Solar Eclipse in Virgo 9*21*25
These are not "ordinary" times. The aggregate of changes stemming from the synching of diverse planetary cycles has never been seen before. It feels uncomfortable because we are in uncharted territory and, as the poet (and fellow Aries) Robert Frost said, "the only way out is through." On the one hand, that is awesome, because if the old ways are collapsing, there is a lot of potential for what we want to build. On the other hand, because we are finding the old structures and systems changing so rapidly, it can be challenging to gain footing and have a clear idea of what we want to come next. This can leave us feeling untethered. Birth is always a messy process.
The upcoming week has very potent energy. There is the solar eclipse at 29 degrees of Virgo, which is the main topic of this post. But there are also a few other planetary influences that are in play and which are contributing to this cosmic stew. So let's get into this.
1) Sunday we have the Solar Eclipse at the last degree of Virgo. In astrology, the last degree of any sign is called the "anaretic" degree. It is the degree right before the planet or heavenly body moves into the next sign. It signifies endings and completions which can come with a sense of urgency or pressure to act. This Solar Eclipse has the Sun and Moon at 29 degrees of Virgo, the mutable earth sign. Virgo is concerned with being of service but it does so in practical (earth) ways. Virgo energy looks at routines, daily to do's and responsibilities with a critical eye for detail. It analyzes processes and sees where things could be more efficiently done. Virgo hates waste and disorganization. Its ultimate purpose is to free up time and energy that is currently being expended taking care of things in inefficient ways. Balanced Virgo energy is great at reengineering practices and processes so they flow better.
Consider your daily responsibilities. Are they creating overwhelm or do they contribute to the quality of your life? When is the last time you reevaluated them? Can you streamline your to do list? Are there items that can be released or delegated? Are you resisting doing so? What story do you tell (to yourself and others) about your responsibilities? Is your value or worth linked to your to do list? This Solar Return is a time to let go of those tasks that are not contributing in a meaningful way to your wellbeing. That is the point of the anaretic degree. When it's time to be done, be done. This is also a South Node eclipse, meaning the focus is on releasing patterns that feel comfortable but are not supporting your growth.
Unbalanced Virgo energy loses site of the bigger picture and becomes enmeshed in the details. Instead of improvement, it seeks perfection. It second guesses its analysis, continually looking for more data to support its conclusions. This often gives rise to self-criticism and anxiety. This energy doesn't take breaks, at least not real ones that cool off the nervous system and foster rest and replenishment. Instead of taking pleasure in building a better mousetrap, it obsesses over the possibility of a super mouse. That Virgo energy plays all sorts of possible tragic scenarios in which it has missed a critical step that could have changed everything. Worse, it will be responsible for whatever horrible outcome results from its oversight.
Are you able to recognize when you chase perfect and reorient to excellent or even good? Are you able to stay focused on what matters and not obsess over all the minor details? How do you tend to your nervous system? Does your daily routine include practices that serve your wellbeing? Whose priorities are reflected in your to do list? Have you let others' needs usurp your own in the desire to be of service or be known as a "good person"?
All earth signs are connected to the physical. Virgo has rulership over health, especially digestion. It's not just food that is digested. Everything that is consumed must be digested - Ideas, beliefs, media - information in all forms. Balanced Virgo energy is discerning as to what it takes in. It doesn't eat voraciously or consume junk food or questionable items. It knows not all things masquerading as nourishment actually nourish. It also requires a calm environment. Like all earth signs, it does not do well when it feels rushed.
What are you consuming and at what pace? Are you using discernment as to what you allow into your energy field, or are you simply consuming what is offered? Your digestive system must process what you give it. How much are you expecting from it? Some things are much harder to process than others. Are you allowing adequate time to digest what you take in?
The Sun/Moon are opposite Saturn in Pisces at 28 degrees. How can the Virgo energy of service be balanced with the practical expression (Saturn) of compassion, creative expression, and spirituality (Pisces) ? How can you embody the desire to make things better (Virgo) without becoming a martyr (Pisces)?
We had solar eclipses at this point in September 2006 and September 1987. Consider what came up at those times for clues to how this eclipse will land for you.
2) The day after this eclipse is the Fall Equinox, marked by the Sun moving into Libra. It will form a grand trine in air, with Pluto at 1 degree of Aquarius and Uranus at 1 degree of Gemini. Mercury at 6 degrees of Libra will be involved as well. Grand trines are easy aspects and the planets involved support each other as they are in signs of the same element, meaning they experience the world in a similar way. Air signs experience the world through the mental realm of ideas and thoughts. Their energy is logical and objective.
