Forecast for September: Transformation

“Winds in the east, mist comin' in, like somethin' is brewin' and about to begin.” – Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

The channeled reading for September brings forward the King of Swords with a message about transformation and the inevitability of change. It’s interesting to note that in a standard 78-card tarot deck, 12 are court cards, often seen as messages concerning our human development. In August we had the Queen of Cups, and in July, the Page of Cups – two of the four court cards associated with human emotion. This month we have another court card, but this one comes from the Swords suit – the realm of mind and ideas.

It is also a King, the highest-ranking court card—though perhaps more accurately described as a monarch, since there are no visual indications of gender in the figure on the throne. The most prominent visual symbol is the sword itself: a double-edged longsword pointed upward, a sign of readiness. Above and surrounding the crown are butterflies, a reference to transformation. The butterfly at the top hovers between what appear to be two crescent moons – or eclipses.

This symbolism is timely. We have two eclipses this month: a total lunar eclipse on September 7th and a partial solar eclipse on September 21st. Eclipses occur when the Sun, Moon, and Earth align on the same orbital plane. A lunar eclipse happens when Earth passes directly between the Sun and Moon, casting a shadow on the Moon’s surface. This alignment can occur only during a full moon when the Moon is in the right position in its orbit. A solar eclipse, by contrast, occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth; it is brief and visible only in certain parts of the world. The lunar eclipse on September 7, at the full moon, will be visible to about 85% of the Earth’s population—across Asia, East Africa, and Australia. The partial solar eclipse on September 21, falling on the new moon, will be visible in New Zealand and parts of the southern Pacific.

That’s the astronomy. Astrologically, eclipses signal transformation—the accelerated, “wow, I didn’t see that coming” kind. Regardless of whether the eclipses are visible—their influence is felt. The days and weeks surrounding eclipses (which always occur in pairs) are a potent time for personal and collective change. Circumstances can shift suddenly, and endings can arrive without warning. This association has ancient roots, tied to the belief that a lunar eclipse could portend the death of the king. In Mesopotamia—what is now Turkey and surrounding regions—Assyrian texts from nearly 3,000 years ago describe what was called a “substitute king ritual.” During a lunar eclipse, when the king was thought to be at risk, an ordinary person was enthroned for 100 days while the true monarch lived in seclusion as a farmer. At the end of that time, the substitute king was killed to fulfill the prophecy.

Gruesome as this ritual may sound, it reflects a deeply human fear: our powerlessness in the face of external forces. So how can we hold steady in the midst of stress—seated in personal power, with our metaphorical swords at the ready? Daily practices of grounding, breath awareness, and mindful observation of thoughts and emotions help us return to the seat of awareness – the part of ourselves that observes and cannot be harmed. From this place, reactivity softens, resilience grows, and our connection to what is indestructible within us deepens.

We will endure with our humanity intact—and stronger than ever.

Affirmations & Reflections by Sun and Rising Sign

♈ Aries

Affirmation: I recalibrate with grace.
Reflection: Where am I being asked to pause – rather than charge forward --so that healing can take place?

♉ Taurus

Affirmation: I cultivate trust and creative flow.
Reflection: How can I create more beauty and stability in my daily routines, even as circumstances change?

♊ Gemini

Affirmation: I adapt with clarity in my career and life's work.
Reflection: What stories about success no longer serve me, and what new narrative am I ready to write?

♋ Cancer

Affirmation: I courageously express my evolving self.
Reflection: What old role or identity am I ready to release so my authentic voice can shine?

♌ Leo

Affirmation: I trust in abundance through intuition.
Reflection: Where am I being invited to let go of control and welcome in a new sense of wellbeing?

♍ Virgo

Affirmation: I grow through honest communication.
Reflection: How can I speak my truth with compassion so I can be met in a new way?

♎ Libra

Affirmation: I discover balance through self-care.
Reflection: What commitments drain my energy and call for new choices on my part?

♏ Scorpio

Affirmation: I commit fully with fierce resilience.
Reflection: What am I ready to step into–knowing it will transform me in the process?

♐ Sagittarius

Affirmation: I build rooted confidence at home and work.
Reflection: How can I ground my adventurous spirit in a stronger sense of belonging and stability?

♑ Capricorn

Affirmation: I learn and grow through new dialogues.
Reflection: What conversations could shift my perspective if I listened with an open heart?

♒ Aquarius

Affirmation: I let financial insight guide transformation.
Reflection: What beliefs about worth or resources am I being asked to release in order to step into empowerment?

♓ Pisces

Affirmation: I release the old and welcome soulful renewal.
Reflection: What am I finally ready to let go of–trusting it clears space for my next becoming?