You Are My Way
Reflections on Libra solar eclipse and the archetypal Libra: the court hall for destined partings and unions
Dear everyone,
If this newsletter drops in your mailbox, I highly suggest reading it on the app, or better on the browser. This is a lengthy write-up and it could be a much more comfortable experience.
Maybe brew yourself a cup of tea or coffee, or grab your favorite drink. If it’s nighttime, light a candle. Play soft, unintrusive music in the background if you will. As you may have noticed by now, Rites & Roses newsletters are not fast food. Make it a slow, pleasant, holistic experience for yourself. This is the whole point of Rites & Roses and a sure way to make it serve you.
Enjoy the ride,
Sundari Sera
“The summary of the advice of all prophets is this; find yourself a mirror.” ~Shams-i Tabrizi
Sitting on the shores of the Mediterranean, I find myself reflecting on the words of Sufi mystic Shams-i Tabrizi as we stand at the threshold of the Libra Solar Eclipse. Sun is still shining too strongly in this part of the world, doing no justice to the bygone fall equinox, which is usually my favorite time of the year in northern latitudes. The fall, justice, and relationships—famous playgrounds of the Libra archetype. As a Libra born precisely at the equinox, I feel an intense connection to these themes, especially during this energetically sensitive eclipse window.
I can’t ignore how directly these recent lunations activate my natal chart. The Pisces Lunar Eclipse fell directly on my natal Moon, and now this upcoming Libra Solar Eclipse will conjunct with my Vertex, and will be just four degrees apart from my natal Mars—forming another powerful conjunction; and the cherry on top, an exact square to my MC & IC, as well as my Uranus and Neptune—planets sitting on my MC. In between, the equinox marked the end of my 33rd spin around the Sun.
This intense energetic rollercoaster has been interesting to witness and navigate. I would describe my modus operandi over the last three weeks as “a high-functioning out-of-body experience”: deep autumn cleaning, cooking good food, rearranging my place, and writing enough words to craft a book, but feeling less gravity and sense of orientation than a feather. My psychic antennas, sleep, and dreams have been deeply affected. The strong activations on my natal points and planets suggest that life-altering events may be on the horizon and I feel the lull before the storm in my bones. In light of this, the best, and really the best, I could do was surrender to the flow with humility, handing in the remote to life’s intelligence.
This, I admit, is my self-righteous justification for why this newsletter might be all over the place. Still, I hope it conveys something meaningful amidst the chaos.
During eclipse seasons, when physical, emotional, and psychological sensitivities tend to heighten, it’s wiser to not force things or impose rigid plans. These portals remind us that life doesn’t always adhere to a linear, logical path. An eclipse occurs when the Earth, Sun, and Moon align in a way that a shadow is cast upon one of the luminaries. This shadow is a poignant symbol of our blurred sight over what’s happening behind the scenes; clarity often eludes us until after the eclipse passes and the events start to unfold. In those moments, we may find ourselves in a state of eerie unknowing, as our light sources are temporarily obscured, leaving us feeling disoriented and somewhat vulnerable.
It’s as if time itself has distorted, and the divine sits over a chess board behind a veil, guiding the pieces while we sit in the waiting room.
Yet, for this particular Solar Eclipse in Libra taking place on the 2nd of October, we may not be entirely oblivious to what might be approaching. Having experienced a previous Libra Solar Eclipse in October 2023, we carry some insights about what this lunation might awaken within and without. Eclipse energy is known for its unexpected twists and turns; even if we have a more or less inkling of what it might be about, the how and when can still catch us completely off guard.
Since the start of 2023, we’ve collectively navigated a series of profound lessons and transformations surrounding themes of self versus other, independence versus collaboration, self-assertion versus diplomacy, and the quest for our true desires as they align—or conflict—with our relationships. Not only that, the very foundations of our lives have been undergoing a profound process of deconstruction and reconstruction, and this restructuring energy will continue to resonate for several more months. In the last 14 months, we’ve witnessed crucial transits through all four cardinal signs—Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn—each of which plays a vital role in shaping our life paths and steering the collective direction, as these are the leading archetypes of the Zodiac and in our psyche. The nodal transits along the Aries/Libra axis, Pluto’s final moments in Capricorn for the next 245 years, and now Mars’, the ruler of the North Node’s, extended stay in Cancer for nearly seven months—an unusually long transit in a sign for the red planet—have been rubbing the backbones of our lives in some disturbing, some rewarding, but ultimately in the most necessary ways.
