The Fall Equinox is initiated in the Northern Hemisphere when the Sun enters Libra. Night and day are of equal length for a bit, and this is the quest of the Libra archetype: to balance equal giving with receiving. The Evolutionary Astrology mantra for Libra is: I balance a diversity of relationships with my own initiative.

This is the halfway mark through the zodiac. The first six signs teach us about self, and the second six signs teach us about others. By Libra, we have become so aware of others that we sometimes either allow everyone we encounter to have more power, wisdom, etc. than we do; or, we attempt to overpower them and convince them we are on top.

Either extreme is the effect of patriarchal conditioning upon the planet for the last several thousand years. If we have not learned the Virgo lessons of unconditional love (Pisces polarity), starting with self-love, then we carry this forward into Libra with inequalities in all our relationships.

As we strive to heal our wounding in Virgo, and release this patriarchal conditioning, the realization that patriarchy must be balanced with matriarchy brings on the solutions from whichever extreme we have temporarily (lifetimes) taken on. Patriarchal unconditional love is giving your power away outside of yourself – to an anthropomorphic god, or priest, or parents, or partner, or boss, or best friend.

Natural spiritual laws (balancing patriarchy with matriarchy) help us understand that unconditional love is about loving ourselves as equally as loving another. Then we can ebb and flow with love, as each circumstance requires in this wounded world of ours. As the Age of Pisces continues to come to a close, old karmic wounds are surfacing to be healed.

Sometimes this will ask you to “just say no,” and walk away. Sometimes it will mean you need to stick around and walk through a particular situation. Only you can discern what is best for you, and what particular action heals the wounds.

Jupiter is just finishing up a year-long passage through Virgo, and it is entering Libra shortly, along with the Sun and all the inner planets. Welcome back love. Venus rules Libra and so the relationship cycles start again. New, old and everything in-between, here is another relationship spiral with your karma mates again. How will you balance the karma? Can you turn it into dharma?

Remember Libra is concerned with more than just your intimate relationships. It includes the diversity of all your relationships. So things may be surfacing with family or co-workers in addition to your lover, or quest for one. Ask Source within: How may I heal and balance out this relationship? Each relationship will require a different response and course of action.

Mercury makes a waning square to Pluto on September 22 at 19/20 degrees Virgo-Sagittarius. Oh, the mental details our souls go through in our attempts to control our world. Here is one of those fast, yet important, transits in our busy worlds. Somehow the left-brain has no choice but to surrender to the right-brain world. Let go of your judgments and some small minor realization can have a big impact.

Venus then makes a waning trine to Pluto on September 24 at 19/20 degrees Leo-Sagittarius. This is the first Venus aspect in the Libra month ahead. What relationship activities is your world bringing in? The potential is the world recognizing your talents, and meeting your desires.

If you have been resisting taking care of your own needs, there may be messages from others making demands upon you. Or, you may make some subtle manipulation on your part to feel secure through another. As always with Venus and Pluto, quest for the best way to take care of yourself as you relate to your world. This aspect brings smoothness in realizing how you can do so.

Jupiter enters Libra on September 24 where it will remain until October 25, 2005. Jupiter naturally rules Sag, a fire sign, so it is much happier in the fire and air signs, Libra being the latter. Like a breath of fresh air for Jupiter, and, hey, the social calendar is suddenly filling up; a new acquaintance here and an old friend resurfacing over there.

Jupiter is the archetype of the right-brain and intuition, or that connection to God/Goddess. It is knowing what we know without knowing how we know it, which is tapping in to the collective consciousness/unconsciousness and bringing information down to our individuated consciousness.

In Evolutionary Astrology, Saturn correlates to the individuated consciousness, Uranus to the individuated unconsciousness and Neptune to the collective consciousness/unconsciousness. Jupiter is the planet that opens the door to the rest of the outer planets, and expands us beyond ourselves. It is the first social planet in more traditional astrology.

Jupiter helps us create those individual belief systems that help us make sense of our larger world. The limitation with Jupiter is taking our beliefs so far, with what feels comfortable and secure, and then refusing to take in anything else. “These are my beliefs and I’m sticking to them,” and back to Mars to defend them. Been a war or two created over belief lines drawn in the sand.

As Jupiter works its ways through the zodiac every 12 years, we get to expand our beliefs in every archetype. There is always a bubble to burst in the limitations of our beliefs, and in Libra it concerns relationships.

