Reflecting on Values & Justice this New Moon Eclipse in Libra

{~7 minute read... or listen to me speak about even more here on our new podcast!}

Hello to you as you are in this moment.

My hope is that this bi-weekly Moonletter meets you well exactly where you are, and is a reminder of your inherent enoughness and interconnection to the whole. Inspired by the framework of Cyclical Mindfulness, this space is both a practice for myself and an offering for you. May you take what resonates from these musings, inspirations, and creations, and leave the rest behind.

Pause into the present

Notice the cycles

Our New Moon Eclipse in the air sign of Libra exacts at 1:54 pm EST on Saturday, October 14th.

(If you're reading this at a much later time, it's still relevant to reflect on your life around this time / season, especially in comparison to what's happening now.)

As always, this peak of the lunation cycle is just that; the energy of a transit affects our collective before and after this moment as well. Additionally, we continue to integrate the lessons of a transit well after it shifts - whether we're aware of it or not.

There is just a LOT happening right now. As always, but who isn't feeling the tension right now? Our new moon eclipse is of course conjunct the sun in its later degrees of libra, but is also accompanied by mercury and the south node.

Eclipses recur in cycles of alignment with axis of the lunar nodes - the north/south poles of the moon. In evolutionary astrology, the south node is where we collectively are focusing on releasing and unlearning. Mars is also close by just a few degrees away but in scorpio. This is heavy, heart-full and transformative already - but it's also all happening square to pluto in capricorn AND opposing chiron (the wounded healer) and the north node (our collective evolution and focus towards) in aries. What more could say we're in the midst of revisiting deep, complex cycles of collective & communal trauma.

We're seeing the intensity of all this in world struggles for justice and freedom in Palestine, struggles for peace beyond trauma in Israel, collective themes of power-hungry governments causing harm to the innocent peoples and communities contained within labels and borders. The aries-libra polarity represents our current collective themes since earlier this year and through the next year+. You'll experience this tension yet compliment personally and communally too, but it just depends where you are and how your personal placements align with these current and long-term transits.

If you're confused by all the astrological archetypes and energies, no worries - the prompts below will help you reflect on these themes in more plain language.

“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” - Rumi

The planetary alignments with the Earth's seasons from our perspective is where western astrology roots. These themes and realizations are reflections of reality and liminality. They are not fixed fates, but energies for us to consider, feel affirmed in enduring no matter the struggle, and trusting that there is a way forward living somewhere within the grief, pain, and injustice.

This new moon in libra we are experiencing an eclipse - a collective, deepening that we cannot avoid as we face the underside of reality. There’s a lot we cannot control, that we can only grieve in the world or contribute in ways that don’t seem big enough, but Venusian values of libra remind us that every small response or non-response impacts the pendulum.

Allow it all to be felt

I think this eclipse is asking us to pause and consider how non-reactivity can be just as impactful, and sometimes even more powerful than reactivity. Non-reactivity does not mean passive or apathetic, it means to pause long enough to trust that there exists an empowered and equitable action rather than an urgent reaction.

If even just for this moment, could you pause long enough to recognize your resources, and resilience through community?

Asking for or taking a pause can feel counterintuitive or even like bypassing, and there are moments when it’s not possible, but from where you’re standing right now, could even a few deep breaths bring more clarity and realization of autonomy? Autonomy to realize you’re not alone and that you have options even when there seems like none.

Our modern world speaks in trauma response from all directions, through the inequity of borders instead of bridges, projections of suffering instead of mutual solutions or extending a hand. Libra as an air sign asks us to face these realities to use our voices when necessary, and to listen when it is not our turn to speak.

I feel this post by solutions not sides is a really great example of what we can work towards as the struggles for justice continue in Palestine, Israel, and beyond. Can we remember not to condemn innocent people or communities, but instead hold governmental systems accountable?

"Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." - James Baldwin

I believe to live in alignment with the cycles is to recognize the holistic multitude of the ways in which these lessons show up, even if they’re hard to face or seem irrelevant to your current time, lineage or place.

I believe we are here to honor and learn from the inbetweens and multiplicity of life - I can advocate for freedom and justice for Arabs & Palestinians and peace and healing for Jews beyond the Israeli military and government. I can be against wars and violence but also recognize the need for defense in instances of abuse. I can condemn white supremacy, colonization and apartheids and still want all people to be well. Life is sacred, no one deserves to die or be confined within walls - how can we heal?

“God is a circle whose center is everywhere and circumference nowhere.” - Voltaire

It’s not up to me to figure that out for anyone, nor is there a single answer. I just wish to be a conversation-starter in mind- and heart-opener, and introducer of perspectives beyond linear one-sidedness.

Eclipses are a time for rest and reflection - and so just make sure you do so before taking any sudden actions.

Venus (the planet which rules libra) asks us of our values, not our opinions. What is beneath the polarized surface?

"What or who are you really serving in this world? What is love calling you to do?" - bell hooks

Current Offerings:

I used to feel odd "promoting" myself during any time of wordly turmoil. But now I realize that my offerings are just optional resources for anyone who may seek support - this is part of what I can contribute. These are just reminders and invitations to receive, and in exchange support my continuation to be able to create what I hope can benefit many. It's a privilege to be able to do so.

I’d really love for you to check out so my newest offering Cyclical Mindfulness as I feel it could potentially be helpful as a practice to integrate during these times. I offer on a sliding scale between $11 - $33, but if money is an obstacle, please reach out as we have a pay it forward fund for this purpose. please let me know if you have any questions about the offering, I’d love to chat about it more.
If you haven’t yet ordered your 2024 Cycles Journal. It’s a great time to do so as you’ll get the 2023 edition free if you add it to your cart too. Alternatively, you could get a cyclical notebook for half off instead with your order.

I’ve been using my cyclical notebook as a dream journal and it’s been really helpful to use one side for writing out the dream on the other side for reflections on the themes and pulling cards for clarity. Let me know if you’d like to see how I do this and I can share more in the next moonletter.

Reflect / Release

Invitations for you to sit with - you can pull cards about these, meditate on them, and/or reflect in your journal or notebook...

Perhaps some invitations to reflect on during this new moon eclipse in libra especially, but also throughout the continuation of our collective evolutionary journey through the nodes of aries/libra this year & next, are;

Where are you caught up in the back-and-forth and how can you consider the in-betweens?
What has working with your personal cycles alongside lunar cycles taught you about change?
What could you give yourself today that could ripple out of your refilled cup
Where are you giving away your power energy? How could you call it back
Where have you erected borders when you meant to just set boundaries?
Where in your life have you experienced the truth that equity does not always mean symmetrical equality?
If/when you feel like you have nothing to offer or that it’s not enough, would it be possible to consider if reflection is needed instead of action?
What is your nervous system trying to tell you and how are you consciously and subconsciously responding? Can you offer what it needs or at least empathy and see what changes?
Are you inputting or outputting too much information? Where are you sourcing from?

Wishing you all wellness on this journey towards collective liberation.

Gratefully connected,
Rachael Amber (they/she)
Creator of Cycles Journal / Cyclical Roots

All words, photographs and artwork are by Rachael unless quoted or otherwise stated. You're welcome to share (for non-commercial reasons only) so long as credit / links remain attached! Thanks for supporting living artists <3

Other Current Offerings ;

Catch the replay of the most recent Moonthly Meets Workshop on archetypes!
Our upcoming Moonthly Meets Workshop is happening on Sunday, __ October 22nd on Dream Cycles – but you can always catch the recording if you sign up by the date!
Next Reflection Circle (included in Moonthly Meets^): Tuesday, November 8th at a new time - 12pm ET!