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The coming autumnal equinox invites us into a season of equilibrium—where the light and dark stand in balance and harmony, revealing that every ending carries within it the seed of renewal.
This year, the equinox coincides with eclipse season, a time when fate takes the wheel and destiny shifts the trajectory of our path. It’s no secret that eclipse season is not for the fainthearted—it is a combination of karmic closures and soul-level beginnings brought on by course corrections.
The final eclipse of the year arrives on Sept. 21, a new moon solar eclipse at 29 degrees of Virgo. In astrology, the 29th degree carries a mystical wisdom as it is symbolic of mastery, and a spiritual culmination of what we’ve lived, learned and integrated.
Virgo completes the first half of the zodiac wheel — representing everything from our personal identity to our self-awareness — which also signals a level of completion. That said, this eclipse is both an ending and a reset, urging us to release karmic ties, spiritual contracts and prepare for a new season of becoming.
With Saturn retrograde also sitting directly across this solar eclipse, its opposition could feel like a delay or heaviness. But in reality, the taskmaster’s role is to hold up a mirror, as a way for us to confront what needs closure and claim responsibility for ourselves in the process.
Saturn has been testing our limits, highlighting the areas of life where we lack accountability or discipline. After all, there are some lessons that can no longer be avoided. Whether it be a crisis or a turning point, one thing’s for sure: endings always arrive in divine timing.
The essence of Virgo, on the other hand, is here to ground us with practicality and devotion. Themes surrounding our health, habits and daily routines are also of greater importance. Whether it be guilt, stress or physical strain, it’s important to be mindful of what our minds and bodies are trying to tell us.
Are your lifestyle choices up to par with your future goals? Are limiting beliefs inhibiting you from reaching your fullest potential? Virgo isn’t just about our mental and physical health, but also the health of the world we live in. If you’ve been absorbing something toxic or spiritually depleting, it can no longer be denied, as this eclipse highlights what needs to be cleared.
With the sun entering Libra a day later, themes of transition and maturity are undeniable, as something old needs to be released so something new can take its place. In any event, Saturn has been quietly pointing out what no longer fits, but now Virgo is making it conscious. Pay attention.
With Mercury (the celestial ruler of this solar eclipse) transiting Libra, there is clarity and objectivity in our ability to see both sides of a situation. What are you finally ready to release—mentally, physically, spiritually? Rest assured, your mind, body and spirit already know the answer.
In the meantime, read on for what the partial solar eclipse has in store for your zodiac sign. Don’t forget to read for your sun, moon and rising sign!
Aries
Trust the small, steady shifts—they’re the ones that change everything, Aries. The solar eclipse is charging up your dutiful sixth house of health, habits, and daily rituals, pushing you to refine the rhythms that support your growth. Meanwhile, Saturn retrograde in Pisces stirs your 12th house, bringing everything from hidden fears and outdated patterns to subconscious resistance up to the surface. You may feel called to address how stress, guilt, or self-sacrifice weighs on your mind, body, and soul. It’s time to create routines that feel nourishing instead of draining. Solar eclipse affirmation: I release what weighs me down and create sacred rituals that honor my mind, body, and spirit.
Taurus
Let love and creativity flow, but remember that your boundaries are sacred, Taurus. September’s solar eclipse will touch down on your fifth house of passion, awakening your creative spark, romantic desires, and sense of joy. Where have you dimmed your light, and where do you dare to play more boldly? Saturn retrograde in Pisces brings awareness to your 11th house of society, bringing a reality check around friendships, communities, and collective roles. Not everyone deserves front-row access to your heart. You’re learning to discern which connections uplift you and which drain you. Solar eclipse affirmation: I honor my creativity as sacred and choose connections that celebrate my authenticity.
Gemini
Caring for your inner world is not indulgence; taking care of you is not selfish—it’s the foundation for all your success. Hovering over your fourth house of home, the solar eclipse is stirring the foundations of your home, family and emotional stability. Saturn retrograde in Pisces brings pressure to your 10th house of authority and reputation, calling attention to the balance between your personal and professional life. Are you over-giving at work while your personal world craves attention? This is a call to reset and create a sanctuary that nourishes your spirit. Solar eclipse affirmation: I am rooted in safety when I nurture the home within and around me.
Cancer
Your words are medicine, so treat them as such, Cancer. The same goes for your inner dialogue — does it stem from fear or faith? This solar eclipse activates your third house of communication, thoughts, and your immediate environment, but Saturn retrograde in Pisces challenges your belief systems while pushing you to explore new horizons. If anything, this is your moment to cut through the noise, step into your truth, and release outdated mindsets. Conversations can feel fated at this time, offering both closure and awakening. Solar eclipse affirmation: When I speak my truth, I speak with clarity, allowing wisdom to flow through me.
