September is a 9 Universal Month [9 (September) + 9 (2025) = 18 = 1+8 = 9] in a 9 Universal Year. This heavily highlights September as a time of endings, represented by a double 9. This is reflected through our astrology as we move through Virgo season and the Sun conjuncts the South Node during our second eclipse season.
The Set Up
We begin the month with the Sun in Virgo, Mercury and Venus in Leo, Mars in Libra, Jupiter in Cancer, retrograde Saturn and retrograde Neptune in Aries, Uranus in Gemini, and retrograde Pluto in Aquarius. There is significant planetary movement this month as the Sun enters Libra, Mercury enters Virgo and then Libra, Venus enters Virgo, Mars enters Scorpio, and retrograde Saturn moves backward into Pisces. Additionally, Uranus will retrograde in the first degrees of Gemini.
The Nitty Gritty
In a normal month, retrograde Saturn entering 29° Pisces would take top billing. Still, September is no ordinary month as we are about to experience our first full eclipse season on the Pisces-Virgo axis. Both events are going to overshadow September substantially and make it liminal and slow.
Eclipse Season
Eclipse season begins on 9/7 with a total lunar eclipse at 15° Pisces and ends on 9/21 with a partial solar eclipse at 29° Virgo. This energy will dominate the month, as eclipse season so often does. This is our first eclipse season where both lunations are on the Pisces-Virgo axis; both last fall and this spring, we had one eclipse on the new axis and one on the old (Aries-Libra). We have finally switched gears and will be thrown deep into the nature of moving towards Piscean ideals and away from the Virgo mindset.
This has to do with our lunar nodes, those moving points in the sky that indicate the location where the Sun and Moon need to be in relation to the Earth to create eclipses. The lunar nodes are always read as a pair; the North Node is “compass north.” We can view this as where we – collectively – need to focus our attention. The South Node is the opposite sign on the zodiac wheel; it often represents what we need to remove or reevaluate to better meet the needs of the North Node.
Pisces is the last sign in the zodiac, encompassing all of the energies of the signs that came before it. We can say that Pisces is the totality of everything, but also the void of Nothingness that comes at the end of everything. Pisces, and the 12th House it inhabits, are the home of the personal and collective unconscious. We hope, through the lessons of humanity, to be our best in idealistic Pisces. But, as anyone with personal awareness knows, the best is often balanced out by the worst.
In this way, we can expect this eclipse season to bring out the absolute best and the absolute worst in humanity. Where any individual falls on this spectrum is primarily determined by their personal experiences and ability to cope. This isn’t meant to be finger-pointing or a blame game – all of us, at some point, are our absolute worst. We can only hope to make amends and be forgiven for what we do during that time.
Eclipses are, by their nature, relatively polarizing, and this one may prove especially so.
Pisces is represented as a school of fish. Not one fish, the entirety of the fish. Pisces is a reminder that we are all in this together. We all inhabit the same rock, hurdling through space. This pool is only big enough for all of us if we work together.
More than any other sign, the Piscean ideals tend to piss certain types of people off and really trigger people. Western culture really thrives on the myth of the individual, the lone cowboy, if you will. Those who are stuck in the suck cost fallacy of individualism have a tough time when Pisces comes up to bat.
It’s interesting to me that the lunar nodes move backwards, opposite to the direction our Sun and the rest of our planets move through the signs. Usually, we go from Pisces (late winter) to Aries (early spring) – from the end (collectivism) into the beginning (individualism). But our lunar nodes do the opposite. Up until January, the nodes were in Aries (North) and Libra (South), and we were being guided to focus on the needs of the individual.
One of the things that astrology teaches us is that the spectrum is a circle, that individualism is right next to collectivism. This is coming up in another way, as Saturn is repeating this same journey, moving backward in retrograde motion from Aries into Pisces on the first day of the month.
Everything comes back around again. Day becomes night becomes day. Summer becomes winter becomes summer. The rainy season becomes dry and then rainy all over again. We are born, dependent on others, we gain independence and move through life, and then in old age, become dependent on others once more.
Pisces represents the cosmic end, and it can be anything you want or need it to be. It can be heartfelt, or cathartic, or depressive, or life-shattering. It’s hard, but not impossible, to direct eclipse energy. The big flex during a Piscean-ruled eclipse season is to direct eclipse energy so that everyone will have an easier time.
Either way, eclipse season is fourteen days that feel, at least somewhat, out of time. Those who are more sensitive to the vibes of the collective will notice this more than those who are not. The two eclipse dates have the strongest pull, but the days in between are still quite liminal. All bets are off during and between the two eclipses. Some people find it freeing, while others may feel completely crushed by the event horizon.
A wise astrologer once told me that you should always pay attention to what enters or leaves your life during eclipse season, because it is meant to be. That has proven true in my life tenfold, so I will repeat it to you.
Trust eclipse season to show you where you are supposed to be (and sometimes where you are NOT supposed to be). In our natal birth charts, the North Node represents a primary drive in our lives – we are often coerced throughout life to be a bit more like the sign of our North Node. Ask the lunar eclipses to bring you alignment and thank me later.
