Libra I: Libra and Bisexuality and the 2 of Swords:
by Victoria Bee
My experience as a bisexual is that people often trust bisexuals less to know what we want in a relationship, and I get a lot of the same when people talk about my Libra placements. I've heard a lot of "I don't trust bisexuals/Libras because they don't know what they want," "Libras/bisexuals just need to stop messing with people and make a choice," etc. etc. (I'm not defending bisexuals and Libras that do act toxic and mislead others, but those are human traits and they exist in every sign and sexuality.)
The truth is simple: bisexuality IS the choice. The pursuit of balance and harmony IS what we want as Libras. It's not about messing with people. Humanity is simply not a binary existence. It is a spectrum in all things, and so in all things we seek to find our homeostatic balance.
On a similar note, the Smith-Waite tarot card we use to illustrate the decan, the 2 of Swords, at first glance looks like that stereotyped image people have for Libra: a person struggling to choose between two similar, precarious options. This interpretation of the image is incomplete. It doesn't take into account the Moon as the decan ruler (even as it is making a cameo in the background of the card!), nor does it take into account the intentionality that the person is holding the swords with. They are not bound, nor are they distressed. They are focused on holding those heavy swords up. I think Mel Meleen said it really well when she was describing the symbolism of the 2 of Swords, and it can be applied to Libra I in general: it is about striving for equanimity in everything. In other words, not rejecting anything; taking the good and the bad with poise in any given circumstance to gain a more complete understanding of it before moving forward.
Breaking down the Moon in Libra
In its simplest definition, Venus is the planet of harmony. Harmony is the pleasing combination of multiple differing pieces to create a pleasant, cohesive whole. Beauty, often associated with Venus, is just the pleasing combination of different visual, or musical, or otherwise artistic pieces. Love, also often associated with Venus, is just the pleasing combination of different people to create meaningful relationships. Love is also the acts done to maintain harmony in those relationships.
Taurus, the passive earth sign, exhibits Venus by centering the experience, embodiment, and reception of harmony through the five senses. In contrast, the active air sign Libra exhibits Venus by centering the pursuit and curation of harmony, specifically interpersonal harmony states like Love, Peace, and Justice. The contrast between Taurean and Libran Venus can be seen in the Empress versus Justice tarot cards. The Empress embodies a state of physical harmony while the person in the Justice card embodies the pursuit of interpersonal harmony
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In many texts, the Moon is associated with a lot of motherly, nurturing concepts, but it is often forgotten that she is also the luminary associated with movement and change. Valens says she is associated with “voyages, travel, and wanderings.” Her lesson is that the only constant in life is inconstancy. That growth is cyclical. Something is always gestating in her shifting, fertile light.
Taking this into account, the Moon in Libra can be illustrated by the tidal movement of the scales as they tip back and forth seeking their balance. It is in a state of constant compromise, weighing the changing wants and needs of every individual against each other. It is the embodiment of the works of the goddess, Maat. As Austin Coppock writes in 36 Faces,
“Maat emerges from the underworld in this face, scales in her hand. The terrible Erinyes follow behind, but so does Peace, for she is the sister of Justice. This decan drags transgressors to court and weighs the trade of both merchants and lovers. There is no interaction not weighed by Maat, for the judgment of the Heart is ongoing.”
From the Encyclopedia Britannica, we know Maat to be the personification of “truth, justice, and the cosmic order.” The judgements on her scale are meant to hold people accountable in their wrongdoing in order to maintain peace and harmony.
Other Libra I imagery
Both of the images from the Picatrix and from Agrippa mention fairness for those that are without proper resources, but don’t actually depict the people in need of fairness. Rather, their existence and experiences are implied by the actions of the figures depicted.
The Picatrix says Libra I is illustrated by “a man with a lance in his right hand, and in his left hand he holds a bird hanging by its feet. This is a face of justice, truth, good judgment, complete justice for the people and weak persons, and doing good for beggars.” The people the justice and good is supposed to be for aren’t depicted, only the man with a lance. The image we have from Agrippa is “an angry old man, who has in his hand shepherd’s pipe, also the form of a man reading a book; and the operation of these is for the justice and help of the poor and weak against the evil and powerful.” Again, the people that are being championed and the action of championing justice is not what is being depicted. The image is one that suggests contemplation and the beginning stages of the pursuit of Justice. Someone is holding a book: informing themselves, gaining understanding. The other is holding an instrument in angry hands, but not playing: witnessing and processing the situation with a pensive moment of silence. While the other decans’ images have a bit of commentary and reasoning about the meaning of the image in each of the respective books, it’s unusual that in both Libra I images, one person’s experience is described through the viewpoint and action of another person. This brings the Moon in Libra’s reflective, balancing nature to the forefront.
I do want to take a moment to say that it is frustrating that these images about the pursuit of Justice highlight the experiences of people that aren’t those the Justice is for. It, in a way, idealizes them and erases the others. We do that in society all the time. We look away from injustice because it is hard to look at. We look towards those with the power to dispense Justice and often afterwards absolve ourselves from the situation. But that is broken. Let’s not idealize them, but rather what they are doing. The people depicted in the images are from multiple walks of life, doing the same thing: they are not absolving themselves. They are not being self-righteous. They are taking the first step of many.
Final thoughts
Ultimately, the Libra I decan isn’t about making a choice, but rather the act of weighing the multiple pieces of everything. That doesn’t mean it is an immobile decan. Understanding a situation is still a vital movement within the decan. It is all too easy to take actions without understanding the consequences of them. The Libra I decan is one that emphasizes the full understanding of a situation and the acknowledgement of humanity within it as the vital first step before definitive action is taken. It is one that believes victims and seeks justice for them by first seeking out their voices and giving them the space to be properly heard and understood.
About the Author
Victoria (she / her) is a fledgling Hellenistic astrologer starting to dip her toes into writing and offering services. The goal with her practice is to mediate the relationship between her clients and their living charts. She holds a certificate in Hellenistic Astrology from Chris Brennan's course and is currently pursuing her BA in Psychology.
Twitter / X: VRAstrology
Instagram: victoryrisingastrology
References
Chang, T. Susan, and Mel Meleen. “2 of Swords [Mp3].” Fortune’s Wheelhouse, Patreon, 25 July 2018, www.patreon.com/posts/2-of-swords-mp3-20292989?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_fan&utm_content=web_share.
“The Anthology Book I,” translated by Robert Schmidt edited by Robert Hand, p. 2, 4, 5. https://krasiancientastrology.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Vettius-Valens-The-Anthology-Book-I.pdf
Coppock, Austin. Astrology Sep 23rd – Oct 2nd (♎️I): The Hall of Two Truths, 23 Sept. 2017, austincoppock.com/astrology-libra-1-equinox/.
“Maat.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 5 June 2024, www.britannica.com/topic/Maat-Egyptian-goddess
“The Picatrix,” translated by John Michael Greer and Christopher Warnock, p. 115. https://krasiancientastrology.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/picatrix-complete.compressed.pdf
Agrippa, Heinrich Cornelius. “Of the Images of the Faces and Their Virtues, and the Images Outside the Zodiac.” Three Books of Occult Philosophy, translated by Eric Purdue, Inner Traditions, Rochester, VT, p. 39 https://disasterphilanthropy.org/people/tanya-gulliver-garcia/