The sun moves into Libra on September 23rd at 2:50 am EDT, and thus begins Libra season. Mars has been in Libra since late August and is still there, so we have already been feeling some of this Libra energy. Mercury enters Libra on October 4th to join the sun and Mars.
Libra is a cardinal air sign. The cardinal signs occur at the beginning of seasons. Libra season marks the start of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, and it’s a time when our mental faculties are energized. There’s a buzz in the air. Even though the beginning of fall heralds the return of the darker, cooler months, it still feels like a beginning.
Libra is ruled by Venus, the planet that rules relationships, love, values, resources, art, and beauty. Libra is about charm. Libras are disarming, and Libras (particularly Libra risings) are known to be attractive.
The symbol for Libra is the scales, and a keyword of Libra is balance, which makes sense given that Libra season starts on the equinox, when day and night are equal, with a perfect balance between light and darkness. This is a time for assessing and communicating our ideas about balance in our lives. How much time do you spend working vs. not, and is that right for you? Do you feel like your relationships are balanced, or are you giving or taking too much?
The balance that Libra encourages also lends to the diplomacy that is so associated with Libras. Libras are fair, seeking out points of view and considering the thoughts and feelings of others. Libras can see all sides and weigh them judiciously, making them excellent peace brokers. Air signs are about communicating ideas, intellectualizing, and connecting mentally, and Libras are smart and deliberate in their thoughts and expressions. This penchant for diplomacy is what helps Libras excel at relationships. They are generally well liked and attract others. People want to be around them.
The balance exhibited by Libra also lends to its discerning eye. Ruled by Venus, Libras often have great appreciation for art and beauty and carry that through various aspects of their lives (often depending on where Libra falls in their chart): their professions, their own physical presences, through decorating their homes, etc.
The shadow side of Libra, though, occurs when these qualities get unbalanced. The need for diplomacy, conflict avoidance, and the concern for others can take over, causing Libras to not really have a defined sense of self or to sacrifice their own needs for the good of others or for general harmony. Sometimes keeping the peace means selling themselves short.
Libras also get pegged as being wishy washy. They can weigh things too much, and the scales go up and down and up again. And when things are being balanced against each other, how can you can make a decision to go with one option and not the other? Indecision can plague Libras and those with major Libra placements.
For VPR watchers, Tom Schwartz, who has a Libra sun AND moon AND four planets in Libra, exhibits major Libra traits. The more evolved traits are his charm, his diplomacy, his ability to weigh different points of view, and his intelligence. He tries to make others comfortable, even to his own detriment sometimes, and will defend others when he perceives them as being maligned. However, the shadow traits commonly associated with Libra are also on full display with Schwartz. There’s his unwillingness to commit in his relationship with Katie, even to the point of “losing” and not filing their marriage certificate after their televised wedding. On the surface, he’s a people pleaser; he tries to appease everyone (except his partner), and people like what they perceive as his good-naturedness, but ultimately, a lot of that is because he himself feels uncomfortable making decisions or setting boundaries. If you want to see a master class in Libra’s shadow side, go back and watch clips from Schwartz’s most recent appearances on Watch What Happens Live.
Despite Libras’ reputations for being social creatures that are fair minded, they can be internally exhausted by having to be social, and Libras can actually be very judgmental. They usually just don’t show it outwardly unless pushed. Think about Schwartz‘s confrontation with Lala this season, and his past fights with Katie where he got truly vicious. When the nice-guy, diplomatic routine fails him, he lets his true judgments fly. Libras judge and can remain steadfast in their judgement of someone, even nurturing grudges.
This Libra season, let’s try to utilize the more evolved Libra energies. Give all choices full consideration, but call on the cardinal-ness of Libra to move forward with the best option instead of giving into indecisiveness. Use wise judgment but don’t be too quick to judge, and be flexible in changing your mind, but don’t go back and forth on everything.
During the next month, there’s some lively lunar activity. There’s a full moon in fire sign Aries on September 29th. Eclipse season arrives as well, with a new moon that’s also a solar eclipse on October 14th. We may see some big shake-ups in the areas of our chart that are on the Libra & Aries axis. More on that to come.
Read below for the general themes that will likely be highlighted for you over this next month, depending on your rising and sun signs. You’ll feel it more if you have any major placements (sun, moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, the ascendant, or the midheaven) in cardinal signs (Libra, Capricorn, Aries, and Cancer). If you want to know more, book a reading with me!
