SPECIAL DOUBLE EDITION – Pisces Lunar Eclipse (September 17, 2024) AND Libra Solar Eclipse (October 2, 2024)

SPECIAL NOTE

Due to scheduling issues, this edition of the Moon Update will cover both (a) the Full Moon in Pisces on September 17, which is a Lunar Eclipse and (b) the New Moon in Libra on October 2, which will be a Solar Eclipse.  Planetary movements for the entire 4-week period will be covered at the end.  I will do my best to be succinct.

Eclipse Season

Every 6 months, we go through what is referred to as an “Eclipse Season.”  This time, the Full Moon on September 17 is also a Lunar Eclipse, and the following New Moon on October 2 is a Solar Eclipse.  These Full and New Moons are considered to be extra powerful and are believed to impact us for the next 6 months (rather than the usual 2 weeks). 

Eclipses often coincide with major changes, which are believed to serve as a catalyst or “wake up call” for the events that unfold over the ensuing 6 months.  Sometimes these events are expected; but other times, they come through a surprise or “crisis.” 

(For more information about eclipses, please refer to  my blog post Solar and Lunar Eclipses – What Are They and How to Interpret Them).   

Pisces Full Moon & Lunar Eclipse

In the Pacific Time Zone, the Moon will be full at 7:34 p.m. on Tuesday, September 17.  With this Full Moon, the Sun in Virgo will be in opposition (180°) to the Moon in Pisces.  To further clarify how this Full Moon will impact you on a personal level, locate 25°40’ of Virgo and 25°40’ of Pisces in your birth/natal chart.  The issues associated with those two houses are going to be most impacted by this Full Moon’s presence.  (NOTE:  Click here to learn how to find the transiting Moon in your chart.)

Full Moons provide us with the opportunity to check in and evaluate how we are balancing two seemingly opposite areas of our lives.  This time, we are looking at Virgo and Pisces:

• Virgo:  The higher expression of Virgo includes being analytical, practical, efficient, precise, clean, and health conscious.  The lower expression could mean being overly perfectionistic and picky.  Virgo is often associated with physical health. 
• Pisces:  The best qualities of Pisces include being compassionate, emotional, intuitive, spiritual, and gentle.  The lower expression can involve being overly secretive, unpredictable, dependent, passive, escaping through addictions, or playing the victim or martyr.  Pisces is often associated with psychological and/or spiritual health. 

This Pisces Full Moon is the first of two back-to-back eclipses.  This one is a Lunar Eclipse, which often coincides with endings or culminations.  Lunar Eclipses are often more emotional than Solar Eclipses.  When we are rushing through our daily lives, we may overlook, miss, or ignore certain things.  Around the time of a Lunar Eclipse, we may suddenly see “the truth” about a situation.  Those overlooked issues suddenly jump out in front of us and make their presence known.  It’s time for a course correction so that our life gets back on track.  But we don’t need to get overly concerned if we aren’t seeing or experiencing something right at the time of the Eclipse; the awareness of the needed change may unfold over the next few weeks or months.  We can trust that all is in alignment with Divine Timing. 

At the time of the Full Moon, Neptune will be closely conjunct (0°) the Moon and opposite (180°) the Sun.  This adds spiritual overtones to this lunar event and to the Lunar Eclipse.  Additionally, the Sun, Uranus, and Pluto are all in trines (120°) to each other in earth signs (i.e., Virgo, Taurus, and Capricorn, respectively).  This forms a planetary configuration called a grand trine (i.e., equilateral triangle).  It is actually a special type of grand trine that is called a kite because the Sun is in opposition (180°) to the Moon and Neptune, and the Moon and Neptune are in sextiles (60°) to the other 2 corners of the grand trine (i.e., Uranus and Pluto).  The Moon and Neptune act like the string or tail of a kite that allows for the expression of the grand trine’s energy.     

Although this sounds complex, the bottom line is that grand trines are very positive and supportive, especially when in a kite formation.  To summarize the meaning, the grand trine amplifies the spiritual component to this Full Moon.  But this is an earth grand trine, so there is also a lot of grounded energy.  Practical changes are very possible now, especially if they increase our sense of freedom, independence, or spiritual connection.  The involvement of the Sun, Uranus, and Pluto means we have the willpower (Sun) to make transformational (Pluto) changes (Uranus) that could lead to a very workable fresh start. 

Finding a healthy balance between our physical and spiritual bodies will be important during this time.  This typically means determining whether or not we are taking actions that are aligned with our spiritual beliefs, both privately and socially.  Are we engaging in a spiritual practice that grounds our body and feeds our soul?  Do we engage with others in a way that honors our body’s needs while also serving a greater good? 

