September 2017 By Bob Mulligan (a personal note is at the end of the newsletter) In a very forceful way, September is a direct extension of August. And we remain in nervous expectancy until the middle of the month when things start to shift and quiet down…a little. Mercury turns Direct on September 5th just after Mars enters Virgo, the day before the Full Moon on the 6th. Mercury Conjuncts Mars on the 3rd while Retrograde, then again on the 16th in his Direct motion. Forceful and uncompromising ideas flood our minds. This can be a time of powerful reflection, enthusiastic engagement for a cause, or just forceful communications. Mercury’s Conjunctions are in Leo, then Virgo; our mind is being brought to bear on matters of personal existence (Leo) and practical necessities (Virgo). Our intentions set forward at the time of the Solar Eclipse on August 21st are now being brought to fruition. The results will unfold steadily over the next few months and years. A more restive period emerges for the world between the 17th and 20th as our focus changes slightly. The atmosphere becomes a little more optimistic as there is excitement building up to Jupiter Opposite Uranus on the 28th. In our personal lives there are opportunities during the last few days of the month to settle challenges in our relationships. With a little finesse we can mend some fences. The Full Moon is on September 6th at 3:02 AM EDT at 13 degrees and 53 minutes of Virgo/Pisces. Mercury has just turned Direct Conjunct Mars on last month’s Solar Eclipse Point. The power of the Eclipse is being released very forcefully. If our intentions were good last month, then we will see rapid progress now. The Moon is Conjunct a Pisces Neptune so it is time to let go of any illusions we may have been harboring. With the Virgo Sun in Mutual Reception with a Leo Mercury our thoughts will have more meaning and, with Mars between Mercury and the Sun, more power. It is as if we have been sitting on a powder keg and the match has just been lit. With the Sun Trine Pluto and Venus sitting close to the degree of the August 7th Lunar Eclipse, things will not be as drastic as they may first seem. The New Moon is on September 20th at 1:29 AM EDT on the 27th degree of Virgo. With five planets in Virgo and the New Moon Squaring Saturn, we are given a massively important opportunity for course correction, but only if we can admit our mistakes and really change. This is for all of us. Uranus Quincunx the New Moon promises freedom if we are willing to do the work. Sun enters Libra (the Autumnal Equinox) on September 22nd at 4:01 PM EDT. This map promises a more peaceful three months than what we have just been through. With the Moon Conjunct Jupiter and Opposite Uranus, we will see many abrupt changes and the general mood of the public (Moon) will be positive (Jupiter) but also wanting real, lasting, and final change as the Moon is in Scorpio Opposite Uranus. The two rulers of Scorpio (Mars and Pluto) are Trine and in earth signs, showing a need for practical and thorough methodologies even when ruthlessly pursuing a goal. From the 1st through the 3rd overwhelming enthusiasm seems to power every thought and action. Even though we are capable of achieving much in a hurry, it is a shame to waste an opportunity to see a higher reason for the way that events unfold now. Anger and impatience are the stumbling blocks to real progress; single-minded focus is our friend. From the 4th through the 10th confusion and innovation make this an exciting week. Unexpected events keep changing the dynamics between people. Maintaining our balance can be a full time job. Fights erupt easily and we must all strive for clarity. It is easy to get lost in the moment, forgetting our true objectives. We fare best if we just relax and enjoy the show. From the 11th through the 17th it’s a good use of our time to complete things that are already in motion. Consolidate gains and prepare to change gears. Excitement from the last few weeks is starting to fade. There may be some items in our personal life that need attention now. Be prepared to take a leap forward by clearing up long standing commitments and freeing up time. From the 18th through the 24th new insights and practical applications for old ideas are coming to light. Still, we may need to catch up on our rest. The world has been running on nervous energy for several weeks. Building alliances with our natural co-thinkers helps us find a gentler way of being in the world. From the 25th through the 30th matters of religion, beliefs, and political ideas get a larger audience as we are all caught up in a collective frustration. Being kind and tolerant helps ease tension in every aspect of life. Intervention comes at opportune moments to improve our lot. 1st – Friday – It’s a good thing to just carry on with projects, ideas, and routines. Inertia will carry the necessary items of experience to fruition. There are numerous distractions, but we are happiest if we keep our central focus on our long term objectives. 