September is a “1” Universal Month [9 (September) + 1 (2026) = 10 = 1+0 =1] in a “1” Universal Year. We are finally there – at a new beginning month – for the first time all year! Eclipse season is over, shaking loose the last dregs of our past lunar nodal cycle on the Pisces/Virgo axis. Whether we learned our lessons or not doesn’t matter now, because we are moving on. Any month in which our numerology matches the year’s is doubly charged; this is something we can use! Any type of “1” themed magic will be augmented all month long.
The Set Up
We begin the month with the Sun and Mercury in Virgo, Venus in her pre-retrograde shadow in Libra, Mars in Cancer, Jupiter in Leo, retrograde Saturn and retrograde Neptune in Aries, Uranus in Gemini, and retrograde Pluto in Aquarius. By the month’s end, the Sun will have entered Libra, and Mercury and Venus will enter Scorpio. Additionally, Uranus retrogrades.
The Nitty Gritty
This is a much slower month than August before it, or October afterward. We are going to get a bit of a breather before both Mercury and Venus retrograde in Scorpio and Libra throughout October and into November. We are already in the pre-retrograde shadow to Venus’s retrograde, a sign of what is to come. This feels like a nothing burger of a month that may come back to haunt us.
Our Lights: the Sun and the Moon
Having recently exited Eclipse Season on 8/27-8/28, many of us will be experiencing eclipse hangovers until 9/10 when our Sun and Moon meet up in conjunction at 18° Virgo. This is the first solar aspect all month long (because most of our signs are in air and fire rather than earth and water), prolonging the ennui that likely arose from last month’s late lunar eclipse. Clean up on Aisle 1! The two weeks from our lunar eclipse to our new moon are low, waning moon energy – this is the perfect time to start your Autumn cleaning, whatever that means to you.
Circle 9/10 on your calendar. We are sitting in 1/1 energy all month long, and this is a new moon (new moon/new you) after the eclipses. Additionally, two planets – Mercury and Venus – change signs this day. Mercury is the big one here, because it is the native ruler of the Virgo New Moon. Interestingly, Mercury moves out of Virgo earlier in the day, almost 12 hours before our lunation goes exact. This will amplify any sort of Mercury workings – check out my Simply Mercury Day Road Opener for an easy Mercury spell.
The way I would personally work this magic is to clear myself in some way as Mercury changes signs and then set new intentions as the new moon peaks. Out with the old, in with the new.
This lunation is a 3/4 new moon. 6 (Virgo Sun) + 6 (Virgo Moon) = 12 = 1+2 = 3. 3 (Virgo New Moon) + 1 (September 2026) = 4. This works perfectly; we cleanse to create better stability (perhaps even to reset), which brings in the 4 energy, and then use the manifestation of 3 to set new goals. Working in batches of 1, 3, or 4s to further these energies.
Our Virgo Sun sextiles Mars in Cancer on 9/14, which is a sweet day to put a little extra work into our lives.
On 9/22, our Sun enters Libra, the sign of its fall. Happy Autumn! Happy Equinox! From this day forward, the hours of light will dwindle as we begin the descent into the Hollows. When we think about it that way, we can begin to understand why Libra is such a poor placement for the sun; this is the “sunset” of the Sun’s journey. It’s darkness from here on out.
We can, of course, acknowledge that just because this is a poor placement for the Sun doesn’t mean that Libra season is wrong or unnecessary. This isn’t the time for individuals to shine; it is a time when we must all work together to pull in the last of the harvest and prepare for the dark nights ahead. Autumn is a time of social gathering and getting together. It is a time of excess, abundance, and thanksgiving.
As the Sun enters Libra, it will interact with all of our retrograde outer planets – first opposing retrograde Neptune on 9/25, then trine retrograde Pluto on 9/26, and finally trine retrograde Uranus on 9/28. This is a time of refinement and balance, things that Libras generally enjoy. They aren’t big deal aspects, but they are notable simply because they are clustered so close together.