Libra & Libra Rising: If you’re a Libra rising, the next month is all about you. If you’re a Libra sun, it’s your birthday month! This season gives you an extra oomph and your personality shines through. It’s a time for me time. Assess your wants, your needs, your inner desires, and how you’re balancing those against what others are asking of you. If you aren’t carving out enough space for yourself, Libra season marks the time to take it back. And with Venus finally direct and almost out of its retrograde shadow, you can use this opportunity to change up or beautify your physical self. If you’ve been putting off getting a facial or a haircut, now’s the time!
Scorpio & Scorpio Rising: Libra season marks the beginning of the sleepier months, and this transition into fall will likely find you more tired than usual. Lean into nesting and resting, and pay extra attention to your dreams. As the nights get longer, you’re well served by plumbing the depths of your subconscious through journaling and/or therapy.
Sagittarius & Sag Rising: Sagittarians are social creatures, and with the sun (and later Mercury) in your 11th house, this time of the year lends itself to making the most of your gregariousness to network and to socialize with your friends. Connecting with others is especially beneficial for you right now, so get out there and go to parties (or host them) and/or go to networking events this month.
Capricorn & Cap Rising: Libra season puts a spotlight on your career and how you make a name for yourself. If you’ve been on cruise control in your professional life, this is a good time for reassessing the balance with what you’re putting into your profession vs. what are you getting out of it. If it’s not fulfilling you, this is the time to investigate other opportunities and work on your resume.
Aquarius & Aquarius Rising: You may be taking on new academic pursuits or finding yourself cast into the role of a teacher, possibly through serving as a mentor, or offering trainings at work or elsewhere. This is also a time for more spiritual pursuits, whether that’s diving deeper into a spiritual concept that interests you, or recommitting to a spiritual practice or routine that brings you peace.
Pisces & Pisces Rising: With Libra ruling your 8th house, autumn is a time when you’re thinking about death, mortality, and decay. That’s not necessarily as macabre as it sounds, though. Pisces are very sensitive and highly spiritually attuned, so it’s a time of reflection on the cycle of life. This is a time where you may find yourself particularly focused on others instead of yourself. People may be coming to you with their baggage, looking for some sage advice, or you may be helping someone sort through their finances this month.
Aries & Aries Rising: Libra rules your 7th house of relationships, so there will be an extra spotlight on your one-on-one partnerships, whether it’s a romantic or love relationship with a partner or a business partnership or a close collaborator for a project. There’s a push and pull between your relationship and yourself, so Libra season is the time for calibrating those scales. Are you offering too much of yourself, or are you withholding? Try to find the balance between give and take.
Taurus & Taurus Rising: This month, your self-care routines are illuminated and up for evaluation. Are you carving out time for yourself to relax, to rest, and to exercise? Do you take the time you need to take care of yourself, whether it’s doing a daily skin routine or making your morning smoothie (or both)? This is the month to focus on those routines that nourish yourself and your health. It’s also a good time for getting in some extra vitamin D or starting your morning sun lamp routine to try to minimize the seasonal depression that winter may bring for you.
Gemini & Gemini Rising: Lean into the Venusian qualities of Libra to focus on your creative pursuits over the next month. The sun and Mercury can help you clear any writer’s or artist’s block you have been facing residually as a result of the recent Venus and Mercury retrogrades. You may be feeling extra amorous this month as well, so take advantage and lean into your romantic side.
Cancer & Cancer Rising: Libra rules the roots of your chart, so the sun will be highlighting home and family matters. You may be encouraged to dive deep into your ancestry or connect with elders in your family. This is also a good time for engaging in some home beautification or repair projects to improve your living space and make it more cozy, safe, and inspiring.
Leo & Leo Rising: Libra season has you focusing on the local. You’ll be more inclined to do stuff in the neighborhood, and you may find some opportunity in switching up your daily routines. This is a good time for checking out a new restaurant or forging new connections with neighbors. Or you may try to change up your commute and find that a certain route or train makes your life more pleasant. Small changes to your everyday life can go a long way.
Virgo & Virgo Rising: This season your focus is on finances and your resources. The sun illuminates the part of your chart that deals with how you earn your money. You may get a boost in your financial life, or you may just be putting some extra energy into money matters, investments, and the things you own and hold dear. Investing now in things you care about can pay off in the long run.
As always, these horoscopes should be taken with a grain of salt. They are not fortune telling, but rather they’re my interpretation of the sun’s movement through the various houses of the birth chart.