Libra season: September 22 – October 22, 2022
Libra season marks the start of autumn in the northern hemisphere and the beginning of the yin half of the year as we make our way towards winter and shorter days. As a cardinal Air sign, Libra ushers in the changeability (an Air quality) of this new season.
After last month’s Virgo season helped us start transitioning inward and away from the extroverted energy of spring and summer, preparing our bodies for fall and winter, Libra invites us to find balance in a shifting season and tend towards our relationships with others, including Nature.
Libra: The Sign of Balance and Relationships
Libra’s symbol is the scales, representing a balance between opposing forces. Libra is all about achieving harmony and equilibrium, both physically (in terms of the body) and psychospiritually (in terms of the mind, emotions, and spirit). As I’ll discuss below, you’ll find the key theme of balance reflected in the organ systems ruled by Libra.
Libra season asks us to evolve to find balance in our relationships with the outside world, including with other people as well as our relationship to Nature. It asks us to recognize the dual nature of everything around us; that there can be conflicting perspectives in a complex world of interconnected relationships, but the ultimate goal is to find peace and ease amidst polarity or conflict.
Libra Energetics
The key energetic patterns of the Libra sign are:
- Mode: Cardinal
- Element: Air
- Planet: Venus
As a cardinal Air sign, Libra represents the “active winds” of the start of the fall season (per Sajah Popham in his book, Evolutionary Herbalism). In medical astrology, the Air element translates to your nervous system and your analytical mind. Your sympathetic nervous system is what triggers your adrenals to secrete stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol whenever you experience an acute stressor. If the stress response is overreactive or prolonged, this creates tension in your body due to an overactive sympathetic nervous system.
As an Air sign, Libra’s key energetic is tension, just as the scales of Libra are in a constant state of tension between opposite ends in an attempt to find balance. This can manifest as tension in the body on a physical or mental/emotional level, such as a tight low back or nervousness, anxiety, or feeling stressed.
The Libra-Aries Polarity
Both Libra and Aries are cardinal signs, initiating the start of major seasonal shifts. The fiery nature of Aries (a cardinal Fire sign) begins the expansive shift into springtime, whereas airy Libra (a cardinal Air sign) starts off the fall equinox.
In medical astrology, Aries rules the head and Libra rules the kidneys, and together they influence the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, connecting the head (hypothalamus and pituitary) and the adrenals (which sit atop the kidneys).
Kidneys as an Air Organ
As an Air sign, Libra rules the kidneys, which are Air organs. Your kidneys are responsible for filtering your blood and keeping your physiological elements (electrolytes and fluids) in balance in order to achieve bodily homeostasis and physiological “harmony”—a key trait of Libra’s ruling planet Venus, which we’ll talk more about in a bit!
On top of the kidneys sit the adrenal glands (which are primarily ruled by Aries, Libra’s opposite sign). The adrenals are a pair of endocrine organs that are necessary for the production of steroid hormones and regulating metabolism, the immune system, and the fight-or-flight stress response. We can view the kidneys and the adrenals as a team that work together to support physiological harmony in the body. As such, the kidney process is reflected in Libra’s symbol of the scales and its keyword “balance.”
As an Air organ, the kidneys balance nitrogen levels in the blood. Not only is nitrogen essential to life, it makes up 78% of the air that you breathe—much more than oxygen! The kidneys also respond to low oxygen levels in the blood by secreting a protein called erythropoietin that stimulates red blood cell production in order to increase tissue oxygenation, further supporting your body’s ability to utilize the “Air” you breathe in.
Libra and Kidney/Adrenal Conditions
As Libra rules the kidneys, kidney conditions are associated with Libra imbalances. This includes kidney stones, kidney infections, or mineral imbalances. Since your kidneys are a key organ of elimination, inefficient kidney function can lead to poor excretion of wastes and toxins from the body, contributing to skin conditions like acne.
As discussed above, your kidneys and adrenals are a team that work together to support physiological balance in the body. Your adrenals are a key part of the HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) axis, which is how your brain communicates with your adrenal glands to regulate your stress response.
In relationship to the adrenals and your stress response, the tension often associated with Libra can manifest as an overactive HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) axis with elevated cortisol levels and an overactive sympathetic nervous system with excess adrenaline.
Venus: The Planet of Love and Harmony
Libra’s planetary ruler is Venus, the planet of balance and harmony (hence the kidney correspondence, as the kidneys maintain acid/base balance and “harmonize” your blood).