2nd – Saturday – Mars Trine Uranus, Sun Contra-parallel Jupiter, Sun Contra-parallel Neptune – We are full on energy and enthusiasm. Our impulsive drives govern us; this can free us of worn out habits. However, two things are most important now: first, we must keep our attention on our own internal process rather than outer expressions or events of society; second, we must avoid falling into the negativity of anger and hatred. A new world is being born. 3rd – Sunday – Mercury Conjunct Mars – Combustible enthusiasm can have us pursuing all sorts of ideas. If we have been holding back on something important, we will break loose today. We struggle to balance our need for intimacy with our need for self expression. 4th – Monday – Mercury Parallel Uranus – Being creative, letting new ideas flood our consciousness, is the immediate path to freedom. There are a few things that need to be completed now. As things go wrong, we are being prompted to look at each situation in a new way. 5th – Tuesday – Mars enters Virgo, Mercury turns Direct, Venus Quincunx Pisces – Lots of chutzpa, but can we channel our artistic and emotional impressions into something serious? We need to ground our ideals into some practical expression without getting lost in details. 6th – Wednesday – The Full Moon of the 13th degree of Virgo/Pisces is at 3:03 AM EDT – Even though we must be self correcting, the mood is very positive. We discharge things that have held us back and take some progressive steps to materialize our dreams. 7th – Thursday – We are off to a quick start and there isn’t much to hamper our forward march. New information can change our outlook, and there is more to come. 8th – Friday – Mars Sesquiquadrate Pluto, Sun Semi-sextile Venus – Getting to the heart of the matter requires diligence and determination. We need care when setting boundaries; what is included and what is excluded? Much can be accomplished if we are wise enough to know when we have done enough. 9th – Saturday – Venus Quincunx Pluto, the Sun Trines Pluto, Mercury enters Virgo – We may wonder about external circumstances. Who is in charge? We can take a step forward and assert real leadership if we know what we can do, what we are responsible for, and let others take care of their own concerns. 10th – Sunday – Mercury Parallel Mars – Act. Be willing to take steps to make goals real. Practical concerns are not the only thing that is important. We need to look at the long term implications of our actions when making plans, then be willing to take risks. Be fearless. 11th – Monday – Rash impulses can put us in an unfavorable light if they dominate our thinking and actions. Others need us to be calm as well as practical. Pesky details can undermine our progress if we aren’t truly observant. Talent unutilized is a waste of our gifts. It behooves us to see where we can be effective and where we can really help others. 12th – Tuesday – Mercury Sesquiquadrate Pluto, Venus Trine Saturn – It is easy to be swept away by things that seem urgent. But are they really important? Even though our thoughts may be turbulent, we accomplish more if we keep a quiet heart. We each have a role to play in our own lives. It is also true that we help others when we are able to be our better selves. 13th – Wednesday – Sun Square Saturn – Facts and theories don’t always match. We advance our ideals in a more realistic way if we reevaluate our circumstances. Artistic pursuits, like music, can lift our spirits. Depression and fear are our enemies. Having faith in our own better qualities will carry us to the place we need to be now. 14th – Thursday – As long as we stay positive and observant, this is a moment of ease. We all need to remember and acknowledge that which inspires us. It’s time to bond with our emotional family. The universe supplies what we really need to go forward. 