Venus in Libra: Nov. 8 - Dec. 4, 2015

Venus will enter Libra on November 8 and remain in her own sign until December 4. Venus rules Taurus and Libra. Taurus is earthy and sensual while Libra is airy and cerebral. These two Venus-ruled signs signify different facets of love and beauty.

Venus relates more easily to earthy Taurus than to airy Libra. Libra sextiles the Sun-ruled sign Leo, which infuses the sign with a strong sense of individual identity, idealism, and subtle pride. Librans don't like to be embarrassed! The fly in the soup is that Libra squares the Moon-ruled sign Cancer. This zodiacal juxtaposition leaves Libra prone to envy (admiring another person but wanting your own version) or jealousy (wanting what the other person has). The Moon and Venus are not always on the best terms, especially when the Moon is in her first and second quarters waxing toward full - her maiden-to-mother phases. The Moon and Venus compete for the same type of attention. Cat fight! When the Moon wanes from matron-to-crone in her third and fourth quarters, there's no reason for Venus to be hostile toward the crone.

Examine your natal chart to determine the Moon's phase – is she waxing or waning? See if the Moon and Venus have a relationship by aspect or sign. If the Moon's in her first or second quarter, even a good aspect like a sextile or trine will have a more competitive edge. Consider the relationships between women in your immediate family: cooperation or conflict?

Venus is a love goddess, but Libra isn't just about love relationships. The sign includes social relationships, agreements and contracts, the law, rights, architecture (relationship between people and space), music (people and sound), and other intellectual activities. Not all Libra-sun-sign people are obsessed with love! They may love designing things, communicating and sharing information, or using their creative skills. Whatever the focus, a Libra will want it to be perfect, and that need for perfection can be pretty obsessive. Librans can be adept at striking up conversations, finding shared interests, and finding new friends to join in favored activities. They like the interactions and exchanges, and are delightful, flirtatious conversationalists. This is where Venusian charm shines through.

The planet Saturn exalts in Libra, adding structure and form to all those creative ideas that Libra manifests. Saturn adds elegance, formality, and discipline to hone skills to the highest levels. Saturn supports the legal and architectural facets of the sign. It's great to have either Venus or Saturn in Libra in a birth chart.

Libra is the sign of oaths and vows. These were taken very seriously in the ancient world. Knightly oaths and oaths of fealty were binding. A person who broke a vow was ostracized. Libra signifies social and legal rules and the consequences of violating them. Marital vows are also a part of Libra. Marriage has transformed greatly overly the centuries. From a historic perspective, choosing one's own partner and marrying for love is rather trendy. The Romans had three different forms of marriage with varying degrees of commitment and property-sharing between the partners.

The Greeks thought Love (Venus) was a bit suspect. In a Homeric Ode, Zeus declares that vows made under the influence of love aren't binding. Deep love was regarded as a kind of mild mental disorder where judgment was unbalanced and actions unpredictable.

When ancient astrologers assigned Venus as ruler of Libra, they put the fickle love goddess in charge of order-and-arrangement intensive Libra. Love distorts mental balance! That's why Saturn's exaltation is crucial: he delivers the reality check that restores equilibrium after Venus's giddy love zappery. Saturn gives form and formality to binding vows. The Venus-Saturn connection is a frequent device in story-telling: after a bountiful growing season (Venus) comes the harvest (Saturn), and after love comes sorrow. Libra is a cardinal sign, so if things end, it starts over and seeks fresh connections.

Venus's transit of Libra in November-December 2015 is a period when people can effectively readjust and perhaps improve expectations and agreements with others. It's advisable to work within social boundaries and be courteous. Don’t make promises you can’t keep. Come to terms with unexpected changes or past losses, readjust thinking, and find new people and things that are attractive and interesting. Charm and sincere compliments are always a winning strategy, and will tilt the Scales in your favor.