Venus values relationships and the expression of love and beauty, relating to your physical five senses (how you sense and appreciate beauty) and your skin. Your skin reflects your internal health and radiates your own inner beauty, meaning imbalances in Libra or Venus can manifest as skin problems.
Venus-Associated Conditions
Venus is also associated with the female reproductive system, specifically the ovaries and the hormone estrogen. Thus imbalances in Libra or excess Venusian tendencies can lead to hormone imbalances like estrogen dominance (too much estrogen), which can then affect the skin, as discussed above.
Venus is all about the sweet things in life (including sugar-rich foods), but unfortunately your ovaries are very sensitive to blood sugar fluctuations. When your blood sugar gets high, your ovaries can become resistant to insulin, leading to hormone imbalances. This season (or for anyone with a predominance of Libra in their natal chart), it’s important to mind your sugar intake and keep your blood sugar levels balanced to support the health of your ovaries, especially if you tend towards hormonal issues, period problems, or skin conditions like acne.
Venus also rules the veins. Libra imbalances can present as venous varicosities or hemorrhoids, which can signify pelvic stagnation which further contributes to ovarian problems and hormone imbalances.
Venus and Copper as the Metal of Love
Venus is associated with the metal copper. As the metal of love and warmth, copper can improve circulation and tissue relaxation. The copper element—whether taken in trace amounts orally (as in trace minerals), as a copper oligo, or applied in small amounts topically—can help promote balanced Libra qualities and may improve the function of the organs ruled by Libra/Venus.
Copper is good for kidney health and helps your body maintain warmth and healthy circulation, which is especially useful as it shifts into the cooler fall season.
Some tips for supporting your warmth body during Libra season:
- Stay warm: keep your kidney area (your mid-to-low back) warm, wear slippers/socks around your house (this will also help improve circulation to your pelvis, promoting uterine and hormonal health)
- Take trace minerals to maintain healthy copper levels and mineral balance
Holistic Medicine for Libra Season
Living in Alignment with Libra Season
Tips to live in alignment with the energetics of Libra season:
- Add trace minerals to your water, especially copper and magnesium
- Avoid excess sugar, as Libra is easily imbalanced by sugar
- You may have to limit coffee and alcohol use during this time in order to support the health of your nervous system (your stress response) and your immune system (since Libra is the start of autumn and cold/flu season). Caffeine and alcohol can interfere with kidney function, blood sugar balance, and an optimal stress response.
- Stay warm (as discussed above)! Libra transitions us into the cooler months of fall, and it’s important to support your body and your immune system by making sure you don’t get cold (especially your feet, neck, and low back).
Plant Medicine for Libra
Based on the energetics of Libra season, we need to focus on the following herbal actions:
- Support the kidneys with mineral-rich diuretics (bonus: the minerals also support hormonal and skin health!)
- Improve skin, vein, and hormone balance health with herbs like Yarrow
- Bring balance to an overactive HPA axis and sympathetic nervous system: nervines, sedating/relaxing adaptogens
Nettles
Nettle leaf (Urtica dioica) is a mineral-rich herb with mild diuretic actions, meaning that it promotes urination and healthy elimination from the kidneys. It’s a highly nutritive herb that tonifies the kidneys while providing minerals necessary for hormonal and skin health.
Hibiscus and Rose
Hibiscus and Rose are both beautiful flowers that are ruled by Venus. These astringent herbs tonify the kidneys as well as the reproductive and cardiovascular systems, and they also provide key nutrients for skin health like vitamin C.
Yarrow
Yarrow has an affinity to both the blood (associated with Mars, which rules Aries) and the venous system (Venus, which rules Libra, Aries’ opposite sign), indicating that Yarrow is a good harmonizer of these two opposite yet complementary planetary energies.
Yarrow helps to relieve liver and pelvic stagnation that can contribute to hormonal imbalances and impact the health of the skin, making it a helpful plant ally during Libra season. Read more about Yarrow’s medicine in this blog article I wrote.
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is an adaptogen that calms and cools an overactive stress response. It’s most helpful for chronic stress and that “wired-and-tired” feeling at night due to elevated cortisol levels.
Passionflower
Like Rose, Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) is a beautiful flower that is ruled by Venus. Passionflower is a calming, sedating herb that’s indicated for restlessness, anxiety, and insomnia.
HAPPY LIBRA SEASON!
Even if Libra doesn’t play a significant role in your astrological chart, we could all benefit from connecting with the energetics of the season in order to keep our bodies balanced. When we live in alignment with Nature, we align with what it takes to be healthy and well.