Saturn in Pisces
Saturn sets the stage for the entire month when it moves from 01° Aries to 29° Pisces on the 1st. As I said above, this is the wrong direction – Saturn is currently in retrograde.
I want to state that very clearly again: on the first day of September, Saturn will move from the first degree of Aries (sign #1) backward into the last degree of Pisces (sign #12), crossing over the start of the horoscope wheel. 00° Aries is the natural Ascendant, the point of first breath, the beginning of everything.
But we’re not going there…we’re going back before that. We are stepping from life/breath into the moments before.
That this aligns with eclipse season is highly significant. What’s even more critical is our solar eclipse on 9/21, which will be at 29° Virgo, exactly opposed to retrograde Saturn. Our Sun will be hidden as it passes across from Saturn and will only be revealed in the hours before it enters 00° Libra, the point of the Autumnal equinox and beginning of astrological Fall.
Saturn holds space for our solar eclipse all month long. Saturn waits for the Sun and the Moon all month long. Saturn carries all the potentiality of our season change and beckons (probably more like demands, it is Saturn, after all) that we change, too.
You can read more about 00°/29° Pisces and how it’s been affecting our entire year here.
The Lights: the Sun and the Moon
For many, September represents both meteorological and calendar Fall; a major shift in energy away from the height of Summer. The Sun will move through Virgo, notably conjuncting both Mercury and the South Node, and creating our second eclipse season of the year, and then through Libra where it will meet up with an aspect the major outer planetary pileup of Saturn (just barely in Pisces), Neptune in Aries, Uranus in Gemini, and Pluto in Aquarius. This isn’t an easy month, and our Sun and Moon are the major players.
The first luminary hit of the month is our total lunar eclipse at 15° Pisces on 9/7. Numerologically, it is a 9/9 full moon.
12 (Pisces Moon) + 6 (Virgo Sun) = 18 = 1+8 = 9.
9 (Pisces Full Moon) + 9 (September 2025) = 18 = 1+8 = 9.
Note the repeating theme here: 2025 is a “9” year, September is a “9” month, the Pisces full moon is always a “9” full moon, and THIS Pisces full moon is a “9” moon. 9 is the number of endings and completions – it is the last single digit number, all future numbers get added back together again (10 = 1+0 =1). Full moons are also seen as endings of culminations of the things that (1) began at the new moon before it or (2) began at the last new moon of its sign before it.
On the other hand, this is a total eclipse, where the Earth crosses perfectly between the Sun and Moon, completely obstructing its light. We need to understand that the lunar energy is weakest during a lunar eclipse; the light of the moon is both unseen and unfelt.
Eclipses can be very untethering. Instead of illumination, we experience darkness. This eclipse is relatively unaspected – the sun will be in a wide stellium with Mercury (the planetary ruler of Virgo) and the South Node, and the Moon will be widely conjunct to the North Node. Remember that the Moon is eclipsed, focusing all energy back on the Sun, Mercury, and the South Node – indicating, even more clearly, that this is a lunation of endings.
If you’re fighting what you need to move past during this time, this may be very triggering. If you’ve been doing the hard work to clear out the old and move forward, it may feel very affirming.
By Wednesday, 8/10, the Sun will be conjunct the South Node at 18° Virgo. On Thursday, 8/11, Mercury will conjunct the South Node, also at 18° Virgo. This is the cosmic opportunity to work through the crunchy bits, to sift out the chaff, and to let the fuck go of whatever is holding you back. Virgo has the unique capacity to be ruthlessly critical; use this to your advantage during this time. Let go of your idea of what your life was supposed to be and accept where it is right now.
The big flex is being real; Mercury in Virgo does not stand with liars, especially those who lie to themselves.
The Sun meets up in conjunction with Mercury on Saturday, 9/13, at 20° Virgo. If your way is clouded, this is a chance to clear the smoke and truly see, but this is not something that should be undertaken lightly. Spells to see or reveal the truth will be highly activated during this time, but be careful what you wish for; the truth can definitely hurt.
On Sunday, 9/21, the Sun and Moon meet up for our partial solar eclipse at 29° Virgo in exact opposition to retrograde Saturn in Pisces. This is going to be a big hit for a lot of people as we face off against who we ARE (Saturn, the eternal realist) vs. who we want to be.
The big flex is the same here: be who you really are. See who you are clearly. Understand how the choices you have made in your life have led to where you are now, even if you would make different choices with your current 20/20 hindsight. We cannot change the past because it is over and done. We cannot predict the future because it is yet to come. All we can be is who we are, in the present moment: warts, scars, and all.
It’s okay if it feels too weavy during the solar eclipse, that is just the intense pressure Saturn exerts on the world. The energy of the entire month has been rolling downhill towards exactly this moment. The energy will begin to lighten in a few days, but it won’t be immediate.
The reason for this is those outer planets that are negging us all year.
Our Eclipsed Virgo New Moon is a 3/3 new moon.
