LIBRA - I Balance

September 22nd - October 21st

Element: Air

Ruling Planet: Venus

Power Chakra: Heart

Keyword: I Balance

A Libra is known for their innate sense of balance, harmony, and fairness. They are natural peacemakers, often striving to create a serene and beautiful environment around them. With a deep appreciation for art, beauty, and connection, Libras have a charming and diplomatic nature that draws others to them. They are excellent communicators, gifted with the ability to see multiple perspectives, which makes them thoughtful friends and wise advisors. Their kindness, grace, and desire for justice inspire them to seek equality in their relationships and surroundings, making the world a more balanced and loving place.

What Can Libra’s Teach us?

♎️ The Art of Balance: Libras excel in finding equilibrium in their lives and relationships. They can show us how to maintain harmony between various aspects of our lives, including work and personal time, and how to navigate conflicts with grace.

♎️ The Value of Fairness and Justice: Libras have a strong sense of fairness and a desire for justice. They can teach us the importance of making decisions that are equitable and considerate of all perspectives, promoting a more just and understanding world.

♎️ The Power of Connection and Diplomacy: With their diplomatic skills and focus on relationships, Libras can demonstrate the value of effective communication and the ability to see multiple sides of a situation. They can help us understand how to build and nurture meaningful connections with others.

Libra’s Power Chakra

Libra's power chakra is the Heart Chakra (Anahata). This chakra, located at the center of the chest, embodies balance, harmony, and connection—qualities that align deeply with Libra's energy. Representing love, compassion, and relationships, the Heart Chakra is where Libra's natural ability to foster peace and understanding shines. When this chakra is balanced, it empowers Libra to create harmonious relationships, appreciate beauty, and navigate life with grace and fairness. However, when out of balance, Libra may experience indecision, dependency on others' approval, or difficulty setting boundaries. The Heart Chakra's green energy resonates with Libra’s desire for equilibrium and unity in all aspects of life.

Yoga Postures to Align with Libra’s Power Chakra, the Heart

These four poses—Puppy, Cat, Cow, and Thread the Needle—are gentle heart openers and chest expanders, perfectly aligning with Libra's power chakra. They encourage balance, openness, and flexibility, qualities that resonate with Libra's harmonious nature:

Extended Puppy Pose

(Uttana Shishosana)

This pose is a deep heart opener, creating space in the chest and shoulders. By surrendering to the earth and stretching the arms forward, Puppy Pose cultivates a sense of vulnerability and openness, aligning with Libra's desire for connection and balance. It helps release stored tension in the heart area, allowing love and compassion to flow freely.

How To:

1. Begin in tabletop, on your hands and knees. Align your shoulders over your wrists and hips over your knees. Keep your toes un-tucked and the tops of your feet resting on the mat.

2. Slowly walk your hands forward, extending your arms while keeping your hips stacked directly above your knees.

3. As you extend your arms, let your chest and forehead melt down toward the mat. Aim to rest your forehead or chin gently on the ground, depending on your flexibility. Keep your arms active, with your palms pressing into the mat and your elbows lifted.

4. Allow your head to relax, keeping your neck long and in line with your spine. Your gaze can be toward the mat.

5. Take slow, deep breaths in and out, feeling the stretch along your spine and the opening of your chest and shoulders. Hold this pose for 30 seconds to a minute.

6. To come out of the pose, slowly walk your hands back toward your body, returning to a tabletop position.

Tips: If your forehead doesn’t comfortably reach the mat, you can place a yoga block or a blanket underneath for support. Focus on gently opening the chest without forcing the lower back to arch excessively.

Cat Pose

(Marjariasana)

Cat Pose encourages a gentle rounding of the spine, bringing attention to the heart space as it contracts. This movement fosters self-awareness and emotional release, key aspects of a balanced Heart Chakra. For Libra, this motion represents the inward reflection needed to maintain harmony in relationships and self-love.

How To:

1. Beginning tabletop, on your hands and knees. Position your wrists directly under your shoulders and your knees directly under your hips. Keep your fingers spread wide for stability.

2. Draw your belly button in and up towards your spine to engage your core muscles.

3. As you exhale, tuck your tailbone under and begin to round your spine upwards toward the ceiling. Draw your chin toward your chest, and press the ground away with your hands. Feel the stretch across your upper back and between your shoulder blades.

