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Welcoming Libra Season
by Barry Kerr
The Sun moves into Libra on September 22/23
Having spent the first half of the zodiac journey developing the ego “self”, our inner Venus now attracts opportunities to apply our self-knowledge to creating relationship. Come hither, Libra!
It is the Libra in us all that knows that the path to wholeness, in this world, is through relationship with others. The dance between two or more egos invites divine connection. Libra’s spiritual intention is to begin the softening of the boundaries that our ego has formed within the illusion of separateness that this physical world presents as reality. When we are ready for this, relationship and commitment is inviting and exciting. If our ego is holding tight to the illusion, we fear relationship as a threat to self-preservation, though the longing to engage still moves within us.
Through Libra, we are all learning to share, to see things through another’s eyes, to become aware of and support their needs and communicate our own with diplomacy and tact. When doing this well, we remain strongly grounded in our “self”, while also willing to cooperate and create win/win situations. When unconscious, we fear losing our self and become aggressive or defensive, pushing others away, or we fear aloneness and lose touch with our self, over-identify with another, compromise or capitulate altogether. This can lead to a debilitating co-dependence, or trying to always be “nice”, with an obsessive attachment to fairness and justice and a fear of conflict.
Venus rules two signs; Taurus and Libra. Last spring, in Taurus, Venus, the relationship planet, focused our attention on that of this physical world which we need to create security and comfort for our human self. The emphasis was on attracting and building property, wealth, comfort, security and pleasure. This was our earthy Venus.
Now, in Libra, Venus applies the laws of attraction to a much more complicated and airy endeavor; one-on-one relationships with people. Having awakened our emotional needs (Moon) in Cancer and our egoic expression (Sun) in Leo, and having taken in feedback (Mercury) in Virgo, it’s time to apply all we’ve learned to creating, maintaining and improving relationships, especially those that meet our needs for emotional fulfillment.
In this regard, Libra represents the first of the signs in the second half of the zodiac, and thus challenges us to become aware of the polarity of self and other. Our inner Venus is our yearning to connect to others through love and mutual creativity. Who doesn’t desire a partner, a lover, or even just a best friend? To create such relationships for ourselves, we must learn how to relax our own ego needs and tune into other people’s wants, needs and goals.
The experience of “falling in love” is just that. It’s the joy we feel when it seems that we can finally let down our Martian armor of self-protection and embrace another soul as if they are a part of our greater self. It feels safe. It feels affirming, comforting, and pleasurable; a bit like coming home. Yet, unlike attaining and possessing a physical object we have come to value and can “own”, maintaining a positive relationship to a valued human soul requires much more of us. Here is where we begin the process of applying our human emotional learning to our growing emotional needs. To continue to grow an emotionally fulfilling bond with a loved one requires an ongoing awareness and valued attention to both our own continuous emotional experiences and to the same in our beloved other. What they feel and experience must become as important as what we feel. This is the “commitment” that most people long for in relationship. Venus in Libra invites us to that commitment.
However, once committed, we are awakened to a whole new level of relationship learning. To manifest the harmony, balance, fairness and beauty that Libra represents, we must come to understand the many lessons around our role in supporting our beloved. A primary principle in this is the polarity between self (Aries) and other (Libra). Finding the balance is key. Are we responsible for our partner’s emotions? No. Are we responsible for our own? Yes. Can we fix our partner’s hurts? No. Can we be supportive and nurturing? Yes. What does being supportive mean? When is it appropriate to defend our own interests?
This is the stuff that builds a partnership and, over time, leads us into deep and real intimacy with an other soul. Yet, it will be through our Pluto in Scorpio, the next sign, that we are inspired and challenged, in intimacy with other, to test the boundaries of our ego’s capacity to actually fully let go and surrender to a much greater relationship with our true beloved: our own soul.
Where Venus sits in your birth chart by sign and house can reveal what you value and are attracted to in relationships. It also points to the kinds of lessons you chose to experience in relationships in this lifetime. For example, a Venus in Gemini in the 5th house will attract very intellectual and highly romantic encounters. By contrast, A Venus in Aries in the 11th house will tend to remain a loner and prefer a wide circle of friends.
