With autumn rapidly approaching and the seasons changing, we’ve been thinking a lot about the planets and what they have in store for us.

We consider ourselves very lucky to have access to some of the top experts in the field, allowing us to get answers to our most pressing questions, and this situation was no different. We were able to ask Yana Yanovich, a Western astrologer with more than 20 years of astrological practice and expert for the Nebula astrology app, about the biggest astrological influences to look forward to this fall. While some will bring harmony and positivity, others may bring uneasiness and uncertainty, and she gave us all the insights we need to understand and use all of those energies to our advantage this season.

Mercury Retrograde: Sep. 27 to Oct. 17

Yana Yanovich: As with any retrograde Mercury period, the risk of misunderstanding, mixups and miscommunication is high. During this time, pay special attention to any important communication both online and offline. Make sure to double-check files, documents, contracts, reports and payments.

Mercury will be retrograding in the middle of the sign of Libra, which means the risk of those kinds of problems is higher for those who have planet placements in the middle of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn. Check your Natal Chart to see if you are in this group.

For people with placements in the middle of air signs (Gemini and Aquarius), the influence can actually be more positive, as it urges them to go back to some projects or issues from the past, rethink and reanalyze them to find a different solution.

If you have placements in the middle of Leo or Sagittarius, you are likely to experience a small fraction of this positive influence as well, if Mercury makes a contact to your chart.

The signs of Virgo, Scorpio, Pisces and Taurus are not affected by Mercury retrograding in Libra but remember—this is not only for your sun placement. You may have your sun in Taurus but Mercury or Venus in Gemini or Aries. Check the entire chart and you may even find that this fall Mercury will bring a mixture of positive and negative influences into your life.

Shutterstock: Mercury on cosmic background

(via Shutterstock)

Jupiter Turns Direct and Moves Through Aquarius: Oct. 22 to Dec. 28

YY: This is one of the most beneficial influences of the season. Jupiter is the planet of growth, expansion, new opportunities and good luck. It brings many possibilities and chances to improve something in your life. Depending on which part of your natal chart it will be affecting, this can be a positive change in career, relationship, finance, family or personal growth.

The transit will be happening in the last quarter of Aquarius giving a strong boost to any placements in the last degrees of all three air signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) and a smaller but still positive nudge to placements in the last quarter of Aries or Sagittarius.

If you have placements in Scorpio, Taurus or Leo, this is a challenging contact. The good thing about Jupiter is that it usually doesn’t bring much harm even in harsh contact. It is more about disappointment due to high expectations, so learn to look on the bright side of things and feel happy about what you have achieved rather than focus on the missed opportunities. Another catch with this astrological influence is being overwhelmed with opportunities and trying to catch them all. It is better to focus on one or two to make sure you can manage.

The signs of Pisces, Cancer, Virgo and Capricorn are not affected by this transit, but remember to check your natal chart—you might have an important planet placed in the signs mentioned above.

Shutterstock: The Jupiter shot from space showing all they beauty. Extremely detailed image, including elements furnished by NASA. Other orientations and planets available.

(via Shutterstock)

Mars Going Through Scorpio Making Harsh Contacts: Nov. 9 to Nov. 18

YY: Mars will actually enter Scorpio at the very end of October, but it is not until Nov. 8 that the astrological “storm” will start. Before I proceed with the description of the influences the planetary positions will bring, I want to stress that this is not about something definitely happening to you and that you’re doomed, especially if you’re reading this now. This is one of the most important uses of astrological forecasts—knowing what kind of astrological “weather” is coming helps you to prepare, to take measures and avoid getting into a difficult situation, just like you take an umbrella if the weather forecast says it is going to rain.

During this period Mars will be forming not one but two conflicting aspects (contacts)—first with Saturn and later with Uranus. There tends to be a lot of panicky articles in the astrological community about these kinds of contacts as each planet on its own is a sort of a “bad boy” of astrology. Mars is about conflicts, aggression and fighting. Saturn rules delays, obstacles, suppression, authority and difficulties in general. Uranus is about sudden and unexpected change, accidents and chaos. Sounds quite auspicious, right? It’s true, this period on the global scale will be the time of a heightened number of accidents, escalating conflicts and other things which aren’t good for anyone’s health or well-being. But on the personal, everyday life level this only brings risks to people who have placements in certain areas of the zodiac. However, the risk is quite high, so if ever there was a reason for you to check out your own natal chart, it is this one.

We are talking about a more narrow zone of influence than the previous two events: only six degrees in each one of the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius). As Mars is going from six degrees to 12 degrees of Scorpio the tense configuration of T-square is formed in the sky and it is repeated in your natal chart. If you have something in Leo, the configuration becomes the Grand Cross.