Jupiter can be the preacher or the teacher – “Hey, I am right and you are wrong and I am going to convince you that I know best.” One of the messages to come through as Jupiter transits Libra is the ability to shut up and listen to what others have to say. Venus correlates to the psychology of hearing and through its natural rulership of Libra, Jupiter now gets this lesson.

Wow, my karma mate is back and it feels great…and then, somehow, we are back to the same lessons we left off. Can you listen this time? Or are you still trying to preach your view? Make a sincere effort to really listen to what another is saying, and upon opening up to their world, if you still disagree, then you can still say no and walk away. This time, releasing the karmic ties.

Maybe, this time, upon really listening, there is a message there for you to grasp and learn, and expand your world to a new level. Do the best you can to keep an open mind about giving and receiving love as Jupiter follows the Sun into Libra.

Mercury then makes a waxing sextile to Saturn on September 25/26 at 25/26 degrees Virgo-Cancer. Yes, but we still want security. All this coming Libra energy still gets those little reminders that we want to hang on to what feels secure as we move into new relationship territory.

Saturn has been bringing those deep emotional self-reliance lessons for over a year now. What new messages are you receiving? If you feel any tinges of insecurity here, you can work on them, as Saturn will have one more retrograde cycle in Cancer starting next month. Pay attention, and figure out those ways to take care of your own needs.

Mars then enters Libra on September 26 for the next six weeks. Now Mars and Jupiter dance with the Sun for a bit in relationships. Who are the new souls coming into your life here or, old friends resurfacing for another round of lessons?

Mars is the conscious desires of the soul, and many times this means the leading edge of our separating desires. The desire to find love outside of us is very, very strong in these physical bodies. Mars in Libra tends to think the more the merrier. What relationship lessons are upon you? How full can you make your social calendar?

Mars isn’t comfortable in Libra. It prefers the opposite sign Aries that it rules. Mars must listen and take others into consideration in Libra. Hummm, seems like there can be lots of ideas and plans surfacing for this relationship situation and that one, and that friend over there. Remember to take time out and listen, to see if the other souls involved agree with you and the same course of action.

Libra can be that chivalrous disagreement, or through its polarity Aries, an outright argument or war. Or a presidential election neck and neck in the polls with deeply divided issues. Where is the happy medium and balance? Is it any surprise U.S. presidential elections take place in Scorpio, which makes those decisions from all the Libra information?

Libra balance can be back and forth, as each moment dictates – evolution is not static, it is ever changing. Libra can actually get quite good at sensing the needs of any situation and acting accordingly to bring balance about. Where is the Mars in Libra “balance thing” for you these days?

Mars conjuncts Jupiter on September 26 at 0-1 degree Libra. Gosh, we can just marvel at these new souls coming into our lives. We can feel pressured by all that is busting out in our social calendar. We can feel a little pushed in directions we just do not know if we desire to go with others.

These two planets are creating a Libra-Aries push-pull. Honor yourself. It is ok to take time out and listen to what feels right for you. It is ok to start out into a new relationship direction and then change your mind along the way.

Our main avenue of soul growth is through our interactions, or relationships, to other souls. By merging with other souls, we take something new into ourselves that we perceive them to already have. It can be a student taking a class from a teacher, or an acquaintance with a new healing method. It can be sexually merging with a new lover, or an old lover who appears new in this life.

We can also find all this Libran energy forcing us into a new relationship with ourselves as our lover has moved on. Another soul can only love you to the extent you love yourself. If you find yourself in an abusive relationship, what lack of self-love keeps you there?

The relationship details in Libra can be anything. What is emerging the beginning of this solar month is your own current relationship vibrations, and your next lesson in giving and receiving love. And again, only you can discern what is best for you.

The Full Moon of Aries is September 28 at 5/6 degrees Libra-Aries. Things can rise to an outburst and our relationship path is revealed. Love is in the air and yet it all starts with self-love.

What inequalities in giving and receiving love are being revealed to you in your relationships? What actions must you take to balance the giving and receiving? If you do not receive as much as you give, then stop the giving! If others are demanding you are too selfish, then listen to what they have to say. They may be right. Or, they may be the selfish one and as you get the courage to ask for equality, you are falsely accused of selfishness.

Libra is the process of discernment. Ask for the ability to do so. The polarity of any sign is always as active as the sign itself. It is the reflection in order to know. Jupiter in Libra is helping out now. Trust your relationship instincts, and find the courage to act (Aries) accordingly.

