The Path of the Moon
Bathers, artist: William Glackens ca. 1919
Many factors are involved in astrology. We consider the path the planets travel around the ecliptic (the apparent path the Sun travels around the Earth). For now, let’s consider the Moon as it moves through its phases.
This week, the Moon carries the seed planted at last week’s Virgo New Moon to the first test of its potential growth. The Moon starts the week in Scorpio, moves through Sagittarius, and ends the week in Capricorn. The Moon traces the emotional atmosphere of our days. In Scorpio, the Moon’s path is private; in Sagittarius it is explorative, and in Capricorn it is ready to work at building something solid.
On Friday, with the Moon in Capricorn, we reach the First Quarter phase, a time to take action on the intention you set at the New Moon last week. As you consider the week ahead, this is a good place to start.
Tuesday is a deeply charged day, putting us in the crosshairs of an intense power dynamic. Watch the state of your relationships and the state of your heart.
The week ends with only a few days until the Autumn Equinox. The change of season is in full effect.
Monday, September 14, 2026: Moon enters Scorpio | Sun sextile Mars
I trust that most of you were sleeping at 2:43 am EDT, when the Moon entered Scorpio. Scorpio is a fixed water sign, and when the Moon is in Scorpio, our emotions are deep and steady. You can expect that you will want depth in your connections. Small talk is of no interest, and you are hungry for deep and honest connections.
At 3:52 pm EDT, the Sun forms a closing sextile aspect to Mars, who has only been in Cancer for a handful of days. A sextile aspect creates opportunity for support and possibilities. Consider your instinctive desire to protect and care for others. Look for an opportunity to do so in a real, practical manner. It does not need to be anything that others are even aware of. Give something of yourself that will help another. Volunteer your time, write a check, give a pair of warm socks or a meal to someone who could use them.
- Who can you meet with today to have a heartfelt, deep conversation with?
- How can you support someone in a practical manner today?
Tuesday, September 15, 2026: Moon in Scorpio | Venus square Pluto | Neptune sextile Pluto
The Moon continues its passage through Scorpio today, impacting each of us on a deeply emotional level. This fixed water sign is powerful and intense but does not show vulnerability easily. Our feelings are so much deeper than we are willing to show. In all your interactions today, remember that this is true for everyone you meet.
The deeper story today is that Venus, also in Scorpio, forms a powerful square aspect to Pluto at 2:34 pm EDT. In Scorpio, Venus seeks connection and pleasure through deep passion; Pluto wants power and control. This can get complicated as these energies come into conflict. Pay attention to any power dynamics in yourself, in a partner, or in a government. Watch closely and don’t place yourself on either side of a control dynamic. This is the last quarter square in the cycle between Venus and Pluto, which began in mid-January. Consider how much more clearly you see some issue of power that began at that time.
Beneath this, Neptune reaches an exact sextile to Pluto today. This is the second of three exact hits as each moves in and out of retrograde. We are unlikely to feel this, but it is a deep current that under-rides the passage of our cultural times. The cycle between them began in 1891. Think of this as a cycle of obscuring power.
- How are you thinking about your own relationship to power?
- How clear are you on the power dynamics in your relationships?
- What began in January that you need to rethink in preparation for future release?
Wednesday, September 16, 2026: Moon in Scorpio | Moon enters Sagittarius
The Moon spends the morning still in Scorpio. After yesterday’s intensity due to the square aspect between Venus and Pluto, this morning simply wants us to go quiet. Whatever came up for you yesterday needs time to be processed in silence.
At 12:41 pm EDT, the Moon changes its tune entirely as it enters Sagittarius. This is the mutable fire sign, which asks that we shift from emotional intensity to view a wider perspective. When the Moon is in Sagittarius, we want the freedom to engage with big ideas. Plan a trip or study something that shows you another way to think.
- How can you create some quiet time for yourself this morning?
- What trip or study is it time to think about or plan?
Thursday, September 17, 2026: Moon in Sagittarius
After entering Sagittarius yesterday, the Moon remains in this mutable fire sign today. It is a simple day free of other complications. When the Moon is in Sagittarius, we want to be part of something bigger than ourselves. We look for patterns and something to believe in. Reach beyond what is comfortable. Learn about people who believe what you do not understand. In a myriad of ways, remind yourself that the world is much larger than you usually imagine. Seek out inspiration and take the opportunity to see a broader view.
- What expanding awareness can you tap into today?
- What are you ready to plan or learn?
- What inspires you?
Friday, September 18, 2026: First Quarter Moon in Sagittarius | Mercury opposes Saturn
The important thing to talk about today is Mercury’s opposition to Saturn at 6 am EDT. Mercury is currently moving through Libra, which suggests that our thoughts and mental attention are focused on diplomacy and connection. This opposition is a sobering element. Whatever your plans or ideas for connection, they may hit a roadblock. Some limitation or criticism seems to derail your plans. Take this seriously without taking it personally. This is an honest challenge testing your ability to make adjustments that will mature your plan or idea.
This resistance is a perfect segue to the Sagittarius Moon reaching its First Quarter phase at 4:44 pm EDT. Consider the metaphorical seed you planted at the Virgo New Moon last week. This afternoon, we are asked to face an obstacle to its growth. Today you will decide to take an action in order to build on that plan or to turn away from it. Do you want what you thought you wanted last week enough to push through it? Every cycle asks us if we want something enough to work for it. Today is the day to answer that question and take an action to move in the direction you desire.
- What obstacle is a test rather than a stop sign?
- Where do you need to hold your ground on an idea without getting defensive?
- Do you want something badly enough to push through what is standing in your way?
Saturday, September 19, 2026: Moon enters Capricorn
The Moon entered Capricorn just after midnight last night. This takes us to a cardinal earth sign, setting us up for a weekend of ambition and getting things done. When the Moon is in Capricorn, our feelings are attached to our ambitions and long-term goals. If you want to feel great by the end of the weekend, plan to get a lot accomplished. Get clear on what you want long-term and set up a dedicated plan to work toward those goals.
If you find yourself comparing your accomplishments to those of others, go ahead and let it sharpen your own goals, but for heaven’s sake don’t let it sour your mood. Another caution: don’t wall yourself off from others. You may want to spend time alone, but do so without shutting others out.
- What do you want to accomplish this weekend?
- How can you get your own work done today without shutting others out?
Sunday, September 20, 2026: Moon in Capricorn
The week comes to an end with the Moon still in Capricorn. Ambition runs high, and you will do well to make sure you aren’t letting that ambition crowd out the people close to you. If we get too focused on accomplishment, we can find ourselves alone more than we meant to be. Reach out to the people whose relationships matter the most to you.
This is also a good day to handle the most unglamorous parts of being an adult. Pay the bills, change the oil in your car, restock the fridge, and make a list for the upcoming week. When the Moon is in Capricorn, we can take great satisfaction in having things in order. The Autumn Equinox is right around the corner, making it additionally important to get your ‘ducks in a row’!
- Who will you reach out to today to support a relationship that is important to you?
- What practical tasks will you be happy to have done before next week begins?
Think of your birth chart as a freeze-frame of the cosmos at the exact moment you took your first breath, seen from the exact place you were born. It captures exactly where every planet was in that instant.
That snapshot isn’t static. Everything the planets had been doing, for all eternity, up to that moment is built into it, and so is the momentum of the planets moving forward. Your birth chart shows where the motion of the cosmos stopped at the moment you were born, and exactly where it was headed as it took you with it, into the future.
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