New Moon in Libra 10*10*26
Saturday morning is the Libra New Moon, when the Sun and Moon meet at 17 degrees of Libra. Libra is the cardinal air sign. Air signs are focused on the mental realm. Their world is experienced through ideas and thoughts. For Libra, close relationships are the vehicle through which it best experiences its energy. They act as mirrors for Libra so it can better know itself. Libra prioritizes beauty, balance, and fairness, and relationships are well suited to explore these concepts. Libra energy wants everyone to feel heard and seen. And because it is so focused on its important others, it learns to be a master at compromise, negotiation, and diplomacy. Things need to look attractive for Libra to feel comfortable. Messy environments or clashing colors are disconcerting for Libra energy. They care about how things look. This isn't a superficial thing. It is part of creating the vibe of harmony and beauty that nourishes Libra's nervous system.
The shadow of Libra is self abandonment in the quest to have harmonious relationships. Libra is the sign opposite Aries, the first sign of the zodiac and the one most oriented to self. Astrology operates on polarities. Aries and Libra are one such polarity. Too much Aries and the "other" is an afterthought. Too much Libra and, well, that shadow expression of self abandonment occurs in the quest to keep everything harmonious. It's when a strong sense of identity is coupled with the willingness and capacity to accept and honor another's needs and perspectives that relationships can be rich, expansive and growth promoting. It's important to note that I am talking about archetypes here - not individuals. There are plenty of Aries who have wonderful relationships and plenty of Libra's who are great at standing up for themselves. No one is one dimensional.
What is complicating this New Moon is that its ruler, Venus (because Venus rules Libra, the sign of the New Moon) is retrograde and is squaring both Mars at 7 degrees of Leo and Pluto at 3 degrees of Aquarius. This forms a T-square with Venus in Scorpio as the focal planet. Ooof! First, Venus retrograde in Scorpio (see the previous post ) is digging up buried fears, unresolved and unintegrated control issues, and self-sabotaging patterns that we have usually resisted acknowledging. Venus retrograde in Scorpio digs deep and is relentless in uncovering what is keeping you stuck in an old version of self that needs to be composted.
She is challenging (and being challenged by) Mars, (the drive to act and get what we want) in Leo (personal power and leadership) and Pluto (transformation, self-empowerment) in Aquarius (groups, collective belonging, freedom from limits). Because Pluto is an outer planet its influence is on a larger, more global scale. But here, in the aspect with personal planets Venus and Mars, we are feeling it on a personal level too. And really, it's kind of perfect that the two personal planets most tied to relationships and feminine and masculine expression in our charts are dusting it up under the most relationship oriented sign's New Moon. How comfortable are you with your own power? How do you navigate power dynamics in relationships, both one to one and in groups? What has been coming to your attention about the things you do to feel safe in relationships since Venus went retrograde last week? What is changing about the way you take action to get your needs and desires met? Since Mars moved out of Cancer and into Leo on September 28, there has likely been a shift towards investing in what you want to grow in your life rather than protecting what represents security for you.
In this T square, Mars is opposite Pluto. The opposition was exact on October 3 when Venus went retrograde (seriously, you can't make this up). Although Mars is moving away from the opposition it is still some potent energy. Back in January, Mars and Pluto met at 3 degrees of Aquarius and started a new cycle. This is the turning point of that cycle, the peak as it were. Think back to what you may have started in January. What realizations about what you wanted (Mars) and how your past patterns might have been disempowering you (Pluto) from fully making strides to achieve it? In May, they were square, so the first challenge to whatever was started in January came up. The opposition is the culmination of something, the turning point. Most likely, some behavior or way of doing things (Mars) must change.
Interestingly, Venus and Mars also started a new cycle in January at 17 Capricorn, about 3 weeks before the Mars - Pluto conjunction. What recognitions about your relationships came up then? Was there a shift in your approach to connecting with your important others or expressing your desires in relationships? Capricorn is a serious sign. It plays the long game. This Venus - Mars cycle is about duration, working together to achieve something lasting, and offering something to the world as well as the relationship.
This Venus - Mars cycle is marked by a lot of challenges. Normally, the cycle starts at the conjunction and receives a challenge when the planets move into a square. It's the opportunity to see what needs adjustment. Then comes the opposition - the turning point. The thing initiated at the conjunction and adjusted at the square is now at a crucial point. This is eventually followed by a second (closing) square to finalize any needed adjustment, and then another conjunction signifying the end of the cycle and the start of a new one. It could be the same project by the way, one that has just reached a new stage. The current Venus - Mars cycle is marked by three squares before the turning point opposition. That's a lot of adjustment.
The first square happened in July, when Venus in Virgo squared Mars in Gemini. How to be of service, to take care of the demands of life (Virgo) while also connecting with others to discuss ideas and share stories. This is the second square, and it's pulling in Pluto and landing with a New Moon. This one calls for further adjustment. In January 2027, Venus and Mars will again square each other, Venus at 10 degrees of Sagittarius and Mars, which will be retrograde, at 10 degrees of Virgo. This will have themes that include bringing your beliefs about relationships, resources, and values (Venus in Sagittarius) into the way you take care of daily responsibilities (Mars in Virgo).
In March, 2027, Venus in Aquarius will be opposing Mars, still retrograde, in Leo. This will activate the August 12, 2026 Solar Eclipse point of 20 degrees of Leo and bring up any themes that were started then.
In June, 2027, Venus in Gemini will form the closing square to Mars in Virgo. Notice they swap places from the first square, each taking the other's perspective. Finally, in November 2027, the new cycle starts when they meet at 29 degrees of Sagittarius. While this is the initiation of the cycle, it happens at the final (anaretic) degree of Sagittarius, so there is some sort of completion going on here as well. Something about your beliefs will be changing, based on the experiences of the previous squares and opposition from the current cycle.
So, we need to include this New Moon as a point on a larger timeline that is rewriting the way we relate to each other. Allowing old patterns to fall away, releasing disempowering stories and deciding what to tend in your life and relationships instead is the challenge and that is likely why we have so many players and multiple opportunities being made available to us. This is deep work. It takes time. Along the way we will have Mercury going retrograde on October 24, and Jupiter and Mars going retrograde in December and January, respectively. My intention is not to add to the overwhelm that so many of us are feeling (myself included). It's to offer a perspective that takes a longer view, so we can pace what we are being asked to metabolize. This is a two steps forward one step back type of energy, not a full steam ahead type of energy. Remember Libra season is about balance. So take a breath or two. Create something beautiful for yourself and simply allow yourself to center. Calm your mind, come back to your heart. A scale doesn't need to swing wildly from one side to the next in order to achieve balance. It can do so gently. That is what I want for all of us - a gentle recalibration of our inner perspective and resources that serves us. There are enough things in the external that will deplete us if we allow it. We don't have to allow it. But the work we are being called to do is internal and that takes time and commitment to creating the next greatest version of self. So take as many breaths as you need to keep orienting to who and where you want to be. A year from now you will be glad you did.
"Those who want peace must learn to create peace." ~ Victor Ehighaleh
"All we can control is our own corner of the universe.Ourselves.The goal is to create peace in our own little corner."
~ Rebecca Pacheco
