LIBRA the SCALES
22nd September to 23rd October.
Spectrum: Sapphire. Blue, Rose, Green.
LIBRA the sign of the scales, of equilibrium, of equal balance and a turn of the wheel in response to having achieved a point of realisation. Thus, the sign symbol is of the Scales that tell us of a weighing point in this seventh sign of the Tropical Zodiac. It usually needs two to keep the balance and at one level this means a good relationship with one other. This is a cardinal sign, a quality shared with three other signs, Aries, Cancer and Capricorn to mark the four cardinal points of our Earth orientation in which we live and have our being. Libra is of the AIR quality which it shares with Gemini and Aquarius, so we are in the realm of thought and communication here, sometimes productive and sometimes remaining in the realm of ideas and plans and wishful thinking. Generally, the combination of cardinal-air produces people who have a great need for making relationships both personal and social, they need to circulate and share their thoughts and dreams and hopeful meet with those who can provide the impetus to give these desire some sort of external expression, an expression of the potential for harmony and sweetness in the world. But low betide those who too long oppose this fruitful situation for the Libra person and the Libra quality can turn into a fighter when it is seen that the balance of the world is too much out of kilter for too long. Venus is the beautiful planet of morning and evening, that is closely associated with the sign of Libra as well as that of Taurus. Both signs carry the desire of Venus for refinement and happiness in life, sadly the constant search for such an ideal state can lead to constant indecision or heavy bickering and criticism. The uncongenial is not easily tolerated, the learned and artistic thought of with fondness.
This is the time of year to strive for companionable and happy situations, a time for creating pleasant atmospheres for all to enjoy themselves basking in pleasure and ease. A time to revamp the outdated wardrobe to buy something pretty and of value. It is time to welcome your fellow travellers on this little blue planets. Look for what compliments rather than aggravates, whether in relationships or circumstances and surroundings.
We are now in opposition to the first sign of our solar cycle, that is ARIES. We are at the calm centre of the cycle before it swings in the opposite direction, according to the seasonal change. For those of the Northern Hemisphere this is from external work of Virgo to internal understanding and growth of Scorpio, whilst for those of the Southern Hemisphere it is a movement outwards into life after a period of wintery internal searching. We are at the fulcrum of the year between Virgo and Scorpio two signs that need some deep thought and understanding on a cosmic level.
‘Justitia’ 1556
By Maaten van Heemskerck
With a complex of stars and constellations in the background we find a complicated mythology to keep us busy on our travels. The ancient Egyptians knew of the sign of Libra and associated it with their concept of MAAT which in turn symbolises the philosophy of balanced judgement and equal justice. This concept is based on a uniting of the rational mind with the intuitive love of an awakened heart. We are entering on the SEVENTH LABOUR of our Solar Hero, that of climbing a mountain to catch a wild boar. After a drunken party with his centaur friends, Hercules following the boar, climbs to the snow peaks and traps the animal. This act signifies that pleasure for its own sake must be replaced with a conquering of emotional desire, as Libra must do, in order to achieve a balance in life between the physical senses and divine senses, seen as intuition. Spin a beautiful web for yourself halfway between Earth and Heaven and maintain the balance between two poles of force forever bombarding one. The Boar is a symbol of the Great Mother seen in the goddesses of love and wisdom, Artemis and Isis.
This all-encompassing ‘Great Mother Goddess’ is also associated with the constellation Virgo which we were introduced to last month. Virgo also has association with the corn mother Demeter and her daughter Persephone the latter hinting at our coming visit to the underworld in the next sign of Scorpio.
‘The Angel’ 2017
By Benjamin Victor, sculptor
As an angel, Virgo’s wing is marked by the star Vindemiatrix: as the wheat bearing maiden Virgo holds a sheaf of wheat with one of its ears marked by the great star Spica who has some links with the star Sirius. Virgo is also associated with Princes Erigone who hung herself in grief at the death of her father Icarius. The story is of King Icarius, recipient of the vine stock from the god Dionysius. In his lack of wisdom Icarius gets his workers drunk. They turn in frenzy and slay Icarius. The gods place the king in the sky as the ‘Bear Watcher’, constellation ‘Bootes’ holding the bright star Arcturus companion of bright star Spica, known as the ‘Singing Sibyl ‘or the Pearl Princess ,who can irradiate the soul of man. But sometimes it is difficult to distinguish between Spica and Arcturus mythology.
There are rumours that Virgo as Isis, scattered her wheat ears to form the ‘Milky Way Galaxy’, and at other times nurses her son/sun god Horus who is to become the Christ figure. For ancient Semites this goddess is Ishtar, for the ancient Egyptians her other aspect is Hathor the cow goddess.
Another god called Apollo took on the disguise of a Black Raven during a conflict between the gods and giants. This bird of the sky is known as Corvus riding on the back of the constellation Hydra the Water Serpent, sometimes called Tiamut. In Greek myth this Raven, along with a White Dove, are associated with the great flood and with the Mountain of Parnassus, that Mountain that gave birth to the Muses. Others have associated these birds with Noah and the Ark, riding the same great flood.
The Hydra is a representative of the ‘Dragon of Aetes’ who plagued the ship of the Argonauts as the journeyed to find the Golden Fleece of Colchis. It is this Hydra Dragon that gave the name of ‘Dragon’s Head and Dragon’s Tail to the Lunar nodes, those points at the intersection of the Moon orbit with the Ecliptic circle. This monster of a water serpent stretches across 95 degrees of our celestial sphere, from the constellation of Cancer to that of Scorpio.
‘Argo Ship’ 19th century
By Konstantinos Volanakis
