Welcome to the Astrology Food for Thought Blog

This blog presents my interpretation of astrological symbolism as it pertains to the unfolding of individual lives and the events occurring in our world. I welcome you to present your own views and to challenge my thinking. Although I attempt to rely on accurate sources of information, I encourage you to do your own fact-checking, since any resource may at times be flawed.



Saturday, September 22, 2012

LIBRA AND ITS SCALES



Preface 


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 transits the sign of Libra beginning September 22, 2012 at 7:49 am PDT.  


Libras Speak















“When will our consciences grow so tender that we will act to prevent human misery rather than avenge it?”

Eleanor Roosevelt
Libra First Lady and U.S. Delegate to the U.N. General Assembly

Source: Retrieved on 9/2/12 from: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/e/eleanor_roosevelt_3.html#0UTHsZg31AAH6Tzg.99


















“We become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams.”

Jimmy Carter
Libra President of the United States (39th)





















“I like to believe that people in the long run are going to do more to promote peace than our governments. Indeed, I think that people want peace so much that one of these days governments had better get out of the way and let them have it”.

Dwight D. Eisenhower
Libra President of the United States (34th)














“The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.”


F. Scott Fitzgerald
Libra American Novelist


















“All compromise is based on give and take, but there can be no give and take on fundamentals. Any compromise on mere fundamentals is a surrender. For it is all give and no take.”

Mahatma Gandhi
Libra Independence Movement Leader in India



















“Love does not just sit there, like a stone; it had to be made, like bread, remade all the time, made new.”

Ursula LeGuin
Libra Fantasy and Science Fiction Writer













“Without justice there can be no love.”

bell hooks
Libra feminist writer, educator, and social activist



Libra Symbolism and Sign Characteristics

Scales are the symbols associated with Libra, represented by the inanimate objects alone, or held by a human, like the medieval painting pictured before the beginning of the article. 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.[i]

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, as well as the house of open enemies. As many of us have observed, those closest to us sometimes seem like our enemies when they reveal information about us that we do not want shared with others. This is often the case when couples terminate a relationship. In the midst of anger and resentment, couples may vocalize intimacies about the former partner that may cause the other embarrassment or pain. The public antics of movie star celebrities Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston are one example of this phenomenon. This frequent dynamic between former couples reminds me of the saying, “there’s a fine line between love and hate.”

Libra is a cardinal sign because it marks the beginning of a new season. Cardinal signs have an action orientation, using active 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.[ii]

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.”[iii]

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. However, 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 vacillate 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.[iv] 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, who has his Sun in Libra, 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.”[v] 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, a Libra herself, loves to quote fellow astrologer Jayj Jacobs observation about Libra: “A Libra is just an Aires who has been to charm school.”[vi] 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.”

ENDNOTES


[i] Bruce Nevin (1982). Astrology Inside Out. Rockport, Massachusetts, Para Research Publishers, p.79-80.
[ii] Houlding, Deborah. (June/July 2005). Libra the Scales. The Mountain Astrologer, #121, pp.29-35.
3. Ibid.

[iv]. Ibid

[v]. PBS American Experience: Jimmy Carter. Production Year: 2002. Retrieved 9/27/11: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/carter-peace/

[vi]. Casey, Caroline. (1998). Making the Gods Work for You. New York: Harmony Books, p.41.


P

Profiles of Two Prominent Sun Sign Libras
















Gore Vidal
Born October 3, 1925

Gore Vidal’s death on July 31, 2012 led me to explore his biography more deeply, since my limited recollection of him was through his TV talk show appearances and at political or literary events. I first became aware of him as a teen when I saw my father read one of his works, Myra Breckenridge. His name perplexed me. I remember thinking: who would name a child “Gore?” Years later, in the first decade of the 21st century, I heard him speak at literary/political events in the Los Angeles area, where he spent his final years. At the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, he graciously signed my used paperback edition of his nonfiction work Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace.

