Ultimately the world I experience IS me

Not only do we need to regard ‘the other’ as a reflection of self, and treat others as we would like to be treated; but also there is an aspect of reality where the other IS oneself. You have probably had the experience of feeling pain yourself when you realise you have hurt someone else; and maybe feeling how your angry reaction towards another person can make you angry at yourself, or full of remorse. At this level, a knee-jerk angry reaction is followed by the inner painful response. But, as we experience other levels, the very reaction of anger itself is painful inside - everything happens at once. I am reflected by everything in my world because my world is only my experience; and I can only experience within myself, which makes it all ME! Just a thought, perhaps . . .

Libra - true justice is balance

Libra is opposite Aries, and expresses the very human dilemma of ‘me and you’, or ‘how much can I stand up for myself, and how much should I be considering you?’!

The New Moon in Libra is opposite Uranus in Aries, emphasising this tug between self and others. As with all dualities, the solution is not on the level of the opposites, but requires us to draw back from swinging between them to a more inclusive viewpoint. Looking at opposites as two ends of one pole, we need to become the tightrope walker, using the movement of the pole to balance our movement as we progress.

If we imagine opposite viewpoints in a situation as weights in the two pans of the scales, the point of balance is not necessarily the midpoint between them. We must feel our way to the fulcrum, and only know the point of balance when we feel ourselves come gently to an equilibrium about the situation.

Acceptance does not mean approval

The two ends, or opposites, are not to be weighed against each other because we are never in a position to understand both sufficiently to judge. We are to find the point where they balance each other exactly: that is, the point where we cannot come down on either side because we see that they are two sides of one coin; they belong together. That point of balance is within our own personal being; not a principle however humanitarian, but a feeling, a heartfelt attitude.

The point of true balance in the heart overflows with compassion; we feel compassion when we realise that we are all living within ‘the human condition’ and we are all doing our best to contain it, however that may look to someone else. This is where being a Libran diplomat can sometimes be a dangerous job: judgemental people assume that, if you’re not with them, you’re against them!

The ‘conditions’ to which our human lives are subject are wonderfully reflected in the astrology of the moment, the steadily unfolding patterns through which life’s energy flows, and which are constantly shaped by that flow.

This month, make those changes!

The pattern of planets, at this New Moon moment on 13 October, contains a powerful movement of energy through all practical circumstances and situations. So this month, we are likely to feel a welling up of motivation to make transformational changes in the way we structure our lives (Mars/Jupiter in Virgo trine Pluto) - a great time to re-organise our home, our health regime, even our priorities.

Fortunately, our understanding will be in tune with the best solution for all (Mercury on the North Node in Libra), and discussion that is altruistically based could set the scene for a wonderful new commitment to the well being of humanity as a whole, as well as our own specific community groups (Mercury/North Node sextile Saturn in Sagittarius).

Sometimes ‘less’ is ‘more’

The bit to be careful of is the temptation to get ‘picky’ about the details, or trying to set new ideas in stone before discussion has covered everyone’s needs (Venus in Virgo square Saturn). Attempting to get things just perfect could easily use up more energy than a task requires, and the resulting apathy saps the energy to tackle anything. Also, finding fault with whichever authority figure or group you are up against at the moment could result in finding yourself sidelined. Criticism of self or others will definitely be counter-productive. The better use of this ability to see what needs doing is to discover what of it all would be most helpful, and do just that. This month, the smallest actions can tip the balance for the next step to be taken: less is definitely more.

Working together

The Full Moon, on 27 October, shows concerted efforts being blessed - working together can sort out many old conflicts (Mars/Venus/Jupiter opposite Chiron and quincunx Uranus). I want to emphasise that there will be a need, during the second half of this month, for us to take care in potentially explosive situations. It would be quite possible for selfish, or ill-considered, efforts to blow up in our faces: so continually check that what you do is beneficial for others as well as yourself (Jupiter quincunx Uranus in Aries). Together, we could solve many problems and achieve a great deal, and again, it’s consideration and discussion that save us from the pitfalls (Mercury in Libra opposite Uranaus).

. . . 28 September - a lunar eclipse revealed the stars . . .

A word about the last full moon, whose total eclipse could be seen from the side of the earth facing it: what happened was that the Earth got in the way between the Sun and the Moon, and it’s shadow caused the fading of the brilliant moon, which gradually became dimmer and finally a shadowy pink-red. Normally the stars fade to nothing when the moon is bright, but for at least an hour they shone like diamonds. What I ‘saw’ was a fading of the importance of ‘personality’ (Moon) due to the ‘circumstances of our material life’ (Earth), which allowed for a moment the light of ‘the greater universe’ (the stars), which is always there, to be seen surrounding us - breath-taking!

It was a lovely demonstration to me that we are always held in a greater something, even though, with our daily concerns, we mostly don’t think of it, or feel it, or see it - just for a moment, if we can allow our sense of self-importance to fade, we connect powerfully with the beauty and joy of a greater reality.