When the nodal axis moved into Aries/Libra in mid-July 2023, after 18 months of residing in the Taurus/Scorpio axis, a notable shift happened.

The south node carries with it certain themes that need to be addressed. The south node in Scorpio showed us how corruption was exposed – often with extreme consequences. It wasn’t long after the nodes shifted into Taurus/Scorpio in January of 2022 that Russia invaded Ukraine.

With Pluto and Mars co-ruling the sign of Scorpio, the south node in Scorpio reveals anything previously hidden with focused determination. I wrote a post about the south node in Scorpio so I won’t delve too much into this. As the south node moved into Libra, suddenly many Union-backed industries went on strike. Specifically, the WGA (Writers Guild of America), Hollywood actors (SAG-AFTRA) and United Auto Workers (UAW).

Libra is symbolized not only by the scales of justice, but by interdependence. Labor unions are a prime example of this. They were created as a kind of socialist decree that skilled workers should have rights protected by contracts. This is hardly the first time we have seen the WGA go on strike, but to have all three of these unions striking at the same time is noteworthy.

We’re also seeing African countries like Niger rise up against colonialism. France has been mining Uranium in Niger needed for its nuclear power plants. The coup that was formed has been a united effort to expel France’s military occupation, which has been very effective. France has backed down for the time being. Colonialism has been raping African nations not only of resources, but of social and economic equality for hundreds of years. The south node in Libra seems to be broadcasting to the world that the imbalance of power is too great to allow any longer.

While Libra is skilled at diplomacy, fighting for fairness becomes a crusade. It is not as dramatic as Scorpio, but the conflict inherent in the Libra archetype is still a force with which to be reckoned.

Venus rules Libra, along with Taurus. It’s not surprising that the entertainment industry and skilled labor are making the headlines right now – the ultimate Venusian outlets. An imbalance of power, however, is the primary Libran concern.

The last time the south node was in Libra was in 2005. The most dramatic event at that time in America was Hurricane Katrina, which devastated New Orleans. Not only was the federal government highly criticized for its handling of the disaster. Racial disparities were given national attention. As a part of the country that is predominantly black, New Orleans residents exposed how racism played a crucial role in why the crisis was poorly handled. Acts of genocide towards people of color have been swept under the rug in America. Hurricane Katrina was no exception.

When the south node entered Libra at the end of 2004, the tsunami in Aceh, Indonesia happened on December 26th, killing over 230,000 people. Katrina happened just 6 months later in August of 2005.

Since the nodes return to the same position roughly every 19 years, the previous time was 1986. Right as the south node moved into Libra in April of 1986, a nuclear reactor in Russia exploded at Chernobyl. This had a rippling effect – releasing radioactive material not only across Russia but also parts of Europe.

As the south node moved into Libra in August of 1967, riots broke out all over the U.S. 158 riots in urban communities like Detroit erupted due to racial injustice. Martin Luther King warned several months prior that violence might break out in cities where racism had produced the most impoverished living conditions. This was called “The long, hot summer”.

1967 was a peak of the Uranus-Pluto conjunction in Virgo. The energy of rebellion was already pretty fierce because of this. The Vietnam War was also at its bloodiest.

With the north node in Libra’s opposing sign, Aries, independence and individual rights carry the torch into the future for 18 months. The workers’ strikes have bound many together in solidarity over a common cause, but the impetus really is individualism. With A.I. suddenly becoming a dominant paradigm, actors and writers are demanding that their human uniqueness be seen and fairly compensated.

Pluto’s regress back into late degree Capricorn is also contributing to this energy. Since the nodes move backwards and begin at the 29th degree, Pluto has been squaring the nodes for the past few months. Whenever Pluto is involved, anticipate tension.

Mars ruling the north node in Aries maps out the next 15 months of this nodal transit. As America officially heads into a recession, the coming year will likely see some civil unrest. People are strapped for cash and relying on credit.

If we delve a bit deeper into the psychology of the south node in Libra, then we can better understand it’s polarity with Mars-ruled Aries. The partnership dynamics in Libra’s concern with equality often times repress independence – to the point where anger is the only outlet. Needing to be respected as an individual is something Libra often feels uncomfortable expressing. It is just easier to align oneself with a group or a cause.

The BRICS alliance is a good example of this. Many countries without the resources to be sovereign or independent seek out a collective where they feel they may have a better future. When the reality hits that they will never really achieve the independence they desire, disagreements might eclipse any chance for diplomacy. Imperialism in any form inevitably disenfranchises. When the U.S. is not the dominant superpower, how fair and balanced a multipolar world can be will remain in question.

Safety in numbers is Libra’s default setting. This is why solidarity will be an important theme from now into 2024. Will these strike negotiations ultimately lead to a fair compromise? Not to sound pessimistic, but it’s not likely. While the workers are united by their labor unions, corporate entities also have allegiances to their investors and shareholders. These strikes aren’t directed at individuals. They are directed at movie studios, production companies, auto manufacturers and mining companies. Essentially, it is groups protesting other groups. Partnerships in conflict with other partnerships.

If we can boil down the essence of the Aries-Libra axis into one word, it is boundaries. The boundaries of the group inevitably must contend with the boundaries of the individual. This is why communism has been just as ruthless as capitalism. There will always be limits to any form of concession. We all live in communities, yet we lock the doors of our individual lives every night. Negotiations are ongoing. Peace becomes difficult to achieve.

The individual experience plays a crucial role in taking off the masks worn in diplomacy. Individualism is not the antithesis of community, as it is so often portrayed. It is part of the balancing act which Libra must face. Understanding our humanity is born out of personal experience – not the triumph of one group over another. This is an essential part of learning how to love and respect one another as a species. We will face this theme in our personal lives throughout this transit.