In the previous newsletter, I made a point about why we’ve been going through what we’ve been going through as reflected in the overwhelming astrology of the last few years:
Through different archetypal dialogues reflected by these simultaneous transits, we’ve been given many checkpoints only to be guided towards the same point. And this full moon at the degree of culmination handing us a recapitulation of all those checkpoints. From here, we are taken to the inevitable with Pluto’s visit to the 29° of Capricorn in autumn, which will “coincide” with the eclipse season—the season of grand shifts.
The inevitable endings and changes.
The inevitable truths.
The inevitable goodbyes and welcomes.
The inevitability of our destiny.
The upcoming shift of slow-moving planets—Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto into new signs in 2025 is nothing short of monumental. This isn’t just a minor adjustment in the celestial dance; it promises to be a seismic event that will leave a lasting imprint on our collective consciousness. I foresee that we are on the cusp of some of the most significant transformations since 2020, the year of you-know-what.
2025 will awaken us, both individually and as a collective, from our tendencies to overanalyze and control, plunging us into an ocean of heightened perspective, acceptance, and flow. It will compel us to embrace softness and renew our faith, although the actual experience of it may be more trying than it sounds. We will be confronted with the need to surrender to the unknown, challenging our perceptions of free will, and cultivating deeper compassion and spiritual maturity. Only by embracing this shift can we begin to co-create a different reality together.
For now, we are still getting ready to be ready.
Our next collective curriculum: you and me
With this final eclipse in the Aries/Libra axis, the cosmos is sending a clear message: our next focus is on equilibrium, truth, and relationships. Yet, we’ve already had a glimpse of what’s ahead since the October 2023 Libra Solar Eclipse. Over the past year, we've been prompted to confront our longstanding relationship patterns—our needs, desires, longings and the company we keep—and what these choices reveal about us. Sensitive themes of reciprocity, fairness, projection, and commitment have been stirred to the surface.
We've been offered reflections of our true desires through both existing close relationships and new destined encounters—be it in romantic, martial, business, platonic, or clientele pairings. Some of us have ended relationships, while others are still navigating those tough waters. Many have shifted phases, let go of old behaviors or broke free from repetitive cycles. Ending of, or consideration of ending some contracts, as well as serendipitous meetings have revealed some truths about whom we want to be our mirrors, or not. Regardless of the external circumstances, each interaction has provided a chance to see ourselves more clearly—if we’ve been willing to be honest.
For some of us, the struggle to be true to ourselves has been hindering our authenticity in life and formation of truly fulfilling relationships. Now this inner awareness has reached to a point of forcing us to face any dishonesty and insincerity and to question what fairness truly means. What does it mean to be fair, virtuous, and considerate; and how is it possible to be any of these towards others when we continuously betray ourselves in the first place?
We've come to understand the cost of denying our truth as a sovereign being (Aries) to maintain long overdue relationships. Perhaps we are redefining what “relationship” genuinely means to us. As Rilke eloquently articulates, the conventions and expectations surrounding relationships are undeniably complex. While societal pressure often centers on romantic connections, other types of relationships are not immune to these expectations either.
“No area of human experience is so well furnished with conventions as this: there are lifebelts of the most various inventions, dinghies and buoyancy devices; society in its wisdom has found ways of constructing refuges of all kinds, for since it has been disposed to make the love-life a pastime, it has also felt obliged to trivialize it, to make it cheap, risk-free and secure, as public pleasures usually are.” ~Rainer Maria Rilke
In this transformative moment marked by the eclipse, we will be given a chance to embrace the opportunity to explore and redefine the essence of our connections and commitments, striving for authenticity as we navigate the fated endings, but also welcome the gifts sent into our ways—all to carry us to a more balanced and evolved version of ourselves.
Astrological eclipses occur when a New or Full Moon aligns closely with the Moon's Nodes—specifically, the North and the South Node, which are renowned destiny points, symbolizing our soul’s journey: where we’ve come from and where we’re evolving towards. They encapsulate the soul’s imprints, its past experiences, and its aspirations for growth and expansion. They represent both unfinished business from our conscious past—like our childhood—and the echoes of previous incarnations, alongside the current and future longings of the soul.
