The constellation Libra is the Scales, representing the weighing of both sides, and balance and fairness in relationships. It’s a good time to forgive, find resolution or reach a compromise. We’re more apt to find just the right gesture or word to set things right. Sometimes all it takes is being open to the other person’s perspective. And it’s miraculous how the words, “I’m sorry” have a way of setting the stage for resolution.


Balance in relationships can be a subtle thing. I once had the realization that my friend from college had been treating me for a long time, and it had led to things feeling off. Mainly it had to do with me having very little money and her having a lot. But it smarted when her boyfriend pointed it out. Without saying anything, I started picking up the tab when we met, and it has slowly started to right itself. A pinnacle moment was when I took them both to lunch when they were in town.


Libra is about give and take, and we can see now whether we’ve been giving or taking too much. We can see this month which relationships have equilibrium, and which are out of whack. We can see where our needs are met, or not. Libra is an initiating cardinal sign, giving us the gumption to act to set things right

When the Moon is new in Libra the Sun is also in Virgo.The New Moon is a time of beginnings. You can set intentions that grow with the lunar light and reach fruition at the Full Moon.


New Moon in Libra themes:
graceful living
playing host or hostess
give and take in relationships
how others see you vs. how you see yourself
tranquility, harmony, peace
compromising
working with a partner
tactful and eloquent language
righting a wrong
being a voice for justice
initiating from grand ideas
high-minded culture
being and creating beauty.


It’s a Good Time to: stretch your body, mind and spirit; purify your living space; listen to someone; consider all sides of an issue; stay light on your feet; glam up your wardrobe; re-balance a relationship; allow time for relaxation; take courageous action; champion a cause; reflect someone’s beauty back to them; be a peacemaker; mediate a dispute; let your voice be heard on issues that matter to you; work for justice.

MOON of QUALITY
The NEW MOON of October 17-18 (1:33am EDT) takes place IN LIBRA. This sign of The Scales seeks to balance and harmonize. Though Libra may be argumentative, it is usually motivated by a sense of fair play, to have all sides aired, mediating a win-win scenario.


MERCURY and VENUS
The quality of this Moon is enhanced by the presence of Mercury and, most significantly, Venus in Libra. Venus as ruler of Libra wins the day with beauty and harmony. Yet one of the most dynamic planetary interplays of this New Moon pattern is the challenge made between Venus and Pluto, inscrutable and mysterious dwarf planet that necessitates letting go of the old to allow a renaissance. A Hindu version of Venus is Lakshmi, a gorgeous goddess dressed in a gold-trimmed red sari sitting on a full blooming lotus, showers petals and gold coins raining down around her. This is an enriching image of the cosmic feminine to invoke in times of financial stress, even as we head further into national and global discussions about our mutual situation.


PLUTO POWER

Pluto is about the power-players that run the world systems. Venus has a power of her own, woman power. With Pluto and Venus deep in negotiations, we can expect other such negotiations are going on about the economy. The power players are changing.

No matter what is going on in the power echelons, we each participate in the larger dialogue in the choices we make about how we spend money, placing our dollars where our true values lay. Venus rules the power of attraction, the emotional intelligence that resonates from the inside out and invites into our lives just what mirrors our emotional state of being. How awful does it have to get before we can’t stand it any more and make some changes? This is the time. With Saturn going into Libra at the end of this month, dialogue is required and choices are going to be made. Let’s take charge of our personal choices.

THAT TRIPLE CONJUNCTION IN MOTION

Meanwhile this New Moon is in excellent alignment with the ongoing, rare triple conjunction of planets in Aquarius. Jupiter offers expansion and wisdom, meta-physical Neptune refines the energy that can be experienced as anxiety and/or sensitivity, and Chiron raise the bar of paradigm shift. Soon after their peak conjunction in May, all three planets turned to retrograde motion, giving us a period of time to integrate the implications of the global realignment in progress. Now all three are moving forward again.
Occurring on October 18, the Libra new Moon promises some interesting insights and realizations.

The Sabian Symbol is Libra 25: The Sight of an Autumn Leaf Brings to a Pilgrim the Sudden Revelation of the Mystery of Life and Death.


