This New Moon represents a significant time for our relationships, with the potential for a new beginning in this area of our lives. New Moons always give us an opportunity to leave behind anything that is not helpful behind in the dark of the Moon and to set positive intentions for the month ahead. The focus of a Libra New Moon is peace, harmony, compromise, fairness, and true equality. Libra, a sign depicted by the scales, is the part of us that seeks balance, although it is also a sign of extremes, with the pendulum swinging from one extreme to the other.
Libra seeks to find the middle ground – the point where we meet in the space between us. This can be found by truly listening to one another in the spirit of understanding, rather than projecting our own ego, needs and desires onto one another. The Libran part of us knows all too well that our relationships need to be tended to for them to blossom and grow, and that takes work and willingness to compromise when needed. It is a delicate balance between the needs of each individual as well as a reverence for the love that lies in between.
Venus, the planet of love and beauty, is the ruler of this Libran New Moon and is sitting right next to retrograde Mercury in Virgo, exact on 26 September. This combination could help us to go back over old ground, picking up loose strands that might be important and talking them through so that they can hopefully be laid to rest. Virgo is a sign that likes to pick things apart, analyse and do the inner work in order to improve things, so we may find ourselves in discussion with our loved ones in order to sort out whatever discord or disharmony is causing a niggle within the relationship. With Virgo there is always a danger of nit-picking and getting bogged down in the minute details, but Mercury combined with loving Venus can help us to hash things out in a caring and diplomatic manner, in the spirit of really wanting to “serve” the relationship itself.
Of course, with Mercury getting ready to turn direct on 2 October, there is always the potential for misunderstandings and miscommunications to occur, so it is important to harness our inner Virgo and to be as clear and concise as we possibly can when talking things through. We may find ourselves a bit sensitive to criticism, which could make us defensive, so it is important to be as humble as possible and not allow our ego to run the show or we might miss out on some valuable healing. Sometimes what we perceive as criticism may actually be very hard for the other person to say and if we can step back and accept it as help then we can allow growth to occur. Venus can certainly help us to deliver our messages in a loving and kind way, which is a blessing!
Pluto, the planet of soul, power and transformation, is a very big part of this Moon, forming a helpful trine aspect to the Sun, Moon, Mercury and Venus. However, the strongest aspect is to the Mercury/Venus combo, which could really help us to get to the heart of the matter, wading into some deep and dark territory and hopefully bringing back some buried treasure! Pluto helps us to strip away the layers of self-deceit, so whatever conversations or discussions we have during this Moon could help us to gain a considerable amount of insight into ourselves and our loved ones.
Pluto encourages us to own our shadows – those deeper, darker parts of ourselves that we find it hard to see, let alone admit to! We all have part of ourselves and things that we have done that bring us shame, and to share our deepest darkest secrets can be such a relief, not to mention requiring a great deal of trust in the other person. However, to be truly seen by another is to be truly known. To be accepted, warts and all, is profoundly healing.
Pluto certainly brings the potential for some proper soul growth during this Moon, and a deepening of intimacy and understanding of one another. This will be particularly so for anyone with personal planets or angles around 26° of a sign, especially the Earth signs of Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn. Again, Pluto’s influence will peak on 26 September.
Neptune is also sitting opposite Venus and Mercury during this Moon, although Neptune exactly opposes Venus on 23 September and will come closest to opposing Mercury around 2 October, when Mercury turns direct. Neptune and Venus can mean that we might tend to bury our heads in the sand when it comes to matters of the heart, preferring the fantasy to the reality. However, it can also help us to relate to one another with compassion and empathy, so that we are able to connect more deeply and see through our protective walls. Neptune dissolves the ego, helping us to relate to one another’s true essence and love with devotion.
It is interesting that Neptune happens to be sitting opposite Mercury just as it turns direct on the 2nd, as it could muddle things even more than a Mercury retrograde usually would! Neptune could bring confusion, brain-fog, muddled communication, smoke screens and even deception. Our imaginations could run away with us and our minds could play tricks on us. It is important to be very mindful in the days before and after 2nd Oct, as the potential for misunderstandings is rife. A better use of the Neptune/Mercury energy would be to turn inward in quiet contemplation, to meditate, to rest the mind and allow spirit to guide us.
The most important energy of the moment is the Saturn/Uranus square, which is building in energy until 4 October, when it will start to wane, although it will still be very strong for most of October. We have Saturn, the planet of authority, government, foundation, limitation, control and structure locked in a dynamic, challenging square with Uranus, the planet of change, freedom, progression, revolution, awakening and rebellion. Change is afoot, and it may not be comfortable! This square represents a battle between the Old Order and the New Way, between Tradition and Progress, between the tried and tested and the inventive and innovative, between Control and Freedom, between government and anarchy. The foundations on which our lives are built are being broken down for us to break through to something fresh and different – a new way, unlike anything we have known before.
On a personal level we also have the potential to release ourselves from our comfortable yet unhealthy ruts and our old, outworn conditioning. This is not a very comfortable energy, this square, but it could shake things up and liberate us from unhealthy patterns that are based in old trauma and simply not helping us anymore. Uranus is the part of us that seeks change and freedom from the past, while Saturn is the part of us that fears it and seeks to maintain a sense of control over our lives. Any foundations that are not stable will experience a shake up during this time, which could be unsettling and may bring up fear. However, we are invited to embrace the necessary change. It is interesting to see how the square is playing out right now, both on the world stage and personally, especially for those of us with personal planets or angles around 18° of the fixed signs Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius.
The Sabian symbol for this Moon, at 3° Libra, is incredibly poignant considering the potential for the Saturn Uranus square: “The dawn of a new day reveals everything changed”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “The ever-present possibility of beginning again on a new foundation of values. What emerged hesitantly from the ocean of infinite potentiality (Aries 1°) now faces a totally new world in a truly individualised form of existence. He or she is ready to act significantly in the sphere of culture and social togetherness, the sphere in which an individual, aware of his archetypal essence and planetary function, can play his true role (dharma). In a basic sense it is always a new role, for no cycle repeats itself as far as its contents are concerned. The person who plays this role is always potentially an INNOVATOR”.
A powerful symbol for a powerful Moon. Considering that Uranus, the planet of sudden change and innovation, is currently in Taurus, the sign of values, this symbol does seem to mirror the potential of the Saturn/Uranus square. It seems to suggest that things can change very quickly, seemingly coming from nowhere and leaving everything different. What roles will we find ourselves playing if we do find that our world suddenly transforms? What is our true dharma, I wonder? It seems that we are being asked to be flexible and open to change rather than resisting through fear. There is a fine line between fear and excitement – it might be a simple case of perspective. Indeed, this symbol could bring a complete change of perspective or some kind or awakening that comes from left field.
In the meantime, we have this Libra New Moon, calling for peace, harmony and fairness, both personally and collectively, helping us to reset our relationships so that they are more equal. With this Moon we seek balance, in whatever way it is needed right now. Somewhere in the middle we will find peace.
Much Love
Amy
xoxo
Picture: Vesica Piscis - unknown