Libra New Moon– 2021

By Tracy Cook

Where should my focus be during this next 29-day cycle? 

When we draft a chart for the new moon, we get a sense of the energy that will be up for processing for the next 29 days.  

Okay what is this cycle about :   Finding our balance, understanding the power of negotiations and acting out of love is our path this cycle.   

Libra New Moon October 6, 4:05 am PDT 

Libra New Moon 

13 Libra 25

October 6, 2021    

4:05am PDT

Please note all times are Pacific.

Welcome to Libra New Moon!

We are halfway through our astrological year.   For those people who made treasure maps, please look at your map and assess results.   You may be surprised.  Of course, we have six more months, and much can occur between now and next spring’s Aries new moon when we launch our next map.  Take a moment with your map, be a partner to your map and see what actions you can take to further its success.  

Libra is an air sign and is not particularly emotional.  It spends a lot of time in the brain and thinks about all kinds of things but the root of the ‘thinking’ is usually weighing things out.   This 29- day cycle there could be a lot of mulling, “If I do this, I may get that.”  “On the other hand, if I don’t do X, I may end up with Y.”   “If I end up with Y then I may have to do A which could result in B.”    By the end of this cycle, we could be exhausted from thinking of so many options.  However, what is a bit different with this Libra New Moon is that there will be action (and not just endless thinking) due to Mars. 

In the chart of the new moon, the Sun and Moon are in an exact conjunction with Mars.   Mars, the warrior planet, the planet of swift action is not comfortable in Libra.  “Why are we thinking so much?”  says Mars.   “Just give me something to slay, or something to do!”   Things will come up this 29-day cycle that could need swift action.  It may be action based on issues of fairness, righting a wrong or putting things in balance.    There could also be areas that have relied on “peace at any cost” but Mars now says, ‘enough’ and a swift action takes place.   Issues around partners and partnerships could also need action.   Libra, more than any other sign understand the power in compromise and negotiations.   They say a good compromise is when both sides lose a little but come to some important resolution.   This cycle we may find ourselves in some form of a negotiation that needs swift action.  

Mercury is too wide for conjunction but in truth it is not too far from Sun, Moon and Mars of course Mercury is retrograde so some of the information we receive is fuzzy for at least the first half of this cycle.  Libra is the scales of balance and during this 29-day period, we are aware of what gives us our center and what throws us off.   We will notice when we adjust and ‘right’ ourselves.    If we are not sure why we are ‘off’ we could receive information that suggests a reason.  While Mercury is retrograde, we may uncover or learn something that has been out of our view during this cycle.   Of course, Mars being Mars may inspire an action.   Given Libra is ruled by Venus who speaks to matters of love and kindness.  Mars the warrior could coax actions based on love, kindness, and appreciation.   “How dare anyone hurt, destroy, marginalize _________. I love _________!”  

Watch the news and in your own life, especially after Mercury turns direct (10/18) for stories that speak to swift action based on love.   

With so much energy in Libra, we may be drawn to beauty and the arts.   We will want to lean into relaxing and just enjoying something.   Beauty may be on our mind, our own and what we see in the world.  All of this is fine, but one caveat is resisting the urge of making important choices based on shallow research, opinions, or judgements.   Judging situations by how they look is one of Libra’s less evolved characteristics.     

The Sun/Moon/Mars conjunction makes a quincunx to Uranus in Taurus.   This is a small aspect but one of the few in the chart, so we give it some notice.   In a quincunx there is a lack of understanding.  In this case, Sun/Moon/Mars/ in Libra are lacking an understanding of Uranus in Taurus who has got the world thinking a lot about what is sustainable and what is not.   Libra says, “But I like ____”.   Uranus in Taurus says, “What you like might be nice but is it sustainable?”    Uranus gets our attention often through shock and awe. Uranus is an earthquake both literally and metaphorically.  During this cycle, something out of the blue could rattle our cage.  Something in the news or in our own personal world that feels sudden (Uranus) it gets our attention and we move quick to fix it (Mars), in a very practical manner (Taurus) and we realize we are now more balanced or fair (Libra) and more sustainable (Taurus).   Again, this could be an area where we see the power of negotiations.  