What needs healing and growth?
The wounded Libra in each of us feels alone or separate. We long for an “other” to “complete” us and bring balance to our lives. This can be experienced as a fear of being alone, acted out as described above. We may seek harmony around us in any way possible and put on masks of peace and contentment while feeling imbalance and conflict within.
To heal our Libra selves, we need to embrace that what we seek in others is already in our self. Their beauty is ours. Their lovingness is ours. Their darkness is ours. In this way, we reclaim pieces of our self that need acceptance, appreciation and love, and add to our sense of wholeness, completion and balance. Likewise, as we see ourselves in others, we see through the illusion of separateness. We see their soul reflecting our soul. Each time that happens, we come to know who we really are as spiritual beings, already whole and complete and always connected. In that self-knowing, there is no aloneness to fear.
Self awareness tips during Libra
To evolve your Libra self, give attention to how you are in relationships. Can you assert your boundaries even when it feels as though the other may reject you? Is your assertiveness and defensiveness impulsive or a conscious response to the other person? Are you truly curious about what’s going on in the other person? Do you look for win/win solutions? Are you open to learning about your self in situations of conflict? When you judge or praise others, can you see your self, too? Are you a pleaser, keeping a smile that covers your truth?
The sun is in Libra September 23 - October 22, what does that mean for your sign?
Libra wants to relate. As we leave the first half of the zodiac, which was focused on developing and strengthening our ego personality, now Libra calls our attention to our relationships to other egos. Unlike in earthy Taurus, where our inner Venus primarily valued what met our own material needs of survival and comfort, now in airy Libra, Venus values people. It was in Cancer that our watery emotional and mostly subliminal awareness of soul connections was aroused, causing us to now value the frequency of love. And if we were paying attention during the Virgo phase of practical analysis and critical feedback, we are now poised to apply relevant lessons to how we create and sustain relationships and discernment toward choosing our people. To have a fulfilling relationship, we must learn to relax our own ego and give more attention to the desires, perspectives, and fears of another, then apply that information to our decisions and actions in support of the other. In this way, we develop qualities of harmony, cooperation, fairness and balance. We become thoughtful of others, the consequences of our actions on them, and make different choices.
In our soul’s zodiac journey, Libra is the awakening of our longing to return to the wholeness of our existence as a spiritual soul, connected to all other beings in unconditional loving oneness. We bring that deeper longing to our attempts at creating personal love relationships in our lives. Our mature Libra self will welcome the opportunities to blend our will with others by lending support, compromising, cooperating, and even sacrificing at appropriate times. Our less evolved Libra self might resist all that, fearing the loss of self will, or fearing aloneness, it might go overboard the other direction by sacrificing self too much, too often. In Libra’s quest to apply balance and fairness, relationship to self remains part of the equation.
Look below for your birth sign (sun sign) to see what particular challenges/ opportunities are being brought to your awareness this month. (These can also hold true if you have your Moon, Rising sign or a number of planets in the sign.)
Aries (Mar 21 – Apr 19):
Libra is opposite your sign, Aries. This polarity represents the challenge of integrating self and other. Your natural tendencies to look to yourself and go your own way are challenged this month. Use this an as opportunity to become more aware of how you might resist in relationship. If listening, cooperating and freely giving feel threatening to your sense of strength, see how you can support others’ strength so they become more worthy of partnership with you..
Taurus (Apr 20 – May 20):
Your experience of relationships can be colored by your need for loyalty and commitment. During this Libra month, tap into the principles of negotiation and cooperation to enhance your sense of stability and comfort. We don’t ever own someone, but we can own our feelings about them. Trust the laws of give and take.
Gemini (May 21 – June 20):
Libra and Gemini are both air signs, able to consider many sides of an issue, so, Gemini, during this month direct your natural gifts of curiosity and talk toward enhancing mutual understanding in your relationships. Polarized conflicts are typically not about lack of love, but how we interpret behaviors. If you’re feeling restless, go deeper.
