August was one of the most intense astrological months in decades. Now the pendulum has reached its zenith. For an instant we hang, suspended in mid air. Like the space between breaths, it is a moment full of potential and possibility.

September begins slowly as Mercury continues its retrograde until September 12. A lifestyle that is always go-go-go is a major source of stress and dis-ease; Mercury retrogrades are Nature’s antidote. Quietly sip a cup of herbal tea and focus on the present moment. From that place of stillness, ready yourself for what’s next.

Look out for a flash of insight on September 18 when Jupiter conjuncts Uranus for the second time this year. Jupiter’s realm is hope and optimism, Uranus’ the unexpected and the innovative. Open the windows and let the fresh air blow in: you may be inspired and find the answers you seek.

Balance is restored on September 22, the annual fall equinox. Day and night are equal in length around the time of the equinox; after the equinox, nights grow longer until the winter solstice. Curl up with a good book that uplifts your heart: the season to nourish our spirits is beginning.

In the first weeks of the month, six of our solar system neighbors – Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Pluto – arrive for a tense stand-off in early degrees of the cardinal signs Aries, Libra and Capricorn.  Like a Western film before the shooting starts, nerves are jangling, suspicions run high and the question “what next?” hangs in the air.

The feeling is magnified since these aspects occur on the World Axis – the degrees of the solstices and equinoxes. Old system and structures are dying, but the new ones have not yet been born. There’s no place to hide: no comfort in the past and no certainty for the future.

In moments like these, the world is created by the choices made next. Says writer S. N. Goenka: “The reality keeps changing from moment to moment and we are aware of ‘what is.’…. ‘What is’ is not static – it keeps changing from moment to moment. … This is the path and we keep walking on the path. It is not a beaten track. The changing reality makes it the ‘pathless path.’”

We are all walking this Pathless Path.  Be especially gentle and compassionate with yourself and others during this time. Being rooted in the present moment provides the most stable platform for acting constructively instead of reacting out of fear and insecurity. Cultivate the practice of mindfulness; walking and other moving meditations are especially valuable when the cosmic waters are unsettled.

Mercury’s retrograde on August 20 it may be a relief to some. The astro weather this month provokes a sense of urgency even when no urgency is required. Mercury retrograde’s gift is to put the brakes on our plans and give us time to pause, take a deep breath, and think.  Accept it with gratitude.

A total solar eclipse on July 11th occurs in the sign of Cancer. Cancer rules the home, hearth and all other things mom-and-apple-pie. Solar eclipses signify the beginning and endings of cycles; this is a good time to pick up your broom and clean house, literally or metaphorically.

The end of July, the planets are lining up for a tense “grand cross” that becomes exact at the beginning of August.  When so many planets – in this case the Moon, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Pluto — align in a tight formation, fireworks are definitely in the forecast.

The opening moves begin at the end of July. Saturn movies into Libra on July 21st, followed by Mars on July 29th, bringing renewed energy and pragmatism to all types of “I and thou” relationships. Many commitments will be either reinvigorated or severed as we all realign ourselves for the next chapter of the story.

Allow your beliefs to be transformed on July 24th when Jupiter squares Pluto and you may find new doors opening for you. The Full Moon in Aquarius on July 25th brings new light to your ideas and ideals; watch for a sign.

And the fifth and final Saturn opposition of Uranus becomes exact on July 26th, ending the series that first begin on Election Day 2008.  If things were stuck in a debate over ideals vs. efficiency, try asking yourself: Is just doing something (however imperfect) better than sitting in a stalemate? What’s best for your long-term relationships? If you do, you might find the answer you’ve been looking for all along.

With all of these celestial alignments brewing, reducing stress is a must this month for everyone, but especially for those born between the 21st to the 26th of March, June, September and December. Remind yourself that what seems overwhelming at the moment may be a distant memory in a year: all things change.

Expansive Jupiter enters fiery Aries on June 6; two days later on June 8 it conjuncts electric Uranus. Jupiter signifies luck, optimism and expanding horizons; Uranus the urge to innovative, individuate, and seek freedom from restraints.

That this paradigm-shifting pair would meet in the first degree of the zodiac (0 Aries), called the World Axis by astrologers, betokens scientific discoveries and social upheavals that change the world. These two giants were also conjunct on the World Axis in 1968-1969 when we witnessed both global social unrest as well as the Moon landings.

Any child or project born during this time will carry the seeds of this creative spark of genius throughout life, offering a Promethean gift to the world.  If there’s something you’ve always wanted to do but didn’t have the courage to try, now is the time. Just do it!

Another extreme planetary alignment occurs at the end of the month with the first of several tense grand crosses. The Sun, Moon, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Pluto all align in a tense formation from June 24 to 27. The alignment gains extra punch from a partial lunar eclipse on June 26, visible in Austin’s pre-dawn sky.

This celestial tug-of-war also occurs on the World Axis, suggesting that events which happen now are a bellwether for what’s to come later in the summer. The most intense lines of influence of this alignment bisect the Western Caribbean, Venezuela and Central South America, and Eastern China, the Korean Peninsula and Indonesia; keep an eye on the news.

Alignments of the stars are fated, but how we react to these alignments is our choice. Where these events fall in individual’s chart determines what areas of our lives are most impacted. Some of my clients have been complaining of headaches and a vague sense of impending change. If you are facing similar symptoms, support yourself though this time by drinking plenty of fluids, mild exercise and other activities to manage stress. Acupuncture is especially beneficial during Uranian transits.