This controversial “public man of letters” was born to Nina Gore and to Eugene Luther Vidal on October 3, 1925. His father was a lieutenant aeronautics instructor at West Point Academy and his mother was a socialite, a daughter of the U.S. Senator from Oklahoma. A college and Olympic athlete, the elder Vidal later joined the Roosevelt Administration and co-founded three airlines.

Although he was born Eugene Louis Gore Vidal, by the age of 14 he dropped his first two names. At this young age, he already envisioned a future career as a politician or a writer, and he wanted a “sharp, distinctive name.” The young Vidal spent his childhood in Washington, D.C. in the company of his blind grandfather, Senator Gore, whom he assisted by accompanying him to the Capitol and by reading publications on his behalf. In D.C., young Vidal attended the Sidwell Friends School (later the choice of Chelsea Clinton and both Obama daughters) and St. Albans. He later transferred to the prestigious Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. At the age of 10, Gore Vidal’s parents divorced. His mother remarried twice, including a marriage to Hugh D. Auchincloss, who would become his stepfather, and later, become Jacqueline Bouvier’s (Kennedy) stepfather.

Although Gore Vidal was known for his elegant and patrician air, as well as a “transatlantic accent,” he did not continue with an Ivy League education, as was typical in his social class. Instead, Gore Vidal enlisted in the U.S. military, eventually becoming physically ill during his 3-year service. He completed his first novel, Williwaw, in a military hospital. During the period 1946 through 1954, Gore Vidal produced eight novels. With few resources, he lived for a period in Guatemala, sharing a house with the celebrated diarist, Anais Nin. In 1948, the literary world dismissed his controversial The City and the Pillar, due to its openly homosexual content. Consequently, major publications refused to review his next five novels.

Returning to the U.S., Gore Vidal became focused on writing to improve his financial situation. Under the pseudonym of Edgar Box, he penned three mystery novels. Because these did not amass sufficient income, he became successfully engaged in TV scriptwriting. Later, he served as the final writer for the Ben-Hur film, although he was never credited. Gore Vidal continued his involvement in the lucrative scriptwriting field for five decades.

With the political bug in his blood, Gore Vidal ran as a Democratic candidate for Congress in a highly Republican district in New York in 1960. Although unsuccessful, he garnered more votes than John F. Kennedy, the Democratic candidate for President. Soon thereafter, Gore Vidal moved to Italy, spending the majority of each year in that favorite venue. (Vidal later ran for U.S. Senate in California, finishing a respectable second to Jerry Brown in the primary).

Gore Vidal’s novels are usually classified in the social and historic genres. During the 1960’s, he wrote three novels, including Julian, a historical novel about the Roman emperor. He later penned Washington, D.C., a novel about a political family in the F.D.R. era. His third novel, Myra Breckenridge, was a comedic satire about a transsexual. His political play, The Best Man has continued to enjoy theater reprisals, including one in 2012!

Aside from his writings, Gore Vidal became more and more active as a social critic. He vocally opposed the Vietnam War and American military aggression in the following decades. He verbally sparred with William Buckley, a conservative political pundit, on TV shows. He debated Norman Mailer and Truman Capote about social mores. As his friend Jay Parini said, Gore Vidal never lost interest in the world. He was a natural scold, forever warning his government and its citizens about the dangers of expanding its empire and the corrupting influences of money in politics. According to Parini, he despaired about the decline of the United States. Nevertheless, Gore Vidal savored his role as a commentator and a provocateur.

By the end of his life, Gore Vidal had authored 25 novels, two memoirs, and many essays. Some may argue whether Vidal received appropriate recognition for his narrative achievements, although his Lincoln and Burr works received considerable acclaim. Perhaps it is in the essay genre where Gore Vidal’s writing reaches its zenith. The executor of his literary estate, Jay Parini, claims that Gore Vidal is the modern master of the essay, perfecting the essay genre in the Post World War II era.