During this 29 day cycle we have four planets changing direction which is a lot for one lunar month.  Adding to the intensity is the fact that one of the planets, Pluto is stationing direct on the new moon suggesting a Plutonian patina to the 29-day cycle. 

Pluto Station Direct 

October 6, 2021

24 Cap 19

11:28am PDT

On April 27, Pluto changed directions for its annual five-month retrograde motion.   Technically Pluto moved (rounding out) from 27 – 24 degrees.   Those people with planets between 24-27 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn have been feeling like they’ve been walking through a tunnel of tumultuous change.  Perhaps it has been a personal hell.   Pluto can take us to our knees in one form or another, but we do come out of it and in many cases perhaps better or with a new sense of purpose.   

While Pluto spends half the year in retrograde motion every year, there is a component to this Pluto retrograde that has global implications.    Back in the spring I wrote that this is the final Pluto retrograde before the USA has its Pluto return on Feb 21, 2022.   To distill my longer post, this is the first time Pluto will be exactly where it was on July 4, 1776, when the American colonists declared independence.    Not one American has ever lived through the USA’s Pluto Return.  Not one.   Because Pluto is such a slow-moving planet, we have been feeling the Pluto return for the last couple of years growing more intense as it gets closer to 27 degrees of Capricorn.    You don’t have to be an American to understand that the USA is going through tremendous changes.   For those people curious about the power of a nation’s Pluto return, search the web for USA Pluto Return where you will find a plethora of articles that speak to what America is processing.   With Pluto there is a death, rebirth and a lot of soul searching.   This is not easy work, but it is profound.   

One thing I had not noted back in spring was the fact that Pluto stationing direct for the final time before it reaches the USA Pluto return point, was the fact that it was taking place on the Libra new moon.    Libra new moon which seeks to find equilibrium and balance is a meaningful landscape for Pluto to change direction, dust itself off and head towards the return point.  I anticipate there will be stories in the news about equality and equity and seeking balance.    To be clear this period of unrest that we are experiencing as the USA processes the Pluto return does not end in Feb.  It is a slow exit and there will be shifts and transformations after Feb 21, 2022.  But arguably to be on the other side of the Pluto return date will have some lessening of tension.   I wonder often about some curious contract we signed with our maker, where we agreed to be here on Earth as an American during the USA Pluto return.   I am not one to choose to ride roller coasters but here I am during this tumultuous time but I am not alone.  I look at all my fellow Americans and think, “We’re all here.  What’s our part of this story?”

There will be more about the Pluto return going forward.  But watch the news this 29-day cycle and see if you can find needed areas of transformation.    

Saturn Station Direct 

October 10, 2021

7:17pm PDT 

6 Aquarius 53

Saturn wraps up its retrograde period that launched on May 23 at 13 Aquarius.   It is stationing direct at 6 degrees of Aquarius.   I wrote about this Saturn retrograde  back in the Spring.   Just as a reminder, Saturn is in a sign for approximately two and a half years.   Saturn, the planet of restriction, went into Aquarius, the sign of community and technology when the world went into lockdown due to Covid.    Before Saturn went into Aquarius, ‘zoom’ was a word kids used when they pushed their toy cars on the floor.   Now Zoom is the important tool for employees, family and communities who are just trying to stay connected.    Aquarius of course rules new technology.  

As we head into a direct Saturn cycle, we can assess how we are navigating our community.   Have we found our circle of peeps?  Do we need a new circle?  Are we missing some people that perhaps we had taken for granted?  Are we finding those people who are like minded?  Are we working together for shared goals?   There is a lot to process as we unwind from the Saturn retrograde.  Perhaps some hurdles will be less.  Perhaps walls we carry in our heart and soul and/or strong beliefs about why we don’t like people will become clearer.   Of course, discretion in friendships and community is important to Saturn but walling off from people leans into a less productive Saturn in Aquarius which can mean double downing in loneliness.  We have another round of Saturn in Aquarius retrograde next summer, so we will continue to learn what is important to us in terms of community/friends/circles/like-minded goals.    I would also anticipate the darker side of technology will be in the news, it is worth noting Facebook’s practices were in the news during the retrograde.   More to be revealed I am sure when Saturn turns direct.   

