The Libra New Moon offers an opportunity to examine what tends to knock us off balance and to find ways to introduce helpful systems and actions for greater equilibrium in our lives. Sometimes imbalances show in emotional states or in our attitudes; at other times, they exhibit in practical and physical outcomes. Either way, this New Moon nudges us to pinpoint our best course to achieve and maintain better balance.

Interestingly, Mars — the planet of action — opposes the New Moon. The opposition places a stronger focus on carefully considering behaviors — our own or others’ — and noticing how the latter tend to affect us. For instance, is someone being demanding in an impatient, somewhat, if not outright, aggressive way? How does this make us feel? And does it distract us from any course of personal action of our own that we were trying to progress?

To add to this contemplative atmosphere, Mars — sitting powerfully in Aries and apparently unimpeded in its home sign — is retrograde, suggesting it is driving with the brakes on! Or, some sort of pause button has been pressed, making direct intervention more complicated than usual. This sort of push–pull energy with Mars can be frustrating, especially for anyone who identifies strongly with the “act now, think later” approach to life. But as always, there is likely a good reason for needing access to that pause button! What would be the most obvious first line of action under other circumstances is just not going to serve anyone well at the moment or simply won’t result in the desired outcome.

Sometimes, a retrograde planet expresses as someone behaving in a more aggressive and .,,,different way than normal. It is also possible that we might experience somebody who is usually calm and on the level being over-reactive toward us. One possible defense is to get out of the line of fire through a temporary exit — for example, to another location — until the emotional fire has subsided. However, don’t avoid a confrontation if it is necessary for problem resolution.

Maybe we will even see an unusually temperamental quality in ourselves and can be alert to when a situation or person ignites one of our fuses. We benefit from slowing down and working out exactly what is going on internally. Sometimes it is via backtracking, frame by frame, through the unfolding events that we are able to pinpoint where matters have veered off course. If we can ground ourselves in this knowledge, then we can choose a better way forward for the future.

This grounding opportunity is emphasized by the New Moon’s square to Jupiter, Pluto, and Saturn in Capricorn, underlining how, whilst the effort to identify the source of our reactions requires hard work, it could pay off very well in the long run. This trio of planets belong to the generational and transpersonal planetary groups, indicating that some of the issue may result from ideas and habits being handed down from one generation to the next. In other words, the root of conflict isn’t entirely personal but, with Mars completing a t-square with these planets and the New Moon, it is affecting personal feelings, initiatives, and behaviors all the same.

Venus, is in its fall in Virgo, so we have to try harder to achieve the best way of connecting in our relationships. Will it be through affection? An attempt at being ultra-seductive? Some would say that Venus in Virgo needs or prefers a little more restraint! But Venus is currently a morning star and opposes Neptune, suggesting that the way forward is not marked with clear signposts. Venus also trines Jupiter — usually more adventurous, but less so in Capricorn. In other words, Jupiter has a tendency to be constricted when in its fall.

This article is from the Mountain Astrologer, written by Diana Collis.