September Newsletter

August has been a lively blend of publishing work and soaking up the last of the summer light. I’d love to say I finally mastered the art of work–life balance… but let’s just call that still work in progress. September, however, is already gathering pace. I’ll be at the Astrological Association Conference in person, so if you’re attending, do come and say hello. More detaills here Conference 2026 – The Astrological Association

On the 10th, I’m joining SJ Anderson for an AstroDuets session titled Electrifying the Earth: Saturn–Neptune from 1882 Earth to 2061 Air. We’ll look at the Saturn–Neptune conjunction as a marker of the upgrades that reshape how we experience reality—centred on 1882, the Earth conjunction in Taurus that coincided with the first electric grid in New York and electrified everyday life. From there we’ll trace the great elemental shift of the Jupiter–Saturn cycle out of Earth and into Air, and close on a cliffhanger: the 2061 conjunction in Gemini, which may prove the most significant of this Air era. Plenty of room for discussion and questions along the way. You can register here – it’s free for AA members and only £5 for non‑members: Astrological Duets – The Astrological Association

Then on the 12th, I’m speaking for the Academy of Astrology on Jupiter–Saturn Cycles & Elemental Mutations, The Building Blocks of Societal Progression. For centuries, astrologers have looked to the conjunctions of Jupiter and Saturn, the Great Chronocators, as a timing mechanism behind historical and cultural change. Every 20 year cycle marks a collective reset, while the 200 year elemental shifts reveal the deeper story of how society evolves across eras. This talk explores how these cycles form the underlying architecture of human progression: how they have defined history and describe the decades ahead, how each conjunction can open a window of growth and consolidation, and how the current air mutation is redefining the possibilities of the world we live in now. More details here: Academy of Astrology

And in very happy news, my novel The Thirteenth Degree of Knowing is now being stocked in shops across the North East. I’ll share a full list of stockists soon. If you haven’t picked up a copy yet, you can find out more here: The Thirteenth Degree Of Knowing – Lianne McCafferty

Reflections on August

August’s eclipses promised passion and drama, and they certainly delivered – from literal wildfires to the metaphorical ones burning across social media and the press. The Leo–Aquarius dynamic presided over so much: fallen idols, clashes between defiance and accountability, fractures in society amplified by our rapidly evolving language, and the widening gap between generations. Leadership of every kind found itself under an unforgiving spotlight.

If you’ve felt overwhelmed, burnt out, drained, or simply pushed beyond your limits lately, you’re not alone. Take whatever self‑care you can, even in small doses, and hold onto the truth that this phase will pass.

The Leo eclipse, in particular, drew our attention to sovereignty. Its ongoing message illuminates the tension between personal authority and collective will. It asks leaders – political, cultural, spiritual – to justify their power. It asks communities to reclaim theirs. The planetary story suggests that the world is shifting toward a different kind of rulership: one that is shared, accountable, and conscious. This eclipse also invited us to celebrate our uniqueness while staying mindful of where we create our own drama, how we define ourselves, and where we may need to look honestly in the mirror. I explore these themes more deeply in my recent article The Leo–Aquarius Nodal Axis: Kings & Empires, which you can read here: https://substack.com/@worldscope/note/p-211289292?r=1pmom0&utm_source=notes-share-action&utm_medium=web

I’ve spoken many times about the theme of succession running through 2026 – a thread carried by the Juno–Pluto conjunctions in Aquarius, with the third and final alignment arriving on 5 November. The passing of King Harald V of Norway (IC 05Virgo52 astro.com), a monarch who embodied a modern expression of royalty, occurred at the August eclipse. His son, King Haakon VIII, now succeeds him. Haakon’s 24Leo Midheaven with Venus conjunct (astro.com) certainly aligns with the current planetary climate. A textbook illustration of astrology’s symbolic timing.

In my August newsletter, I posed a question that feels even more relevant now: have we become so fixated on the negative that we’ve lost sight of the extraordinary potential unfolding before us? Over the past month, I’ve watched countless situations where people became absorbed in the shadow side of events rather than recognising the openings for growth, insight, and transformation. Instead of stepping toward the possibility of evolution, many found themselves pulled into the gravitational field of fear, outrage, and pessimism – missing the chance to transcend the very patterns of human behaviour we’re being invited to outgrow.

As I finish this newsletter, I want to acknowledge the tragic flash floods in Tibet – a stark, real‑world reflection of this Lunar Eclipse’s square to Uranus and its signature of sudden disruption. We also mark the passing of the iconic Dolly Parton, whose unaspected yet humble Virgo Moon (00Virgo astro.com) reminds us that greatness without contribution means very little. Her legacy endures through a lifetime of generosity, service, and quiet altruism – a true expression of Virgo at its highest.