Then Mercury enters Libra as well on September 28 for two weeks. Now Mercury wants to get involved and the conversations can seem like they will never end. Yes, it is necessary to talk things out, especially these new, evolving relationship lessons. And, the ability to listen is really important. Make the effort.

If it seems impossible to sit down long enough to even hear what another is saying, that is a big message in itself. What is it you do not want to hear? Take a deep breath and listen, breathe and listen.

As Mercury conjuncts Jupiter on September 28 at 0-1 degree Libra, the intuitive answers will come through loud and clear. Mercury, left-brain, and Jupiter, right-brain, start a new relationship to each other here. It is called trusting your own inner wisdom through the mirror of your relationships. Mercury then leads the way with new information coming to you and through you.

Your new relationship directions are being revealed.

Mercury then makes the third and final conjunction to Mars on September 29 at 2/3 degrees Libra. And now your relationship actions are upon you. Mid-July in Leo and mid-August in Virgo, Mercury and Mars have been attempting to take a course of action. Could it be the third time’s the charm?

The ability to discern the best course of action, or at least another chance, is upon you. All this relationship activity has been bubbling for awhile. Mercury and Jupiter have been bringing some answers and now Mercury and Mars can act and get things done, or bring things to a conclusion. Or, the new beginning can finally take place.

Libra is a cardinal sign – action. Clarity in how to act is starting to come through. Go for it. Take your next relationship step, alone or together, whatever is best for you. And every so often, find some solitude to recharge and balance out your own soul. The impact from others is strong right now, and the Libra balance includes time alone.

Venus enters Virgo on October 3 for the next three-plus weeks. It might be just right for Venus to be in Virgo and help us get all this relationship activity figured out. Venus rules Libra and it is definitely feeling the impact of Sun, Mercury, Mars and Jupiter in its sign. Whew. Give me a break.

Venus in Virgo is kind of a balsamic (completion and understanding) relationship as Virgo gives way to Libra in the zodiac order. How are your interactions with others evolving? Are you recognizing any sadomasochistic qualities in you? It can be as subtle as letting the bully cut in front of you in the grocery line. Did you stand up and correct him/her? Are you the bully?

Libra is usually a sweet, let-me-please-you sign, and yet it is an intense month! Whatever needs to come to the surface in order to balance is gonna happen. Evolution might mean an intense series of four-letter words out of Libra’s mouth. Again – only you can discern what is best for you, and what is necessary.

As the last inner planet through Virgo, ask Venus to help you with the highest and best self-love and let go of those old, narrow judgements! Your next “right” can appear as “wrong” as can be in the consensus world, and yet it is the only step that will set you free!

Love yourself through Venus in Virgo and when Venus passes through Libra, others will love you to the same degree.

The Sun makes a waxing trine to Neptune retrograde on October 5 at 12/13 degrees Libra-Aquarius. One-by-one over the next few days-month-year, Sun, Mercury, Mars and Jupiter will make this aspect to Neptune – Jupiter three times over the next year. At the moment Neptune retro is slowing down and getting ready to go direct (October 23) and finish up another annual cycle of throwing off old beliefs and illusions.

Waxing trines are “more of the same” so be a little careful here. Watch the tendency to cling to old beliefs about relationships. Make the effort to see what new relationship beliefs are evolving. You can take your relationship interactions to another level as you realize we are all one.

Mercury makes a waxing trine to Neptune retrograde as well on October 5 at 12/13 degrees Libra-Aquarius. Together Mercury and Sun have a chance to see love from a more detached point of view. Like maybe the fact that killing other souls in the name of God is the same as killing ourselves. And what does that have to do with my abusive boyfriend?

Neptune in Aquarius and Uranus in Pisces are continually, relentlessly, opening us up to realizing that the world of energy comes before the material world. Souls who are taught to love themselves have less desire to hurt themselves or others. Loving yourself to the best of your abilities – and this can mean removing yourself from those who are abusive to you – creates more loving energy in the world.

Mercury makes a superior conjunction to the Sun on October 5 at 12/13 degrees Libra. This can be a day or so of big ah ha’s in how we relate to our world. It can bring some answers to the last Mercury retrograde cycle in Virgo from August.

Quest for truth. As both Mercury and the Sun make their waxing trines to Neptune retro, we can go for repeating the illusion, or really have some illuminations come our way. How about choosing the belief that whatever you need to know will be revealed to you? Ask God/Goddess to reveal whatever your next step in all your relationships needs to be.

