This week the focus is on the self. It is time to pay attention to what you need, what nurtures you and what brings you joy. Life sometimes gets in the way of remembering that our focus has to be on the self in order for us to evolve, and in turn help others.

Some have gotten caught up in the theory that we must serve others in order to be spiritual. We are thinking and feeling the issues and making determinations about how best to deal with them; "Judge not less you are willing to be judged," comes to mind.

Monday opens the door to a major point in our journey. Mercury connects with Saturn at 21° Virgo, which is also the degree that Mercury will retrograde back to during the September Mercury retrograde process. Mercury brings forward information that Saturn points to in the audit focus of accountability. Saturn in Virgo requires that we take responsibility for doing things right; making the right decision and following it up with the right action. This requires self-discipline to follow a course of action that is prompted by right use of motives, ethics and willpower.

Monday also brings another aspect that plays an important role as well. With the Sun in opposition to Neptune, we have situations that are at odds with the spiritual sense of rightness. These are the issues and circumstances that will be brought forward during this Mercury retrograde.

The reality is that if we have not focused upon our own needs, and not taken the time to heal ourselves, we are of no good to others. On a spiritual level, we do serve others as well as ourselves, but if the vessel that brings the energy is cracked and not cared for, then we have nothing to bring to the table. This does not mean that it is all right to be selfish; it means that in order to be effective we must care for ourselves, as well as sharing with others.

Tuesday we make some bold decisions and put these decisions into action, which escalates into the New Moon early on Thursday. The New Moon is at 27° Leo, which opens the door for our will to shift our journey along with our course of action to boldly address key issues. This continues into Friday as Mercury opposes Uranus, which points to the areas that need to be changed, reformed and integrated into the situations. Communication comes in which points to the areas that need to be revised. The winds of change blow in more information than is visible, which pulls the curtain back to see the inner workings of these issues.

Throughout the Mercury Retrograde of September, we have these two aspects that become a major force in the revision, transition and course correction for this time. Mercury connecting with Saturn and Mercury opposition Uranus are both impacting the Mercury retrograde in September, and these two aspects are happening this week to provide us with a preview of the pertinent issues that will become the course correction in September.

This week the energies focus upon the self and what you need to be vibrantly alive and joyful, for without those qualities your energy does not reach out to others. We heal and share only when those aspects have been addressed within our selves. Take the time to nurture and pamper yourself. The light and joy from that experience will spill over to others, which helps them to find their own inner lights and evolve into the healing process as well.

Two excellent examples of this process are Mother Theresa and Gandhi. Look at their lives and what they were able to do after they had addressed their own issues, which brought peace and joy to their own hearts.