Virgo (23 August – 22 September)
The month begins in fine form as first lovely Venus is in Capricorn and your play sector and Venus is joined by your ruler Mercury on the 2nd. When planets are in Capricorn, this lights up the sector of your chart which represents fun and creativity, children and romance. It’s about making time for all the things you enjoy in life.
So start as you mean to go on and have fun on the run up to Christmas. New love is on the cards for some and the 10th and 27th look especially romantic. The period between Christmas and New Year flags up good times too and the New Moon in Capricorn on the 29th could be a special highlight.
This New Moon links in to Mars on the 27th/28th and Neptune on the 27th/30th, both planets in romantic Pisces and your relationship sector. This looks gorgeous for a loving occasion.
Yet there is a potential spanner in the works and this is the fact that your ruling planet Mercury turns retrograde on the 19th, i.e. begins to retreat through the zodiac. Mercury is on go slow until January 8th 2017 in the sectors of your chart which rule romance, children, your home and family.
So things could change mid-December whether your plans for a relaxing festive break go out the window or you find that juggling all the different aspects of Christmas is actually quite stressful. Do yourself a favour this year and don’t be such a perfectionist. Remember that good enough really is good enough.
With Mercury retrograde, you might also be spending time away from someone special, a lover or child and you’re playing a waiting game until you see them again. It really is a key period to be patient and take the pace slow.
Work too looks busy this month so perhaps this is another reason why you’re chasing your tail. If you’re looking for work, this is a positive month to apply for a new job or role. It’s likely to be a social time too and having fun with your colleagues is a definite boost to the festive season.
Try not to take on too much at work either although if you are looking for love, the office parties or similar are the place to meet someone new. Some of you will be working over Christmas but if anything this will be a fun experience and you might even appreciate doing something unconventional or different.
Notice too what takes place on or around the Full Moon on the 14th because this lights up your career and vocation sector. This is a good date to finalise a work deal or project and to plan your strategy for 2017 and beyond.
One of the most challenging transits for you for some time now involves Saturn, the taskmaster of the heavens, down at the base of your chart ruling your foundations. Saturn has been in Sagittarius and this sector of your chart for most of the time since late 2014, representing your home and family, your past and where you come from.
As Saturn is the planet of responsibility and duty, a lot of your time might be taken up looking after children, grandchildren or caring for an elderly parent. You could be involved in extensive building work or moving home takes a tremendous amount of energy and effort.
Wherever you find Saturn in your chart, things don’t always happen speedily and you have to learn and develop patience. Yet at the same time, you often find a strong pull towards settling down, setting up home, nesting and staying put.
Sometimes with Saturn in Sagittarius, the biggest emotional challenge comes through your connections with your family and/or your partner. If your family don’t all get on or you have issues with your in-laws or you feel guilt when you spend more time with one person than another or someone is constantly asking a lot of you, this inevitably weighs heavy. All these issues can be exaggerated over Christmas.
Yet this year, it’s time to do things differently. This is because on Christmas Day itself, December 25th, there’s a stunning planetary aspect between Saturn and Uranus. Together these two planets provide a breakthrough opportunity. Sometimes it’s by doing the things that aren’t expected of you whereby you create the quickest results.
If a non-traditional Christmas is on the cards or a change to the conventional set-up feels liberating, take it. The same goes if you’re offered an opportunity over Christmas, financial or otherwise, that allows you to settle down and build the strong foundations you want for you and the ones you love. Think positive and go for it.
Yet there is one factor to flag up before you rush into a major financial commitment. This is the fact that on Boxing Day, December 26th, Jupiter in Libra is opposed by Uranus in Aries and this opposition cuts across your financial axis.
Uranus is the freedom planet, the planet of unconventionality so put Uranus in one of your money sectors and anything goes. It’s the planet of overnight change, bringing sudden wins but also losses. Unexpected expenses, inheritances, a bonus or gift, a demand for payment; any or all of these could come your way.
Any financial risk comes at a high price now and it’s up to you whether you’re willing to play for high stakes. A change of fortune is guaranteed but often with Uranus, you don’t know whether your fortunes are going to go up or down so only play a risky game if you can afford it.
Being one of the earth signs, you tend to fare best in life when you have emotional and financial stability and it’s worth bearing this in mind over the Christmas period. Keep your expectations realistic and wherever change comes in your life, it’s not until Mercury turns direct on January 8th 2017 that you can make sense of things and move forward with confidence.