September AstroWeather: From Breakdown to Breakthrough, Pressure Can Become Purpose

September may look quieter on the surface, but it opens with the aftershocks of the eclipse and a sense of pressure – something being pushed into form, or reality landing squarely in front of us. Mars hits Saturn in a waxing square on the 1st, the first major challenge in a cycle that began on 19 April 2026 at 07° Aries, when tension in the Iran–US and Israel–Hezbollah crises intensified. This is a classic boulder‑up‑the‑hill moment: effort, realism, and the need to work with what is actually present. Mercury quickly steps in, sextiling Mars and inconjunct Saturn, sharpening the mind and insisting on practical, grounded, precise thinking. It’s a breakthrough‑or‑breakdown threshold.

As the month unfolds, Uranus stations retrograde on the 10th, inviting a review of progress so far. The Virgo New Moon at 18° Virgo on the 11th – the anniversary of 9/11 – offers a chance to reset systems and fine‑tune the details. Its Sabian symbol, “A swimming race,” speaks to refining our strokes, or even deciding which technique will carry us forward most effectively.

The Libra Ingress on the 23rd shifts the tone outward. A Sun–Neptune opposition forms a Kite with Neptune at the apex, calling us to recognise that we are part of something larger, and that the universe does not revolve solely around individual will. This is especially relevant for leadership, in some cases undermining it. A Moon in Aquarius opposing Jupiter in Leo echoes a collective demand for fairer distribution of power and justice. Meanwhile, the North Node forms the apex of a Yod with Mars in Cancer and the Sun: the people, the community, the collective are calling from the heart for the old model of leadership to meet the emerging future of shared authority. The ingress map itself is fascinating: the Sun is angular through Auckland and Wellington, Houston, Chicago, Mexico, Corsica, Sardinia, Madrid, and London, with additional points of interest in Buenos Aires, Havana, and Milan.

The Aries Full Moon at 03° Aries on the 26th demands decisive action, but centred on collective effort. The needs of the many versus the will of the one. With the Moon and Mars in mutual reception, and Mars and Chiron at the anaretic 29th degrees of Cancer and Aries, the public mood is shifting from disempowerment toward autonomy and decisive action. Enough is enough.

By the time Mars strides into Leo on the 28th and begins reactivating the outer‑planet alignments, September has moved from deeply felt pressure to dynamic, heart‑driven action. Everything you feel bubbling within you is ready: this is the moment to begin initiating real change. March forward and make it happen!

• 1 Sept Mars square Saturn friction, discipline, pressure, effort.
• 1–3 Sept Mercury sextile Mars & inconjunct Saturn refinement, practical thinking, problem‑solving; being forced into clarity despite emotional interference.
• 10 Sept Uranus stations retrograde at 05° Gemini reviewing progress, reversals, rethinking; direct again 8 Feb at 01° Gemini.
• 10 Sept Venus enters Scorpio opposite Chiron intimacy, vulnerability, economic entanglements.
• 10 Sept Mercury enters Libra diplomacy, balance, aesthetic thinking, indecision.
• 11 Sept New Moon at 18° Virgo only major aspect is a sextile to Mars at 19° Cancer; balancing emotional and intellectual responses in a fight‑or‑flight climate.
• 14 Sept Black Moon Lilith enters Capricorn defiance of patriarchal structures; uncompromising truth make us take control.
• 16 Sept Neptune sextile Pluto (03° Aries / 15° Aquarius) long‑range societal transformation and awareness of what is no longer acceptable in society – what was once humane is now in-humane.
• 17 Sept Chiron re‑enters Aries wounds of identity, courage and self‑assertion. A reminder of how we act matters.
• 17 Sept Saturn square Ceres (12° Cancer / 12° Aries) nourishment vs duty; emotional boundaries; resource blockages.
• 20 Sept Mars opposite Juno (25° Cancer / 25° Capricorn) autonomy vs partnership; relational recalibration; fighting patriarchal dynamics.
• 23 Sept Libra Ingress
• 26 Sept Full Moon at 03° Aries decisive action; personal truth; collective courage; strategic remodelling.
• 28 Sept Mars enters Leo confidence, performance, boldness; a heart full of fire.
• 30 Sept Mercury enters Scorpio opposite Chiron deep reflection, investigation, psychological clarity; recognizing pain.

Please continue to follow me on social media, and don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@liannemccafferty1238

As always, feel free to get in touch, or come and have a chat with me if we happen to be at the same conference. Also, do let me know if there is anything astrological you would like me to write about in future newsletters.

Have a wonderful September, lots of love and thank you for your continued support

Lianne xx