15th – Friday – Venus Sextile Jupiter, Mars Parallel Uranus – Even though we need to be self reliant, there is an abundance of help coming from those that we relate to one on one. It is also true, we can be of some real assistance to others in our network of friendships. Reaching out brings inner joy. “Real happiness lies in making others happy.” – Meher Baba. 16th – Saturday – Mercury Parallel Uranus, Mercury Conjunct Mars, Mercury Parallel Mars – Inner thoughts and interpersonal communications are working at a fever pitch. We can sharpen our focus on what is critical. We need to make sure that we aren’t “barking up the wrong tree”. Obsession with getting to the end results can cloud our vision. A measured release of energy for our key enterprise is a noble endeavor; however, some work in progress needs to be completed quickly. 17th – Sunday – Sun Semi-sextile Jupiter, Venus Trine Uranus – Our spirits lighten; some long overdue reward may be in the offing. Relationships go to a new level of intimacy as our perspective widens. Things of beauty have a way of raising our vibration. A new appreciation for people and circumstances in our lives helps us gain a feeling of freedom. 18th – Monday – Mercury Semi-square Jupiter – Regardless of our self assurance, we should check our facts before passing them along. It is possible to make an incorrect judgment, jumping to conclusions. We may be propelled forward by nervousness well before circumstances actually require action. Prudence is the balance. 19th – Tuesday – Mercury Contra-parallel Jupiter, Venus enters Virgo, Mercury Opposite Neptune – Gaining mental clarity may require us to synthesize many factors in order to develop and communicate a cohesive picture. Careful listening can improve our comprehension of what others are intending. 20th – Wednesday – The New Moon on the 27th degree of Virgo comes at 1:30 AM EDT, Mercury Sesquiquadrate Uranus, Sun Quincunx Uranus, Mars Contra-parallel Jupiter – Although we may be ready to head in a new direction, having set intentions for future activities, impulsiveness may cause trouble. However, trying to create a well ordered picture of the day could be a fool’s game. Some things need to be done immediately, some things not so much. Separating one from the other and putting attention on what is most important makes for efficiency. 21st – Thursday – Mercury Contra-parallel Neptune, Venus Sesquiquadrate Pluto – Our feelings can be ultrasensitive; negative impressions can throw us off kilter. Care is needed in order to preserve the fabric of intimate relationships. Being peaceful and really trying to understand others, our communications turn the corner into positive territory. 22nd – Friday – Mercury Trine Pluto, the Sun enters Libra – Thoughtful and practical steps can be taken to establish lasting solutions to difficulties that have bothered us for a while. Incremental approaches to our loved ones can bring bliss. A little understanding goes a long way toward finding harmony. 23rd – Saturday – Mars Semi-square Jupiter – Pushing others or demanding too much of them can leave us isolated, which is not necessary. Making room for other people’s wishes, even when it means going our separate ways, is the right approach to finding a lasting alliance. 24th – Sunday – Mars Opposite Neptune, Mars Sesquiquadrate Uranus – An abrupt change of circumstance can find us in need of more information. Hasty actions may leave us exhausted and confused. It’s time to expand our horizons, get a bigger picture of what is going on, and remember that not every postponement is bad. Issues of health and public policy are on people’s minds. 25th – Monday – Mercury Square Saturn, Mars Contra-parallel Neptune, Venus Parallel Uranus – Discipline is good but we need to be open to a sudden change in the group dynamics. Exciting new emotional impulses open less obvious channels to explore. Our ideals require a new commitment in order to be relevant. 26th – Tuesday – Venus Contra-parallel Jupiter – Embracing life’s goodness allows us to be lifted on the wings of its beauty. Appreciation for the small joys of our existence is a good remedy for worry. Battles with inner conflict are won or lost based on our attention to details. 27th – Wednesday – Jupiter Sesquiquadrate Neptune, Jupiter Opposite Uranus – Even though our expectations may be unrealistically high, we still take a giant step forward through life affirming actions. We achieve our goals through flexibility to changing circumstances; this attitude makes it possible for us to recalibrate our methods. 28th – Thursday – Mercury Quincunx Uranus, Mercury Semi-sextile Jupiter, Pluto turns Direct, the Sun Contra-parallel Mercury – Small steps to help others will be recognized. Adjustments in our mental life can come on the tail of actions inspired by kindness. It’s a time of self correction that can happen quite inadvertently. 