Libra 2008 - Cooperative Creative Air Spirits

by Robert Wilkinson

When the Sun transits Libra, we are shown the light of entering into relationships, ideals, partying, and other pleasing social forms. It's the beginning of Autumn, with its focus on harvesting that which is agreeable to us, socializing and connecting with a greater "perfect vision" while seeing the endings in the old forms of our lives. Libra is self-initiating, interactive, and tries to see all the different points of view in any situation. The Sun in Libra shines the light of wisdom on how we must be fair, balanced, and well-rounded in our ideal of justice, opening us to living a greater image of truth, goodness, and beauty.

In this phase of the twelve-step evolutionary process, that which began in Aries, stabilized in Taurus, expanded in Gemini, consolidated in Cancer, creatively projected in Leo and refined in Virgo is shaped into a new collective form or ideal. Libra is symbolically associated with the Scales, showing the weighing and judging function of this sign which always strives for fairness and perfect equilibrium.

This is the apportioning of the harvest, and the incorporation of the adjustments of Virgo into a more ideal and beautiful social forms. The power of Leo organized usefully by the discrimination and education of Virgo are balanced and harmonized in more perfect grace of expression in Libra. This sign's keywords are "I balance." This is the sign of romance, refinement, and appreciation. Libra explores the archetypes of transfiguration and reconstruction through actions and interactions, adjusting the balance of things.

The new initiatives and possibilities offered in 2005 by Jupiter in Libra have been deepened and transformed into social power and magnetism by Jupiter in Scorpio in 2006 and expanded into a vision or adventure in 2007. Now the Jupiter in Libra opportunities are being organized during Jupiter in Capricorn into forms of personal power and responsibility that will express with a natural spontaneity in 2009 when Jupiter goes into Aquarius.

Venus, the ruler of Libra, is in Scorpio from September 22-23 through through October 18-19, after which it moves into Sagittarius. So all the Libra planetary energies will shift how we experience them after mid-month, especially since Mars, ruler of Scorpio, enters that sign October 3-4.

With Mercury also in Libra all of October, there should be new ideas and interactions toward new visions and modes of meeting others. So October shows a heavy Libra-Scorpio influences, adding extra magnetism to what's going on. With the Sun and then Mercury trine Neptune, expect glimpses of larger views and intimation of group work or friendships that will come forth in February 2009.

Mythologically, Libra is in the axis of the Relator, or Lover. This sign (along with its polar opposite, Aries) repotentializes the dance of relationship between self and others begun in Aries. Libra shows us how to be refined and gracious as we interact with others.

It is the part of us willing to dance with others' points of view, seeing other perspectives, and basically just being diplomatic and pleasant. Libra's reasonableness and moderation are healthy antidotes for the stubborn selfish extremism that seems so prevalent today.

Libra, when freed of the traps of superficiality, vanity, extravagance, timidity, indecisiveness, vacillation, impatience, and getting too theoretical, demonstrate a harmonious, cooperative, agreeable impartial consideration for others that brings a greater sense of belonging to everyone involved.

They are born peacemakers and mediators, and see the ten thousand ways we can all get along if everyone just gives a little bit. They are expressive, modest, inspirational, creative, appreciative, romantic and artistic. The sign of Libra has given us some of the greatest icons of history.

Think Mohandas K. Gandhi, master politician, revolutionary, statesman and "mahatma," or Great Spirit. He led his country to independence from Great Britain through demonstrating the practical efficacy of the doctrine of "non-violence," or ahimsa, applied through the power of satyagraha, or "Soul-force."

Albert Einstein, one of the greatest minds humanity has produced, once said of Gandhi that "Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this walked the earth in flesh and blood." One of the most effective politicians in history, he demonstrated the practical truth that the way of applied Soul force using non-violent techniques is the most powerful political tool we have.

A Libra icon for the ages is John Lennon the Beatle, global lightning rod of the Vietnam anti-war movement who gave us "All You Need Is Love" and "Give Peace A Chance" along with about a hundred other songs for all time. Gandhi and Lennon's shared politics of non-violence is the only sane way for our world to come out of the fear, hatred, and barbarism that we're subjected to. Paul Simon, another Libra, helped to break down the barriers of apartheid in South Africa while bringing their ancient and beautiful music out for all the world to hear. Libra strives to make a better world, more fair, just, and beautiful for all.

Libra's archetypal nature is easily seen in Lenny Bruce, the standup comedian and social critic beloved by millions for exposing society's hypocrisies while making us laugh. He busted racism, sexism, prisons, movies, social pomposities and even the Lone Ranger. And speaking of Libras who made us laugh, let us honor the icon himself, Groucho Marx, deflater of egos and pretentiousness while making double entendres and raising his bushy eyebrows. Some of the most brilliant satires ever to hit the silver screen were courtesy of this master of the one-line zinger, beloved to this day.