Because this is happening during a Lunar Eclipse, we may suddenly realize that in order to achieve this alignment, something may need to end.  This could be a way of thinking, a behavioral pattern, or anything that limits our freedom/independence, harms us physically/emotionally/spiritually, and/or doesn’t inspire us to be our best selves and use our gifts to serve humanity.

Given that the tail of the kite formation is the conjunction (0°) between the Moon and Neptune, our intuitive abilities will likely be heightened during this time.  Divine messages could come to us through psychic impressions (e.g., clairvoyance, clairaudience, clairsentience), but we should also be open to information coming from unusual sources, such as dreams, memories that suddenly come back to us, chance meetings, daydreams, etc. 

However, not everything that happens in our lives will be a message from the Divine.  If something does come to us, we should take a deep breath and look inward for confirmation.  Given the Moon-Neptune conjunction and the Sun in discerning Virgo, it is likely that we will “know” when it’s important to pay attention.  And again, if we miss something that our spiritual team thinks is critical to our progress, then we can trust that the message will come up again.  Trust in the Divine is an important lesson now. 

In general, most Pisces Full Moons leave us feeling a bit more vulnerable and sensitive than usual.  The Moon and Neptune in Pisces could cause us to want to withdraw when the drama of life gets to be too much.  Again, the Sun in Virgo can help us discern when this choice is appropriate, and it can also help us determine how to do it in a way that is both practical and compassionate.  Yes, it’s true that we don’t want to hide from life, but we also don’t want to become so out of balance that we can’t successfully navigate life’s experiences.  We don’t want to overreact or overcorrect and end up overwhelmed or regretful.  Sometimes the healthiest choice is to withdraw for self-reflection. 

Knowing when to take a “time out” is particularly important at the time of this lunar event because there is an exact opposition (180°) between Mercury and Saturn.  This can result in being overly pessimistic, feeling sad, and/or engaging in excessive self-criticism or worrying.  This is especially likely if we get overly tired or overwhelmed by life.  Taking a break will help us recenter and regroup. 

Additionally, the possible need to withdraw is reinforced by squares (90°) between Mars and the North and South Nodes.  A Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse increases emotionality, and these squares between Mars and the Nodes could make it even more difficult to remain objective when dealing with upsetting emotional issues.  If we get triggered, the heightened emotions often cut us off from our intuitive abilities, which are an important tool at this time.  We may not need to detach completely; however, we will be better able to deal with life effectively if we take some time to get recentered, engage in self-soothing activities, or talk to someone who can help us regroup before we reengage with a difficult situation.    

Finally, the Moon and Sun on squaring (90°) Jupiter, which is forming one of the t-squares (right triangles) that we often talk about.  With Jupiter as the “focal planet” of the t-square, it’s likely that issues related to expansion will be important.  For those who have been holding back, now may be the time to take a courageous step forward.  For others, it might be that we have expanded too far and need to pull back or reduce something.  All of this could involve anything in our lives, but given the planets and signs involved, the most likely topics would be our physical or psychological health, our daily habits, our thoughts or communication, or our consumption of the news or social media.  Because this is a Lunar Eclipse, it will be particularly important to look at expansion in terms of what steps need to be taken (or not taken) over the next 6 months, especially those that might be hindering us from achieving a better alignment between our spiritual and earthly worlds (as discussed previously). 

Libra New Moon & Solar Eclipse

In the Pacific Time Zone, the New Moon will occur at 11:49 a.m. on Wednesday, October 2.  This New Moon finds the Moon and Sun conjunct (0°) at 10°03’ of Libra.  To further clarify how this New Moon will impact you on a personal level, locate 10°03’ of Libra in your birth/natal chart.  The issues associated with that house are going to be most influenced by this New Moon’s presence.  (NOTE:  Click here to learn how to find the transiting Moon in your chart.)

All New Moons provide us with an opportunity for a new emotional start in the areas associated with the sign.  This time, we are focusing on Libra: 

• The higher expression of this sign includes being cooperative, diplomatic, a mediator, magnetic, social, gracious, and patient. 
• The lower expression can lead to being indecisive, dependent, or overly focused on the need for balance and harmony. 

