LIBRA NEW MOON: Piecing Together the Greater Song

October’s new moon is in the sign of Libra. In the Northern hemisphere, the start of this sign coincides with the Autumnal Equinox.*  The Sun now moves through this sector of the sky, ahead of Venus.  Venus is in the early degrees of the sign, having recently disengaged from a once-in-two-year rendezvous with her polar planet, Mars, who is still in Virgo. Jupiter, meanwhile, has just left Libra, himself having entered Scorpio, met there by Mercury.  The Sun is now close on the heels of Jupiter, who was visible high in the sky at sunset all summer long.  Now in this latter season, Jupiter has fallen into the sunset’s glare, unable to be seen until it reemerges in the early morning hours in November.  In the same fashion, at the new moon phase, the Moon crosses paths with the Sun, temporarily obscuring it from our vision in the brilliant light of the solar orb.  

The glyph for Libra

Libra is symbolized by the Scales, indicating it is a sign which aspires to balance. It is fitting that within the solar cycle, this sign is initiated by the Equinox, the period of equality between light and dark, a fundamental polarity in the human experience.  Similarly, within the day, Libra aligns with sunset.  This is indicated by its glyph. Two parallel lines extend horizontally.  A semi-circle, flat side down, is centered within the upper line, to create an image much like the sun sinking below the horizon.  Sunset is a twilight period, when light and dark are even to the eye and conscious and unconscious reality are infused by one another.  Along with sunrise, it has traditionally been considered to be a time ripe for prayer, and other practices in which one seeks inner clarity and contentment. 

On the archetypal wheel, Libra is positioned at the median point.  It is the first of six signs that occupy the outer/social realm, following the six which define the inner/personal experience. It is a sign of relationship, the archetypal other, as it opposes Aries, the sign of self. Libra’s planetary ruler, Venus, shares her name with the Roman goddess of love and fortune. She is herself associated with the concept of value and relationship, and the spectrum of experience of how energy and resources are shared. Venus, the planet, inspires cooperative interaction for mutual benefit (as opposed to her polar, Mars, who fuels competition for personal growth). Guided by this celestial benefactress, the Libra seeks to harmonize the environment through the practice of aesthetics and social graces. These subtle tools, with their Venusian charm, assist in successfully mediating relationships between people.  

Being so preoccupied, Libra can have the tendency to romanticize reality, endeavoring to avoid unpleasantries and maintain convivial relations. As an Air sign, however, the Libran archetype has a mental bias that is keen to deduce a suitable compromise when faced with conflict.  Ever eager to maintain balance, Libra employs communication and reasoning skills to stay above the emotional investment in the matter.  With scales in hand and blindfold on, Libra obeys the Rule of Law as the neutral arbiter of grievances.  Fitting for this sign, whose element is the air on which the proverbial Scales of Justice find their rest. 

With Venus unaspected in Libra this new moon, there is a certain freedom to allow for her style of indulgence.  Yet a harsh aspect stirs this Libra moon from the luxury of comfort. Once again, Uranus in Aries is creating a tense aspect to the Sun/Moon, increasing the chance that unexpected events or information will upset the balance.  Next year, Uranus will move into Taurus, after having been in Aries since 2011.  In this period, it has moved in and out of a square with Pluto, with Jupiter joining the dance last year in opposition to Uranus.  With Jupiter changing signs this year and Uranus next, this long-standing aspect pattern is in the process of breaking apart.  So how have all these planets been interacting, and how does it relate to this new moon?

