Love and Relationships

“You don’t attract what you want, you attract what you are.”

~ Dr. Wayne Dyer

Welcome to the second half of the year! The astrological calendar begins at the Spring Equinox when the Sun reaches zero degrees Aries. From that point forward, the days are longer than the nights. That is, until now. When we reach the Autumn Equinox six months later, the Sun reaches zero degrees Libra and the nights become longer than the days. In the Northern Hemisphere, Libra marks our shift from the light half of the year, into the dark.

Each equinox marks a moment when the day is equal to the night. It signifies a balance of light and dark, yin and yang, masculine and feminine. Libra is symbolized by the scales and shares these same themes of balance and harmony. Every person, regardless of gender, has both masculine and feminine energies. Each has its power, wisdom and purpose. We need both to be fully expressed humans. Balancing the two does not necessarily mean they are equal all the time. The same is true for healthy relationships, there must be both give and take. Our cycles give us a guide to find this balance each month. If you aren’t cycling, or you’re on hormonal birth control, you can use the moon as your guide. The first half (pre-ovulation) is active, masculine, and mirrored by the waxing moon. The second half of our cycle (post ovulation) is feminine, receptive, and mirrored by the waning moon. If we spend too much time being masculine dominate, we end up feeling overworked, overwhelmed, and burned out. If we spend too much time feminine dominate, we end up passive in our own lives as everyone else’s needs come first.

Libra is ruled by Venus the Goddess of love and beauty. We all need to both give and receive love to feel fulfilled. The theme of Love and Relationships is a big topic that permeates every other area of life. We won’t be able to address everything in a single month, but we are giving it special attention. Often when we think about the things we’d like to change about our relationships, it’s the other person that we want to do things differently. However, we forget to ask ourselves if we are truly being the kind of partner we want to have. The quote at the top is Dr. Wayne Dyer explaining how the Law of Attraction works. Attracting something, or someone, is about more than just wanting it (no matter how bad!). It’s about embodying the version of you who already has it and being on the same vibration. I began my own personal development journey trying to heal my love life and did many practices around attracting a partner. Spoiler alert: the work of finding and keeping your soulmate is actually about becoming your own soulmate. When we give ourselves the kind of love and care we crave, other people are more inclined to do it too.

As the second of the Air Signs, Libra brings our attention to how we communicate love to others. The suggested reading this month is The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. The original book is written for married couples, but the concepts are universal and can be applied to anyone you feel love for. He has written many follow up editions for singles and even children! Feel free to choose whichever version resonates with you.

Your Challenge for this month is to have a weekly soulmate date! You can do this with your partner if you feel it will strengthen the relationship, or you can take yourself on a date (even if you have a partner!). The dates can be whatever you want, but I encourage you to treat it like a first date. Care about the details of what you are wearing, and where you’re going. The goal is for you to feel romanced, loved, and like a woman worthy of being appreciated.

Resources for Libra Season 

Chakra: Heart – air element, love and connection, balancing and integration

Crystals: Rose Quartz – feminine love energy, and Green Aventurine – masculine love energy

Essential Oils: Pink Grapefruit or Rose

Reading: The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman

Challenge: Soulmate Date Nights

On The New Moon 

Take some time by yourself to set intentions for the new cycle. Remember this is your practice, there are no rules. Allow yourself some freedom to experiment with what works for you. 

  • Set the space for inner work.

  • New Moon meditation

  • Journal Questions

  • Gratitude List

  • Set Intentions

  • Closing ritual:

 Closing phrase: “This or something better manifests for me now, under grace and in perfect ways.” 

Affirmation: “I am balanced.” 

Meditation

Journal Prompts 

Do you feel your energy is masculine or feminine dominate most often? What practices can you implement to bring the opposite energy into balance?

What qualities to you love about your partner (current or future)?

What things do they do that make you feel loved? How do you show love to those you care about?

What type of person is your soulmate attracted to? What qualities do they look for?

How can you tap back in and embody that version of yourself on a daily basis?

 

Gratitude List 

At least 5 relationships that have helped you grow.