The Stars Are Out
| The Stars Are Out Being With Libra |  |
by Glo Daley
Libran energy has arrived, and with it come the colors of fall in Vermont so thrilling to the Libran spirit. From around September 23rd to October 22nd, we live within the parameters of Libra and it can be a very sweet, fun, and warm realm, indeed.
Libra is a cardinal air sign. Cardinal means it begins a season, in this case fall. Air means ƒ well, air ƒ i.e., light, breezy, refreshing, etc., etc. Get as literal as you wish in playing with this element. The cardinal times often bring us increased creativity ƒ the message being “let's get started,” “let's make something new.” For Libra, beauty is everything, be it internal or external. The chant of the day might be: “Now I walk in beauty. / Beauty is before me. / Beauty is behind me. / Above and below me.”
At this time we may be drawn to beginning (not necessarily finishing) creative projects of all sorts. Our minds are more likely to work in original and creative ways. This is a happy balance to the current Mars energy we have been feeling as Mars has been so close to the earth of late.
Libra is ruled by Venus. She wants beauty, she wants peace and she definitely wants to have fun. She also wants justice, a beauty of a deeper nature. We too will experience these desires during this time. We can become more creative in how we view the issues of peace and justice. It can become quite personal as we begin to notice with more clarity how we, as individual members of our community, are or are not playing a part in creating peace in our daily lives. For further inspiration and clarity along these lines. read Thich Nhat Hahn's “Being Peace.”
Questions may arise. “What is my responsibility?” “If peace begins with me, how do I maintain a peaceful mind?” “What is just or unjust in my home and community?” “Do I promote peace in my communications and interactions?”
The symbol in conventional astrology for Libra is the scales. This is the only symbol in the zodiac that doesn't have eyes. Justice needs to be blind in the sense of going beyond prejudice and superficiality and yet a broad vision is required.
From Native American astrology we have the raven or crow as Libra's totem. These birds fly just high enough to have a broader view, a perspective that goes beyond an either/or mentality. From the raven's height there is an understanding that there is no either/or, no black or white but a variety of changing and subtle shades, textures, colors and hues. Can we take in and accept the differences and complexities? Pigeon holing is no longer an option. Real life is more wonderfully diverse and multi-faceted. Can we live with that?
Because Libra sees many possibilities, it can, at times, be difficult to make a decision, make a commitment or take a stance and there's a good reason for that. Not knowing can be the most open minded stance. However actively or passively, decisions get made, and we need to be aware of the consequences of our decisions regardless of our style of decision-making. Letting go of either/or mind is not necessarily comfortable.
Connection and relatedness are great motivators for Libra. Libra wants to be in contact and that feeling is intensified at this time. The desire may be so strong that we find ourselves willing to compromise inappropriately just to have the connection we seek. It requires attentiveness to know if our compromises are sensible and healthy in the long run. If they are not, we can end up wandering and lost in the land of resentment.
Libra knows that relationship is of the essence. At this time we are able to more fully and deeply appreciate that reality. After all, whether we are skillful in how we relate to one another or not, we are all in this together —no one is outside the circle.
Crow Cohen is a lesbian-feminist writer who lives in Burlington.