The Sun is the glittering, shining core of who we are. It is the very essence of our being. It is the vehicle of our individuation. It makes sense that it can shine more in certain signs than others, but how can the Sun ever really fall?
Let the tale of Apollo and Daphne be your guide.
***
Apollo took a deep breath and tried to settle his nerves. It had been a bad week. Kicking himself for his pomposity, he recalled how he had mocked Eros, the god of love. He had laughed at the way the young god’s pudgy fingers gripped the bowstring as he fired off his arrows of love and hate. But never in his wildest dreams did he imagine that Eros would turn on him.
And now he was stuck. Having been struck by the arrow of love, he was besotted, absolutely beside himself with infatuation for a young nymph named Daphne. And what was worse, she barely seemed to register his existence. And when she did look upon his, it seemed that her face even registered disgust.
But how could that be? He has the Sun god! He alone illuminated the sky and shined his brilliant light upon the earth below. He was the most radiant being in the universe! Surely she had to love him.
So he began to follow her. He knew, just KNEW, that if she took a moment to speak to him, to get to know him, that she would love him as much as he loved her. For days and weeks he continued his pursuit. And has he continued to follow, his own light grew dim. He just couldn’t understand what was happening. Was something wrong with him? Maybe he wasn’t as wonderful as he thought. Maybe his radiance held less power of attraction than he had guessed. He began to falter.
But still he kept up the chase. If she could love him, really love him, he would be okay. If only she could look upon him with the same glowing admiration reflected in his own gaze, he could again rise to the heavens and beam his rays throughout heaven and earth. All he needed was her love.
But just as he was about to catch up with her, about to make his final plea for her affection, Daphne turned around to face him. His breath caught in his chest. Was this it? Was this the moment he had been dreaming of for so long? His face lit up with hope.
But instead Daphne raised her arms and called out to her mother. And Gaia, goddess of earth, heard her daughter’s plea. Apollo watched in a mixture of horror and awe as Daphne’s limbs began to lengthen and stretch upward while her soft, supple skin began to roughen into bark. He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again the transformation was complete. His beloved Daphne had won. She was now a majestic laurel tree, safe forever from his grasp.
With a heavy heart, he took a cutting from her graceful branches and wove it into a wreath. From now on, this would be the symbol of victory, forever commemorating his defeat at the hands of love.
***
In Libra, the Sun is no longer concerned with its own individual success. Instead, like Apollo, the Sun begins to measure its worth by the approval of others. It derives its sense of power through union with other people. And in doing so, its own light dims.
Of course, Apollo’s fate need not befall every person with the Sun in Libra. But it should serve as a warning. By neglecting our own light, we fail to give the Sun it’s proper place. We fail to develop into the shining individuals we were meant to be. And in doing so, we actually make ourselves less attractive to others. And as we focus solely on nurturing love, we fail to nurture the spark in ourselves. Love is wonderful and union with our beloved is truly divine. But no matter what, we are always ourselves first.
Do you have the Sun in Libra? How do you maintain your shine?
hoo hoo. this is hard for me to hear and really take in, though I catch glimmers of its truth. I’m so hard wired to seek my identity through the other. My Libra Sun is in the 4th as well which also keeps it hidden. In the house of the moon. What to do with that!
I have great starts – Jupiter in Aries and i so often peter out. As I feel myself doing currently. I was so looking forward to Mars in Aries for its long sojourn. Now I’m home with a flu borne of self-doubt and pity
Argh what a boring tale.
What has worked in my life to help me shine? Being in school. I have signed up for 2 courses, and I know I will enjoy them. One is a Geography course – looking at doing a Masters in Geography, with a focus on how Indigenous identity is tied to the land…. right there I get stirrings of spirit. The other is a Humanities course, also about identity and how it is tied to historical forces.
I appreciate your writing Midara. Love Elsaelsa overall.
How are you feeling?
From a non Libra standpoint, measuring your worth by others is encoded in society. I maintain that women are socialized to be and not do, scrutinize what they are now rather than see themselves as works in progress that can improve by doing. Generally insecurity is lucrative. Also being social animals, it takes time to find out identity but also our sense of worth.
Elsa said ‘you earn your self esteem.’ (hope I’m not misquoting)
And it’s taken me time to realize how true that is. And how self love and self esteem is not a given til you do something to prove yourself to yourself. It takes years I guess. I have Saturn on the midheaven. I measured my worth by passive things like how many guys I could attract (so my worth fell) based on how I look, and how smart I am (which isn’t a static thing but based on effort can grow or diminish.) Personality traits or stuff that’s valuable on the social meat market is like a muscle that can be worked on or can atrophy. Not all.women are taught this. Also not all women are taught to stop assessing themselves like horses that are for sale. Their ‘attractive traits,’ but rather work toward what they want. Fuck that whole paradigm. It’s never given me anything. People weren’t buying what I was selling, but selling is stupid and so is seeing stuff that way. I’m done with it. I’m not static.
