The Scales
September 23 - October 22
Libra is the seventh Sign of the Zodiac.
The first six Signs represent personal development, while the second six represent man's
turning outward to other people. Libra is the first Sign in this half of the Zodiac, and
thus it's the first Sign of reaching out to others -- they strive to create balance and
harmony between self and other. It represents marriage and partnership, the most basic
ways for people to come together. As the seventh Sign, Libra also rules the seventh House:
the House of Partnership.
The Astrological Symbol of Libra is the Scales. Like the scales of Justice, Librans are objective and just. They abhor unfairness and conflict, striving above all for peace; but at times they are easily deterred from their beliefs. Librans are able to see all sides of an argument, but as their mental scales sway back and forth they may never find balance and become fickle and indecisive. Sometimes they are so eager to avoid conflict that they give in to avoid argument, even when they know they are right, and this may make them seem insincere. Diplomatic and cooperative, they are skilled at initiating group projects. In this way, Libra exemplifies the Cardinal Quality assigned to it. When Librans set goals for themselves, they are determined to succeed. Within the Zodiac, Libra is opposite Aries, the Sign of Self, so Libras tend to be about other people rather than personal development. They tend to be socially inclined and charming, but they may have a need to be liked that makes them too compliant to others' wishes.
Libra is ruled by the Planet Venus. In ancient Roman mythology, Venus (and her Greek equivalent, Aphrodite) was the Goddess of Love, Beauty, and Pleasure. She represented joy, happiness, and appreciation of beautiful things. On the negative side, her appreciation for sweets and luxury could result in overindulgence, and she could be materialistic. Venus rules both Libra and Taurus. Libra is the masculine, or day, aspect of Venus; Taurus is the feminine, or night. Both Signs have a great appreciation for beauty, but while Taurus appreciates the beauty of things, Libra is more interested in the beauty of other people. Librans are happiest when they're in a relationship. They are seductive and attractive, and their cultural awareness and talkative nature make them help them shine in the social situations they so enjoy. Because of their social nature, they can be vain or overly dependent on others' approval. Many people born under Libra have strong artistic tendencies and a refined sense of style, but they can also become lazy and apathetic if bored. They are usually controlled and rational, but at times they may be self-indulgent.
The Element associated with Libra is Air. Air Signs are intellectual: they tend to respond to the world through intellect, rather than physical action, practicality, or emotion. Libra's intellectual orientation to the world around them makes them skilled at communication and abstract reasoning, and their intelligence combines with their interest in other people to become an intellectual exploration of the people around them. Because their efforts are mentally rather than emotionally motivated, Librans tend to be very judicial; they are good at diplomacy and compromise. Because they are generally reluctant to face confrontation, people born under Libra learn to be persuasive, courteous, and adaptable. But this may also make them seem cold and unemotional or manipulative. They are team workers, skilled at cooperative action, but they can also be self-doubting. Open minded and always polite, they have a strong sense of loyalty because of their ability to put themselves into other people's shoes. Librans love to debate but not to quarrel; a fine distinction that is nonetheless very important to people born under this Sign. They are kind and considerate, and they rarely display anger. Instead they may employ subtle means of getting even when their strong sense of fairness and legality or refined sensitivities are violated.
In their leisure time, Librans tend to have less energy that other Signs, and they have a definite lazy streak, preferring to read and go out with friends. Exercise generally appeals to them only if it allows socializing at the same time, but some have a particular affinity for activities that let them get out in nature, such as hiking and horseback riding. In love relationships, Libra is playful and romantic. Libra rules the kidneys and lower back. People born under Libra may be more susceptible to back pain or strain than people of other Signs. Libra's colors are ivory, pink, and light blue; these three colors are harmonious in all their combinations, and they all appear in the sunset sky that Libra represents.
The great strength of the Libra-born is in their drive for peace and harmony. Their ability to obtain balance and cooperation from a disparate group is unparalleled. Their skill at seeing all sides of a situation makes them one of the most just characters of the Zodiac.