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| Libra the Scales |
Preface: As I do every month for each of the signs, I want to emphasize that if your birthday does not fall during the Libra timeframe for the year you were born, this DOES NOT mean that you do not experience the energy of Libra, because somewhere in your natal birth chart, it is present. All twelve signs of the zodiac are expressed in your being, although some signs, and therefore their corresponding energies, may be more emphasized than others. The Sun sign is about your essence, your vitality (what makes you feel alive), and your self-image. Whatever your Sun sign, you are on a life-long journey to discover and fully embrace this sign’s energy. You may be tested in life to experience the meaning of your Sun sign’s energy.
The Sun began its transit of the sign of Libra beginning at 2:05 am (PDT) on September 23, 2011.
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"I See You" (line from the movie Avatar) Introduction As I began preparation for this article, I repeatedly thought of the line from the movie Avatar, which is “I see you,” the greeting of the Na’vi natives from the fictional planet of Pandora. Translated, it is closer to the meaning of “I understand you.” Libra marks a stage in the zodiac where humans realize the importance of the other in the art of relationship. Collectively speaking, the Na’vi may be more spiritually advanced than Earthlings. Nevertheless, I thought the greeting is a pertinent illustration of Libra’s consideration for the other. Libra Symbolism and Sign Characteristics The symbol associated with Libra is the scales, with representations of these inanimate objects alone or held by a human, like the medieval painting above. The scales convey the concept of balance. The beginning of Libra marks the time when we have equal night and equal day —the beginning of autumn. The scales also signify justice and the law, and on the spiritual level, the restoration of balance, like the concept of karma.  The Libra glyph pictured above resembles a yoke, indicating the need for teamwork and a balanced effort, observes astrologer Bruce Nevin. He notes that traditionally this is the season when farmers “weigh in” their produce at the fall harvest marketplace, where there is a need to balance social needs. Like the seventh house, Libra marks the point in the zodiac, says Nevin, where there is a shift from subjective concerns to objective consciousness.[1] Libra rules the seventh house of “the other,” spouses or business partners, and some say our closest friends are also represented here. This is where we have a contract or commitment to another. In traditional astrology, the seventh house is called the house of marriage, and the house of open enemies. As you well know, those who have been closest to us sometimes seem like our enemies when they reveal information about us that we do not want revealed. A case in point is the relationship between Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston. Although the couple has been divorced for six years, they still make comments or innuendos about the other, which are usually not flattering comments. Pitt told Parade Magazine that he had become a slacker, and that his marriage to Aniston had something to do with that. Pitt said, “[I was]trying to pretend the marriage was something it wasn’t.”[2]After Pitt made disparaging comments about his marriage to Aniston, CelebTV.com reports that she told friends that Brad was a “dull stoner.” Yes, dear readers, I too read follow the gossip rags. (Pitt’s comments are substantiated, but I cannot confirm that Aniston actually made these comments). My point here is simply to illustrate the meaning of the 7th House. Libra is a cardinal sign because it marks the beginning of a new season. Cardinal signs have an action orientation, using dynamic energy to start something new. Libra is an air sign, which represents the mental and social realm. Like the other air signs, Gemini and Aquarius, this sign is savvy in the networking realm. Libra’s planetary ruler is Venus, which is concerned with attracting and relating to another. Venus is also about aesthetics and the arts. Astrologer Deborah Houlding says that Venus has a need to be wanted and a need for the approval of others. Consequently, relationships and the recognition of responsibilities to others is what gives meaning to life for Libra.[3] The Sun represents the energy to express one’s individual nature, and it encourages the unfolding of whatever will make the individual feel more alive. The Sun is about the individual’s essence. When the Sun transits the sign of Libra, traditional astrology says that it is in “its fall”, a position indicating a lack of compatibility because Libra’s concern for “the other” weakens the Sun’s search for an individual identity. Houlding adds that the “natural subjugation of clear ego expression for Libra is compounded by the Venus rulership.”[4] The positive attributes that Venus bestows upon Libra are good manners, diplomacy, civility, charm, refinement, polish, and good taste. Others may add descriptors like easy-going, friendly, peace loving, and fair. Librans are perfectly suited to positions at the State Department. They do well in venues where an institution or government entity needs a chief of protocol. We know very well that most people do not always reflect only the positive aspects of their sign. Because Libra wants surroundings to be beautiful and harmonious, this sign may be too prone to make judgments on surface appearances. Furthermore, because they are inclined to balance the pros and cons of opinions and arguments, they can vascillate between perspectives, making them appear to be without convictions. Some say Libra can be lazy, delicate, indecisive, overly dependent, overly adaptive, underhandedly manipulative, and lacking in self-confidence. One of the major challenges facing harmony-loving Libra is how to handle the realities of everyday conflicts. Houlding notes that Libra can either synthesize these conflicts into a working whole or be in a state of inconstancy and indecision. Houlding proposes that the ideal process for Libra is to analyze the matter, and then integrate the analysis into a solution and a resolution, holding firm to their position, unless new information requires reevaluation.