Anyway I guess Libra considers the other a lot, or sees itself reflected in their light, or doesn’t act until they know the other person is alright with it..
My progressed moon is in Libra but square mars..
For many decades, my 8H Libra Sun only identified myself as someone’s daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, friend, co-worker, neighbor, and volunteer. ONLY in those terms. In the past, I found myself actually saying, “If I’m not ____, who am I?” It took astrology and my Second Saturn Return to untangle identity; my Sun. And I really like her!!
Timely post. Today, the Sun is conjunct my natal asteroid Apollo (#1862) in my Virgo 7H. This asteroid placement does confirm my inclination to pine over others in the past.
Interesting post! My wife was born just a few minutes into Scorpio, thought she was a Libra from reading newspaper astrology, and clearly has attributes of both signs, which are quite conflicting! She is very independent, but shares some of the herd mentality of Libra in other ways…
Love your comment. The cuspies. It still confuses me.
Thinking about cuspies. It does help me understand one of my conundrum people. Sag/Cap cusp.
What do you mean herd mentality of Libra?
Welcome, Linda!
I’m reading this about Libra, having just moved during intense wild fire smoke and a pandemic. My husband has a 29 degree Libra Moon … a cuspy notch. He’s out in the smoke (masked for smoke, not so much social distancing) doing what it takes to settle a two-wheeled home into a new campground. Fiercely independent often, he is so much about providing, especially with his Cancer Sun. My son has a Libra stellium including his Sun in the 12th House. Much of what you’ve written is true for him (born to Aries and Scorpio parents) with a Scorpio Moon. It’s just a lot to digest but I will. Interested for my son is now partnered with a Leo Sun. His Venus is in Leo. Took him decades to find this woman; a weight-lifter:) Don’t you love astrological interpretation.
Thanks Midara, the mythology is something.
Musings from a Libra sun, Libra rising.
I had so many thoughts upon first reading this topic. I had to decide whether to pay attention, whether to respond deeply, or even possibly, whether to turn to the next post rather quickly.
As you can see, I’ve chosen to respond. I’m smiling while I say this, because, I actually feel the sun is exalted in Libra. Where else can the sun look in the mirror?
In astrology, and in legend, many polarities exist. I think Libra is the twin of Aries, but the flip side. I think of it like the moon and sun meeting at the full and the dark each month. It’s a dance between partners. And if the sun needs the moon to dance, so does the I need the we.
And are we truly all just one person? Or do we contain many facets? Libra is the peacemaker. The hard part is to find peace and balance within oneself. This unites the Aries and the Libra essence. There is no fall.
IMHO
I do not have Libra Sun.
But I can see how from the perspective of Western culture that glorifies egocentricity (Aries Sun), how Libra Sun can be viewed as “weakened”, herd mentality aka a follower of another.
There is another interpretation of the Apollo-Daphne story, which applies to all Zodiac signs, not just Libra…
When Apollo relinquishes attachments to ego (Sun) only then does the tree of life (Daphne) appear. From which he finds the very piece he has been searching for, forever carrying it as a wreath now firmly woven into his psyche. Apollo could not have gotten there without love for another, something that comes more natural to Libra Sun.
That is a beautiful interpretation. Both your’s and Midara’s interpretation are essential to understand the polarity of Aries-Libra axis. I have a stellium ( IC,Ju, Sat, Pluto) in Libra, but my Sun is in the first house, also my south node is in seventh house cusp. I am forever grappling with the 1H-7H and Aries-Libra polarity.
Osiris’ Wife – That is really lovely, I never connected the tree in the myth to the tree of life. Thank you for this.
Also btw @Midara, I love your writing! <3
Yes, thank you all for this wonderful weave of mythic interpretations and understandings that make life much more meaningful!
That’s a very sad thing about Libra
Natal Libra South Node opp Aries Moon/NNode. This resonates. I’m in my 70s and roughly the first 50 years or so of my life were spent trying to get other people’s approval. Didn’t work. I am so much happier now I’m consciously aware of the importance of becoming “the shining individuals we were meant to be”. Thank you, Midara.
Welcome, mm!
Libra Sun, Pluto, Mercury, and MC, Capricorn rising and Sag moon, Venus in Virgo.
It took me 4 decades to learn this lesson. I think mid-life, and the Uranus transits that ensue for all humans around their 40th year, are especially eye-opening, chaotic, and rebellious for those of us who have lived with co-dependency, people pleasing, etc.
When Uranus transited my 4th house Aries and opposed all these planets, plus my own Uranus in Scorpio, I woke up one day and had no idea whose life I was living, but I was certain it wasn’t mine. Five years of therapy and some of the most painful emotional healing I’ve ever experienced has brought me back to a life of radical autonomy. It is something I allow with ease now, but some days I still struggle. I am happier now in life than I ever have been, and I know more amazing experiences are on the horizon. ?❤️??