Welcome to Fall! The Sept. 24 New Moon came on the second day of Autumn. New Moons bring a fresh impulse and offer a chance to start over in the area of your life signified by the house ("department") in your chart where the sign of the New Moon is located (in this case, Libra). (Check page 5 in Janet's Plan-its for areas of life associated with the twelve houses OR download my Astrologer's Apprentice Cheat sheet.) Libra and the autumn season are the time of year when relationships are in the spotlight and when we seek more balance and harmony. Oddly, as we enter the sign of peace, world events are escalating into more war, which is associated with the opposite sign, Aries. These are two ends of a spectrum related to the Aries/Libra polarity.

The next four New Moons will be on the first day of each successive sign, beginning with the October 23 Solar Eclipse at zero degrees of Scorpio. Then we have two New Moons at the final degrees of their signs, the second of these being another Solar Eclipse, on the last day of winter.

Check your chart to see if you have anything at 0, 1, 2, 28 or 29 degrees of any sign. If so, those parts of your chart are poised for extra emphasis and important beginnings and/or endings. The signs and houses involved will point to which parts of your life will be affected.

Another degree-range to look for is 14-17, especially of the Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn). On July 21, Uranus just turned around at 16-17 degrees of Aries and the October 8 Full Moon Eclipse is at 15-16 degrees of Aries. Mercury ends its Retrograde on October 25 at 16-17 degrees of Libra. These degrees are "sensitized" and respond when other planets move through these points of the zodiac. For example, around October 12-14, Venus crosses 15-17 degrees of Libra. This could bring a quick pay-off for activities undertaken after the Sept. 24 Libra New Moon.

You might like to read the short piece I wrote for the Fall issue of The Door Opener magazine as part of the Astrological Society of Connecticut's ongoing column, Astrological Insights. A brief forecast is drawn from the chart of the moment autumn begins, explained for the non-astrologer. Click the lower right corner of the pages to flip to page 23 (which happens to be one of my favorite numbers).

If you have 28 minutes to watch an episode of LOOKING UP, the September program also examines the autumn start chart, including discussion of two patterns present then and therefore impacting the coming season. One is a Finger of God (Sept. 21-26) that takes us on a strange detour to somewhere more appropriate than where we were aiming, especially concerning getting what we want in relationships and/or finances. For many people, this will be connected to their work. The other configuration (Sept. 26-29) is a Quintile Triangle, which aids in manifesting intentions (you could say making magic). This one brings about a major change in thinking, opening eyes wide. Teamwork and cooperation combine in giving form to creative ideas.

October's show will focus on the Eclipse Full and New Moons (October 8 and 23, respectively) and Mercury's Retrograde October 4 to 25. (It should be available in the archive after the first of the month.) The show is scheduled on Wednesday nights at 8 pm on Channel 5 in West Hartford, streaming live at WHCTV.org.

Here is what I wrote in the 2014 Janet's Plan-it about the fall season:

Following a rocky summer, the autumn will be more low-key but somewhat strange. No T-square spurs us, no Grand Trine soothes us as fall starts. Instead, a Finger of God brings odd detours, delivering us somewhere other than the destination we envision. The Moon and Venus, conjunct in Virgo, are sextile Ceres and Saturn, conjunct in Scorpio, fostering transformative growth toward perfection and a desire to nurture through being helpful and making a difference. These four planets are quincunx Uranus, the South Node and Eris in Aries. This should lead us toward greater independence, strength and self-confidence in a blend that ricochets to the North Node in Libra (at the Saturn-Venus midpoint) to bring about healthy, mature relationships with good boundaries. The Sun is semisquare Ceres and Jupiter, which are square, indicating a challenge to achieve an ego that's balanced between humility and a sense of power. Jupiter is also part of a Quintile Triangle with Mercury and Pluto, offering us a positive mindset to make needed changes ourselves and the right words to inspire others to do likewise.

When the Sun is in Libra (as it always is at the start of fall), the Full Moon is in the opposite sign, Aries. Libra is the sign of relationships and Aries is the sign of independence and being one's own person. This polarity always brings out the natural competing interests of an individual and his or her significant other or partner of any sort. The freedom urge is especially strong at this Full Moon since the Moon is together with Uranus, the planet of doing your own thing and rebelling against any restrictions.

Venus, ruler of Libra, is approaching the Sun and will pass our star on the day of the Solar Eclipse New Moon on October 23. They are close enough at this Full Moon to play a key role in reinforcing our liaisons and attractions. These are going through changes, though. Pluto, the primary planet of transformation, is midway between the Moon-Uranus and Sun-Venus pairs in a T-square pattern, which always portends reaching a turning point. Pluto likes to remove whatever is outworn in our lives. With this Full Moon, some relationships will end.

