The human consciousness ceases its activity and the human being becomes what he or she is in reality - a soul, a fragment of divinity, conscious of its essential oneness with Deity. In contemplation, the life of soul and form is balanced. Neither dominates. Contemplation is an interlude of equilibrium where the soul is focused and the personality is still.

One of the primary hallmarks of being human is the freedom and the burden of choice. There is the age-old question, "How much free will do we really have?" Before answering or even asking that deeply esoteric question, let us consider the fact that we are charged with making decisions almost every instant. How do we make these decisions? How do we choose the direction of our lives? What process do we use to find peaceful and harmonious solutions to our problems - whether large or small? Libra governs this decision making process. The astrological symbol for Libra is the scales, as in the scales of the blind Lady Justice. Each element, every facet of every question, is considered and then carefully weighed on Libra's scales - to determine the best possible choice.

Alice A. Bailey said: 
"The sign Libra is one of peculiar interest, but in a most paradoxical manner, for much of its interest is based upon the fact that it lacks spectacular interest of any kind-except in the case of disciples or those nearing the Path. It is a sign of balancing, of careful weighing of values, and of achieving the right equilibrium between the pairs of opposites. It might be regarded as the sign in which the first real vision of the Path appears and of the goal towards which the disciple must ultimately direct his steps. This Path is the narrow razor-edged Path which runs between the pairs of opposites and which-if it is to be safely trodden-requires the development of a sense of values and the power to utilize rightly the balancing, analytical faculty of the mind."

A primary consideration in decision making is one's conscience - sometimes called the still small voice within. Often, we hear competing voices as we walk the path toward spiritual development. Our personality-driven desire may run squarely into our still small voice of conscience. At this point we must choose whether to satisfy a self-centered desire or follow the voice of our conscience toward the greater good and spiritual advancement.

Sometimes when faced with resolving a very difficult situation, we may avoid or postpone making a decision. Later, we might discover that not making a decision was also a decision. Often we find that the consequences are worse from delaying or not making the decision than if we had gird up our loins and made the decision earlier. Sometimes making decisions requires real soul searching and courage. But, humanity, collectively and individually, is continually faced with the choice between moving deeper into the illusions of materiality or moving upward toward spiritual awakening.

In the Christian Bible, there is the story of the prodigal son, who chose to leave his Father's home to go out into the world of experience and of self-interest. He was blinded by the illusions of mammon. The prodigal son ventured far away from his Father's house. But, after he had learned enough and suffered greatly, the prodigal son chose to return to his Father - a Father who welcomed him with open arms.

From the metaphysical perspective, every soul who chooses to enter into manifestation as a human being on the physical plane creates a reflection of itself which we call the personality. The prodigal son is an allegory for the journey of each personality as it loses itself in the illusions of the physical world - materiality, separation and death. After many lifetimes of being "lost" in the illusions and limitations of selfish pursuits, the person (like the prodigal son) humbly begins to return home to the spiritual source from which it came.

The master Meher Baba said that in the very first lifetime in which it dawns on a person to ask the existential questions: "Who am I?", "What is this?" or "What am I doing here?" at that moment begins their spiritual path of return.

In astrological symbolism, Libra is the choice point. It is the moment when we can begin the spiritual path of return. We can choose to reverse our direction on the wheel of life. We can stop moving out into illusion, and choose to move inward toward the realization that we are and we have always been the spiritual presence we call soul.

The Keyword for Libra is: "I choose the way which leads between the two great lines of force!'

Astrological Readings by Ron Thurlow, Ph.D., Esoteric Astrologer 
Astrological Sign Paintings by Sandy Thurlow 

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