Uranus in Aries revolutionizes the individual.  Pluto in Capricorn transforms structures of power.  Jupiter in Libra expands concepts of justice and mediation in relationship.  Putting these pieces together, we create a picture of an ebb and flow of human evolution, in which our internal growth is catalyzed by the pressures of of peers and social institutions, and in which our social systems are revolutionized by each individual bravely claiming their inalienable rights.  The tension has been high, as growth periods generally are. Now, the picture shifts. After thirteen months, Jupiter is in Scorpio.  This planet, called the "Guru"  (often translated to the "dispeller of darkness"), is in the realm of the secretive shadow.  Here is where all things considered unseemly or taboo are hidden, where, if we are not careful, repressed emotions transform into destructive tendencies and unspoken desires fester into secret obsessions.  With Jupiter in this new venue, a new lens is applied to old questions, allowing us a new perspective on the potential solutions.  Each being of light necessarily has a shadow, a place where the unwanted parts of oneself are relegated to the status of “other."  When we attempt to hide what in us we consider unloveable, we succumb to fear and irrationality. What fears have given rise to the shadow of our society?  Where have we failed to uphold justice and equality in our relationships and social institutions?  How can we use the Libran skills of communication and logic to allow each part and person its voice, to find the dynamic balance of unity?

With the Sun/Moon in Libra opposing Uranus in Aries, we are reminded that harmony requires radical inclusion. In the process of peace-building, we piece together different voices in their unique individuality to draw forth a greater song. Self/Other is a polarity as foundational as Light/Dark, for both these polarities are immediately evident to the individual in the moment of birth.  As we take our first breath, we are faced with the entire saga of the human condition--how to reconcile the self that is birthed from the other, and the shadow that is birthed from the light. From this philosophical point, we launch into a conscious presence in which we recognize any two polarities, no matter how different their extremes may seem, exist along a single continuum.  There is always a point of reconciliation, of atonement, in the center that they share.  At twilight, neither light nor dark dominates.  We see in their compromise the wondrous array of colors decorating the sunset. If we were seek a similar balance in ourselves and our relationships, to what unknown splendor may we give birth?

*This article will use the Northern hemisphere as the default for seasonal markers. 

VIRGO NEW MOON: To Bear Harvest, Bear Witness

With the turning of the seasons here on Earth, so too have the celestial bodies overhead continued in their orbits to transform the seasons of our sky.  Notably, this year the nodes of the Moon shifted from their two year journey through the Virgo-Pisces axis into the polarity of Leo-Aquarius.  This new position was sealed by the total solar eclipse on August 21st.  In the wake of this grand alignment, many have been jostled awake, to find a new understanding of who they are and how they would like to express themselves within the cosmic theater of life. 

This new moon has a markedly different tone from the one prior. The total solar eclipse happened in the sign of Leo, the Sun-ruled Fire sign known for its center-stage, superstar flair. In trine with rebellious Uranus (itself in the battle-ready Fire sign of Aries), this eclipse spelled potential for disruption and drama, designed to stoke the flames of our internal passion and burn off the dross of our habitual patterns.  Now, the planetary weight is solidly within the humble and diligent Earth sign of Virgo.  Not only will the Sun and Moon conjoin at the far side of the sign (27 degrees), but Mercury and Mars will be nestled tight in its center, with Venus having entered the sign just hours prior to the conjunction of the two luminaries.  Three days later, the Sun moves into Libra, and the Equinox is upon us.

Virgo is one of few human figures among the symbols of the zodiac.  Virgo means the“virgin”--most often envisioned as the chaste maiden or the virgin mother.  The virginity implied by Virgo, however, extends beyond simple celibacy.  In fact, this definition is meant to encompass the larger sphere of internal attention.  After the realization of one’s own self-expression in Leo, in Virgo we move into self-possession.  Here, we apply a critical eye to our outward expression as we get into the business of internal inquiry, in the quest for self-improvement. It is not enough to simply exert one’s undeveloped willpower upon the world, Virgo cautions.  We must attend daily to the discernment of proper action, and engage dutifully in the process of bettering ourselves. In the archetypal process, this step of humble service is the hinge upon which we transition from the sphere of family, into the social sign of Libra that follows.

