♎︎ Everything seeks balance
Updated: Oct 15
During the autumnal equinox; day and night are equal. Since the Earth's axis is tilted, different parts of the planet receive varying amounts of sunlight throughout the year; on the equinox the scales are balanced. After the autumnal equinox, the days become shorter and the nights longer until the winter solstice in December.
The autumnal equinox occurs in the sign of Libra, as the scales tip toward winter. This period serves as the entrance into Autumn, and ignites the themes of balance and harmony.
Libra is Latin for Scales with it being considered the newest of the 12 Zodiac Signs as it is thought that there used to only be 10 signs, with VirgoScorpio splitting in two, and Libra being created to balance the system, thus The Scales. The symbol for balance and order, Libra has important insights to impart upon us.
♎️ Libra: The Archetype, Symbolism, and Wisdom
Seventh sign of the Zodiac, Libra marks the beginning of the third season of our year.
Libra is ruled by the planet Venus ♀ and Uranus ♅ linking it to relationships and collective progress. They symbolize the collective systems, agreements, and relationships we partake in. Originally linked to Saturn (♄), Libra can be seen as embodying all three of these rulers. Libra is Cardinal Air and represents the initiation of ideas through collaboration. This is the perfect time to ask ourselves:
Are my relationships nourishing and reciprocal?
How can I bring more love into my current relationships?
Is there any aspect of myself that is out of balance or needs improving?
There is great wisdom in cultivating nurturing relationships. Let's explore more closely the history and symbology of Libra.
The History of the Sign
Originating in the constellation of Libra, In modern tropical astrology; the Sun transits into Libra from September 22-23 to October 22-23 (This date varies in the Gregorian Calendar).
Ancient Babylonia
Libra as a constellation was known first to the Babylonians as the Scorpions Claw. It was a symbol of the autumnal period and associated with with Šamaš; arbiter of truth and justice.
The Scales and Scorpions Claw represented the judgement that is to be faced by our actions.
The transformation of the Scorpion’s Claws into the Scales was ultimately due to precession, which had gradually shifted these stars into the region of the heavens that rose at the time of the autumn equinox. The Scales are symbols of the autumn equinox and the idea of judicial prudence, the careful weighing of evidence before making a judgment.
Egyptian Dendera
In ancient Egypt; the three brightest stars of Libra (α, β, and σ Librae) formed a constellation that was viewed to them as a boat. In the Dendera Zodiac, this region of the sky depicts stellar traditions before the later introduction of the Babylonian and Roman scales.
Ancient Greece
To ancient Greeks, the constellation that later became Libra was still ruled over by the constellation of Scorpio. They called the area the Latin word "chelae", which translated to "the claws" which today help identify the individual stars that make up the full constellation of Libra, since they are closely in front of the Scorpion constellation in the sky.
Ancient Rome
The Romans created our modern constellation of Libra, making it the "balanced sign." It was made to balance out the calendar system, and is fittingly depicted as The Scales. It became the only sign depicted by an object; lacking animal and older mythological symbolism.
Now Libra has become the archetype of Lady Justice, blindfolded to show the need for impartiality, and holding the scales in one hand and a sword in the other, symbolic of judgment and reason. This sign embodies the idea of maintaining proper balance between people through systems and agreements: calendars, time, laws, contracts, etc.
Even now Libra's symbolism continues to evolve for us.
Archetypes of Libra: Equilibrium and Justice
Venus - The Scales - Uranus
The Planet Venus is one of the 7 classical planets and represents the themes of harmony, romance, fertility, beauty, and refinement.
The Planet Uranus is associated with evolutionary development, awakening, organization, and the urge to better conditions. This sign has a third older associated esoteric ruler in Saturn, linking it to the core themes of law, procreation, and wealth by way of our connections.
Together they are the forces of harmony and evolution, the relation between opposites, and concrete expression for the better development of people and civilization.
The Number 7 is symbolic of a complete cycle, reflection, understanding, and the development of the human being through contemplation and the search for deeper meaning.
The Scales teach us to weigh, consider, and discern, be impartial, and seek harmony.
Libra’s opposite sign is Aries, and the two must be brought into balance. Mars rules Aries and Venus rules Libra, so that Will and Intelligence must work together through either desire or love.
Justice: The 11th Card of the Major Arcana of the Tarot is associated with Libra. Depicted on the card is a seated figure holding a sword and scales, representing discernment, balance, and the right ordering of opposing forces. The sword cuts through illusion, while the scales weigh and bring opposing forces into harmony. We are both the judge and the jury of our own life, and our current reality is a direct reflection of our past choices. Justice is an encapsulation of that inner judge inside us and of our awareness to our actions and their consequences.
Learning from each Lesson
Libra reminds us that hardship is a part of life and that failure is necessary for development.
This is the time in the journey where we review our past lessons. We have to decide for ourselves whether our lives change or stay the same. & there is still much more wisdom to be drawn from old experiences.
Libra continues to remind us to look within for the answers, to create harmony between our "light and dark." In order to create balance we must give attention to both the negative and positive thoughts and what they reveal to us about ourselves. What are we giving attention to and why? Why do we want what we want? This sign, like Virgo and Scorpio, points to the main challenge of developing our willpower to avoid any further pitfall with temptation. This process of transforming pain into wisdom is the hero's journey at its core. The skill of being adaptable yet retaining the total integrity of one's vision and morals.
Can we look back at our mistakes and past relationships with gratitude instead of hurt?
The Importance of Relationships
The key lesson of this sign is that relationships are channels for personal improvement. As we grow older the value of right relationships becomes clearer. That is to say that we become more aware of how relationships influence us. They bring out different aspects of our personality and character and play the most crucial rule in influencing how we develop.
Am I blossoming around this person and can this person authentically blossom around me? Relationships are to be carefully considered if we are to live fulfilling lives. Libra is then the test of being a better friend and partner.
Our strength is in our awareness of anything out of balance, or not reciprocal. In order to bring the darkness into light, the false into truth, we must first identify it. (writing, of course, is helpful for this.)
Are my thoughts, words, and actions in harmony with my purest intentions?
We unconsciously seek for balance within our lives and Libra symbolizes that effort.
Comments