One day recently I woke up at dawn and through my window I saw a rainbow over the mountain. What a nice surprise. It had rained half the night. (Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.) I haven’t seen a rainbow in the west before. Usually I see them in the east at sunset over the C building after a cloudburst or sun shower. This was stunning, very wide with bright colors. Of course, I had to paint it. Funny thing, on the day before, I found a four leaf clover. (I’m good at finding those.) I should have bought a lottery ticket. On the day after, Finian’s Rainbow was on TCM and they hardly ever put that on.
I think of a rainbow as not only lucky, but a hopeful sign from the universe. God is watching and smiling. There was a lovely rainbow down at my sister’s house on my birthday back in June. A lucky birthday omen if I ever saw one. And some years ago, when my son got married, there was a brief thunderstorm and when we left the church to go to the reception there was a rainbow. A lucky omen for them.
Here are the right conditions for seeing rainbows. When a rainstorm is coming to an end, it gets lighter and the clouds part. The sun starts peeking out. You look in the opposite end of the sky from where the sun is, when the raindrops are still coming down, usually like a drizzle. A rainbow will form over the horizon. Remember, opposite to where the sun is. The sun shining through those last raindrops produces the rainbow. There are other kinds of rainbows, called sun dogs. These often appear in the winter. Ice crystals in the clouds can cause rainbows to appear on opposite sides of the sun, and also circular rainbows (halos) around the sun. An old superstition is that a halo around the sun predicts that rain or snow is coming.
Look, look to the rainbow
Follow it over the hill and stream
Look, look to the rainbow
Follow the fellow who follows a dream. –E.Y. Harburg, Finian’s Rainbow
Celestial Almanac: Blue Moon, Pisces Full Moon August 31, Aries Full Moon September 29, Virgo New Moon September 15. The Autumn Equinox is on September 23. The days are getting shorter now. Arcturus, a very bright twinkling star, appears in the west after dark, now and throughout the fall.
Mars in Libra activates one-to-one relationships. When the Sun gets into Libra at the equinox the focus is on marriage. Business partnerships are highlighted as well. Since this is an opposition, confrontations or arguments are possible. Be prepared to defend yourself but also don’t overreact. Keep a clear head. It is a high energy period that affects the other three cardinal signs as well. Find plenty of work to do. You could still accomplish a lot. Avoid taking risks.
On about September 5, Jupiter stations to go retrograde so expect some situations to come to a standstill. What you hope to achieve isn’t happening right now. (Taurus is a slow poke, takes his own sweet time anyway.) If you are pushing to accomplish something, back off. Make some new plans. Work on something else. Don’t be discouraged, there is a reason for everything. While the Sun is still in Virgo, social life is favored. It is also a good time to work out, stay fit, go on a diet and generally be good to yourself.
After the equinox, romance, social life, sports and children’s activities are favored. Definitely romance, and with Mars your attraction quotient goes up. Flirt a little. Meet with friends and go out. A new relationship goes to into high gear. Sparks could fly. This is a positive high energy cycle, with the Sun trine to Mars, so you can do a lot of work and make new connections. With Saturn Rx and Neptune Rx in your career house not much is happening, but what the hell, go out and have fun.
When Mars moves into Libra it brings a high energy period for you, specifically high tension. You are hypersensitive and have a short fuse. Home life and family are affected. Arguments with neighbors. Your dog barks too loud and is keeping me up at night, things like that. Let it roll off. This too shall pass. The picture will change soon enough. The best thing is to find a project you can concentrate on. Do some hard work, especially in the home, take care of your health and watch your step. You are more accident-prone at this time.
Around September 4, Venus stations in 12 Leo. Well, that was fun, wasn’t it? For some of you. You can still take advantage of the Venus energy. Share the love. Go to a park, museum or craft show and get some inspiration. You continue to be very creative now. Get out and meet people if possible. Remember what I told you already. You can fall in love during this transit or make new friends. But don’t think too much about it, just let it happen. Let the universe do the work. Be kind, friendly and helpful and things will fall into place.
Six planets are retrograde this month, including Mercury in your sign, until September 16. You know what to do. Stay below the radar and don’t start anything new. Plan meetings or interviews for later on. You may be late getting somewhere or have to take a detour. Don’t sign contracts or important documents during this time. Get some chores done and finish the odd jobs on the back burner that you have been putting off. It could still be a productive month.
Read about Aries. This is a super high energy period for you so even though six planets are retrograde right now, holding things up, you should find some hard work to do and get busy. Mars in your own sign turns up the heat. Passions run high. In relationships you either have an exciting time or get into a fight. All relationships are affected by Mars. In business, a partner may have different ideas, for example. Wait until Mercury stations, about September 16, to start talking again, then work things out.
Stationing Jupiter will impact relationships. It may not affect you at all if you are in a happy marriage. Things might even be a little boring. In that case, do something fun to spice things up. If you are pushing for a change or preparing for a wedding, things may get bogged down. The date may be pushed up a few months for example. Business affairs are not moving along to suit you. In the meantime, work with the situation. Be patient. There is a reason for everything.
The retrograde planets will slow things down in various areas of your life. It should not be a problem, just take one day at a time. Mercury Rx brings confusion, delays and changes of plans in career matters. Colleagues aren’t communicating very well. Just pay attention and listen. It is only a brief period. Secrets may be revealed, and you find something you lost. Don’t commit to anything yet, and don’t sign agreements or contracts until after September 16.
This month will be quiet and ordinary for the most part, because of the retrograde planets. But Mars in Libra will spice things up for many of you. You should feel a sudden strong change in energies. Mars is in a high energy cycle for the cardinal signs. Your job and career will be the main focus, especially when Mars is joined by the Sun at the equinox. It could be a helpful transit, but confrontations could happen. You may be impatient and difficult with others.
When Mars is in Libra, travel and adventure are calling. You will have the itch to take a trip. I say go for it, any time, but probably the best time will be after Mercury stations to go direct on September 16. For this sign, it is a positive high energy cycle, with the Sun trine to Mars. It is also favorable for research and higher education. Get some new books, study a new language or train in a different field. Foreign culture, gourmet cooking and the arts are favored.
Six retrograde planets are slowing things down, depending on your personal situation. If something stands in the way of what you are doing, see what you can do differently or do something else. Don’t do anything, just loaf. Be patient and consider the big picture. In time, a solution will appear, or the way will open. Mercury Rx concerns your relationships. There is confusion or a misunderstanding. Secrets may come out. Oops. Remember, it is only a three- week transit. After September 16, you can sort it all out.