Photo by Jeison Higuita
Written and Narrated by Pam Younghans.
Watch video version on YouTube
Current and previous weeks astrological overviews
Astrological Overview: September 18-24, 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: No major aspects are exact today
Tuesday: Sun opposite Neptune, Mars quincunx Jupiter
Wednesday: Saturn trine Ceres, Sun trine Pluto
Thursday: No major aspects are exact today
Friday: Mars sesquiquadrate Saturn, Sun sesquiquadrate Jupiter, Sun enters Libra (Equinox)
Saturday: Venus trine Chiron, Mercury sesquiquadrate Pluto
Sunday: Mars opposite Chiron, Sun quincunx Saturn
*****
LIBRA THRESHOLD: We cross a seasonal threshold this week when the Sun enters Libra on Friday (Saturday in some time zones). This ingress marks the equinox, when the hours of light and dark are relatively equal. Whether we are entering autumn (Northern Hemisphere) or spring (Southern Hemisphere), this day carries special significance in our annual journey around the Sun.
The day of the equinox has been honored by Earth inhabitants since ancient times, as confirmed by numerous sacred sites around the globe: Machu Picchu in Peru, the Great Sphinx and the Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, the Loughcrew cairns in Ireland, the seven megalithic temples in Malta, Chaco Canyon in New Mexico (USA), and more.
An equinox is a time of transition, when we complete one phase and open to the next. We feel a shift, both internally and in the natural world.
AN ENERGY PORTAL: On the equinox, an energetic portal opens, enabling us to align more fully with the cosmos. This portal offers us the opportunity for increased self-awareness and spiritual growth, as we appreciate the value of both the light and the dark and can embrace both our enlightened self and our shadow side.
This energy portal also reveals itself physically, through an increase in auroral displays. The tilt of the Earth on its axis and its unique angle to the Sun at the equinox enables solar wind and plasma to interact more directly with our planet's magnetic field. The geomagnetic storms that occur because of this alignment between the luminaries cause colorful Northern and Southern Lights to dance in the skies of Earth's higher latitudes. This phenomenon has been named the Russell-McPherron effect, after the two scientists who published a paper on the subject in 1973.
DAILY ASPECTS: Here are my brief interpretations of this week's most important planetary aspects:
Monday
No major aspects are exact today.
Tuesday
Sun opposite Neptune: A lack of clarity is common with hard Neptune aspects, since they require us to see with our intuition instead of using only our outer senses. This influence can also increase the imagination and idealism, making it hard to make practical decisions. It represents a challenge in which we must access reason and intuition, certainty and faith, in equal measure.
Mars quincunx Jupiter: We may feel caught between a desire to act cooperatively and the urge to be fully self-sufficient. Self-awareness and objectivity can help us know how best to proceed, if we take the time to think before taking action.
Wednesday
Saturn trine Ceres: This harmonious aspect enables us to be both nurturing to others and aware of our own needs. It assists in maintaining good personal boundaries when taking on the role of caregiver.
Sun trine Pluto: This aspect supports decisive and determined action. It also encourages a deeper understanding of our own motivations. This self-awareness will help us know what steps to take to support our long-term goals.
Thursday
No major aspects are exact today.
Friday
Mars sesquiquadrate Saturn: Obstacles and delays may occur with this influence. Rather than becoming frustrated, we will benefit from realizing the value of slow but steady progress, which will allow all to be in divine timing.
Sun sesquiquadrate Jupiter: It can be tempting to overdo or overindulge today. We might also miss important details in our rush to get a task completed.
Sun enters Libra: While the Sun is in the sign of The Scales, from September 22 to October 23, we are working with themes of balance, cooperation, and harmony. One of our tasks will be to make sure that we are keeping the scales even, not falling into codependent behaviors. And it can sometimes be harder to make decisions during the month of Libra, since we see the positives and negatives of every issue and also dislike upsetting others.
Saturday
Venus trine Chiron: A need for connection may be strong today, inspiring some to take the initiative in repairing misunderstandings with friends or loved ones.
Mercury sesquiquadrate Pluto: Although the need to express ourselves honestly is positive, this aspect indicates a tendency to over-assert our opinions or to not realize the impact of our words on others. It will be important to monitor any impulses that tell us that we "have to" express a thought or idea; anything that is worth saying will be best shared when we are less fueled by adrenalin.
Sunday
Mars opposite Chiron: Anger may flare quickly with this aspect, especially if we have a history of not expressing or acknowledging our own needs and desires. Some may act instinctively, motivated by wounds that have not yet been healed.
Sun quincunx Saturn: We have a strong desire to be of service to others, but must be aware that taking on too many responsibilities can deplete our energy stores.
*****
IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THIS WEEK: There is a certain restlessness to the energies of your personal new year. You may feel eager to try new activities and might even want to alter how you are manifesting your career or higher purpose. At the same time, there may be a lack of clarity about the final form or end result you seek. It will be important to use both reason and intuition in any decisions that you make. Try taking smaller practical steps that make sense with respect to your long-term goals, but also be flexible. Always leave the door open for a shift of direction, as guided by your intuitive wisdom. (Solar Return Sun trine Uranus, opposite Neptune, trine Pluto)
*****
WITH GRATITUDE: Thanks to everyone who registered for our "Cosmic Initiation" webinar last week! Whether you attended live or will join in by replay, I hope that you enjoyed the class and find benefit, especially in the "Kaleidoscope Guidance" and alignment meditations.
If you missed the webinar and would like insights into the energies we'll be working with for the rest of 2023, please let me know! The replay and materials are available for purchase. Just send an email with "Webinar Replay" in the subject line to
SOLAR MONTH CLASS: Our "Month of Libra" class is this Wednesday! This class will take a closer look at planetary activity from September 22 to October 23, with a special focus on how and where the Solar Eclipse on October 14 may affect each of us, based on our natal astrology charts.
Everyone who registered should have already received my email with three handouts attached. I will be sending out the Zoom link and passcode on Monday, so please watch your inbox (or check your spam folder).
There's still time to register! To learn more about this class, 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/
*****
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.
*****
For previous weeks of the Astrological Journal, click here.
*****
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.