Venus then opposes Uranus retro on October 6 at 3-4 degrees Virgo-Pisces. The big relationship theme this solar month has to contain some surprises, and they can be positive, negative or both. Whatever you have been energizing is busting out.

Venus-Uranus oppositions are reality checks in love, and especially in Virgo-Pisces. More-the-merrier Libra sometimes has to encounter that everyone has a different idea of what needs to happen in any situation. Take some time to do your own reality check with your own essential needs.

The more you quest for self-reliance on every level – physical, emotional, mental and spiritual – the less the world can surprise you. So any upsets the middle of this solar month can get you in touch with your degree of co-dependency upon others. Remember, we are just finishing up that Virgo lesson to be gentle with ourselves. How can you do that in your current relationship activities?

Mercury then makes a waning sextile to Pluto on October 9 at 19/20 degrees Libra-Sagittarius; more relationship truth coming through here. Watch out for that tendency to want to convince another of your viewpoint. There are old relationship beliefs to be released here after the Venus-Uranus opposition. Perhaps another conversation is necessary, revisiting themes from earlier this month.

Jupiter makes the first of three waning inconjuncts to Uranus on October 10 at 3-4 degrees Libra-Pisces. The next two inconjuncts are May 7, 2005 & July 8, 2005. Other aspects involved in this process include the one Jupiter-Uranus opposition last August 28, 2003 at 0-1 degree Virgo-Pisces, and the beginning of this Jupiter-Uranus cycle that started with their single conjunction at 5/6 degrees Aquarius on February 15, 1997.

The waning inconjunct is a “Scorpio” aspect, 210 degrees. Somehow there are adjustments demanded from society (or whoever we perceive to have more power), with a tendency for power struggles. In the consensus world, Uranus is heavy-handed, claiming superior knowledge, defeating any Jupiter in Libra peacemaking. World events during this time will need to be re-addressed during the next two aspects, next summer. At worst, we have more of “the end justifies the means” kind of actions that will be revealed later on.

The original Jupiter-Uranus conjunction in Aquarius, the sign Uranus rules, desires to bring out major new insights and understandings about the world; an impulse about the coming Aquarian Age. Uranus reveals things and Jupiter expands them. For most of us this is a desire for more truth. For the consensus state, it is the need to cover up truth in order to remain in power some way.

Jupiter is as interesting as Saturn is over the next few years (see details below). These two planets will continue to push us into new social worlds. A large part of our lesson is to create our world as we desire it to be, regardless of what is going on in the world around us. Are you going to be a part of the problem, or a part of the solution?

Jupiter-Uranus craves to open us up to new ideas and beliefs. Can you see how evolving souls are getting the “consciousness creates matter” natural law which Einstein called e=mc²? Whatever is happening in your relationship world is a direct result of what you have been energizing.

As Jupiter comes off the Virgo-Pisces opposition to Uranus last year, many of us are having our patriarchal wounds revealed, especially in relationships. There is a Libran quest for equality. Where is this happening for you? Where have you not wanted to face some truth about your current relationships in family, love, and work? Sooner or later reality must be faced, and this is one of those times when the Libra “happy, smiley face” just will not work anymore. Somehow, your relationships are demanding changes.

Listen to that inner voice coming through, leading you to make the changes that will give you your next step of inner power as you relate to the world. Some of those changes others are demanding are valid. Can you discern the difference between another’s quest for power and legitimate needs to evolve your relationships?

Regardless of what is happening in the rest of the world, you have complete freedom to create as you desire. May Jupiter-Uranus connect you to your ultimate relationship with God/Goddess.

The Sun makes a waning sextile to Pluto on October 12 at 20/21 degrees Libra-Sag. It can seem like relationship themes just will not end this month. Yet, this is an aspect of letting go of old relationship desires. Deep conversations can take place, go for it.

Pluto in Sag goes for the bottom line truth, and as the solar month is passing, we can realize some deep relationship truths about ourselves, and how this affects our relationships with everyone else in our life.

How would you like your ideal relationship with anyone to be? What must you let go of in order to create your ideal?

As Mercury makes a waxing square to Saturn on October 13 at 26/27 degrees Libra-Cancer, some of those emotional insecurities in relationships might be revealed. More conversation can help, especially about our deepest relationship fear – rejection, betrayal, etc. Whatever your relationship fears may be, the answer is found in more self-love.

