Nurture yourself this week

This week’s astrological forecast, September 21 2020. A 4-minute read.

Sun shifts into Libra on Tuesday

September 22 represents the Equinox – Autumn (or Spring) is here, depending on what part of the world you live in! The equinox is a sacred time to celebrate what has been and prepare for what is to come, and this day is no different. Look back on what you’ve navigated through these last six months and honour all that you’ve accomplished. 2020 has been full of twists and turns, and although the year is not quite finished yet, it’s good to acknowledge how we’ve been able to adapt and grow through the challenges. Take a moment to ask yourself how you’d like to feel when we get to the end of December. This allows your brain to begin to find the path to get you there.

As the sun shifts into Libra, we may feel a shift from the more conservative, strong earth energy of Virgo to the more social, people-loving energy of Libra. The sign of the scales is known as the peacekeeper – on the low road, this can take the form of a people pleaser or indecision, but on the high road, this energy brings harmony to disorder and holds space for differing opinions, something we will all need a little more of in the months to come.

Respond rather than react

The dialogue between the relationship we have with ourselves and our desires vs the people in our lives will become highlighted this Libra season. We have Mars and other planets moving through Aries, the sign of the warrior. Aries sits opposite Libra, and both are oriented towards truth and justice, they just fight for it in their own way. Take this opportunity to strengthen your ability to step back into the Observer and see both sides of a situation before you react.

As Mars continues its retrograde (an apparent backward motion that brings the planet closer to earth) it is incredibly important we find outlets for our emotional body, especially while the sun lives in Libra. The air sign may have a reputation for being the peacekeeper, but they can also have a bit of a temper. Libras will appear calm and agreeable on the outside, until they get pushed a little too far, and ultimately say something they might regret. You won’t even know what hit you.

When it comes to communication, if you find yourself angry or in a frustrated state, give yourself more space before responding. Sometimes we read emails or texts with more intensity than was intended, and our ability to see things objectively may currently be challenged. The key is to learn to respond rather than react – learn to take a walk and circle back to a particularly triggering email, or learn to say, “let me think about it and get back to you.”

The colour of the energy of this week is a soft peach

After all I just said, this may come as a bit of a surprise. I was out for a walk yesterday evening, and the sun had just dipped beneath the horizon. The light was beginning to fade, and the sky was this beautiful, soft peach – it was gentle, nurturing, and soothing, representative of something new. A new beginning. That is the energy of this week.

There are two layers to everything that is happening right now: the chaos of the physical world, and the subtle undercurrent of light energy. If we feel into what is going on beneath the surface, it’s not quite so scary. We can have a sense that we are held and supported through everything we are going through; inexplicable miracles are happening all the time.

This light is subtle – it is a thread that will only continue to grow stronger in the coming months and years, but we may have a hard time perceiving it amidst the increasing external chaos right now. As the old is dying, it’s making a lot of noise. Know there is light on the other side of this all, however, intense things may become.

Nurturing release

The release of a lot of the chaos and tension that will be occurring astrologically in the coming months is the water sign, Cancer. The sign of the mother, Cancer is the ultimate nurturer. She speaks to the emotional body and all things felt, not thought or seen. On the low road, this sign can become wounded and freeze everyone out, turning to ice; but on the high road, Cancer represents the most compassionate healers among us. How can you hold space for your emotions in the midst of this tumultuous time, and show a little more compassion for those around you? Perspective and patience, time and space. Everything requires a little more room to breathe, and that’s okay. You are doing enough.

I invite you to lean into the gentleness of this week. Listen to music, spend lots of time in nature, and move your body in a way that feels good. Yoga, dance, walking outside. Take advantage of the calm while it is here and allow yourself space to recharge. Things will begin to ramp up from Sunday onward, so give yourself this gift.

Truth talks + honesty

On Sunday, Mercury shifts from light-hearted Libra into intense Scorpio, where it will remain for about two months. Normally, Mercury only stays in a sign for three weeks, but on October 13, Mercury will go retrograde, extending its stay. Scorpio can be quite secretive in nature – a water sign, it has a tendency to be obsessive, taking everything to the extreme.

Be a little extra kind to yourself by doing the uncomfortable thing. Instead of simply running away or going into avoidance when challenging questions or thoughts arise, look deeper. Don’t be afraid to go within and do a little digging; you never know what you might find.

Honesty, with oneself and with others, is of utmost importance at this time. Secrets or mistruths may be forced into the light when Mercury goes retrograde, so make sure you’re being open with those you are close to in the coming weeks and months.

When we choose to speak our truth, we are able to deepen our relationships and create a foundation of trust that can be built upon. Things left unsaid can build up in time, leading to a major blow out or collapse down the road. Doing the hard thing now lets us breathe a little easier in the long term.

The key thing to remember here is that everything is temporary. We get to choose how we respond and use this time of change. Always remember you are more powerful than you think. A little goes a long way, so just take things one step at a time.

And don’t forget to breathe.

If you’re looking for more tools and mantras to help you in this time, you may like my short collection, Just Breathe: Eleven Mantras + Tools for Heart Healing. You can find the e-book on Kindle, Kobo or Apple Books for $2.99. Find out more here.