A new lunar cycle begins on September 25 at 2:54 pm PDT with the Sun and Moon at 2° Libra, the sign of balance, harmony and relating with others. The challenge Libra presents is to develop a sense of ease in our relationships, no matter how different or difficult others may be. The key to achieving this is in finding balance between the concerns of self and other. Standing up for ourselves can evoke fears of displeasing someone or worrying about how they might react if we directly confront some aspect of their behavior. Libra teaches us that strong relationships are built by both individuals being able to stand on their own yet still support each other through mutual agreements. The most endearing partnerships allow “the winds of heaven to dance between you.”
The New Moon is in a tight opposition to Jupiter at 3° Aries, which further emphasizes how we integrate the concerns of self and other. Jupiter in Aries emphasizes the need to express oneself freely and to manifest something in the world as a creative act free from expectations. At the same time, Libra’s guiding force will likely explore themes related to relationships and may help us discover ways to be more open and authentic with others.
The New Moon/Jupiter alignment in early cardinal degrees has an active, initiatory quality and ordinarily indicates a strong desire for expansion. This dynamism, however, is muted once again by paradoxical influences. As was true during the last moon cycle, there are still six planets retrograde, which is extremely rare. Archetypally, these retrograding planets – Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto – are turning us towards deep reflection and encouraging us to learn the nuances of our inner world. When we turn our attention within to understand our own ebbs and flows, fears, and motivations, a new level of self-compassion can be cultivated.
Other alignments active at the New Moon support efforts in delving deeper to see the mental structures that both support and inhibit our growth. The long-term third quarter “crisis of consciousness” square between Saturn in Aquarius and Uranus in Taurus is strong in its archetypal imperative to develop the inner integrity and fortitude to embrace constant change as a necessity of evolution on all levels. Mastering our unique talents as we expand in consciousness provides a foundation of awareness and stability from which we can venture to creatively respond to any situation. Saturn additionally is in close trine to Mars in Gemini which suggests the need for a disciplined approach to our actions.
A conjunction between retrograde Mercury and Venus in Virgo trining retrograde Pluto in Capricorn suggests we may feel empowered to be more authentic in our communications with others. The Mercury/Venus opposition to retrograde Neptune in Pisces and Pluto’s sextile to Neptune, may help us summon the courage to show up for ourselves, which ultimately strengthens our capacity to be compassionate with ourselves and others. The practical Virgo planets aligning with the transcendent outer planets opens a door to discovering more about who we truly are. It takes sustained effort to stretch into new areas of understanding our reality, but when we embark on this transpersonal path, we learn that serving our Beingness in this way ultimately serves the greater whole of Beings in the endeavor of evolving in consciousness and unconditional Love.
This week ask yourself: What can I do to look at my inner world and personal patterns with gentleness and honesty?
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