Libra New Moon - October 11, 2007

Attention Newsletter Subscribers: It has been brought to my attention that I wrote in the Subject line that the New Moon was on Tuesday instead of Thursday. My bad!

Sometimes an eye for precision is required to create fairness in a relationship. You may need the assistance of carpentry level.

Of course, this attention to detail is not Libra's forte, unless she's matching colors in your living room. We need the craftsman-like skills of a Virgo.

Libra is ruled by Venus, and during this New Moon in Libra, Venus is in Virgo. Granted, the goddess of love does not feel blissful in the sign of her fall. She tends to feel self-critical (as well as other-critical!), harping on her own or her partner's flaws to help improve efficiency and create a more perfect marriage. And although she approaches lovemaking as skill-set to hone, at least she cares enough to be attentive in bed.

Unfortunately, Venus is conjunct strict Saturn during the New Moon, and She completely merges with Him on Sunday, October 14. As if being in Virgo were not enough of a challenge, she's now being whipped into shape by the Taskmaster, who demands that she shed pounds in preparation for her Long Marriage to the God of Responsibility and Commitment. Which is not such a bad thing, but boy, the hoops He makes Her jump through! It is a grueling workout, and sometimes all Venus wants to do is throw in the towel and stay an Old Maid.

However, Saturn doesn't let Her off easy, and by the time she's through, Venus knows exactly what she wants in a relationship -- no more and no less -- and isn't willing to put up with any BS along the way. So "plant your New Moon seeds in the fertile soil of love," or whatever New-Agey phrases turn you on during this Libra New Moon -- but remember what's going on in the background.

The Fine Print: The New Moon occurs at 17 Libra and will be most powerful for people with planets or angles between 15 and 20 degrees of the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn). The New Moon is semisquare Venus at 2 Virgo. Venus will conjoin Saturn at 4 Virgo, so people with planets or angles around 2 to 7 degrees of the mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) will be impacted by this energy.

PLUG: Add the Lunar Tunes widget to your Facebook!

Libra Full Moon -- April 2, 2007

Relationships are difficult. It takes an ability to achieve homeostasis for a partnership to thrive. Even when waves rock the corny boat of love, equilibrium is (eventually) maintained in a healthy twosome.

One of the major challenges in a relationship occurs when one individual has a need that upsets the balance of the partnership. Let's say Jack wants to go to a concert on the same night that Jill has her regular girls' night out -- if you'll pardon my heterosexist example. Jack's favorite band only tours every couple of years, but Jill relies on the sustenance derived from her weekly ritual, and they can't afford babysitting nowadays. ("What, you can buy a $60 ticket, but you won't spend the same money on a sitter if we want a night alone together?") It seems that somebody has to give. Jack and Jill cannot both get their needs met simultaneously. A compromise must be made.

This Libra Full Moon illustrates the challenge of negotiating my needs versus our needs, with the Moon in relationship-focused Libra opposing the Sun in self-focused Aries. The light shines on the Libra side of this polarity, emphasing the need to shift a little. Compromise does not entail being a doormat, or surrendering to the other's desires and then feeling resentful. It is about a healthy give-and-take in which two partners sit down and negotiate their needs, both as two individuals and as a couple. Ideally, one partner is willing to forego their own immediate pleasure (Aries) out of love for their partner (Libra). This requires open communication, reflecting Libra's Air nature.

Full Moons are culmination points, and as such, energy comes to a head. In our relationship lives, the balance of "we" has been thrown out of whack by too much "me." How two individuals sort this out will be the dance of this Full Moon.

There's more to the story. Mars (ruler of the Aries Sun) in Aquarius is making stressful eighth harmonic aspects (135 degrees and 45 degrees) to the Sun and Moon, adding an "edge" focused on being independent, acting to detach from intimate partnership. This causes friction, and supports Aries' side of the equation.

Additionally, the Sun and Moon are making soft angles to Jupiter and Saturn. The Aries Sun is in a Grand Fire Trine with the planets of expansion and contraction, drawing on the supportive relationship between these social planets. What does this mean for our partnerships? Our one-on-one concerns take place within a larger framework -- religion, law, corporations. All the elements of culture that have been developed to support (or regulate) relationships are on our side. Although we may sometimes feel restricted (Saturn) or judged (Jupiter) by the powers-that-be, during this Full Moon we may turn to them to help iron out our differences. Use this opportunity to turn to a religious figure or a wise elder for assistance.

The Fine Print: This Full Moon mostly impacts those individuals with personal planets or angles near degree 12 of the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn).

Houses: If you are familiar with your natal chart, you will be able to determine which houses (areas of experience) tenant this Full Moon. By noting which houses are involved, you may be able to predict which "actors" you may struggle with during this period.

• 1/7 - your husband or wife, long-term partner, best friend, business partner, client, open enemy.
• 2/8 - psychotherapist, accountant, investment banker.
• 3/9 - siblings, neighbors, teachers, gurus, people from a foreign country, in-laws.
• 4/10 - Mom, Dad, the boss, the realtor, any authority figure, any nurturing figure.
• 5/11 - friends, groups, children, lovers.
• 6/12 - service people, co-workers, prisoners, hospitalized persons, monks, nuns.

Want to Get to Know Your Chart? Jeffrey Kishner is available for astrology readings.