6 (Virgo Moon) + 6 (Virgo Sun) = 12 = 1+2 = 3.
3 (Virgo New Moon) + 9 (Septmber 2025) = 12 = 1+2 =3.
It’s worth noting that 3×3 is 9, the number both of September, 2025 as a whole, September 2025, and the lunar eclipse we experienced early in the month. This feels highly significant; perhaps you need to construct what you learned from the first eclipse to help you with the second. There is an opportunity for 3×3 magic here that shouldn’t be overlooked, if you are not too wary of eclipse magic, anyway. It is certainly not for the faint of heart.
I am writing a transit post about eclipse season proper. Stay tuned.
The Sun enters Libra on 9/22, opposed retrograde Neptune in Aries on 9/23, and forms an air grand trine with retrograde Uranus in Gemini and retrograde Pluto in Aquarius, which isn’t the best alignment ever, to say the least. There will likely be some people in some shit over their eclipse hangovers.
The best bet is to stay the fuck out of their way, but it’s not always possible. Try to be as kind as you can manage, but also, ya know, take no shit that isn’t yours. There are no further aspects for the month as this energy begins to wane, and we will all be left to lick our wounds and likely think about what we have (or have not) done.
Mercury, Venus, and Mars
Our personal planets will take the backseat to the eclipses all month long and should, overall, be viewed as the general “vibes.” Throughout the month, we’ll have Mercury in Leo/Venus in Leo/Mars in Libra, Mercury in Virgo/Venus in Leo/Mars in Libra, Mercury in Virgo/Venus in Virgo/Mars in Libra, Mercury in Libra/Venus in Virgo/Mars in Libra, Mercury in Libra/Venus in Virgo/Mars in Scorpio. Each of these changes things a bit, but this will be significantly behind the scenes and will probably go unnoticed for many who can’t see past the glaring ECLIPSE in neon letters.
Note here the interplay between the elements of the personal planets. Mercury and Venus will both get along with Mars better when they are in Leo than in Virgo, for example. The more the personal planets get along, the easier it is for all of us to get along.
It’s worth remembering dignities here as well. Mars is exiled in Libra, so he is not bringing his best self to the eclipse party, but he changes signs for Scorpio, his domain, on 9/22. On the other hand, Mercury is in their domain and exalted in Virgo, and it is a significant win for all of us and our ability to talk through this intense eclipse shit. As Mercury and Venus move through Virgo, they will both have to conjunct the South Node and eventually oppose retrograde Saturn. Mercury will do so first, because Mercury is faster.
As Mercury enters Libra, they will form a grand trine with retrograde Uranus in Gemini and retrograde Pluto in Aquarius, exact on 9/19. Notice that this is still within our eclipse window. Mercury is a trickster, Uranus is connected to the Fool card in the tarot, and Pluto is a live wire. Anything could happen during this time. It’s worth noting that the Sun will soon make this exact grand trine, and Venus will do so in October. This is a part of what is unfolding, too, but it’s tough to predict due to our outer planets’ tendencies to reach so far beyond human comprehension.
Note the days that the personal planets change signs, as they are always opportunities for planetary magic. Especially 9/2 when Mercury enters Virgo and 9/22, when Mars enters Scorpio.
Looking Forward
After this, October will feel like a breeze.
The Details
9/1 – Retrograde Saturn enters Pisces
9/2- Mercury enters Virgo
9/3 – Mercury in Virgo square Uranus in Gemini
9/4 – Mars in Libra square Jupiter in Cancer, Jupiter in Cancer trine North Node in Pisces
9/6 – Uranus retrogrades 01° Gemini
9/7 – Lunar Eclipse 15° Pisces
9/10 – Sun conjunct South Node 18° Virgo
9/11 – Mercury in Virgo conjunct South Node in Virgo
9/12 – Sun in Virgo sextile Jupiter in Cancer, Mercury in Virgo sextile Jupiter in Cancer
9/13 – Sun conjunct Mercury 20° Virgo
9/15 – Venus in Leo sextile Mars in Libra
9/16 – Mars in Leo opposed Chiron in Aries, Venus in Leo trine Chiron in Aries
9/17 – Mercury in Virgo opposed retrograde Saturn in Pisces
9/18 – Mercury enters Libra
9/19 – Venus enters Virgo, Mercury in Libra trine retrograde Uranus in Gemini, Mercury in Libra opposed retrograde Neptune in Aries, Mercury in Libra trine retrograde Pluto in Aquarius,
9/20 – Venus in Virgo square retrograde Uranus in Gemini
9/21 – Solar Eclipse 29° Virgo, Sun in Virgo opposed retrograde Saturn in Pisces
9/22 – Sun enters Libra, Mars enters Scorpio
9/23 – Sun in Libra opposed retrograde Neptune in Aries, Sun in Libra trine retrograde Uranus in Gemini
9/24 – Sun in Libra trine retrograde Pluto in Aquarius, Mars in Scorpio square retrograde Pluto in Aquarius