The zodiac sign Libra is also known in Vedic Astrology by the name Thula. It is an air sign, meaning that it is related to the intellect. It is therefore a sign of thinkers. Among Libra ascendants are musicians, writers, and politicians.
Libra is characterized by the symbol of balance. In Western Astrology, this symbol is associated with the meaning of justice. But in Vedic Astrology the symbol is more associated with the scale used in markets when making a transaction.
Rearing up front, the balance scale, full of vitality during the day, blue in color, endowed with Rajas, from the West, moving through terrain, killing, destroying, a Sudra
Parashara, medium bodied, two feet and ruled by Venus.
Libra corresponds to the 7th house in the Natural Zodiac. This means that it is the seventh sign counting from Aries. It is the house that corresponds to the vast array of relationships that we have, including love relationships.
The Vedic sage Parashara mentions that the symbol of Libra is a balance in equilibrium. It is also mentioned in the ancient book of Vedic Astrology Jataka Parijata, which adds that the physical site of Libra is the marketplace of a city, where large amounts of valuable objects are found.
What is the meaning of Thula and the market?
Let’s stop and think a bit about what these ancient books tell us about Thula. What do a market, valuable objects, and a scale have to do with relationships?
From a young age, we are taught an idealistic concept of love that can lead us to make mistakes in our relationships. We learn that love is unconditional, that love conquers all, and that any sacrifice is acceptable to demonstrate true love.
We all know that love can take many forms. For our purposes, let’s differentiate two of them here: maternal love and romantic love.
A mother takes care of her newborn child. In that relationship she gives everything. The baby only receives. This is a motherly love, a love that asks for nothing in return. The mother willingly makes any sacrifice for the baby, and the child always will receive it. The baby’s well-being and smiles are reward enough for the mother. This is love that bears everything. In Vedic Astrology, it is love that is represented by the 4th house and the Moon.
This motherly love is not the love found in friendly or romantic relationships. That love typically is conditional. We do not tolerate our partner or friend receiving 100% of the time. We expect some giving in return. However, we often enter into romantic relationships with the expectation that they will have the characteristics of maternal love. We even demurely call our partner “baby”. Nevertheless, when we confuse romantic and maternal love, things start to go wrong for one or both of the parties.
A market is a place where there are things that we need. We exchange money for them. Unlike meeting someone on the street that is trying to sell something, the market has many sellers that are competing for our business. This way, we don’t overpay for something that isn’t worth it. We also won’t receive something extremely valuable for a few pennies. There has to be a balance for both parties. This is the lesson of Libra: the preservation of harmony.
The Sun is debilitated in Libra
The Sun is debilitated in Libra. A king will not feel comfortable in a market, because he will not be accustomed to asking for something or haggling over it.
The Sun is also the signifier of the soul, which is to say that spiritual development should be a personal experience. Blindly following others can be detrimental to the spiritual evolution of Libras. Spiritual development must be an internal and individual work.
Libra ascendants have a tendency to listen to the ideas and opinions of others first before listening to their own. This, in some circumstances, can yield positive results. However, constantly placing a premium on the opinions and ideas of others, as a characteristic of your personality, can result in many unhappy moments and unfavorable situations.
You cannot always please everyone without bringing discomfort to yourself. You also cannot always be what others want you to be. The weakening of the Sun indicates this tendency to cede power to others. Defending identity or position can be difficult when the opinion of others is so important to Libra ascendants.
The excerpt of song lyrics presented below really sums up the struggle of Libra ascendants.
I’ve looked at life from both sides now,
Both Sides Now – Joni Mitchell
From win and lose and still somehow,
It’s life’s illusions I recall,
I really don’t know life at all. [Source: Joni Mitchell]
Saturn is exalted in Libra
Saturn rules the 4th (Capricorn) and 5th (Aquarius) houses for Libra, the houses of emotions and intellect respectively. Saturn is Yogakaraka, ruling both an angular house, the 4th, and a trikona house, the 5th house. That is why Saturn is very auspicious for Libra. If you would like to learn more about Yogakaraka, I provide a more detailed explanation about it, along with angular and trikona houses, in my guide to Aquarius.
Saturn is exalted in Libra. He is the servant in the royal court of the planets, where the Sun is king. Parashara mentions that Libra is a Sudra or member of the worker or serf class. It is important to understand that servant, in this case, does not carry the negative connotation that it does in Western societies. To be a servant is to be without egotism. It is to be altruistic, devoted and humble. These are qualities to be admired, not scorned.
A servant is comfortable in the market. From their humble condition, they can put themselves in the place of the merchant and reach an agreement where the exchange of goods is fair for both.
The symbol of the balance is given to Libra by Saturn. This can make decisions particularly difficult. While the ascendants of some zodiac signs make their decisions based on emotions, others use intellect. In the case of Libra, there is a balance between emotions and logic, between the heart and the head. This can cause them to vacillate between different opinions or actions, experiencing difficulty deciding on one choice over the other.
