Sun enters Libra at 01h05, 23^rd September 2026

The Equinox, the final breath of a long hot summer. The Sun crosses from Virgo into Libra, from Earth to Air. In the northern hemisphere, the Sun begins its descent towards the underworld, towards darkness and regeneration, and we move, officially, into autumn.

This is a threshold, one of the four Cardinal points of the Zodiac. The Equinox falls on the ancient festival of Mabon, or Alban Elfed. It’s a time for celebrating the harvest and taking stock before the winter sets in. 

The Sun loses some of its agency in Libra where it is traditionally in detriment, required, as it is, to balance, judge, compromise and consider. The fiery Sun is happier across the sky in Aries where its solar energy can shine brightly and boldly, pushing forward with projects without having to take others into account. 

In Libra the ‘I’ becomes ‘We’. Partnership is sought, someone to reflect back to us, and we are obliged to consider another point of view.

The chart for this Equinox is predicated on a Kite formation. The mini grand trine features the outer planets with the Sun, at the tip of the diamond, creating a grand trine in Air with Uranus and Pluto, and an opposition to Neptune. The Sun thus becomes a point of dynamism and energy, a release valve for the flowing triangles of Air and Fire. This suggests that relationships, contracts and peace initiatives of all kinds will be especially important in the coming three months. 

The presence of the outer planets shows that we are tied into a wider pattern and may have to compromise and balance our goals and relationships with events that are happening in the society around us. The outer planets, like the major arcana in a tarot pack, show we are dealing with things which are bigger than individual drives and motivations. 

However, Libra is a Cardinal sign so there are things to be initiated, and we may well find that our ideas are in sync with the wider global picture. We just need to get them going, to start making the connections.

The opposition to Neptune suggests some confusion, but also speaks to our hopes and dreams. 

The Moon in Aquarius is moving towards fullness, taking with it its aspirations for the future, striving to advance.

Venus in Scorpio rules the Equinox chart. She is already in the underworld awaiting transformation – and she turns retrograde on 4^th October at 8° Scorpio. This suggests that this trimester could be a period of change, or of some kind of rebirth, which might be financial or emotional. It might be about how we see ourselves or what we value.

During the Venus retrograde (3^rd Oct – 14^th November) we may need to hold especially tightly to the knowledge that everything moves in cycles and things will get better. It’s easy to get lost in the underworld.

We may have to rethink and rework some of the projects we embark on. Venus in Scorpio doesn’t give ground easily, but she returns to Libra in the course of her retrograde to renegotiate. Contracts may be under scrutiny during this time. Go with the flow, and be prepared to compromise if necessary.

Happy Equinox