Libra is a cardinal air sign.  Cardinal energy wants to get going, air energy wants to connect mentally, and Libra is all about forming relationships and partnerships.  This is why Libra is considered such a social sign.  It loves making connections with others, especially if the conversations that ensure are gracious and mentally stimulating.  The symbol of the Scales of Justice or Scales of Balance says so much about this sign.  We want everything to be exquisitely balanced in our lives, whether that’s our relationships or something in our environment. 

As explained previously, this Libra New Moon is also a Solar Eclipse.  Where the Lunar Eclipse two weeks ago is usually associated with culminations or endings, Solar Eclipses often coincide with new beginnings.  There is believed to be more light (sunshine) available to see things clearly, so things come into focus.  If decisions were made 2 weeks ago about an ending, then now may be a time when we are seeing glimpses of a new path or a fresh start. 

With this eclipse falling in Libra, there will likely be no shortage of conversations happening about whatever new directions are calling to us.  New and mutually beneficial partnerships (of any kind) are possible.  If there have been any long-standing arguments or relationship problems, now could be a time when they are resolved in a mutually agreeable, diplomatic manner.  Both parties may feel that it’s “time to let this issue go.”  But remember that with an eclipse, the impact could last over a 6-month period.  Therefore, diplomacy will likely be needed both now and in the coming months.  Our goal is to find win-win solutions that result in increased harmony. 

Unfortunately, there may be times during this 6-month time-frame when that type of equilibrium may be hard to achieve.  The Sun and Moon are both (a) in squares (90°) to emotional Mars in Cancer and (b) in conjunctions (0°) to the South Node and in oppositions (180°) to the North Node.  Without going into too much detail, all of this means that emotionally charged issues (Mars) from the past (South Node) may come up to be healed because they are hampering our progress toward the future (North Node).  That is never an easy process, but it is an important one.    

However, if we feel like our words or actions are about to light a fuse that could result in a devastating explosion, we need to wisely choose to step back, explore our available options, and possibly look into alternatives that we haven’t yet considered.  This Libra energy has the ability to find solutions.  But we do need to remember that if we find ourselves blaming others, it’s a good time to look in the mirror and make sure we aren’t projecting something outward that really is our issue (e.g., something we aren’t accepting within ourselves, a trigger from a past situation).    

The focus on relationships is further emphasized by Mercury in Libra being in an exact conjunction (0°) to the Sun and Moon.  Luckily, this can help our conversations flow harmoniously because we want to find a way to “talk things through.”  If we aren’t quite ready to engage with the person involved, then other beneficial options might include journaling, counseling, or talking with an objective friend. 

But eventually talking things through is important because the Sun and Moon in relationship-oriented Libra are both squaring (90°) Mars, the planet of action.  Mars, though, is also the “Warrior Planet.”  The square tells us that changes may be needed in our relationships.  These may include asserting our needs or setting healthier boundaries.  If issues are left to fester, then this square can result in a build-up in anger and resentment.   

Luckily, a supportive trine (120°) between Mercury and Jupiter will likely help conversations go smoothly and brainstorming sessions be very productive.  We could even receive some good news.  Optimism, curiosity, and clarity will benefit all of our social contacts.  This is happening at the time of the Solar Eclipse, so it will impact us for several months to come.  However, this Mercury-Jupiter trine could cause us to say too much, either in terms of quantity or quality.  Whatever words we choose to use can have long-term consequences, so we should think before we speak.   

One final note:  At the time of this New Moon and Solar Eclipse, we will have another one of those grand trine configurations (i.e., equilateral triangle) that was previously described in the Pisces Full Moon.  This time, the 3 planets trining (120°) each other are Venus, Mars, and Saturn.  Grand trines provide positive, free-flowing energy between the planets involved, and this time they are all located in water signs (i.e., Scorpio, Cancer, and Pisces, respectively). 

As is true with all astrological aspects and configurations, there is good news and not-so-good news associated with this grand trine.  The good news is that this watery flow of action (Mars), love (Venus), and responsibility (Saturn) provides a great deal of support for positive experiences in our relationships.  It can also have a positive impact on our financial plans and/or creative endeavors.  However, the lower expression of this trio of planets in water signs is that we might experience an emotional, knee-jerk reaction to an event that motivates us to swoop in and try to rescue or take care of someone when it may not actually be in their best interest or our own.  We need to keep any co-dependency in check. 

