Libra & the unbalanced quest for balance
Libra brings to mind using partnership to find balance
The Sun went into Libra on 9/23 and will remain there until approximately 10/24, representing equal day and equal night. Partnership that is created with the intention of love gives us a hint into the realm of Libra.
From this view, we immediately look for balance, but balance isn’t achieved until we understand how relationships work, and how they can send us out of balance and also bring us back into balance. In so many ways, relationships help us in so many ways to figure out the things we refuse to see in ourselves. And while this might be an unpopular opinion among professional astrologers, for me, Libra is actually about relationship FIRST and balance SECOND.
The symbol of Libra is the scales. In Greek mythology, the scales belong to Astraea the Virgin Goddess of Justice. Astraea was the last of the immortals to live with humans at a time of great cooperation during the Utopian Golden Age.
When humans started to become greedy and self-centered, Astraea departed. When she ascended to the heavens, she became the constellation Virgo, and her Scales became the constellation Libra. Once Astraea left, humans were forced to see each other in projection.
Without true cooperation, people began to build defense mechanisms that blamed all their faults on others. Libras understand that the scales represent the balance of self and the relationship that you have with your peers.
Once that is achieved, and then seen in the eyes of others, true partnership is formed. Cooperation through true partnership is the very essence of Libra.
Libra at the core is love, and they give this off in abundance. Libras exude charm and charisma. They can be tactful and bold. This sign knows the arts and how to make art. They can be both the epitome of androgynous and the source of beauty.
A Libra relates to the ideal of justice as it provides the yin and yang of utopia. The scales come with the direct knowledge of what is right and what is wrong. There is no other sign that sees both sides of an argument as clearly as the Libra, and then with a subtle twist and turn, are able to help both parties agree upon a solution.
Looking in the mirror and truly seeing yourself for who you are requires partnership. Libras understand that we need another person to help us see what we refuse to see in ourselves. Libra uses this mirror to gauge how life is working out.
Through this, Libras know that life in its wholeness must be held together with the bonds we make. The Libra in balance understands that they cannot complete anything in this world without creating a dynamic that shares with another.
Many different relationships are created from Libra. All forms of partnership from romantic to platonic are at their disposal. The Libra has the charm and natural understanding of how to make people feel good about themselves. This gives them insight on how to bring people together and form networks that benefit the group as a whole.
Libras in balance know how to empower people to help them see more of themselves. They know when to push and when to back off. They understand that partnership can only be had if both sides view each other as equals.
What is love defined by the Libra? When Libra is living in balance, they see love as energy from source and not an emotion. Love is NOT and will never be a place of hurt and sorrow.
Sometimes an out of balance Libra can find they are at a crossroads in life and are trapped in the cauldron of emotions. These emotions are created by fear, and not from love. Many times, we confuse need with love, and this is the trap that can lead the Libra into its shadow.
In its shadow vanity forces, Libra to reach its conclusions without love. They start relying on superficial innuendoes to guide them. They begin to question about how others will view them. How much money does he have? What will my friends think of her? Is this music really in taste with what’s hip and now?
Instead of trusting in what they feel about beauty and cooperation, they begin to worry more about the perceptions of others. When this happens, they are unable to move and stagnation creeps in. The Libra is now riding the fence unable to be concise and direct. Pressure begins to build as the Libra tries to decide what direction led them to their indecisiveness. As the pressure builds, they lose sight of their ability to make decisions as if each choice rides in the balance of life and death.
The Libra has now become needy and wanting, which drives people away. Once this occurs, they come crashing into the oblivion of loneliness.
In their loneliness, the Libra will dream of the Utopian partner who reflects the overall essence of themselves. The feeling is the greatness of who they are, and who they know they can be, will be shown through the partner.
“If my partner, is great that I am great,” thinks the Libra. It is from this point of view that the Libra can use their charm to manipulate a situation to get what they want. In the shadow, Libra is only using their charm for to what they want out of fear of not being beautiful or being surrounded by beauty.
Libras dream of the utopian partner causes them to go to extremes with their emotions when it comes to relationships. They feel that the other side of the scale needs to be balanced with the perfect Venusian partner. In other words, if the partner isn’t perfect than “how can I be wonderful” wonders the Libra?
Another form of partnership that works within the scales of Libra is justice. Libra has issues with anything that is out of balance. The scales must always stand level and true.
In balance, a Libra will achieve this with tact, courtesy, and devotion to the masculine and feminine parts of life. If someone is unfairly being vilified, the Libra in balance will find a solution that gets at the core of the issue. One might think that in working for the honor of the person being vilified that the attacking person be damned. That isn’t the case with a Libra in balance. The Libra will see how to win over the attacker by understanding how to balance them out. The last thing the Libra wants to do is solve an issue by demeaning the culprit.
When working for justice, sometimes the Libra will get caught up in the physical realities of the world. They start relying on the absolutes that have created their reasoning. They can feel a responsibility to balance something that really has nothing to do with them. In spirit, balance is created that reflects in the physical world. If the Libra in its fight for justice loses sight of this ideal, then hate wins and they become what they are actually fighting against.
Libras in balance are a reflection of the love that we see from the Goddess mother herself. This is the true love that no partner can ever give if trying to take. This is the love that bringing two angry people together in common understanding shows us all. This love is only to be shared and Libras in balance understand this.
Libras are to be the example of the perfect union, and this is how they can be a leader in what true partnership means.