The serene sign of Virgo is now situated in the center of the stars. The gentle essence of Virgo is just what the planet needs at this juncture. The Sun has moved from the heart of Summer, embodied in fun loving large-hearted Leo to practical Virgo. This sign brings us back to the routines of work and school.

The symbol of the mind, Mercury, begins this cycle in logical Virgo and then starts a backtracking phase on September the 9th. This is helpful in reviewing our past; as always during a retrograde, hold on to your car keys and double check scheduling. On October 2nd we will be able to move forward again.

Aries - Practical Virgo is certainly going to request an energetic Aries that you look before you leap. This is the ideal time to marshal your strong vitality and to bring your skills in various sports to a whole new level. Why not amplify your health as well with dietary improvements.

Taurus - Astrological destiny favors Tau­rus and so does the Sun in Virgo. Creative projects continue with children, as they enter Virgo’s schoolhouse. You can make this transi­tion for them pleasurable, with inventive ideas. You can also make progress with your own artistic projects.

Gemini - Virgo asks that the twins slow down long enough to bring projects to a con­clusion before starting new ones. This theme really comes into focus on the 10th, when your ruler lively Mercury starts reversing. As a twin, double check your schedule to avoid double booking.

Cancer - The Moon Children appreci­ate the clarity that arises from Virgo. While it seems incongruous that Mercury reversing will further your projects, perhaps backtracking and reviewing will allow you to know exactly where you want to arrive with these ventures.

Leo - As the large-hearted lion you are the leader of the pack, the one who designs all of the adventures in the Sun. Now you hand the birthday crown to calm Virgo who restores or­der to the land. Virgo allows you to approach the goals that you want to achieve in the year ahead.

Virgo - Happy Birthday to you! This is the time for you to celebrate with friends and loved ones, as well as to plan the year that you will now start. This process begins with Mercury, the symbol of the mind, reversing in order to better allow you to know precisely where you want to go.

Libra - You are the next sign to have your birthdays. Therefore, you could review the year that you are concluding. The cosmos is allowing this process to proceed, because Mercury is reversing, looking back at the past in order to assimilate it and then bring new ideas forward.

Scorpio - Efficient Virgo stimulates the power dynamic inherent in Scorpio effectively. You know what you want to accomplish and Virgo has the ways and means to achieve your goals. If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again and then you will appreciate the results that you will garner.

Sagittarius - The Sun has entered indus­trious Virgo. The portion of your star chart that features contact with the world around you is accented. With a retrograde ahead, you can draw on your past in order to know how to pro­ceed in your future in order to gain maximum results.

Capricorn - Calm, cool and collected Virgo arrives in the center of the stars, ready to work and get the job done. Diligent Capricorn is ready to blend these energies with the bonus of bringing creativity to the tasks at hand. Ex­pect big accomplishments in the world around you this month.

Aquarius - Resources are the theme for you- whether they are arriving from your innate talents, people around you who are willing to work with you, or from the world around you. Apply these resources ingeniously, blending them synergistically so that the sum is greater than the parts.

Pisces - Virgo is in the center of the stars, accenting partnerships for you. With the aster­oid Juno in your sign it is important to you that others do their share of the job as well. Virgo hosts a retrograde so analyze your behavior from the past to inform your choices in the fu­ture.

Karen Anderson does readings at Blue Owl Books in Nederland on the weekend; you can reach her at 303-258-7258.