Libras are indecisive
Making the wrong decision is a big problem for Libra ascendants, since they are their own main judge. In this sense, a bad decision can separate them from others, causing them to obsess over and feel guilty about the results of their actions.
If you ask a Libra ascendant for their viewpoint about an issue, they often will answer you with several possibilities. They will go into detail about the pros and cons of the possible decisions, but in the end you will not be able to draw a conclusion from what they say. You will be perplexed because a matter that did not seem very complex to you, actually was in the eyes of a Libra.
In this way, Libras are often great procrastinators. They leave everything to the last minute, avoiding making decisions due to the possibility of being wrong and then bearing the consequences. They are indecisive people.
Several positions of planets for Libra ascendants indicate that making decisions and putting into practice concrete actions will be very helpful in their evolution to overcome their indecisiveness. One of these is expressed by debilitation of the Moon in the 2nd house (Scorpio).
The conformist behavior and indecision of Libras can bring dissatisfaction, insecurity, and problems within the family. In addition, going exclusively after material things and the accumulation of wealth will limit a spiritual life that can lead to stagnation and acquiescing to the will of others.
Being able to appreciate both sides of a problem, or multiple perspectives, is not entirely negative. It is a virtue. That is why Libra ascendants often are good judges or arbitrators, and even philosophers. But Libras always should exercise caution to ensure that assuming responsibility for making decisions does not overwhelm them, as it could be the cause of a prolonged stagnation and depression.
Libra ascendants must understand that to do something you do not have to be an expert. Life consists of making decisions and sometimes those that we make turn out to be wrong. This is true for everyone.
Libras are misunderstood
Libra is a misunderstood sign. Some just describe a Libra ascendant as someone who likes fashion, who goes after cute and trivial things, or who is excessively sociable. This is far from the truth.
They have good taste, as the ruler of their ascendant is Venus, which connects them with the world of arts and healing. Libra ascendants in general can be modest people, since the 4th and 5th house are ruled by Saturn. They are restrained. Their heart and mind tend towards practicality. Their mind is rational and can stay cool when making a decision, even though the process may be difficult.
The actions of Libras must be directed towards their own transformation. This is expressed in the regency of Venus over the 8th house, which is the sign of Taurus. They must also be directed towards external actions, due to the exaltation of Jupiter in the 10th house (Cancer).
Libra and health
Venus is the determinant of health for Libras. If this planet is strong, then, all other things being equal, they will be in good health.
The parts of the body that correspond to the sign of Libra are the lumbar region, lower part of the large intestine, kidneys, and internal sexual organs such as the ovaries and uterus, or the testicles and the prostate.
The health conditions that Libra ascendants present typically are related to disorders that involve all three doshas or humors, similar to the other air signs Aquarius and Gemini. For example, a Libra person can have diseases related to increased phlegm, such as sinusitis or frequent colds (kapha), and at the same time can have constipation (vata). If Venus is weak for Libra, they can have diseases such as diabetes, urinary tract or kidney diseases, and increased uric acid (gout).
When the slowest moving planets around the Sun (Jupiter, Saturn, Rahu, and Ketu) transit Pisces, they can cause health problems for Libras. In addition they may experience problems related to disputes and problems in the profession.
When the planet Mercury transits Venus and the Sun in the sign of Pisces, during the months of March and April, health-related problems may also occur for Libras.
Libra and love
The house of relationships for the Libra ascendant corresponds to the sign Aries (7th house). So Libras tend to have a strong determined partner that is a leader.
Mars is the determining planet of marriage for Libra. Mars rules houses 7 and 2. This shows that with their partners they can form a family estate, or that their partners will facilitate that they build this legacy for the family.
The partners of Libra ascendants can be determined people and the relationships can be volatile at times. Mars will have an influence on Libras, so that they align themselves with the tastes and values of their partners, and in this way obtain a sense of self-worth.
A strong planet Mars will give you a good marriage, as well as a Mercury without afflictions, and the strength of the 2nd, 4th, 8th and 12th houses.
The professions of Libra
The 10th house for the Libra ascendant is the sign of Cancer, ruled by the Moon. So the Moon is the determining planet of his profession.
Libras tend to have jobs related to the arts or healing. The Moon connects them with service-related careers, both as counselors and therapists.
Libras can experience ups and downs in their careers if the Moon is in a Dushtan or malefic house at the time of birth. In this case, the weakness of the Moon can bring you constant changes in your profession.
The influence of other planets in the ascendant, the 2nd and 10th house also help determine their careers.
Careers related to Libra ascendants are:
- Musicians
- Painters
- Singers
- Actors
- Doctors
- Politicians
- Public service
- Judges
- Referees
- Healers
- Nurses
- Therapists
- Masseurs
Acknowledgements
I am indebted to my professor, Sam Geppi, founder of the American Academy of Vedic Art and Science, for his infinite patience and tenacity in teaching me many of the concepts expressed in this article.
I also appreciate the teachings of Professor VK Choudhry, founder of the very effective study of the natal chart: Systems Approach, the basis for effective and reliable readings.
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