Monthly Astro Forecast: New Moon in Libra
The new moon in Libra on October 9 is a moon of equilibrium, of relationship, of light and shadow. After the Sun moves into Libra at the Autumn Equinox, here in the northern hemisphere where I am writing we have moved into the dark half of the year. Libra energy asks us to look to our relationships, to how authentic they are and to how authentic we are within them. How do we find ourselves through other people? How do other people reflect ourselves back to us?
Relationships are such a loaded and emotive area. As a tarot reader, a high percentage of those who come to me for readings ask about relationships and even if they've come with a different question on their mind, they'll often add in a relationship question if there's time. Often they are asking about a past relationship - what did it end? will they get back together? - or a potential relationship - is that bloke who smiles at me sometimes on the train "the one"? And I can't help wondering, about all the energy and thought and worry that goes into these longed for relationships, or the hope of them. If we could let all that go, so much energy would be released for ourselves, for our individual growth and for making the world a better place. The media and popular culture bombard us with images of relationships, functional or otherwise until we feel that being in a relationship is the only kind of normal allowed. We know the romantic ideal is just that, an ideal, and yet we still long for it and assume that once it happens for us, our lives will be perfect. There is a huge amount of social pressure to be in a relationship, and we are conditioned to this from a young age. And yet.
Maybe relationships are so important because they are the catalyst for so much of our personal growth. We project all the parts of ourselves we don't like outwards, and then are surprised when we meet them in our partner. Following the new moon in Libra, the personal planets are either in Libra or Scorpio, where our deepest emotions lurk in all their power. We are asked how we work with polarities - do we see everything as black and white, or as shades of grey? Do we deny our shadow or embrace it?
It can't be denied that the polarities of masculine and feminine are way out of balance, especially in the so-called western world. We only have to look at what's currently going down in the USA to see quite how far out of balance. Venus, the ruler of Libra and planet of feminine energy and how we relate to others, is currently retrograde in the deep waters of Scorpio. The symbolism is textbook perfect for women speaking out, voices from the past demanding recognition and justice (also symbolised by Libra). There needs to be a re-balancing, wouldn't you agree? Whatever you think about individual cases, the principle behind them is the same. For years many women have been victims and also "punished" or blamed for their victimhood. For years many men have hidden behind a normalised version of toxic masculinity. (For the record, yes I know I am generalising. I have no wish to offend anybody and am merely looking at how a social trend is reflected in the astrological symbolism). The shifts between Venus and the other planets over the coming weeks show these energies playing out. On October 11, Venus makes a square aspect to Mars, the feminine and the masculine clashing (also for the record - I know it's not as simple as masculine and feminine, active and receptive, however you want to describe that dynamic. That might be a whole other post, one day...) Mars is in Aquarius, fighting for equality and social justice. On October 15, Mercury meets Venus in Scorpio and we may hear more voices coming forth, speaking out finally. On October 23rd, the Sun moves into Scorpio and illuminates the depths, bringing even more of the collective shadow into the light. The next day the Sun opposes Uranus, on the cusp of Taurus, shining a light on our cultural assumptions about who owns our bodies - do we have ownership of our own bodies? Do certain entitled sectors of society assume that they own everyone's bodies? On the 26th, the Sun meets Venus, the spotlight may be on women again as they find their voices. The Sun, Mercury and Venus all make square aspects to the nodal axis during the last two weeks in October, highlighting the connections between masculine and feminine, the light and the shadow. Do we stay in our comfort zone or take the difficult road towards genuine change? This is a dynamic playing out in the fixed signs, which resist change and don't back down easily from whichever path they choose.
Mercury makes a fairly speedy journey through Scorpio, moving into that sign on October 10 and on into Sagittarius on October 31st. Just long enough for that trickster energy to shake up the collective shadow without waiting to see where the dust falls. Uranus is on the move too, retrograding back into fiery Aries on November 6th to remind us to fight for what is right and hold to our truth. Venus retrogrades into Libra on October 31st, reminding us of the importance of harmony and equilibrium. Libra is the sign of active intelligence, seeking to bring the conversation out into the open and find a diplomatic solution. The deep work of relationships is to relate as our most conscious, authentic self so that we can build a relationship which is also conscious and authentic. The hope of healing comes on November 1st, when expansive Jupiter makes a flowing trine aspect to Chiron, the wounded healer. There is some strong teacher energy here and we need to be careful not to patronise or assume that we are in the right. Past emotional wounds may be exaggerated or suddenly seem overwhelming. But we can also find meaning in them and a sense of release.
Maybe relationships are so important because they are the catalyst for so much of our personal growth. We project all the parts of ourselves we don't like outwards, and then are surprised when we meet them in our partner. Following the new moon in Libra, the personal planets are either in Libra or Scorpio, where our deepest emotions lurk in all their power. We are asked how we work with polarities - do we see everything as black and white, or as shades of grey? Do we deny our shadow or embrace it?
Mercury makes a fairly speedy journey through Scorpio, moving into that sign on October 10 and on into Sagittarius on October 31st. Just long enough for that trickster energy to shake up the collective shadow without waiting to see where the dust falls. Uranus is on the move too, retrograding back into fiery Aries on November 6th to remind us to fight for what is right and hold to our truth. Venus retrogrades into Libra on October 31st, reminding us of the importance of harmony and equilibrium. Libra is the sign of active intelligence, seeking to bring the conversation out into the open and find a diplomatic solution. The deep work of relationships is to relate as our most conscious, authentic self so that we can build a relationship which is also conscious and authentic. The hope of healing comes on November 1st, when expansive Jupiter makes a flowing trine aspect to Chiron, the wounded healer. There is some strong teacher energy here and we need to be careful not to patronise or assume that we are in the right. Past emotional wounds may be exaggerated or suddenly seem overwhelming. But we can also find meaning in them and a sense of release.