Whether you’re pumped to get baking all things pumpkin spice or you’re more than ready to transition from shorts weather to sweaters galore, Libra season – and the fall equinox, which coincides with the sun moving into this cardinal air sign – gives you the green light to soak up all the autumnal vibes. But the sun’s time in Libra is about far more than swapping out wardrobes and craving cozy sweets. It’s also a time of year dedicated to bolstering partnerships, cultivating balance in every area of life, allowing airtime for both sides of any argument, and prioritizing harmony above all else. Here’s what you need to know about Libra season in general – and particularly in 2022.
When Is Libra Season?
Libra season happens annually from approximately Sept. 22-23 to Oct. 22-23. This year (at least in US time zones), the sun hangs out in Libra from Sept. 22 to Oct. 23.
The Overall Mood and Vibe of Libra Season
For a sense of how Libra functions in astrology and colors the energy from mid September to mid October, look no further than the sign’s ruler: sweet Venus, the planet of relationships, beauty, and art, as well as money and values. Libra is drawn to and thrives on socializing. They often strive to be the host with the most, as well as someone who’s known for creating aesthetically pleasing (perhaps Instagram-friendly) and memorable moments. Anyone born with Libra placements in their birth chart (meaning Libra is their sun sign, one of their “big three”, or even their “big six”) might be driven to set a scene that’s as buzzy as it is blissful and eye-catching.
The other side of that coin: Libra abhors conflict and will go out of their way to preempt it. This goes hand in hand with the air sign’s symbol – the Scales – which represents their need to create balance and see both sides of any given issue. They’re natural peacemakers and mediators. It also bears noting that as a cardinal sign, Libra is the most go getter, initiative taking of all the air signs. So while they’d seriously prefer not to butt heads in order to blaze their trail, Libra is wired to dive headfirst into ambitious projects.
Associated with the seventh house of partnership, Libras might love hosting a crowd but are actually most content when they’re pairing up and connecting with a loved one or dear friend one on one. (If any sign is most susceptible to being a serial monogamist, it’s the cardinal air sign!)
All of that said, while the sun moves through the sign during Libra season, we’re all more aware of the state of our one-on-one bonds. You could find you’re more inspired than you were during previous seasons to get serious about swiping. Or maybe it’s become all too apparent that a particular friendship is peppered with red flags. It may also be as simple as realizing that you’re most productive working on a professional project with one colleague versus a group or deciding to work out with a personal trainer as opposed to hitting the gym solo. Libra season also makes us even more aware of issues of injustice and imbalance that must be addressed – in our personal lives, sure, but also in the world.
Important Takeaways For Libra Season 2022
Although the sun moves through Libra every year, the moon and other planets each have their own unique paths through the sky, making for a unique astrological picture of Libra season that differs from one year to the next. Here’s what’s going on astrologically during Libra season 2022.
Mercury retrograde is in the spotlight.
The planet of communication, transportation, and technology has been retrograde (aka appearing to move backward from our vantage point on Earth) since Sept. 9. Mercury retrogrades happen three to four times a year for three weeks at a time. And while the trickster planet began this particular retrograde in Libra, it backs up into Virgo on Sept. 23. That means that, although Libra season is in full swing, the way we express ourselves and think will take on a decidedly Virgoan tone – aka detail focused, intellectual, and service oriented – until Oct. 2.
For a sense of what it might feel like, think back to themes and turns of events that happened around Aug. 20 to 24 when Mercury moved through the same degrees of Virgo that it’ll revisit. If Mercury in Libra – marked by a desire to connect through partnership and to lean on diplomacy – is more your speed, keep in mind the messenger planet will be back in the air sign from Oct. 10 to 29.
The sun will oppose Jupiter, which can be really lucky.
Jupiter, the planet of luck, abundance, and expansion, is retrograde as well – and will be moving backward through Aries, the cardinal fire sign, during Libra season this year. And on Sept. 26, the sun opposes Jupiter, which might sound crunchy, but it’s generally super fortunate. Jupiter’s magnifying effect amplifies everything it comes in contact with, so when it opposes the sun – which is all about self-image and vitality – your wildest dreams can come true. That said, there’s a tendency to embrace excess and be overconfident, which could lead to trouble.
Squares to Pluto push you to face your shadow side.
Because Libra is a cardinal sign and slow-moving Pluto, the planet of death, rebirth, regeneration, transformation, control, and power, is hanging out in the late degrees of cardinal earth sign Capricorn, we’re in for a series of tense but potentially activating squares. Think of this as your chance to expose any skeletons in the closet or to get comfier with the shadow side of life – especially in your relationships. On Oct. 19, the confident sun squares Pluto, and on the 20th, Venus goes for it.
You’ll be nudged to balance your sense of self with one-on-one connections.
The major focus on partnership is emphasized once more when Venus, the planet of love, moves through Libra – where it’s right at home as the ruler of the sign – from Sept. 29 to Oct. 23. And on Oct. 1, Venus opposes Jupiter, which can encourage you to hit the gas on romantic endeavors, indulgent spending, and anything that brings you pleasure.
But in these two signs – Libra, associated with the seventh house of partnership, and Aries, associated with the first house of self – you could find it’s time to set new boundaries that respect your needs as well as those of a partner, a dear friend, or a colleague. You might also become even more aware of a lack of reciprocity and inequalities that have been festering in a close relationship and decide that it’s time to deal with them head on. The Libra new moon on Sept. 25 and the full moon in Aries on Oct. 9 will underline these themes as well.
Zodiac Signs Who Might Be Affected Most During Libra Season 2022
We tend to think of every astrological season as the moment in which the people of that sun sign really shine – and that is certainly the case! However, people born with their sun in Libra are far from the only ones who’ll be affected by the transitional vibes and relationship-shifting moments of this time of year. Anyone born with their sun or major planetary placements (i.e. moon, rising sign, Mercury, Mars, or Venus) in any of the cardinal signs – Aries (cardinal fire), Cancer (cardinal water), and Capricorn (cardinal earth) – could come away from Libra season feeling healed, connected, and potentially even emotionally transformed.