However, the desires of the soul often diverge from our more “reasonable” choices and desires. It’s only when we commit to a truly soul-centered life that we can align our personal choices with the pull of destiny. This is no easy feat. But times like eclipses serve as powerful portals, vividly illuminating what we need to release and what we should embrace to align more closely with our soul’s purpose and dharma.
Dharma, a Sanskrit term meaning “decree,” refers to the order and law governing our lives—an alignment with which the soul is inherently comfortable, even if our ego might resist. Sometimes, dharma is equated with our potential, but while this isn’t entirely incorrect, it lacks nuance. The soul’s potential is indeed limitless, yet when it manifests through a physical body, those possibilities become constrained by our earthly experiences. The modern Western narrative often promotes the idea that we can be anything we desire if we just muster enough self-confidence and determination. Yet, the options available to us—and our awareness of them—are naturally limited in any given lifetime. Some souls may journey through a more restricted set of experiences, while others are here to explore a broader range.
If we gaze upon the world and see only inequality and injustice due to the uneven distribution of options, we’re not yet viewing life through the lens of the soul. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t strive for fairness in our actions and sphere of influence; maturity is to recognize that the concept of justice operates differently in the microcosm compared to the macrocosm. Human notion of justice is naturally flawed, steeped in duality. In contrast, divine justice is impeccable and non-dualistic. It requires at least two parties to mediate any sense of justice in the material world, whereas divine justice means everything is.
Confused yet?
Well, this is the game of Libra: contradictions and paradoxes.
It’s no surprise that justice, fairness, equality, and truth lie at the heart of the Libra archetype. These concepts are often misunderstood and tangled in the complexities of our physical experience. Libra is the only sign in the whole Zodiac that is represented by an inanimate object—the Scales—hinting at her intrinsic focus on ideals rather than the tangible. As the second sign ruled by Venus, alongside Taurus, Libra embodies a different facet of Venusian energy. While Taurus grounds this energy in the material world—expressing beauty, pleasure, and love through the physical—the essence of Libra dances in the realm of the abstract and the social.
Recognizing Taurean Venus is often straightforward; we all inhabit bodies and share common physical needs. We know when we have back pain or when we savor a delicious meal. In contrast, grasping the essence of Libran Venus is more elusive, as the air-ruled Libra governs the heart and the mind. The ways we experience love, art, and harmony vary wildly among individuals, even as we share essential commonalities. The body is finite and contained. The heart and mind are boundless.
Our understanding of Libra’s themes is closely tied to the freedom and harmony we cultivate within ourselves, unclouded by external chaos, and in fact constant extraction of harmony from the chaos—this is exactly why Libra represents Art. What exists in the outer world serves as a mirror for this archetype, reflecting back the deeper truths we seek. In turn, Libra acts as a clear mirror for others, revealing their own complexities and desires. Libra can know who the other is more than they know themselves, with her intuitive intellect, dancing through the complexities of connection, she sees the unspoken truths and feels the quiet yearnings of those around her, crafting her choices with delicate consideration. In this way, she becomes a mirror reflecting the beauty of shared humanity, fostering bonds that resonate with understanding and common ground.
That’s why Themis, Lady of Good Counsel, Lady Justice, is blindfolded. Her law and justice are defined by the unbiased truth, which comes from within and is not manipulated by outside influences, forms, or what seems to be on the surface. That’s why, at least ideally, judicial independence is a prerequisite to the rule of law, and nothing is above the law. On the macro-scale, cosmic justice operates with wisdom that sees beyond our limited perspectives, reminding us that true fairness is woven into the very fabric of existence itself.
It’s essential to remember that Libra is one of the four cardinal signs—leaders in their own right—and, as the opposite of Aries, she inherently encompasses an innate swiftness, a warrior’s mindset, and a taste for keeping everyone in line. Yet, she is first and foremost a strategist and diplomat. For her, addressing conflict “politically” is instinctual; while war remains a last resort, it is still an option. A fitting way to envision Libra would be the iron fist in a velvet glove.
She balances the scales in one hand, but what does the other hand hold?