When Uranus (planet of surprises) and Pluto (planet of financial matters) interact in a harsh way with Venus (another money planet), they spell a rough Full Moon for investors and the markets. Already there is volatility, most likely related to the present uncertainties in the Middle East and the battle against ISIS.

Mercury is getting ready to go Retrograde on October 4 and will be in that backwards mode at the October 8 eclipse. It will be at one-and-a-half degrees of Scorpio then, only about a degree away from the zero degree of Scorpio, where the Solar Eclipse New Moon of October 23 occurs. Mercury, the Messenger of the Gods in mythology, is related to information and what's in the news. Headlines around the Full Moon will have a connection to those at the New Moon two weeks later.

Here is an edited version of what I wrote in the 2014 Janet's Plan-its about this eclipse:

Out with the old, in with the new! Scorpio is the time to turn the page to start another chapter. We'll be thinking BIG at this New Moon, with Mercury (planet of communication and the mind) in a harmonious sextile with Jupiter (planet of enlargement). The four weeks following the New Moon are a good time to be in touch with people at a distance (associated with Jupiter) or to investigate other Jupiterian subjects like higher education, belief systems (including religions), laws, the media (and therefore promotion) and long-distance travel.

As mentioned above, this New Moon starts a repeating cycle of New Moons at zero degrees of the signs in which they occur. That means we're entering a period of ushering in a lot of new conditions. Look for the houses in your chart where Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn and Aquarius are. These point to the departments in which to expect fresh circumstances.

Here is what Janet's Plan-its says about this New Moon:

We need relief following the difficult Lunar Eclipse Oct. 8 (see above). We get a little with this Solar Eclipse. Yes, there is another T-square with Uranus and Pluto, this time from Mercury and the North Node (which should bring discussions about heading in a different direction). This formation is not exact and the luminaries are not involved. Instead, the Moon and Sun are conjunct beneficial Venus and out of the crisis-oriented Cardinal signs. Scorpio is all about rebirth and transition; New Moons are about fresh starts. So it's time to put the past behind us. The Scorpio trio is sextile Mars (another push for something new) and quintile fortuitous Jupiter, bringing some luck. The trio's sesquiquadrate to Chiron means there could be some pain in making changes and the needed healing isn't easy to achieve, at least not immediately.

From October 4 to 25, the planet of communication goes backwards from 2 degrees of Scorpio to 16 degrees of Libra. On Sept. 14, Mercury entered the range it backs up through. Once it is moving forward again, it takes until Nov. 10 to get out of the back-up range. Look to see where these degrees are in your chart to see the house(s) where the Retrograde occurs. These houses tell what you will be re-examining during this Retrograde.

Here is what I wrote in Janet's Plan-its about this Mercury Retrograde:

Most of the Retrograde occurs in Libra but since it begins in Scorpio, the two signs are intertwined for the lessons we are to review and probably re-learn: how to share equally, primarily in a relationship but also in a larger sense, in groups of any size and societally. It's also a good time for partners (business or personal) to examine the balance of power in the union and how money matters are handled.

In this Retrograde cycle, Mercury makes a repeated conjunction to the North Node and opposition to the South Node (Sept. 17, Oct. 21 & Oct. 29). The Nodes indicate important connections with people who help point us on the path we're supposed to be on in this lifetime. Take note of the people who are playing a key role in your life now and especially of anyone new you meet around these dates.

The usual Mercury Retrograde recommendations apply. Mercury rules all forms of ground transportation so take extra care however you travel, even when you're a pedestrian. If you're driving, allow extra time to get where you're going and check the directions to be sure you're headed the right way. Double-check instructions you give and receive. This is a good time to catch up on paperwork and complete unfinished projects.

If you live in central Connecticut, you may be interested in a Mini-Reading at Sixth Scents on Rt. 44 in Avon, CT. The cost is a real deal at $25 for 20 minutes. My next date there is Wednesday, October 8, 4:00 to 8:00 pm. Call the store to book an appointment: 860-674-8600.

On Sunday, November 9, I will present a luncheon lecture, Celestial Savvy for Relationship Success, at the Ritz Crystal Room, 111 Main St., Torrington, CT. Learn key traits and how people born under the astrological signs get along or clash in this fun talk. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses - including your own! - you can improve any relationship. A delicious gourmet lunch comes with the lecture: $29.99 (plus tax & tip). Seating is limited; pre-registration by Nov.6 is required. Call 860-489-1566.