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by Anita
Mabon, the fall equinox, is the time of year when the Sun enters Libra. The astrological calendar begins with Aries at the spring equinox, and Libra marks the halfway point -- perfect for a sign whose symbol is the scales. The symbol is the scales because this is the time of year when farmers bring their harvest to the market, where it is weighed, evaluated and purchased. Libra is the point where the Sun, entering the seventh house, finally moves above the horizon and into the public. It is under Libra that we need to negotiate and to make compromises. Libra is the sign of harmony and diplomacy because Libra knows it's not wise to be rude to the people we need to do business with. Libra also knows that the community needs to share resources in order to survive the oncoming winter. "No man is an island" expresses the essence of Libra.
Libra is also the sign of choice. The halfway mark of any project or trip marks the point of no return. We weigh and choose our options: Shall we continue the project we started on or scrap it and turn to something else? Or do we only need to make a few modifications to the plan in order to succeed? How strong is our desire to continue? We look back on how far we've come and judge our strengths and weaknesses. Venus, the ruler of Libra, teaches us that gentle words and random acts of kindness lubricate our way through life and help form bonds.
For some time, I participated in a group that taught the Golden Dawn tradition, which includes Egyptian myths and rituals. We were taught that one of the important initiation rites involved choosing a door to pass through. The door we chose determined the path of the rest of our life. One door led to a solitary, contemplative life; the other led to a more active life, participating in the world. Group members agonized over the choice. It was so important, it affected the rest of their lives, and they did not want to choose the wrong door. They kept asking our group leader which was the right choice for them. Rightly, she always refused to tell them.
The secret is, it doesn't matter which door you choose. There is nothing in this world you have to do, if you're ready to accept the consequences of your actions. If you're willing to accept the consequences of a solitary, contemplative life, then go for it. If you're more of a social type and need to interact with people, then your choice should be obvious. Pick according to your own inner desires; the work to be done requires this life -- this particular life -- and the experiences it brings. It is our will that determines what direction we go, and the happiest path is the one we follow because we want to.
Rituals and meditations for this time of year can focus on:
Here are a couple of online resources on the subject of Mabon:
Libra in Your Birth Chart
The house where Libra falls in your birth chart shows the area in your life where you can exercise balance and harmony. The sign and house where Venus (Libra's ruler) falls helps to fill out the picture. If you don't know your natal chart, you can get one done for free at www.astro.com.
(Editor's note: If you've never read your chart before, this may help with houses: Once you get the chart, you'll notice that it's divided into twelve sections, kind of like a clock. The first house begins with the line, called a cusp, at roughly 9:00, and the houses run counterclockwise, so the second begins at 8:00, the third at 7:00, and so on. The sign on the line, or cusp, that begins the house is the sign that "rules" that house.)
Libra on first house: You love beauty and art and seek harmony everywhere. People see you as a natural negotiator. You tend to wear neutral colors. Balance, however, sometimes requires taking an opposing view to what might be your natural inclinations. If everyone else in the room argues for point A, you with Libra rising will naturally argue against that point, just to maintain balance. Strong Libra in your chart (meaning lots of planets in Libra, or powerful planets in Libra), combined with planets in either Virgo or Pisces is a good combination for a career in counseling or therapy.
Libra on second house: You feel the need to balance what comes in with what goes out. This can manifest in two different ways: one is that when money comes in, you feel the need to spend it. Another manifestation is that you don't spend until you've accumulated enough to justify the expenditure. Either way, your values are based on a deep-seated sense of justice and equality. Libra on the second house cusp can also indicate a natural haggler.
Libra on third house: You try to be a good neighbor and a good communicator. You tend to compromise with siblings. You are always aware of other people's viewpoints and try to achieve harmony in communications. If you are a writer, you prefer to collaborate with another writer. You can be a convincing speaker.
Libra on fourth house: You love being surrounded by beauty in your home environment. The fourth house represents our foundation; with Libra on that house cusp, the foundation of your personality and decision-making is based on principles of harmony and equality. You enjoy entertaining others in your home.
Libra on fifth house: You are good with children. Libra on the fifth-house cusp also can indicate creative ability and artistic talents, possibly in writing, since this usually comes with Gemini rising. You prefer recreational activities that involve other people (you don't like to work out at the gym alone).
Libra on sixth house: Your daily routine requires you to exercise discrimination and be a negotiator. The work you do best always involves working with others. This is the house of health, and Libra here can also indicate tendencies toward diabetes or kidney problems, when supported by other indications in the chart.