Without boring you with more astrological details I proceed to advise—do your best to avoid situations where you can be injured. Don’t engage in high-risk activities and make sure you understand what “high-risk activities” are. A client of mine had a similar influence in her chart a couple of years ago and broke her leg because she went horse riding. Unless you do something quite static, like yoga, try to avoid sports during this time. Drive extremely carefully and avoid crowded places. I know, it sounds like the best thing to do is to become a monk and stay home outside of the working hours. However, it’s only about 10 days and it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

All other signs are not directly affected, but it will be wise to keep an eye out for these kinds of situations (accidents and aggression) as you might get involved involuntarily. As always, don’t forget to check all your chart placements.

Mars in space

(via Shutterstock)

Eclipses: Partial Lunar Eclipse on Nov. 18 to 19 and Full Solar Eclipse on Dec. 4

YY: The direct influence of both eclipses affects a much narrower sector of the zodiac—the exact degree of the eclipse plus a couple of degrees on either side. Nevertheless, the good thing about eclipses is that their energy is very powerful and even if your natal chart is not activated at all, you can still take advantage of this influence.

First, let’s talk about what you can do to attract better things into your life. Manifestation and visualization of your wish are the traditional rituals for either type of eclipse.

To properly align your message to the universe with the energy of the eclipse, try to spend at least an hour alone before and after the eclipse—more if you can. You can find out the exact time of the eclipse for your time zone on the internet as multiple astrological and astronomical sites follow these events.

Don’t talk or communicate (including online) or use social media during these hours. The idea is to clear your mind and calm your thoughts so that you can manifest or visualize your wish without being distracted by some other information that is still being digested by your brain.

Choose only one wish so that you can fully concentrate on it. Usually, the lunar eclipse is used to attract material wealth and improve health and body, whereas the solar eclipse is used for relationships, personal growth and achieving some skills or abilities. Do remember that the wish has to be realistic. The energy of an eclipse gives you a boost but doesn’t perform miracles.

If your natal chart is activated by the event, you’ll have a much higher potential for the intention to turn into reality faster and with better results.

The lunar eclipse will be happening at 27 degrees Taurus, affecting the zone from 25 to 29 degrees of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius. The eclipse is partial, so it will have less strength than a full one.

The solar eclipse of December is going to be at 12 degrees Sagittarius, activating 10 to 14 degrees of mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces). Remember to check all the placements and use the nature of the planet to help you choose what to manifest. If Venus is activated by the point of the eclipse, focus on love and romance. If it is Mars, think of the martian qualities you’d like to improve, like assertiveness, enthusiasm and determination.

Shutterstock: Amazing scientific background - total solar eclipse in dark red glowing sky, mysterious natural phenomenon when Moon passes between planet Earth and Sun

(via Shutterstock)

Venus Pre-Retrograde Phase: Nov. 18 to Dec. 17

YY: You could have heard of retrograde Mercury or even retrograde Venus before, but it might be the first time you’re hearing about the pre-retrograde phase, also called “shadow.” I personally do not like the latter term, as it has an eerie sound to it. I like to think of it as the first touch, the first whiff of what the upcoming retro Venus will bring. Venus will start moving backward on Dec. 17 and will continue until the last days of January, so technically the main event is not happening in fall but in winter. Yet the pre-retro phase is more significant for Venus than for Mercury because the second one moves backward three to four times a year while the first one retrogrades only once every 18 months.

In the pre-retrograde phase, Venus is passing the same degrees it will be going over when it turns backward at 26 degrees Capricorn. Now, what makes this event very significant is that at its point of turning it will closely conjunct Pluto, the planet of overwhelming passions, hidden desires and deep transformation. Depending on how this astrological configuration influences your natal chart, you can have an experience in personal relationships that you won’t forget soon. It may also bring internal transformation and re-evaluation of what a relationship means for you and what role it plays in your life. Pluto urges you to look deep inside yourself and eliminate old views and habits that are no longer useful and inhibit your emotional growth.

Venus will be retrograding in Capricorn with quite a large zone of influence (from 11 to 26 degrees) which is basically half of the sign. It will make a challenging contact to planets in Aries, Cancer and Libra so if you have Natal chart placements in those signs, there might be some hard lessons to learn or painful transformations to go through. Do not despair, but remember—the change is for the best. It will help you evolve and become a better version of yourself.

The contact to Taurus and Virgo, as well as Pisces and Scorpio, is a harmonious one. There is a possibility of reigniting an old flame, but remember that Pluto transformation needs to happen first, otherwise you’ll be stepping on the same rake.

For Capricorn placements, it’s a mixed bag and the influence will depend on whether or not this transit will activate any strong or weak placements in your chart.

Gemini, Leo, Sagittarius and Aquarius signs do not get affected, but always remember to check your chart for significant planets in the other signs.

Shutterstock: Venus

(via Shutterstock)

Bottom Line

YY: To sum up, I want to encourage you to be proactive and use this knowledge of upcoming energies to your advantage. Keep your eyes open for possible negative events and situations, carefully analyze your actions as well as the actions of people around you. Make sure to also catch the wave of the positive influence when it comes. Be ready to take action and ride it— then you’ll get the most out of it!

Curious about Yana Yanovich’s work? Click HERE to discover everything you wanted to know about the Nebula astrology app.

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