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.

“We’re at the dawning of the Age of Aquarius” the song goes. But what does this transition to the Aquarian Age really mean for all of us? Take a tour of the history and astronomy of the astrological ages, as well as what the future holds for us collectively and individually. You’ll receive a timeline of key dates to watch out for between 2010-2012, as well as take-home tools to help you flow with the coming changes and manifest personal and professional abundance.

Event: Astrological Society of North Texas (ASNT) July Monthly Meeting
Date: Sunday, July 11, 2010
Time: 1-4 pm
Location: Stacy Home Furnishings Center Meeting Room, 1900 South Main St., Grapevine, Texas
Cost: Free (ASNT membership encouraged)