” You are so beautiful to me
You are so beautiful to me
Can’t you see”
~~~ Joe Cocker
” And he saw the tree above him
And the stars
And the veins in the leaf
And the light above
And the balance.
And he saw magnificent perfection
Whereon, he thought of himself in balance
And he knew he was.”
~~~Graeme Edge and Ray Thomas
from The Balance performed by The Moody Blues
This month breathtaking beauty takes center stage as the Sun glides through Libra, the sign of beauty and balance. Libra is also the sign of the zodiac explicitly associated with partnership, marriage and the romantic relationship between two people.
Libra is ruled by Venus, the planet of beauty and love, and it is beauty, the universal conduit, that leads us unerringly to our beloved. Beauty is a loaded word in our culture. We fear being accused of superficiality in its pursuit, and the cosmetic and fashion industries have defined beauty so narrowly that we rightly rebel against a standard that both excludes and objectifies so many women and increasingly men as well.
Yet beauty is our birthright and a need as basic to our soul as oxygen is to our body. Beauty draws us toward itself. The flower kingdom, sacred to Venus, compels us in every way. We are drawn to the beauty of the rose, to its color, intoxicating scent and velvety softness. Yet this beauty is everywhere. Every molecule and strand of DNA is encoded with universal beauty. Often what awakens us to the presence of beauty is romantic love.
When we fall in love we enter an ecstatic realm in which the world comes alive and transcendental beauty is revealed to us even in the litter beneath our feet. Here in the west we dismiss this as the honeymoon phase of a relationship. While there is truth in the awareness that this phase of relationship does not last forever and must deepen into something more enduring and practical, there is another way of interpreting this phenomenon than the western psychological model.
In Deepak Chopra’s inspiring book The Path to Love, he reminds us that in ancient wisdom romantic love is known to mirror divine love. Our first experience with romantic love mirrors the first phase of spiritual awakening. We feel ego destroying ecstasy that tears down all artificial barriers and the presence of the Beloved is revealed. This spiritual experience then informs our ongoing devotional practice. Astrology holds with this world view. In every human experience it is the heavenly realm that is being mirrored here on earth, and not the reverse. As Above, So Below.
Libra, more than any other sign, seeks itself in partnership. Aries the opposite sign is where we first define ourselves as a separate and distinct entity. In Libra we seek a partner to share ourselves with, and to mirror the cosmic dance of Venus and Mars, Shiva and Parvati, Lover and Beloved. Romantic love is where we seek the beauty of the divine in another as well as our own beauty. When we see beauty in another our own deep beauty is reflected back to us.
These moments of revealed beauty are in fact the truth. The veil drops again and we can dismiss the experience as the chemistry of love, a basely materialist view. Shattering glimpses of beauty are meant to awaken us to the beauty of Divine Presence diffused throughout creation.
When we allow ourselves to be moved by beauty, an act which in and of itself requires a moment of stillness and peace, we can then open ourselves to the Divine everywhere. Even if we are not currently in a relationship, we can cultivate a relationship with beauty, which will break our hearts open to the Love present in every molecule of creation.
The act of seeing beauty everywhere brings us into balance with the universe. We can then act as agents of universal beauty. By seeing the beloved everywhere we transform ourselves and our world and restore it to peace and balance.
To make excellent use of Libra energy this month cultivate a relationship with beauty. Go to places that inspire your soul at the deepest level. Notice the beauty of nature all around you. Create beautiful environments in which relationship can occur. Celebrate art. Make music . Adorn your body. See the beauty of every cell of your body. See the Divine beloved in your partner, in your friends, in strangers on the streets and most importantly in those who offend you. Make your bedroom a temple to divine love. Make your heart a temple to divine love. Make your life a sweet sustained note of love in the universal symphony.
This month do yoga to restore balance. Take ballroom dancing or any dancing in pairs. Study Marshall Rosenberg’s nonviolent communication. Watch Gandhi the movie. Imagine peace as the outcome of any conflict you witness or find yourself in. Fall in love with yourself .Read Deepak Chopra’s book The Path to Love. Read the love poems of Rumi. Send prayers, love and blessings to your enemies, remembering we have no enemies, only delusions.
