The Balancing Act

On the autumnal equinox, September 23, the day and night are equally balanced. It is time for Venus ruled Libra, the sign of balance, equality, justice and partnership to make his presence known. While this dualistic, ambivalent, and flighty air sign is often associated with the traditionally female domain of marriage and partnership, like all air signs, Libra is a masculine sign, and can be as competitive as it is cooperative.

This pleasant, communicative sign is primarily concerned with the quality and benefits of social roles and relationships. He can set a very demanding social standard for himself and others and expects others to conform to or agree with this standard. Expectations and anticipation characterize Libra’s approach to the world, particularly the world of human interaction. If Libra’s expectations are not met or the world does not cooperate with them, Libra is just as capable of abandoning a partner, a spouse, or a friend as associating with them. However, he will do this in a relatively harmonious and pleasant fashion, for Libra really wants everything to “BE NICE!”

Deep down, Libra is searching for the Holy Grail of Fulfillment, not career or professional fulfillment so much as a completely fulfilling relationship, marriage, partnership or association. The Libra woman might focus on marriage as way means to satisfy this, while the male might look for a job situation where everyone played fair and treated him as an equal. Like his opposite, Aries, Libra can be quite competitive however, he is very sensitive to how the game is played and not that tolerant of cheaters.

Perhaps, Libra’s greatest weakness is his habit of going along and of checking out other’s opinions and beliefs as a way of avoiding decisions Libra seeks agreement, social support, and opportunity and can be easily influenced by those he associates with. This, occasionally, gives him the reputation of a waffler or an air head whose position can be shifted by any stray opinion. This is not completely fair, for Libra values consensus and is profoundly aware of the dynamics of relationship. Libra knows that people have to associate with each other to get anything done and clinging to one POV is unlikely to make for a harmonious, co-operative or fulfilling social ambiance or relationship.

Libra’s desire for fulfillment can and often does express itself through a search for a Soul Mate. His need for love, beauty, warmth and companionship can be expressed through intimate relationships or through the highest level of idealism. This is where one finds Ghandi, an archetypal Libran, who risked domestic peace and harmony to achieve a higher goal. Ghandi valued equality and developed his non-violent value, ahimsa, to achieve his social and political objectives.