According to news reports, Gore Vidal’s remains were to be laid to rest in the area where he spent his formative years, in Washington, D.C. He is buried near his long-time partner and the beloved soldier whom he lost in World II. In summing up his character, Jay Parini says that Gore Vidal was a kind man to his friends, a man with a big heart who enjoyed the public battle. A book signing was the closest I ever got to him, but perhaps in some future novel of mine, he and I will meet periodically at one of his favorite culinary haunts, Musso & Frank on Hollywood Boulevard. Waiter, dear Sir, Mr. Vidal will have the Crab Louie, and I will have the Sand Dabs. Oh, and please make that two Martinis, extra dry!

Some Observations about the Natal Chart of Gore Vidal

Gore Vidal’s natal chart appears at the end of this section. As one might expect from an individual so engaged in the social world, the majority of Gore Vidal’s planets lie above the horizon, in houses seven through 12, indicating the need to be fulfilled through relationships. His Libra Sun Sign provided the urge for developing his purpose through social interaction and forming relationships. At the same time, Vidal’s Scorpio Ascendant made him selective about those he brought into his immediate social circle. If we review old clips of his television debates, we can observe how Vidal meshes his Libra and Scorpio energies. At one moment we see a stately man of letters, with his elegant speech, and in the next instant, he is a relentless man of conviction verbally lunging at his opponent with probing arguments and acerbic wit.

Gore Vidal’s chart shows his Sun (representing his essence, purpose, and what makes him feel alive), Mars (pursuing his desires), and Mercury (the rational mind and its expression) all conjunct (fused) in his 10th House of social standing. This reflects one naturally inclined toward written and/or verbal communication and one recognized for these talents. Furthermore, with aggressive Mars as part of this triad conjunction, one could expect someone who easily speaks his mind and does not hesitate to engage in a verbal battle. These qualities experience tension in a T-square with Pluto (wielder of power) in Cancer in the 8th house of other people’s resources. These 10th house planets also square Jupiter (expander, benefactor, upholder of faith) in Capricorn in Vidal’s 2nd House of personal resources. Clearly, Vidal could only be true to his calling by challenging the powerful in his social class who held the purse strings of money and influence. When powerful mainstream publications refused to review his books because of Vidal’s desire to speak forthrightly about homosexuality (his own and the identity of others), he took another course of action. Rather than to succumb to the powerful, he chose to upend his roots (Uranus in the 4th House) and search for a temporary haven to write on his own terms in order to increase his personal resources.

Breaking with tradition in Gore Vidal’s life is facilitated by the trine (easy, flowing, compatible) relationship between Uranus and Pluto, two of three outer planets of change. His Venus (values and relating) trines Uranus, creating a fertile situation for revolutionary changes in Vidal, and conversely, a force in can employ to help shift values and structures in his society. Pluto, the planet of purging and transformation, also enjoys a trine relationship with Venus and Saturn (structures and institutions).

When asked what advice he would give to others, Gore Vidal often responded that one should never refuse an opportunity for sex or to appear on television. With Scorpio covering his 12th house and his Ascendant, I will respect his privacy regarding whether he took his own advice in the sexual realm. I do know that he accepted many invitations to appear on television, and certainly many of us are wiser to hear his perspectives on the serious issues of the day.

May he rest in peace, but not for too long.


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Michelle Bachelet
Born September 29, 1951

Known as the first woman elected President of Chile, physician and epidemiologist Michelle Bachelet currently serves as the first Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, which was established by the United Nations General Assembly in July 2010. Under Dr. Bachelet’s guidance, UN Women leads, supports, and coordinates the work on gender equality and the empowerment of women at global, regional, and national levels. In addition to Spanish, Dr. Bachelet speaks EnglishGermanPortuguese and French, with varying levels of fluency.

