Pluto and Venus both turned direct last week (Pluto on the 7th and Venus on the 8th) and we will begin to feel the energies of our life moving forward for the first time since Pluto turned retrograde back in March.

The New Moon on September 11 (8:43 am EDT) is also a partial eclipse of the Sun. The Sun and Moon are conjunct at 18 degrees Virgo and form a Grand Cross that includes the separating square of Mars and Uranus as well as Pluto. Jupiter is also involved by association, since Jupiter at 11 degrees is square to the New Moon and to Uranus but is too far from Mars to be considered connected there.

In Virgo, the New Moon presents an opportunity for selfless service and healing, and what better time for this to take place than on the day that we remember the events of September 11, 2001 that marked such a colossal turning point in global affairs. In Virgo we are no longer concerned about the aggrandizement of our own ego; instead, we attend to the details of life in a practical and matter-of-fact manner, seeking improvement in every aspect of our life and the life of our communities.

Virgo urges us to attend to our housekeeping duties in all phases of our life – our personal ecology and cleanliness and that of our environment, as well as cleaning up any areas that have become cluttered with emotional detritus.

There is a tremendous amount of tension in the Grand Cross that can erupt in some kind of crisis, particularly for those of us with planets in 14-26 degrees of the mutable signs (Virgo, Pisces, Sagittatius and Gemini). This crisis could result in the ending of any aspects of our life that are indeed finished so that the new beginnings of the New Moon can take root.

This New Moon is a partial eclipse and its conjunction to the Moon’s nodes is very wide, and this will diminish the intensity somewhat. Venus is moving away from an opposition to Chiron and approaching an opposition to Neptune that may create difficulty in our relationships as we may lose our clear vision where others are concerned. We may not be able to rely on their support during this lunation, which is likely to have a strong effect for about three days on either side. We must become strong and grounded in ourselves before we can reach out to those we love in a new way and with new strength. The opposition of Venus and Neptune can bring us into a heightened state of bliss but it can also lead to a fall if we fail to plant our feet firmly on the ground.

When Mercury (thought functions) forms a trine to Chiron (healing) and a sextile to Jupiter (expansion) on the 13th, all of the events of the past week under the influence of the eclipse will begin to make sense. We will find ourselves able to conceptualize a broader view of our life and one that gives us a greater perspective. By the 17th when Mercury trines Neptune we will be prepared for the influx of positive creativity and intuitive vision that will help us to internalize the changes in a positive way.

This lunar event is likely to be gentler than the full moon eclipse of two weeks ago but there is still opportunity for evolution and change. My clients always ask me, “Is this good or bad?” and I always say there is no good and there is no bad. What we think of as difficult planetary cycles hold the seeds for change and the resolution of difficult issues, resulting in an ultimately happier existence.