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Horoscope: September 10 to 16, 2018

Astrologer Pam Younghans writes this weekly astrological journal based on planetary influences, and offers perspectives and insights to assist you in making the best use of current energies. This column is not intended as prediction. Your own experience will be more specifically defined by transits to your personal chart.

Highlighted Aspects for This Week

All times listed are Pacific Daylight Time. For Greenwich Mean Time, add 7 hours.

MON: Uranus quincunx Ceres, Mars semisquare Neptune, Mars enters Aquarius
TUE: Sun sextile Jupiter, Sun trine Pluto, Saturn square Ceres
WED: Jupiter sextile Pluto, Venus opposite Uranus, Venus sextile Saturn
THU: Mars sextile Chiron, Mercury opposite Neptune
FRI: Mercury sesquiquadrate Mars, Mercury sesquiquadrate Uranus
SAT: Mercury trine Pluto, Jupiter semisquare Ceres
SUN: Mercury sextile Jupiter, Mercury semisquare Venus

THIS COMING WEEK is a lot like a cactus -- smooth in places, quite thorny in others. We'll need to stay present and conscious as we move through these energies, being aware of our own places of reactivity, vulnerability, and defensiveness. For best results, we will want to tap into the essence of our more evolved, Divine Self, as we navigate any challenges that arise.

Each day has its own set of variables, but the thread that weaves throughout the week is the influence of the final Mars-Uranus square. Although this aspect will not be exact by degree until September 18, its effects will be building over the next seven days, increasing most notably toward the end of this week. Hopefully, in addition to being more aware of this influence, we can also begin to see purposes and meanings.


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More in next week's issue, of course -- but in the meantime, it may be helpful to be thinking about the bigger picture. Due to Mars going retrograde, this Mars-Uranus square has had a very long life span: the first exact aspect perfected last May 16, and the second occurred on August 1. A process or sequence of events was activated four months ago, and is now coming to completion or fruition. The more we can be in observer mode this week and next, the more we may benefit from, rather than being overwhelmed by, this final phase.

ON MONDAY, we'll need an attitude adjustment to stay in balance, due to a certain rebelliousness that comes forward in response to the needs expressed by others (Uranus quincunx Ceres). If we pride ourselves on being "nice," we can feel very uncomfortable with this aspect, until we figure out how to be true to ourselves while also honoring our commitments to loved ones.

Our need for personal space and freedom is further heightened when Mars returns to Aquarius (5:55 p.m. PDT on Monday). We may feel the energy shift as this change of signs occurs, since it establishes the baseline frequency for the upcoming square with Uranus in Taurus.

THE JUPITER-PLUTO SEXTILE that perfects on Wednesday is the main headline news of the week. This is the last exact aspect in the series of three that occur in 2018, with the first two events on January 15 and April 14. In essence, we've been working with this influence since December of 2017, and are now nearing the end of its ten-month lifespan.

Although a sextile can sometimes be overlooked, with our attention being drawn to more challenging aspects, this one is significant, both because of the planets involved and the duration of its influence. As Jupiter and Pluto work together, the opportunities for deep change are enhanced. Jupiter amplifies Pluto-in-Capricorn's ability to tear down, reform, and transform social structures. At the same time, Pluto augments the strength of the magnifying lens that Jupiter-in-Scorpio has focused on the shadow side of human nature. 

On a personal level, this is a very powerful week (and year) to be involved in psychotherapy, shamanism, investigative work, and research into metaphysics or other unknowns.

Other planets contribute to the potency of this influence this week: the Virgo Sun sextiles Jupiter and trines Pluto on Tuesday, and Mercury forms the same aspects over the weekend.

AS WE CONTEMPLATE the processes that are completing now, we should also be aware that a new longer-term planetary influence is just beginning. Because Venus will soon be going retrograde (on October 5), the Venus-Uranus opposition that occurs this Wednesday will repeat twice more, on October 31 and November 30.

Essentially, this aspect represents unexpected changes in the areas of life ruled by Venus. These areas include relationships, finances and material possessions, the arts, and our overall sense of what we value. We'll want to watch what unfolds this week in these domains, and to consider events as step one in a larger process.

MERCURY holds reign over the last half of the week, being involved in virtually every aspect of importance Thursday through Sunday. Mercury represents our capacity for reason, and its aspects can affect our communications, decision-making ability, conscious perceptions, and ability to observe and assess.

On Thursday, an opposition between Mercury in Virgo and Neptune in Pisces means that our ability to analyze may not be as sharp as we would like. However, this could be an excellent time for activities that bridge the gap between reason and imagination. Dream imagery may be especially meaningful, and we can access our inner Poet with less filtering and judgment. But, this is not an opportune time for making long-term decisions.

On Friday, Mercury is at a midpoint between Mars and Uranus, forming sesquiquadrate aspects with both planets. This interaction brings the effects of the Mars-Uranus square more fully into our awareness, even in advance of the exact aspect next week. We will want to monitor our level of frustration and irritation, and to be aware of where our need to control events is interfering with our ability to be objective.

NEXT WEEKEND, Mercury is trine Pluto and sextile Jupiter, stepping into the position held by the Sun earlier in the week. This is an opportunity to use our capacity for discernment as we review the news of the day, and the information we are receiving in other areas of our lives as well.

If we have been able to move beyond or rise above whatever anger may have been provoked, we should be able to see more clearly what is true and what is not, as well as how to move through any darkness as we seek the light. It will be vital to maintain and build upon these advanced perspectives as we move into the following week and the final occurrence of the Mars-Uranus square.

IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THIS WEEK: You have a heightened ability to perceive truth this year, as well as an increased knowing of what changes are needed if necessary growth is to be attained. Insights may come more readily now, but tact may not be your strongest suit. Be aware that others have the right to be as sure of their opinions as you are of your own. That being said, there may be some relationships that cannot handle the tension of changing circumstances. If rifts occur, allow there to be differences between you, while also remaining open to reconnecting when you both are able to embrace the other with open heart and open mind.

About the Author

Pam YounghansPam Younghans is a professional astrologer, editor, and writer. She lives in a log home northeast of Seattle, Washington with her beloved animal companions. She has been interpreting charts professionally for over 25 years. If you are interested in an astrology reading, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or leave a message at 425.445.3775. For more information about NorthPoint Astrology offerings, please visit northpointastrology.com or visit her Facebook page.

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