Our Full Moon for the month peaks on 9/26 at 03° Aries, tightly aligned with these outer planets. If you haven’t been able to take the incremental steps needed to move forward slowly during Virgo season, our Aries Moon is here to be a jump start. Aries is sign #1, which interacts with and furthers the “1” energy of the month.
This lunation is an 8/9 Full Moon. 7 (Libra Sun) + 1 (Aries Moon) = 8. 8 (Aries Full Moon) + 1 (September 2026) = 9. What comes around, goes around; now is the time to use that pent-up energy to pull a full slingshot maneuver. Because it carries 9 energy, this lunation can also serve as a last-ditch removal aspect if you’re still caught up in August shit.
Venus’s pre-retrograde shadow
Venus entered her pre-retrograde shadow on 8/31 at 22° Libra, and she will retrograde on 10/03. This means all of September is technically a build-up to this major personal planet retrograde, which occurs every 18 months or so. This isn’t the type of thing you will notice this month.
That said, if you are overly Venusian, work in a Venusian field, or have impactful planets between 22° Libra and 08° Scorpio, it will pay dividends to start paying attention now.
Working with Personal Planet Retrogrades
For a quick refresher, Venus retrogrades when she has moved all the way behind the Sun and is now moving in front of it again, which appears backward to us because we are farther from the Sun than she is. This occurs in three phases:
Pre-retrograde shadow – Venus moves from 22° Libra to 08° Scorpio. This feels like usual; she’s just moving forward.
At 08° Scorpio, Venus stands still, and then begins to move backward. She will then move from 08° Scorpio to 22° Libra. This is our second pass and the most obviously impactful stage, the one most people know to pay attention to. But it’s impactful simply because we have ALREADY BEEN THERE. It’s a feeling of deja Vu; a hole we have seen before. A lesson that bears repeating.
Once Venus reaches 22° Libra for the second time, she stations direct. We then enter the post-retrograde shadow, the time it takes her to return to 08° Scorpio. We tend to be most impacted by this period when the retrograde hits like a Mac truck; as we pass over these same degrees for a third time, we are forced – ONCE AGAIN – to confront what Venus has brought to our attention.
Venus retrograde always affects Tauruses and Libras (Ascendant, Sun, Moon, and Venus) and those with Venus conjunct the Sun or Venus conjunct the Ascendant. “Affects” do not mean bad or wrong; don’t let pop astrology talk you into fearing retrogrades.
They are business as usual – Venus retrogrades every 18 months! This is a time to rest and reflect, especially in the Venusian realms. Venus rules art and beauty, and has a hand in pretty much every aspect of human relations. She is our negotiator; she has a vested interest in how (and why) we do and don’t get along. Venus is in her domain in Libra, and her exile in Scorpio. Ergo, we can assume we are going to experience both her best and her worst over this retrograde cycle.
Yes, it will affect relationships. No, that does not have to be a bad thing.
Venus retrograde is absolutely, unequivocably Breakup Weather, but if you are in a solid, healthy relationship, there should be nothing to worry about. We have to remember that the vast majority of all relationships end; we don’t have to view that as a bad thing. This doesn’t have to mean Red Flags and Long Nights, though it will for some people, especially while Venus is retrograde in Scorpio.
For now, in September, we should be aware that she has entered her pre-retrograde shadow; that every degree she traces will be trod upon a second, and then a third time. Eyes wide open, we can start to recognize the traps or lessons, whatever you want to call them, that almost inevitably come up while we endure a personal planet retrograde.
Shore up your shit, because Venus in Scorpio is an emotional flood. It pays to check your chart and see where the degree of Venus’s retrograde interacts. Only pay attention to exact aspects with a special emphasis on conjunctions, oppositions, and squares (in that order) to the Sun, Moon, Ascendant, personal planets, or Saturn. If these degrees aspect your Venus, you should pay double attention.