Verónica Michelle Bachelet Jeria was born on September 29, 1951 to Angela Jeria Gomez and Alberto Bachelet in Santiago, Chile. Her father served as a General in the Air Force of Chile, while her mother was an archaeologist. As a child, Bachelet traveled regularly, as her father was assigned to different military bases in Chile. For two years, 1962-1964, Bachelet lived in the United States with her family. Her father had accepted a special military mission at the Chilean Embassy in Washington, D.C. She lived and attended schools in Bethesda, Maryland, learning English fluently. When Bachelet returned to Chile, she completed her secondary education with high grades and in the role of class president. After her top scores earned her entry into University of Chile, she began studies in medical school.

Michelle Bachelet’s studies were interrupted when Augusto Pinochet overthrew the presidential administration of Salvador Allende on September 11, 1973. General Bachelet refused exile and was taken into custody and charged with treason. He suffered daily torture at the hands of the military, and eventually suffered a fatal heart attack in 1974. In January 1975, Michelle Bachelet and her mother were detained and interrogated. The two were sent to detention centers, where they underwent torture. Because of familial connections with the military, Michelle Bachelet and her mother were released and went into exile in Australia. A few months later, Bachelet moved to East Germany and began working in medical clinics, in preparation for continuing her studies.

While living in East Germany, Michelle Bachelet met architect Jorge Leopoldo Dávalos Cartes, another Chilean exile, whom she married in 1977. She delivered their first child, a son, the following year. Bachelet studied German, and later enrolled in Humboldt University of Berlin to continue her medical school education. Her studies were once again interrupted when she received authorization to return to Chile. She arrived in Chile in 1979 and reenrolled in medical school at the University of Chile, from which she graduated with an M.D. in 1983.

Due to her political status in the Pinochet regime in Chile, Bachelet was denied the opportunity to work in the public sector, where she felt her medical services were most needed. However, her strong academic performance and published papers earned her a scholarship to study pediatrics and public health at a children’s hospital. At this time, she also became involved in the work of a non-governmental organization (NGO) that delivered care to children of Chileans tortured and missing from the actions of the Pinochet regime. She served as this foundation’s head until 1990. During this period, she gave birth to her second child, a daughter. However, she and her husband separated and she became involved with an engineer, Alex Trier, who was also very involved in anti-Pinochet activities. Interestingly, a few years later, Bachelet became involved with a fellow physician, Anibel Marich, who was a right-wing supporter of Pinochet. Manich fathered Bachelet’s third child, a daughter, but their relationship did not endure.

After democracy was restored in Chile in 1990, Bachelet went to work for her nation’s Ministry of Health. In addition to her local professional involvement, she also expanded her work in the international realm, becoming active in the World Health Organization, the Pan-American Health Organization, and the German Corporation for Technical Cooperation. Motivated to expand her knowledge of the area of civil-military relations, in 1996 Bachelet entered the National Academy of Political and Strategic Studies (ANEPE) in Chile, where her academic success ultimately earned her a presidential scholarship to study at the Inter-American Defense College in Washington, D.C., completing a Continental Defense Course in 1998. She returned to Chile to work for the Defense Ministry as Senior Assistant to the Defense Minister. Bachelet went on to earn her Master's in Military Science at the Chilean Army's War Academy.

Since her college years, Bachelet has been politically active, first in the Socialist Youth group, and later the Popular Unity movement. After her return from exile, she continued her resistance movement activities. When democracy was reestablished, she made an unsuccessful run for a mayoral position. Later, she worked for the campaign of presidential candidate Ricardo Lagos, who upon his election, appointed her Minister of Health in his administration. In this position for two years, Bachelet guided the reduction of the public hospital system’s waiting lists by 90%. Appointed Minister of Defense in 2002, she became the first woman to hold this position in Latin America, and one of the few in the world. Among her actions in this position was the reconciliation between the activities of the military and its torture victims during the Pinochet regime. She worked overall to modernize the Chilean military.

