This New Moon in Libra heralds a time of new beginnings in our partnerships, a time like the full Moon when we discover ourselves through our relationships with others. When we actually see how others react to us and adjust ourselves according to what we both want to create in the moment, we dance our relationships.

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When the Sun in the northern hemisphere reaches the Equator on its downward swing into the southern hemisphere, we honor the sign of Libra.   The Equator measures the dividing line between north and south and is visited by our Sun twice a year: once when the Sun rises up to the Equator heralding our northern Summer season and again when the Sun descends below the Equator heralding our Winter season.  

The Sun's yearly cycle is similar to the Moon's monthly cycle: the first - of the cycle is concerned with Self-discovery and self-sustenance, while the second - is concerned with the self-awareness that comes from relationship to others.  

This New Moon in Libra heralds a time of new beginnings in our partnerships, a time like the full Moon when we discover ourselves through our relationships with others.   When we actually see how others react to us and adjust ourselves according to what we both want to create in the moment, we dance our relationships.    We create a rhythm and a flow between our Self and another Self, and how well we navigate the steps will determine the quality and duration of that particular relationship.  

Relationships come in all shapes and sizes.   There are parent/child relationships, friendships, sexual relationships, love partnerships, creative partnerships and work relationships.   Some of these relationships are very unequal; others call for real equality.   Some are temporary and some are lasting partnerships.   There is no one size fits all rule for relationships.   That's why we have to be light on our feet!

The interesting thing about Libra is that it's the only sign that is symbolized by an object and not a living being.   This is very telling, because we have to have a real sense of object-ivity to treat someone else fairly and honestly.   Libra's Scale measures our ability to balance our own needs with another's needs.   But a scale is first set in motion and therefore not immediately balanced.   It takes subtle shifts to bring us into balance.   The two sides of the scale swing back and forth until it achieves a moment of pure balance and inner stillness; one side opposes the other until equilibrium is reached.   Like a see-saw, if a parent gets on one end and a child on the other, there is no balance.   The parent pushes off and up so the child can come down.   When there is an unequal distribution of weight, the heavier side is harder to balance -- such are work relationships and sometimes friendships and sexual relationships.   But loving and creative partnerships imply an important connection and must, in the end, be balanced.   These kinds of partnerships achieve that inner stillness that is peace and harmony.   That's the kind of relationship most of us hunger for.

Libra New Moon

The Aries Full Moon on September 29 aligned with the Uranus/Pluto square, offering us a chance to embody the new energies that are transforming us personally and collectively.   That Harvest Moon's energy empowered us to break traditions and create new ones of our own, to let old patterns of relationship die so new ones could be born and to assert our independence from old patriarchal conditioning.

Libra is the first of the more socially conscious signs of the Zodiac.   We say that Libra is the sign of peace, harmony, balance and partnership.   It's an air sign that focuses our intentions on how to develop those qualities in relationship with others.   As we all know, we have to feel peaceful within ourselves to achieve peace and balance with others.   As above, so below.   As within, so without.   Libra is a social sign that helps us shape the mental attitudes that give rise to new social norms.   As Saturn leaves Libra, perhaps we could all practice courtesy and respect as a "new' social norm.    It will certainly help in the days to come.

We are given cosmic help this New Moon by having Libra's ruling planet, Venus, in the sign of Virgo.   Venus in Virgo fosters a real sense of who we are and what we value.   Virgo helps Venus "belong to herself' and it is the sign of the Virgin who is fruitful.   You know, Venus/Aphrodite is the goddess of Love, Peace, Beauty and Wisdom.   She is also whole in herself, containing both the masculine and feminine energies of life.   She initiates Psyche, our soul, to help us grow into the person we are meant to be.   Venus rules the Heart chakra, connecting us to who and what we love.   She helps us find our purpose and live our destiny.

Our patriarchal culture has turned love into romance, but there is a major fallacy in the myth of Romantic Love.   Romantic love says that there is only one person I can really love, and if I can't have him/her, than I would rather die.   This is the kind of love we find when we "fall in love' -- it is an unconscious love that is in major part a projection of our inner masculine or feminine side.   When we discover that we own those very qualities, we often "fall out of love'.