Jupiter Station Direct 

October 17, 2021 

10:30 pm PDT 

22 Aquarius 20

Last June, Jupiter stationed retrograde at 2 degrees of Pisces.   Jupiter is in a sign for about a year, but it usually takes small visits to the sign it left and the next sign it will enter.   Right now, Jupiter is in Aquarius but between May 13 and July 28 it sniffed around in early Pisces.  Jupiter is comfortable in Pisces since it is one of Jupiter’s home signs.  Leaning into faith, humanity and compassion is a nice sport for Jupiter.   But after July 28, Jupiter returned to the work of Aquarius and mental stresses aggravated by all of Saturn (who is also in Aquarius) and his tough taskmaster ways.    Jupiter stationing direct will now bring a confidence and can take the edge off Saturn and remind people the goodness that comes from connecting with other humans and expanding circles.   

Jupiter is the planet of luck and opportunities.  Around the date of the direction change there might be stories in the news that speak of luck.   Jupiter has a generosity of spirit and can be very tolerant, if some of us have been wound up so tight we have lost our ability to tolerate other human beings on the planet, well, we might surprise ourselves with a new willingness as Jupiter turns direct.  

 If you know your chart, look to the house that has 22 degrees of Aquarius and see if you feel the abundance, joy and confidence of that house after October 17.    Any lessons learned between July 28 and October 17 will have fresh eyes as Jupiter unwinds and heads for a rendezvous with Pisces on December 29^th.       

Mercury Station Direct 

October 18, 2021 

8:16 am PDT

10 Libra 08

9/6:           Mercury shadow begins

9/26:         Mercury retrograde (25 Libra 28)

10/18:      Mercury station direct (10 Libra 07) 3:17pm PDT 

11/03:       Mercury Shadow ends 

Our final 2021 Mercury retrograde wraps on October 18.   As always, we will take a moment to evaluate the three weeks of the retrograde.    What have we learned about our communication within relationships?   Did we offer up some information to our partners?   Were we told a few things by our partner?   What have we learned about finding balance?  Where were we out of whack?   Where did we say, “no more”?    What got energized?   Did we hear ourselves when we communicated?   What did we learn about our thinking?  Is it sharp?  Is it mean?  Is it milquetoast?   What did we learn about the power of compromise?    

As Mercury travels forward, we may revisit subjects that came up after 9/6 and perhaps caused stress after 9/26 but now on the direct motion we may find solutions.   Globally, there may be stories in the news about the power of negotiations. 

Our next Mercury retrograde will be January 14, 2022, at 10 degrees of Aquarius.   There will be four Mercury retrogrades in 2022.  Oh, snap.  

Mars

The planet Mars is highlighted in the new moon chart and is also getting our attention with several aspects during this Libra and the next Scorpio cycle.  

Here are the Mars dates that should be on our radar:

Oct 6:        Mars on New Moon in Libra. 

Oct 7:        Sun conjunct Mars 

Oct 21:      Mars square Pluto 

Nov 10:     Mars square Saturn 

Nov 17:     Mars oppose Uranus 

Nov 29:     Mars trine Neptune

Dec 6:        Mars sextile Pluto 

Dec 7:        Mars square Jupiter 

Dec 13:     Mars enters Sag 

Mars is a fast planet, so it does not hang out in hard aspect too long.   But we should be prepared for making sure our actions are not on steroids around 10/7.   The energy is a bit explosive around October 21 and calls for going down and doing a deep dive.  If anything comes up that is jarring or unnerving, we need to figure out what we missed or where we went astray.   Learning to let go and evolve will be important.  

