Jupiter in Libra: What does Balance Look Like?

I often struggle to write on this blog. Not because I don’t have lots to say, but when an astrological event occurs there can be such a flurry of posts; some wonderful, some just pseudo-spiritual gymnastics. And so it can feel easy to get lost in the deluge of articles on -a New Moon or a planet changing signs or directions (retrograde or direct). And although all of these are important events, and can represent change, both personally and collectively, what I LOVE about astrology is how personalized it is. Your birth chart is a picture of the sky when YOU were born, not me. And so the impact of Jupiter moving into Libra in the last few days (where it will be until October 10th of next year) means something different for you than me.

There are some universals, Jupiter is representative of the god of fortune, luck, expansion and excess. And Libra the archetype of balance, partnership, beauty, and indecision. But, the areas of one’s life that this will be activated in, and how one response to this activation is so nuanced and specified, that for me to just provide you with just wide brushstrokes of meaning has an emptiness to it that I just can’t seem to shake. It sucks I know, it would be simpler if I could do this alignment justice in a paragraph, saying something like:

We will find ourselves more concerned with justice, fairness, and beauty; or at least appearing to value these things; Libra likes everything to appear pleasant. On the positive side, we have the potential to expand how we see beauty, and value justice in new ways. Potentially, we could identify with labor activist Eugen Debs: “…years ago I recognized my kinship with all living beings, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on earth. I said then, and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it, and while there is a criminal element I am of it, and while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.” But this too is a bit of a Jupiter in Libra illusion; Jupiter is the Pollyanna of the Zodiac in consort with peace at any cost Libra, what is just and what we think is fair are not necessarily the same thing.

And while the above is not untrue, I’m not sure what it really does for any of you- other than just being interesting. Unless you know your own astrology chart well enough to know where Jupiter’s journey in Libra falls within your chart you won’t know where this interplay will show up in your life. And if you do know your chart well, chances are you have some idea of what this will mean for you without needing to read anything that I, or another astrologer, write. I’m not quite sure where this leaves me, I love to write, but I struggle with speaking to a broad audience, not dumbing down astrology, and yet keeping it accessible, helpful and interesting to my readers.

After thought #mercuryretrograde: As I finished the editing of this I had some reservations about posting it, as it does not provide a lot in the way of astrological insight. And then it occurred to me, that hesitation IS Jupiter in Libra; wishy-washy Libra on overdrive. And so I leave you with this last thought. Jupiter is prone to extremes, Libra is about beauty and balance. Will it be a year of vanity, or expanding how you define beauty? Will it be a year of indecision and inaction or a year of finding that the balance of work and play is the most expensive way to live? The archetypes are in play, how you engage with them, that can feel like the crappy part of free will – it’s up to you.