Libra is the sign of the scales. Her virtues of justice and equity and balance are miraculous when wielded by a being motivated by love. But when fueled by hatred, they become weapons of savage cruelty, destruction, and loss. Justice, impartial, elects to take eyes from each side to balance her scales. We are all left blinded in the process.
Last weekend, as the world enjoyed the first weekend of an autumnal, cozy October, Mars and Pluto - two of the most warlike and dangerous celestial bodies - perfected a square in the late degrees of Libra and Capricorn. This is an aspect oft associated with eruptions of conflict. And like clockwork, across the south of Israel, militants erupted through the barricades and visited horror and death on thousands of innocent civilians, which proved to be a prelude for the unthinkable destruction that is now being dealt to Gaza in retribution. The cauldron of this conflict has been simmering for years and years. Now it has boiled over, and we are feeling its effects in our hearts, our heads, and our relationships. Libra, the nocturnal home of Venus, knows that beauty is the way through pain. If you are feeling grief today, please, let it flow through you in the form of art, word, song, dance, craft. Just as the strongest souls are forged in the hottest fires, the most moving art is created from the storms that times like these inspire.
In advance of the next earth shaking moment that will come this weekend with the so-called Ring of Fire Eclipse, the stars are assuming new positions that will help us be better prepared to receive its transformational light. Venus has at last graduated into Virga after nearly five months in Leo, where she experienced a profound, 6 week retrograde. She is helping us to remember the paramount importance of beauty, and to see the perfection of all the perfection imperfections that make our lives what they are.
Mars will move into his home sign of Scorpio on Friday, relieving some of the discomfort that comes with his detriment in Libra in the nick of time — and simultaneously heightening the alchemical potential of the upcoming eclipse. Love and death. Finally, Mercury is fast approaching combust with the sun, and is going to be intimately involved in this weekend’s occultation as it is just a few degrees away — another imprecation to speak, channel, express and let justice become a felt experience rather than a subject of debate.
Eclipses are potent opportunities to let go of past wounds and traumas that hold us back from full embodiment and expression. This is especially true of South Node eclipses such as this one, as Ketu is as much associated with the past as Rahu is with the future. This Sunday’s occultation will see the unbandaging of potent old wounds, which for the uninitiated could lead to inflammation, retraumatization, and complications — when, in truth, we undress these wounds not to harm but to heal, and apply the Balm of Gilead to soothe the scars that have shaped us.
This is justice, in divine light. All wounds salved. All troubles appearing for a reason. All conflicts a part of the road to great peace.