This Symbol can indicate an insight into something that can change the course of one’s life. The “Autumn Leaf” in this Symbol brings to the “Pilgrim” the “Sudden” understanding of the cycle of life, death and rebirth. The “Mystery of Life” seems to unfold before the “Pilgrim’s” inner vision. He can see that the seed has grown into a tree and the tree’s leaves have now fallen with the change of the seasons, ready for the new birth in the spring. The “Autumn Leaf” becomes the composted material that nourishes the new seeds and fosters and nourishes new growth. Often we go through our lives without noticing the information that can be gained from looking at small or seemingly insignificant things. The “Revelation” that is experienced can change one’s life, if time is taken to stop long enough to really look into it. At this point, you may feel that you’ve learned much but have grown tired of seeking information for life’s meaning through more conventional channels. Look for answers to your problems in simple, everyday moments. They are fleeting, but they are around you. Look for the signs, they can have profound effects.
The following are my keywords for this degree: Seasonal adjustments, fleeting inspiration, seeing things in their own time, spiritual revelations, conversations with God, feeling blessed, the beauty and timelessness of nature, contact with nature spirits, angelic visions, photography and having a photographic mind, being here now, pilgrims and their journeys, the Hadj pilgrimage, solving problems, quick and deep minds, snapshots in time.


Saturn is bringing an interesting insight into the fact that some conventional types of wisdom or knowledge may not bring people the insights and information that they are seeking. Obviously, we still must be seekers, or pilgrims on the path, but we need to be discriminating (good Saturn word there) about what we allow to influence us.


The Sabian Symbol of Saturn on this new Moon is Virgo 29: a Man is Gaining Secret Knowledge from an Ancient Scroll He is Reading.


This speaks of learning from ancient mysteries, looking for answers, study and its rewards, reading between the lines, finding clues from the past and applying them to the present, being privileged to look into something special, alchemy, the Bible, the Torah, the Koran, manuscripts, scrolls, ancient writings, Akashic records, classified documents, secret papers, scrolls, etc.


Venus is on a wonderful Symbol at Libra 5: A Man Teaching the True Inner Knowledge of the New World to His Students.


This speaks of guidance and protection on the path, being a guiding light for others, imparting knowledge, wisdom, looking for truth, seeking answers to complicated questions, listening and learning, turning to others to receive guidance, speaking one’s truth.


The idea of having one’s realizations and ideas coming to light is amplified with Venus moving the day after the new Moon onto the degree


Libra 6: A Man Watches His Ideals Taking a Concrete Form Before His Inner Vision.


Libra 5 and Libra 6 were accentuated in the recent Mercury retrograde phase. This means it is really important that we realize the lessons that are coming to us now and there’s the need to bring these insights and understanding into our everyday lives.


The issue of things that are fleeting holding special messages is amplified by Mercury (the one who brings messages – the communicator) on

Libra 13: Children Blowing Soap Bubbles.


This speaks of having fun, enjoying one’s life, being lighthearted, and, in the context of this new Moon, it speaks rather strongly of taking notice of things that are said on the spur of the moment – lightly – it can show those moments or sentiments when things are said as a kind of ‘throw away line’ as these can have extraordinary significance for you and others.

Compounding this need for finding meaning or seeking knowledge is the Moon’s south node on Cancer 26: Guests Are Reading in the Library of a Luxurious Home.


This speaks about sharing thoughts and ideas, libraries, reading rooms, quietly chatting, books, magazines, study groups, having friends over.


The Moon’s north node holds a message that we need to grasp as we skip along the pilgrim’s path kicking those autumn leaves and thinking about eternity.


The Symbol is Capricorn 26: A Nature Spirit Dancing in the Mist of a Waterfall.


We need to keep our minds and spirits effervescent and carefree. Whilst we are best served by being observant about the clues all around you, we need to keep a light-hearted and young attitude and we need to remember to dance! Jupiter is asking us to reveal ourselves or parts of ourselves.


The Sabian Symbol for Jupiter is Aquarius 18: A Man Unmasked at a Masquerade.


Plumbing the depths of yourself, and perhaps others, is going to help to bring these new understandings to you. Perhaps it’s the new understandings that take away the masks? Regardless, it’s time to be more authentic and more upfront and honest about who we are.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Sabian Symbol for the degree after (the Quest degree) the new Moon. This is because just moments after the new Moon, both the Moon and the Sun move onto the next degree. This is because the new Moon is at 24Libra58, which is right on the last minutes of the Pilgrim degree.


The Sabian Symbol is Libra 26: An Eagle and a Large White Dove Turning Constantly Into Each Other.


This Symbol says there’s a need to temper one’s will with love while bolstering one’s emotional responses with strength. It speaks of cooperation of mind, will, spirit and heart = being soft and strong at the same time. We need to be strong, but not aggressive, firm without being too assertive, confident without being oppressive and kind without being weak.

Quite the test, but one thing’s certain; we learn a lot by watching what’s happening on the path.