Political Libras who made their mark on the world stage include President, Nobel Peace Prize winner and founder of Habitat for Humanity Jimmy Carter, along with Presidents Rutherford B. Hayes, Chester A. Arthur, and Dwight Eisenhower. In this group we also include political powerhouses William Penn (who gave us Pennsylvania), First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, Pope Paul VI, David Ben-Gurion, Lech Walesa, Vladimir Putin, Bishop Desmond Tutu, Juan Peron, and Jesse Jackson.

Among actors and actresses we have some of the brightest stars of all time. We start with many of the most magnificent, beautiful, and talented leading ladies in history: Brigitte Bardot, Catherine Deneuve, Helen Hayes, Lillian Gish, Spring Byington, Jean Arthur, Greer Garson, Joan Fontaine, Carole Lombard, Rita Hayworth, Anita Eckberg, Britt Ecklund, Julie Andrews, Deborah Kerr, Stella Stevens, Jayne Meadows, Joyce Randolph, Juliet Prowse, Angie Dickinson, Melina Mercouri, Angela Lansbury, Lotte Lenya, Annette Funicello, Sheila MacRae, Glynis Johns, and June Allyson.

Legendary leading men include some archetypal figures: Gene Autry, Bela Lugosi, Fayard Nicholas, Buster Keaton, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Andy Divine, Spanky McFarland, Bud Abbott, Mickey Rooney, Cornel Wilde, Montgomery Clift, Trevor Howard, Marcello Mastroianni, James Whitmore, George Peppard, Walter Matthau, Charlton Heston, Yves Montand, Donald Pleasence, Richard Harris, William Conrad, Anthony Newley, Tom Bosley, Wilford Brimley, Roger Moore, Patrick O'Neal, Christopher Reeve, Phil Hartman, Divine, Richard Jaeckel, Ed Wood, Nipsey Russell, Tom Poston, and George C. Scott.

Modern film and television stars include such talented ladies as Catherine Zeta-Jones, Carrie Fisher, Susan Sarandon, Penny Marshall, Signorney Weaver, Linda Hamilton, Gwyneth Paltrow, Madeline Kahn, Stephanie Zimbalist, Heather Locklear, Hilary Duff, Mira Sorvino, Lorraine Bracco, Kate Winslet, Margot Kidder, Alicia Silverstone, Ashlee Simpson, Suzanne Somers, Pam Dawber, Dawn Wells, Dawn French, Karen Allen, Nia Vardalos, Mary Kay Place, Elizabeth Shue, Stephanie Zimbalist, Tanya Roberts, Jodi Lyn O'Keefe, Jenna Elfman, Rachael Leigh Cook, Aida Turturro, Monica Bellucci, Naomi Watts, Joan Cusack, Rachel McAdams, Janeane Garofalo, Sharon Osbourne, Carly Schroeder, Kelly Ripa, and Her Honor Judge Judy.

Among contemporary male Libra stars of the large and small screens, we have Michael Douglas, John Lithgow, Christopher Lloyd, Will Smith, Matt Damon, Hugh Jackman, Tony Shalhoub, Tim Robbins, Ian McShane, Chevy Chase, Jeff Goldblum, Luke Perry, Viggo Mortensen, Jerry Orbach, Sacha Baron Cohen, Greg Morris, Ben Vereen, Randy Quaid, Peter Boyle, Chris Carter, Charles Dance, Tony Roberts, Mackenzie Crook, Guy Pearce, Seann William Scott, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Paul Petersen, George Wendt, Brandon Routh, Harry Anderson, Steve Burns, Eric Stoltz, Bernie Mac, Scott Bakula, and directors Stanley Kramer and Arthur Penn.

Musicial Libras include such historically important artists as Giuseppe Verdi, Franz Liszt, Sarah Bernhardt, George Gershwin, Dmitri Shostakovich, Vladimir Horowitz, Yo-Yo Ma, Glenn Gould, Charles Ives, Luciano Pavarotti, and Julio Iglesias. In jazz we have such greats as John Coltrane, Thelonius Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, Buddy Rich, Art Blakey, Anita O'Day, Matt Schulman, and Wynton Marsalis, along with legendary bluesmen Mickey Baker, Albert Collins, Stevie Ray Vaughan and "Queen of the Blues" Koko Taylor.

Libras include some of the greatest rock legends in history: Ray Charles, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Jackson Browne, Justin Hayward, Lindsey Buckingham, Bobby Fuller, Bob Geldof, John Mellencamp, Tom Petty, John Entwistle, and Sammy Hagar.

Superstar musical ladies feature Julie London, Marilyn McCoo, Toni Braxton, India.Arie, Gwen Stefani, Natalie Maines, Martie Seidel, Linda McCartney, Olivia Newton-John, Avril Lavigne, Ayumi Hamasaki, and Brill Building hitmaker Cynthia Weil.