[5] Librans are at their finest when they stand by principles so they use their gifts of impartiality and fairness in a sincere manner. Debunking Libra Stereotypes Some of the astrological literature portrays Libra as being naturally harmonious and easy-going, and the Libra state of being seems almost languid. What some of these descriptions about Libra leave out is the fact that maintaining harmony and balance requires a lot of effort! It takes enormous energy to understand another and to sustain a workable relationship. Think of the hard work that goes into mediating a labor dispute or handling an international conflict in a diplomatic manner. Over thirty years have passed since President Jimmy Carter helped forge a peace treaty between Israel and its Arab neighbor of Egypt. In his historic Camp David address, Carter stated: “Blessed are the peacemakers,for they shall be the children of God.” The PBS history documentary series American Experience says of Carter: “It's difficult to imagine any other American president doing what Carter did at Camp David. Most would not even have tried, and Carter's capacity for hard work, mastery of detail, moral integrity and just plain stubbornness all came into play. Though he would receive little domestic political benefit, it established Carter as a top global statesman and has served as the inspiration for much of his work since leaving office.”[6] Let us give Libra more credit for the energy required to obtain and keep the peace! Libra is a cardinal sign, and we should not underrate their desire to initiate change and their will to pursue an agenda, but their process is to include others in that goal. Astrologer Caroline Casey loves to quote fellow astrologer Jayj Jacobs observation about Libra: “A Libra is just an Aires who has been to charm school.”[7] That statement reflects Libra’s drive to bring about a change. The difference between the two signs is major. Pure Aries energy is concerned with the self, while Libra is intent on meeting the needs of others in addition to the self. In a discussion, Aries might state, “This is how I feel.” Libra, on the other hand, may say, “Let me summarize how we feel.” With the exclusion of very young people and those outside the United States, most readers know a little about the the four individuals (plus one movie) I present here. Rather than review biographical information for these famous individuals, I instead have selected some of their remarks in the form of quotations. The focus of their concerns reflects their Libra nature .  First Lady and United Nations Ambassador Eleanor Roosevelt “I have spent many years of my life in opposition, and I rather like the role.” “Justice cannot be for one side alone, but must be for both.” “Understanding is a two-way street.”  Mohandas Gandhi, Leader of India Independence Movement “All compromise is based on give and take, but there can be no give and take on fundamentals. Any compromise on mere fundamentals is surrender. For it is all give and no take.” “If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children.” “There is a higher court than courts of justice and that is the court of conscience. It supercedes all other courts.”  President Jimmy Carter “Unless both sides win, no agreement can be permanent.” "We will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each other's children.” “There should be an honest attempt at the reconciliation of differences before resorting to combat.”  John Lennon Singer/Songwriter (originally of The Beatles) “If someone thinks that love and peace is a cliche that must have been left behind in the Sixties, that's his problem. Love and peace are eternal.” “A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.”  The Na'vi from the mythical planet of Pandora (from James Cameron's Avatar, the movie) (I see you, I see you) Walking through a dream, I see you My light and darkness breathing hope of new life Now I live through you and you through me, enchanted I pray in my heart that this dream never ends I see me through your eyes Breathing new life, flying high Your love shines the way into paradise So I offer my life as a sacrifice I live through your love You teach me how to see all thats beautiful My senses touch your world I never pictured Now I give my hope to you, I surrender I pray in my heart that this world never ends I see me through your eyes Breathing new life, flying high Your love shines the way into paradise So I offer my life I offer my love for you And my heart was never open And my spirit never free To the world that you have shown me But my eyes could not envision All the colours of love and of life evermore, Evermore I see me through your eyes Breathing new life, flying high Your love shines the way into paradise So I offer my life as a sacrifice I live through your love I live through your love I see you I see you (less) ENDNOTES 1 Nevin, Bruce. (1982). Astrology Inside Out. Rockport, Massachusettes, Para Research Publishers, p.79-80. 2. Rader, Dotson (2011, September 15). Brad Pitt is Finally Satisfied. Parade Magazine. Retrieved 9.22.2011: http://www.parade.com/celebrity/2011/09/brad-pitt.html 3. Houlding, Deborah. (June/July 2005). Libra the Scales. The Mountain Astrologer, #121, pp.29-35. 4. Ibid. 5. Ibid. 6. PBS American Experience: Jimmy Carter. Production Year: 2002. Retrieved 9/27/11: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/carter-peace/ 7. Casey, Caroline. (1998). Making the Gods Work for You. New York: Harmony Books Unless otherwise noted, quotations are found at BrainyQuote.com |