Planetary movements

Between mid-September to mid-October, the following planetary movements will be influencing us:

• On Sunday, September 22, the Sun moves out of Virgo and into Libra.  This marks the Fall Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere (the Spring Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere).  It often is a time when inner and outer balance and harmony feels extra important.  Compromise, negotiation, and diplomacy are all qualities associated with the Sun in the sign of the scales.  However, this is a month when we may find making decisions more difficult because we see all sides of a situation and we often don’t want to “rock the boat.”  But in general, this is a time of year when we enjoy being with others, and we try to be more tolerant and socially sensitive. 
• The same day (Sunday, September 22), Venus enters Scorpio, where it will remain until October 17.  We will find ourselves approaching life in a deeply passionate way.  This applies to anything we desire in our life, but especially our relationships, finances, and creative activities.  We want to “go deep.”  Superficial contacts or “mindless chit-chat” are very dissatisfying.    
• Mercury will bring more peaceful thoughts and words when she enters harmony-seeking Libra on Thursday, September 26.  Although I wish it would remain in Libra through USA’s elections in November, Mercury will only be in Libra through October 13.  During this time, we will be more able to see both sides of any situation.  It also will help us be more diplomatic (if we choose to tap into the energy).  However, decisions could be harder to make during this time. 
• On Wednesday, October 9, Jupiter begins its 4-month retrograde period (through February 4, 2025).  This is happening in Gemini, so we will likely be taking time to reflect and review our belief systems.  We may find that tweaks are needed.  As it travels backwards and our focus turns inward, Jupiter will be in an exact sextile (60°) to Chiron.  Therefore, any inner reflection has the potential for deep healing.  In fact, profound insights are very possible. 
• Then on Friday, October 11, Pluto ends its retrograde phase and begins moving direct in Capricorn.  This begins Pluto’s final few weeks in Capricorn before returning to Aquarius on November 19, where it will remain until 2044.  These final weeks in Capricorn is a time when we will be wrapping up any of the issues related to structures in our lives, on a personal or societal level.  We want to make sure we have a solid foundation upon which to move forward into all the changes that are likely when Pluto moves in Aquarius.  Finally, Pluto is about truth and power, so power issues about what we believe to be “true” could also be a focal point during this time.    
• Mercury will be moving out of peace-loving Libra and into Scorpio on Sunday, October 13.  It will remain there until November 3.  (NOTE:  This movement through Scorpio coincides with the final days leading up to USA’s election on November 5.)  While in Libra, we sought harmony.  Once in Scorpio, our thoughts and communication become intense and passionate.  We are seeking “the truth,” and we aren’t afraid to look under rocks and into dark corners in order to find it.  Our minds are sharp and analytical, yet there is also a deeply intuitive side.  We want to get to the heart of the matter, which can sometimes lead to obsessive focus. 
• Venus moves into Sagittarius on Thursday, October 17, where it will stay until November 12 (which overlaps with the USA’s November 5 election day).  Having Venus in Sag could ease some of the tensions described above because it brings an uplifting and free-spirited energy into our lives.  However, Sagittarius is a fire sign, so there could be some passionate, intense moments in our relationships, finances, creative activities, or anything that we desire.  Sag energy is also known to be too blunt at times, so we should be careful not to blurt out our thoughts before thinking them through.  But overall, optimism, truth, and meaning take center stage.  We are more comfortable than usual to opening ourselves to new perspectives. 

Summary

Overall, this Eclipse Season, which includes the Pisces Full Moon and the Libra New Moon, is about plowing the fields to make them ready for new crops to be planted.  There may be unexpected events that occur around the dates of the eclipses that prompt changes that will take up to 6 months to fully unfold.  Healing relationship issues seems to be a big focus now.  This will require courageously dealing with any difficult issues, but also knowing when it is best to temporarily withdraw in order to cool down, explore whatever has triggered us, and/or think through the best course of action.  If we can release stagnant energy, then this can open us up to start something new and exciting.  All of this may take inner strength and courage, but we can do it!

WRITTEN BY

• Anne Reith, Ph.D.©

THIS FULL MOON & LUNAR ECLIPSE

Full Moon at 25°40’ of Pisces

• Tuesday, September 17, 2024, 7:34 p.m. PDT
• Tuesday, September 17, 2024, 10:34 p.m. EDT
• Tuesday, September 18, 2024, 2:34 a.m. UT

THIS NEW MOON & SOLAR ECLIPSE

New Moon at 10°03’ of Libra

• Wednesday, October 2, 2024, 11:49 a.m. PDT
• Wednesday, October 2, 2024, 2:49 p.m. EDT
• Wednesday, October 2, 2024, 6:49 p.m. UT

IMPACT OF ANY MOON EVENT

• All New Moons and Full Moons influence us for the 3 days before, the day of, and 3 days after the actual event.

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By Anne Reith, Ph.D.