Watch live, commercial-free coverage of the debate on Democracy Now!
Today is Monday, Sept. 26, 2016
Hebrew date is 23 Elul 5776
Islamic date is 24 Dhul Hijjah 1437
Mayan Tzolk’in Day is 1 Men
Mayan Long Count is 13.0.3.14.15
Julian Day is 2457658
Today’s Birthdays: T.S. Eliot (1888-1965), Martin Heidegger (1889-1976), George Gershwin (1898-1937), Olivia Newton-John (1948), Serena Williams (1981).
“Poetry is not a turning loose of emotion, but an escape from emotion; it is not the expression of personality, but an escape from personality. But, of course, only those who have personality and emotions know what it means to want to escape from these things.”
— T.S. Eliot
Special Comment: Sun conjunct Jupiter
Once each year, the Sun aligns in a conjunction with Jupiter, and that happens today. Jupiter entered Libra on Sept. 9, with plenty of other events distracting our attention (Mercury retrograde in Virgo, a series of eclipses and the last Saturn square Neptune).
With this conjunction we can finally get a feeling of the potential of Jupiter in Libra, which seems like a metaphor for refreshing the energy of your relationships and outlook toward them; there is a reminder of our need for fairness, which is born of wisdom; and a reflection of how Libra in any form is about elegance and beauty, both of which are essential to human happiness. Then there’s a symbol of balance. We live in an era where it seems the best we can do is get accustomed to being stretched, pushed and maximized at every moment, though I have faith we can do better.
Astrology of Monday Night’s Big Debate
Monday night is the first square-off in a live debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. This is perfectly suited for Sun conjunct Jupiter, aligned with the Aries Point (the early degrees of Libra are opposite the first degree of Aries). That kind of energy on the Aries Point is the setup for a huge audience. People are interested, and for good reason.
This chart comes down to Venus and Mars. Taurus is rising and Scorpio is on the 7th house cusp (the relationship angle, or ‘the other’), and it seems like Clinton is represented by Venus in Scorpio and that Trump is represented by Mars in Sagittarius.
If that is true, Trump will be Trump and Clinton will be Clinton, which means that the former senator from New York and former secretary of state has a clear advantage. It’s almost as if the two candidates will be addressing different countries, and speaking from entirely different realities. Clinton will feel grounded and Trump may seem like a nutter, despite the best efforts of Roger Ailes.
Mars dangling right at the end of Sagittarius describes Trump having a hard time reining it in, and possibly losing control of his presentation at least once. Clinton will seem shrewd, well-prepared and perhaps a bit proud of herself, but will be the clear winner. The debate, expected to be seen by some 100,000,000 people, takes place at 9 pm at Hofstra University on Long Island, near New York City. There will be live, commercial-free coverage on Planet Waves FM’s affiliate station Democracy Now!
Moon Phase: Moon is in Last Quarter phase until 6:38 pm PDT / 9:38 pm EDT (01:38:10 9/27 UTC). Next New Moon is Sept. 30 in Libra.
Moon Sign: Moon is in Leo; enters Virgo Monday at 2:43 pm PDT / 5:43 pm EDT (21:42:42 UTC) on Sept. 27.
Sun Degree: 04-05 Libra.
Planetary Stations and Sign Changes
Pluto stations direct at 8:01 am PDT / 11:01 am EDT (15:01:31 UTC).
Urania enters Libra at 2:41 pm PDT / 5:41 pm EDT (21:41:24 UTC).
Interesting Selected Aspects
— Vesta square Uranus, 11:19 pm 9/25 PDT / 2:19 am EDT (06:19:28 UTC); and Eris 11:56 pm 9/25 PDT / 2:56 am EDT (06:56:11 UTC): Who or what you’re devoted to may surprise you. Consistent, steadily offered respect is a revolutionary act. Stick to what you care about, and you’ll know by what you feel.
— Sun square Chariklo, 11:39 pm 9/25 PDT / 2:39 am EDT (06:39:28 UTC): In myth, Chariklo was the wife of Chiron and also a companion of Athena. Chariklo is about devotion to relationships through thick and thin. Zane Stein notes its prominence related to the science fiction genre of books.
— Sun conjunct Jupiter, midnight PDT / 3:00 am EDT (06:59:40 UTC): this has the feeling of the dawning of a new era, particularly when combined with yesterday’s exact conjunction of Uranus and Eris.