29th – Friday – Venus Opposite Neptune, Venus Sesquiquadrate Uranus – Common sense is palliative. Something new is offered; there is excitement and instability in our love life. Change for its own sake will not improve our lives, still we need to express our feelings while creating space for others to reveal their truths. 30th – Saturday – Venus Semi-square Jupiter, Venus Contra-parallel Neptune – How can we be truly receptive to the good that is offered? Weaving together our altruistic feelings and our practical concerns frees us to be genuinely creative. Through effort, our better selves can come to the forefront A wholesome form of entertainment lightens our feelings. The artistic side of our personality can find a meaningful expression. Bob Mulligan is available for personal appointments, astrology classes, and astrological material. Call him at 239-261-2840 or by e-mail at bobmulliga@aol.com. Visit our web site, www.theastrologycompany.com. August has been fabulous. Over the first weekend I gave an Applications Workshop using participants’ charts for some who attended the June “Boot Camp” weekend. It was a powerful learning experience and great fun. The “proof is in the pudding”. We have all taken many workshops; only ones that forward our journey in consciousness are worth our time now. Special thanks to Fernanda Day for hosting so many workshops for me this year. My attention is on completing the editing of my book. This is my final lifetime task. So far I have failed miserably. But hope springs eternal; I can see the finish line. It will be done, for real, very soon. Anything after this will be a footnote. In the course of time I’ll give a few other workshops. Our world has its woes, and they continue. Our world is divided along many divergent lines. This is not about good people versus bad people, or even good ideas versus bad ideas. We are experiencing a radical realignment between several impulses within the human psyche. We can’t fight with our own shadow if we are busy projecting it, or just don’t see it. This moment in history is ripe with opportunities for spiritual grow. We must take advantage of what the cosmos is offering. For my part, I’ve been looking back over my life, attempting to make amends to anyone I have hurt in any way. In this process, hopefully, I’m settling as many karmic debts as possible. For each of us, we need to come to terms with the ingredients in our inner world that divides us. Politics and religion are two 9th House activities that are based on some relationship to our higher mind. This is the arena of beliefs, things that tend to divide people. In our pluralistic society of today, we need to welcome and accept all people’s points of view and manner of expression. “The mind is like an umbrella, it works best when it is open.” Here in the United States, after the last election, so many clients called in tears, wanting to know what will happen, and what they should do. Because of past training, I try not to hold unpleasant thoughts about any political leader. My advice to people who don’t like some public figure is to extinguish, in your own inner world, whatever qualities you don’t like about this person. After all, our external world is only a reflection of our own inner life. By the time you read this I will be on my way to India with my daughter, Katie. She wanted to celebrate her 40th birthday in India. My daughters, Bailey and Juliana are there now. And in December, I will have the good fortune to spend time with all of my five children at Myrtle Beach. On my last trip to Myrtle Beach, May 14th this year, I gave a talk, “Meher Baba, Astrology, and the Spiritual Path.” I recorded it and made it available for free. And to my great surprise, lots of you asked for copies. Be of good cheer, have courage, life gets better. I’m grateful for all of you as I hurry down the home stretch. My friend, Mary, sent me a poem by Meister Eckhart. It reminded me of how much I enjoyed exploring his writings during my undergraduate years. It was as if I had met a fellow traveler for the first time. Because of this prompting I wanted to share one of his poems with you. Love Does That Meister Eckhart All day long a little burro labors, sometimes with heavy loads on her back and sometimes
just with worries about things that bother only
burros. And worries, as we know, can be more exhausting
than physical labor. Once in a while a kind monk comes
to her stable and brings a pear, but more
than that, he looks into the burro’s eyes and touches her ears and for a few seconds the burro is free
and even seems to laugh, because love does that. Love frees. | 
