Libra Season 2023 - A Major Turning Point

Libra Season is here, & so too is our Season of Eclipses.

We’ve passed the Solstice point, and October 2023 signifies a month of big changes. In fact we are shifting to a whole new story with the eclipse axis now across Aries-Libra, set to unfold in the coming month…

We have two Venus-ruled eclipses in October. The first is a New Moon (solar eclipse) on October 14/15 at 21° of Libra, the second a Full Moon (& a partial lunar eclipse) on 29th October at 5° of Taurus. Venus as host will be in its Fall in Virgo for both the eclipses.

The month of October also has epoch-shifter Pluto - our Lord of the Underworld Compost - stationing direct at 27° of Capricorn. We’re winding up a story of an Old World Order, exposing the rotting foundations of institutional power with Pluto, as He sets to head back over the late degrees of the Mergoat. Yet this is also where we may discover the invaluable gold of knowledge/info once hidden.

Look to your House of Capricorn - Bone Mother Saturn’s sign Earth Home for the deep riches that may have been re-birthed after periods of deep loss or endings.

Another momentous October moment is that Mars increases greatly in power and dignity as it returns to one of its home sign of Scorpio for the first time in many Moons. We may find the Scorpio area of our life energised with some powerful ninja energy!

This October could be described as a crucial bridge between the narratives of the early 2020’s, & those of the mid-2020’s…

But what might October’s astrology & the eclipses mean for you in your life?

Let’s look at the nature of Libra to get a clearer sense of things…

Libra is Cardinal Air, Yang and Venus ruled. Cardinal signs are pivot points, where there are sudden changes in different direction - indicated by the change from one season to another. In Libra there’s a turning away from the light of the year & toward the darkness (this is symbolic and applies to wherever we live in the world). Libra is not a fluffy and superficial sign as its sometimes described by what I describe as “narcissistic tabloid astrology”. Libra’s the exaltation sign of our stern & mystical Saturn, after all.

Libra is highly intellectual, it’s where beauty & our ideals are alchemised into higher Forms. Libra is acutely aware of the need to balance the concepts of Light & Dark, (embodied by the Equinox & seasonal change of Libra’s reign). Libra’s focused on finding balance, fairness, beauty & justice in idealised, often highly artistic forms. Libra as ruled by Venus is also socially oriented - focused upon the other, and upon relationships, partnerships & contracts of all kinds.

This is a clue as to why the Sun is Fallen in Libra. Anyone with planets or significant placements in Libra, (I have a stellium there myself - including the Sun) knows that there’s a sense of feeling vigilant around the needs of others. That one’s own story or plot is not the main focus of energy. There’s a sense of the Sun being at odds with Libra, because the Sun wants to shine and be seen in the world. Sol desires to be His whole brilliant self, and we can see this when the Sun is at home in Leo, or exalted in Aries. It’s not that having a Sun in Libra is “bad”, but that in Libra there’s a redirection of energy & purpose away from the Self towards Venusian relational concerns.

While the Sun is in Libra, Venus will enter Virgo & host both our October eclipses. In Virgo, Venus is meticulous & somewhat anxious. It’s where beauty is designed & curated. Venus in Virgo can be incredibly devoted, giving, and desiring to be of service, but can find it difficult to receive pleasure, or sit back and enjoy life without noticing imperfections.

It’s only just before Venus falls into Virgo on the 9th of October (AEDT), that She leaves Her rx shadow. Almost immediately after this, She locks horns in a tight opposition with Saturn in Pisces (10th of October). This sobering aspect is prelude to our Solar Eclipse in Libra. We may be required to find a compromise between ideals & what we may need to prioritise or consider practically in the realms of Venus.

Keeping this in mind, with the solar eclipse on October 14th/15th at 21° of Libra - we may be sifting through our agreements or partnerships with others - and thinking about anything that might not be working that we may want to let of go. We may find we’ve had a change of mind along the way - and that’s ok!

This is a South Node eclipse, taking place in your House of Libra. So it can be helpful to observe the stories in our lives that may be coming to an end here. It’s a purging and detoxification process, a draining away of old, stagnant energies. In a Cardinal sign like Libra, there could also be a dramatic pivot towards a different direction in that Libra area of your life.

Endings are baked into these new beginnings, unfolding over the 6-18 months after the eclipse. In Hellenistic astrology, the nodes are not evolutionary points, but are shadow “planets”. A South Node (or Ketu) eclipse involves a draining off of old energy. An emptying out and withdrawing of energy.

There’s a sense of fatedness too - an eclipse is akin to a great tide rising, then the tide ebbs, taking with it the flotsam & jetsam, seaweed & driftwood from the shores of our Libra lands.

Venus will be in aversion to the first October eclipse. This means it’s difficult for Venus to provide support to the Sun & Moon. She’s blind to what’s happening in Her own sign of Libra. But remember this: Libra desires balance in all things, and this will be what the Luminaries in Libra will be trying to achieve.

We’ve been priming ourselves for this eclipse with Venus’s long journey & retrograde through Leo.

We’ve been thoroughly worked on by Venus in Leo these past months. We’ve been asked to figure out what it is that we truly desire in order to express our autonomy, sovereignty and self-worth. Also what brings us genuine joy.

Leo rules the heart, and there’s a saying that rings true here: “the heart wants what the heart wants”.

It can be helpful to remember this now. Venus forged for months by Leo’s Fire delivers us into Venus-ruled Libra season. We can test the integrity of these lessons by remembering to retain our autonomy & self-worth without people-pleasing or overly doubting ourselves. Be open to working & seeking harmony with others, & recognise that compromise is possible but not at the cost of compromise yourself or your core values.

As we head over the October bridge enjoy and celebrate the beauty of Libra Season!

Book an Astrology Reading With Antoinette…

My name is Antoinette, and I’m a professional astrologer offering a range of astrological consultations.

f you’d like to learn more about how the upcoming eclipses will affect you, or you’d like to have a deep dive into your natal chart, you can book a reading with me here.

My warmest wishes to you and have a magical day!

Antoinette