— Venus opposite Ceres, 1:06 am PDT / 4:06 am EDT (08:05:50 UTC): this explores the relationships between love, beauty, nourishment and nurture.
If Your Birthday is Sept. 26
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Devote yourself to your own freedom more than anything else. Your life is not exclusively about other people (though sometimes it feels that way), and if you want to have dependable relationships, you must hold open space for you to be yourself at all times.
Written in the Planets
Vesta’s square from Cancer to the Uranus-Eris conjunction links the ongoing social mysteries regarding personal identity and the internet with the question of what is meant by home. Vesta signifies the hearth and the flame of devotion, which can at times become a powerful searchlight. Today also marks the exact conjunction between the Sun and Jupiter. However things are going for you just now, this aspect hopefully has something good to offer, even if that’s simply a new perspective.
In all the astrology I have ever read over the years, there is rarely ever any mention of the dark side of Libra…which can be very dark. While Libra embodies fairness, justice, beauty, and balance…out of balance Libra is dark, manipulative, secretive, and controlling. Shadow Libra…seeks power. In fact, Libra far out of balance…will pursue the love of power, rather than the power of love.
Libra out of balance seeks power and control. And as we all know, no one can control everyone and everything around them, so eventually anyone seeking control…will need to manipulate. Why? Because when you cannot control others or your environment, but you possess a need to control…you must manipulate in order to believe you are in control.
And this is the dark side of Libra. Libras can become very OCD, and they can become very secretive, out of desire to preserve their “image.” Libra can be drawn to the dark side of spiritual and energetic works, believing “they know” and messing w/people without their permission. Many a Libra has been called a psychic “vampire.”
Sadly, Libra out of balance, combined with a love of beauty, can often miss profound beauty right before their eyes because that “beauty” doesn’t conform to the mass conscious “norm” of beauty.
Because balance is such an integral aspect of Libra, as with anything, it’s opposite can be very limiting, even damaging and destructive…all the while maintaining an illusory, calm exterior; Libras can sometimes subjugate their emotions, because emotions can be so “messy,” and Libras abhor a mess. But life is messy…that’s the fun and the beauty of it sometimes!
Libras also often lack decisiveness, which can lead them to become quite impulsive, or carried away on clouds of belief(s) and illusion.
Balanced Libra is indeed, a beautiful thing and Libras are frequently beautiful in physical appearance and/or in talents and gifts. But like all signs, all people…there is light and there is dark and both are integral and necessary.
I try to remember all this during the time of Libra…not so I can scorn or judge the darkness in others, that’s not balance. But instead so I can discern those with whom I “accept and enjoy,” from those with whom I “accept and let go.” For me, that’s the balance required to do the work I do and simply to be a light-seeking member of humanity.
Kelly Grace Smith
Kelly Grace Smith — excellent points. I had not thought about it, but you’re right: there tends not to be much said about the “shadow” side of Libra, beyond the famous indecisiveness and people-pleasing. While reading your comment I tried thinking of a couple Libras I’ve known who have “gone off track” a little at one time or another, and your assessment makes a lot of sense. Thank you for shining some light into the dark!
Eye-opener… Kelly Grace Smith. This is who and what I have been dealing with for a very long time.
And it is/was terribly confusing since, as you noted, rarely is this ever mentioned. The behavior just didn’t jive with what I knew Libra to be.
Question is, are they ever able to re-gain their balance?
By the way, thank you for brining this to my attention.
whoa! I have never once read about the dark side of Libra! thank you, Kelly Grace Smith!! As a Scorpio Moon, I tend to note the anti-scorpio stuff, of which there is A LOT and secretly, :), wanted to be a nice civilized Libra Moon. Thank you, KGS. Of course there is a shadow side. Doink.
As for the newsletter … I’m not devoting that much time to consulting email these days — as I’m in survival mode. There is some great info included … but mostly I appreciate the date and the sun and moon info with the significant aspects. Thank you all for your work. One day I hope to be somewhere normal that I’ll need the various dates and birthdays of celebs. Please goddess!
m.
thank you Amanda & Mary! I tend to gravitate to what is “missing” or “hidden” in all things, I think that’s a gift, although sometimes that’s questionable!! Kelly Grace Smith
“I tried thinking of a couple Libras I’ve known who have “gone off track” a little at one time or another, and your assessment makes a lot of sense. ” Yes, Kelly Grace Smith (and Amanda), after reading your comment I remembered my Libran (female) boss from my last job – who was impossible to work for because she was so manipulative and dishonest (though some of my best friends, etc.!).