The Other Personal Planets: Mercury and Mars
Mercury is moving fast all month long; he moves from Virgo into Libra on 9/10 and then from Libra into Scorpio on 9/30. From this, we can discern that they are approaching their next retrograde (they will enter their own pre-retrograde shadow early in October). From 9/1-9/10, Mercury is in both the sign of their domain and their exaltation; top-tier Mercury energy. This is something you can use!
Once Mercury enters Libra, they have to interact with all of those outer planets I just mentioned above. This isn’t a big deal, but it may feel a bit tight and constricting – especially as Mercury opposes retrograde Saturn in Aries on 9/18. Mercury sextiles Jupiter in Leo on 9/21, which feels much nicer.
Finally, they enter Scorpio on 9/30. This is the sign of their retrograde, but that’s next month’s problem.
Mars spends all month whining his way through Cancer. No, I did mean to say “whining,” not “winding.” We must remember that Cancer is the sign of Mars’ detriment, the opposite to his exaltation in Capricorn. This isn’t going to help us move in a straight line to get things done, but during Virgo season, we can move more slowly anyway. Mars in Cancer does help with the Fall cleaning vibes that Virgo naturally brings to the table. Add a bit of salt water to your mop bucket and thank me later.
For the most part, Mars just IS this month; he’s grumpy background noise. The exception is that Mars rules our Aries Full Moon on 9/26. Most people might not have much access to Martian energy this month; it will flow when it flows, but you are as likely to find the beach empty and full of crabs. I think that Cancer and Virgo types might be able to make better use of this than most.
Uranus retrogrades
Outer planets spend half the year in retrograde, so this is more something we notice. What it represents is full entry into Retrograde Season. We now have Saturn, Neptune, Uranus, and Pluto in retrograde. Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter will follow before the end of the year. We can notice that this indicates a time to turn inwards and be more introspective. This is, of course, in line with the Autumnal Equinox and the yearly death of the Sun.
Looking Ahead
October is going to slap. Venus retrogrades first, and then Mercury retrogrades, sandwiched right in the middle. This is the third time we’ve had this happen in a row. The last time Mercury and Venus retrograded together was in the sign of Capricorn in early 2025. Expect the weeks of Mercury’s retrograde to be a total write-off (two personal planets in retrograde is a LOT) and be happily surprised if you get something done during them. Scorpio season is going to be rough, too; but most of that is a November problem. Enjoy this quieter weather while you can.
The Details
9/1 – Mercury in Virgo sextile Mars in Cancer, Mars in Cancer square retrograde Saturn in Aries
9/8 – Venus in Libra trine North Node in Aquarius/sextiles South Node in Leo
9/10 – New Moon 18° Virgo, Mercury enters Libra, Venus enters Scorpio, Uranus retrogrades 05° Gemini
9/12 – Mercury in Libra trine retrograde Pluto in Aquarius, Neptune in Libra opposed retrograde Neptune in Aries
9/13 – Mercury in Libra trine retrograde Uranus in Gemini
9/14 – Sun in Virgo sextile Mars in Cancer
9/15 – Venus in Scorpio square retrograde Pluto in Aquarius, retrograde Neptune in Aries sextiles retrograde Pluto in Aquarius
9/17 – retrograde Chiron enters Aries
9/18 – Mercury in Libra opposed retrograde Saturn in Aries
9/21 – Mercury in Libra sextile Jupiter in Leo
9/22 – Sun enters Libra/Autumnal Equinox
9/25 – Sun in Libra opposed retrograde Neptune in Aries
9/26 – Full Moon 03° Aries, Sun in Libra trine retrograde Pluto in Aquarius
9/28 – Sun in Libra trine retrograde Uranus in Gemini, Mercury in Libra trine North Node in Aquarius/sextile South Node in Leo
9/30 – Mercury enters Scorpio
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