4. On your next inhale, release the rounding of the spine and allow your belly to drop toward the mat (full instructions for cow pose are below). Lift your tailbone and chest towards the ceiling, and gently gaze forward or slightly up. This creates a gentle arch in your back, opening the chest and stretching the front body.

5. Flow between cat and cow —rounding the spine on the exhale and arching it on the inhale. Continue this movement for 30 seconds to a minute.

6. To finish, come back to a neutral tabletop position with a flat back.

Tips: Keep your movements fluid and synchronized with your breath. Avoid collapsing the lower back or overextending the neck; keep both movements gentle and controlled.

Cow Pose

(Bitilasana)

In contrast to Cat Pose, Cow Pose is a heart opener, encouraging the chest to expand and the shoulders to draw back. This pose enhances the flow of energy through the Heart Chakra, promoting Libra’s qualities of openness and receptivity. By creating space in the heart center, it aligns with Libra's pursuit of grace and balance in both body and mind.

How To:

1. Begin on your hands and knees in tabletop. Align your wrists directly under your shoulders and your knees directly under your hips. Spread your fingers wide and press them firmly into the mat.

2. Gently draw your belly button in and up toward your spine to engage your core muscles.

3. As you inhale, begin to arch your back by lifting your tailbone and chest toward the ceiling. Draw your shoulder blades back and down, and gently allow your belly to drop toward the mat. Lift your gaze slightly forward or up, but avoid straining your neck.

4. Feel the opening across your chest and the stretch in the front of your body. Your back should have a gentle curve, and your hips should move towards the ceiling.

5. To transition to Cat Pose, exhale and start rounding your spine while tucking your tailbone under. Move between Cow Pose and Cat Pose, flowing with your breath.

6. For a sustained Cow Pose, maintain the gentle arch in your back and the lift in your chest while breathing deeply for 30 seconds to a minute.

Tips: Ensure your movement is smooth and coordinated with your breath. Avoid overextending your neck; keep it aligned with your spine. Make sure to maintain a neutral position in your lower back to avoid strain.

Thread the Needle

(Urdhva Mukha Pasasana)

This pose involves twisting the torso and stretching the arms, promoting a deep opening in the upper back and shoulders. It gently massages the heart center and invites a sense of calm and introspection. For Libra, Thread the Needle embodies the act of finding equilibrium—balancing between giving and receiving love, and fostering connection while maintaining one's inner peace.

How To:

1. Begin on your hands and knees, with your wrists aligned under your shoulders and your knees under your hips. Spread your fingers wide for stability.

2. As you inhale, lift your right arm extending it towards the ceiling. On your exhale, slide your right arm underneath your left arm, bringing your right shoulder and the side of your right cheek and temple to the mat. Allow your left arm to reach forward or bend at the elbow with your hand resting on your lower back or on the mat.

3. Let your right shoulder and temple gently press into the mat. You can also adjust the position of your left hand or arm to deepen the stretch. Breathe deeply and relax into the pose, allowing your upper back to open.

4. Stay in this position for 30 seconds to a minute, focusing on deep, steady breaths.

5. To come out, gently slide your right arm back out from underneath your left arm, returning it towards the ceiling and then to the tabletop position. Repeat the pose on the other side by extending your left arm underneath your right arm.

Tips: Ensure that your weight is distributed evenly and avoid collapsing onto your shoulder. Use props like a yoga block or cushion under your head for additional support if needed. This pose is great for releasing tension in the shoulders and upper back while promoting a sense of relaxation.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Libra’s power chakra, the Heart Chakra (Anahata), epitomizes the qualities of balance, harmony, and connection that are central to Libra’s essence. This chakra enables Libras to foster love, compassion, and harmonious relationships, while also highlighting their natural talent for creating beauty and understanding in their surroundings. When balanced, Libras embody grace, fairness, and a profound appreciation for art and relationships, teaching us valuable lessons in maintaining equilibrium, upholding fairness and justice, and the power of effective communication. Their ability to navigate life with diplomacy and kindness inspires us to seek balance and nurture meaningful connections in our own lives.

To get a free birth chart, I visited http://astrologyzone.com. To learn more about how astrology and chakras align, check out my first zodiac article, LEO: I Will.

*Please note, that while astrology and chakra healing can offer guidance and support, they should not replace professional medical or psychological advice. These practices are complimentary and can be used alongside conventional treatments to enhance your overall wellbeing. Before practicing yoga, please consult with your physician and always practice postures in a safe manner.