In 2005, Michelle Bachelet accepted the Socialist’s Party’s request to become a candidate for president. She did not receive enough votes to win a majority in the first round, but in the runoff, she garnered 53.5% of the vote. Sworn in on March 11, 2006, Bachelet appointed an equal number of females and males to the cabinet who represented the spectrum of Chilean political thought. A long-time advocate of women’s rights, she promoted gender equality and women’s empowerment throughout her presidency. Despite Chile’s financial crisis, Bachelet moved to spend on issues such as pension reform, social protection programs for women and children, and research and development,. Other Bachelet initiatives included tripling the number of free early child-care centers for low-income families and the completion of some 3,500 child-care centers around the country. Although Bachelet completed her presidential term with high approval ratings, the Chilean constitution prohibits consecutive terms by chief executives.
Now active on the international front, Michele Bachelet works to promote the axiom that gender equality is good business. She told the following to the Huffington Post: “One of the factors a country's economy depends on is human capital. If you don't provide women with adequate access to healthcare, education, and employment, you lose at least half of your potential. So, gender equality and women's empowerment bring huge economic benefits. The 2010 global gender gap report by the World Economic Forum shows that countries with better gender equality have faster-growing, more competitive economies.”

Some Observations about the Natal Chart of Michelle Bachelet

Michelle Bachelet’s birth time is unknown, so the standard 12:00 pm time is used to calculate her chart. The chart from Astrodatabank is presented at the end of this section.

Prior to working on this article, I knew just basic information about Michele Bachelet, such as the fact that she was a physician, but what surprised me was her interest in the military. I was aware that her father was a general in the Chilean military at the time of the overthrow of the Allende presidency by the dictator Pinochet. As I read about her military education, I wondered about the nature of Mars in her natal chart and about Aries in her chart. Mars represents the urge and drive for action, aggression, or assertiveness, and essentially going after what you want. The first sign of the zodiac, Aries, often typifies the warrior, the trailblazer, and the pioneer. Absent a reliable birth time, we don’t know what house Mars occupies, but we do know it is in the late degrees of Leo, and that it is conjunct Pluto in Leo, as well as conjunct Venus in early Virgo. Given this symbolism, it naturally follows that Bachelet made it a priority to transform (Pluto) the role of the military so that it would never again serve as the torturous and oppressive force of its people as it did during the Pinochet regime. Moreover, Bachelet worked to bring more fairness and equity for women (Venus) in the military. In astrological symbolism, Mars can also symbolize surgery, and Bachelet is both a surgeon and pediatrician. During her medical professional years, she devoted part of her career to serving the children of torture (Pluto) victims.

Like many of us, Michelle Bachelet may feel conflicted by various aspects of her personality. Her Sun (symbolizing her essence, will, what makes her feel alive) is in Libra, the sign desiring harmony, balance, and justice. Her sun is conjunct Saturn (symbolizing the urge for establishing boundaries, limits, laws, and structures), and it opposes Jupiter (representing expansion, bounty, and faith) in Aries. In other words, Bachelet, in the ideal world, would like to conform (Sun conjunct Saturn). With the opposition between Saturn and Jupiter, she can see both the benefits of going for the gusto in a “whatever it takes” battle, while respecting the need for perpetuating stable institutions The energy which may help her decide her course is Uranus, which is the apex planet of the T-square with Jupiter and Saturn. Known as the maverick planet of sudden changes and revolution, Uranus is willing to tear down structures that are archaic in order to replace them with innovative thinking. Squares are not easy, and they represent tension that demands a resolution. Jupiter in Aries may reflect Bachelet’s attraction for the military, while its opposition to Sun-Saturn in harmonious Libra seeks a mediated solution. Furthermore, aggressive Jupiter in Aries also opposes idealistic and tranquil Neptune in Libra.

Despite scary and tumultuous times, Michelle Bachelet continued to press on to finish medical school and to rid Chile of it dictatorial government. Additionally, she dared to break conventions (Uranus) as a divorced woman in a morally conservative Catholic country, and to have a child outside marriage. She has been the “first” in many categories, and she continues to work toward the goal of creating opportunities for other women to be “first” in their respective cultures and communities.


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