Solar Eclipse in Libra 2023
The New Moon this month brings a Solar Eclipse in Libra, on 14 October at 21°, co-present with Mercury. The ruler of the Eclipse is Venus in fall in Virgo, opposite to Saturn. Venus’ condition will tone the Eclipse and this new lunar cycle.
Solar Eclipses are special times where the New Moon and Sun align on the point where the Moon’s path intersects the ecliptic (the Sun’s path through the sky as viewed from earth). This is a powerful New Moon and it’s influence may be felt not just through this new lunar cycle, but as a process that plays out over the next 18 months.
Turning points
Historically eclipses are associated with significant events, heralding dramatic or important turning points, new beginnings, opportunities, or endings. As this is a New Moon eclipse (a lunar eclipse is a Full Moon eclipse, , which will occur a couple of weeks later), themes of beginnings, or planting new seeds come into play. With the eclipsing of the Sun’s light, new doors may be opening for you, or you may feel a new or sudden change of direction or purpose – that could feel unsettling or disruptive.
New beginnings inherently imply that endings need to occur, which is emphasised by this being a south node eclipse. Although a New Moon usually infers inceptions, this eclipse draws out what needs to come before that – breaks in established patterns, disruptions to the normal flow of things, or having to let go.
A shift of perspective might be needed to recognise the potential opportunities of the changes happening, and to adapt to them. It can be helpful to think about how endings, although sometimes difficult, can make space for what’s more appropriate, supportive or functional to arise.
The Sun in Fall in Libra, whilst also being hidden by the Moon, suggests changes in leadership or people in positions of authority. We might see this in the world stage as leaders being removed, departing from their positions, or even passing. On a personal level a boss or other authority figure in your own life may undergo a significant change in their position in life.
Falling across the Aries-Libra axis, this eclipse may bring these endings, turning points or new directions in the realm of relationships, social dynamics, justice, fairness, diplomacy, or ideas and concepts about convention and norms. You may find yourself breaking old patterns or habits relating to these. This could also involve ideas or patterns around individuality versus the collective, conflict versus maintaining harmony, independence versus obligations to others, and how can those be integrated or adjusted to attain a balance.
The Venusian influence
As ruler of the eclipse, Venus’ expression will colour it. Virgoan-Venus is practical, critical, and analytical in expressing her natural significations of balance, connection, beauty and creativity. Venus here wants to unify, harmonise and improve, through a processes of on-going refinement, assessment and correction. Saturn’s opposing influence emphasises a critical, constraining, or demanding approach which (without care and awareness) could become burdensome.
As Venus is in her place of Fall, this may show up either in an unconventional way, going against norms, or one that feels awkward and unsettling, perhaps having to start from the ground up again.
Venus-south node contra-antiscia
Another interesting point to note about the eclipse is the contra-antiscia between Venus and the south node, symbolic of a hidden opposition between the two. The South Node symbolises letting go, endings, depletion, diminishement, giving out of oneself or skills, non-materiality, and escapism. It can have a spiritualising effect, turning focus inward to a soulful perspective. We can expect this Virgoan-Venus influence (as discussed above) in relation to having to release or move on from something. It might feel a little unstable or take some effort to get there.
What areas of life will this influence?
What area of life these potential changes may arise in for you will depend on your rising sign. Check the table below to see which house the Libra eclipse will fall in, and therefore what kind of topics it might influence, and where a balance might need redressing.
Bear in mind too that an eclipse is more likely to be significant if you have planets in Libra or Aries in your birth chart, especially if the Sun, Moon or Nodes make a conjunction or opposition to those. There was a solar eclipse in Aries back in April of this year. If you have planets there, thinking back to your personal experiences or events around that time might help give a clue as to some of the experiences this eclipse may present to you. It could even be some continuation of what was happening at that time.
Whether or not the eclipse is visible in your location can also be a factor in how influential the eclipse might be. The October eclipse will be visible in parts of the United States, Mexico, and in South and Central America (for precise locations visit https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2023-october-14). Nevertheless, conjunctions or oppositions to the luminaries and nodes may still be influential even if you reside elsewhere.
The shifts ahead
To sum up, the solar eclipse in Libra this month may start a process for you of having to let go, embrace endings, adjust to a new direction, or the influence and changes the reputation or status of those in authority you encounter – all relevant to house topics where the eclipse falls. What has run it’s course? What’s no longer really working or supportive? It could factor into your personal relationships, creative activities, or experience of fairness and the norms or rules relating to your social dynamics and interactions.
New appoaches or perspectives to these events or experiences may need to be developed. New ideas, expressions and discussions about these might be part of this process, either creatively or more formally. And finally themes of self versus others could arise, that needs adjustment to retain harmony, especially if giving of one’s energy, time or emotions has become depleting or brings a sense of burden.
| Rising Sign | New Moon in: | Topic Keywords: |
|---|---|---|
| Aries | 6th House | Illness, pets, toil, service, servitude |
| Taurus | 5th House | Creativity, pleasure, children, sex, romance |
| Gemini | 4th House | Home, parents, land, heritage |
| Cancer | 3rd House | Silbings/extended family, travel, learning, routine, religion, communication |
| Leo | 2nd House | Finances, assets |
| Virgo | 1st House | Self, identity, vitality |
| Libra | 12th House | Illness, hardship, seclusion, liminal spaces |
| Scorpio | 11th House | Friends, social groups, allies, benefactors, hopes & wishes |
| Sagittarius | 10th House | Public life/status, career |
| Capricorn | 9th House | Foreign places/travel, religion, higher learning, law |
| Aquarius | 8th House | Other’s finances/assets/esteem, death, anxiety |
| Pisces | 7th House | Relationships, marriage, partnerships, endings |