A sword—the sword of Truth…
cutting through deception with clarity and objectivity, embodying the principles of Natural Law. Execution of such law is the ultimate mercy, though our human pride may struggle to embrace this. Remember, the law exists independently of personal biases and is above all.
Consider, too, that Libra is the exaltation sign of Saturn. While Saturn feels at home in Capricorn and Aquarius, it thrives in Libra. Isn’t it intriguing that a sign often deemed passive and vain serves as the exalted ground for one of the most formidable planets? Meanwhile, the planet typically perceived as cruel and burdensome finds exaltation in Libra, the archetypal representative of beauty, art, peace, and harmony—the very pinnacle of human aspiration. I wish astrology were as straightforward as sciolistic chatters might suggest; it is a realm that deserves much deeper contemplation.
Conversely, Libra’s capacity to perceive both sides clearly and her deep-seated need for harmony can lead to an inability to wield her sword when necessary. In her desire to avoid conflict, she may bend over backward to accommodate others, sometimes to the point of denying her own existence. This behavior often traps her in cycles of unacknowledged resentment, passive aggression, and lingering discontent, and this pattern is a common struggle in many human relationships, even as each dynamic bears its unique nuances shaped by the individuals involved.
This eclipse summons us to a court hall where we will be asked to evaluate ourselves and others, our cooperative activities, commitments, and the needs for greater harmony in our lives in the light of all these Libran quests. Even if we do our best to escape from such responsibility, Libra is the bringer of the quickest karma, meaning, without much delay life will take care of anything that requires an act of balance. We may choose to resist, but the astrology of the near future warns us that such resistance might cost us our mental and physical wellbeing once the Nodes shift into Pisces/Virgo in January. It is the wisest of acts to let ourselves be guided in the direction we’re shown to at such pivotal moments of leap in destiny.
Deciphering the configurations…
At this lunation, Venus—the planetary ruler of the Solar Eclipse—resides in Scorpio, urging us to not shy away from the truth, no matter what. This is a time to dive deep into the complexities of our relationships and confront the uncomfortable realities we may have long avoided.
Venus in Scorpio craves depth and truth at all costs, it wants the good, the bad, and the ugly.
We are invited to examine our intimacy issues with courage, recognizing that we may need to face the ending of longstanding connections that keep us stuck and prevent us from the experience of true emotional intimacy and fulfillment. Scorpio demands depth; superficiality and half-heartedness will no longer hold sway. If we have maintained the facade of niceties out of fear of goodbyes and their consequences, we now stand at a critical crossroads where we will be pushed to make decisions and act on them.
As Mercury aligns with the eclipse, mere self-reflection will not suffice; we must also engage in honest and negotiatory dialogues with others.
But it’s not just Mercury, there is also an exact conjunction from Black Moon Lilith to the eclipse. I could write a whole book on the Lilith archetype—the rejected and ostracized dark feminine that represents where and how we are repressed, our sacred rage, and our way to liberation from the oppressive and controlling system that condemned our sexual sovereignty and projected a distorted, impure image onto it, imprisoning the dark feminine component of the psyche in shame and guilt trips in order to manipulate and tyrannize. So whatever emerges as the after-effect of this eclipse, it will also make us realize how repressed we have been and how much unexpressed anger we have accumulated in our relational scenarios; this is an instant where our sacred rage might well be our liberator.
Indeed, this process may be deeply emotional and vulnerable, reflected by the Grand Water Trine formed between Mars in Cancer, Venus in Scorpio, and Saturn in Pisces. Saying farewell, concluding a chapter, or acknowledging an ending can be profoundly triggering. Yet this particular alignment also speaks to the culmination of long-standing patterns—perhaps the closure of enduring contracts or the dissolution of generational cycles that have shaped our lives. We may find ourselves confronting deep-seated entanglements, particularly with maternal figures, and how those dynamics have influenced our close relationships and relational choices. As indicated by the highly harmonious grand trine, the gift in such deeper emotional realizations is the opportunity for profound healing and regeneration that will help us to transform those patterns and move on from what is due, while supporting us to embark on new shores that are more aligned with our true selves. We need to let ourselves cry and let others cry as much as needed, as this will be the simplest yet most efficient purifier during such alchemical processes.
