The Daily Astro for OCTOBER 4, 2013

NEW MOON AT 12 DEGREES LIBRA

by Valerie Sylvester

I’ve decided today’s New Moon needs a theme song, so here it is: “Out of Our Tree” by 60s garage-stompers The Wailers. I thought it was appropriate for today’s New Moon energy (check the lyrics!). Plus I’ve already had one person burst into tears in the office where I work today, so yeah, we’re all “out of our tree” this week.

This New Moon falls in almost-mid degrees of Libra, in the Aquarius decanate, so there’s a Uranian feel to it, and of course, we can’t ignore the fact that this New Moon squares Pluto, opposes Uranus and widely squares Jupiter, so depending upon how far you want to stretch it, it fills in the Cardinal T-Square (definitely) or makes a Grand Square in Cardinal Signs (widely). Neither one of these configurations is a lightweight. Asteroid Nemesis is apparently close to Uranus, which of course opposes this New Moon. Maybe you’ll feel like the HellHounds of justice are riding you; maybe you’ll get to be the HellHound. Some kind of cosmic justice is in the air. Note: Libra is associated with the Justice card in the Tarot.

The Moon’s ruler, Venus, is in Scorpio (along with Saturn, the North Node and Mercury) and it’s still squaring Mars, in addition to forming a contraparallel to Jupiter. If you look at today’s header, you’ll see that the bride is packin’. I could have used a photo of Uma Thurman from Kill Bill, but you get the idea. There’s only so much you can take before you go on a ninja rampage. Weak-ass commitments will collapse faster than you can say “Baby, baby, where did our love go?” Libra is, at heart, about choice, relationship, fairness, accommodation and taking the needs of others into account, and if the scales are balanced, that’s fine. But this New Moon says otherwise. Another hint: Cut the passive-aggressive act and get to the point. If you have to hold a situation together by stomping on your own needs, whining and wheedling, it’s not a place you want to dwell in. It’s time to go Ninja Libra and demand equal rights for all (and that includes you). Uranus in Aries isn’t afraid to cut its own path through the jungle, and you shouldn’t be either, if it’s warranted. I’m not talking mindless crash-and-burn here, I’m referring to situations where you’ve done the nicey-nice, let people have their way, put up with more than your share, and it’s STILL pissing you off, but you’ve been afraid to full confront the situation. This New Moon builds up to the next installment of the exact Pluto/Uranus square (November 1) and kickstarts the fall eclipse season and , so it’s giving us fair warning that change is in the air. With all those planets in Scorpio, there’s a lot of buried emotions under the surface, and this New Moon can start popping the top that lets the genie out of the bottle. Take note of what emerges during the next month for clues. It’s time to acknowledge the “icky” stuff, the heavy emotions, leftovers and fears you normally avoid dealing with and reintegrate these fragments (in a healthier way) into your psyche.

Saturn is inconjunct Uranus, so the screws on that clampdown lid (or the vampire’s coffin, take your pick) are starting to loosen and work free. What’s stowed away in the box? What needs liberation? Will it draw blood? With A lot of adjustment is required, but don’t forget to take a deep breath and draw in that fresh air. Your debt’s paid, time to start a new ledger. Venus, ruler of this New Moon in Libra, also relates to values, so money matters, joint accounts, inheritances and investments may be highlighted now. This is another area where you may have to be assertive to ensure that you’re not cheating yourself. Ask for what you’re worth and don’t let someone else nab the lion’s share in front of your nose. It’s not greedy to look out for your own interests or demand an accounting if you feel things are out of whack.

All this may sound a little too intense, but what’s happening is a process of refinement. External pretty-pretty isn’t enough anymore, we need to access the real and true inner beauty. We need to move past game-playing, dishonesty, and partisan maneuvering. Mercury in Scorpio (in its shadow phase now), is “going underground” to dig up information. Pay attention to what those Spidey-senses are telling you. Venus in Scorpio wants soul commitment. Saturn in Scorpio, in sextile to Pluto in Capricorn, is a Messenger from the Adjustment Bureau. It’s time to root out the lame ideas, misbegotten fantasies, and buried fears that prevent us from living like complete human beings. Mercury’s also moving towards Saturn and the North Node in Scorpio, so transforming our future involves “getting real” and walking our talk. Words have weight now, so choose yours carefully. Being able to construct and articulate an idea or philosophy is very important right now. Since we’re rooting out the old junk that took us in the wrong direction, make sure you’re constellating to the positive in all your communications, because that’s what you’re calling to you.

