The positive, outgoing polarity of Libra is expressed in its desire to connect with others. Libra believes that personal interaction is the basis for all major insight and advances in society. Libra desires a civilized, cooperative meeting of the minds in an atmosphere of refinement, reasonableness and harmony. This cardinal sign is the “iron fist in a velvet glove.”
A social air sign, Libra uses its intellect to understand opposing perspectives and to find ways to extend fairness to all. It shares its views, and strives to convince others of their credibility. It uses compromise to resolve opposing and competing views, and reach agreement. Libra is a diplomatic mediator, a just peacemaker. The key phrase for Libra is “I Balance.” Its symbol is the Scales, an instrument used to measure or weigh by balancing objects.
Libra can become out of balance by putting other people’s needs and aspirations ahead of its own. When it avoids confrontations out of its desire for peace at any price it sacrifices its own identity and desires. As it compromises its self, its personal identity fades into the “we” of partnership. Libra can then become miserable dwelling on the lack of fairness and justice for itself.
Poised, gracious and charming, Libra rules interpersonal skills, social behavior and etiquette. It refines and polishes its efforts to create successful interactions between people. Keenly aware of other people’s preferences and desires, Libra tactfully strives to please and avoids offending at all costs. Libra can appear superficial and frivolous when avoiding issues that may provoke disagreement or anger. It can be passive, flattering and phony out of fear of discord or conflict. Libra touts honesty, but shies away from holding opinions that might be offensive. As a result, Libra often appears to be indecisive.
Areas of our life ruled by Libra include all face-to-face relationships including business and marriage partnerships, social circumstances, and interactions with peers and open enemies. Libra governs our interpersonal skills, including how well we cooperate and collaborate with others. It rules our inner attitudes about compromise, harmony and agreement. Contracts, agreements, and joint endeavors fall under its domain.
Spiritually and psychologically, Libra represents the search for greater self-awareness and understanding through relationships. We project onto others unresolved issues in our psyche we have difficulty acknowledging, our “shadow side.” In face-to-face relationships the other person is a movie screen for our own projections. They mirror back to us elements of our self we are not consciously aware of. We are forced to see them, so that we can take steps to resolve, transform and heal them.
We have opportunities to learn more about our self through family relationships and business and marriage partnerships. Problematic issues arise and we must find ways to reconcile them. We learn how to balance our needs with the needs of others. We discover ways to share power, and to give and take. In the crucible of relationships we are subjected to forces that result in our own growth and transformation.
Libra archetypes are arbitrators, moderators, negotiators and emissaries; judges, mediators and lawyers. Designers and interior decorators, art dealers and curators are examples of people who exhibit the Libran love of beauty and refinement. Colors for Libra are deep rose pink and magenta. The gem for Libra is opal. White roses, cosmos, hydrangeas and poppies are Libra flowers. Lizards are Libran animals. Parts of a house that are ruled by Libra include living rooms, picture windows and draperies, and rooms containing works of art. Parts of the body ruled by Libra are the lower back and kidneys.
“What angers us in another person is more often than not an unhealed aspect of ourselves. If we had already resolved that particular issue, we would not be irritated by its reflection back to us.”
– Simon Peter Fuller
