but it is worth noting that both Mercury and the Sun are opposed by Saturn and Neptune in Pisces. This could bring disagreement, conflict, and restrictions. Since Pisces is a water sign, it could also manifest as water-related accidents such as flooding or drought.
The good news is that Venus, a planet of art, beauty, and friendship, moves into Libra on September 2. Venus stays here through the remainder of the year, except that during its retrograde period it will temporarily move back into Virgo between November 5 and 22.
Venus rules Libra and feels at home here. Libra, symbolized by a pair of scales, expresses a desire for balance. This is a good time to nurture and heal your relationships, since Venus in Libra favors harmony and fairness. September will also bring diplomatic negotiations, hopefully some successful ones, as Libra is skillful in diplomacy and good at seeing both sides.
Pay attention on September 18, a day that brings a notable shift in energy. The Moon is in Gandanta, at the junction point between the water sign Scorpio and the fire sign Sagittarius. This is a highly volatile and sensitive point for the Moon.
On the same day, Mars transits into Cancer, a sign ruled by the Moon. Mars, a fiery and action-oriented planet, is debilitated in Cancer, a softer, emotional water sign. Mars can stir up heated emotions in this usually gentle sign. Mars will stay in Cancer for almost two months, until November 12.
Mars gains some relief from this debilitation because Jupiter is exalted in Cancer at the same time, a placement where a planet's qualities are especially strengthened. When a debilitated planet shares a sign with an exalted one, the exalted planet's strength offers real support. Let us hope that Jupiter, transiting Ashlesha nakshatra and drawing on that nakshatra's serpent wisdom, will guide Mars in the best possible way.
Saturn in Pisces also puts pressure on Mercury in Virgo, forming an exact opposition on the same day, September 18.
The Fall Equinox on September 22 brings a balance between day and night, light and darkness. It marks the beginning of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of spring in the Southern Hemisphere.
Mercury joins Venus on September 26, while the Moon is full in Pisces. This is an auspicious event, since the Moon is also aspected by the exalted Jupiter in Cancer.
Mercury and Venus are natural friends, comfortable in each other's company. Mercury's presence adds a charming quality to Libra's communication style. Mercury stays in Libra until December 1 and will be retrograde for three weeks beginning October 23.
September asks us to hold both realities at once: the pull of past karma, and the deeper freedom that lies beyond it. As Paramhansa Yogananda wrote, "Whatever we did in the past we can undo. All we need now is the right determination, born of our increasing inner freedom."
Blessings,
Lina
The most significant astrological events in August are the last two eclipses of 2026.
Jupiter entered Cancer on June 1, 2026, and will remain here, with one interruption, until June 26, 2027. This is a transit worth understanding in some depth.
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