Photo of Comet Nishimura by Peter Kennett (nasa.gov)
Written and Narrated by Pam Younghans.
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Current and previous weeks astrological overviews
Astrological Overview: September 11-17, 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: Sun quincunx Chiron
Tuesday: No major aspects are exact today
Wednesday: No major aspects are exact today
Thursday: New Moon 6:39 p.m. PDT 21 Virgo 58
Friday: Mercury stations direct, Sun trine Uranus
Saturday: Venus square Jupiter
Sunday: Sun quincunx Eris
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COMET C/2023 P1: Newly discovered Comet Nishimura will make its closest approach to Earth this Tuesday, coming within 78 million miles of our planet. The comet carries the name of space photographer Hideo Nishimura, who was the first to observe it, and has been growing in brightness as it gets closer to the Sun. It may be visible to the naked eye this week, but most will need binoculars and a location free of light pollution to view it. It can be found on the eastern horizon just before sunrise or near the western horizon just after sunset.
Comets are visitors that travel through space from the far reaches of our solar system. On a spiritual level, they symbolize insights and wisdom coming into our awareness. Since Comet Nishimura was only "discovered" a few weeks ago, it signifies the arrival of new information that may affect our choices and our collective trajectory.Astrologer Rod Chang writes that in China, comets are called "broom stars" because they sweep away debris and all that binds us to the past. Once the cleansing process is completed, we are more open to the new. Mr. Chang also explains that the word for comet in Chinese is Huì-X?n (??) with "Huì" being equivalent to the English word "wisdom." He interprets the arrival of a comet as a reminder to "wield the sword of wisdom to cut away attachments."
VIRGO NEW MOON: The Sun and Moon will conjoin at 6:39 p.m. PDT on Thursday, September 14, marking the start of a new lunar cycle. This is a significant lunation primarily because it activates four of the slower-moving planets in our solar system; occurring at 21°58´ Virgo, the New Moon is opposite Neptune in Pisces, trine Jupiter and Uranus in Taurus, and also trine Pluto in Capricorn.
The Neptune opposition is challenging in nature, requiring that we balance reason and intuition. The tendency at first may be to seesaw between Virgo's desire to analyze a problem and figure out every step needed to solve it, and the Piscean call to simply accept the situation and have faith in the unknown. The shadows of these two polarities are excessive worry on one end of the spectrum, and apathy or an inability to take action on the other. The fulcrum of this seesaw, the balance point, is found by being responsible, taking care of the necessary, practical details, but also being open to higher guidance and then entrusting the outcome to the Universe.
EARTH GRAND TRINE: The trine aspects in the New Moon chart — between the Sun/Moon, Jupiter/Uranus, and Pluto — provide a harmonious flow of energy for us to access and utilize. Together, these five planets are forming a configuration called an earth grand trine.
The positive qualities associated with an earth grand trine are endurance and persistence, an ability to commit to a goal and do the work necessary to achieve it, and being able to employ the practical skills and methods that enable a successful resolution. This configuration also supports using both common sense and creative resourcefulness, and confers an awareness of Right Timing.
SABIAN SYMBOL: The Sabian symbol for the degree of the New Moon provides more insights into the energies and intentions of the new lunar cycle. The symbol for the 22nd degree of Virgo is "A royal coat of arms, enriched with precious stones." The interpretation of this symbolic image, from astrologer Dane Rudhyar, reads:
"High-level responsibility: ?For there to be a noble lineage, each generation must throw up exemplars of the dignity of the community's highest sense of itself."
Astrologer James Burgess further explains the meanings of the symbol, writing:
"Aristocracy in the political sense is the worldly reflection of the condition of an elevated soul. Kings were once the genuine spiritual leaders of their countries, and even today royalty is accorded heightened respect partly because of the sense of nobility and spiritual integrity that they are thought to carry. As we progress spiritually, we tend more and more to take on the burden of being an example to others to conduct themselves with such integrity. To do so requires that we consistently resonate at the aristocratic level of soul consciousnesses."
DAILY ASPECTS: Here are my brief interpretations of this week's most important planetary aspects:
Monday
Sun quincunx Chiron: A self-critical tendency may be strong with this aspect, accompanied by a feeling that we will never "get it right." If this mantra is activated, it is a call for us to put aside the need to be efficient and get work done, and instead, to take the time needed to give our fearful inner child a supportive embrace.
Tuesday
No major aspects are exact today.
Wednesday
No major aspects are exact today.
Thursday
New Moon at 21 Virgo 58: The new lunar cycle begins at 6:39 p.m. PDT.
Friday
Mercury stations direct: The Messenger Planet is now completing its retrograde phase, which began on August 23. As Mercury picks up speed over the next couple of weeks, we may find it easier to be productive and to figure out what steps need to be taken to resolve any problems.
Sun trine Uranus: We are open to new potentials with this aspect, and able to be flexible in our expectations. This is a good time to learn a new skill or energy technique.
Saturday
Venus square Jupiter: The energy of this aspect can be somewhat self-indulgent and perhaps overly idealistic. Moderation is key if seeking long-term fulfillment, since we can tend to overlook important details or ignore red flags. This may pertain to both relationships and purchases.
Sunday
Sun quincunx Eris: The positive Virgo abilities of analysis and discernment can be hurtful if we are too focused on our own perspectives and thus unaware of how others may be affected. This aspect requires that we slow down and make sure that all actions and interactions are guided by the heart rather than the ego.
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IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THIS WEEK: The energies of this week's New Moon strongly influence your personal New Year, Virgo. Throughout the next twelve months, you will be learning to balance reason and intuition, certainty and faith, practical action and spiritual surrender. You also have access to some very powerful but grounded energies that can help you both focus on your goals and the bigger picture and also attend to the necessary details. Be open to the new, and be aware of when a natural Virgo caution might be inhibiting your ability to take risks and embrace the unknown. Even taking mini steps, altering your usual routine in small ways (such as driving a longer, more pleasant route instead of the shortest and more efficient), can help break the stalemate that can occur when we are too concerned about doing everything in the most efficacious way. (Solar Return Sun trine Jupiter, trine Uranus, opposite Neptune, trine Pluto)
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WEBINAR THIS WEEK: I'm looking forward to seeing you at my "Cosmic Initiation" webinar this Wednesday, September 13! I'm eager to share what I've learned about the Taurus Point of Avatar, which is being activated by Jupiter throughout the rest of 2023. I'll also be talking in depth about the two eclipses in October and other exciting planetary events taking place in the last four months of 2023.
Thanks to everyone who has already registered! If you'd like to learn more, please visit: pam-sept-dec2023.eventbrite.com
For questions about registration or payment options for this webinar: please contact moderator Elsie Kerns at
SOLAR MONTH CLASS: My next Solar Month Class, covering the Month of Libra, will be on Wednesday, September 20, at 1 p.m. PDT. 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.