The New Moon of Libra is a Solar Eclipse on October 13 at 21/22 degrees Libra. Here is an opportunity to set a new relationship beginning with yourself. This eclipse cycle is on the Moon’s South Node, which is about ready to leave Scorpio for Libra. So as you quest for your relationship ideals and desires, pay attention to the vision of what it is.

Then realize life will show you current reality, most likely on the Lunar Eclipse October 27, in order to know how to go from your reality to your ideal. Remember that we are all doing the same thing, looking for love. The secret for this Libra Solar Eclipse is to just love ourselves as much as we desire to be loved by another.

There just isn’t any substitute for self-love. As much as you try to project it out there on to someone else, and make them responsible for your happiness, it just comes right back to you. May you initiate a beautiful relationship with yourself this solar month!

Mars makes a waxing trine to Neptune retrograde on October 15 at 12/13 degrees Libra-Aquarius. Here is another barometer for our own relationship honesty. Neptune is almost stationary direct (October 23). At this point in Neptune’s annual five-month retro cycle, another layer of truth and reality is coming up to the surface. It creates those deep ah ha’s, or crashing realities.

Mars in Libra is evolving into harmonious giving and receiving, or, trying to manipulate a relationship agenda. Where are you? As your own relationship lessons and cycles are becoming more and more clear, are you in a healthy space? If not, do you have the courage to speak up and change things? Can you be as honest as possible?

Any “easy” or untruthful way out of an uncomfortable relationship situation may come back to haunt you. We call it karma. Are you creating karma this month, or healing it and releasing karma? Quest for Neptunian objectivity. As oxymoron as it sounds, this is the time of Neptune’s cycle that brings out what is real, and in Aquarius the ability to be objective and really sense what is the truth.

The U.S. presidential election will be in the final stages now, and so energizing truth, speaking truth and exposing truth is the real deal. Energize it regardless of what appears to be happening.

Mercury enters Scorpio on October 15 for three weeks. Here is where we start making decisions about all this relationship activity we have been experiencing. Perhaps there is a necessary conversation that hasn’t taken place yet. Perhaps the details of this solar month are bringing a new awareness to our most pressing relationship scenario.

Mercury in Scorpio is like a laser beam, direct and to the core. Libra is about learning all the relationship diversity that is out there, pro and con, weighing the details. Scorpio makes the relationship decisions. So, the next few weeks can bring yet another relationship conversation, and this time getting to the bottom line, whatever that may be.

Mercury then makes a waning trine to Uranus retrograde on October 17 at 3-4 degrees Scorpio-Pisces. As Mercury again leads the inner planetary aspects, this fall will bring waning trines to Uranus in Pisces. The potential is deep emotional bonding with other souls, showing us what love can really create. May this be your experience.

Here is a chance to get to the emotional depth of your relationship lessons. The ability to sense any co-dependencies is there. Talk it out, again, and find your next level of self-love, universal love. How about a love affair with God/Goddess?

Sun makes a waxing square to Saturn on October 19 at 27 degrees Libra-Cancer. Here is another message in taking our relationships to another level, based upon our own emotional self-reliance. These fast-moving aspects the end of this solar month can fill in some details of finishing up relationship lessons, or push us to the edge. The experience will be unique to you and your level of self-reliance.

The last aspect is Venus making a waning square to Pluto on October 20 at 20/21 degrees Virgo-Sagittarius. Let go of those old relationship judgments and old relationship desires that just are not reality. What old ways of loving just do not feel good anymore?

Libra is a cardinal, air sign and so we have all stirred up our relationships in order to grow. How has the month progressed for you? Inner reflects outer. Your relationships will tell your story. As Sun waxing square Saturn in Libra-Cancer reminds us of inner self-reliance, we can make the relationship decisions that are best for us. With Venus waning square Pluto in Virgo-Sag, this may mean letting go of a relationship(s). It may mean letting go of old relating patterns to make way for new ones.

Perhaps one of our greatest realizations is that relationships ebb and flow just like life, or natural law. Everything has its cycle. Our westernized world, with its rejection of reincarnation, has lost touch with natural endings be it death or divorce. Whatever begins, ends. So as you discern where each of your relationships are, may you act in accordance with the next lesson in that relationship – to begin again, to evolve, to let go, and to say good-bye.

May God/Goddess bless you through Sun in Libra!