October 2: Libra New Moon Solar Eclipse
The Libra New Moon solar eclipse 10°04 Libra at 2:49PM ET on October 2, is the final threshold in a cycle that began last Fall and has demanded we stand against war and act for peace. New Moons are a time of darkness and emptying out. The container is drained in order to make space for new life to begin. Normally we set intentions but eclipses require a different approach. Rather than calling in what we want, in order to pass through the tail of the dragon, we must surrender whatever is standing in the way of balance and equanimity.
Libra season, from September 22-October 22, is extra emotional this year due to Venus in Scorpio sensitizing us to the pain of the world. Mars in Cancer–a fierce defender of families, children, homes, and the vulnerable–is squaring all planets passing through Libra; not letting us look away from the horror being inflicted on civilians, especially women, children, and the sick and elderly. Mars is squaring the Libra New Moon reminding us that there are no winners when everyone suffers. This time is crucial, as what transpires now will be revisited at the Cancer Full Moon on January 15.
The lunar South Node is a point of loss and release, where we let go of the earthly plane, and recognize that what is true and eternal is all that withstands in the end. The Aries-Libra eclipse cycle, which began in April 2023 and will conclude April 2025, has activated the forces of domination and aggression globally.
Libra is a cardinal air sign, represented by the Justice card XI in the tarot Major Arcana, which asks us to account for our actions. Rather than do a New Moon ritual, you could pull out your cards and meditate on the scales and sword of Justice.
Mercury entered Libra on September 26, aligning us with balance and the importance of treating everyone fairly. This is a signature of diplomats and mediators. People who are excellent at navigating differences and highlighting commonalities. Humans consider ourselves “the most intelligent species on the planet”, yet we still pretend in our propaganda that war leads to peace. Mercury’s cazimi with the Sun at 08°11 Libra at 5:09PM ET on September 30, brings in a blueprint for more intelligent forms of conflict resolution.
Air signs operate in the mental realm and have a focus on communication. The archetype of the Judge who administers justice speaks the purest truth, but in the human realm, our vision can become clouded by fear. The faculty of judgment can instead reinforce our prejudices. The ego can delude us into believing we are correct when we are reacting from a wounded place. If our mind is clever, then the false judge becomes even more dangerous (note the US Supreme Court). There are those who seek to capitalize off people’s fears but the sword of truth can cut through falsehood. The VP debates on October 1, will certainly have these dynamics in play.
This lunation is ruled by a sensitive and sensuous Venus in Scorpio, making a grand water trine with Saturn in Pisces and Mars in Cancer. We can’t ignore the emotional truth about conflict–we can’t afford it. It's killing our hearts and souls. Mercury conjunct the New Moon demands we push politicians to prioritize non-violent solutions. We can and must evolve out of endless competition and cruelty. We are murdering and pillaging as if it was the dark ages and pretending we don’t know better. We must act now, as more will surely be revealed once Mercury moves into Scorpio on October 13.
Peace is an ideal. It is not a place we arrive but a state we achieve. It describes an imaginal location, Utopia or “No Place,” yet it contains qualities we experience daily. A peaceful mind is tranquil, calm, and still. Practices such as meditation are designed to facilitate these ways of being; making us less reactionary and more able to respond skillfully. The Libra solar eclipse is a quiet moment, in which something is sucked away from us to reveal the truth underlying our complex and chaotic human experience. We might actually feel literally drained and physically tired so don’t try to do more than is necessary.
This lunation will certainly reveal where life feels out of balance. If difficult material surfaces, consider your part, and then offer yourself absolution. Atonement can feel like punishment but it actually has a liberatory function. If there’s anything you’d like to own, having a think about it could lead you to a better place. Writing a letter (that you never send) or taking a long walk can help move things through. Forgiveness can be hard, especially self-forgiveness, but we have to be kind to ourselves in order to have patience with others. Go gently into the portal, friends.