Cancer (June 21 – July 22):
OK Cancer, here’s your chance to smother your loved ones with love and care. Just be sure you aren’t actually smothering them. If in doubt, ask. It’s amazing how talking about feelings with others can actually deepen bonds of affection in a positive way. During this Libra month is a good time to be aware of emotional security issues. We all want and need to be loved by others, but it starts within. We can’t expect others to do that for us.
Leo (July 23 - Aug 22):
Even if you are not the kind of Leo who commands the stage before an audience, you do love to be adored. Your one-on-one relationships may be your favorite audience, so this would be a good month to pay attention to that. Is there a balance? Use your natural qualities of enthusiasm and generosity to draw out the fun and romance in your significant other(s). What would feel supportive and loving to them? How are they special, like you.
Virgo (Aug 23 – Sep 22):
Relationships can often be a challenge for you because you are generally focused on making them better. That’s a good intention that generally goes unappreciated. During this Libra month, it is good to remember that two people can both have the best of intentions and still see things differently. And yes, sometimes you can be right. But what do you want most? To feel right? Or to feel love? If you want to bring order to your relationship, start by prioritizing a few bottom lines and then be willing to negotiate the rest.
Libra (Sep 23 – Oct 22):
This is your month, Libra, so welcome all the possibilities that your close relationships may promise. Others will be more tuned in to the balance and fairness you always value. Exercise all the attributes you possess around creating, sustaining and growing intimate relationship, but be mindful that in your quest for peace and harmony, you may compromise too much, or fail to commit yourself. Be strong in yourself and see conflict as a natural doorway to intimacy.
Scorpio (Oct 23 – Nov 21):
For you, Scorpio, relationships are the necessary platform for the intensity you attract in life. So, this time of Libra is a good one to be aware of your relationship commitments. Are you committed merely to loyalty and longevity or is there a deeper commitment to personal growth and evolvement. The first allows you to stay fixed in the illusionary fear that your ego will not survive, and thus you will experience more drama and negative emotions. The second invites naked vulnerability and the promise of spiritual transcendence beyond the ego.
Sagittarius (Nov 22 – Dec 21):
During this Libra cycle, Sag, pay attention to how much sense of adventure, exploration and expanded perspective you are experiencing in your special relationships. Do you have a partner who is an equal and can enjoy the spaciousness of your inner and outer worlds. You need freedom, Sag, but be careful you don’t drift too far over the horizon and lose touch with your special one(s). Sustained relationships require you return and share your adventurous stories. Better yet, travel with a partner.
Capricorn (Dec 22 – Jan 19):
Respect is bottom line for you, Capricorn, and this is even more true in your most personal relationships. During this Libra time, notice how much respect you are getting and giving. If you find yourself trying to control the other person, you may not be feeling respected. Or perhaps you don’t respect him or her. Better to talk about that than turn bossy. Also, this is a good time to welcome some recognition from your loved-ones for your achievements in life. Share what you are proud of and invite others to do the same.
Aquarius (Jan 20 – Feb 18):
As the third air sign, Aquarius, this time of Libra invites thoughtful and stimulating connections with loved-ones. You have a need for freedom to be an individual in your relationships and this can make it difficult for you to commit to just one person. Now is a good time to do your best to communicate your unique needs and desires around relating. The right person will totally “get” you and value your need for independence. Your lover must be a friend first.
Pisces (Feb 19 – Mar 20):
Pisces, merging into relationship can feel as easy as breathing to you. Your natural empathy draws you into other people’s feelings, yet that is also a danger for you. During this Libra month, be aware of any tendencies toward being a “savior” in primary relationships. Set some boundaries. Can your special someone allow you to be remain sensitive without taking advantage? You need a spiritual partner, not a patient.
Barry Kerr, a certified soul-based astrologer, has 33 years of experience with an international clientele, including many medical professionals and alternative healers. He and Kristine Gay, a licensed psychotherapist, are owners/practitioners at Inner Essence Center in Madison. Both have extensive training in soul-guided healing of mind, body, heart and spiritual systems. They offer healing, coaching, therapy and astrology services. Visit www.ChooseConsciousLiving.com for more information.
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