September 20th ~ 27th
“Orchard” by Franz Dvorak
These two Light and Darkness are the world’s eternal ways. ~ Wm. Q. Judge
On September 23rd the Sun will enter Libra, the sign of balance and equanimity: the Scales. And as we stand in the balance between light and darkness, we have the opportunity to reflect on and be thankful for all that we have accomplished over the past year. It also presents as an opportunity to embrace the approaching darkness (at least here in the Northern Hemisphere), as a necessary part of the annual cycle. The Libra Autumnal Equinox marks the beginning of Fall here in the North where the days will eventually shorten, and Spring in the South, where the days will lengthen. It stands as one of the 4 Cardinal corners of the Solar Year. No matter where we call home on the Earth, it is time to give due reverence for all the good things we do have in our lives, and that have served us so well.
The solar harvest festival of Mabon is celebrated at this time of year. A celebration of not only the bountiful harvest that nature provides, but also the bounty and rewards of all that we have sown and also reaped over the past year. This is not just a time of harvest, but also a time to prepare the way so that new seeds will be able to grow in the future. The Equinox is a natural time in which to sow peace and gratitude. Any and all positive energy sent out at this time will help to ameliorate any discordant energy, both in our personal lives, as well as the world at large. Libra is also a time in which we become more interested in our relationships and inter-relationships with others, wanting to make contacts, relate and bond. And so we celebrate this social season, with an awareness of our impact and interdependence with each other.
It is through gratitude that we can attune ourselves to the natural ebb and flow of this seasonal shift. And one way to do this is to create some sort of gratitude list. Begin with the things that we take for granted: clean air to breathe, water to drink, a safe place to sleep. Then move on to those thing that you are particularly grateful for. Pay special attention to those people and things in your life that matter to you the most.
Jupiter and Neptune will make its third and last exact square this weekend. Even as it is perfected on Saturday, it will already begin to wane once they begin to separate from this square. However, the ramifications of these major transits can linger for months to come. Jupiter has been daring us to bring ourselves into alignment with our highest ideals, our most superlative goals and our most outlandish dreams. With the square to Neptune it is the latter that is the most perilous. When Jupiter and Neptune meet, even by hard aspects such as the square there are no bounds to our vision. The problems that arise are due to ignoring what is realistically and practically achievable.
Hopefully Saturn, now that it is direct once again, will help us to ground ourselves in what is or is not possible, and restore some of the boundaries that had become eroded. As a reminder, here are some of the challenges we have been facing this past year with the Jupiter/Neptune square:
Disenchantment: Tests of faith. Not knowing who to believe; who to trust. False gods, cults and cultish personalities reveal themselves. Hidden agendas disguised as ideology make themselves known.
Lack of Reality: Putting our faith in something that has no real basis. Gullibility. Falling for get-rich-quick schemes and scams. Putting faith in someone who has no moral substance. Buying into far-fetched ideas. And exaggerating the value of someone or something beyond what they can deliver.
Propaganda and Big Lies: “If you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed.” Subterfuge, glamour, and pulling the wool over people’s eyes. It is hard to discriminate between truth and fantasy, when the truth is severely twisted and repurposed.
Dissolution: Diasporas. Floods. Tsunamis. Displacement. Diseases or disasters that cross multiple boundaries. Ramifications of the global climate crisis.
Distraction: Feeling drawn in many directions at once. This is also a consequence of being over-committed and trying to do everything all at once. We might all want to ask ourselves where we have become over-extended and lost sight of our own boundaries and limitations.
Escapism and Loss: Not wanting to deal with reality and wanting to escape; feeling ungrounded; no place to land; losing a sense of personal identification, as what you previously believed to be true, dissolves.
And here are some of the potential benefits we could also reap:
Faith, Spirituality, Religion: At times like this we dare to ask questions. And those questions push us to tests of faith and deeper understanding. Disenchantment can lead to further exploration of what we truly believe in our heart of hearts.
The nature of reality: In order to function and live in the natural world, we need to discriminate and know what our boundaries are. However at the highest level of discrimination, there are no true boundaries. Glimpses of this higher perspective is the basis for altruism and compassion.
When in Rome: When you find it absolutely impossible to concentrate, sometimes going with the flow may be the best recourse. We can also take it as a cue to welcome distraction, which can open up all sorts of new ideas and perspectives we had not previously considered.
Bringing ourselves in alignment with our ideals: When boundaries erode, and walls dissolve, we come to understand our interdependence with one another and with all of nature. Divisions are seen as fabrications. Empathy, kindness and compassion thrive when we come to realize that we are all here swimming and struggling together in this great cosmic ocean called life.
For next week’s horoscopes, click below: