If you were expecting some kind of sun sign nonsense, forget it. This is real astrology. See the section above. And if you need help deciphering the astrological glyphs in the graphics accompanying this article, see Astroglyphs: Astrological Symbols Guide. Please note: this forecast is expressed in terms of Universal Time (UT).
The future, according to some scientists,
will be exactly like the past, only far more expensive.
-- John Sladek
 

Damaging storms and tides associated with the August 30 full moon carry over into early September, continuing to emphasize major disturbances in the Earth's crust, atmosphere and oceans through September 2nd. Flooding, high winds, heavy precipitation and even some seismic action (including Richter 5+ quakes and volcanic eruptions) are bound to figure into the headlines early in the month. Have your foul weather plans and emergency kit ready, just in case.

September starts out with Mercury still intersolar, and the little Sun-grazer remains on this side of our local star all the way 'til it reaches maximum elongation on the 9th. So plan on it: the first nine days of the month are largely about communicating, planning, figuring things out, solving puzzles and making connections. So much emphasis on these things, combined with the normal human sleepwalking state of consciousness, tends to make for a great big comedy of errors. Be ready for it, and maybe you'll be one of those who isn't made a fool in the play. Have a backup plan, a fallback position, and an itinerary that allows for travel delays - whether you're traveling yourself, or expecting someone who is, or waiting on something to be delivered. Make sure you keep your computer security protocols (and regular backups) up to date. Computerized or not, beware of identity theft schemes in particular during the remainder of this Mercury intersolar cycle. Mostly, pay attention: keep your mind on what you're doing, while you're doing it. Lots can go wrong in the lapses - sometimes by accident, sometimes due to ne'er-do-wells who are out to steal, con and scam their way through life. All things Mercurial are especially vulnerable now: communications, networks, computers, phones, power grids, the Internet, etc. This continues a trend that began July 27 and continued throughout August, so you've survived the biggest part of it already: just a little more vigilance, a little more concentration. Then the focus changes and we all get a chance to ease up a bit. Watch for the tide to turn on the 2nd, when Mercury's retrograde ends. And by the time Mercury passes behind the Sun in superior conjunction on the 14th, it will be commonplace to marvel at how often things went off the tracks during the preceding six weeks or so.

The Sun and Mars remain with a few degrees alignment from the 3rd through the 28th, so September is bound to feel edgy. Aggression, irritation, competition: these human traits are emphasized during this long Sun-Mars sojourn. It's exact and arguably strongest on the 15th in Virgo. But it's also emphasized in early Libra toward the end of the month, under the aegis of the Mars-Jupiter conjunction on the 27th and the full moon on the 28th. This is the kind of cycle that tends to usher in a rash of fires, accidents and acts of violence, so keep your guard up. Public health and safety are big concerns around the mid-month lunation, what with the Sun-Mars conjunction on the 15th and the Sun-Jupiter alignment on the 21st - all in Virgo. Terrorist attacks are possible around these dates, as well as in the days surrounding the Mars-Jupiter conjunction and full moon at the end of the month. Public alerts and warnings will help avert the worst, with any luck. But not everything, not every time . . .

After the initial outburst carried over from late August, a return to normal on the storm and seismic front should last until late on the 6th through late on the 9th, in association with the lunar north declination maximum on the 8th. The September 6-9 geocosmic stress window is almost sure to produce some headline storms and seismic disturbances. Far more potent should be the September 11-17 risk window, called up by the 22 Virgo new moon (conjunct Mars) on the 14th and the Moon's southward equatorial crossing the following day. Violent thunderstorms, downpours that give rise to flooding and mudslides, moderate to severe quakes, and volcanic eruptions with extensive ash plumes appear to be part of the picture. Evacuations, medical emergencies, disaster declarations . . . Geophysical considerations aside, people tend to be moody and on the edge at times like this - some of them are on the verge of breaking down or going postal without much advance warning during the new moon phase.

A brief but potentially quite intense bout of strong storms and moderate to severe seismic activity (including Richter 5+ earthquakes and volcanic eruptions) is on tap from late on the 20th through early on the 24th, surrounding the Moon's south declination extreme and the lunar perigee on the 22nd. At least as threatening is the period from September 25 to October 1, centered on the Moon's northward equatorial crossing less than an hour before the full moon at 6 Aries on the 28th. This off-and-on geocosmic activation shows signs of ushering in the strongest storm and seismic stress of the month. It's a good time to have foul weather plans and emergency gear handy just in case. Weather-related delays are apt to wreak havoc on travel schedules, and could pose serious hazards to safe passage on land, sea and air.

Last but not least, the Sun-Jupiter conjunction at 29 Virgo on the 21st is within a few degrees of exact from the 17th through the 27th. Somewhere in this slice of time, probably within a few days of the 21st, comes a cycle of optimism that fancies itself to be based on careful analysis. Just remember: when nearly everyone manages to get convinced that the world's a bed of roses, it's a good time to check for thorns. Put another way, when everyone's clamoring to buy gold is the best time to sell it.

SPECIAL FEATURE: This month's birthdays of the famous and infamous (with astrological birth charts)