Approaching the Libra New Moon

Photo by Eric Francis.

Today is Monday, Sept. 26, 2011. The Moon is in Virgo all day, which can have a mental or perfectionist feeling. Make sure you know that feeling is in the background — that you have to get it right. It may be more of an annoyance than an inspiration. Yet while this happens, the emphasis of the sky is on Libra. We now have four of the traditional planets (Mercury, Venus, Sun and Saturn) and an important asteroid (Juno) in Libra, and we’re about to experience the New Moon in that sign on Tuesday at 7:08 am EDT. Though the equinox was technically Friday, we are still in the equinox time of year, that first moment of the new season. Feel it while it’s here to experience.

For the next day or so we’re in the dark of the Moon (just before the New Moon), which can be one of those times when you might feel a loss of momentum, greater desire to sleep, and the desire to go into your inner world. If you’re feeling those things, definitely respond as best you can — even if you’re busy, find an hour or two to honor your inner existence. Yet the week of the New Moon is also the time to set your goals, intentions and desires for the new month.

So despite what may be a drifting sensation, or the sense that you cannot quite get people to agree with you, be gently persistent. Keep your focus on what you want, what you’re doing and what you want to do. Take satisfaction in small accomplishments, never forgetting the larger goals you hold.

These last hours before the New Moon are a truly useful time to do this. Most astrologers advise that the moment of the New Moon is a good time for meditation, ritual and celebrations, but for manifesting and setting goals, it’s helpful to work with the end of the old cycle as a time for working out the beginning of the new one.

This New Moon has high mental focus. Many planets align with the Sun and the Moon at the same time, which means that we will be feeling it in a bold and direct way as some kind of inner decision process. The aspects include both the Sun and Moon square Pluto; Sun and Moon conjunct Mercury; and then Mercury square Pluto as a result. This whole arrangement has a sense of urgency. Libra, while it has a reputation of being laid back, is an action-oriented sign, and this is the time for action that begins from the inside out. So in the true spirit of Libra, start the business of meeting your most important goals.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the threshold represented by Libra ushers in a time of reaping. It is the time of harvest. This is the season of release and surrender for the vegetative kingdom, and we get the benefits. It’s also when we see the colors that make up up the beautiful green we’ve been looking at all spring and summer. Autumn is a moment of transparency.

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