“Libra guards the secret of balance, of equilibrium and finally speaks the word which releases the initiate from the power of the Lords of Karma.”
As our Soul progresses on it's journey through the twelve zodiac signs, it is very interesting, and important, to contemplate the sign of Libra.
Libra is the only sign of the zodiac that is not associated with a living being. This in itself is significant, and worth pondering. It seems that the lessons of Libra are less about our personal story, and more about natural law.
Planetary Rulers: Venus, Uranus, Saturn
According to Esoteric Astrology Venus rules Libra at the personality level, which brings important insights about desire and the release of attachment.
Uranus rules Libra at the level of the Soul, which brings deeper insights into intuition, and the awakening of the heart.
Saturn is the ruler of Libra at the 'hierarchical' level, which brings insights about authenticity, the nature of karma, and the true nature of reality.
As the Soul continues it's journey through the 12 Zodiac signs, eventually it reaches the 'resting point' of Libra. In order to truly understand the deeper significance of Libra we must always bear in mind the entire journey - otherwise the experience in Libra makes no sense.
We have to understand that there are polar opposites, which the 'pendulum' of our consciousness swings between before finally coming to rest at the balance point.
So Libra (the sign of relating) is best understood when considered in relation to the other signs, as we shall in a moment, but first, let's look at the balance point itself.
Symbolised by scales, this balance point seems to indicate that it is itself, a natural law, that lies beyond the conditioning of sentient beings.
In Buddhist psychology this 'balance point' is referred to as equanimity. It is a capacity that the advanced student or practitioner arrives at on the journey to spiritual awakening. In order to awaken to the true nature of our mind (and therefore the true nature of reality) we have to be still enough to experience that which lies beyond the conditioned mind.
Once we are experienced enough in meditation for our mental chatter to quieten down a little, we experience the silence that lies in-between, and beyond, thought. Once we are advanced enough to be able to rest in that silence, without intentionally generating more thoughts, and to allow any thoughts that emerge to just arise and dissolve, without taking our attention away from the silence, then we are said to have realized equanimity: the capacity to rest in our natural state.
We cannot fully be spiritually awakened, or enlightened, until we have perfected this ability to rest in the natural state. So realizing equanimity is an important step in our journey of spiritual awakening, but it is not the end of the road. Once we have a capacity to rest in our natural state, the next step is to practice resting there as much as possible, so that deeper insights may come.
This is the job of a Libra Soul: not only to recognize equanimity, but to remain there as long as possible to advance on the journey towards deeper insights. Hence the symbology of the scales - the trick is to remain calm, centered, and observe - not allowing yourself to be pulled off-center by distractions as they arise.
In other words we choose to keep our attention on our natural state, we get distracted, and we choose again. We do this over, and over, and over, for as long as it takes (lifetimes) until it becomes second nature. This is why Libra is also the sign most closely associated with choice, judgement, and the processes of choosing and right decision-making (ethics).
Once you have mastered equanimity (which is a very advanced stage) then it is possible to be free from contidioning. Your mind is no longer pulled this way and that by the temptations of conditioned existence, and you are said to have 'gone beyond' karma. You will no longer create karma since you have released attachment. This may be what the Tibetan means when he says "the secret ... of equilibrium ... releases the initiate from the power of the Lords of Karma"
The Light That Moves To Rest
So perhaps now we can begin to understand why, in Esoteric Astrology, Libra is referred to as "The Light That Moves To Rest". The pendulum of consciousness has to swing, so it can find the point of rest, and as mentioned above, we can understand the role of Libra better in the context of the Soul's experience in the remaining 11 signs.
"we are attempting to express conditions connected with the soul
whose essential nature is light."
According to Esoteric Astrology our Soul is on a journey, the stages of which are symbolised by the 12 zodiac signs. The Tibetan often emphasises how important it is to remember that our Soul's journey is one of light through form. This is similar to the Tibetan Buddhist teachings on the development of The Rainbow Body (which I have often mentioned in earlier newsletters).
If the Soul's nature is light, then it stands to reason the our true nature is also light. If Libra is the 'light that moves to rest' then what is the experience of light on this journey through all twelve signs?
In Esoteric Astrology the Tibetan describes our Soul's journey of light through the twelve Zodiac signs. When we see the overview of the Soul's journey through all twelve, then we see the significance of Libra as the balance point:
"This soul-light affects the form as evolution proceeds and produces sequentially the revelation of that form, and of the nature of space-time as well as of the goal.
1. Aries.—The Light of Life Itself. This is the dim point of light found at the centre of the cycle of manifestation, faint and flickering. It is the "searchlight of the Logos, seeking that which can be used" for divine expression.
2. Taurus.—The penetrating Light of the Path. This is a beam of light, streaming forth from the point in Aries, and revealing the area of light control.
3. Gemini.—The Light of Interplay. This is a line of light beams, revealing that which opposes or the basic duality of manifestation, the relationship of spirit and of form. It is the conscious light of that relationship.
4. Cancer.—The Light within the form. This is the diffused light of substance itself, the "dark light" of matter, referred to in The Secret Doctrine. It is the light awaiting the stimulation coming from the soul light.
5. Leo.—The Light of the Soul. A reflected point of light logoic, or divine. The light diffused in Cancer focusses and reveals eventually a point.
6. Virgo.—The blended dual Light. Two lights are seen—bright and strong, the light of form; one faint and dim, the light of God. This light is distinguished by a waxing of one and the waning of the other. It differs from the light in Gemini.
7. Libra.—The Light that moves to rest. This is the light that oscillates until a point of balance is achieved. It is the light which is distinguished by a moving up and down.
8. Scorpio.—The Light of Day. This is the place where three lights meet—the light of form, the light of soul, and the light of life. They meet; they blend; they rise.
9. Sagittarius.—A beam of directed, focussed Light. In this the point of light becomes the beam, revealing a greater light ahead and illumining the way to the centre of the light.
10. Capricorn.—The Light of Initiation. This is the light which clears the way to the mountain top, and produces transfiguration, thus revealing the rising sun.
11. Aquarius.—The Light that shines on Earth, across the sea. This is the light which ever shines within the dark and cleansing with its healing rays that which must be purified until the dark has gone.
12. Pisces—The Light of the World. This is the light, revealing the light of life itself. It ends for ever the darkness of matter.
A study of the above thoughts will reveal the symbolic story of the irradiation of matter, of the growth of the light body within the macrocosm and the microcosm, and finally make clear the purpose of the Logos."
Whatever stage your Soul is at, it will be highly beneficial to perfect your ability to rest in the natural state and, from there, contemplate the light of your Soul. For example if you are a Pisces Soul you would simply rest in the natural state and allow deeper insights to arise about "the light of the world".
It is only by removing our attention from our worldly demands and commitments for a while, and resting in our natural state, that we will be able to catch a glimpse of the light of our Soul. With more advanced practice we may even be able to sense our entire journey through all twelve signs.
The importance of these twelve stages of light cannot be emphasised enough. The entire teachings of Esoteric Astrology, The Tibetan and the entire works of Alice Bailey, are pointing to secrets in the light of each stage. Deeper understanding lies beyond words and comes only from meditation and contemplation of these twelve stages. They are worthy of revisiting often.
Once we recognise equanimity, even if we only catch a glimpse for a moment, only then we will start to understand the meaning
of the Tibetan's keynote for Libra:
"I choose the way which leads
between the two great lines of force."
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