Libra/Scorpio Relationship..Interesting Read

Notes and history: Libra, the Scales lies between the constellations of Virgo and Scorpio. In ancient times when the Sun passed through Libra, as it crossed the Celestial Equator, it marked the autumnal equinox in the year 1190 B.C. [NPS], the time of equal day and night (then about Sept 22) for the Babylonians. On that date, the day and night are of equal length, making for a perfectly balanced day. By the time of the ancient Greeks, about 1500 years later, that association had been lost. That Libra was once part of Scorpio, and the scorpion's claws, is evident from the Arabic names of the stars; alpha and beta, the two brightest stars in the constellation. The star farthest to the right "Zubenelgenubi", and the top star "Zubenelschamali," the southern and northern claws (of the Scorpion). Modern astronomers call 'Zubenelgenubi' Alpha, and 'Zubenelschamali' Beta. Alpha is right on the line of the ecliptic, the path that the sun takes across the sky. Thus, around November 7 every year, the sun passes right over the star.

The Romans claimed to have created Libra from the ancient Scorpion's claws. But at least as early as 2000 BCE, the constellation of Libra was associated with the judgment of the living and the dead in Babylonia. Here, Zibanitu, who represented the Scales, weighed souls of the deceased.

The Greeks mingled the stars of Libra into Scorpio, the presence of the scales was not again recorded until they were mysteriously reinvented by the star-gazers of Rome. In between, these stars were seen as the Scorpion's claws, but the image of the scales was recognized and they may be of Mesopotamian origin.

Sometimes the Scales are seen placed in the right hand of Virgo, represented by Astraea, the Starry Goddess. Astraea of Virgo was seen as linking the constellations of Virgo and Libra. [SLM].

The Romans called Libra, the Yoke or Beam, of the Balance. They believed that the city of Rome was founded when the moon was in the constellation Libra, and that Libra represented the balance and moderation present in Roman society. They associated it not with the dangerous scorpion, but with the gentle constellation Virgo (Astraea holding up the scales), to the south. And she still stands before courts today, holding high the scales of justice, which are found also among the stars.

Today Libra is usually represented 'the Scales of Justice' with no one holding them. Libra is odd because it is the only inanimate object on the zodiac band, all the

other features are persons or animals.

Throughout the Mediterranean region, the harvest season was associated with this time of year. The weighing of crops was often performed when the Moon was full in Libra. Pious heathen (Allen called the Arab astronomers) called it Pluto's Chariot, in which that god carried off Proserpina, the adjacent Virgo (?). [SLM].

Early Christians said that it represented the Apostle Philip; and later Christians identified it with the Balances as in the Book of Daniel v, 27, in which Belshazzar had been weighed and "found wanting." It also is an emblem of the Archangel Michael. The Hebrews said it was Moznayim, a Scale-beam, said to be on the banners of Asher (although others say Sagittarius is claimed for this tribe, or Virgo?). [SLM].

The ancient Chinese called the constellation Show Sing, "the Star of Longevity", but later generations changed the name to Tien Ching, meaning "the Celestial Balance". The appearance of the constellation at a certain time of year marked the time when the annual regulation of weights had to be made by Chinese law. [SLM p.272].

The sacred books of India call this constellation Tula, meaning 'a balance' and shows a man bent on one knee, holding the scales aloft. [SLM p.272].

In classical astrology the whole constituted the ancient House of Venus, for, according to Macrobius, this planet appeared here at the Creation; and, moreover, the goddess bound together human couples under the yoke of matrimony. From this came the title Veneris Sidus. It was of influence, too, over commerce, "His house of Life being Libra: which foreshowed that he should be a merchant, and should trade with balance". [SLM p.274]

It governed the lumbar region of the human body. Its modern reign has been over Alsace, Antwerp, Austria, Aethiopia, Frankfurt, India, Lisbon, Livonia, Portugal, Savoy, Vienna, and our Charleston; but in classical times over Italy and, naturally enough from its history, especially over Rome, with Vulcan as its guardian. It thus became Vulcani Sidus. To it was assigned control of the gentle west wind, Zephyrus, personified as the son of Astraeus and Aurora. Nowadays the Sun is in the constellation of Libra from October 31st to November 22nd approximately. The Sun is in the sign of Libra from 24th Sept - 23rd October approximately. [SLM p.275].

The image of Justice associated with Libra can be seen in the symbol from the Major Arcana of the Tarot, in which the personification of (Astra

Astraea of Virgo) Justice appears holding her scales.

From time immemorial the scales have been the principle attribute of justice, it being impossible to even a little right with any quantity of wrong. Scales are emblems of Themis as law, order and truth [BML p.253].

The Egyptians also saw in Libra, a set of Scales, called 'the Scales Of Maat', one in which the human heart was to be weighed after death.



The astrological influence of the constellation

Libra was not considered a separate constellation by the ancient Greeks and was called Chelae, or the Claws of Scorpio, which sign was made to consist of 60 degrees. The present constellation figure is said to represent the balance wherein Astraea weighed the deeds of men and presented them to Jupiter. Ptolemy makes the following observations; "those stars at the points of the claws of Scorpio operate like Jupiter and Mercury; those in the middle of the claws like Saturn and to some degree like Mars". By the Kabalists, Libra is associated with the Hebrew letter Heth and the 8th Tarot Trump "Justice". (Robson).

The constellation also indicates events concerning sacred rites and changes in religious custom. (Noonan).

"Nowadays the Sun is in the constellation of Libra from October 31st to November 22nd approximately. The Sun is in the sign of Libra from 24th Sept - 23rd October approximately."

I think this has significance to the Libra/Scorpio attraction. Just my thoughts.

Wow baby, ver enlightening and interesting. Wow...

"It also is an emblem of the Archangel Michael."

Very interresting. I had a psychic reading done in which I was told my spirit type is that of the protector. There are different spirit types some of the ones I remember are warrior, healer, empath, protector, teacher and I can't remember the rest off of the top of my head.

The spirit type is the personality of ones spirit, the purpose that one assigns themselves before to take into the experience of human life. It becomes a kind of modifier to the path we chose. So, it isn't that one has a pre-formulated destiny, we all have the choice of how we lead our lives but within the path we chose this is how we see our role in that path. It explains our personality and our natural inclinations and ability. This is why we react to the same kind of enviromental input no matter what job or role we are filling at a given time. I am always the guy who looks out for everyones best interrest....sometimes confrontationally. I have always also been the guy to tell a boss where to stick it if their orders are in breach of my beliefs in right or wrong....I 'protect' those beliefs.

A lot of times your spirit guides which are the spirits that are assigned to you to guide you through life are specific archtypes. During this reading I was told that my two main spirit guides are a paladin and a druid. Both were the protectors of their people. They filled a broad range of roles, they taught and enlightened, negotiated and mediated, and when necessary fought....but always for an ideal or higher puropose. this kind of bleeds over into my personality.

My business partner was a warrior spirit type with an ancient asian warrior (the psycich wasn't specifically sure but suggested samuri) and a viking.....everything he did had a inner motive of confrontation and victory and he is polarized to things that put him in position to fight for something and to convince others that fighting for it is necissary. Very interresting stuff.