And never underestimate the power of just having fun – laughter truly is the best medicine!

Make sure your desk is clean. There won’t be any time for getting organized once Mercury returns to its normal forward motion on May 11, clearing the way for the main events later this month.

Our current Jupiter-Saturn cycle, which began in 2000, starts its culmination phase at the end of this month. To the ancients, the 20-year Jupiter-Saturn cycle heralded the rise and fall of kings. For our modern times, it suggests the changing of political fortunes. The last Jupiter-Saturn cycle began in 1980 with the election of Ronald Regan and culminated from September 1989 to May 1991 with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Soviet Union. So we can expect that from now until March 2011, the things set in motion around the year 2000 will come home to roost, for good or for ill.

At the same time, the revolutionary planet Uranus enters the fiery sign Aries. The last time Uranus visited the sign of the Ram was 1927-1935, an era that saw the Great Depression and the New Deal.  Uranus in Aries doesn’t sit on the sidelines; it demands change and demands it now.

These two major astrological events occurring within a few days of each other suggest an intensification of a global paradigm shift.  Depending on their ideological persuasion, astrologers have predicted everything from economic collapse, social revolution, natural disasters and alien invasion.  The only thing their predictions have in common is change. While any such major events are often out of our individual hands, how we respond to them is within our grasp.

Creativity is the key word now and over the coming months. Old cycles eventually turn to ash. It’s time to imagine new possibilities on all levels. Learn to embrace change. Try something you never imagined was possible.  Let go your expectations and you will create a space to be surprised. Fire can burn, but it can also dance.

In the outer world, Saturn and Uranus represent the forces of tradition and progress negotiating a course into the future. In the inner landscape, Uranus symbolizes the whispers of the authentic self, the urge to be true to the deepest calling of one’s soul. Saturn is like a plow; he tills the soil, turning under old growth to make way for the new.  Time and again these two have met in the heavens to help us grow in self-understanding.  Act with integrity and you will plant the seeds that allow your heart’s desires to blossom.

Mercury will start another retrograde cycle, from April 17 to May 11.  Mercury-ruled things like communication and travel may take a bit longer.  Mercury retrogrades are best used to regroup and get things organized for the next three months. Have patience with the process and you may find a deeper understanding of issues than you had the first time around.  Pause, take a breath, smell the flowers.

A major alignment of lights and planets in Pisces signals rising tides. Pisces rules symbolic images and unbounded dreams. The Piscean energy peaks March 13 through 15, when the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Jupiter and Uranus are all in the sign of the Fish. This is an excellent time to work with dreams or begin keeping a journal.

Mars ends its three-month retrograde in Leo on March 10; the Sun enters Aries on March 20. Mars rules Aries and the Sun, Leo; these planets in each others’ signs create a “mutual reception” that amplifies the fiery nature of both. Dust off those New Year’s resolutions — plans stuck in idle will definitely get a boost this month.

Be on the lookout for messages from the unconscious. Hidden longings will break through the surface, demanding to be acknowledged and fed.  Passion harnessed is the fuel that makes dreams manifest. Courageously embrace your desires.

We too must flow like water to rejuvenate ourselves. This February is an excellent time to explore our deepest feelings and desires. Optimistic Jupiter sextiles healing Pluto on February 6, unlocking profound healing energies. Surrender yourself to them and they will whisper in your ear.

This Valentine’s Day, treat yourself to something sensual. Venus and Jupiter meet on February 16 for a sweet kiss in watery Pisces. Indulge yourself, especially in fluid pleasures: a hot bath, a walk by the water, a decadent cup of hot chocolate, an oil-scented massage. Relax and unwind.

Take a break while you can, the wheels will start turning again soon enough. Mars and Saturn are still retrograde, so the projects you’ve planned may still feel stuck in the mud. But next month we pick up speed for a roller-coaster summer. Stay tuned!

With Mercury and Mars, planets of analyzing and action, still retrograde, early January is an excellent time to review the past year and make new plans for the new one.  If your resolutions are off to a sluggish start, try, try again when Saturn, planet of discipline, goes retrograde on January 13, and Mercury goes direct on January 15.

Last month’s Saturn-Pluto square still lingers in January, exact again at the end of the month.  Simplify your world by deciding what’s important to you, focusing your actions on those things, and letting go of the rest.  It’s an excellent time to detoxify your life on all levels – physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.

Tired of letting go? Just in time Jupiter enters its home sign of Pisces on January 17, bringing with it a much-needed dose of hope and a sense of possibility.  Mountains are always easier to climb when you allow yourself to be inspired by the view.  In the same way, letting go is always easier with hope in your heart.

The Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year in the northern hemisphere, falls on December 21. On the same day, Jupiter meets Neptune for the third time this year, bringing a dose of hope for this darkest night. Light a candle and make a wish.

Expect a downshift as two planets — Mercury and Mars — will both turn retrograde and put the brakes on our activities. Mars, who symbolizes our will, passions and drive, will change direction on December 20; Mercury, the planet that governs communication, transportation and trade, begins its backwards slide on December 26. Together these two planets will urge us toward a greater understanding of our actions and motivations. It’s a good year to carefully consider our New Year’s resolutions, but don’t expect a lot of traction on them until the retrograde periods end (on January 15 for Mercury and March 10 for Mars.) Take the time to reflect on what’s important in your world, and make those things your priority.

Then expect a little extra Luna-cy this New Year’s Eve.  A “Blue Moon,” the second full moon in the month of December, as well as a lunar eclipse in Cancer, will light up the night. Savor the moonlit magic!