Libra on seventh house: This is the natural placement for Libra. It indicates a tendency to compromise in your close personal relationships. Compromise is always necessary for a long-term relationship to succeed. Libra on the seventh-house cusp means you have Aries rising, which means you won't forget your own priorities (depending on where Mars is), so there's no fear of losing your identity in a relationship.
Libra on eighth house: You try to be fair when it comes to shared resources (other people's money). You like to work with other people in order to devise methods of making money. You can possibly benefit from insurance or legacies. You always try to satisfy your partner sexually (you don't try to hog the limelight). "Was it good for you?" is an eighth-house Libra question.
Libra on ninth house: You tend to be attracted to people with education and refinement, and enjoy traveling, especially with close friends. Your philosophy and religion are founded on harmony, equality and acceptance of others as they are. Libra on the ninth-house cusp also indicates a possible career in law, especially as a defender of the common rights of humanity, or as a public defender.
Libra on tenth house: This is an indication of a career where you are in partnership with someone, as opposed to being self-employed or working in a large corporation. Libra on the tenth house usually indicates Capricorn rising; this combination is often successful at negotiating with and impressing people in power, or older people. The tenth house shows the characteristics we admire and emulate; with Libra on the tenth-house cusp, you follow the example of negotiators and diplomats.
Libra on eleventh house: You have a great capacity to make friends, and you feel comfortable in groups, especially those that are centered on humanitarian goals. You like to surround yourself with artistic or creative people. Your marriage partner is often your best friend as well. (Or, alternatively, you might prefer friendship to conventional marriage. This is one possible indication of homosexuality in a chart, but it needs to be supported by other aspects.) Libra does not judge its friends.
Libra on twelfth house: Negotiation and compromise don't come easily for you, but with determination and persistence (good Scorpio qualities), you can overcome this weakness. Self-indulgence or a love of luxury can be your downfall if you don't watch out. Beautiful surroundings for you always involve seclusion and privacy, and you have more of an innate sense of justice than others would believe.
Aspects
and Transits
for the Coming Season
(Editor's note: "Aspects" are significant angles between the planets. Some of the more important aspects are the 60-, 90-, 120-, and 180-degree angles. A "transit" happens when a planet that is moving through the sky now makes one of these aspect-angles to a planet in an astrological chart.)
Equinox/Mabon: 9:30 a.m. PDT, Wednesday, September 22 (Moon is in Capricorn). With a waxing Moon at the equinox, it's a good time to establish new habits, plant the seeds of new ventures and visualize projects arriving at fruition. Both Capricorn and Libra rule matters of law and justice, so it is also a good time to ask for a fair and just conclusion to matters close to your heart. Sun in Libra and Moon in Capricorn is a good time to practice compassionate leadership. Capricorn, being an earth sign, brings form to your visualizations and helps ground your rituals.
Although the Sun and Moon are not exactly square at this equinox (the exact square occurs on Tuesday, September 21 at 8:54 a.m. PDT), they are square by sign. (Editor's note: Two planets are square when they are in a 90-degree angle to each other. A square is considered a friction-filled aspect. "By sign" means that the signs that the two planets are in are square.) When the Sun and Moon are in a difficult aspect to one another (such as a square), it can indicate that your emotions might get in the way of your will. Be aware of how your emotions might undermine the work you are trying to do. Moon in Capricorn can bring temporary depression and cold rationality instead of trust in unseen forces. Capricorn is, however, an excellent influence under which to practice magick, since it represents mastery, practicality and leadership.
Since the equinox is close to the Full Moon, your ritual could come to fruition sooner than you might hope. Any ritual done within a five-day period around the Full Moon (two days before, and two days after) is considered a Full-Moon ritual, and carries with it the full force of the Moon's energy. Other influences at the equinox:
Mercury is direct once again, from September 2 through November 30. Communication is easier. Your mind is clear of cobwebs -- less scattered -- and you have less of a likelihood of being misunderstood. (Editor's note: "Direct" means that the planet appears to be moving forward in its orbit as seen from the earth.)
Venus is in Leo, in a harmonious aspect to the Sun. This supports any ritual having to do with creativity or the arts. Venus is in Virgo from October 4 to 28; this is a good time to work on health matters and herbal magick.
Mars and Jupiter are in late Virgo, moving into Libra. Mars enters Libra on September 26, and Jupiter enters Libra on September 25. While Mars and Jupiter are still in Virgo at the equinox, it is a good time to focus energies on health matters and on herbal medicine. Once they move into Libra, their energies strengthen any work relating to partnerships, negotiation and other Libra matters.