November 10 will feel like someone above is applying pressure to the brakes.   We might see action grind to a halt on something.  Take a breath.  On November 17, Mars opposes Uranus.   Both planets always have an itch to do something, the difference is Uranus is rooted in eccentricity and oddness, Mars is rooted in empowerment.  Uranus for all its weirdness speaks to ingenious inventions and novelty approach, Mars will rely on brute force.   We should anticipate some rough stories in the news where the forces of Uranus and Mars are at play.  Take note of your own energy or the people whom you are interacting.   You may get drafted into some skirmish.  With Uranus it could come out of the blue.   Then on Dec 7, Mars and Jupiter are at odds.   Mars tells Jupiter, “Stop theorizing and let’s get real and do the work for the matters at hand.”  Jupiter says, “Not so fast, let’s take a bigger picture of the matters.”   Nothing like a soldier and a professor getting into a fight.    Luckily all there are Mars’s dates with soft aspects that bring in gentle helpful energy.  On November 29 (Mars trine Neptune), December 6 (Mars sextile Pluto) and finally on December 13 Mars enters Sag which will be a more buoyant cycle. 

In conclusion:  This Libra 29-day lunar cycle will have much more energy and action than usual for Libra lunar months.   There could be tension under the surface all cycle.  An itch begging to be scratched.  By the time we get to the back end of the cycle the tension will be greater, but we will be prepared especially after all   four planets change direction.   We should be able to navigate our actions somewhat sensibly.  One thing worth remembering is Libra does respect kindness.    Lean into kindness when possible.   

See you next month in Scorpio.     

Please note all times Pacific 

The 8 phases

Libra New Moon 

13 Libra 25

October 6, 2021    

4:05 am PDT 

New moon: Plant seeds, make calls, activate, start projects.   Activate something that will ideally lead you to more.  This is the phase where INTENT is critical.  Even if the results are not immediate, the intent is there.  You may not have all the answers or road map, but you should put out your Intent.

This focus:     Where do you need balance?  Where are you feeling out-of-whack?   How do you seek balance?  What needs negotiations in your life?   How are you and your partner(s), not just love life but all partnerships, need balance?   Is everyone doing their share?   What seeds can you plant that bring you balance?  

Special note:

10/6:  Pluto station direct 24 Cap 19 (see above)

10/7: Venus enters Sag 

10/7: Sun conjunct Mars.  Fighting for fairness.  Energized to seek balance.  Equity and equality need energy. 

10/9: Mercury conjunct Sun.  Thoughts about relationships and partnerships.  Communications with partners. 

Crescent Moon Phase

October 9

11:08am PDT

Crescent:  We will receive information, we will research a bit more, perhaps get feedback on stuff that we planted on new.  Perhaps get some information that will help down the road on a seed we planted a while ago.  We can collect some data now.  Even if you think you are not getting information, stop, and re-look at everything.  Who called you?  Even the silliest things, when they come up during Crescent are note worthy.  A parking tickets.  An argument with a spouse?  A refund check from the phone company?  All of it needs to be considered a message from the universe.  How can this information help you?

Focus on: What are you learning about things that are ‘foreign’?  How are you exploring the world outside your world? What are learning about adventures?   How are you expanding your education?   What are you reading that inspires new growth?  How does this expansion help you find balance? 

Special Focus

10/9:  Saturn station direct 6 Aquarius 53 (see above)

First Quarter Moon 

October 12, 2021 

8:25 pm PDT  

First quarter: We do more actions based on the information that we just received. Or we feel our instincts guide us on something.  We pursue again.  We make another call, or we see someone. We mail something.  We stir the pot again.  This can be a time when we realize that the goals, we planted on New need more action from us, perhaps actions that involve breaking away.   Are there people who say they have our best interest in heart but fear us growing away from them?  Maybe we need to get help from others not the usual suspects.  Some independence may need to be exerted. 

Focus on:  What actions are you taking that support your career?  What actions are you taking that support your value in the world?  What actions are you taking that get you out in the world?    How are negotiations important to your career?

Special Note

10/15: Sun trine Jupiter.  Accent on abundance and joy.  Finding balance through expansion.  Reaching out to new groups and friends of friends. 

Gibbous Moon

October 16, 2021

11:05 am EDT 

Gibbous:

We refine our information.  We pick and choose, we discriminate, and we organize to be ‘Virgo’ like.  We sort through details.  Have we missed something?  How are we sifting through the information?  Go back and make sure something hasn’t been neglected.  Refine our actions.  