Aphrodite's love is different.   It is specific as well as general, for Aphrodite/Venus' love also comes in many shapes and sizes, can be expressed in many ways and is open to many people, each a unique love and connection.   Aphrodite's love can teach us about ourselves if we aren't afraid to follow the connections we make with others.   Not everyone is meant to be our mate; some lovers are all fire and passion and burn out quickly, some lovers are safe and comfortable as friends, and a few have the special quality of being perfect matches for each other.   It's up to us to discern who is really available for partnership and who is there for a different kind of relationship.

Within the new parameters of the Uranus/Pluto square, Venus in Virgo can help us know ourselves on a heart level -- and accept ourselves.   In Virgo, we can reclaim ourselves in this new cycle, understand where we stand in terms of the new relationship models being explored and weave our new sense of identity into all our relationships.   Venus in Virgo offers us Self-ownership, which is important when we enter into a relationship.

Venus squares Jupiter retrograde in Gemini, which is at the same degree as the Venus/Sun conjunction on June 5th.   Jupiter can expand our feminine consciousness, helping us see potential in partners; Jupiter can also go overboard and make us over-estimate other people's value to us.   But with Venus in discerning Virgo, hope for the best and make heart-centered decisions about people.   We need to value and listen to what feminine consciousness has to say about people.

Supporting this New Moon is a beautiful water trine: Ceres in Cancer, Saturn in Scorpio and Neptune/Chiron in Pisces.   Let yourself be cradled in the oceanic waters, let go and float.   Ceres, the Mother Goddess, is in Cancer, sign of the Mother, offering us a quiet womb-like space to figure out what we need.   Saturn in Scorpio can give us the discipline to hang in there with others until we get to the root issue.   Neptune and Chiron in Pisces can send us healing images that inspire us to act in kind, compassionate ways, even when we have to stand up for ourselves.  

The Sabian symbol for the Sun and Moon at 23* Libra is: Chanticleer's voice heralds sunrise.     The co*k who gives voice to what is coming but has not yet fully manifested is a wonderful symbol of those conscious individuals who are responding to the essential truths of life and cosmic order.   Sunrise is a renewal of the day, and this image evokes the joy people feel when they intuit the renewal that is about to happen.   While cosmic law is cyclical, there is always a new creation that is happening.   This new Moon heralds a new day for all of us.   What can we do to make this new day more beautiful, harmonious and just?   That's the task that Libra poses for us.

This new Moon conjoins Arcturus (25* Libra) -- do you remember the instructions to look up at the Big Dipper and follow the tail to arc to Arcturus?   Arcturus is a first magnitude star, the 4^th brightest star in the northern sky, and is found in the constellation of Bootes, the Bear Driver, Herdsman or Ploughman.    Arcturus is considered to give riches, honors, renown and self-determination to those who have planets nearby.   The American psychic Edgar Cayce thought of Arcturus as containing the highest civilization in our galaxy.    Whether it is the home of aliens or just one of the most beautiful stars in our northern sky, Arcturus is certainly an eye-catcher.   Go out and look for the Big Dipper and then follow the tail to find this stellar light.    Then make a wish!

With Mars in Sagittarius in a helpful relationship with Uranus in Aries, we can stand up for our truth in original, creative ways.   Just make sure to do it courteously and respectfully, since Beauty and Truth work together as one.  

And the seasons roll on.    May the blessings of the harvest season shower you with relationship riches!

Cathy

For more information about relationships and Libra, check out my Emerging Archetypal Themes Movie Blog: Libra, The Art of Relationships and Dangerous Beauty.   http://thebardsgrove.blogspot.com/

Authors Website: http://www.cathypagano.com

Authors Bio:

Cathy Pagano is a spiritual advisor and Jungian psychotherapist, storyteller, author and teacher.

She is the author of a book on the return of the Goddess, "Wisdom's Daughters: How Women Can Change the World".

Cathy trained at the C. G. Jung Institut-Zurich in dream interpretation, has an M.A. in Counseling Psychology in Feminine Spirituality, and is a certified Life Coach.

As an astrologer and storyteller, she weaves the Cosmic Stories written in the stars. From The Bard's Grove, she writes about emerging archetypal themes in movies and books.

Cathy works with the tools of the imagination - dreams, alchemy, myths, astrology, symbolic language, storytelling, ritual - to awaken the Soul's wisdom.



I believe that Americans are called to a higher consciousness at this point in our history. We are called on to live up to our ideals and create the country our forefathers imagined. Inner consciousness needs to be acted upon for social justice.



Cathy believes that our writers and artists must take up our responsibility to create art that inspires, teaches and heals our humanity.



Cathy writes about political, psychological/spiritual, and cultural issues.