MONTHLY OVERVIEW:

You’re in a family spirit for Labor Day, feeling the love of your closest kin. The Sun is touring Virgo, your domestic fourth house, until the 22nd. It’s a great time to host a “farewell to summer” bash or to visit your relatives. Home improvement projects go well for the first part of the month, so get all HGTV and tackle a Fall clean-up or renovation. When the Sun moves into Libra on the 22nd, romance, passion and creativity are highlighted. It’s a great time to add new art and bold touches to your home, especially in gold and dark red.

Your ruler Mercury spends much of September retrograde (backward), getting Fall off to a patchy start. Manage your expectations, Gemini, and you’ll avert any big disasters. If you plan to hit a few inevitable snags, you’ll be prepared and will easily recover. Mercury will retrograde through your home, family and romance sectors. Heal any rifts with relatives, especially between mothers, sisters and daughters. An important female from your past could play into events. If you’re moving try to wait until next month, or at least after the 18th.

LOVE & ROMANCE:
Your love department is bustling this month. From September 8th-18th, Mercury retrogrades through Libra, your romance sector. You could hear from an ex out of the blue, or possibly even rekindle romance with an old heartthrob. Tense communication and misunderstandings come easily during this cycle, and you’ll be quick to start up drama. Everything suddenly seems charged with emotion and meaning—are you trying for an Oscar? Take a tranquilizer, Gemini. It will all get better when the Sun moves into Libra on the 22nd.

The big news happens on the 10th, when transformational Pluto ends a five-month retrograde in Capricorn, your sex and intimacy sector. Many Geminis have opened up to deeper love and connection than ever in 2009. While Pluto was retrograde, some old fears could have cropped up, although in some ways, this cycle mellowed out your control issues. This made you more open to intimate bonding, a positive side effect.

When Pluto goes direct (forward), the intensity heats up around your love life, and you feel the urge to take more concrete “we” actions. This could include moving in with a mate, getting engaged, trying for a baby or merging your finances. Pluto’s tour of Capricorn is a 16-year cycle that started last November, so your evolution from rugged individualism into couple-think is happening slowly but surely—so subtly you can’t pinpoint how. That’s the magic of Pluto. By Thanksgiving, you’ll realize how much you’ve changed in the past year.

MONEY & CAREER:
Focus on building security, Gemini. While you tend to be a short-term, instant gratification type, your analytical mind can make you a financial dynamo—if you can just sit still long enough to crunch the numbers. When powerful Pluto goes direct in your wealth sector on the 10th, start transforming your financial habits from the inside out. Money is energy, so any blocks in your personal life will be reflected in the way you spend, save and invest. Pluto is here until 2024, so the next cycle of your life is important for setting up a long-term wealth strategy.

Get ready to hit the ground running after Labor Day. Energetic Mars is in your money sector until October 16th, revving you up to find new sources of income. On September 4th, the Pisces full moon lights up your tenth house of career and success. You may decide to switch paths, or you could score a major coup. Labor Day parties can also be an opportunity to make important connections, so be prepared.

The one trying day is September 15th, when tough Saturn will oppose unpredictable Uranus in your career sector one last time. This tense dynamic, which has been on and off since last October, has made it hard to juggle work and family, or professional and personal demands. A final round of changes, either to your home life, family structure or career, could come around this day. Be flexible and open to changes, while still keeping an eye on stability and planting deep roots.

HEALTH & FITNESS:
With your hectic early Fall schedule, you need to simplify your life more than ever. It’s easy for you to get swept up in details, scattering your energy and focus. Motivational Mars is in your second house of daily routines until mid-October. Prioritize and create a few daily habits, like eating meals and going to bed at approximately the same time every night. Those little actions go far in helping you stay sane and grounded, especially while Mercury is retrograde. The Virgo Sun emphasizes self-care through the 22nd. This will keep emotional stress at bay, particularly from family members and lovers.

When Venus moves into Virgo, a little vanity goes far in motivating you to shape up. Don’t obsess over your so-called flaws, Gemini, or you’ll only want to quit before you start. Begin from an affirming place, using mantras and affirmations, and focusing on pleasure. Feeding yourself nutritious food doesn’t feel like a chore when you adapt gourmet recipes, or use natural ingredients that you love. And if exercise feels like torture, you’re probably doing the wrong thing! There’s no need to suffer. Remember, your goal is to feel connected to your body and alive in your own skin. Better to take a brisk, one-hour walk rocking out to great music than kill yourself lifting weights or doing boring reps on the machines.

Lucky Days: September 12, 30
Money Days: September 4, 14
Love Days: September 20, 25
Off Days: September 9, 26