Leo
Remember who you are, Leo. With the eclipse hovering over your second house of values, money, and self-worth, themes of security and stability rise to the surface. Meanwhile, Saturn retrograde in Pisces activates your eighth house, calling you to examine debts, shared resources, and emotional entanglements that weigh on your spirit. This is a karmic reset around what you truly value—not just in finances, but in your energy exchanges. Solar eclipse affirmation: I claim and honor my worth; I release attachments that no longer serve me.
Virgo
This one’s for you, Virgo — a brand-new era is loading. Shaking things up in your sign, this solar eclipse marks a significant rebirth of identity and self-expression. In the meantime, the influence of Saturn retrograde in Pisces in your seventh house mirrors back where relationships may have challenged your growth. Who are you beyond the roles others project onto you? This is a soul-level reset, asking you to shed old skins and step into your self-mastery. You’re learning that boundaries are acts of love, and that authenticity is your greatest gift. Solar eclipse affirmation: I embrace my evolution and step boldly into my truth.
Libra
Trust that these endings are sacred, Libra. September’s solar eclipse will charge up your 12th house of healing, spirituality and unconscious patterns, urging you to release and surrender what is no longer resonating with the person you’re becoming. In the meantime, Saturn retrograde in Pisces in your sixth house highlights the ways routines or obligations may have pulled you away from your spiritual alignment. Now is the time to unclench, dissolve, and allow what’s no longer sustainable to fall away. Your healing happens in stillness, in the quiet devotion of letting go. Solar eclipse affirmation: I surrender what no longer serves me and trust the divine timing of my path.
Scorpio
Your future is shifting in ways you would’ve never imagined, so choose consciously, Scorpio. The solar eclipse in Virgo charges up your 11th house of community, friendship and future visions. Still, Saturn retrograde in Pisces in your fifth house calls for discernment around your creative and romantic investments. While some dreams survive this reset, others will dissolve to make space for what is real. Surround yourself with communities that honor your authenticity and support your growth. Solar eclipse affirmation: By honoring my truth, I become a magnet for individuals and opportunities that inspire and uplift me.
Sagittarius
Success begins with sacred alignment, Sagittarius. This is especially relevant at this time as the solar eclipse is hovering over your 10th house of reputation and public persona. This is not only a karmic reset in your career and public image, but a reminder that the success you crave must be rooted in your personal stability and fulfillment. Where have you been overextending for recognition at the expense of personal peace? A new chapter of leadership is calling, one that aligns with both purpose and home. Solar eclipse affirmation: I am building my legacy from a place of inner strength and genuine purpose.
Capricorn
A karmic turning point arrives, whether through travel, education, or spirituality, guiding you into new heights, Capricorn. The solar eclipse stirs your expansive ninth house of beliefs, wisdom, and long-term visions, while Saturn retrograde (your celestial ruler) asks you to release outdated thought patterns or heavy mental loops that block your expansion. Your path forward requires faith, but also discernment—knowing which truths are yours and which you’ve inherited. Solar eclipse affirmation: I trust the wisdom unfolding as I venture into new horizons and embrace my truth.
Aquarius
Release what binds you in fear and step into bonds built on trust and mutual respect, Aquarius. The solar eclipse in Virgo will ignite your eighth house of intimate unions and shared investments, while Saturn retrograde in Pisces in your second house calls for deeper honesty around your relationship with money, possessions, and self-worth. Where have you been giving away power—financially or emotionally? This eclipse reset asks you to reclaim it. Solar eclipse affirmation: I release fears that don’t belong to me; I reclaim my power and self-worth, and embrace intimacy with an open heart.
Pisces
You’re realizing that honoring yourself sets the tone for all connections, Pisces. With the solar eclipse in Virgo highlighting your seventh house of partnerships, everything from your commitments to the foundation of your exchanges is in karmic focus. In the meantime, Saturn retrograde is back in your sign, urging you to take your personal growth and hard work into account — honor the process of your healing journey. Relationships now serve as mirrors, reflecting both your mastery and the shadows you’ve outgrown. This reset may dissolve old contracts while opening space for more bonds that are in genuine alignment. Solar eclipse affirmation: I honor my personal growth and success; I welcome in relationships and connections that reflect my soul’s truth.
Valerie is an astrologer, writer & visual storyteller. She currently writes horoscopes for PEOPLE, formerly for PopSugar, StyleCaster, Elite Daily, among others. For more of her work, check out valeriemesa.com or follow her on Instagram @valeriemesa.