If you are in a relationship invite divine love to express itself in your partnership, beginning with you. If you are not in a relationship and wish to be, create space in your home and life for a partner. Each day when you feel the longing for union, become still and peaceful and in the secret chamber of your heart, call out to your beloved saying: “Beloved, I am here.”
If you do not wish for a romantic partner, cultivate a loving partnership with the universe. See beauty everywhere. See the beloved in everyone especially yourself. Let me be the voice of the universe reminding you:
” You are so beautiful to me. You are so beautiful to me. You are so beautiful to me.”
Peace Be Thine.
The Sun went into Libra on September 22 at 4:44 pm, marking the autumnal equinox, one of two moments of perfect balance that occur each year, one in the spring and one in the fall. The autumnal equinox marks the moment of perfect equality between the day force and the night force just as the feminine night force is poised to begin to slowly overtake the masculine or yang day force. The night force is associated with collectivity as opposed to individuality and reminds us to reach out and cultivate social connection as the fall and winter approach. This solar tide will be at its highest on the winter solstice in December, which marks the shortest day and longest night of the year.
October begins with a substantial planetary line up in Scorpio, including: Mercury, the planet of thought and communication, Venus, the planet of love and relationship , Saturn, the planet of responsibility, discipline, testing and hard lessons, and the North Node, the point of destiny’s highest direction for this time. All of this would suggest that as we pass through Libra, the sign of balance, fairness and relationship, we are being asked by the universe to deepen and transform our way of approaching shared resources and relationship. Scorpio is the sign of Alchemy. It is the sign that teaches us to transmute the deadly poison of hatred and resentment to forgiveness and love.
That is our holy work this month. Scorpio also rules shared resources, including taxes, the stock market and government budgets. This month as a spiritual community we are asked to see if our investments reflect our spiritual values. It is a great month to explore the transformation of how we do business and invest. Good books to read on this topic are Jeff Gitterman’s Beyond Success and David C Korten’s The Great Turning. Scorpio rules energy. This is great month to explore Chi gong and to support clean green energy. This is a great month to reconnect with the Native American approaches to the earth as a living entity which cannot be owned.
The Scorpio line up also brings us squarely to sexuality and asks us to explore the sacredness of all unions on this front. This is a great month to heal and explore how we share ourselves with our beloved. Scorpio rules Energy. This applies to invisible energy and energy fields as well as fuels which power our world. This is a great month to explore sustainable energy and become an advocate for a clean green world.
Mercury goes retrograde in Scorpio on October 21st at 6:29 am EST, ushering in a period of reflection on all the above mentioned issues including shared wealth and resources, intimacy and death, a subject that we here in the west are truly averse to confronting. Mercury will go direct on November 10th at 4:12 pm EST.
On October 7th Venus moves into jovial, optimistic Sagittarius and invites us to explore how other cultures approach love and relationship. Venus will remain in exotic Sagittarius for the rest of October. The month begins with Mars the planet of desire, action and combat in Leo, giving us plenty of creative fuel all month to power artistic projects. We should guard against egotism but take action on leadership fronts. Mars moves into health conscious Virgo on October 15th giving us energy to deploy toward health, hygiene and the environment.
Jupiter in Cancer brings safety and abundance into the realm of home and family and reminds us that a philosophy based on the sacredness of the divine feminine is back to heal our relationship to the earth and the archetypal feminine.
Uranus is retrograde in Aries this month asking us to reflect and reconsider issues of war, combat and aggression. It is a good month to meditate and set our affairs in order.
Neptune is retrograde in Pisces encouraging us to be still and cultivate peace and compassion toward self an others. Neptune also asks us to engage in vision quest this month. Pluto in Capricorn this month continues to deconstruct the infrastructures of ego that our world is built upon. In order to assist with this process sign Al Franken’s petition for a constitutional amendment to reverse Citizens United and constitutionally establish the obvious, that Corporations are not people.
Ceres, the planet of the earth Goddess, is in Virgo all month encouraging us to get clean and healthy on all levels. Ceres reminds us that our home planet earth needs some major housecleaning.
