New Moon in Libra 2018
Photo by Joel & Jasmin Førestbird on Unsplash
New Moon in Libra
This week begins with an especially dark and provocative tone as the New Moon in Libra culminates Monday night. Not only has the ruler of this lunation (Venus) just stationed retrograde, but She is also in the sign of her detriment (in Scorpio). Venus in Scorpio burns with fervent desires, seeking a full spectrum of experiences with Her lover or object of passion: The euphoric enchantment of adoration, the horrid and the ugly. Venus in Scorpio compromises the New Moon in Libra’s agenda for balance, composure, and equity by doing exactly what Libra typically seeks to avoid. That is, to rock the boat.
Relaxing and enjoying the pleasures that life has to offer is much easier done without falling into the sticky bodies of emotion, which is why Venus is “in her detriment” in Scorpio. The sign Scorpio— is ruled by Mars—a planet that symbolizes separation, strife, and confrontation. Venus seeks unity and harmony. Though varied in their methods and preferences, the two often share similar desires; together they are the swaying motion of the entangled lovers. What differs is their approach to accomplishing a similar goal. Venus pulls in and embraces what the other has to give. Mars drives energy forward and through. If Venus is a dancer, Mars is a grappler. Each promises to move you, but Venus in the grappler’s octagon learns the meaning of having heart.
Acquiring the love, abundance, and fruits She so adores is a messier process through Scorpio—even more so while She is retrograde as circumstances demand to be re-evaluated. Matters involving exchange, expectations, and agreements are up for renegotiation.
The Scorpion’s territory brings a heavy emotion to Venus that easily throws the Scales out of balance by putting Her into situations that feel extremely uncomfortable. Though Libra is a sign that stands for justice and peace, Scorpio’s intensity feels much too “up close and personal” for Libra’s comfort. Libra favors a more cerebral, linguistic approach to establishing accord. The Lady of Justice, who holds the scales in one hand and a sword in the other, is seen wearing a blindfold. Libra prefers impartiality and wants reconciliation without spilling blood. But Scorpio has no reservations about the shedding of whatever bodily fluid is necessary to achieve a goal. Blood, sweat, tears, or fluids of arousal— Venus in Scorpio encourages us to release whatever necessary to preserve our emotional well-being…especially if what was once vital has become toxic.
In Scorpio’s emotional depths, Venus is heavily swayed by feelings and desire. She feels everything. It’s easy to keep one’s balance when one isn’t subjected to a choppy violent environment where the visceral feelings are key to survival.
Though it often happens slowly and subtly, people change. In time, relationships evolve or deteriorate. The transformation of bonds, intimate connections, and partnerships of all kinds is a significant theme to be mindful of around tonight’s New Moon in Libra. Not only is the ruler [Venus] retrograde in Scorpio, but the Moon is also conjoined to asteroid Ceres [recognized as a sphere that symbolizes a source of nourishment] while squaring Pluto in Capricorn.
As the Dark Moon culminates tonight and over the next lunar cycle (until the next New Moon), consider the
Themes this lunation proposes for contemplation:
This is a season of seeding more integrity into our exchanges (financial, sexual, emotional, and spiritual)
What kind of sustenance is your partnership in need of in order to maintain a healthy bond? What energy are you [and your partner] feeding the relationship and is it strengthening or spoiling the bond?
What do you desires or aversions tell you about the changing state of your relationship?
Which aspects of your primary relationship (to a significant other, business partner, or to self) are asking to be released?
Resistance (Pluto in Capricorn) is likely to arise within our fundamental and intimate relationships over the next month, but trying to avoid sensitive topics or negate change only prolongs the painful process of release. Is there a pattern of resistance to change that needs your awareness?
This is a lunation that is charged with desire for connection, but sometimes that appears to us through initially feeling repulsed by a person, comment, or idea. What kind of internal work are you called to do in order to establish the deeper connection you crave?
I thought I’d sign off by sharing the lyrics to an appropriately Venus in Scorpio song tonight for those of you particularly moved by music. It’s a great way to feel all the feels and to observe what’s beneath the surface.
Have a listen to Adele’s I Miss You if you really want to attune to this New Moon in Libra
I want every single piece of you
I want your heaven and your ocean's too
Treat me soft but touch me cool
I wanna teach you things you never knew, baby
Bring the floor up to my knees
Let me fall into your gravity
And kiss me back to life to see
Your body standing over meBaby don't let the lights go down
Baby don't let the lights go down
Baby don't let the lights go down
Lights go down, lights go down
Lights go down, lights go down
Down, down, down, downI miss you when the lights go out
It illuminates all of my doubts
Pull me in, hold me tight
Don't let go, baby give me light
I miss you when the lights go out
It illuminates all of my doubts
Pull me in, hold me tight
Don't let go, baby give me lightI love the way your body moves
Towards me from across the room
Brushing past my every groove
No one has me like you do, baby
Bring your heart, I'll bring my soul
But be delicate with my ego
I wanna step into your great unknown
With you and me setting the toneBaby don't let the lights go down
Baby don't let the lights go down
Baby don't let the lights go down
Lights go down, lights go down
Lights go down, lights go down
Down, down, down, downI miss you when the lights go out
It illuminates all of my doubts
Pull me in, hold me tight
Don't let go, baby give me light
I miss you when the lights go out
It illuminates all of my doubts
Pull me in, hold me tight
Don't let go, baby give me lightWe play so dirty in the dark
'Cause we are living worlds apart
It only makes it harder baby
It only makes it harder baby (harder baby)
Harder baby (harder baby), harder babyI miss you when the lights go out
It illuminates all of my doubts
Pull me in, hold me tight
Don't let go, baby give me light
I miss you when the lights go out
It illuminates all of my doubts
Pull me in, hold me tight
Don't let go, baby give me lightI miss you, I miss you
I miss you, I miss you
I miss you, I miss you
I miss you, I miss you