Other notable musical luminaries of the past century include Ziggy Marley, Trey Anastasio, Flea, Thom Yorke, Stephan Jenkins, John Mayer, Snoop Dogg, Meat Loaf, Robby Takac, Vaughn Monroe, Johnny Mathis, Nana Mouskouri, Chubby Checker, Don McLean, Laura Nyro, Shaun Cassidy, David Lee Roth, and the inimitable "Weird Al" Yankovic.

Poets represented by the sign of Libra include such archetypal figures as Virgil, Rumi, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Arthur Rimbaud, ee cummings, and T.S. Eliot.

The tribe of Libra features quite a few literary legends. Among the notables: Noah Webster, Miguel de Cervantes, Friedrich Nietzsche, Noah Webster, Jack London, Oscar Wilde, P.G. Wodehouse, William Faulkner, Thomas Wolfe, Gore Vidal, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Truman Capote, Katherine Mansfield, Bruce Catton, Gunter Grass, John LeCarre, Mario Puzo, John Kenneth Galbraith, Michael Crichton, Anne Rice, Art Buchwald, Arthur Schlesinger Jr., James Herriot, R.L Stine, Alvin Toffler, and playwrites Eugene O'Neill, Damon Runyon, and Arthur Miller.

Metaphysical writers include such compelling figures as Cyril Scott, musical genius and author of "The Initiate" series, Theosophist and guiding light to the world Annie Besant, astrologers Charles Jayne and Shelley Ackerman, metaphysical masters of astrology and kabbalah Marc Edmund Jones and Paul Foster Case, artist-author Vicki Evans, and the somewhat infamous Aleister Crowley.

Other Libras who excelled in their fields are journalists Walter Lippman, Jack Anderson, Chris Wallace, and Barbara Walters, Muppet creator Jim Henson, architect Christopher Wren, inventor and prize creator Alfred Nobel, impressario Ed Sullivan, parapsychological researcher J. B. Rhine and metaphysical researcher Timothy Leary.

In sports we have such archetypes as Mickey Mantle, Rod Carew, Mark McGwire, Jerry Rice, Brian Boitano, Mike Ditka, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Martina Navratilova, and Serena Williams.

We continue this eclectic list with physicists Niels Bohr and Enrico Fermi, pioneer illustrator N.C. Wyeth, "Pop-art" creator Peter Max, tv cook Emeril Lagasse, educator and political reformer John Dewey, supreme William Rehnquist, "Johnny Appleseed" John Chapman, Russian scientist Ivan Pavlov, activist and comedian Dick Gregory, Lee Iacocca, designer Ralph Lauren, supermodel Cheryl Tiegs, George Westinghouse, and Kennedy assassin Lee Harvey Oswald.

A special happy birthday goes out to my departed dear ones Gladys Knapp, Ruby Alves, and Arthur Wolfe, as well as the cities of Copenhagen and Vienna and the nations of China, Argentina, Austria, and Japan. Here in America, there are no states under Libra, but it's a happy birthday to the US cities of Riverside (CA), Rock Island (Il), Roswell, Eugene, Rapid City, Knoxville, Waco, and Alexandria.

© Copyright 2008 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[reefaroundme]

And to add to the rock legends list --David Lee Roth-- Libra front man extraordinaire!

[Marie]

This is lovely Robert,,,
and very pertinent for my own birthday on wednesday
although it will be a quiet one, I feel something is a bit different.

I wonder if you could say something about events that happen twice.
Is this a mercury retrograde phenomenon or is there something we are missing when we find ourselves in a situation for a second time?
This is vague, I know...

Love your work as always
Marie

[reefaroundme]

Marie,
I have had similar experiences during Mercury retrograde. I have to do everything technical twice during Mercury retrograde. The cable guy comes, the problem seems fixed, but then for some reason it's not and he has to come again, and on and on. Twice is always the magic number. Some Mercury retrograde cycles this affects me more than others, but I have definitely had the same experience. Two times is the charm! Thanks for asking your question. I look forward to seeing Robert's reply!

[Robert]

Hi reefaroundme - He's in the list! As for the answer to how or why a thing would occur twice....

Hi Marie - Often things occur twice (or more!) during a Mercury RX, or it could mark returns from other times, or the prelude to what will occur again in the future. Often when we find ourselves in a circumstance a second time it's to give us another angle of viewing (lighting) the event or person so we can see more clearly what that's about without shadows obscuring what we're learning. And of course, all the planets go RX, so there are many times when we get the various planetary lessons from reverse angles of approach. I figure it's great for finishing whatever lessons we're there to learn, so we can get on with learning more things through multiple views and experiences.