Coming at the end of the summer season, Virgo is a Mutable Earth sign.  The planetary ruler, Mercury, befits this modality, though it aligns less readily with this element. The mischievous messenger with the mythic winged helmet and sandals can perhaps be more easily identified in the other sign it rules, the Air sign of Gemini.  The expression of Mercury is different when channeled through Earth.  In this denser element, Mercury’s expression becomes less vocal and more manual.  Virgo comes at the time of the harvest, when one must marry the body’s capacity for physical labor with the mental faculty of discrimination to assess the value of the yield. Virgo bears more than the harvest, she also bears honest witness to the fact that how we sow so shall we reap.  Standing before Libra, the Scales, in times past the image of Virgo was associated with Astraea, the goddess of innocence and purity who holds the scales of justice.  Rooted in earthly principles, she holds the device which floats on air, and by connecting the two elements is able to reveal the greater, the lesser, and the balance between two things.  

After the eclipse, each of the personal planets passed over the pivotal point where the Sun and Moon aligned before entering the sign of Virgo, each charged with its own archetypal message of the event. In the body, Virgo rules the intestines, and the processes of digestion and assimilation.  With the five closest celestial bodies currently in the sign of Virgo, we have had time to digest the lessons of the eclipse, and now must work towards integrating them through our bodily consciousness to bring forth their physical manifestation.  Indeed, this will take work, and the process may affect our constitution.  Virgo aligns archetypally with the sixth house of duty and service, health and hygiene.  Applying the analytical style of this sign to unlock this reasoning behind this association, we find that the quality of our commitment to duty and service affects the latter.  Likewise, attending to our health and hygiene is an expression of the former.

The time between the new moon and Equinox is a potent time for setting intentions regarding the information revealed during the eclipse.  The Sun and Moon will again make an exact aspect to Uranus, this time a lesser known relationship, called a “quincunx.”  Planets in this disharmonious aspect tend to meet awkwardly, highlighting any need for adjustment.  This is an effective reminder that though Virgo loves nothing more than to achieve order through daily routine, we must be sure we are still adjusting our efforts to strive for improvement.  As all things in this world, the Virgoan concept of service works both ways.  In order to be of effective service to others, we cannot afford to fall back into patterns which, though comfortable in their familiarity, no longer serve us.  Mercury in opposition with Neptune in Pisces inspires us to see beyond the pattern.  Active Mars conjunct Mercury in Virgo will help us to harness our willpower towards rectifying the misalignment of our Self to our Source, as revealed by the eruptive eclipse.  Next week, as Pluto stations direct in harmonious relationship to Mars, the energy of transformation in this cycle will reach the apex of its power.  Take this time to bear honest witness to yourself, what you have harvested from your actions, and move into better balance.

LEO SOLAR ECLIPSE: Forging a New Way of Being

This year, two new moons occur in the sign of Leo.  The second, on August 21st, is widely hailed as the most significant celestial event of 2017 due to its status as a total solar eclipse.  While every new moon is an occasion in which the Sun and Moon cross paths in the sky, during an “eclipse season” the two luminaries are in a particularly precise alignment with Earth.  At this time, the orbital planes intersect, so that during a solar eclipse the Moon passes directly in front of the Sun.  Because from our perspective the Sun and Moon are relatively the same size in the sky, this creates a pronounced shadow upon our planet.  It is a natural phenomena that is a stunning display of the elegant clockwork that is our solar system, and one that stirs our most primal perceptions of our place on Earth.

Throughout the course of history, humans have watched the skies, using the movement of the stars and planets as critical reference points to orient ourselves and organize our efforts in time and space.  According to the framework of the tropical zodiac, this solar eclipse occurs at the precipice of the final degree of Leo.  While the first of the two Leo new moons was in the first degree (0 degrees) of the sign, this time around the Sun and Moon will conjoin just shy of the final degree.  Although not a critical degree (like 0 or 29), at 28 degrees another significant aspect reveals itself--a trine to Uranus in Aries.  Aries and Leo are two of the three fire signs, associated respectively with the essential qualities of being and expression.  These two fundamental aspects of identity are linked here in harmonious relationship, however the Sun and Moon are creating an eclipse. This is a shadow period, a twilight of the mind in which our vision becomes clouded and confused, but also one in which we may find an equanimity between light and shadow, and the higher and deeper levels of consciousness. Uranus, who recently turned retrograde, has been a major player in this year’s astrology.  Already known to be the unruly and unpredictable planet, in retrograde the internal disorder Uranus can create be makes its lessons even more difficult to discern.