Focus on:  How are you refining your faith?  How are you finding the practical application of faith?  How is the need for trust presenting itself?  How are you sorting through illusion versus reality?  Where is faith bringing more balance?  

Special focus

10/17: Sun square Pluto.  Tough negotiations.  Getting to the root of something broken.   Where is power frittered away on superficial answers.   

10/17 Jupiter station direct 22 Aquarius 20 (see above)

10/18: Mercury station direct 10 Libra 08  (see above)

10/18: Mars trine Jupiter.  Actions that support expansion.  Broadening the horizon improves relationships.  

Full Moon Phase –  

27 Aries 26

October 20, 2021 

7:56am PDT 

Full Moon:  We make the needed adjustments on the things we planted. Usually, emotions are up and running and for those people who perhaps did not utilize the new moon and the rest of the waxing moon, this is when emotions can get the better of us.  There can often be a big emotional break, for no other reason than to get back on track.   Some partnership will offer up some balance.  The moon is bright and full and there is no room for shadows, what is reflecting on you? 

Focus on:  

The Aries full moon is a reminder to find self.  The value of independence is strong during this full moon.   Tapping our fire that speaks to the will to survive and thrive is up on this full moon. 

Special focus 

10/21: Mars square Pluto.  Explosive.   Actions based on power that may be superficial.  Answers need depth.  

10/22: Sun enters Scorpio 

Disseminating

October 24, 2021  

10:33am PDT   

Disseminating: Share information; find a teacher or someone who has more knowledge. Perhaps there was a big ol’ blow out on the full and one feels in need of support and help, this is the phase to reach out to one who knows more. This is when we find a rabbi or a minister or therapist who gives us more insight.   And of course, you too may be ready to teach and share your own information.  

Focus on:  How are you sharing your communication skills?  How are your sharing your skills at being a member of your neighborhood?  How are your tapping the power of being a sibling?   What are you negotiating with siblings or neighbors? 

Special focus:

10/26: Venus square Neptune.  Love, money and values seem askew.   Some may say they are all in on something that is valued but are they?  

10/28:  Venus sextile Jupiter.  Love, money values improve by activating new circles of people.  Expansion is helpful.

Last Quarter Moon Phase

October 28, 2021

1:05pm PDT

Last Quarter moon:  Now we do the final adjustments to the seeds we planted on new. The final call, the final letters to send, we follow all the trails that came up that still make sense.  And we let the other parts lay fallow. It is a time of action but wise action.  It is a time for living “The serenity prayer” 

God, grant me the Serenity
to accept the things
I cannot change Courage to change the
things I can, and the
Wisdom to know the difference.

Focus on:

How are your actions connected to your pride?  How are your actions connected to strength?  How are you tapping your creativity?   How are you backing up your values?  How is standing strong in your talents and creativity important for your balance or equity? 

Special focus 

10/30:  Sun square Saturn.  Jealousy and control versus aloof and cold.   Both are rooted in fear.  

10/30:  Mars enters Scorpio 

10/31:  Mercury trine Jupiter (3^rd time previous 9/20 and 10/3) Thinking broadens.  Finding a way to get mental balance perhaps learning from a teacher or spiritual advisor.  Group thinking supports expanding opinions that help relationships.  

Balsamic Moon Phase

November 1, 2021

6:28am   PDT      

Balsamic:   We let go.  By releasing we can prepare for the new.  

Focus on How are you releasing your critical nature?  How are you releasing ‘being perfect’?  How are you releasing your insecurity?  How are you releasing being a servant?   

Special focus: 

11/2:  Mercury square Pluto.  This is the third round.  Between 9/22 and 10/1 Mercury got into it with Pluto.  Dark thinking, communication that is strained, thoughts that feel extreme.  What thoughts need to be jettisoned?  How is thinking holding you back?  What thoughts did you not release in the 1^st two rounds that now you are ready to dump?  What does your dark thinking tell you about your ability or lack of ability to negotiate?   

Scorpio New Moon November 4 2:14 pm PDT  12 Scorpio 40