The Three Faces of Libra

Saturn, Venus, and Mars have an important meeting in the sign of Libra, this summer, and each has its own voice and its own role to play. They’re asking us to take a look at how we are doing in our relationships. Saturn entered Libra on July 21, 2010 and will continue its sojourn through Libra until October 2012. On August 7, 2010, Saturn, Venus, and Mars fill out the Libra portion of the Cardinal Grand Cross (see June blog post). Because Venus and Mars travel more quickly than Saturn, these two will adjourn their Libra meeting in September of this year. Let’s hear what these planets have to say about how we do relationships…

Venus in Libra (Aug. 6-Sept. 7) is sweet and genteel. She’ll invite you in to share a cup of tea and pleasant conversation and send you home with a bouquet of flowers. If you’re having troubles with your mate, Venus in Libra will try to help you work it out. She delights us with beauty and soothes us with peace, harmony, and balance. She wants to bring us closer to friends and loved ones and encourages us to communicate with respect and civility.

Mars in Libra (July 29-Sept. 14) is passionate about relationships and can be fierce when things are not fair. He is a warrior for peace and justice. Mars in Libra stands up for what is right. He motivates us to assert our needs and respect the needs of others. He knows that in healthy, stable relationships power and responsibility are shared equally. He calls for a balance between autonomy and togetherness.


Saturn in Libra takes a serious and realistic look at our relationships…
not just intimate relationships, but all kinds of relationships. Saturn asks: Is the relationship harmonious? Is there an equal balance of power? Are both people getting their needs met? Is the communication assertive rather than aggressive? Are both partners cooperating? Does the relationship have a firm foundation? What is the purpose of the relationship? Does the relationship call for more commitment? Do certain areas of the relationship need to be renegotiated? Is it time to complete the relationship?

With Saturn in Libra for the next two years, we will have many opportunities to evaluate our relationships. The old relationship paradigms are being broken down, and we’re experimenting with new ways of relating. The old ways of power plays, abusive relationships, co-dependence, male domination, and “don’t rock the boat” just don’t work. Relationships that aren’t balanced may tumble and break. Relationships that are harmonious, peaceful, and loving will be seen as worth an even stronger commitment.

Mars, Venus, and Saturn have different voices and different approaches, but while dancing through Libra, they will work together to rebalance our relationships. May they weave more harmony, equality, peace, and love through all of our relationships. May we have the strength to say “No”, the pleasure of saying “Yes!” and the clarity to know what brings us peace.
-Sajit Greene, MA, LPC

Venus Takes Flight

Taurus is a Venus-ruled sign, and has a strong affinity for the pleasures of the senses, including an appreciation for beauty, harmony, and the arts. Let’s take a look at how Venus may influence our aesthetics, values, and creative processes as she glides through the sign of Gemini from April 24 through May 19. Venus in Gemini has a light, airy quality that can be witty, curious, and childlike. While Venus in Taurus can get stuck in indulgences, Venus in Gemini seeks change, variety, new ideas, and new experiences. This energy brings stimulation and inspiration to the creative process, and may encourage us to experiment with new ways of expressing ourselves, whether that is through writing, painting, song, dance, or other modalities. It can also help us to lighten up, if we’ve been feeling bogged down.

As Venus journeys through Gemini, it makes significant aspects with the opposition between Saturn in Virgo and Uranus/Jupiter in Pisces. These dynamics can provide grounding and focus for the development of our creative and technical skills (Saturn in Virgo), a strong connection to the imagination (Pisces), as well as opportunities for creative breakthroughs (Uranus/Jupiter). Many people are experiencing the opposition of Saturn and Uranus as a feeling of inner tension and an intense desire to make a big leap forward in sharing their gifts, in service to the world. We get some help, in this regard, as Venus sextiles Mars in Leo, which can give us the courage to go for it, especially in terms of our creative self-expression. Perhaps the inquisitive Venus in Gemini can infuse us with a fresh perspective that supports the radical shifts we are yearning for on the personal and creative levels, as well on the collective level.

While Venus is in Gemini, let your creative mind lead you into new territories, network with those who can offer inspiration as well as information, and see the beauty of the world with a childlike innocence.
--Sajit Greene, M.A., L.P.C.