Cosmic Sway
The great wheel turns toward autumn in the northern hemisphere when the Sun enters Libra, the sign of balance. Day and night are equal in length at the equinox, each resting on opposite sides of perfectly balanced scales, the symbol for Libra.
Libra’s scales are also scales of justice and fairness. The farmer, at autumn’s harvest, reaps what he’s sown. When it’s time to sell his crops, he negotiates a price based not only on how well he has tended his farm but how well others have tended theirs—and how well nature has treated them all.
This is the time of year to evaluate the fruits of your year’s labors so far. If you have goals to meet before the calendar year is over, you will have to evaluate what is feasible. Libra is the sign of partnership, and you may decide you will need to enjoin others to help you.
There are many contentious planetary aspects throughout this Mabon season, so we shouldn’t expect all matters to proceed smoothly. Making an effort to treat others well and meet challenges with good faith and fairness will be rewarded, even though you may not see those rewards until the wheel turns to Samhain.
Full Moon in Aries—October 5, 2017
The Aries Full Moon is in challenging aspect to Pluto, and while all the outer planets (Uranus, Neptune, Pluto) indicate change, Pluto’s changes can be the most sobering. Aries is an individualistic sign, and the Full Moon here shines a light on both the strengths and weaknesses of that approach. But Pluto times are best suited to those who downplay their individual objectives in favor of societal well-being. If you seek personal power during Pluto times, you may gain it—but it is likely to eventually backfire on you.
Venus and Mars, still together in Virgo, oppose Neptune (Sep. 24 and 29) and square Saturn (Oct. 5 and 8) in the Full Moon chart. This is one of those times when it’s necessary to confront what is real in our personal relationships and what is not. It’s also important to remember that both compassion and hard work are needed to make a relationship successful. If you have been fooling yourself about your relationship, or if the relationship is too much work for too little return, this Full Moon will bring clarifying revelations.
Jupiter in Scorpio—Oct. 10, 2017–Nov. 8, 2018
Traditional astrologers called Jupiter “The Great Benefic” and considered its influence uniformly positive. I wouldn’t go that far, personally. But I do consider Jupiter a great teacher and life coach, one that encourages you to stretch yourself and take chances and explore new experiences.
Jupiter takes twelve years to move through the entire zodiac, spending about one year in each sign. On October 10, Jupiter will enter Scorpio and stay in that sign through November 8, 2018. While it is there, Jupiter asks that we grow in wisdom and generosity in the area of sharing. Some of us share too easily and with the wrong people. Some of us struggle with sharing our resources for fear of being exploited by others who want to take from us.
Jupiter asks us to consider the best way to share, suggesting to err on the side of trust, optimism, and generosity. Do not throw out experience and judgment altogether; use them to decide who deserves your trust, and then share with them whole heartedly.
Jupiter’s most recent passage through Scorpio was between October 25, 2005, and November 23, 2006. Take a look back at that period of your life and remember in hindsight where you experienced significant personal growth. That’s where you will be doing some more advanced work this time around. Here are some ideas about the areas where you will be asked to stretch and evolve in the coming year. Read the section for your Sun sign or Ascendant.
Aries—shared resources, intimacy, working through psychological issues, inheritance, insurance, taxes
Taurus—equal partnerships, marriage, closest friends, negotiation, enemies and rivals, fairness and justice
Gemini—health, work, coworkers, routines and habits, rituals, unequal relationships
Cancer—creative projects, recreation, games and hobbies, children, love affairs
Leo—home, houses, family, women, food, history, genealogy
Virgo—siblings, neighbors, communication, learning and acquiring practical skills, short trips
Libra—earnings, possessions, contentment, security, confidence
Scorpio—independence, personality, appearance, immediate environment, identity
Sagittarius—retreat, spiritual inquiry, confinement due to illness, hidden matters, introspection
Capricorn—friendship, social networks, future goals, earnings from your career, building a legacy
Aquarius—career, reputation, ambition, mentorship, authority figures
Pisces—long journeys, higher learning, religion and beliefs, adventure, performance
Libra New Moon—October 19, 2017
With the Sun and Moon in an exact opposition to Uranus, the Libra New Moon is another lunation that emphasizes change. Uranus changes are sudden and unexpected, like the tornado that sweeps up little Dorothy Gale from Kansas and deposits her in the fascinating Land of Oz!
Wherever you’re stuck, Uranus wants to liberate you. He’s like a renegade cowboy who sneaks to the jail in the middle of the night to break you out. But the more you have been stuck, the more dramatic the change must be to free yourself.
Venus is square Pluto in this New Moon chart, so relationships must weather some tests and confront some uncomfortable truths. And Mars square Saturn is a sort of “pounding your head against a brick wall” aspect when we often expend too much energy trying to move an immovable object. All this obsessive power from Venus and Mars is at odds with the New Moon’s theme of change and liberation. Try to keep your eyes open and remain conscious of what you’re doing and why it may not be working. Think about whether the time has come to move on.
Setting Intentions for the New Moon
Each sign can be expressed in both positive and negative ways.
The waxing phases of the New Moon cycle (between the New and Full Moons) provide the best opportunities for launching projects and setting intentions, particularly related to the sign of the New Moon. For the Libra New Moon, set intentions for better relationships, fairness and justice, living a more balanced life, and experiencing satisfaction in your artistic projects.
The waning phases of this cycle (between the Nov. 3 Full Moon the Nov. 18 Scorpio New Moon) are best suited to releasing some of the shadow tendencies of the New Moon sign. For Libra, this includes any tendency toward vanity, unhealthy competition, and indecisiveness. This can also be the time when you may need to let go of relationships that are not bringing you happiness.