Saturn is still in Cancer, and will stay there until 2005. This is one of the forces behind the national fear of terrorism and need for security. The best use of Saturn in Cancer is to focus on protecting others, rather than on retreating in fear.
Uranus is in Pisces. Uranus in Pisces brings a natural interest in the occult and can heighten intuitive awareness.
Neptune is in Aquarius, and it goes retrograde October 2 and goes direct again October 24. (Editor's note: When a planet is "retrograde," it appears to be moving backward in its orbit as seen from the earth. When planets are retrograde, their energy is turned inward or backward.) Neptune in Aquarius can bring enlightened humanitarianism and it leads to innovative uses of technology for the benefit of humanity. Periods of retrograde Neptune could manifest in fear of and resistance to change.
Pluto is passing through Sagittarius. This brings about a national focus on religion and philosophy. The hoped-for outcome is for a greater understanding of deeper spiritual values that unite all people. While Pluto is in Sagittarius, it's a good time to do rituals for the transformation of conventional religions and to bring about the idealism and generosity characteristic of Sagittarius.
The Sun enters Scorpio at 6:49 p.m. on Friday, October 22. The Sun in Scorpio is a time to focus on transformation, recycling and giving back to the earth. The period when the Sun is in Scorpio is a good time to discover our own personal power and examine how we exercise it. It is also a natural time to focus on developing our psychic potential.
Full and New Moons
Full Moon: 6:09 a.m. PDT, Tuesday September 28 (Moon in Aries). Beware of making hasty decisions while the Moon is Full in Aries. Anger is easily aroused, and you should exercise caution when driving. The best use of an Aries Moon is to work on fighting obstacles that stand in the way of your own growth and to focus on defining your own personal goals.
New Moon: 7:48 p.m. PDT, Wednesday October 13 (Moon in Libra). This is a good time to continue working on any of the issues you worked on at the equinox. Use the New Moon energy to begin new projects. Sun and Moon in Libra are good for any work having to do with art, harmony, law and justice.
Full Moon: 8:07 p.m. PDT, Wednesday October 27 (Moon in Taurus.) This is a good time to do work on practical matters such as gardening, returning nourishment to the earth and discovering and affirming that which nurtures us. Like the Moon in Capricorn at Mabon, this is a good time to do practical work to achieve your goals.
Other Influences
If your birthday is December 11 or 12, Pluto is conjunct your Sun this month (again). This influence began last year in December for about two months, and you've been feeling the influence again since June. Any issues that began during that time period won't be resolved completely until mid-November. Pluto conjunct your Sun brings complete transformation of your life. Like it or not, your life will be different from now on. If you haven't already gotten rid of the garbage accumulating in your home and your life, Pluto will get rid of it for you. (It's always better to make the decision yourself!)
If your birthday is June 10 or 11, you have been going through similar experiences, with Pluto opposing your Sun. This is a good time to fight for the underprivileged, or to volunteer for a good cause. Pluto opposing your Sun brings you into conflict with people in power. If you're on the right side of the law, the planets are on your side and can help you win. Beware of obsessive-compulsive tendencies, and be aware that you may possibly come into contact with obsessive-compulsive people.
If your birthday is February 21 or 22, you're in for a wild ride! Uranus is conjunct your Sun from now through the end of November. Uranus, the ruler of electricity and called the cosmic alarm clock, stimulates changes in our awareness. You are a lightning rod, conducting a new kind of energy that you haven't felt before. You can choose to go with the flow and accept the changes that are happening to you now, or try to resist, and risk being defeated. Be aware that the people you meet and are attracted to in this time period may not be people you remain attracted to. Uranus' influence can be felt for seven years, but, once its influence wanes, we typically return, like a rubber band, to our original lifestyle and habits. It's a good time to change your career, to make a long-distance move, or change your name. You want change -- don't hold yourself back! The experience alone is worth it.
If your birthday is August 25 or 26, you will be feeling similar influences from Uranus, but it's an opposition to your Sun, therefore not quite as exciting or stimulating as the conjunction. Sudden change will result from conflict, opposition and unexpected reversals, not from an internal transformation of awareness. With Uranus opposing your Sun, you feel more bound and confined than the people with the February 21 or 22 birthdays. You can break away from restrictions, but the deciding factor will likely be unexpected circumstances or a sudden change in a relationship that's beyond your control. As with a Uranus conjunction, change results in expansion of your horizons, and elimination of forces that have prevented you from being free. You will need to sacrifice security and predictability, however, for freedom of self-expression and the ability to take responsibility for your life.
Copyright © 2006 by the article's author