Libra is the only sign on the zodiac wheel that is represented by an inanimate object, the scales. I struggled for days with that opening line. "Is it fair to just toss that sentence out knowing that it could be read as a criticism?" "Does it sound like an attack on the sign commonly thought of as the 'Peace' sign?" My mind started becoming "Libra-like", swinging back and forth on possible ways that opening line could be misconstrued. In a way, it helped me to understand the daily life of Libra, thinking of choices, weighing the pros and the cons, balancing the scales with every possible scenario. In this article, we are going to look at the motives that fuel this intriguing sign and bring balance to the misconceptions.

Libra brings in the season of autumn which makes it a member of the Cardinal or aggressive family of signs. The element it carries is Air suggesting that Libras orient first through the mind. As with all Air Signs (Libra, Aquarius, Gemini) they possess the ability to understand and see the world objectively, without emotional influence.

At first, it may be hard to understand why Venus, the planet of love, rules Libra, the air sign symbolized by the scales; love is not usually thought of as a product of the mind. Yet many scholars would disagree. M. Scott Peck, M.D. (author of The Road Less Traveled) states that "real love" is a discipline, a decision that we make as different from "romantic love", which is not real. Other examples where love is not first considered an emotion is in the tarot where the Lovers card is assigned to the air sign of Gemini and how about the fact that Aquarians are known to "Love Humanity" yet they are a completely mentally oriented air sign. What we have is a lesson from our ancestors of astrology, "Love is an Ideal and Libras hold the key to Love, the ability to see clearly that which is beautiful in all of us. But, as their sign reflects, through the image of the scales, there is a balance to everything. For all that Libra sees as beautiful, they must eventually find the part that is not beautiful. It is a compelling point that becomes the core issue of the Libran existence, the blending of the heart and mind, the insatiable desire to keep the scales in balance.

By looking at the myth associated with this sign, we can gain some insight into the Libran mystery. Liz Greene (astrology Goddess) suggests that Paris and the Golden Apple closely resembles the Libran Mythology.

Paris was a mortal man rejected by his mother at birth but who was later recognized for his outstanding beauty, intelligence and strength. As a result, he was chosen by Zeus to arbitrate between three quarreling goddesses. One day while herding cattle, Hermes appeared before him accompanied by Hera, Athene and Aphrodite. Hermes handed him a golden apple, and delivered Zeus' message: `Paris, since you are as handsome as you are wise in affairs of the heart, Zeus commands you to judge which of these goddesses is the fairest, and to award to the winner the golden apple.' Being a good Libran, he offered gallantly to divide the apple equally among all three but Zeus refused. Paris, begged the goddesses not to be angry with him should they lose because he did not ask for this task. All three promised not to seek revenge. Each Goddess offered a bribe. Hera offered him the rulership of Asia but he was not interested in such enormous wealth and power. Athene then promised he would be victorious in all his battles but he again did not care about that. Aphrodite, being the best judge of what would motivate Paris, promised him the most beautiful woman in the world. He awarded her the golden apple without question. By this judgment he incurred the hatred of both Hera and Athene, who, went off arm in arm to plot his destruction.

This myth exemplifies many core components of the Libra Native.

• The initial rejection by the Mother suggests that Libras face very early feelings of not being good enough. Whether or not the actual mother created this sense of personal rejection, the propensity for Libras to feel unworthy at a young age is evidenced by their remarkable ability to win love as adults.
• Paris chose the Goddess who served his ideal, the ideal of love, pointing to the fact that Libra's hold a very deep desire for the perfect union with another. This also points to the fact that Libra's have a difficult time making choices and will always make the choice that serves them best.
• Libras possess an impeccable eye and desire for beauty. It runs deep at the core of their essence.
• Zeus recognized Paris' ability to be impartial perhaps pointing to why they are the only inanimate object (the scales) of the Zodiac.
• The losing Goddesses went off to plan Paris' demise. This can be seen as the metaphor for Libras that explains why choosing is so difficult. For Libra, once a choice is made, all other possibilities are gone. This is particularly true for them in the areas of love. The ideal that they hold in their mind is so difficult to create (a common air-sign problem) that Libras are often later disillusioned by their choices. As a result, they often see the demise of their dreams.
• Paris pleaded with the Goddesses to understand that he did not ask for this task but that he was ordered to do it. He wanted the Goddesses to be FAIR with him ( a key word in the Libra psyche.) When a Libra senses something is unfair they are often outraged.

Regardless of your relationship with Libra you will find that their objectivity never leaves them. They defend what they believe is right or correct because they clearly see both sides to every situation. It makes them astute mediators with an ability to understand your side while understanding fully the other. The harder you try to sway them in one direction, the harder they push in the other. It's completely automatic and has little thought behind it but you can be sure they have to keep the balance. This balancing act can be seen most dramatically at home, behind the scenes. If Libra has to be too nice for too long, the "less nice" part of them must emerge. Everyone knows the classic image of an angry parent, yelling at the kids until the phone rings, then like magic (or a case of possession), the kindest most pleasant voice emerges for the incoming caller.

Beneath their charming exterior is a myriad of complex feelings that don't always make it to the Libran consciousness. On a very core level, Libras want desperately to be loved and approved of; sometimes this need overwhelms them and they are engulfed by their own unconscious mind pouring out the flattery and pulling out the stops to get you to love them. They are masters of finding your inner gold, making it hard to resist their advances. Like the sirens in Homer's "The Odyssey", the spell of Libra is powerful because you are in danger of falling in love with their image of you! (let that one sink in) In many cases, if you give your power up, if you succumb to their flattery, if you surrender to this Cardinal Air sign too quickly, then you risk losing their interest and ultimately losing them. This doesn't mean that Libra's can't commit to a relationship, or that their advances are not real, it simply means that they must keep those scales in balance, they want an equal, not a follower.

Air signs live in the land of thoughts and ideals and must make conscious efforts to confront the feeling part of themselves directly. Because of their tendency to be persuaded or affected by others (the scales are always open to hearing your opinions as long as you can present them in a somewhat objective way), Libra will seek refuge in their lofty tower allowing no one to enter until things have settled down within them and their natural urge for people has returned.

Libra's need relationship and if you have been chosen to be in relationship by a Libra then you have passed the first test of showing your own independence. Libras want to come toward you (cardinal sign) on their own volition; you also have passed a personal beauty test and have something that they want. The problem is that all Air signs fear containment. For Libra, if they choose you, they have to face the fact that they then lose all other choices. This is not just an issue with relationships; Libras fear the loss of choice when making choosing their dinner from a menu, or what outfit to buy.

Within the relationship, you can expect your Libra to stir up conversation and nightly jaunts of activity. They love people and love to show off their goods and you may well be one of them. They will always let the world see their charm and save some of the more meaty parts of themselves for you, their partner. The good news is that you will be trusted to see the less attractive parts of them and the bad news is that you will be trusted to see the less attractive parts of them.

To be a Libra means that you must seek balance in all areas of your life. Decisions are siphoned through the sieve about everything. The inner court is always in session looking to defend what is not fair, making sure that their behavior does not create imbalance because they know, more than any other sign that "for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction". Decisions of fairness apply to all aspects of their life from serious issues such as world justice and the death penalty. However, equal angst is given to whether or not this picture matches the paint on the wall or clothing choices.

As for their purpose, let me leave you with this thought: "Happily ever after" isn't just a phrase to Libra, it is a mission.

Peace,

Mark S. Husson
© 2002