Mercury moves into Libra

Peaceful persuasion, charming chatter and refined repartee. Get ready for a lot of discussion and information exchange as the Planet of Communication, Mercury, moves into the sociable sign of Libra. While Mercury in Virgo made for logical and efficient thinking, Mercury in Libra means intellectual talk and fair-minded thinking. The lines of communication will be humming with conversation when Mercury waltzes into Libra on September 16th. The seventh sign of the Zodiac, Libra speaks to harmony, cooperation, fairness and justice. Ruled by Venus, the Planet of Love, Libra is charmed by all things beautiful, including the arts, peace and refinement. Also known as the sign of partnership, Libra loves life as part of a pair. Symbolized by the Scales of Justice, this sign is concerned with fairness and equity. Striking a balance is what it's all about. Libra wants to live in a harmonious and beautiful world that's free of conflict and confrontation. Along with that aim, however, making decisions does not come too easily, and peace could cost a hefty price. All forms of communication, whether written, spoken, electronic or otherwise, fall under the domain of Mercury. The Planet of Communication encompasses awareness, intellect, reasoning and logic. This fast moving planet manages the movement of our minds, influencing quick thinking and quick wit. Expression and transmission of thoughts are the realm of Mercury. A personalized astrology report can tell you about your individual manner of thought and expression. With Mercury in Libra, expect a lot of talk and a lot of information to be going back and forth. The intellectual air sign of Libra paired up with the expressive planet of Mercury makes for genial conversation and sophisticated socializing. It will be a good time to be fair with the influence of the Scales of Justice in the air. You'll be able to see both sides of a situation in a diplomatic and broad-minded manner. Just don't count on being able to make a snap decision! Finding a fair and agreeable solution takes time and cooperation. Sometimes that isn't easy. On our message board this week, tell us about a lie you've told to keep the peace. Other astrological influences this week: 4 retrograde planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune will all be moving backward, or retrograde, marking a period of internalization. This could make for a potentially challenging point in time when we reflect upon our values and course of action. While Jupiter and Saturn are both in the stubborn sign of Taurus, Uranus and Neptune are in the freethinking sign of Aquarius. The planets are forming a square to each other. In other words, they are 90 degrees apart, an aspect which creates tension and friction. With Jupiter square Neptune, ideals, values and beliefs will come into question. Spirituality and big picture concepts will be challenged. Rather than taking action, it's probably best to sit down and take the time to contemplate these issues. Also, take into account Saturn square Uranus, which pits authority against rebellion. You may feel as though you want to break out, but fear of the consequences could be holding you back. Rebels could feel particularly challenged at this time. Set aside time to reflect upon your choices and your decisions.