The New Moon in Libra takes place on Friday, October4th at 8:35 pm EDT Join us at spiritual living.com for our monthly new moon ceremony.
ARIES: This month the Sun is shining in your house of partnership, shining a beam of light on business and personal relationships. This is a great month to spend time with your beloved and work out issues of fairness in the give and take of your relationship. There is a major planetary line up in Scorpio in your house of intimacy and shared resources asking you to really do some work on how you function in this area. The eighth house often asks us to confront uncomfortable and taboo feelings like fear, rage and shame. The magic of alchemy is that once we can see and bear witness to them they dissolve. This month let the dissolving begin. When Mercury goes retrograde on the 21st may be a great time to do some deep healing on this front. Your creative energy is high all month with Mars in Leo in your artistic sector. Say yes to expansive opportunities involving your home.
TAURUS: The Sun is shining in your house of children and creativity, making this a great month to spend time with children and to work on creative projects. It is also a great month to re-negotiate child minding duties with your partner. There is a major line up in your house of partnership in Scorpio, the sign of transformation, making this a great month to transform partnerships. The first part of the month may illuminate areas of both business and personal partnerships that need adjustments. When Mercury goes retrograde on the 21st reflect, renegotiate and reconsider the structure of your relationships. Communication projects could prove lucrative. Mars in your home sector gives you lots of energy to deploy toward home.
GEMINI: This month the Sun shines in your house of romance and creativity making this a great month to spend romantic time with your beloved. This is also a great month to create and attend beautiful gatherings. There is a major planetary line up in Scorpio in your house of daily work and health, asking you to focus your considerable transformational energy on the job as well as on transforming your health routines. In the first half of October work and health issues may arise that require your attention. When Mercury goes retrograde on the 21st spend time reflecting on what changes need to be made. You may need better boundaries at work. Learn to say no and mean it. As to health, with Saturn in this sector, set up an exercise routine and create a routine regarding health and digestion, the results will please you. You may also be called upon to help others with this. Jupiter in your house of wealth brings both money and real estate opportunities. Say yes to all.
CANCER: The Sun is shining in your house of home and family this month making this a great month to do some nesting. This month home is the most natural place for you to cultivate romance. Jupiter is still in your sign expanding your life and sense of self like never before. Enjoy the wonderful feelings of increased faith and optimism that you have been experiencing for the past few months. Mars in your financial sector in creative Leo, makes this a great month to pursue financial success through creative projects. There is a major planetary line up in your creative sector, which is also the sector of offspring, making this an excellent month to transform your approach to both. Notice what arises in the first part of the month, then when Mercury goes retrograde on the 21st spend some time reflecting and reconsidering your approach to both.
LEO: The Sun is shining in your house of communication this month, making this an excellent month to both communicate and build relationships involving the art of communication. If you are a writer or speaker, this is a month to shine. There is a major planetary line up in your home sector, making this an important area of focus this month. Notice what arises regarding your home that needs your attention in the first half of the month, then when Mercury goes retrograde on the 21st make the needed repairs and reconsider your approach to your home life. Jupiter in your spiritual sector gives you massive amounts of spiritual and invisible support from behind the scenes. This is the most important thing to focus on. The invisible and angelic world is the place to turn to inform every other aspect of your life these days.
VIRGO: The Sun is shining in your house of money in Libra the sign of partnership, making this a great month to connect with your partner on issues of finance and values. This month money is well spent on the art of romance and cultivating beauty in your life. This is also a great month to build beautiful and mutually lucrative partnerships, with people who share your ideals. With mighty Jupiter in your house of friends and networking, nurturing friends could also be a source of abundance and opportunity. There is a major planetary line up in your house of communication. This month is a great time to focus on how and what you communicate. You may have a powerful message to communicate about power, intimacy or shared resources. After the 21st reflect upon how you may want to restructure , rethink or rewrite your message.
LIBRA: Happy Birthday Libra!!!
