When Will It All Settle Down, Astrologically Speaking?
Spoiler alert: never, and it's actually fine.
Welcome to the week of September 22-28
Lots of thinking and feeling this week, less of taking risks. Sun moves into Libra, Venus moves into Scorpio, so our focus shifts toward relationships, intensifies personal connections, and, in some cases, transforms those one-on-one interactions. If there’s something you’ve been avoiding to address, now’s a good time.
There’s a lovely configuration between Mercury, Pluto, and Uranus for a few days, which, when actually used, can bring breakthroughs in communications, ideas, and getting to the bottom of something. Spend time clarifying your point of view and share it with the external groups and communities you’re a part of. Solutions might emerge when you least expect them.
“What is going on astrologically?! Things have been haywire for everyone I know. When is it going to pass already?” a friend texted the other day (of course she did...they all do…all the time…).
No matter what’s going on astrologically, even when it’s supposed to be calm, someone, somewhere, is still having a hard time. While there are certainly collective themes we can all feel simultaneously (like an eclipse or Pluto entering Aquarius), there will always be something going on in our charts, even when the stars seem aligned for everyone else.
I could offer you a philosophical explanation of this, in a form of a reminder that everything in this physical lifetime is a constant change. Change will always be uncomfortable, often painful, no matter how happy it is. But you’re not here for that. You know that piece like the back of your hand.
Instead, I’ll share a sound explanation from an astrological perspective on why there will never be a perfect period of time—and why it’s not that bad.
Astrology is a layered system
It’s a game of chicken, trying to figure out who’s mirroring who, but either way, astrology and life mirror each other’s ebbs and flows.
Planets are constantly in motion, so like life’s ups and downs, astrology isn’t static. There’s always something in the mix — a square from Pluto to the Sun (a conflict), a retrograde slowing everything down, or an emotional eclipse, all on top of the most harmonious aspects and sign placements. Life is rarely just “good” or “bad”—it’s both. Bittersweet, always. So is an astrological chart of any given moment.
This complexity and intertwinness grow further when we try to forecast.
Astrology has multiple methods for predicting events, and none of them exist in isolation. You have your natal chart—your astrological passport—showing what the planets were doing when you were born, your natural tendencies, and life’s themes.
Then, we add layers. A solar return chart shows the themes for a particular year; a progressions chart tracks your personal growth and evolution; symbolic directions, which ‘allow’ or ‘forbid’ external events; plus a transit chart showing the current movement of planets across the sky.
This might sound like a whole load of gibberish to you, but the point is—we need to look at all these layers to make any real sense of timing. Each chart will give us a partial story, and oftentimes they’ll reveal contradictory themes.
A solar return might suggest a year of growth and expansion, while progressions show an inward, reflective period. It doesn’t mean one is wrong, but that your experience will be a beautiful blend of both.
Your natal chart holds the keys
Look, astrology is deeply personal. It’s not enough to look at a forecast and assume it will play out the same for everyone. The natal chart provides the context for how you experience every transit or progression. What’s happening in your birth chart always adds nuance to the forecast.
Imagine two people with similar forecasts—maybe they both have a positive Jupiter transit. One might experience a wave of opportunity, while the other feels trapped. The difference? Their natal charts. A strong Venus that gets along with Jupiter in one chart might channel Jupiter’s gifts into relationships. At the same time, the other’s afflicted Venus may bring those gifts with strings attached.
Another example is a challenging transit like Saturn squaring your Sun. It usually signifies a struggle, but if your natal Saturn is strong and the Sun and Saturn are harmonious in your natal chart, you should be able to handle the restrictions with grace, put in the hard work, and see long-term benefits.
Your natal chart is a filter for everything that comes your way. No matter what’s happening up in the sky has to resonate with your natal chart to create anything worthy of noticing.
Good or bad? It’s all relative
I always complain about the Internet for oversimplifying astrology trends into “good” or “bad” times. The distinctions are blurry.
Oftentimes, when we have a lot of peachy astrology, it just goes unnoticed. A “good” aspect (like a Jupiter trine) might bring ease and support but not necessarily any significant life changes. I mean, how often do you really pause to notice you’re feeling great and ask yourself: “I wonder what’s up with this, astrologically? Must be a Jupiter trining the Moon.”
Meanwhile, a challenging transit (like Pluto opposing your Mercury) will stir so much discomfort, we’ll stop in our tracks, looking for something to blame. Still, it could also trigger profound, meaningful transformation, so can we categorize it as negative?
Well, Shit. What am I supposed to do now?
Hold on, let me get back on my soapbox.
Okay, here we go:
I know that craving for certainty, for knowing exactly when the stars will align so you can move forward with your deepest dreams without a hitch. But life (and astrology) doesn’t work that way, and that’s okay. Really, it’s okay.
Life doesn’t owe us anything. With all the bad, it can be just as good. There will always be a mix of influences. You have a choice which ones to pay closer attention to, and what to make out of them.
Focus on what you can do today, in the present. Forget about a utopian future where all is perfectly aligned. Trust in your ability to navigate life as it brought you thus far.
Of course, you can just text me and ask what’s going on astrologically, and what you’re supposed to be doing, (and I’ll gladly send you a scheduling link).
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
— Rumi
💙 How to love the world more? Let go of the clinging for certainty.
📺 Made my way through the six-episode limited series The Perfect Couple, and concluded it’s basically Big Little Lies of the East Coast. Nevertheless, entertaining.
🔮 Today! Local Monterey area friends, pop by Untamed Fire on Sept. 22 to say hi and get a mini astro reading from 11 am - 5 pm. There will be all kinds of other esoteric readers and cool things to shop.
🌒 ICYMI: a new era of eclipses just arrived.
Have you had enough of feeling burnt out and resigned from the things you love? You want to take action, but the fear of getting it wrong holds you back. At the same time, staying where you are may feel safer, yet the longer you wait, the more trapped you feel.
As a coach, I’ll support you to get clear on what is truly important to you, allowing you to break free from limitations imposed by societal expectations, self-doubt, and past experiences.
Are you searching for a deeper understanding of yourself and the patterns that shape your life? You’ve felt the subtle forces at play, but struggle to put them into words.
Astrology gives you the framework to articulate your experiences and uncover the wisdom behind them. With these insights, you can move forward with clarity and confidence.
Not Retrograde is a newsletter about the beauty and complexities of life on Earth, from an astrological perspective. Questions or topics you’d like to see covered in the future? Hit reply to reach me directly.
I love that you remind us that all that we should focus more on our own natal chart instead of assuming that because mercury is in retrograde (again) that life will be hard. Thanks for putting this into perspective.