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Written and Narrated by Pam Younghans.
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Astrological Overview: September 4-10, 2023
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.
Aspects of Note this Week:
All times listed are Pacific Daylight Time. For Eastern Time, add 3 hours; For Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), add 7 hours.
Monday: Mercury trine Jupiter, Jupiter stations retrograde
Tuesday: Sun sesquiquadrate Pluto
Wednesday: Sun conjunct Mercury, Mercury sesquiquadrate Pluto
Thursday: No major aspects are exact today
Friday: Sun trine Jupiter, Mars sesquiquadrate Uranus
Saturday: No major aspects are exact today
Sunday: Mercury sesquiquadrate Eris, Pluto square Ceres
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JUPITER AT A STANDSTILL: Whenever a planet comes to a standstill, its energies are strongly focused at a specific degree of the zodiac. Any themes associated with that degree — whether through symbolic systems such as the Sabian symbols or by coinciding with the location of a fixed star or a galactic point — are highlighted and energized.
When Jupiter stations retrograde on Monday, September 4, it will activate one of the four galactic Points of Avatar, also called the Avatar Gateways. These four points are linked energetically to the midpoint between the Galactic Center and the Super Galactic Center. The degree of each Avatar Point is activated by the Sun once a year when it reaches 14°30´ of the four fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius); on the calendar, these four alignments occur at the halfway points between the equinoxes and the solstices.
Great Jupiter will be at 15°33´ Taurus when it comes to a standstill this week. At one degree away from the Taurus Point of Avatar, the giant planet is well within range of a strong activation. So, what does this all mean for us, collectively and individually?
THE POINTS OF AVATAR: The Avatar Points are portals through which important spiritual frequencies enter the Earth plane. Planets moving across these points trigger the release of the energies they conduct. Astrologer Paul Saunders writes that when one of these points is activated by a transiting planet, "there can be amazing coincidences and the ability to achieve what was thought impossible."
Each of the four Avatar Points has a specialized focus and purpose. According to astrologer Mary Elizabeth Jochmans, the Taurus Point of Avatar is specifically bringing in the energies for a "global initiation," helping humanity manifest new systems, sounds, symbols, and structures. She writes that the Taurus Avatar Gateway is the energy behind the Great Pyramids, the Sphinx, Palenque, and more.
The energy of the Jupiter-Avatar alignment has been building since late July, when Jupiter first came within two degrees of the Taurus Point of Avatar. However, the effects and potentials of this alignment are especially strong this week and will continue to be significant factors for the rest of 2023. This is possible since the activation is part of the "energy signature" of Jupiter's retrograde phase, which will last until the planet goes direct on December 30.
MERCURY IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Mercury the Messenger will be trine Jupiter on Monday, strengthening the benefits of that harmonious aspect. Greater access to spiritual information and insights are possible with this trine. However, with Mercury itself being retrograde, much of what we receive must be processed internally before it can be shared with others.
Mercury then is conjunct the Virgo Sun on Wednesday, but sesquiquadrate Pluto. These aspects again emphasize the need to integrate what we have learned prior to trying to communicate our thoughts. Under pressure, especially if the other person is not fully accepting or tries to analyze our experience, an urge to explain and convince is likely to be triggered. This can put us in a defensive mode, detracting from the magic of our moment.
Allowing time to process new ideas sometimes means going against an impulsive need to "tell someone" — an urge which may, in actuality, be a search for external validation. We will know internally when it's the right time and place to share our insights.
Consider that a flower that is just beginning to bud will often fade if plucked too soon. This is why it can be best to allow plenty of time for personal integration when we receive an insight, so that the flower is more fully formed and thus is able to continue to blossom even after it is picked and given to another.
DAILY ASPECTS: Here are my brief interpretations of this week's most important planetary aspects:
Monday
Mercury trine Jupiter: Since Jupiter is at its station today, this aspect with Mercury is especially strong, giving us increased access to spiritual information and insights. However, with Mercury itself being retrograde, much of what we receive must be processed internally before it can be shared with others.
Jupiter stations retrograde: Jupiter comes to a standstill at 15°33´ Taurus on Monday. It will be retrograde until December 30.
Tuesday
Sun sesquiquadrate Pluto: We may experience an impulse to control a situation, most likely because we believe we know the best, most efficient, and most effective way to get a task accomplished. Unfortunately, this assuredness can lead to be overly critical or impatient with others.
Wednesday
Sun conjunct Mercury, Mercury sesquiquadrate Pluto: There may be some communication issues today, especially if someone is trying to micromanage a situation. Attempts to manipulate are likely to backfire.
Thursday
No major aspects are exact today.
Friday
Sun trine Jupiter: This is a very optimistic influence, increasing self-confidence. We may receive insights on how to improve conditions in some area of our lives.
Mars sesquiquadrate Uranus: It is important to be wary of impulsive actions or assertiveness today. Unexpected problems can arise if we act abruptly or do not take the time to consider where our choices might lead us.
Saturday
No major aspects are exact today.
Sunday
Mercury sesquiquadrate Eris: Conversations might be uncomfortable today, due to a lack of tact or a tendency to criticize.
Pluto square Ceres: This is a divisive influence that may lead to power struggles and emotional upsets, especially in the home environment or with those we consider to be family.
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IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THIS WEEK: Communication, writing, learning, and teaching are likely to be central themes for you this year. However, there is a definite introspective quality that must be considered. For example, a writing project may flow easily but also require many hours of review and editing before you sense that it is ready to be shared. Overall, there is a positive, uplifting quality to your personal New Year, that assists you in having faith in the Universe and also in having a stronger belief in yourself. (Solar Return Sun conjunct retrograde Mercury, trine Jupiter)
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"A COSMIC INITIATION" WEBINAR: The Points of Avatar and Jupiter's activation of the Taurus Gateway are central subjects of my "A Cosmic Initiation" webinar on September 13. I look forward to sharing more of my research and insights with you! Please visit: pam-sept-dec2023.eventbrite.com
SOLAR MONTH CLASS: My next Solar Month Class, covering the Month of Libra, will be on Wednesday, September 20, at 1 p.m. PDT. This class differs from the webinar in several ways: it includes a copy of your natal chart, allows participants to ask questions about their personal charts, and offers teaching to help each person identify how the transiting planets are affecting them individually. I hope you can join us! To read more about the Zoom class and to register, please visit: https://events.humanitix.com/solar-month-class-libra-2023
INSTAGRAM POSTS: If you frequent Instagram, please check out my daily astrological updates: https://www.instagram.com/pamyounghans/
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TRANSLATION and AUDIO/VIDEO VERSION: This weekly Journal is now recorded (in English) AND the text is transcribed into 30 languages! You'll see a row of flags under "Available Languages" in the upper right. And, there are options to listen to the audio (in English) or watch a video directly beneath the photo (see top of page).
The Journal entry is usually updated by Sunday evening, with the recordings appearing late Sunday or by Monday depending on your time zone. Please share this information with those who might benefit.
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For previous weeks of the Astrological Journal, click here.
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About the Author
Pam 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
For more information about NorthPoint Astrology offerings, please visit northpointastrology.com or visit her Facebook page.