This month the Sun is shining in your sign giving you extra energy, vitality and shiny star quality. As always when the Sun is in your sign it is a great time to create beauty and focus on relationships that are mutual and delightful. The new moon on the 4th at 8:35pm EDT begins the New Libra cycle for this year. Plant new intentions and begin new projects after the 4th and up to the full moon on the 18th. There is a major line up in your financial sector in Scorpio making this a great month to focus on projects involving shared resources, intimacy and energy both visible and invisible that could be mutually beneficial. This is also a great month to focus on your values and, after Mercury goes retrograde on the 21st, reflect on how your financial life can more accurately reflect your values. Jupiter at your midheaven makes this a time of amazing career opportunity. Say yes to all offers. Mars in your networking sector in creative Leo, makes this a great time to create and attend artful gatherings.
SCORPIO: The Sun is shining in your spiritual sector this month in sociable Libra, making this a great month to do some spiritual networking. This month it is best to be involved in group practice whether that is yoga, meditation or any other devotional practice. This month art is also a form of prayer. Create sacred images or make an altar to love in your home. There is a major line up in your sign this month giving you more beauty and authority than usual. You are a powerful messenger this month. After the 21st when Mercury goes retrograde you will need to reflect on your sense of self and what needs to transform so that you are more empowered. Writing, teaching and speaking are where your big opportunities lie this month. Seize the day and say yes to all opportunities. Mars, in your career sector, in creative Leo gives you plenty of fuel to deploy toward joyful creative projects.
SAGITTARIUS: The Sun is shining in your networking house, making this an excellent month to create and attend artful gatherings. This month connect with the beauty of your friendship network. Romance could also find you out at gatherings. Jupiter, your ruling planet, is in the house of shared wealth making this a time when you may really expand through other people’s money or resources. There is a major planetary line up in your house of spiritual surrender asking you to transform your connection to the source. This could involve a forgiveness practice, as well as a stepped up devotional practice of your choice. You may need to forgive others around issues of money and inheritance. After Mercury goes retrograde on the 21st reflect upon what in your spiritual life needs healing. Mars in your travel sector makes this great month for actual or metaphoric journeys.
CAPRICORN: The Sun is shining in your career sector this month, making this an excellent month to really shine in your work and public persona. This is a great month to work on creating artful events and cultivating partnerships that are mutually beneficial. There is a major planetary line up in your friendship and networking sector, making this an excellent month to both work on your friendships and work on building your friendship network. After the 21st when Mercury goes retrograde, reflect upon what needs to change in your approach to either friendship, networking or both. Jupiter in your partnership sector makes this a time when incredible and abundant partnerships are forming for you. Mars in your shared wealth sector in creative Leo makes this a great month to collaborate on creative projects.
AQUARIUS: The Sun is shining in beautiful Libra, in your house of journeys both actual and metaphoric, making this an excellent time to travel with your beloved, or to explore your philosophy about relationship. Mars in your partnership sector makes this a month when creative partnerships are forming. This is also an excellent month to explore the approach of other cultures to beauty and relationship.
There is a major planetary line up in your career sector in Scorpio, making this a time of focused professional discipline. After the 21st when Mercury goes retrograde a professional offer may return. It will also be a time to reflect , rethink or revisit some aspect of your career. Mighty Jupiter moving through your work and health sector brings plenty of wonderful opportunities on both fronts. Explore new health and nutrition routines as you embark on wonderful expansive projects.
PISCES: The Sun is shining in your house of inheritance, intimacy and shared wealth making this a great month to explore the way you share yourself and your resources with your beloved. This month create a beautiful environment in which intimacy can flourish. There is a major planetary line up in your travel, philosophy, teaching and sports sector making this a good time to be disciplined in the pursuit of any or all of these areas. After the 21st when Mercury goes retrograde, it may be time to reflect on your philosophy in these areas and make the necessary adjustments. Jupiter is in your creativity sector bringing abundant creative opportunities through home and family. Say yes to all creative opportunities. Your hobbies could open doors for you now. Mars in creative Leo in your work sector gives you plenty of fuel to get the job done. Work with children and on creative projects are fun and lucrative this month.
Namaste,
Demitra