As you can see, there’s a lot happening right now. It’s like we’ve been dumped into a Fururist landscape! Everything’s moving, rushing forward at top speed, hurtling towards the unknown. Check out this painting by Umberto Boccioni, titled “The City Rises”.

As noted in other posts this week, those of you on the Cardinal Axis, with planets or chart points around 8-13 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra (especially you guys!) and Capricorn will be hearing the knock at the door from this New Moon a little more urgently than others. Look at the area where 12 degrees of Libra falls in your chart, if you know it. That’s where the clean up and renovation work will be be happening.

HINT: If you’re feeling stressed out, unbalanced, or can’t make a decision, you might like to use the Bach flower essence associated with Libra, Scleranthus.

THE SYMBOLS

Sabian Symbol for today’s SUN* : “Miners emerging from a mine.”

Kozminsky Symbol for today’s SUN*: “A man falling from an insecure and broken bridge into a dark pit below.” (Influence is SATURN.)

The Keyword for the Sabian Symbol is: “ESCAPE.”

The Keyword for the Kozminsky Symbol is: “TIMIDITY.”

*And Moon, since it’s a New Moon.

Both of today’s Symbols contain imagery relating to mines, dark pits, and all those crevices, nooks and crannies that we’re either falling into or crawling out of, so the Saturn/Pluto archetype is hard at work here. The Kozminsky Symbol shows what happens if we rely on messed-up infrastructure and relationships, which is basically the theme of this Libra New Moon. If the foundations are rotten, the whole damn thing will come tumbling down (a little Tower tarot imagery for ya there, kids). Don’t be afraid to assert yourself, to be the architect of your own life. (Just don’t go all Ayn Rand with it, please-we have enough of that going on now already). Kozminsky says this also relates to “a lack of confidence in self and ability to realize his own powers and limitations”, a manifestation of negative Libra. If we rely too much on others to live our lives for us, it weakens our boundaries and our sense of self. Don’t remain in dangerous or limited situations because you’re too afraid to figure out where you’d rather be.

The Sabian Symbol has us delving into the underworld (more Saturn/Pluto) and of course pulls in all the mythological referents: Persephone and Pluto, Hades, the mysteries of the dark goddesses. Miners return with valuable minerals; psychic spelunkers come back with a greater understanding of the recesses of the soul. This New Moon places an emphasis on getting to the root of ancient (rocks/caves) situations and prying loose (where’s that pick?) encrusted matter. Then we go back up for some fresh air. It’s challenging, and there’s always the potential for disaster (cave collapse, fires, explosions), so it helps to band together (Libra emphasis). Don’t give up, keep digging. It’s time to back to the source. This Symbol can indicate karmic situations, “re-entry” back into the world after sickness or a period of isolation, looking for clues, following all leads, and “doing the work”. On the down side, fear of “getting down and dirty”, not going deep enough, staying on the surface of things, and “fear of the dark” or claustrophobia when dealing with emotional issues. Make sure the light on your helmet is in good working order!

THE DAILY DRAW:

Emperor/ 7 of Cups

“It’s Your Choice”

Here’s The Emperor, our Aries bad boy, showing up as counterpoint to today’s Libra New Moon. Of course, Uranus is in Aries right now, adding an urgent, erratic and inventive cast to the basic Aries pattern. The Emperor resonates to 4, the builder energy, rock-solid (like the caves/mines in today’s Symbols), so we’re seeking to establish some kind of new world based on revolutionary ideas (the number 4 is often associated with Uranus energy). It’s about the right use of energy and the power of the higher mind to visualize the future. With the 7 of Cups tagging along, there’s the temptation to keep it all theoretical, to be so inundated by possibility that nothing gets done. Libra is the 7th sign and often has difficulty making choices, because selecting one option means you have to close the door on all those other beautiful visions. This is a very creative combination, if you avoid self-undoing or magnificent obsessions. Make your choice, then you’ll understand. Commit to an option. It’s time for an honest relationship with yourself and others. Take a risk. Implement your vision. Avoid falling into obsession or confusion. Don’t let others make your choices for you because you’re afraid to act. It’s “up in the air”. Living in your head; failure to ground ideas in reality. Building castles in the air, like King Ludwig of Bavaria and his fantastic, amazing, but never-completed structures.