Libra New Moon, October 6, 2021: Finding a Balance Point for Equanimity

The Libra New Moon of October 6, 2021 (4:05 a.m. on the West Coast) brings with it a curious mix of potentials for harmony and balance along with just as many possibilities for tension and misunderstanding.

Libra is the air sign symbolized by a glyph that looks like an old-fashioned scale, or the setting sun. It’s time to relax. Libra, ruled by Venus, on the high road is associated with diplomacy, and on the low road, with waffling like a see-saw. In neither case is Libra about doing nothing. It is a cardinal sign, moving forward, even if it can be an “on the one hand and then on the other” approach. 

At this lunation, the Sun and Moon are in a tight conjunction with Mars, now also in Libra. In traditional astrology, Mars, named for the god of war, is considered to be not at all happy or effective while in Venus’ home air sign. Paradoxically, though, it is often a willingness to confront conflict that can lead to resolution. Mars in Libra is like a top-ranking general who takes decisive, courageous action to prevent war. 

Libra also represents justice. Equality and fairness rarely happen on their own. It takes collective action. I am reminded of a saying by Professor Cornel West that “Justice is what love looks like in public.” Venus is love. Mars in Libra, ruled by Venus, is the struggle for justice. 

At this lunation, Mars (and the Sun and Moon) are also conjoined with Mercury, in one of its thrice-yearly retrograde periods, now in Libra, from September 27 to October 18. Mercury in Libra calls to mind a mediator, someone thinking and speaking with care for others. But when Mercury is in one of its retrograde periods, one’s thinking is drawn more inward, and it’s especially important to avoid miscommunications. 

 Mars wants to move forward to get things done. Retrograde Mercury wants to think about it first and go over well-trodden ground. Mars and Mercury together may spell arguments or stalemates. Libra in the mix, polite and polished, wants connection and to smooth things over, even if only on the surface.

The plot thickens when we look at what’s going on with the further-out planets at the October 6 lunation. Jupiter and Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, have all been in retrograde motion for months, meaning their functions have been more subdued and internal in their ways of corresponding with our psyches and worldly events. Multiple planets in retrograde motion are like a pile-up of vehicles waiting to get onto the freeway. When they change direction and “go direct,” there’s a release of energy.

On October 6, shortly after the New Moon, Pluto will “go direct,” and with Mercury in square to Pluto, there might be revelations of previously hidden information—that’s been happening a lot lately, hasn’t it? Saturn in Aquarius will go direct on October 11, Jupiter in Aquarius a week later. If work and opportunities have felt stalled, there might soon be some relief.

The key player at this New Moon is Uranus, which won’t go direct until January of 2022. At this New Moon, Uranus—the wild card—is in Taurus, which along with Libra, is Venus’ other home sign. 

That’s where any easy harmony between Uranus and this lunation ends. At 13 degrees of Taurus, Uranus will be in a tight quincunx with the Sun, Moon and Mars. A quincunx is a 150-degree aspect of stress and awkwardness because the signs of the planets involved share neither an element, a mode, nor a yin/yang polarity. With planets in a quincunx, something is irritating and off, like a mosquito buzzing in your room in the middle of the night. (Thanks to astrologer Rick Levine for this quincunx image—bzzzz.) With planets in quincunx, there’s a compelling call to adjust something, but there’s no way to get it fixed for good. 

 Since all of the planets involved at Uranus’ quincunx with the Sun, Moon and Mars are in Venus’ signs, the awkwardness and irritations are in the realm of relationships. Add Mercury retrograde, in Libra, and it’s about how to keep communications in check. 

Note to self and everyone else: things may be volatile out there, so be careful!

Blessings for the New Moon in Libra,

~ Sara