Like all South Node eclipses, this one too invites us—or else forces us—to discharge, release, and inevitably drift away from what must come to an end. Yet, being a New Moon Solar Eclipse at the same time, it also heralds fated beginnings, illuminating new paths, alliances, and choices that last year’s October eclipse may have ignited. As much as it may feel uncomfortable, this duality offers a powerful opportunity: as we let go of what no longer serves us, we simultaneously get presented with fresh and transformative possibilities that will guide us toward our destined paths with more ease. In fact, whatever new beginnings and relational scenarios play out throughout the coming months will lead us to a new 10-year cycle, as we are now closing the chapter of our lives that started in 2015.
This is where, eventually, the difficult goodbyes disguise blessed welcomes, for those of us who can stand up and show up as the Aries North Node demands. This is a promise of harmonious unions in our near future that prerequisite a warrior’s and emperor’s determination. We are offered a chance for greater feminine-masculine balance within ourselves and in our relationships thus in the collective but first, our masculine side has to step up with much strength, maturity, and courage.
Moving towards the North Node in Pisces…
“Only two meditators can be lovers”.
This phrase struck me to the core when I heard it from one of my teachers many years ago and made me realize a deeper longing when it comes to close relationships of all sorts. It speaks to the profound essence of true connection. In its higher expression, Libra seeks not just a company but a true counterpart where both individuals resonate at the same frequency. In such sacred union, love and the concept of relationship transcends mere attraction or transactional formalities; it becomes a shared journey of growth, where each party reflects the other’s depths. When both individuals are grounded in their own truths, they create a space where love can flourish, rooted in genuine respect and balance—a beautiful manifestation of Libra’s ideal of equilibrium.
In this way, we become each other’s signposts and reminders on the path.
You are my way is not an expression of codependency where we put the other on a pedestal or sacrifice ourselves. It is a testimony of true camaraderie through which we walk towards something greater than ourselves.
Evolutionarily, we are transitioning to connections and collaborations with those more “similar” to us, meaning, those who resonate on a soul level—who share our frequency and vision. These unions will transcend superficial markers like race, religion, age, gender, or societal conventions and facilitate the exploration of the invisible threads that bind us. Collectively, we are learning that true kinship lies in the values, dreams, and aspirations we hold dear; and it starts from our closest relationships. In this sacred space of resonance, we create a sanctuary where our authentic selves can flourish, setting examples for next generations, and illuminating the path to a more harmonious existence for humanity. Here, collaboration becomes a beautiful expression of our shared essence, revealing that, at our core, we are one.
“Find yourself a mirror.”
In the bigger picture, the endings and beginnings of relational contracts this Libra Solar Eclipse denotes will not be an end in themselves. Once the North Node switches into Pisces, the value of soul contracts over societal contracts will become much more clear. We will experience these relational shifts not only because we have evolved as individuals, but also because the systemic changes on the horizon require us to choose differently in our one-on-one connections as these partnerships will serve as the foundational stones for the intentional communities that will emerge more prominently in the Aquarian Age as of 2026, when the North Node shifts into Aquarius. As we embrace this transformation, we are called to foster connections that reflect our deepest values and aspirations, paving the way for a more harmonious and interconnected world.
This brings to my mind the poignant dialouge between Buddha and his cousin and devoted disciple Ananda.
One day, Ananda shares his insight with Buddha: “It seems to me that half of the spiritual path is the others—good friendship, companionship, and camaraderie.”
Buddha rebukes him:
“No, Ananda, don’t say that. The whole way is the others.”
May we have the courage and the maturity to say necessary goodbyes that will turn out to be a blessing for all parties involved. May we be truthful with ourselves about who we are and where we are evolving toward, so that we can recognize who our mirrors are when they come across. May our relationships serve truth and beauty, and not become our prisons or escapes. May the sword of truth liberate us from the enslaving patterns and ties. May we break the intergenerational cycles of trauma and repetition of stories in our own relationships and families. May we be role models for our children by choosing our truth, wellbeing and peace, and not poison them with unhappy marriages or false pretenses. May we have the fortitude, courage and strength to set ourselves and others free.
May each farewell we pay and each welcome we say help us walk each other closer home.
Love guides.
Just wow, i definitely had lots of reflections and understandings, thank you🙏❤️