Air sign energy can be quite detached, allowing us to explore different perspectives. Uranus in Gemini is bringing insights and new ways of communicating and socializing with others. Pluto in Aquarius is offering transformative energy towards our vision for a better world and how we can use our power to contribute to the collective to make it happen. Sun and Mercury in Libra personalize these energies (they are personal planets) offering a connection to our individual purpose and how we share ourselves with our important others. The caveat here is that the airy quality can result in lots of conversation and cogitation without any plan for implementation. Right now that is the point. This energy is intended to spark your curiosity and expand your perspective. In so doing it offers the ability to explore possibilities and potentials that you were not conscious of previously.
Despite the earthy Virgo energy of the eclipse which will be in play for the next 6 months, the Sun and Moon both move out of Virgo soon after the eclipse, leaving Venus in Virgo as the only planet in an earth sign at the time of the equinox. This dearth of earth is making it challenging to feel grounded or anchored to anything stable. It can help to include grounding practices into your routines, especially if you find yourself feeling floaty or untethered. Make it a point to reorient to the body through the day and not retreat into the mind for extended periods of time. Consider how the ideas you are receiving feel in your body. What physical sensations are generated within you? Where? What messages is your body offering to you?
3) Also, the day of the Equinox, Mars, planet of how we take action to get our desires met, moves into Scorpio and forms a challenging square aspect to Pluto in Aquarius. This will be most potent from September 22 through September 25, although its influence can extend into early October, especially if you have planets or points at 0-3 degrees of the fixed signs (Scorpio, Aquarius, Taurus or Leo). While Mars forms a square to all the planets approximately every 2-3 years as it orbits around the Sun, the combination of Mars and Pluto has the potential for volitility. Pluto on a personal level is about how we view and express our power. When the personal will (Mars) challenges the personal expression of power (Pluto), it can take the form of self-reliance and acceptance of one's power (i.e., empowerment) or it can turn into a power struggle and battle for control. The latter can cause a lot of damage. This is not a time to engage in control dramas or power struggles. There is potential for manipulation and even violence. Be aware of the energy you are expressing and more importantly be responsible for the energy you emit. If you feel unbalanced, triggered, irritable, or angry, it is time to explore what needs you are trying to get met and how. Also, have a few tried and true practices to calm yourself, or enlist the aid of a trusted ally if you can't avoid a situation that is likely to be challenging. While no one can control another, we each have absolute control over ourselves and our energy. Quite simply, it is not a time to let ego drama into the driver's seat.
4) Finally, this extends past this coming week, but is affecting the prevailing energies as well. Pluto, Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn are currently retrograde. Uranus is moving back into Taurus and Neptune and Saturn are moving back into Pisces. These are the signs they left in the spring. When they move back into Aries (Neptune and Saturn) and Gemini (Uranus) next year, they will stay in those signs for the remainder of their transit of them. This time is to tie up loose ends and complete any unfinished business that might be lingering from their time spent in Taurus and Pisces.
Consider for Uranus: How have the past 7 years changed your view about your values, how you use your resources, and how you approach your security, financial and otherwise?
For Neptune: How has your spirituality changed since 2011 when Neptune first entered Pisces? What have you learned about yourself and how you connect to the wiser aspect of yourself, that essence that knows itself to be part of something bigger? What have you realized about your compassion, empathy, and sympathy? Can you recognize their differences and how you express each?
For Saturn: What illusions about your spirituality have you realized since 2023 when Saturn entered Pisces. What did you learn about boundaries and allowing others to have their experience of the divine while tending to your own soul's needs? How have you honored your own sacredness in your daily life?
Pluto is done with Capricorn, having completed its entry into Aquarius in November 2024. Still, it has been retrograde since May, giving time to consider how we each authentically contribute to the collective vision for a better world for all. How can we mutually benefit from technology and innovation and use it to improve life. How do we honor our unique talents and perspectives while also recognizing our interdependence? What is your view of power and how is it reflected in your awareness of what is happening in the collective? What needs to change within yourself to begin to experience your power in ways aligned to your highest vision for yourself and the world?
“It is always important to know when something has reached its end. Closing circles, shutting doors, finishing chapters, it doesn’t matter what we call it; what matters is to leave in the past those moments in life that are over." ~ Paolo Coehlo
"If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one." ~Dolly Parton