Examining Uranus’s activity in the survey of celestial events reveals its ubiquitous presence of late. In recent years, Uranus has been engaged in a tense aspects with Pluto and Jupiter, moving in and out of a square to the former in Capricorn and an opposition to the latter in Libra. Currently situated in the sign of Aries, both the luminaries and each of the three personal planets recently took their turns crossing Uranus’s path this past Spring.  Most recently, Uranus presided as planetary ruler of this solar eclipse’s partner lunar eclipse in Aquarius (See https://www.facebook.com/astronotions/posts/1926517080936880). However, what is most important to remember is that, regardless of how it appears in one’s life, the Uranian archetype is the disrupter of form.  In Aries, this form is our very being.  Linked to our identity through the trine to the eclipsed Sun/Moon, it challenges us to examine our self-expression and the connection between who we are and how we act.

Uranus electrifies.  Its energy can be a shock to the system that resets our ingrained patterns. In accordance with its rulership of science, the touch of Uranus can act like that of Dr. Frankenstein, who in his quest to create a new human was led to awaken shadow aspects of ourselves long considered dead, dormant, or repressed.  Drawing from the literary metaphor of Mary Shelley’s wonderful work, we discover that we are each in fact responsible for creating and nurturing our own “monsters” as we hide them in our shadow and feed them with our misplaced shame.  It is an understanding that may be daunting in the personal responsibility it entails, yet has the power to revolutionize our perspective and liberate ourselves from the prison of our preconceptions to open up whole new ways of being and expressing out individuality.   

For our ancestors, eclipses were events that were generally feared.  Since we observe from our natural environment that light is life-giving, shadow has developed as the opposing mythos in the human mind. Eclipses were diligently calculated and recorded to assist in predicting and mitigating their effects.  As our knowledge of these celestial bodies has grown and our understanding evolved, we are now freed from fear to approach these events with curiosity, fascination, and reverence.  Practicing Astrology, we are charged to remember the Hermetic axiom--as above, so below! By using our understanding of the skies as a mirror for understanding ourselves, in the eclipse we are given an extraordinary example of the inevitable meeting the internal shadow with our conscious awareness.  By yielding the passivity of fear to a more constructive attitude of active exploration, we find that engaging with our shadow selves is the most direct path to self-knowledge, one that is immensely rewarding, if challenging.  

In Leo, this eclipse casts its light upon the inner realm to see from where we find our joy, draw our willpower, and create our self-expression.  Likewise, it exposes where lies the shadows of our inertia, our shame, and our self-defeating attitudes.  In Aries, Uranus unsettles previously determined structures that we depend upon to define our identities.  Here is a handy mirror through which to see that which we hide from our own self-awareness in order to protect the image we prefer to project. Mars, ruler of Aries and therefore here Uranus as well, is also in Leo, supported by stable Saturn and jovial Jupiter.  Leo represents courage, and Mars the Warrior. Those who choose to accept the challenge of integrating the shadow and forge a new way of being, will be supported by this celestial configuration. 

With the eclipses and retrogrades, buried emotions may surge forth raw and intense in ways the conscious mind will be slow to mitigate.  Leo energy is youthful and fun, but in the negative manifestation can be self-centered and overly dramatic. Correctly embodying the energy of Leo, we become audience to the magnificent theater that is the universe, one in which we see ourselves perform alternating roles as actor, director, and stagehand, in a play whose script we continuously co-create with all that is.  This eclipse, if we take the time to pause and stand back from the constructs of our egos, we are given an opportunity to witness who we are beneath these roles. From these observations, we may discern how we inwardly identify and how we outwardly radiate that identity through affecting different attitudes that color our actions. With the revolutionary energy of Uranus in Aries combined with the playful confidence of Leo, we are able to to radically reinvent ourselves in a manner that powerfully unites our light and shadow sides so we may draw inspiration from higher realms and fortitude from deeper depths.