So when the transiting sun moves into Libra, I feel soothed, supported and very at home. You can probably only imagine my delight that this Autumn Equinox, the Sun, Mercury, Venus and Mars are all in Libra as well, creating a sort of Libra cadre, and bringing out some of the best and worst of my own Libra qualities. For example, I’m feeling rather peaceful and balanced, but also can’t wait to lay around the pool this weekend and just do the leisure, Libra spa thing at the Fool’s Journey retreat.

I also wouldn’t say no to a little clothes shopping. Though the times are rare that I would say no to a little clothes shopping…..that’s the Libra addiction to beauty and shallowness rearing their head.

Anyway, moving away from clothes and on to the season….lucky me, there’s even a sort of holiday to celebrate this notable Libra event. We call it the Autumn Equinox, but those on the more witchy end of things probably also know it as Mabon. A holiday in honor of Libra only adds to my Venusian pleasure…..

And pleasure is just what I recommend today.

Don’t know about you, but here in Fairfax, CA it’s 82 degrees, a little breezy, a lot sunny and really just about perfect. Fall leaves turning, sunflowers blooming, and I’m sitting outside with my two sweeties, canine and human, feeling grateful, abundant and blessed.

The Autumn Equinox introduces the season of Libra, when we turn our attention towards the reflections in our lives. The sense of “otherness” or the mirrors to ourselves that show us who we are, both light and dark.

This is the harvest season, when what we have planted, tended, weeded and watered bears fruit. This Mabon, the harvest quality of the holiday is emphasized, falling as it does during the time of the waning moon. This strenghthens the focus on reflection and meditation of what we are grateful for in our lives.

The seeds of self that were planted at the Spring Equinox, when the Sun moved into Libra’s opposing sign of Aries, are now coming to fruition.

Look around you. What is in your life that you feel grateful for? What are you reaping? Celebrating and giving thanks for? Which projects need a little more time or care? Which can be let go of?

This is the time of the crossroads, when we stand at a perfect balance between light and dark, when the sun is equal in length to the night. This moment is a moment of beauty, of stillness, of life. Breathe it in, there will never be another like it.

Happy Equinox!

The force of life that drives the green fuse through the flower (thanks Dylan Thomas), is flowing this week with the Spring Equinox on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 at 9:48 pm pdt and a full moon on Friday all squaring Pluto newly in Capricorn at 1 degree.

The Spring Equinox begins as the sun starts its yearly journey into Aries. The zero degrees Aries point is like the Fool card in the tarot: innocent and untried, bold, passionate and ready to take a leap into the unknown, with raw instincts and an open heart. As the first sign of the zodiac, Aries represents the birth of consciousness and awareness of self. Aries is pure life force energy, initiating action and movement.

Spring Equinox 2008 is notable not only because of the full moon two days after the exact equinox point (the last full moon at the spring equinox occured in the year 2000), but also because of the tight square involving Pluto, the sun and the moon.

Pluto is the planet which symbolizes life and death, deep transformation, sex, power and mystery.
This planetary relationship puts the fiery force of the sun in Aries in opposition to the airy harmony of the moon in Libra, with both planets square the intensity of Pluto.

Like the Fall Equinox, this is a time when light and dark have reached a perfect balance, with the light growing stronger from now to the Summer Solstice. Springtime brings the birth of new budding life, the first steps of projects, ideas and relationships. The equinoxes represent a crossroads, a moment when we stand between the worlds, gazing forward and back simultaneously. As we pause at this particular turn in the road, Pluto forces us to look at the lessons of winter with more awareness than ever of the gentle fragility of life that we celebrate and nurture in these early days of spring.

This week may be a particularly good time to remember and honor those who may have died over the winter, or relationships and circumstances that have passed. In order to fully move into and embrace the growing light, we will need to pay careful attention to the gifts and losses of the shadow, noticing what we have learned and gathered from the darkness of winter.

In many parts of the US winter time has lingered, with storms and colder temperatures hanging on and extending the winter season. This year we are spending more time immersed in the lessons of winter, enduring the colder and harsher temperatures, and sustaining ourselves until the spring fully arrives.

Capricorn is a sign associated with deprivation, survival, and the strength and power that come from knowing how to stay alive in harsh circumstances. We may feel this shadow from the Pluto square, influencing our otherwise triumphant welcoming of warmer temperatures, flowers blossoming and new life. As financial markets crumble, and survival fears become part of the mass consciousness, it is important that we learn from the Capricorn gifts of perseverance, patience and ability to nurture long term goals.

The Sun in Aries calls us to celebrate the feisty beauty of cherry blossoms that relentlessly bloom despite war, financial woes and other human mayhem. As we cultivate the sober reality of the Capricorn perspective, it’s also important that we integrate the joy of life of Aries. Finally, a Libra moon asks us to remember our relationship with the “other”. Libra is a sign concerned with justice, partnership and cooperation.

A question to ponder this Equinox season might be: “How can we realistically and sustainably continue to live together in a way that celebrates and honors the life force?”